Real estate investments can provide excellent returns if the proper steps are taken, but many new investors lack the necessary skills and education. I wanted to discuss the significance of real estate education through books. This article will present the 18 best real estate investing books to get you started in 2024. If you read all of these books, you will gain a lot of knowledge and learn from the case studies of top investors who have had great success in real estate investing. Are you a real estate investor? Are you planning to invest? Real estate investing is an ever-evolving…
Author: Private Lending Agent
WASHINGTON, DC – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today released a new report finding that as overall interest rates rise, more borrowers are paying “discount points” up front. The percentage of homebuyers paying discount points nearly doubled from 2021 to 2023. The increase was even more pronounced among borrowers with lower credit scores. Discount points may benefit some borrowers, but the financial trade-offs are complicated. The CFPB is monitoring these increases and the potential risks to consumers.”As mortgage rates have risen, borrowers have turned to paying upfront fees to reduce their interest payments,” CFPB Director Rohit Chopra said. “The…
Key Takeaways Redlining was a real estate practice that designated certain neighborhoods as high-risk, based primarily on racial demographics, and then refused to lend to properties located there. Ostensibly designed to reduce risk for lenders, the practice institutionalized racial bias and limited homebuying opportunities for Black Americans. Though redlining is now illegal, its legacy remains, with ongoing effects on home prices, homeownership, and wealth. Fortunately, the days of legally sanctioned race-based housing discrimination are behind us. But that didn't stop discrimination from continuing. The legacy of attitudes and practices that have prevented non-white citizens from owning homes remains. To this…
NEW YORK, April 5, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–KKR Real Estate Finance Trust (KREF) (NYSE: KREF) announced today that it plans to release its first quarter 2024 financial results on Tuesday, April 23, 2024 after the close of trading on the New York Stock Exchange.A conference call to discuss KREF's financial performance will be held at 10:00 a.m. ET on Wednesday, April 24, 2024. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (844) 784-1730 (U.S. outbound) or +1 (412) 380-7410 (outbound outside the U.S.). No passcode is required. The conference call will also be broadcast live over the Internet and will be accessible…
A recent analysis from Fitch Ratings has darkened the clouds gathering over the U.S. commercial real estate market a little: Fitch predicts that the upcoming commercial real estate crash will destroy more property value than the financial crisis of 2008. Even more ominously, Fitch believes that any recovery from the commercial real estate crash will be slower and less lucrative than the 2008 recovery.By any standard, the US commercial real estate market is in trouble, especially in the office and retail sectors. Commercial real estate vacancy rates in many of America's largest cities are approaching 20%, the highest they've been…
The way insurers assess commercial property risks and respond to claims is constantly improving. Many new technologies and data sets not only improve the understanding of risk, but also enable insurers to make more accurate, informed decisions with less effort. While residential property data is abundant and can provide insurers with all sorts of useful information about building characteristics, rebuild value, exposure to hazards, etc., commercial property is often full of complexities and nuances that make accurate risk assessments much more difficult to carry out. From a small mom-and-pop shop to a large factory or commercial office space, the insurance…
Is the Business Platinum Card® from American Express worth it? The Business Platinum Card® from American Express is a valuable card for business owners who travel frequently, offering premium travel benefits like access to Amex lounges around the world, and the high rewards points earning potential on select purchases makes it a great option for businesses that spend on more than just travel. However, this American Express card comes with a hefty annual fee of $695, making it less attractive for small businesses that don't spend a lot on travel, in which case another business credit card might be a…
Dara Dougherty is not only a slum landlord, but also runs a “fix it up and resell” business, keeping costs down by employing people for free. Those are some of the new charges against Dougherty and five family members and associates outlined in new court documents filed Friday by the city of St. Louis as part of a broader lawsuit first filed in January that accuses Dougherty and her associates of running an illegal rooming house. In their latest filing, city lawyers allege that a property owned by Dougherty in Tower Grove East was particularly important to the renovation and…
British Columbia has proposed a bill that would impose a 20% resale tax on people who sell their homes within a year of owning them.Finance Minister Kathleen Conroy told Parliament that the tax was targeted at speculators who only use homes to make short-term profits and would “make profiteers think twice about inflating house prices during this housing crisis”.The tax rate starts at 20% of the income derived from property sold within 365 days, drops to zero on the 730th day, and no tax applies thereafter.Conroy told reporters Wednesday that her office estimates the tax would apply to about 4,000…
The British Columbia government introduced legislation on Wednesday that would establish a new home resale tax. The state says the tax targets speculators and improves the housing supply.”While people looking for housing are unable to enter the market, wealthy investors are using homes as short-term investments to make a quick profit,” Finance Minister Kathleen Conroy told media after introducing the bill in the British Columbia legislature.”Buying a home, whether it's a first apartment or a new home for a growing family, is one of life's biggest decisions and milestones. We believe families shouldn't have to compete with speculators when making…