When someone is deceased, probate is the court-supervised process of gathering that person’s assets, paying taxes, and distributing the remainder of the estate to heirs. It’s important to understand the probate process.
Probate is different from state to state and mostly involves paperwork. If family members or creditors are handling things peaceably, there’s usually very little court supervision. In states that have adopted a set of laws called the Uniform Probate Code, the process is simpler and quicker than in those still using the antiquated methods described in this article.
Lives change and with them, lifestyles. If you’re thinking it’s time to sell your home, you might be wondering if there are there drawbacks to selling to an investor. Dynamic market conditions make the decision to sell an easy one. Even if you haven’t thought much about selling your property before reading this article, and depending on your plans for the future, it might be a good idea.
Before you call your brother-in-law, the Realtor®,
Can you deal with investment property when it’s in probate or do you have to wait for the process to unfold? When someone dies without making legal arrangements for property to pass to heirs, the estate is usually subject to probate. The representative of an estate has no power to act probate is opened and the court grants such authority. If there’s a will and you’re connected with the person in charge (or executor), in most cases you might be able to begin after the probate process has begun—depending on the state in which the property is located,
Over the last several years the reverse mortgage has caught the attention of retirees looking for an income. At face value, it seems like a good idea.
It also seems really simple: You get access to the equity in your home and the bank makes a mortgage payment to you. If that doesn’t make sense, keep reading. It gets worse. A reverse mortgage can have detrimental effects at a time in life those seeking it can’t afford bad luck.
As families grow, parents are busy keeping up with their kids’ lifestyles: school, birthday parties, and managing households. They often don’t notice their little ones have become teens. Play dates turn into parties—often requiring just as much supervision.
And then things change…
Those rebel-rousing teens no longer ask to borrow the car, but instead heading off to college or moving out on their own. Unless they’re paying close attention, Mom and Dad literally wake up one day and realize their kids are gone and the house is empty.
If you’re thinking of selling your property, you have choices. Before you choose, know the difference between selling to a real estate investor and working with a Realtor®.
Hiring a Realtor®
Hiring a Realtor® has benefits in that the agent will assist the seller in all aspects of selling a home. Reputable agents know their markets well and use MLS (Multiple Listing Service) for advertising the property to the largest source of retail buyers.
Selling your home to a real estate investor has several advantages, as long as you know how to qualify the person you’re working with. If you’re in a hurry to sell, the scenario can be even more appealing. Working with an investor will put cash into your hand many times quicker than going the conventional route with a Realtor®.
One thing that should not be rushed, however, is your decision about which investor to work with.
Why would you sell your home to a real estate investor A-Is when you could increase the value and sell higher if you made renovations? Even cosmetic improvements put more dollars in your pocket. If you have time and a few extra bucks, this would be a no-brainer.
Bringing a home up to code and/or making it pleasing to the eye takes money—sometimes lots of money. Unfortunately, some property owners don’t have the time or extra money to put into a property they plan to sell.
November 1, 2016
As the real estate market recovers, it has become easier for homeowners to buy second homes. Some of these second homes will be vacation properties in attractive getaway areas and others will generate income. Depending on their goals, second home buyers are considering investment properties they intend to flip (buy cheap, refurbish and sell at a higher price), or properties they plan to lease to generate residual income.
Even if you can afford to buy a second home,
Why would anyone choose to be an out-of-state landlord? Wouldn’t it be easier to manage properties locally? The answer is always yes, however, most out-of-state landlords don’t become so by choice.
Some properties are inherited as assets of an estate after a family member passes. Unless these homes are sold and assets are liquidated, the properties remain in the hands of heirs. Other times the once-local homeowner moves to another city or state but for any number of reasons,