1. Bloomberg says if you’re Scared of Stocks? Buy a House Instead. “New research shows that real estate is both a better and safer investment than previously believed. Real estate may be a better — and safer — investment than I thought. This is my conclusion after reading a comprehensive study published this month titled, The Total Risk Premium Puzzle.” Read the entire article by Tyler Cowen, professor of economics at George Mason University.
2. ONLY IN ITALY
The story above suggests buying real estate abroad might be a good diversification technique, which is a great segue to this next article from Lifehacker: You too can Buy This Italian Villa for $66. “If you’re tired of AirBnB, here’s another option: Buy your own vacation home. One man (with a major real estate problem) is offering up his furnished Italian villa in a raffle with an entry fee of 50 euros (that’s $66 USD), no strings attached.” I’ve spent quite a bit of time in Italy the last five years. There are strings…believe me!
3. READY, SET, LIST
“Home sellers expecting the quickest sales may want to make sure the house is in tip-top shape for showings because a big week in the housing market is quickly coming. The best week to put a home on the market is March 31 to April 6, according to a new analysis from realtor.com®. Researchers analyzed the 50 largest real estate markets in the nation over the past three years to determine the best week to sell.” Realtor Magazine points out The Best Week to List a Home Is Quickly Approaching. Now, go get it listed!
4. THE DROP!
Mortgage rates just tanked thanks to the Fed – and they could go even lower. “The average rate on the popular 30-year fixed rate mortgage, which had been sitting for days at 4.40 percent, fell sharply to 4.34 percent, the lowest in over a year and 19 basis points lower than a year ago.” Buyers and sellers alike will be able to take advantage of this news from CNBC.
5. MINE IS BIGGER
It’s hard for me to see perfectly good real estate torn down. It seems to be a bit over-indulgent at times. Is this another case of a multi-millionaire striving to out develop a neighbor. The Naples Daily News reports on Another Gulf-front mansion in Naples has been sold and torn down. “Just two houses down from where the priciest home to ever sell in Southwest Florida used to stand, another Port Royal mansion has been sold and torn down. The Southern-Colonial mansion was sold in January for $22.5 million and demolished March 11.” There is part of me that wants to see what the owner will do to the property.
6. ORGANIC MONOPOLY?
“A new class-action lawsuit takes aim at real estate agents and the tools they use to do business, and housing industry watchers say it could revolutionize the way Americans buy and sell the biggest asset they’ll ever own.” Market Watch reports The lawyers who took on Big Tobacco are aiming at Realtors and their 6% fee. Does the lawsuit have merit? I’ll let you make the call.
7. SMART HOME, SMART SELLER
“Realtor.com®’s data team searched to find the home features that can help folks sell their home the fastest—and for the best price. We narrowed our list to the items found in homes with the highest list prices that went under contract the fastest.” Take a look at the Top 15 Home Features That Will Sell Your Home Fast—and for More Cash. Do you have anything to add to the list?
8. ASIAN RIVALS
Three cities have tied for the world’s most expensive cities. The Bloomberg list states These Are the World’s Most Expensive Cities. “The trio of cities sharing the top spot are 7 percent more expensive to live in than New York, according to the EIU, which compiles its list from a survey of 160 products and services across 93 countries.” Can you guess what cities round out the top ten?
9. CASH FLOW AND FREEDOM
“Is there anyone here who doesn’t love to save money when it comes to taxes? If your hand is up, you don’t need to read any further. But if your hand is down, then listen up: Real estate offers some serious advantages when it comes to taxes.” Read the Rich Dad article: Why Real Estate? Tax Advantages! If you want to pay fewer taxes you may learn something from the Kiyosaki’s.
10. VIETNAM HOTSPOT
The luxury real-estate market in Vietnam is heating up — and it’s luring foreign buyers in with ‘sky mansions’ at a fraction of what their cost would be in NYC or Hong Kong. “Vietnam is “where southern China was 10 or 15 years ago,” Goodwin Gaw, chairman of Hong Kong-based private-equity firm Gaw Capital Partners, told Bloomberg. Prices have been going up over the past year and a half, but investing in real estate in the country is still a good bet in the long-term, Gaw said. Prices for luxury condos in Ho Chi Minh City increased by 17% in 2018, according to Bloomberg.”
