Is A Building Lot A Sound Investment Presently?

By Gavin J. King

During the latest real estate boom, many speculators were cashing in by purchasing land and finding a buyer who was willing to pay more than what it was originally purchased for. As with any form of investing, investing in land has inherent risks, but you can minimize them by following these practices.

The first rule to remember is that if you own real estate the "right way" then it is always a safe and good investment. By keeping the bank out of the equation, you will maintain control over your own situation and be able to make decisions based on logic, instead of fear. The likelihood of facing a foreclosure or being dispossessed of your property in any other way is greatly diminished when you own it free and clear. I realize this is not an option for most people, so maybe consider it as an ideal more than anything else. For those whom this strategy is a possible or realistic one, real estate is the safest place to store your cash, and avoid being taxed on it.

Besides the fact that when you buy a home outright, you can always rent it and you will have a nice littler income generated from it. To use your income to buy real estate is a great way to put off tax liability you may be facing and to build a collection of performing assets that may fund your early retirement. If you use the tax laws in the most advantageous manner possible, you can simply take your pre-tax income and spend it on real estate, which will offset your tax liability on your net sheet. I do recommend sitting down with your accountant to outline the exact plan to do this as your first step.

Buying building lots for investments can be more risky because their is an over abundance of inventory in most U.S. markets, due to overzealous lenders and developers during the boom earlier in the decade. After this inventory gets absorbed, building lots will again be a very good investment. With the long term in your plans, buying building lots and holding them is a great idea, and only if you can do it without involving the bank, otherwise stay away from them for a few more years.

To purchase and hold any land right now is a safe bet as long as you are not financing it so that it saps your finances. You can even start a partnership with a local builder to build income housing on your lots and split the money, to begin to establish a positive cash flow on lots that otherwise would not be paying you much if any income. - 23309

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Your Earnest Money and Contingencies

By Tara Millar

Several home buyers recognize that they need to have some cash to put down on a home but are not sure how it factors in to that equation. To help you perceive how it will be employed in your transaction, in all chance, I've answered some of the foremost commonly asked questions I have received from buyers.

Is it immediately cashed?

That actually depends on the contract and the directions it gives for a way your earnest cash is to be handled. Ideally your real estate broker should cash your earnest cash check immediately to make sure the interest of all parties is treated fairly. Some states permit a buyers broker to hold the check until the deal is accepted. This offers the clients a few additional days to iron out the source of the earnest money if they do not have that taken care of already.

What happens to it if I don't buy a house?

This all depends on how so far along you are within the transaction. If all of the contingencies are satisfied and you decide you do not want to buy the house, then you ought to forfeit it. However, if you're in the inspection stage or at any different point of contingency within the transaction and, for what ever reason, you choose not to buy the home, you ought to expect it to be released back to you.

Will my it go toward my down payment on my house?

You'll be able to have it go toward any fees in the transaction, including closing costs or a down payment on your principle. Normally it goes toward a partial payment of your buyers agent fees, if your broker holds your earnest cash check, in most states. Currently, if the transaction falls apart, part of that earnest cash may go to the seller, the sellers broker or your real estate broker, and you will see none of it.

Is there any method I will get it back?

Yes, you'll be able to have it refunded to you at the closing. You can additionally choose to possess it to pay for any other specific or general fee within the transaction.

Can it be used to pay other fees?

Most smart real estate brokers will collect your earnest money right up front and may even insist it is considered a "retainer" if you choose not to purchase a house after they spent a specified time with you. You will be asked to place down your earnest money before you even see one home. This money is used for deposit if you close up on a home, but may even be used as a retainer fee for the broker or the real estate agent, if you opt not to purchase a home once absorbing some of their time. Either way, your earnest money serves its function of paying for your home purchase or paying for your real estate services.

Keep in mind that some of these laws and laws that govern real estate transactions normally do change state by state, thus make sure to consult a real estate professional to determine precisely what happens in your state together with your earnest money. - 23309

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