How many times have you heard someone wistfully saying that when they retire, they’re going to build a home out in the country, get a home in the city, move near the kids, or some other dream which doesn’t involve the phrase “stay right here?” It’s a pattern for a lot of families. They start [...]
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Why You Should Buy LESS House Than You Can Afford
“The mansion should not be graced by its master, the master should grace the mansion.” –Marcus Tullius Cicero “I think maybe ten years from now, I’m hopefully going to be, in like, Tahiti or something. Kicking back like in my huge mansion, if everything goes right, it’s all up to me.” –Corey Haim When my [...]
House Underwater and You Have to Move? Depreciation May Affect Your Decision to Sell
“Well, real estate is always good, as far as I’m concerned.” –Donald Trump Ahhh, the joys of home ownership. You get the white picket fence, the dog, the 2.5 kids, and you live in idyllic bliss. Until you find out that your job has been downsized or that corporate headquarters wants you to take a [...]
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The Tarrant County Texas Tax Sale
“Say that five times fast…” –Many people I’m a fan of residential real estate as a part of a diversified portfolio investment strategy. In general, rents go up with inflation, and you get to expense depreciation for the first 27.5 years of owning a rental property. If you have a mortgage, the interest is also [...]
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Six Things You Won’t Learn About Real Estate From HGTV
“No real estate is permanently valuable but the grave” –Mark Twain “If you want to know exactly where the property line is, just watch the neighbor cut the grass.” –Unknown Today, I was in the gym. The person before me had left the television on, and it was on HGTV. Not exactly ESPN – the [...]
Inflation and the Cost of Your Mortgage
“Inflation is when you pay fifteen dollars for the ten-dollar haircut you used to get for five dollars when you had hair.” –Sam Ewing “I don’t mind going back to daylight saving time. With inflation, the hour will be the only thing I’ve saved all year.” –Victor Borge Have you, your parents, or your grandparents [...]
