Apartmentlist.com analyzed census data on who votes and who doesn't. According to data from 2012, renters were just 28% of the voting population and were much less likely to register to vote.
The data shows 86% of homeowners were registered to vote compared to 72% of renters. And,77% of homeowners actually voted, compared to just 58% of renters.
Why? Maybe because homeowners want to vote to keep these benefits.
Apartmentlist created a list of advantages of being a homeowner versus tenant.
1. The mortgage interest tax deduction
2. The property tax deduction
3. Tax deductions for all costs involved in making a sale
4. Deductions for interest on home improvement loans
5. The elimination of capital gains tax on up to $250,000 for singles and $500,000 for married couples on the sale of the home
#145 - Tax Incentives That May Send More Homeowners to the Polls
I will refrain from giving my commentary on the candidates since the last time I talked about Hillary Clinton on this podcast, I got my first one-star review! Ironically, I only did the show because I was trying to be balanced. I’d already done two stories on Trump and didn’t want to give him any more publicity.
Suffice it to say that just like most people in the U.S., I don’t like or trust either candidate. So, let’s talk about the issues, not the candidates. In fact, it doesn't really matter who gets elected because it won't likely be as apocalyptic as voters might think.
But it will affect real estate investors...
House flippers have been rollin’ in the dough this past year, but is that trend about to end? There's new research that shows the number of flipped homes hit a six-year high in the second quarter and that gross profits are the highest on record. But there’s also some data showing the flipping frenzy could be coming to an end in some overheated markets.
Get the details at: www.NewsForInvestors.com
The government's mortgage refinancing program called HARP has been extended again. It will now run until the end of next year. It's the sister program to HAMP or what critics called "mortgage welfare”.
HAMP was set to expire at the end of this year, and Congress has already officially terminated the program as of that date. But, HAMP will continue to provide support to borrowers in the program for the next six years.
Get the full story at: www.NewsForInvestors.com
New York is taking a big step to keep private financial information private with sweeping new rules on cyber security.
The rules come at a time when 4 in 10 consumers say their accounts have been compromised. These new rules haven't been adopted yet.
When it comes to safeguarding your financial assets, cyber security should be on your checklist.
Get the full story at: www.NewsForInvestors.com
There's a tug of war going on in San Francisco over an affordable housing plan. The city approved an ordinance to help low-income renters that was "rejected" by the federal government. But rents are so high in San Francisco, that federal officials are now reconsidering their decision.
Get the full story at:
www.NewsForInvestors.com
#140 - Federal Government Blocks San Francisco Affordable Housing Plan
Ten California real estate investors are paying a high price for illegally fixing the bidding process at foreclosure auctions during the housing crisis. The Department of Justice just sentenced them for their roles in bid-rigging and mail fraud.
Get the full details at: www.newsforinvestors.com
Airbnb unveiled a new anti-discrimination policy for its U.S. community of hosts. The San Francisco-based start-up is responding to a growing numbers of complaints about bias that have multiplied on Twitter. Many are associated with the hashtag #AirbnbWhileBlack.
Get the full details at: www.newsforinvestors.com
If your estate is big enough to be of interest to the Internal Revenue Service, you’ve probably already given some thought to minimizing tax liability. But with the Treasury looking to crack down on tactics designed to sidestep estate taxes, it could be about to get trickier than ever to keep your assets in the family.
Elon Musk, the SpaceX founder and CEO, has been dazzling would-be space travelers with a plan to build a city on Mars just years from now. He's hoping to send the first "unmanned" flight to Mars two years from now, in 2018. And eight years from now, in 2024, he's hoping to put the first human footprints on the surface of Mars.
Just to put things into perspective, the trip to Mars is an average 140 million miles. It will take several months to get there.
Find out how YOU can get free property in this new colony at: www.newsforinvestors.com
Does it make sense to upsize or downsize when approaching those "Golden" Years? As one 60-year-old homeowner told CNBC, it's more about "right-sizing".
As pre-retirees and retirees ask themselves whether they "should stay" or they "should go," it seems the results are split right down the middle. Among the reasons for moving:
- to lower home expenses
- to deal with health challenges
- to resolve a divorce,
- to make changes after a spouse dies.
And the top reason for moving -- most retirees say they want to be closer to family.
Find out more at: www.newsforinvestors.com
Airbnb is taking another California city to court, claiming that new rules on short-term rentals violate the Constitution. The San Francisco-based hosting service filed a 22-page lawsuit against the ocean-side city of Santa Monica last Friday.
Santa Monica passed restrictive rules on short-term rentals in May of last year. The city didn't put an outright ban on short-term rentals, but some people say the rules are so stringent they essentially eliminate short-term rentals altogether.
Find out more at: www.newsforinvestors.com
A low flying spy plane is making it easier to set competitive rents across the nation.
This military-grade reconnaissance plane is equipped with video-mapping technology that is tracking rental construction to help determine what's ahead in various markets.
This information is gathering important data that landlords can use to determine rent values.
Find out more at www.newsforinvestors.com
The Chinese buying spree in hot coastal markets is cooling off. According to Housingwire.com, these real estate investors are discovering they can get better returns on single-family rentals in lesser known areas.
Chinese investors have been chasing high-end properties in major coastal markets for the last five years. This land-grab has created a Catch 22 - strong demand sent prices soaring, which lowered returns. So now, these investors are looking elsewhere.
But where? And how will that affect the U.S. housing market?
Get the full scoop at: www.newsforinvestors.com
Join me on my 3 City Florida property tour next week. We'll be looking at REAL turnkey income properties on September 14th, 15th and 16th.
Text NETWORK to 72000 or email kathyfettke@realwealthnetwork.com
#132 - Chinese Real Estate Investors Flocking to THESE New Markets... and Driving Prices Up
It's a strong niche market for real estate investors and this market is expected to grow in the next five years. But as U.S. News and World Reports points out, you need to be able to handle "the broken door knobs and the smell of stale beer".
If you are looking to buy property you can rent out, you might want to consider property near a college or university. You would have a higher turnover rate but tenants would be rushing back on a regular basis to find and secure limited student housing.
Find out why so many investors are already capitalizing on the opportunity.
www.NewsForInvestors.com
Imagine taking a tour of the house of your dreams—one that’s arranged exclusively for you. You can visit any time of the day or night, view the house at your own pace and linger as long as you like in the kitchen or by the infinity pool.
Welcome to the world of virtual real estate.
Most of us associate virtual reality with gaming and sci-fi films but it’s a technology that’s starting to make waves in the real estate sector, too.