What’s the Reason for a Vacancy Factor?

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If you’re new to the world of investing in real estate, one term you may run into is the vacancy factor. As part of the approval process to buy a rental property, one of the early qualifying factors will be income. Rental income from the property might be able to be used to qualify for […]

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Why Financing a Second Rental is So Much Easier

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Financing a second rental property can be much easier the second time around. For those thinking about dipping into the investment real estate world, there are some important things to know. At its most basic level, financing a rental property is not much different as it relates to income, assets and credit. First time buyers […]

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Still Renting? You’re Paying a Mortgage, Just Someone Else’s

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If you’re still renting, you might think that you’re not paying a mortgage. Technically that may be correct but in the end, you’re paying the property owners mortgage.  When real estate investors evaluate a potential purchase, one of the first things they’ll be looking for is whether or not the unit generates cash flow. Investors […]

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How to (effectively) Buy a Fourplex and Live Mortgage Free

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Understanding how to buy a fourplex is an interesting concept and at first glance it might seem a bit misleading. The obvious way to buy a fourplex and live mortgage free is to pay cash for it. But many don’t take that route because it can put a dent in a bank account and tie […]

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Do You Have to Be Married to Apply for a Joint Mortgage?

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When two people file for a joint mortgage, it’s important to understand that it’s not necessary to be married. In fact, more and more people apply to finance a home together without having officially ‘tied the knot.’ Still, both parties need to be clear early on that they’re both going to be responsible for the […]

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The ABCs of Financing a Rental Property

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Financing a rental property is much like financing a primary residence or vacation home. The funding sources are pretty much the same and most lenders follow the same general set of guidelines. Most such loan programs are underwritten to standards set by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, although there are also other lenders who offer […]

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Want to Be a Landlord? Know How It Will Affect Your Debt Ratios

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One of the most consistent and safe investments continues to be real estate. Yes, there are always ups and downs but over time real estate as an investment asset is hard to beat. Flipping houses was a fad several years ago when No-Doc loans and loans for those with damaged credit were everywhere. Yet experienced […]

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If Your Spouse Has Bad Credit: What That Means For You

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Mortgage lenders evaluate good credit and bad credit a bit differently than they did several years ago. Prior to the introduction of credit scoring, a lender’s underwriter would review each credit entry line by line. The underwriter would look at credit limits and account balances, if there were any payments made 30, 60 or 90 […]

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The Seesaw World of Mortgage Rates, Stocks and Bonds

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If you’re like most people, you really don’t pay much attention to Wall Street on a daily basis. Sure, you’ll check your 401(k) when you statement comes in and peek at your IRA but in general, Wall Street is left for the so-called “experts” who buy and sell stocks every single day. But as you’re […]

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VA Home Loan Changes for 2020

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Perhaps the absolute best home loan option for those who qualify and want to come to the settlement table with as little out-of-pocket cash as possible is the VA home loan. The VA loan doesn’t need a down payment and is one of only two such government-backed programs with this feature. The other option is […]

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