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If you’re going to make the sometimes-risky investment in real estate, you should make sure that you protect your purchase and your new property with the right type of insurance. The type of insurance that you’ll get depends on what your involvement is with the home (whether it’s your primary residence or a rental property) and whether you desire any additional or extended insurance.

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The reverse mortgage is a home equity loan available to senior citizens. It essentially takes the home equity that the individual has already invested in his or her real estate and gives it back to the home owner. It is primarily used by seniors who are at risk of losing their homes as a result of the high cost of living that they experience after retirement.

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Probably the most litigated issue between landlords and tenants is the security deposit. Going to court can be expensive and can drain that deposit, leaving you with nothing for the repairs. As a landlord it’s important to iron out all of your security deposit rules when you first rent to a new tenant.

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There is a new loan option available to people which is being advertised as an alternative to the reverse mortgage loan. It is called the REX loan. The main difference between the two loans is in the ownership of the home. With the reverse mortgage, you remain the owner of your home but you use home equity to receive income payments. With REX, you essentially enter into a partnership that says you will split the proceeds of any future home sale with the company that has partnered with you.

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Are you getting the right depreciation on your rental property? If you own rental property then you’ll want to make sure you’re getting all the deductions you deserve.

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A growing and disturbing new real estate trend is homeowners simply walking away from their property and their loans. Consumers who put little or no money down, who live in an area where their house is now worth less than what they owe on it, and are facing their mortgage payments being adjusted upwards are deciding that they are better off to just leave the house with the bank. Of course, such a move remains a black mark on your credit report for up to seven years. Still to some beleaguered consumers, it’s worth it.

So prevalent is this trend that a website has cropped up, “Walk Away Today,” that guides families through the process and helps to use the stress and fear of facing foreclosure proceedings.

Are such “services” beneficial to consumers or so they prey of homeowners who are down on their luck and encourage them to make disastrous financial decisions? Personally, I would feel more kindly towards this Web site if it didn’t have a “We’ll buy your home” button on the front page.

(photo credit flickr cc)

If you’re about to purchase your first home, welcome to the world of closing costs. These expenses may not be something you had initially planned for when figuring your budget, but they’ll play into the final transaction, and pretty heavily, so it’s important to familiarize yourself with what they are and how much you’re going to need.

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Selling your home isn’t as easy as it once was. You no longer have people flocking to scoop up your property and turn it into their own goldmine. So, now is a time when curb appeal becomes extremely important. You want to draw buyers to your home and entice them to make that all important purchase.

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