Buying real estate abroad is now common practice for more and more investors and the USA is definitely one of the most sought after places to buy investment properties. Continue reading Buying a house in the USA – A step by step guide
Investment properties are usually bought as a 2-fold purpose: Firstly due to potential rental income and secondly in a hope they will appreciate in value.
Rental income in almost all countries is subject to tax. Rental expenses (including mortgage interest) can of course be deducted but everything left generally incurs a tax burden. Continue reading Should I buy investment properties personally or through my company?
Buying a house in Portugal:
Portugal is one of the favorite locations to move abroad.
It’s no wonder that it is the first choice for many when looking to buy a home to relocate or to spend their holidays.
If you have your eye on that nice cottage with sea view in sunny Portugal, then you are in the right place.
Continue reading Buying a house in Portugal – A step by step guide
It appears most countries across Europe now have a scheme whereby you can rent a room in your house and the income earned is tax-free up to a threshold.
This is certainly something worth considering as many countries charge a crippling tax rate for rental income or for many people the extra income pushes them in a higher income tax rate. Effectively this means they may be paying back almost half the extra income in tax. Continue reading Rent a room to earn income and save tax
In the last few weeks the Irish Government launched a mortgage scheme to help low and middle income families (with salaries up to €75k per annum) get their first home.
The scheme offers very attractive lending rates (as low as 2% fixed for 25 years). Also, applicants do not need to adhere to the strict central banks rules for income.
Continue reading Irish government affordable mortgage scheme
Every so often there appears to be a push toward the ‘sell your house yourself’ movement with companies appearing who will send you a ‘for sale’ sign and a ‘sell it yourself’ explanation pack.
When all this first starting gaining traction a few years I was inclined to think it was a good idea. Now though I have changed my mind.
Recently a new section of the LUAS tram was opened in Ireland’s capital city Dublin. It was noted that the effect on house prices within the areas now linked by the tramway to the city centre was significant. This shows that transport is linked to house prices.
What was also significant was that the effect on house prices was in fact felt about 2-3 years rather than at the time of the opening of the line. The reason for this was that the line was planned and as such people became aware that the areas would soon have the new city centre link. Continue reading The effect of transport links on your house value
I’ve just spent some time looking at virtual viewing of homes for sale. (I was looking on daft.ie, but it is also available on UK sites such as Rightmove and Zoopla).
I live in Ireland and always buy at least 2 Sunday papers. From about 2010 to 2016 the property supplements of these newspapers either disappeared or was reduced to a half page in the lifestyle section. In the past 12 months thought the 8-12 page (and sometimes more) property supplements have again appeared. Along with this is the return of the open house phenomenon (usually detailed within the said property supplements). Continue reading The return of the open house to Ireland (the weekends are saved!)
As an investor I have bought my properties mainly at fire sale auctions (generally properties being sold by receivers or banks). These days it seems that auctions are moving to online platforms meaning you have no idea who you are bidding against. Continue reading Why an investor needs to steer clear of family buyers
