4 Factors To Consider Before Investing In Vacation Property

Like many people, you may have spent years dreaming of purchasing vacation property on a beautiful beach or in majestic mountains. 

Now that you have decided to make your dream a reality, don't rush into the decision without first taking these four very important factors into consideration.

Know What You Can Afford

Before looking at locations and features that you want in a home, sit down and figure out just how much money you can afford to spend on vacation property. In addition to the mortgage or investment loan cost, you also need to what your current income and credit score will allow you to get approved for.

In addition to the monthly mortgage or investor loan cost, additional costs for the property should be considered. For example, property taxes, insurance, utilities, furniture, and other things associated with your vacation property.

If the home is for you and your family to visit throughout the year, also consider the costs of traveling to the vacation home. These costs not only include flights to and from a nearby airport but also what type of activities you plan to do while you’re there. 

For example, if you plan on skiing at your vacation property, then consider the costs of a seasonal pass or renting skis.

Renting Out the Property

If your vacation property is for investment purposes only, know what comes with renting it out to others. For example, if you are obtaining a mortgage for the purchase, your lender may require you to obtain an investor loan rather than a traditional mortgage.

There is also a cost of getting tenants into your property. For example, the cost of listing your property on multiple websites, advertising, preparing the property for new tenants, and cleaning up after past tenants. 

While preparing your property, it's good to keep the pathways, walkways, and car parks clear in winter with rock salt. If the property is in an area that is prone to huge amounts of snow, it would be worth investing in 25kg rock salt for car parks to save money in the long run. This is ideal for melting snow and ice from roads and paths, which reduces potential accidents during colder winter months.

You can contact professional property management companies to ensure that you are aware of the cost of cleaning and repairs between tenants.

When finding a property management company, consider looking at local listings to learn about typical repairs in that area. Also, ensure you are aware of any restrictions the locality or state where the property is located may place on using the property as a rental property. 

Finally, be realistic about how much rent you can charge. If you go too high, you'll just have a property that's collecting dust.

Pick a Great Location

Even if the vacation property you love looks fantastic and can be bought at a great price, it will only do you a little good if it is in an undesirable location. 

Besides looking at Facebook groups and Reddit forums about the location, take the time and money to visit the location before agreeing to purchase the home.

When visiting the location, consider the ease of getting through the airport, how long you have to drive from the airport to get there, and how accessible the roads are. Also, consider the time of year that you plan on spending there. 

If you plan on going there for the winter season, then consider visiting the location in the winter season to see if the roads get cleared regularly or if you’ll need to consider getting chains for your rental car.

Protect Your Investment

Protecting your property should be considered before purchasing a vacation home. Many people choose to install a security system with cameras and motion detection devices. In addition to this, you may want to look into the cost of hiring someone to stay in your home while you aren’t there. 

This makes the home seem occupied throughout the year and thus less likely to get squatters. It also ensures that someone will be on-site to take care of any inquiries with local authorities if there is a security breach.

Also, you may want to hire a property management firm to make sure maintenance issues are taken care of immediately. After all, you want to avoid guests arriving at your vacation property only to discover a broken toilet or leaking pipes.

No matter what type of vacation property you choose to invest in, keeping these four factors in mind will help to ensure your investment will be stress-free and profitable.

About the Author

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. She recommends Skye Management when it comes to vacation property management.

5 Practical Investment Angles and Financial Strategies

Venturing into stock trading is a risky mission; therefore, you need to ensure you are well aware of the ins and outs of the financial network. 

The higher the amount you are planning on investing, the more careful you should be in watching over your investment to ensure you make more money out of it. This can be ensured by having an investment strategy.

It is also very important to realize that different strategies work for different people at different ages or points in their lives. A 40-year-old car accident lawyer should have a different investment strategy from a 27-year-old lab technician.

What Is the Importance of Having a Definite Investment Strategy?

People often spend a significant amount of time-saving for vacations or property, but forget to consider planning for retirement and investments. 

Having an investment strategy will help you eliminate projects that may potentially perform poorly in the long run, which would otherwise turn into major financial losses on your part.

You must first set a precise figure that you wish to invest as well as the percentage of returns you'd like to receive per year. For instance, you can target a 10% return on your investment for the next coming year in order to achieve your financial goals.

Let's take a look at the 5 categories of investment strategies:

How to Look at Investing Options

1. Value Investing

This strategy involves buying and holding. This is where you buy underpriced stocks and wait for the prices to appreciate over time. Value investing requires a lot of fundamental research in discovering such kinds of stocks and a lot of patience in waiting for the value to appreciate.

2. Growth Investing

This investment plan involves directing all effort towards capital appreciation. Investors spot companies with the potential for rapid growth in terms of profit and revenue. 

The share prices for such companies usually look expensive but are worth the investment. Another form of growth investment is financing small companies with great potential for profit expansion and growth in market share. 

This type of investment is, however, risky as the market trends are sometimes unpredictable.

3. Income Investing

This is a great strategy for accumulating revenue over time; it involves purchasing securities whose returns you can receive under a constant schedule. 

The upside of this type of investment is that it offers you a reliable flow of income with minimum risks that may only compromise an insignificant portion of your investment.

4. Small-Cap Investing

This is an investment strategy that involves purchasing small company stocks that have minor market capitalization. This category of stocks usually goes unnoticed and doesn't usually have as many inflated prices as large-cap stocks. 

For this reason, small-cap stocks tend to be more appealing to investors. However, small-cap stocks are very hard to trade; therefore, they should only be purchased by experienced investors.

5. Socially Responsible Investing

This involves buying stocks from environmentally friendly organizations. These organizations tend to stay competitive with rival companies because of their socially friendly nature. Investors enjoy putting their money into such organizations knowing it may present an advantage for everyone.

Choosing the Right Investment Strategy

Before choosing which type of investment you want, it is best to first figure out which one best suits you and your financial position. You need to determine what returns you'd like to receive, the kinds of risk you are willing to tolerate, and how much you want to invest. 

Only after understanding these queries will you be able to set up your investment strategy. In the end, the flexibility of your income will depend on your risk tolerance.

Cost Of Owning vs. Cost Of Renting Your Home

When it's time to find a place to live, you are faced with either buying a home or choosing to rent a property. Since the decision you make will impact you financially in many ways, it's important to know as many details as possible regarding the costs of owning or renting a home.

You're Making a Payment Either Way

Whether you buy a home or decide to rent, you will be making a monthly payment either way. While many people tend to think they are throwing away their money by paying rent month after month, that's not necessarily true. 

Even if you are not building up equity with your rental payments, you are still paying for a fine home that you can enjoy.

Unexpected Repair Costs

When you rent a home, all the repairs and the costs associated with them are taken care of by your landlord. Thus, as a renter, you know exactly how much money you will spend on your housing costs each month. However, it's not like this if you are a homeowner. 

While one month may find you making only your mortgage payment, the next month may have you calling a roofing company for the leak you have. 

If you’re wondering about the frequency of people having leak issues, it may be worth contacting a local roofing company for their insight to see if you are at risk. A roofing company can install a new roof, which may cost you money that you weren’t anticipating.

Rent Increases

When you rent, you may go years paying the same amount each month. However, when your lease is about to expire, your landlord may come along and choose to raise your rent. 

If the increase is steep enough, you may be forced to move and find more affordable housing options, greatly disrupting your life. But if you own your home and have a fixed-rate mortgage, you can count on your monthly payments staying the same each month until the mortgage is paid off.

A Home Can Lose Value

When you buy a home, you likely assume it's a given that it will increase in value substantially as the years go by. While this might happen, it is by no means guaranteed. 

For example, if a major employer in your area leaves town, your neighborhood could quickly decline, impacting property values. Should you instead be renting, you won't have to worry about this issue.

If you are seeking stability and want a place to call your own, having a home and the costs that come with it may be your goal. Yet before doing so, carefully compare the costs of owning vs. renting to make sure your final decision works best for you and your family.

About the Author

Anica is a professional content and copywriter who graduated from the University of San Francisco. She loves dogs, the ocean, and anything outdoor-related. She was raised in a big family, so she's used to putting things to a vote. She recommends PM Roberts LLC for your roofing needs.

Got Foundation Problems? 5 Reasons to Call a Professional Repair Service

The foundation of your house is what supports your entire home. A foundation is what allows the walls and roof to be built so it can be livable for you and your family. 

It's the base of everything else, and without a strong one, your home could be in some serious trouble that can cost you a fortune to fix or replace. 

If you notice cracks or other problems with your foundation, it's important to call a professional repair service as soon as possible. Let’s dive into the five reasons why you should call a professional service.

It Could Cause Serious Structural Damage

If you don't catch foundation problems soon enough, it could cause serious damage to your home, which can be costly depending on the repairs needed. It's the support system for the entire structure, and without a strong one, things begin to deteriorate quickly. 

You might start noticing cracks in other parts of your house, like in the walls and even ceilings. This is because they're all connected to each other and if one is damaged, then there's a high possibility that the other parts of the house are being affected by it. 

If there are any potential problems arising, a professional repair service will let you know of them and guide you in the right direction to take proper action so there are no further damages.

Costly Repairs

Foundation problems can also cause serious damage to other parts of your home, which means you're looking at costly repairs you may not have been prepared for. 

If the problem is left untreated for too long and causes even more issues with the structure of your house, then things will start getting extremely expensive. You might find yourself wanting to replace walls or floors because of how extensive the damage is. 

Even if you're able to repair everything back to normal, it can still be very expensive and cause a huge setback for you or your family's financial situation.

Can Cause Health Problems

Foundation problems can also cause serious health issues that you might not think about or notice at first. If water is seeping into your home due to cracks in the foundation, it could offer a good home for mold or other contaminants that are hazardous for humans. 

Mold will start growing and creating spores inside your walls, which causes respiratory issues like allergies or asthma.

Need Proper Repairs

Foundation problems are not something that you want to try to repair yourself. If the problem is too extensive or a structural issue causes it with your home, then you're going to need professional help getting everything fixed back up again. 

Foundation cracks can be repaired, but there might also be a need for foundation replacement if they've gotten large enough.

Save Yourself Time & Money

Foundation problems can be serious and even cause damage to other parts of your home if left untreated for too long. Foundation repairs will take some time, so it's best to work with a professional who will get the job done efficiently while also saving you money along the way. You'll find that these services are usually very affordable and worth every penny.

In conclusion, foundation problems can be a serious problem for homeowners. If the issue is left untreated, it could cause damage to other parts of your home, which means costly repairs in most cases. 

It's best to call a professional service when you notice these problems and get everything taken care of quickly, so you don't have to worry about further issues down the road.

How Retirement Can Affect Your Taxes

As you plan for and ultimately begin your retirement, you'll be thinking about the many things you want to do and places you want to see. But to see many of these plans come to fruition, it takes money. 

Though you've been a careful planner for many years, you may not understand just how many ways retirement can affect your taxes. To help you make the right decisions regarding your retirement accounts and taxes, here are some important tips to remember.

Paying Income Taxes

If you assumed paying income taxes was a thing of the past once you retired, you may need to rethink this idea. Should you have income that is not tax-exempt, filing and paying taxes will still be part of your life each year. 

As of the tax year of 2020, if you filed jointly with your spouse who is also at least 65 years old and your income exceeded $27,400, this income could be taxed. Also, if you have income from a part-time job, you may meet the threshold necessary for you to pay taxes.

Maximize Benefits with Roth IRA

Since any contributions you make to a Roth IRA are done so with after-tax dollars, this means any withdrawals you make from this account during your retirement are tax-free. 

By working with a tax preparation expert on this, you can enjoy a steady retirement income without paying income taxes. Be sure to find a professional since handling your taxes incorrectly could result in serious legal consequences.

Take Advantage of Tax Credits

Once you retire, take full advantage of any and all tax credits that are available for you and your situation. For many retirees over age 65, the Credit for the Elderly or Disabled can be very helpful, especially if both you and your spouse are over age 65 and have a lower income.

Self-Employment and Retirement

If after retiring from your 9-5 job you decided to become self-employed, you can take advantage of some deductions regarding Medicare. 

In fact, you can deduct your Medicare Part B and Part D premiums, so long as you do not currently have access to healthcare through your spouse's employer. 

Also, even if you do not itemize on your taxes, you are allowed to deduct your costs for Medicare Advantage or any supplemental Medicare coverage, which could save you thousands of dollars per year.

Since you spent so many years planning for your retirement, it makes sense to do the same regarding your taxes after you're retired. From maximizing your Roth IRA contributions to knowing which tax credits you can take, you'll soon have even more money to spend on the fun things in life.

Ways to Finally Feel Relief From Being in Debt

Many people find themselves in a situation where they have racked up a lot of debt and just aren't sure what to do about it. Having a lot of debt can be scary, and you may feel like you are drowning in bills all of the time. 

Fortunately, there may be some things that you can do to alleviate some of the financial stress that you are feeling. 

Here are some ways to finally feel relief from being in debt.

Make Payment Arrangements With the Creditors

If your payments are more than you can afford, call up your creditors to see if you can make some kind of payment arrangements with them that you can afford. 

There's a good chance that they will work with you as they would rather you pay them something every month instead of nothing. It may take you longer to pay them off, but it will give you a bit of relief.

Talk to a Bankruptcy Attorney

It's not that uncommon for some individuals to be so overwhelmed by debt that the only way they can get some relief is by filing for bankruptcy. If you feel like you are too far in over your head to ever be able to pay everything off, you may want to talk to a bankruptcy attorney like Brian R. Cahn & Associates, LLC. 

They will talk to you about your finances and help you determine whether or not bankruptcy may be right for you.

Create a Budget to Know Where All of Your Money Is Going

Many people find themselves having a difficult time paying off debt because they just don't know where their money is going every single month. If you don't have a budget, now is the time to create one. 

Write down your monthly expenses as well as how much money you bring in. You can use this information to determine how much money you have leftover to pay off your debt.

Find Some Ways to Bring in Extra Money

If you want to pay off your debt as quickly as possible, you should find some ways to bring in extra money. Ask your job if you can work overtime, or look into side gigs that you can do around your full-time job.

If you are in debt and feeling stressed about it, there are some ways that you can finally feel relief. By utilizing all of the tips mentioned above, you can tackle your debt and not feel like you are in a hopeless situation.