The Info on Investing in Property

For the first in what seems like ages, we’ve started to hear some good news coming out of the housing market. A CNN article from July 27, 2009 declared that June sales of newly constructed houses had increased 11% over sales in May. While rates are still down 21% when compared to the rates from last year, it seems as though the market might finally be turning around. Housing market analysts had issued a forecast estimating the sale of about 352,000 homes, but were surprised to find that around 384,000 homes were sold.

While these numbers don’t necessarily have any bearing on you and your family personally, it does suggest that the housing market is stabilizing and might be worth considering again as an investment opportunity. Traditionally, realty is much more stable than other investments, and, apart from the housing bubble, this has proven to be the case in terms of the big picture. Finding a stable, long-term housing investment can help secure your financial well-being and serve as a great nest egg as you head towards retirement age.

One of the most important indicators for a house’s ability to retain its value or even increase in value over time is its location. The quality of the school district around it, the attractiveness of its environment, and the nearby amenities are all huge determiners for how much you can expect to make on the house when you sell it someday.

It is also very important to maintain or increase the quality of the house itself. A well-manicured lawn, fresh paint job, and a few choice home improvements can make a huge difference in the speed with which you can sell a house and the amount of money you can expect to get as a result. If you’re planning on making any improvements around the house, consider investing primarily in the kitchen. Kitchens usually see the biggest return on the investment, since it is one of the largest selling points for any house. Additionally, it’s important to realize that a house’s paint color is fairly subjective; while you may really like your robin’s egg blue, somebody else may be looking at it and thinking that a pale yellow would be a lot more attractive. The key is to keep the paint well-maintained and in a fairly neutral color.

If you are a good steward of your investment and keep on top of the little issues that arise in home ownership, you can expect to see a good return on your house, even in a down market. Remember that the biggest key is to offer the best product on the market.

The Info on Investing in Property