Trends in Real Estate Explored at Real Estate 1-Day EXPO December 5th

Real Estate Trends As We End 2015

This year sure seems like it just flew by. Here we are getting ready to get into the holidays. Some trends that are in play as 2015 draws to an end:

• Builders are on a hot streak. The new home market is the best it’s been since the recession. In many markets, builders are making up the shortages of homes created during the no-build years of the recession (and a good time buffer after it ended). It used to be a problem for builders, who had to compete with much-cheaper existing homes, especially ones sold by the banks and the US government as REOs. This is almost all in the past.
• New homes are the “new normal.” Many markets have rebounded so well that new home prices are no longer much more than those of existing homes. For real estate investors, enjoy the comforts of investing in brand-new homes with all the builders’ warranties and that “new home smell” – go for it (in some markets at least – where rents make sense relative to the new home prices). What markets? Oklahoma City would be an excellent example with its low property taxes, high rents and reasonable prices, all in a growing economy, super-low unemployment and huge oil/gas newly-discovered reserves.
• Buying new homes also makes it easy to get financing. Lenders love those.
• In Florida some existing home prices still beat those of new homes. Here Jacksonville shines the most, as it has recovered the least compared to Miami, Orlando and Tampa. Orlando is diverse enough to supply intriguing deals, but Jacksonville has yet to really show some serious appreciation. Buying existing homes in Jacksonville makes sense, especially if they were properly brought up to excellent new-like shape.
• Feds raising rates seems all but certain. This highlights for investors the fact that we do have a certain window in which to fully enjoy the incredibly low interest rates we now have. But good homes in good areas, get a 30-year fixed rate loans at the rates available now (and likely throughout next year) and do something historic for you financial future.

At our next ICG quarterly event near the San Francisco airport on Saturday December 5th 2015, we will have an asset protection lawyer who will highlight for us the Do’s and Don’ts of asset protection.

Our speakers will be hitting areas that we need to know as we close the year... news not to be missed as you will have some serious decisions to make before tax time. Here they are:

• Ron Stempek, MS-Tax, CPA - Optimizing your taxes for reporting 2015 and going into the new year. Ron is a very sophisticated CPA. This will be very valuable, especially before year-end!
• Back by popular demand! Brett Lytle, Attorney - on asset protection. Brett always has the most cutting-edge info on protecting our assets and the pros and cons of the type of entities we form.
• Christopher Orr Director, Institutional Products, at PENSCO - on retirement savings goals by using self-directed IRAs. Buying properties from a self-directed IRA, and using this vehicle to further your wealth.

In addition, we will have lenders, market teams, networking and a whole lot of Q&A. If you are reading this blog you are invited for free – just email us at info@icgre.com to register. Supply us with your name, and the names of anyone else you would like to bring and their emails, and in the subject line put “I’m in for the expo!” We will send you a confirmation. Please also let us know you heard about it here on Patch.