Investment tips

If the thought of investing your money into brick and mortar—or perhaps some stylishly-painted siding—excites you, join the club.

Investing in real estate has long been one of Americans' favorite ways to grow their wealth. In fact, over 70% of single-family rental properties are currently owned by individual investors rather than corporations, according to Census data.1

Moreover, a decade's worth of Bankrate surveys has found that Americans often prefer real estate for long-term wealth building over other investments. According to Bankrate's latest survey, for example, Americans have historically embraced real estate, in part, because of the strong return on investment it can offer—especially to investors willing to stick with a property over

Does your current home no longer serve your needs?

If so, you may be torn between relocating to a new home or renovating your existing one. This can be a difficult choice, and there’s a lot to consider—including potential costs, long-term financial implications, and quality of life.

A major remodel can be a major commitment. From hiring contractors to selecting materials to managing a budget, it can take a tremendous amount of time and energy—not to mention the ordeal of living through construction or relocating to a temporary residence.

On the other hand, moving is notoriously taxing. In fact, in one survey, 40% of respondents viewed buying a new home as ”the most stressful event in modern life.”1

So which is the better option for you?

Owning your own home is a huge accomplishment — and it also comes with significant benefits. As a real estate agent in beautiful Boca Raton, FL, I understand the allure of homeownership. Owning a home offers numerous advantages that go beyond the simple satisfaction of having a place to call your own. In this blog, I'll highlight five key benefits of homeownership.

Building Wealth: 
When you invest in a home, you're not just buying a place to live; you're also building wealth over time. Unlike renting, where your monthly payments contribute to someone else's mortgage, owning a home allows you to build equity. As you make mortgage payments, you gradually increase your ownership stake, giving you a valuable asset that can appreciate in value over the

It's not easy being a first-time homebuyer right now. At the end of last year, housing affordability hit an all-time low.1

Additionally, mortgage rates have risen significantly since 2021, while inventory remains tight for many property categories, but especially for starter homes. Even lower-priced condos are harder to snag these days, as investors and downsizers muscle out first-timers by offering stronger, often cash-heavy bids.2

In fact, according to the National Association of Realtors, only 26% of last year's homebuyers were first-timers—the lowest share on record and down from 34% a year prior. This underscores just how steep a hill new buyers are facing.3 As a result, many first-time homebuyers are finding that they need to get creative or

Interested in investing in real estate? You’ll need to understand cap rates.
A property’s cap rate (or capitalization rate) is an estimate of its rate of return. To find a property’s cap rate, divide the net annual income you expect it to generate by its current market value.

Cap rates are a great tool for comparing properties, but they don’t tell the whole story! You also need to account for financing costs, management expenses, and more.

Are you searching for an investment property that will pay off? We can help! Contact us today for a free consultation.

Deciding whether to jump into the housing market or rent instead is rarely an easy decision – especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. But in today’s whirlwind market, you may find it particularly challenging to pinpoint the best time to start exploring homeownership.

A real estate boom during the pandemic pushed home prices to an all-time high.1 Add higher mortgage rates to the mix, and some would-be buyers are wondering if they should wait to see if prices or rates come down.

But is renting a better alternative? Rents have also soared along with inflation – and are likely to continue climbing due to a persistent housing shortage.2 And while homebuyers can lock in a set mortgage payment, renters are at the mercy of these rising costs for the

Eager to slash household expenses? Look no further than your unused subscriptions.
It’s easy to get lured by subscription services that seem inexpensive.
But all that money adds up!
According to C+R Research, most consumers spend more than $200 on subscriptions every month (yikes!). And 42% admit that they’re still paying for subscriptions they never use.

Cutting back on subscription services could help you save to meet bigger goals. Sift through your automatic payments to see which ones deserve a goodbye — and you can say hello to improved money management.

Do you have some sneaky ways to save on household expenses? We’d love to hear them!
Share if you dare! 

Cover your castle day and “knight” with the right homeowners insurance!
Before you purchase or renew your homeowners insurance policy, make sure you get answers to these five important questions.

1- Is the policy limit high enough to cover the cost of rebuilding my home?

2- In the event of a loss, will I be reimbursed for "replacement cost" or "actual cash value"?

3- Are there any gaps in coverage?

4- How would a higher or lower deductibe impact my premium?

5- Do I qualify for any discount?

Being protected is good, but knowing you’ve chosen the best policy for YOU is better!
Reach out for a referral!

Nobody wants to have to file a homeowner’s insurance claim. After all, filing a claim means that something has gone horribly wrong at home. Maybe it’s damage from a storm, or a frozen pipe that burst, or some other unexpected problem. Whatever the cause, the damage was severe enough that you need to make a claim on the policy that up until now you’d hoped would never actually have to be used.

Exactly what’s involved with filing a homeowner’s insurance claim, though? While the filing process is similar to that with other forms of insurance, there are a few things about homeowner’s insurance that might seem confusing if you’ve never really dealt with it before. To make sure that everything goes smoothly, here’s some advice on what to expect when filing

The annual inflation rate in the United States is currently around 7.5% - the highest it has been since 1982. It doesn’t matter if you're a cashier, lawyer, plumber, or retiree; if you spend U.S. dollars, inflation impacts you.

Economists expect the effects of inflation, like a higher cost of goods, to continue.2. Luckily, an investment in real estate can ease some of the financial strain.

Here’s what you need to know about inflation, how it impacts you, and how an investment in real estate can help.

WHAT IS INFLATION AND HOW DOES IT IMPACT ME?

Inflation is a decline in the value of money. When the rate of inflation rises, prices for goods and services go up. Therefore, a dollar buys you a little bit less with every passing day.

The