There is no more Byzantine human invention than the complex tax codes, and among the most complicated are the laws surrounding real estate investing. So, what follows is NOT to be considered legal advice - consult your attorney or tax accountant before making any decisions.

Well, now that the rear is covered, what considerations should the real estate investor keep in mind? Since laws vary between countries, and between states within the U.S., any general advice would be worthless. But here are a few particulars Read more

Since the exponential expansion of products in the 1980s, investments now come in a bewildering variety. Sorting through the technical details and balancing the risks against potential gain of any given mix is a job for professionals. But short of gaining an advanced degree, the educated investor can still improve the odds by following some simple guidelines.

Any ethical professional will insist that the first rule of investing is to diversify your portfolio. Stocks, bonds and other savings instruments usually form one leg of a many pronged platform. Generally no more than 30% of available Read more

The real estate bubble is a much discussed phenomenon used to describe a situation in which property values, both or either commercial and residential, expand very rapidly. The result is an over-inflated market that sees buyers purchasing property at prices far above standard value while fearing the market will burst and property values will plummet as fast as they rose. Buying in such a market can be risky for those who cannot afford to lose on their investment.

It’s difficult to say what qualifies as a bona fide Read more

• Creative Financing May Be The Answer When You Don’t Have Enough Cash to Close On Your Purchase

  At present, there are at the least a dozen or more ways to finance a home purchase, whether only for investment or as a primary residence. One of the most common ways is to take out more than one loan, normally in the manner of a second mortgage loan. A purchaser can Read more

The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) drafted and enacted the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) more than 30 years ago as a consumer protection statute designed to help home buyers navigate their way through the sometimes complicated business of real estate. Specifically, RESPA addresses the issue of home buying closing costs and settlement procedures.

Under the terms of RESPA, home buyers are entitled to receive certain disclosures during the course of a real estate transaction. The law also prohibits kickbacks and referral fees that unnecessarily Read more