by Neil Armstrong2

I qualify as a real estate professional for tax purposes. I own and manage over 25 rental properties. I have not claimed that status in the past. I have recently married and my husband has retirement and investment income in excess of the maximum income amount allowed under the passive activity rules. If I make a profit from my investments, am I subject to FICA taxes on that income? Is there a downside to claiming real estate professional status?

by Paolo Margari

For example if my 1st mortgage is $ 1000 per month and i charge a rental income of $ 1000 per month, is it a wash? Or do i get the $ 1000 rental income added to my gross monthly income and have the $ 1000 mortgage payment added to my monthly liabilities?

@cdknot i intend to. concern is that academia is at odds with these other ways. eventually most people have to choose mortgage or the cause

by ozgurmulazimoglu

Bpo Real Estate Agents

If you are like almost every Real Estate Agent I know, you are looking for all the additional income you can get. If that’s the case, take it from me, it can happen with BPOs. Bpo Real Estate Agents

What’s a BPO and why are they important to know about? BPO stands for Broker Price Opinion and that is exactly what they are; an opinion about the actual market value of a property. A financial institution may require a BPO for one of several reasons ranging from verifying info for homeowner’s insurance to foreclosure.

The process of completing a BPO is very similar to a competitive market analysis of a home you are listing or buying. Most BPO Companies will require you to submit at least two and sometimes three similar comps. Therefore, you must have access to a local MLS in order to get that information. You will provide square footage, age, condition, neighborhood information, etc.

There are two types of BPOs; one is a drive by the other a full interior evaluation and comp.

The drive by is much quicker, requiring clear pictures of usually the front, side and street view of the home. The interior evaluation also requires these photos and more. You will take pictures of each room of the house, including the garage. You will take pictures of any damaged areas or areas needing repair. Walk around the home and get photos of the back yard, foundation, etc. You can always eliminate pictures when you get back home, but it will be very expensive to go back and take a picture you wished you had taken.

Your camera equipment must be capable of taking clear pictures in low light; often the power will be off at the property location. Your best bet is to use an auxiliary flash attachment. If you camera does not have a hot shoe flash attachment, perhaps a slave flash will work as well. Also shoot at least 5 mega pixel or more, you will likely need to crop your image to show repair or damaged areas and you can retain detail better with a high-resolution picture. Bpo Real Estate Agents

An important tip to remember when taking photos is to make sure no people are in the picture, especially a picture of someone that can be recognized. Another tip, NEVER take pictures of children. Not only will the BPO Company likely refuse them, you may cause concern within the neighborhood.
When you receive a BPO and *before* you accept it, check the property location on a map. If you can’t find the address on a map, in my opinion, forget about it. You will spend much more time locating the property and you only are paid for producing BPOs and not for locating property.

Always be aware for your personal safety. Often you will be in parts of town that may not be a safe as others. If in doubt, call the Police to check vacant property before you go inside if you feel at all uneasy.

Also recommended is a data phone with email and internet access, I use a BlackBerry and highly recommend that you consider one. Many BPO Companies will broadcast a request to several agents in your area; the first one to respond gets it. If you only have email access at your office, you will often be too late in responding.

If you have at least two years Real Estate experience, willing to drive a little, and do some research you will likely find BPOs a good source of additional income. Your BPO income won’t match a home sale, but if you build up a client list, it just may very well keep the bills paid until a sale comes in.

Important: Dealing in BPOs usually requires a Real Estate License in your state along with at least two years experience. Bpo Real Estate Agents

by Crouching Donkey

by eb0la

If you don’t mind my asking, I’m trying to figure out what a reasonable percent of my income is to be going towards a mortgage payment. My partner and I make around $ 6500 gross monthly, and I’m wondering what percent of that we could reasonably spend on a mortgage without getting in over our heads. We have no other debt, but have normal bills like utilities and car insurance. If you don’t mind could you please give me an idea of what you earn and what you put towards your mortgage? Or what percent of your gross income goes towards your mortgage payments?

Thanks so much!

Wells Fargo Pays M to End Probe: They claimed that the mortgage marketing practices that were adopted did not d… http://bit.ly/9KHK0m

by ro_buk [I'm not there]

Getting ready to buy a house and just curious what people find comfortable. What is your mortgage payment (including taxes and insurance), and your household income, and are you comfortable with your mortgage?

Thanks!

Refinance Your Mortgage and Improve Your Finances: title search – title insurance fees – apprais… http://bit.ly/cz4snr rooftoproofing.com

by Orange County Archives

Denver, CO (PRWEB) July 29, 2009

Real estate investors in Denver today are constantly seeking discounted real estate opportunities to realize maximum return on investment. These opportunities exist in purchasing wholesale deals through a real estate wholesaler like MyColoradoWholesaler.com. With the recent lifting of the Denver real estate foreclosure moratorium, there will again be opportunities for investors to purchase significantly discounted properties from real estate wholesalers without having to fight the MLS.

MyColoradoWholesaler.com has been providing cheap real estate deals and investor cash flow properties to Denver real estate investors by leveraging their Denver real estate experience and knowledge of the Denver real estate market. There currently is a vast amount of competition for these real estate wholesale deals and Investors are encouraged to form relationships with real estate wholesalers to capitalize on the significantly discounted deals associated with bank owned, REO, corporate owned and private seller deals.

The effective real estate wholesaler will provide real estate investment deals to investors by following a specific acquisitions formula specific to the market they are working within. This acquisitions formula should account for the after repair value (ARV) and the fix up costs. Accounting for these variables the Real Estate Wholesaler can arrive at a maximum allowable offer (MAO) which will provide a maximum return on investment for the real estate cash buyer for an all cash purchase or a hard money purchase.

Travis Bontrager, Founder of MyColoradoWholesaler.com, says “Investors seeking quicker and more effective uses of their time should be working with a qualified real estate wholesaler to identify significantly discounted real estate and investor cash flow property. The successful real estate wholesaler works to make multiple offers on properties to obtain the cheapest and most profitable deals in the market. The real estate wholesaler should never stop being the source of real estate deals for real estate investors.”

For the fix and flip investor, working with a real estate wholesaler becomes even more efficient as this allows the investor the opportunity to focus on what they do best which is estimating construction costs, lining up hard money loans or private money loans. Oftentimes, the real estate wholesaler can assist with acquiring hard money loans or alternative financing options such as seller carry financing, wrap around mortgages, lease options, subject to investing, short sale investing, investing in foreclosures. These are just a few of the creative financing techniques offered to real estate investors today.

For more information visit the website MyColoradoWholesaler.com.

About the Nobart Group:

The Nobart Group is a real estate investment and wholesale real estate company based in Denver, Colorado. The Nobart Group serves to provide investment opportunities to real estate investors nationwide.

###

Real Estate in Guatemala – Guatemala | travel to Guatemala: Benefits of Investing in the Panama Real Estate Market… http://bit.ly/aOSpQA

Real Estate in Guatemala – Guatemala | travel to Guatemala: Benefits of Investing in the Panama Real Estate Market… http://bit.ly/aOSpQA

Blog Entries Tagged: chicago real estate http://bit.ly/c8vPMJ

by zoompict (coming soon)

Newton-based RMR Real Estate Income Fund announced its quarterly distribution to common shareholders will be 42-cents per common share. It will be paid on or about Oct. 15 to holders of record of common shares as of the close of business on Oct. 1, according to a statement.

RISMEDIA, September 22, 2010—In its first three days since registration opened, the Real Estate Market Domination Summit has already reached 30% capacity at the legendary Hotel del Coronado, in San Diego, 1parkplace has announced. The

NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. real estate recovery has been slow out of the gate thus far for some segments, leading to questions as to whether it will gather a head of steam and when, according to Fitch Ratings. Analysts from Fitch will be holding its annual U.S. real estate webcast on Thursday Sept. 30 at 11:00 a.m. ET. As U.S. economy slowly moves from recession into early stage …

A fallen New York real estate mogul will spend up to eight years in prison for fleecing more than $ 18 million from banks, friends and relatives by lying about his prospects for pulling off deals. Adam Hochfelder (HOCK’-fehl-duhr) was sentenced Monday to 2 2/3… Real estate – New York City – New York – Services – Lawyers and Law Firms

Seized Cars from 0..Boats Real Estate Collectables and Jewelry http://eCa.sh/ekmr

Northern Michigan Commercial Real Estate Listings http://bit.ly/9vaUgZ

For rental properties or investment real estate, make sure you are also leveraging all of the tax benefits of… http://fb.me/HpsvwaVx

Nikon D700 + Nikkor 14-24mm f/2.8
Houston, TX – bird’s eye view

Looks better with B l a c k M a g i c

The rise and fall of Enron is an instant classic in the annals of capitalism because, in one calamitous stroke, it wipes out so many sanctified illusions that rule in the magic marketplace.
Enron embodies Nobel-class hubris like that of the market sophisticates who brought Long-Term Capital Management to ruin in 1998.
It also smells of the raw monopolistic greed common a century ago. An energy-trading company that Wall Street had valued at billion collapsed.
Enron Corp. is long gone, but its biggest physical landmark here, its old and new Houston downtown headquarters, live on as the home of 9,000 Chevron Corp. employees and contractors.
Oil and gas giant purchased Enron’s 40-storey world headquarters at 1500 Louisiana Street, when it was still under construction, from a commercial real estate company after Chevron’s merger with Texaco Corp. in 2001.
Chevron has also leased Enron’s original 50-storey headquarters at 1400 Smith Street, which is linked to the new building by a so called “skyring” — an above-ground skywalk — so it could bring its Houston-based employees spread over 11 buildings closer together.
Chevron moved into the two towers after they sat empty following Enron’s spectacular collapse, which caused other companies to downsize, depressing overall demand for office space.
The new building was purchased at a deep discount, but it was still very lavish by Chevron standards, with its large spacious hallways, granite floors and domed trading floor. There were also two large executive offices, each with their own patios, built for Kenneth Lay and Jeff Skilling, Enron’s two top executives. by ANVAR -ON/OFF RUSSIANTEXAN ©