Rock Star Real Estate Investor – Cherokee Scout Newspaper Article

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Here’s this week’s article for The Cherokee Scout – Murphy NC’s Main Local Newspaper. Enjoy!

Everybody knows who Rock Stars are – hugely famous and successful people in the music business. Different people come to mind depending on your generation. Some people think of Elvis, Buddy Holly, Bob Dylan, Led Zeppelin, Aerosmith, and even some new guys out today who are destined for fame.

Real estate has the same type of people – Rock Stars in their own right. Everyone knows Donald Trump, who is arguably the most famous investor of today. There are many others – Steve Wynn in Vegas, Donald Bren in California, and a list that continues on. In fact, you’ll find several billionaires who owe their fortune to real estate on the Forbes list of the 400 Richest people in America. Realistically, it’s hard to fathom a billion dollars – that’s one thousand million dollars, two hundred million Big Mac combos, just imagine that kind of money. That’s the fortune these men above have accrued through real estate investing.

The good news is you don’t need that much money to be an excellent real estate investor. They key to being a real estate investor is to buy smart, buy right, buy for the investment and not emotion, and don’t stretch yourself financially thin. There are thousands of people who have made themselves financially independent by buying one rental house at a time, and most of them weren’t their class valedictorian. Solid investments are all over the place, and you can find one to meet your own personal needs and goals.
It’s common not to plan for the future, and I find that more and more people don’t have the foresight to do so. You can easily leave the pack and plan for the future, all you need to do is have a bit of foresight, competent counsel, and act. Procrastination on something you know can positively change your future or that of your heirs is as dangerous as idle hands.

There are so many goals you can accomplish through real estate investing that are far more reliable and “real” than what most investment brokers lead you to believe. If you’ve ever been “pitched” a whole life insurance policy, you should know what I mean! STAY AWAY! Many annuities, mutual funds, and stocks are commission makers that are not in your son or daughter’s best interest. Some disreputable brokers use techniques that play on your emotions rather than your intelligence to make decisions for your loved one’s future. Diversification is extremely important, and you should consider an alternative.

Do you dream of your son/daughter going to college? How about them growing up to be a “Rock Star” brain surgeon, teacher, or fill-in-the-blank? Real estate offers so many options that can alleviate your stress in paying for their future. A rental house or a land parcel is a perfect way to invest for the long term.
Consider this simple math:

-Rental Home – $100,000 initial investment (read: purchase price), you have a $10,000 down payment (the minimum investment some whole life and annuities will take), and you obtain a mortgage loan for $90,000.  Your payment would be $594 on a 20 year mortgage at 5% – which is a 33% faster payoff than your average mortgage. Rental income – $600 would pay your mortgage, $750 would be profitable. Let’s say your son/daughter goes to college 10 years after you bought it – Here’s what you’ll have. At $600 per month on your $10,000 investment at only 8% appreciation per year – Equity of $159,892.50 – and someone else paid your mortgage. You don’t have to be the valedictorian to figure out that math works. If you run profitable rent at $750 per month (and factor in NO rental increases over the 10 years), you can stick a free-bie $18,000 in profit in your pocket or pay extra on your mortgage. If you pay extra, you’ll really blow out the formula and have a ROCK STAR amount of equity at a whopping $184,117.17. Your child can go to Yale on one stinking rental house.

-Let’s suppose you don’t want to fool with the trouble of handling renters and their problems because they “forgot” you’re actually supposed to put the shower curtain on the inside of the bath tub. That same $10,000 cash investment at, again, only 8% interest adds up to be an amazing $21,892.50. That will certainly pay for quite a bit of, well, anything.

Facts are facts, the unemotional numbers simply make sense and you too can be a real estate investor and amass your own fortune. If you don’t believe $100,000 rental houses exist or $10,000 land parcels aren’t out there, call me and I’ll have one for you. You and your child’s future depend on it.

Written By: John Poltrock, Certified Residential Specialist – The POLTROCK TEAM at RE/MAX Mountain Properties – Toll Free 1-866-Murphy-NC or 1-866-687-7496 – www.MyMurphy.com

Understanding the 2009 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit in Murphy NC

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Why is the Government doing this?

            It is a pretty simple concept to understand.  If the Government can pass legislation that grants a tax credit to first time home buyers…it just might stimulate people to buy houses! When people start buying houses it starts a trickle effect on the economy and in the end helps everyone! 

Who is a First-Time home buyer?

            To be deemed as a First-time home buyer the purchaser or his/her spouse may NOT have owned a home during the passed 3 years from the date of purchase of your new home. 

           

How is eligible for the Tax Credit?

            If you are a first time home buyer that purchases a home between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.

Are all properties eligible?

            NOL This is for primary residences only. This includes single-family homes (example stick built or manufactured), condos, town homes and co-ops.

How much is the Tax Credit?

          The maximum Tax Credit is $8,000. There are 2 factors that determine the amount First-Time Home buyers will get.  

  • 1) The purchase price of your home. The Tax Credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000.
  • 2) Buyers Income- Single men and women with income up to $75,000 and married couples up to $150,000 can qualify for the maximum tax credit of $8,000.

What if we make to much money?

          If you are single and make between $75,000 and $95,000 or married and make between $150,000 and $170,000 your tax credit decreases but you still may qualify for a reduced tax credit.  If you make over the amounts stated you do not qualify for any credit.

Do I have to pay back the Tax Credit? 

No!!! J As long as you occupy the home or at least 3 years you do not have to pay it back.  However, if you sell with-in the first 3 years the credit will be recouped on the sale of the home.  

Since laws change every 27 seconds it seems like, if you are interested in the First Time Home Buyers Tax Credit, please call us or contact your local Certified Public Accountant to see how this affects your personal situation. Visit our Murphy NC list of local Recommended Certified Public Accountants.

 

-Written by Jessica Poltrock of The POLTROCK TEAM – Call us toll free at 1-866-687-7496 today!