All Forum Posts by: Helen De la rosa

Bottom line, I am not sure if now is still the good time to invest in real estate? I am not sure I can find a better alternative investment if I don't ? 

As for gold, yeah, looks like we missed the best years to get into gold. If we bought gold in the last real estate melt down in 2008, just sitting on it would have made 50% gain. Compared to 1972 when the world switched from gold pecked currency to US Dollar pegged currency system, the return is very handsome...

@Frank Patalano

So many options and uncertainties out there, I am not sure where to start.

So, one of the best ways to learn is jumping in with both feet. So I did. Got my 1st rental under my belt in Section 8. Lots of mistakes there:

1. Lease is in my personal name instead of LLC

2. Rent is way below the 1% rule. $2600 on $350k purchase ( similar house selling for >$400k)

3. How to change the cash flow? Pay down more or flip and sell it?

Haven't made 2nd move.

1. Is the market topped out? Maybe I should wait instead of holding the stick when music stops

2. If not real estate, what else? Gold?

For sure got to get out of the stock market.

In the meantime,

1. studying for my real estate license.

2. Figuring out how to set up land trust.

3.Setting up my Self Directed IRA

4. Working on my life insurance (IUL , LTC) business.

Lots of noise in the market, making me nervous.

Noise 1 ) bye bye dollar, buy buy gold. 

* Gold has hit 5-year high. 

* Will dollar continue to weaken? I see quite a few propellants fueling it: oil dollar position is being challenged, a few countries ( Russia, China, Iran ) have started to settling trade in local currency. This is a challenge to the US dollar dominated world currency system since 1972. The US Central bank has managed to print money and exported crises to the world and saved home country economy. Will it be able to survice this round? for how long?

Should I buy gold or should I keep buying rental? What will be the rental/housing market look like if the US dollar loses its world currency position?

Hello, Sugar Land! can we have a meet up in SL area? :-)

I googled and found company 2-10 that provides builder warranty, but they only provide it to builders...Is it only $375 for For BOTH the New Home and Remodeler warranty programs?Quite affordable, now I am wondering if this is a red flag for the quality of the house, since the builder doesn't even care to build his brand name with such a small investment?   https://secure.2-10.com/BuilderOnlinePortal/Registration

Thank you, Don! Could you please recommend some resources to purchase the extended warranty?

Is it common for small custom builder to provide only 1-year warranty? The newly constructed 3/2 home that I am interested in, builder wants to provide only 1-year warranty. Is there a resource to purchase additional 10-year warrant on structural etc. that usually larger builders would provide? Thank you!

@Scott Smith Are you in Hyatt Legal Plan network? I want to set up revocable or irrevocable living trust, but need to work with Attorneys in Hyatt Legal Plan network. thank you!

Thank you, Marc! I am going to see another attorney about trust next Friday, I will share more feedback. 

@Chris Mason

Interestingly, the attorney who prepared my family s living will & power of attorney just declined my offer to hand him money to set up a living trust- revocable or irrevocable. He said all i need is enough insurance (umbrella or property), no need for trust or LLC unless I am doing Estate Planning to avoid inheritances tax.

Any other thoughts out there?