Owning A Home Can Contribute To A Retirement Portfolio

Owning A Home Can Contribute To A Retirement PortfolioMany people dream of retiring one day, and there are numerous assets that contribute to that retirement goal. Social security, pension plans, and savings accounts have traditionally provided assets people use to enjoy their retirement; however, this traditional plan ignores one of the most valuable assets. Owning a home can contribute significantly to someone’s retirement goals; however, it is important to have a firm plan in place to make those retirement dreams come true. There are several ways a home can play an important role in that plan. 

The Value Of A House Traditionally Increases Over Time

Many people who purchase a home take out a fixed-rate, 30-year mortgage. Then, if they stay in their house long enough, they might have it completely paid off by the time they retire. When someone owns a house outright, they can sell it and use the value of that home to fund their retirement or purchase another house. If they don’t feel like moving, they might take out a home equity line of credit to generate more income and fund their retirement. 

Too Many People Overlook The Value Of A Home

Even though owning a home is a great way to build wealth, a lot of people overlook the value of a home with respect to retirement. Many people are taking on much more debt than they did in the past. This is making it more difficult for people to purchase a home. As a result, it might take longer for someone to pay off their home, making it harder to retire one day. That is why it is critical for people to think about purchasing a house as early as possible. That way, they have more time to build their assets, compound their wealth, and pay off the home. 

Retirement Dreams Require Diversification

Ultimately, those who dream of retiring one day need to focus on diversifying their assets. Even though traditional retirement plans are helpful, it is also critical to think about the value of real estate. It can make a significant difference to the totality of a retirement plan.

 

Legal Secrets For Homeowners

Legal Secrets For HomeownersBeing a homeowner is exciting. It can be financially rewarding, too. Unfortunately, it can also put you in a tough legal position.

Between the complexities of owning a house, having to deal with lenders and the risk that comes from owning something valuable, keeping yourself legally protected is a good idea.

Here Are Some Risks And Some Ways To Handle Them

  1. HOAs. If you own a condo, townhome or other property in an association, the homeowner association is extremely powerful. Not paying their dues, violating their rules, or doing just about anything else to end up on the wrong side of them could leave you subject to fines or even foreclosure.
  2. Neighbors. Whether or not good fences make for good neighbors, bad neighbors make for legal problems. Before dealing with your neighbors, research your community’s laws to see what options you have to deal with their unlicensed backyard dog breeding facility, teenager that steals your oranges or their tree that keeps breaking your window. It’s good to know what your responsibilities are as a neighbor, as well.
  3. Legal Paperwork. Part of having a house is having paperwork. Keeping it in a safe place where you can get to it when you need it is always a good idea.
  4. Being A Landlord. If you’re thinking about moving out and turning your house into a rental, take the time to see if you can really do it. Your mortgage, your homeowner association bylaws and your community’s laws can all either prevent you from renting out your house or can impose conditions or extra costs.
  5. Financial Scams. When you own a house, you’re at risk of being the victim of mortgage scams. If you also have strong credit, you could also be a target for identity thieves that want to steal your good name to steal money.
  6. Insurance. Your insurance does more than pay if something happens to your property. It can also give you liability protection that pays off if you harm someone at or away from your home. Given that you could lose your house in a suit, this protection is particularly valuable.

Being a homeowner requires more than just mowing the lawn and painting on occasion. You will also want to pay careful attention to your legal exposure and manage it.

A little bit of care could save you a lot of money and trouble down the line.

Legal Secrets For Homeowners

Legal Secrets For HomeownersBeing a homeowner is exciting. It can be financially rewarding, too. Unfortunately, it can also put you in a tough legal position.

Between the complexities of owning a house, having to deal with lenders and the risk that comes from owning something valuable, keeping yourself legally protected is a good idea.

Here Are Some Risks And Some Ways To Handle Them

  1. HOAs. If you own a condo, townhome or other property in an association, the homeowner association is extremely powerful. Not paying their dues, violating their rules, or doing just about anything else to end up on the wrong side of them could leave you subject to fines or even foreclosure.
  2. Neighbors. Whether or not good fences make for good neighbors, bad neighbors make for legal problems. Before dealing with your neighbors, research your community’s laws to see what options you have to deal with their unlicensed backyard dog breeding facility, teenager that steals your oranges or their tree that keeps breaking your window. It’s good to know what your responsibilities are as a neighbor, as well.
  3. Legal Paperwork. Part of having a house is having paperwork. Keeping it in a safe place where you can get to it when you need it is always a good idea.
  4. Being A Landlord. If you’re thinking about moving out and turning your house into a rental, take the time to see if you can really do it. Your mortgage, your homeowner association bylaws and your community’s laws can all either prevent you from renting out your house or can impose conditions or extra costs.
  5. Financial Scams. When you own a house, you’re at risk of being the victim of mortgage scams. If you also have strong credit, you could also be a target for identity thieves that want to steal your good name to steal money.
  6. Insurance. Your insurance does more than pay if something happens to your property. It can also give you liability protection that pays off if you harm someone at or away from your home. Given that you could lose your house in a suit, this protection is particularly valuable.

Being a homeowner requires more than just mowing the lawn and painting on occasion. You will also want to pay careful attention to your legal exposure and manage it.

A little bit of care could save you a lot of money and trouble down the line.