Take Stock In Real Estate!

The last couple of weeks have created a great deal of anxiety around the country, it’s a rough time. The upcoming election is weighing heavily on Americans; I think it’s safe to say it’s the uncertainty of not knowing what will happen that’s stressful.

One thing we know now; it’s really time to become more involved with our own investing. If your IRA investment and other stock have suffered lately, you know what I’m talking about. It’s time to take charge! Yes, it’s really over time to consider carefully what will drive your future financial security and well being.

Prudent real estate investments always go up over the long haul. Your money is leveraged and you are basically managing your own “real estate portfolio” by owning your own home. It’s interesting to view it that way, since it’s our safe haven and family place. The fact is, for most Americans the family home represents a large percentage of their portfolio as they come to retirement age.

· If you have children, buying property can greatly contribute to financing their education 10 or 15 years from now. Rental houses can create a stream of income and will increase in value over the years. When it’s time to send children off to school, you’ll have options.

· Retirement savings are a safe bet with real estate; it always goes up over a period of years; we have the history to prove it.

· If you have been thinking about another home for yourself, this is definitely time to think seriously. Your home may sell for less than last year, but the house you buy may be selling for significantly less! Keep this in perspective!

· The interest rates are still low. Every upward fraction of a point in interest makes a huge difference in what you pay for a home over the years. If you are waiting for the market to “hit bottom” there’s a good chance you’ll miss it. The discouragement of missing the market can be really frustrating!

People still have reasons to buy and sell real estate through good and bad markets. From October 6th through 12th in Bellevue, Kirkland, Redmond, Issaquah, and Seattle, 192 pairs of buyers and sellers came to an agreement. Those are pending sales, the activity that took place during the worst week we can remember!

It’s important to remember that the last few years were abnormally high in appreciation. We just got used to it, and it’s hard to go back. It’s going to be OK.