Alexandr Metlinski Blog

Adding Another Home to the Fold We've all thought about how nice it would be to own a second home that could be used as a vacation home or retirement location. With that daydream comes the reality that a second home is a luxury that not everyone can afford but for those that seriously consider the prospect, a few financial bits of information can mean the difference between a single home and a vacation home on the coast. A second home takes a full commitment as the search, purchase, and upkeep of a second home can be a time-consuming task. Over that period of time, people that could conceivably see a swift change in fortune should probably shy away from pursuing a second home until finances stabilize. If you are unfamiliar with the area in which you are looking for a second home, sometimes a long-term rental can be a viable option to familiarize yourself with the area and see if the benefits you were seeking from the area are all that they seemed to be from afar. Just as you we...

When Real Estate Management Makes Sense The choice to get involved in real estate investing is a large one, and even after the substantial process of determining whether a particular investment is right for you, a number of decisions must be made as to how you are going to manage that property. One option for property management is hiring outside help to give you the luxury of having a hands-off approach to your investment property in exchange for giving up some of your potential profitability. Obviously, giving up some of the profitability of your investment property is a heavy price to pay but in some situations, the luxury of not having to take care of the day-to-day operations of a property is worth the cost. These are some questions that you should ask yourself about your investment property to determine whether hiring outside property management is something that you should consider. What Are The Costs? The cost of rental property management can often surpass just the up...

Five Real Estate Investment Tips There are countless tips on real estate investing available and this is by no means intended as a comprehensive list. While every investment has its own intricacies and problems that need to be worked out, there are some very basic aspects that are common to most investment properties. Understanding those aspects and asking questions about them can help you determine whether a particular real estate investment opportunity is for you. Anything Can Change Building in the capacity for change in your investment is not only good real estate advice, but good life advice. Aspects of an investment can change at any given time and building in a little cushion in your profit projections for that change will most likely give you a better outlook on the possible outcome of your investment. This is especially true for something like the tax climate of your investment as changes in tax laws happen regularly. If the tax situation surrounding your investment is the...

Whether it’s your first time buying or you just want to purchase something smaller, townhouses and condos are both great options. Check out the differences between the two to help aid you in your search! Condominiums Condominiums are similar to apartments in that you purchase an individual unit inside of a larger building, but not the property it sits on. This generally includes access to the building’s amenities, such as the clubhouse, pool, and gym. However, condo owners are not responsible for the upkeep and repair of these common areas. Because of the number of shared spaces, living in a condo often allows for meeting new people and building a strong sense of community. There is a fairly similar vetting process for loan approval as for a full-sized home; however, the lender will also look at the health of the condo association. Townhouses Those who purchase a townhome are generally purchasing the complete unit, both inside and out, including the land it sits ...