There are many differences between owning a condo and owning a single-family home. People who live in condos tend to do so because they enjoy the convenience and benefits that come from condo living. These include but aren't limited to: lawn care, snow removal (for those here in Alaska), some utilities, exterior maintenance such as roof and siding, and community amenities like pools, playgrounds and patios. They offer a community lifestyle where much of the property maintenance isn’t the owner’s responsibility. If you are thinking about purchasing a condo, consider these five concepts.

 

 

1. Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions

First, you must understand what CC&Rs are. CC&R stands for Covenants, Conditions and Restrictions, and…

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There are many choices when it comes to selecting and hiring a property manager. With so many options, it can be difficult to know how to select the right one from the beginning. Below we will cover the four main responsibilities your property management company should offer.

 

The Four Responsibilities of a Property Manager

 

1. Set the Rent Logically

Setting rent may seem like a easy task, but is often times done incorrectly. Many of the do-it-yourself landlords look to Zillow or Craigslist when setting their rent, which is like going to a car dealership to price your 2000 Honda Accord based on the current year’s model; it is not accurate and won’t sell. These websites can be good resources, but when used alone will not give you all of the information you need. That is because it…

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Financing Myths Debunked

 

It can be difficult to get financing for a residential loan, but it doesn’t have to be. There are many common myths that people believe that just aren’t true. Because of these misconceptions, many people don’t even apply for a loan because they have doubts that they would qualify.  We will address the most common myths and the only true method to secure financing.

 

“I still have student loans so I won’t qualify.”

The amount of college debt today measures in the trillions and grows every day.  In today’s world, almost every college student has a loan. If this myth was true, then there would be millions of people not able to buy a home in America. This misconception is very common and grossly inaccurate.

The resounding theme of…

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There is a lot of mystery surrounding the mortgage financing world. With many different loan types and mortgage providers, it becomes difficult to know where to start. We are going to analyze, and break down, one of the most common loan types available, the FHA loan.

 

 

Before we talk about specifics, including pros and cons of using the FHA loan, lets explain the history behind it. FHA is the acronym for the Federal Housing Authority. The FHA was formed in 1934 during the Great Depression. This was done to spur home construction, reduce unemployment and increase the availability of loans to people.

Over the years the FHA has taken on many roles but at its core has kept the mission to keep housing affordable and achievable by all.…

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Five Beginner Investor Mistakes to Avoid

 

It has been said by many people that investing in real estate is the key to building wealth. Andrew Carnegie, billionaire industrialist, stated it best, “Ninety percent of all millionaires become so through owning real estate.” However, how do you start, what are the mistakes to avoid, and where should you get your information from? This article will focus on the top five mistakes people make when beginning to invest in real estate.


1. Starting Too Soon

All too often, I see people who get too eager to invest in real estate and don’t quite understand what they are getting into or how to invest properly. They want to tell others, and themselves, that they are an “investor.” This title is not more important than the ability to purchase…

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