Would you love a second home? A place that’s waiting for you when you need a break? Somewhere that’s totally different from where you spend most of your time? Your own private getaway where you can relax and unwind whenever you need to? I’m sure for most of us; the answer is yes. It would be fantastic to have a home at the beach or out in the country, ready for when you need an escape from city life. Yet, unless you are very well off, you probably think it’s nothing more than a pipedream. Ordinary people can’t afford to buy two houses, never mind run them. However, buying a second home might not be as difficult as you think. Here’s a look at how to make sure that you can afford the second home that you have always dreamed of.

Choose the Right Home

Buying a second home isn’t a decision that you should rush into. While it can be fantastic, it is a significant financial commitment. The first thing you need to do is create a budget. Be realistic about what you can afford. Then look at houses for sale that fit the bill. Owning a second home is a brilliant investment, but only if it’s a house that you can afford. Don’t let yourself get carried away.

Rent It Out

One way to ensure that you can afford your second home is by making it earn its keep. If ever there’s a time when you know you won’t be using it, rent it out as a holiday let. Alternatively, if you plan to spend most of the summer in your second home, why not rent out the first for city breaks? Airbnb is a great option when it comes to making money from your home without committing to long-term lets.

Rent Out Space

If you don’t like the idea of people living in either of your homes, why not rent it out as space? You could rent a spare room out for storage, or even lease out your parking space. This can be an excellent earner in city locations.

Remortgage

Remortgaging your first home is one way to finance buying a second. Just make sure that you can afford it and that you are willing to take on the long-term financial commitment.

Save

The best way to afford a second home without getting yourself into financial struggles is to save and buy it outright. Or at least save to pay your first mortgage off early before taking out a second on a new home.

Understand the Costs

Before committing to buy, make sure you understand the costs of two homes. The costs don’t stop once you’ve purchased the home. You also need to pay bills and insurance on it, and you’ll have to pay to travel there regularly. Can you afford it? Make sure it’s a worthwhile investment that you will get a lot of use out of.

Owning a second home could be a dream come true. It’ll also mean you’ve got more options when it comes to retirement, and a whole other source of cash if you ever need it. Look at your options carefully and get saving and you’ll be relaxing on the beach in no time.

Share to Explore !!

Facebook

Digg

Pinterest

Twitter

Reddit

Linkedin

StumbleUpon

Tumblr

Print

email

Yummly

Buffer

As people approach their mid-thirties, many folks begin to worry about what might happen to them after they retire. At the moment, those individuals will have no trouble finding a job that pays decent wages and keeps a roof over their heads. However, that is going to change as they move closer to retirement age, and so it’s essential that everyone creates a plan. The advice below should assist readers in making sure they leave no stone unturned when it comes to preparing for the financial implications. So, put the information to good use and stop stressing so much!

Choosing a private pension plan

Most employers offer pension plans to their workers these days. Indeed, that is a legal requirement in some western countries because the government is struggling to cover the costs of state programs. However, there are also lots of private companies that offer excellent deals if people are willing to shop around. It’s sensible for everyone to opt for a private pension by their mid-thirties because that will give people enough time to build a substantial nest egg. Here are some tips for finding the best solution:

• Shop around
• Compare products
• Perform an affordability assessment
• Check for any hidden charges or fees

Making smart investments

Some folks like the idea of using their savings to make investments and create profit. That is a fantastic move, and it could enable people to retire a little earlier than most others. Of course, there are many different risks involved, and it’s always possible to lose everything. So, savvy individuals will make sure they use the services of a broker when they’re just starting out. Also, it’s handy if new investors target the most stable markets to ensure they reap lots of rewards. Everyone should have heard the term “derivative trading” before, but what is a CFD when it’s at home? Anyone who wants to launch themselves into the investment world to pay for their retirement will have to perform a lot of research so they can answer that question.

Paying your mortgage debt

The most substantial debt most people face relates to their home mortgage. Everyone should try to clear the balance and pay as much money as possible to the bank while they’re still working. The last thing anyone wants to do is default on their payments when they only have a few thousand dollars left. There are a few different options on the table, but the most sensible ideas are:

• Increasing mortgage payments while you still have a job
• Selling the house and buying somewhere different
• Finding a deal that enables you to sell the property and rent it back

If people manage to get rid of their mortgage debt, they shouldn’t face as much pressure when the time comes, and they retire.

Readers who might have concerned not mentioned in this post are advised to take a look around before they leave this site. There is an excellent retirement section that should cover all the most popular topics. When all’s said and done, preparing for retirement is not an exact science, and individuals should use some common sense and think outside of the box. Just make sure there is going to be enough money around so you can live a relaxing and comfortable life. That’s the goal.

Share to Explore !!

Facebook

Digg

Pinterest

Twitter

Reddit

Linkedin

StumbleUpon

Tumblr

Print

email

Yummly

Buffer

Those who have bought their own home and feed their savings account regularly seem to have it all figured out. It’s very difficult to save money when there’s nothing left at the end of the month, though, and it tastes especially sour when you have to pay down on someone else’s mortgage.

But with so many benefits to renting an apartment, it should be possible to continue this flexible way of living while still getting the piggy bank nice and fat. Here are a few of the thriftiest money saving tips from tenants out there who actually manage to save, making the world a bit less unfair.

Ditch the gym

Gym memberships should be a thing of the past already. You need exercise, of course, but you don’t need to pay up every month to get moving; with apartments often being so incredibly central, it should be easy enough to find a local park for your morning jog.

Buy yourself a yoga mat and take care of your muscles at home, either with weights or your very own body weight. Paying for a gym membership is kind of like paying someone to cook for you; sure, it’s convenient, and everything is taken care of for you, but doing it yourself just makes a lot more sense. At least when you’re trying to save money.

Buy multitaskers

You already know that you should cook every meal at home, right, so we’re not going to waste time on explaining why. Apartments are often rather small, so it’s a good idea to find functional kitchen appliances you can use for multiple things. It makes it a lot more likely that you’ll get cooking even on a grumpy Tuesday evening, and you won’t hate the look of your cramped-up kitchen afterward.

Find green apartments

While you should always try to find someone to live together with as it will save you a ton of money, it’s also a good idea to look for greener apartments. Many apartments here have gas projects that allow you to save money on energy, while the best ones also offer GE appliances in the kitchen.

It’s the kind of stuff that makes rental life a bit more manageable – and if you discover a better offer somewhere else, you can always pack up and move without having to sell first.

Get a second job

The last one may not be the one you’d like to hear, but here it goes; when you rent an apartment, you’re often a bit closer to the action than the house owners are. It means that flexible jobs are within reach and you have a variety of options to supplement your income with and live within your means.

Boost your income, find an energy-efficient and reasonably priced apartment to rent with someone, and continue to cook at home. Here’s a handy article in case you need a bit of extra money quickly, by the way.

Increasing your income is the only way to drip a bit of cash into your savings account each month, and the best way to stay debt free for as long as possible.

Share to Explore !!

Facebook

Digg

Pinterest

Twitter

Reddit

Linkedin

StumbleUpon

Tumblr

Print

email

Yummly

Buffer

When you think about your monthly budget, some non-negotiables take priority: mortgage, food, utility bills, insurances and your kids education. However, once you have accounted for these necessities, you may find yourself in the fortunate position of having some spare cash. If you are financially astute, you may park this money in a savings account to accrue over time. This is the safest option and requires minimal risk on your part. However, as your cash begins to stack up, you may find yourself wondering whether your increasing stacks of cash are working in the most effective way for you.

One major alternative to a regular savings account with a bank is to test your resolve on the property market. Investing in bricks and mortar has paid dividends for many over the past few decades. Lucrative returns can be had in the short term if you are quickly flipping a house, and also in the long term, if you are building up a rental portfolio. Take a look at these tips to help you decide the sort of property investment that you may be tempted to make.

Research Like You Have Never Researched Before

Although you may be impatient to see some of your hard earned money invested in the realm of property, it’s vital that you understand the styles of property that are in demand. If you are thinking of purchasing an inner city dwelling, the chances are that apartments and penthouses will cater for the needs of young professionals, with their lack of gardens and low maintenance requirements. If you are opting for the land of suburbia, you may want to consider larger townhouses and condos that will accommodate wealthy families, that are spacious and located within highly regarded zip codes.

If you are tempted to try your hand at purchasing a property to renovate and sell on quickly, ensure that you purchase the worst house on the best street and not the other way around. You can always alter a property by bringing in a team of tradespeople and renovating it, but you can never upgrade where it is.

The Rental Option

If you are going to dabble in the property market for the long haul, you may wish to let your investment. You’ll need to do your homework and make sure that the rent you receive each month covers the mtal-ortgage that you have taken out to purchase the property. Try and buy somewhere close to other rental properties. You may want to look at a location close to a university to attract students or a hospital that may appeal to doctors or nurses working nearby. If your property is close to good transport links and is easily accessible, it will appeal to more potential tenants.

You may be worried that you could end up leasing your freshly painted and coiffed property to nightmare tenants who refuse to pay their rent resulting in you getting into financial difficulties. Don’t worry. Use a credit referencing agency if vetting your tenants yourself or pass this responsibility over to a specialist letting agent who’ll take care of it all. For a small percentage of the rent each month they will manage your property, take care of maintenance issues and deal with any problems as and when they arise.

Investing In Property For Your Family

You may disregard the idea of flipping or letting a property altogether. Instead, you may be keen to upgrade your current home and take a few extra leaps up the property ladder. You might even be keen to build your very own dream home totally bespoke to your family. You could opt for an eco-home, a waterfront property or one of the many mansions designed by Playoust Churcher. The architect you choose will create your dream home designed and built specifically for you. By investing in property this way, you are enjoying the fruits of your money, as well as ensuring that you have a humble abode that will increase in value if you come to sell it at any point in the future.

If you have extra money each month, you can, of course, build up your savings for a rainy day. However, if you want to see greater returns on your investment, it pays to consider either purchasing a second property to rent or to flip and sell on quickly. You could also think about building your own dream dwelling. You never know, if you clue yourself up on potential locations, housing types and property market forecasts, you could be at the embryonic stages of forming your very own property empire.

Share to Explore !!

Facebook

Digg

Pinterest

Twitter

Reddit

Linkedin

StumbleUpon

Tumblr

Print

email

Yummly

Buffer

Everyone wants to make money in the real estate business but for every billionaire property magnate there are a dozen bankrupt chancers sitting in motel rooms wondering what they Hell happened. Investing in a property as an absentee landlord is one thing, but going from renting out of flipping one property to growing a portfolio of properties is a huge and expensive transition that carried with it a certain amount of risk. Buy hey, if it was easy, everybody would be doing it!

Buying property for investment is very different from buying a home and it requires a different set of skills and priorities. While neither a seasoned investor or someone looking for a new home wants to buy a turkey, the more you invest, the smarter you need to be. Here are some important things to consider when building your property portfolio…

Focus and strategize

When you’re just starting out, your investment strategy will be something along the lines of ‘buy property’ but buying indiscriminately is the surest way to a loss. When your portfolio grows, however, you need to think a little harder about when and where you buy. Do you want to buy properties, renovate them and let them out while you live off the passive income or would you prefer to buy and flip them, maximizing the profits and reinvesting your capital in your next project? These will determine the types of property you buy and their location.

Diversify

A portfolio that’s richly diverse in terms of property type and location has a great chance of longevity and profitability. Investing heavily in hip, upcoming area is a great strategy since rental demand will be consistently high and your yield will tend to grow but you run the risk of keeping all of your eggs in one basket. If something happens to compromise the value of property in any given area, though, this can create huge problems for you. Thus it’s a good idea to hedge your bets by investing in a variety of different locations, even if they are similar properties to those in areas where you’ve already invested.

Don’t be afraid to refinance

Making money in property involves considerable and ongoing investment. While you need capital to acquire new property, you also need to have sufficient liquidity to manage your properties in terms of maintenance fees, ground rent and other fees not paid directly by the tenant. It’s important to be able to move quickly in the property game and having all your cash tied up in your investments can cause you to miss golden opportunities when they present themselves. Strategic refinancing can allow you to expand your portfolio, thus generating more revenue from rental income which means more disposable income for you!

Be prepared to let go of a dud investment

Investors can very often be their own worst enemies by obstinately clinging to properties that just aren’t working for them. Every now and then you may need to bite the bullet and take an up front loss. While a bitter pill to swallow, it’s far better than missing out on more opportunities because you’re shovelling all your capital into a money pit.

Share to Explore !!

Facebook

Digg

Pinterest

Twitter

Reddit

Linkedin

StumbleUpon

Tumblr

Print

email

Yummly

Buffer