Aug 31, 2016

Carefully plan out your retirement to maximize your financial standing. There have been many opinions when it comes to retirement throughout the years. Many financial advisors have told their clients to sell their home come retirement. Now, this will allow them to significantly boot their retirement income, but then there’s the human aspect that comes with it too. The impact of having to sell something that has been in your family for years on end isn’t an easy thing to do. Rather, there are other ways that you can fund your retirement account without having to sell your beloved property. Look At the Bigger Picture Even if you have noticed that your home has gained a substantial amount of value over the years, remember that every situation is fundamentally different. This being said, you should base your decision off of personal preference. Money has been a primary factor when it comes to a successful retirement. But you need to ask yourself, is it really what you want to do? Don’t just sell your home right off the bat without putting much thought into it. If it holds emotional value, you don’t need to part with it. There have been many successful retirement stories where the retiree keeps his or her house and stays in good financial standing. Sometimes, the cash doesn’t always speak in the bigger picture. The Bottom Line Every homeowner’s situation is different from one another. Don’t hastily make your decision before truly sitting down with your family and discussing it. By rushing things, you’ll only make a decision that you’re going to regret in the end. Kuba Jewgieniew is the head of Realty ONE Group, a real estate brokerage firm that has offices in California, Nevada, and...

Feb 21, 2016

In economic climates such as these, there are very instruments that provide double digit returns. With the extremely low rates, some countries are seeing charges from banks to deposit funds. Index and other funds are also no longer the risk free return investors have come to expect. Real estate is one of the few investments if done right, can result in healthy returns. There are two primary conditions that need to be met in order for an investment in real estate to provide the kind of returns we like. Location This is the more important of the two conditions. Mature real estate markets will not see significant appreciation. In order to see the kind of return we are looking for, look for property in up and coming areas. Preferably close to transport hubs and infrastructure. There is a lot of research that will need to go in. Before you actually invest, qualify your plan first. Do a test run of your research and track how your selected property and area do over a certain period of time. This will give you a reasonable idea of what to expect from your selection. Time Unless you are looking to flip a properly quickly, real estate is a medium term investment. In the short term the returns are likely to be lower single digit. In order to maximize your returns, look to divest around the three year mark. There is a point the appreciation of the property will start to slow. That is the point you will want to...

Cayman Islands property has consistently remained an attractive investment for overseas investors. It’s the perfect paradise to live in, it has a thriving job market in the financial sector and the island has some of the best schools in the region. Improvements to the island’s infrastructure have only made the location more desirable to investors looking for long-term holdings. Real estate in Grand Cayman is tax free. When you purchase property, you pay a 7.5% fee one time stamp duty fee. Once that fee is paid, the property is yours to do with as you please with no annual property taxes. That makes the Cayman Islands an excellent way to hold investments that will grow free of capital gains taxes owed to the Cayman government. It is also easier for foreign investors to get property in the Cayman Islands than other island destinations, which means it’s easier to have a home away from home or to move altogether. Holding onto an investment property shouldn’t mean you have to live somewhere else. The quality of life in the Cayman Islands rivals anything you will find in South Beach or Miami. Unlike Bermuda, another popular destination, you won’t need millions in the bank as a non-resident. You also won’t have to pay expensive fees for the rights to purchase property on the island. That also means that the island has become more of a comfort zone with the taste of modern living. Business happens on Cayman now, but we do our fair share of play too. Cell carriers are also showing a renewed interest in the area, installing improvements that should make the network more competitive with mainland offerings. Cayman is growing everyday! – James Bovell and the Dream Finders team specialize in helping investors find and acquire high value properties for long term...

Oct 20, 2014

Article written by Jack Minas of Financial Resources 101 Perhaps the best way to find out whether the stock you are planning to buy is from a small cap company is to check as to whether or not the market capitalization value is $ 1 billion or less. One easy way to do this is to multiply the number of outstanding shares with the current price per share. Yet most experienced investors will tell you that there is a greater degree of risk involved when it comes to investing in these types of shares. So here is a list of risk involved with investing in small cap stocks: Risk #1: Larger competitors always have the upper hand on smaller companies. Risk #2: When market conditions are less than feasible, it’s only the bigger companies that will stand while the smaller ones fade away due to the inability to raise enough capital to deal with the economic downturn that might occur. Risk #3: Most of these small companies are based on an idea, and very often they fail due to the inability to hand over the governance of their company to a real professional who can bring the idea to fruition. Risk #4: Perhaps the biggest reason as to why it is considered to be such a gamble to invest in these types of companies is because they have been in the market for only a short period of time. Thus, investors do not have any data to evaluate and forecast their performance for the future, which makes it very risky....

According to a 2013 report issued by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the average cost of raising a newborn in 2013 is estimated at over $245,000. The majority of the expenses would be attributed to housing and transportation with an estimated expense of over $100, 000. The others major costs include education, food, clothing and health care. All of them are basic needs. So how do we cut down on them? Housing When it comes to housing, you would not necessarily be able to make huge changes in your expenses, unless you decide to downsize for a smaller house and move out. You might also opt for lower rents. If you are in need of space, instead of renting or buying another house, you can opt for shared rooms. Food To save on food you might consider buying generic food items rather than branded ones. You could also go shopping on Wednesdays when the shops stalls are full of discount items. When going out for dinner, opt for water as the main beverage. Above all, avoid leftovers around the house to prevent food from going bad. Clothing If order to save on clothing you might want to buy clothes off-season. For instance, stock up on summer clothes while it is still winter. You could also give thrift stores a try and find good quality second-hand items there. Generally make it a rule to buy clothing items only when they are on clearance to avoid impulsive...