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According to the staff economists at Bank of America, the market is pricing in an 80% chance of QE3 by the Fed, which is by far the highest predicted percentage I have seen published so far.

The BofA economists point to not only the rising stock market and rising yields, but even more importantly to the TIPS market. The expectation of higher inflation is showing up in the TIPS pricing.

The presumed increase in inflation is expected to be caused by the influx of cheap money from the Fed through a QE3 program (or through a major asset purchase program whether you want to call it QE3 or not).

I am a little more suspicious. I think the Fed wants to avoid QE3 at all costs. I think they especially want to avoid it in an election year. But the Fed mandate is bigger than any election, so they certainly could take action if the data warrants it.

But I believe the Fed is on the fence because of very mixed economic data. For example, despite the poor jobs numbers, earnings season was actually decent. The actual earnings from last quarter were solid.

However, forward guidance was not very encouraging. So, I think the Fed will continue to watch the economy much closer before taking this move – including earnings.

What is QE3?

QE3 is like a bridge loan. It doesn’t solve your problem; it only works to help you get to the other side. To get to the other side, you have to generate enough earnings to pay for the interest expense and repay the principal.

In other words, it is a Band-Aid. It won’t fix the underlying problem; it just pushes the problem off for a bit. Plus, if earnings are solid, then who exactly needs the bridge loan?

The Fed will be watching earnings very closely in the coming quarter, but earnings season is still way off.

Will QE3 Improve Unemployment?

The disconnect is the improvement in earnings compared to the employment numbers. Hiring has not improved to the level that politicians prefer, so they want to use QE3 to buoy the economy and markets.

I think we have already seen that QE3 only helps with the confidence of the investor community – not so much the corporate executive suite. So, I expect QE3 to help keep the S&P 500 around $1400 in the short-term but not create a lot of new jobs.

What does that mean for the markets?

In the short-term, I think it means the markets will remain ‘buoyed’ by the possibility of a near-term (September?) QE3 event. The economist community carries real weight with investors.

However, I think the market has had all of the run that QE3 could generate. The market can only be lifted up so far by the chance of QE3. It looks like the market is running in to resistance.

How would I trade this?

I would be selling out-of-the-money calls in near months on all of my positions leading up to the potential September announcement. If the market already had its run thanks to the expectation of QE3, then the calls should expire worthless.

If the market dips before the announcement, make sure to close the calls early and pocket your profit. At my firm, Buy & Hedge, we sell calls to pay for hedges anyway – so sell at will!

“The Market is Betting on QE3, but Is That the Right Bet?” was provided by Minyanville.com. 

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Apache is functioning normally

Last Updated on March 29, 2023 by Mark Ferguson

Zombie house flipping is a television show on A&E, and it is also a term for houses that have been vacant for years. I was sucked into the show the other day even though I get really frustrated watching house-flipping shows. I have flipped over 210 houses and currently do 20-30 flips a year.

I get really annoyed watching the house-flipping shows because they are so unrealistic and do not show the real numbers. I tuned into Zombie Flipping to see if the shows had gotten any better, and I was really disappointed. This one was worse than most of the previous shows before it. The numbers were horrible and the show focused on silly mishaps and ignored all the real issues that flippers face.

What is Zombie House Flipping?

Before I get into the show Zombie House Flippers, I want to discuss what zombie house flips are. Zombie house flips became a popular term in the last housing crisis. It describes houses that went into foreclosure or were abandoned by their owners but were never sold to the public. They basically sat empty for years until they were finally sold by the bank. States with extremely long foreclosure processes have the most zombie foreclosures, like Florida, which is where the show takes place. In Florida, it can take three years or longer to complete a foreclosure. The same can happen in Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.

If a house goes into foreclosure, the owners may move out before the bank takes possession. If it takes three years for the foreclosure to complete, the house could be vacant that entire time. If you ever happen to go through foreclosure, remember that you have the right to live in the house until the foreclosure process is complete, and even then, the bank may pay you to move out.

What is the premise behind the Zombie House Flipping Show?

The show Zombie House Flippers started in 2016 and is based in Florida, where an investor teams up with a Realtor and contractors to fix up zombie foreclosures. The show plays out like most reality shows with a highly staged atmosphere and little actual information. In most reality flipping shows, they try to make the owner of the flips seem super involved in the rehab when they are not and should not be doing the work. I once talked to an investor who was on one of these shows, and he said they made him lay some tile in the bathroom one time. It was the first time he had laid tile, and as soon as he was done, his crew came in and tore it out so they could re-lay it.

The investor buys the houses without telling us how he finds them, fixes them up with the help of his Realtor, and sells them. The interesting part is that his Realtor seems to work for free.

Why are the numbers completely inaccurate on Zombie House Flipping?

I knew I was going to hate (I know hate is a strong word, but it is warranted) the show from the beginning because they showed the potential profit of the house flip they were working on. They said the house was bought for $185,000, needed $65,000 in work, and would sell for $325,000, leaving a profit of $75,000. It seems like a decent profit, right? Except, they left out at least $20,000 in other costs that come with every house flip. When they sold the house, the final numbers looked like this:

They have no selling costs, no buying costs, and no carrying costs. Here is a breakdown of what those costs might look like:

  • Buying costs: inspection, title fees, recording fees: $750
  • Carrying costs: insurance, utilities, maintenance: $2,500
  • Selling costs: real estate agent commissions, title fees, recording fees: $21,000

The total costs to flip this house are about $23,000 more than they said they were. The costs could be lower if the real estate agent is not charging any commission, but I find that hard to believe. These numbers also assume the investor is paying cash for the property and is not using any type of financing.

Why is Zombie House Flipping fake?

I don’t like to call people or shows fake, but I have to call out this show. It was ridiculous. On the episode, I saw the following happened:

  • The Realtor was doing manual labor to get the house ready.
  • The investor turned on the water to the house so his dog could cool down, even though it was cloudy and had just rained. The house then flooded because he didn’t know there were open pipes in the house.
  • There was a fire in the backyard that the neighbors helped to put out.
  • The house had fleas and everyone needed a HAZMAT suit.
  • All the neighbors came to help lay sod because they were going to miss their open house date.
  • The neighbors threw a block party for them when they had the open house.

I could believe maybe one of those things happening, but all of them on the same houses was a bit much. The water being turned on was just horrible. Anyone who works on houses or flips knows that you don’t just turn on the water to a house without checking pipes or with someone to see if it is safe.

Conclusion

This show is worse than most of the house-flipping shows and reminded me why I do not watch them. Every time I watch one, I get frustrated and write an article about it. They ended the show with the house going under contract for $310,000 and their repair costs increasing by $10,000, but they still did not add any other costs to the equation. I could never do a house-flipping show if they made me do that kind of stuff. If you want to see the real numbers and process for a house flip, check out some of my videos on YouTube like the one below.

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My book, Fix and Flip Your Way to Financial Freedom, goes in-depth on what is actually required to flip homes and covers in detail how to find great deals, how to finance them, what repairs to make and how much they will cost, how to find and keep contractors, and how to scale up the business to a full-time job!

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Categories Real Estate

Source: investfourmore.com

Apache is functioning normally

I bought my first rental property in 2010 when the market was much different! I bought a single-family home for $97k that rented for $1,050 a month. I know many people would love to go back to those days but the reality is prices will most likely never be that low again in most markets. While I bought a single-family home for my first rental, there are many other types of rentals and I have since bought multifamily, commercial, and mixed-use rental properties. The type of property that is best for beginners in today’s market with high-interest rates and high prices will depend on many factors.

What was my first rental property?

The first property I bought was a 3 bedroom, 2 bath, 2 story house with a 2 car attached garage. The home was built in 2005 and did not need a lot of work. I bought it in Greeley, Colorado and while prices were much lower back then, I still got a great deal. I took my time looking for properties and this was an estate sale. The home needed some paint and that was about it. It was a fantastic property for my first rental. I used Bank of America to get a 25% down investor loan which was not easy but luckily the seller was patient! While properties were cheaper then, it was much tougher to finance them and there were much fewer options for investors.

I later sold that property for $275,000 in 2019 and used a 1031 exchange to buy a commercial property for $600,000. I think buying a single-family rental was an awesome choice for me at that time. However, this property would not be a very good rental now as it is worth around $350,000 and would only rent for $1,700 to $1,800.

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Are single-family rentals good for beginning investors?

I think single-family rentals are great for beginners if the numbers work out. However, with high rates and high prices, the numbers simply don’t work in many areas. There are areas of the country that have cheaper houses that are great for single-family rentals but we aren’t all in those places. Here are some of the pros and cons of single-family rentals:

Pros

  • Large buyer pool if you need to sell: Single-family homes are attractive to investors and owner-occupants. When buying a rental as a beginner it is smart to have an exit strategy. Maybe the property is not as good as you thought it was or you decide you hate rentals. Can you sell the property? If you need to sell a single-family home you can sell to other investors or owner-occupants. Owner-occupants will often pay more than investors and they are always buying homes even when interest rates are high. Investors may slow down their buying when rates are high.
  • Easy to rent and manage: Single-family homes appeal to many renters and are usually easy to rent. Tenants also have a tendency to stay in the property longer and take care of it. I have had the same renters for 10 years in some of my single-family rentals. Many tenants will even make minor repairs themselves (not always a good thing) and maintain the yards, perform snow removal, etc.
  • Easier to find a good deal: In most areas, there are more single-family homes than other types of rentals. Because there are more of them there are usually more for sale and you might be able to get a better deal than on multifamily or commercial where there are much fewer properties.
  • Easier to finance: Lenders love to finance houses, even as rentals. It is much easier to get a loan on a house than a commercial property, multifamily, or mixed-used property.
  • More diversification: If your plan is to buy a lot of houses, like my plan to buy 100, it can be a little safer than buying a few big properties. Each house will be in a different area, with different tenants, and one horrible situation won’t destroy all your houses.
  • You can house hack a single-family home which means you buy as an owner-occupant and rent out part of it while you live there or live there a year and then rent out the whole thing. Owner-occupants get much cheaper loans with less money down.

Cons

  • Harder to cash flow: The big con with single-family rentals, especially right now is they can be very expensive compared to the rent they bring in. The more expensive the property, the worse the rent-to-value ratio tends to be.
  • Houses are expensive right now: Most properties are expensive but in some markets, houses are very expensive, and the higher the price, the more money you will need to invest in them.
  • Tougher to scale: It is tougher to scale when you need to buy a lot of houses to meet your goals. Each purchase takes work to find the deal, finance it, and possibly make repairs. If you buy larger multifamily or commercial it can be easier to scale.
  • More expensive to repair: It might be more expensive to repair single-family homes than a larger building because a larger building has one roof, possibly one heating system, etc. However, that roof and heating system on the big property will be much more expensive to repair and you will need a lot more money at once, than if you are repairing houses here and there.
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Are small multifamily rentals good for beginning investors?

Multifamily rentals have more than one unit. You could invest in a duplex or a fourplex or a 100 unit property. Multifamily properties can make it easier to scale because you have more units under one roof and the rent-to-value ratios may be better. These pros and cons are for smaller 2 to 4-unit multifamily properties.

Pros

  • Can have much better cash flow: Multifamily properties are usually valued based on the income they produce. The prices are not driven up by owner-occupants who do not care what a property will rent for.
  • Somewhat easy to sell: 2 to 4-unit properties are fairly easy to sell still although not as easy as single-family homes. You can still house hack a 2 to 4-unit property which means owner-occupants can buy them. There are not a lot of people looking to house hack but you can still sell to investors and owner-occupants.
  • Easy to finance: Again, 2 to 4-unit properties are fairly easy to finance but not quite as easy as single-family homes. You can buy as an owner-occupant or get an investor loan with many banks.
  • Easy to get a good deal on: There are a lot of 2 to 4-unit properties in most markets although not as many as there are single-family homes. It can be easier to get a great deal, although not as easy as houses.

Cons

  • Harder to manage and rent: 2 to 4-unit properties take more management and usually have more tenant turnover than single-family homes. Tenants tend to move more often, the rents are usually lower, and tenants rarely think of a multifamily as a permanent place to live.
  • More risk of major loss of income: If you have a few houses and one tenant decides to cook meth in the house it can destroy the house and cause major problems as well as lost rent for months. You still have the other houses to bring in income. If you have a multifamily property and that happens the whole property may need to be vacated for an extended period of time. If you have just one of each, then the risk is about the same.
  • More expenses: The tenant usually pays all of the utilities and performs the yard maintenance and snow removal on single-family homes. On multifamily homes, the landlord often pays for the maintenance and some of the utilities if not all of them. You may be able to charge higher rent since the landlord is paying those expenses but make sure you account for them.
  • More fluctuations in value: Multifamily properties are valued based on the income of the property and the expenses. If inters rates go up as they have been, they may be harder to sell or sell for less because investors have to pay less to get the same return. However, when rates go up, rents often increase as well so that could offset a decrease in value (rents would go up on houses as well).

Are large multifamily properties good for new investors?

A lot of new investors want to invest in large multifamily properties. Grant Cardone now tells people to only invest in properties with at least 32 units although he used to encourage house hacking with FHA loans. Large multifamily properties can make a lot of money but they can also be very difficult to buy due to their price and lending is much tougher.

Pros

  • Easy to scale: You can bring in a lot of rent with one property and add a lot of value with the right deal.
  • Rent to value ratios: The rent to value ratio may be better on big properties because only investors are buying them and they expect a certain return. The bigger the property the better the numbers may look because very few buyers are looking at those deals.
  • The maintenance costs can be lower: The costs versus the rent may be lower because you have large buildings under one roof that share the same systems.

Cons

  • Much harder to finance: The everyday person cannot get a loan for a large apartment building. One of the factors lenders consider is experience and they are wary of lending to new investors on big deals even if you have the down payment.
  • Less diversification: If there is a disaster at a large complex, you may have a huge problem with no rent coming in for months. Again, these are rare but can happen. You also may have chosen the wrong location and the property doesn’t perform as you thought (I did this with an 8-plex).
  • Harder to sell: There are few buyers for large complexes and they can take a long time to sell. Interest rates also impact them greatly.
  • The expenses come in huge chunks: While the overall maintenance costs may be lower based on the investment, they can be huge when they do come. You could spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a roof. Having one roof is not always better. There could be more expenses as well like parking lot repaving, landscaping, common areas, etc.
  • They are expensive: It takes many people years to save up the money needed for a large complex. The purchase may be worth it, but while you are waiting why not buy smaller deals that build experience and a track record for lenders. The right deals will also bring you cash flow and equity which could make it easier to buy that big deal sooner. 
  • More headaches: Large multifamily properties tend to have the most turnover, the most repairs needed, and the craziest situations. They take much more management and can have more headaches.

Are commercial properties good for beginner investors?

I bought my first commercial property in 2017 and it cash flowed much better than single-family or multifamily properties in my area and was cheaper. A lot of people see my commercial properties and want to invest in that sector right away. However, they come with more risk and are much more complicated.

Pros

  • Can be cheaper with better returns: In some areas, commercial properties are cheaper and have better returns but they also could be more expensive depending on the area. Small commercial properties are often cheaper than single-family homes.
  • Can add a lot of value: If you can add a tenant on a long term lease it can add a ton of value., I recently bought a commercial property for $865k that was vacant, then added 4 tenants. That property is now worth $1.5 million but it was not for the beginner.
  • Long term tenants: Many commercial tenants will stay for years and have leases that run for years. This is great of you have the right tenant but it takes longer to find those tenants. Many of the leases have built in rent increases as well.
  • Fewer expenses: Some commercial leases are NNN which means the tenants pay almost every expense. These can be fantastic for the landlord but not every commercial lease is set up this way. 
  • Less headaches: Commercial tenants tend to be less needy than residential. They often take care of the property themselves and make sure it looks nice for their business. They expect the rent to increase each year and usually don’t get upset about it.
  • Owner occupied financing available: Yes you can owner occupy a commercial property. You do not live there, but you run a business out of the property. If you use more than 50% of the space you might be able to get an SBA government loan with 10% down.

Cons

  • Much more complicated: It takes time top to learn how the lease work, and the differences between NNN and gross. Properties are valued using cap rates which can be difficult to figure out because they vary based on the lease, the tenant, the property, the location, and more. 
  • Harder to finance: Commercial properties are usually the hardest to finance. They come with risk if you lose a tenant and the lenders know this. They have shorter term loans that must be renewed every five or ten years. The lenders will want to see buyers with experience before they lend them money as well. Even the agents and sellers may not take a buyer serious if they don’t have any experience.
  • More expensive costs: If you have to make repairs it can cost a lot more money as rooftop HVAC, roofs, parking lots, and commercial construction often cost more than residential. The city may require more as well like fire sprinkler systems. Appraisals and inspections are more expensive as well.
  • Harder to sell: Just like multifamily properties, commercial properties can be much harder to sell because there is a smaller buyer pool.   
  • Environmental issues: A big concern with commercial properties are past or current environmental issues. You may need to get an environmental report that shows there were no hazardous materials on the property or gas tanks, etc. To clean up problem properties it can takes tens of thousands of dollars or more.
  • Tenants might expect TI: TI stands for tenant finishes and many tenants expect the landlord to fix up the space for them. This can cost a lot of money but also add a lot of value.

If you are buying small commercial properties you may be able to avoid many of these issues but it is still good to be aware of them and especially talk to your lender about them! On some of my smaller commercial deals, I am able to get a local bank to finance them without an appraisal which is awesome.

Are mixed-use properties good for beginning investors?

Mixed-use properties can also be put in the commercial category. Mixed-use means the property can be used for residential and commercial or have both at the same time. I have a few mixed-use properties and love them but they can be tough to finance like commercial. The one benefit is you can live in part of it and work out of part of it. You may be able to get low down payment SBA loans because of this.

What is best for a beginning investor?

There are many different options for beginning investors to buy their first rental. I would be wary of jumping into huge projects without a lot of help from someone with experience. It will be almost impossible to do so unless you have a lot of cash. Personally, if single-family homes cash flow, I think those are the safest and best bet, but small multifamily can work as well.

If you want to dive into how to do all of this I have a book on residential rentals and commercial rentals as well!

Build a Rental Property Empire

Categories Rental Properties

Source: investfourmore.com

Apache is functioning normally

Day traders may hold stocks for a few hours, while buy-and-hold investors may hold onto a stock for decades. There is no single formula that works for everyone when it comes to deciding how long to hold stocks.

Rather, the decision to hold stocks or sell them must include a number of factors that may be unique to each investor. These can include everything from company fundamentals to industry trends to the investor’s own goals.

In a perfect world, an investor would hold onto stocks until they made a profit. But how much of a gain, and how long that might take — and what to do if the stock loses value? — is more complicated than it seems. Here are some variables to consider.

Why Hold Onto Stocks for the Long Term?

Here are some reasons for an investor to hold on to a stock: They only feel compelled to sell it because of that stock’s most recent performance in the markets. But selling a stock because of a sudden drop in value could be considered timing the market — a strategy that, at times, can hurt investors.

What happens today in the markets doesn’t necessarily reflect longer trends, therefore holding onto stocks despite a dip may give your shares time to recover.

A study done by Dalbar illustrates how investors who attempt to time the market often turn into their own worst enemies. During the 20-year period studied, the S&P 500 had an average annual return of approximately 10%. During the same time period, the average investor achieved a return of just 2.5%, due to the frequent changing of their investment holdings (often mutual funds).

Sure, in the moment, it can be tempting to sell a stock based on a dramatic price change. But, calculating stock profit or loss alone may not be particularly helpful. Stocks that enjoy long-term growth take on some dips in price. And, similarly, dud stocks may have some brief moments in the sun.

Buying and Holding for the Long Game

What’s the ideal holding period for a stock? Some investors might say forever. (Or, at least until the money is needed — like, for income when you’ve reached your target retirement date.)

There are several allures of holding stocks for a long time. First, spending ample time in the market reduces the risk of short-term market volatility. Ups and downs in value are an inevitable part of investing in the stock market, whether through a single stock or a fund. Especially in the short-term, the market could move in any direction.

The bear market between 2007 and 2009 was a prime example of this, as the U.S. stock market lost more than 50% of its value then. This wasn’t an ideal time to be holding stocks — but it was an even worse time to sell. With a buy-and-hold strategy, investors can keep their eyes fixed on the potential for a recovery. The stock market hasn’t yet experienced a dip that it did not bounce back from.

What Is Index Investing?

This is why some investors prefer passive investing strategies. Index funds hold a representative sample of the entire stock market, in an attempt to achieve the market’s average returns. Instead of betting on just one company stock’s performance, index funds invest in the entire engine of the economy. Research has shown that over time, market returns may exceed the returns of active strategies.

Since the great recession of 2008, the stock market has more than made back its losses. This is why buy-and-hold is a strategy that is popular with index fund investors.

Holding Stocks for Future Profitability

Let’s say that a company’s stock has performed well. Perhaps, it’s even hit an investor’s profitability target. Is growth, alone, a good reason to sell? Some investors might think no.

At any moment in time, what makes an investment worth holding on to is the belief that it will be profitable in the future. Therefore, what has happened in the recent past may or may not be relevant to the future.

In investing parlance, this notion is called fundamental analysis. Here are just a few big factors that an investor might chew on when adopting this type of market analysis:

An investor wants to hold on to the stock of a company that continues to increase its sales over time, with a forward-looking forecast that indicates growth. Perhaps the company continues to beat Wall Street’s expectations on earnings.

Maybe, the company has strong management that continues to improve profit margins without sacrificing innovation. Or, perhaps the company continues to develop products that increasingly capture market share, making the company a stronger industry competitor.

While none of the above scenarios outright guarantee a company’s stock will continue to perform well into the future, keeping an eye trained to the days ahead — instead of the past — may be a useful skill for investors to develop.

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Reasons to Sell Stocks

Some investors and traders, however, are not interested in long-term holding strategies. Instead, they set certain profit thresholds, selling once those requirements are met.

Selling Once a Stock Hits a Profit Requirement

Here’s one scenario:

A trader may want to sell once a stock reaches 10% or 20% in profit. Similarly, a stock could be sold once it hits a preselected price target — usually based on a stock’s per-share price. Price-target selling can be set up automatically, through what’s called a limit order.

For example, an investor buys a stock for $50. They want to sell this stock if (and only if) the price reaches $65. A limit order can be set to sell when the stock hits this target price. If it never reaches $65, then order is not filled (and the stock remains held).

Selling for Personal Reasons

Although it is not, generally, recommended that an investment strategy change in response to the market’s ups and downs, there are plenty of personal reasons why a person may opt to sell stock investments.

Certain life events may create a shift in an investor’s ability to tolerate the risk of stocks. For instance, a divorce, family death, the birth of a child, or a big move may cause a person to want to keep more of their overall investment portfolio in easy-to-access cash (or other less volatile investments).

Similarly, a person might just want to build up their cash savings. For financial goals with a more immediate timeline, it may make little sense to subject that money to the volatility of the stock market. Instead, savers may prefer to sell stocks to keep that money liquid and ready to be used.

Changes in personal investment strategy can also drive an individual to sell stocks. Shifts along these lines may have nothing to do with a stock’s recent performance or that of the market. Investors approaching retirement, for example, could want to shift towards more conservative investments, like cash or bond holdings.

Selling to Diversify Assets

Many investors opt to put a mix of stocks, bonds, and cash in their long-term investment portfolios. For example, an investor may choose a mix of 70% stocks and 30% bonds to balance out investment goals and risk tolerance.

But, when diversifying assets, one type of investment may outperform the other. Because of the potential for this uneven growth, an investor’s asset allocation could get thrown out of balance.

Let’s imagine a large spurt of growth in the stock market coupled with more lackluster growth in the bond market. Remember the investor from above, with a 70/30 mix? Maybe, now. they’re left with a portfolio that’s closer to 80% stocks and 20% bonds.

That mix may carry more risk than the investor deems appropriate. So, in this scenario, rebalancing the portfolio requires selling some stock holdings and then moving the funds into less volatile bonds.

Understanding Short-Term Holdings

Investors debating how long to hold their stocks will likely want to consider taxes. There’s no minimum amount of time when an investor needs to hold on to stock.

But, investments that are sold at a gain are taxed at a capital gains tax rate. This rate changes, depending on whether the investor held onto the stock for more or less than one year.

For a holding period of less than one year, any gains will be taxed at a person’s marginal income tax rate. By holding onto a stock for more than one year, an investor will likely lower their tax burden. It can be helpful for investors to speak with a certified tax professional before adopting any tax strategy.

The Takeaway

Even though investors typically put a great deal of thought into selecting stocks and other securities, with the hope that those securities will appreciate in value, there is no guarantee they will. And there is no crystal ball that can tell any investor how long to hold onto a stock.

Sometimes it’s the stock itself that determines how long you’ll hold it. But sometimes your investing strategy determines your stock selection. If you’re planning to sell quickly with a gain in mind, that’s one approach. But if you expect to hold onto a stock for the long haul, that can also influence which stocks you think have staying power.

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2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.

3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.

For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Investment Risk: Diversification can help reduce some investment risk. It cannot guarantee profit, or fully protect in a down market.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
SOIN0323027

Source: sofi.com

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Editor’s Note: Lending Club no longer offers peer-to-peer lending on it’s platform.

Peer Lending Server is a completely automated investment solution for peer-to-peer (P2P) loan investing. It works with only one of the P2P lending sites, Lending Club, and runs on Windows, Mac or Linux. At least part of what makes Peer Lending Server unique is the focus on loan underwriting. This process can be done in a fraction of the second as soon as new loans are listed.

How Peer Lending Server Works

You can download and install the Peer Lending Server Virtual Box that is designed for your operating system. You start by installing Peer Lending Server, and only then do you add your Lending Club API information and program options. From there, you can create filters that you want to use to help you in selecting loans to invest in.

The system will filter current notes, allowing you to download and browse the latest notes on Lending Club that will match your filters. With the click of a button, you can automatically invest in any and all listed loans that match your filter criteria. Any notes that you are already invested in through Peer Lending Server will of course be excluded. You can then schedule the service to automatically start filtering loans at times that you select.

The platform enables you to choose the amount that you want to invest each note, as well as the maximum notes per order. You can also choose to maintain a minimum cash level in your account.

You can also set a maximum percent of available notes to be allowed per filter, and the service will enable you to rank filter notes by a given field. This will give a higher priority to notes that meet the criteria of the highest ranking filters.

Peer Lending Server makes use of external data, which includes additional data points to determine the creditworthiness of any loan. They use statistical models that include macroeconomic data to help increase return on investment, while significantly reducing risk.

Through the use of artificial intelligence, you are able to underwrite loans quickly. Artificial intelligence deciphers complex relationships, improves efficiency and avoids errors.

The service is set to run on Pacific Standard Time, and changing your time zone is not supported or recommended. Peer Lending Server is also designed to run as a service that is always “on” , and for that reason it should be installed on a computer that will always be left on, and where sleep mode is disabled. This means you will be more likely to install it on a home-based desktop computer, rather than a laptop, since the latter is shut down frequently.

One of the major advantages of using Peer Lending Server is that since it runs through your home computer (for the reason given in the paragraph above), your password and API can be maintained privately. There is no need to share your credentials with third parties, or to wait on shared resources. The application runs on your own computer, allowing you to be “first in line” when looking for loans and notes to invest in.

Peer Lending Server offers a large number of tools and features that could improve your success as an investor on Lending Club.

Automated investing. Peer Lending Server is a complete “turn-key” investment application for Lending Club, and is Lending Club API compliant. It offers low detection, execution of saved Lending Club filters, the ability to schedule service times, and a detailed log of each transaction. It also provides configurable maximum loans per order, as well as configurable investment dollar amounts and a configurable option to disable order submission. It can enable you to maintain a minimum cash level of your choice, and to configure based on a maximum percent of notes per order allowed.

Machine learning. The system provides a sophisticated gradient hosted model for mature loan classification, as well as rapid loan prediction. Analytics provide your projected return on investment, and no technical knowledge is required.

Filters. You can use preset filters, and custom filters to match your investment strategy. Filters include artificial intelligence fields for return on investment projections. There is also extensive help included with each field – again you don’t need to be a technical genius in order to operate the system.

Peer Lending Server analytics. This includes the ability to test custom filters, instant and projected return on investment, extended return metrics, and loan status including paid, default, and late statistics. It also comes with bar charts and pie charts, as well as common field categories from multiple perspectives and views.

Ease of use. Peer Lending Server is setup to operate on a “set and forget” basis. It takes just a few steps to configure, filter and run automated investing, and you can be up and running in a matter of minutes.

Speed. Peer Lending Server describes itself as “blazingly fast”, using search and modeling technology that takes place in a small fraction of the second. This gives you the ability to make educated investment decisions while capturing the most popular investment opportunities.

Peer Lending Server Forum. The forum is actually hosted by LendAcademy.com, and has hundreds of discussions relating to both the technical aspects of Peer Lending Server as well as investment strategies to best take advantage of the system.

The platform also has a blog, however there are only about a half-dozen articles, so this feature will have very limited utility.

Peer Lending Server is Free to Use. We saved the best for last. You can’t beat the price of Peer Lending Server, because it’s absolutely free to use.

Should You Try Peer Lending Server

Peer Lending Server is one of several P2P automated investment services – robo advisors for P2P platforms. The service is completely free, so you have nothing to lose by at least trying the service. If you are an active investor on Lending Club, then you almost certainly will need to use some sort of automated investment service, and Peer Lending Server offers the full package.

Perhaps the major downside of Peer Lending Server is that it can be used only in conjunction with Lending Club and not with any other P2P platforms. But apart from that limitation, it is a full-service platform, that offers a higher level of security and quicker access to new loans, due to the fact that it is downloaded to your home computer. This gives you the advantage of immediate access to new loans, as well as eliminating the necessity to share your credentials with third parties.

Is it the best P2P automated investment service? That’s probably more a matter of preference than anything else. Each investor has to find the service that works best for him or her, and which that will be will depend upon the preferred tools and features offered by each. But given that Peer Lending Server is free, you owe it to yourself to at least give it a test run.

Source: goodfinancialcents.com

Apache is functioning normally

Last Updated on March 29, 2023 by Mark Ferguson

Most of the United States is in a very hot real estate market. With housing prices increasing, it is getting tougher and tougher for real estate investors to find great deals. Buying off-market properties is one way to get great deals and avoid the intense competition on the MLS. Most MLS properties are priced too high for investors to begin with and then you must factor in buyers are paying over list price with multiple offers. Buying off-market properties is not easy, but you can get a great deal if you find motivated sellers. There are ways to find properties not for sale with mailers, bandit signs, advertising, websites, and more.

What are off-market properties and how do you buy them?

Most sellers will use a real estate agent to sell their home on the multiple listing service (MLS). Most houses on the MLS are in decent shape and the sellers pay a commission to the real estate agents when their house sells. In most cases, the seller will get more money for their house when they list it on the MLS. The MLS exposes the house to more buyers and real estate agents representing buyers. It is possible for real estate investors to buy from the MLS, but it is tough. I get a lot of deals from the MLS but I am also an agent which gives me a huge advantage.

There are some homeowners who want to sell their home but do not want to list it on the MLS. The home could need extensive repairs, the sellers may not want anyone to know they are selling the house, the sellers may need to sell extremely fast or other factors may cause a seller to want to sell off the MLS or off-market. Some sellers may not want showings due to Covid-19 concerns. The difficulty in buying off-market properties is finding motivated sellers, who do not have their homes up for sale.

Here is a video that goes over my direct marketing:

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What to consider before buying off-market properties

A lot of real estate investors start off trying to wholesale real estate. The first thing they do is look for properties to get under contract. That is great if you have buyers and know what prices those buyers will pay. If you are just starting out and do not know how to write a contract, what prices buyers will pay, or even how to find buyers you may want to wait to look for properties. It is not fair to the seller to tie up a property hoping you can figure everything out in a week or two. Before you go looking for off-market properties make sure you:

  • Know the market
  • Know what price you are willing to pay or a buyer will pay if you are wholesaling
  • Know how to get the home under contract
  • Know how you are paying for the property or closing on it if you are wholesaling

If you are out there talking to people and networking go for it, but before you get a seller’s hopes up make sure you have a plan and know what you are doing.

Here is a link to the company I use.

How do real estate investors find off-market deals?

There are many ways to find off-market properties and most of them take a lot of work. Here is a quick breakdown of ways to find off-market homes at a discount.

Buy from wholesalers

Many real estate wholesalers will sell off-market properties to investors who can pay cash. Most wholesalers do not list their homes on the MLS, but utilize a buyers list to sell their properties. If you can find great wholesalers in your area, you may be able to get some great deals from the MLS.

Drive for dollars

Driving for dollars is when you look for vacant homes. When you find the vacant home you try to contact the owners of the home to see if they will sell it to you. Here is an article with much more information on driving for dollars.

Direct marketing

Direct marketing involves sending postcards, letters, posting bandit signs, creating websites, and trying to get sellers to call you.

Networking

There are many people advertising they have off-market properties directly from banks. Please be careful as banks almost never sell off individual properties without using MLS. You can use your network of investors, agents, and other professionals to find off-market properties. Be very careful and do not get your hopes up with unknown internet solicitations.

Bandit signs

The easiest way to start marketing to sellers is to stick out a few bandit signs, which are signs that say you buy houses. Investors like to put these on busy street corners or in neighborhoods they want to buy in. Many cities have made bandit signs illegal and if your signs disappear it could be the city removing them or another investor who wants less competition. I do not use bandit signs, because of the real estate agent disclosure issues.

Websites

Attracting motivated sellers has become huge on the internet. I even wrote an article to attract motivated sellers. If you can create a website to attract sellers in your area, it can be a great source of leads. I am not an internet wizard, even though I created this blog I have had a ton of help. This company specializes in creating websites to attract motivated sellers. I used them to create a website for my own direct marketing.

Finding Off-Market Property Deals

The most lucrative way to find great off-market deals is to create your own direct marketing campaigns. Creating a direct mail campaign is not easy and there is a reason most investors will never venture into this field or will not stay long enough to be successful. I have my own direct mail campaigns and I have purchased and listed homes from direct mail. Since I am a real estate agent I have a couple of different ways to use direct mail, but I have to disclose I am an agent and be very careful buying homes. I always have a seller sign a disclosure that states I am buying the home below market and I may profit from the purchase. Check with state laws if you are an agent trying to buy off-market properties.

How to use direct mail to find motivated sellers

Direct mailing is one of the best ways, if not the best way to find motivated sellers. Direct mail involves sending letters or postcards to people who may be interested in selling their homes. There are many ways to create and manage a direct mailing campaign. There are many different mailings to use and many different segments to send that list out to.

The first step in creating a direct mailing campaign is coming up with a list to send mail to. You can use companies like List Source or there are companies that create custom lists for inherited properties. I am lazy and have the company that makes my mailers for me pull the lists as well. We send different postcards out to each list and update the lists a few times a year.

Once you have your lists you have to send out letters or postcards to the list. I have seen many varying opinions on whether postcards or letters are better and it seems to come down to testing. Everyone is in a different market and everyone’s list consists of different owners. With some owners, a postcard works better and with other owners, a letter may work better. Try out different letters and postcards and see which one gets you the most motivated sellers calling. Usually, you want to say something about buying houses for cash, with no commissions, repairs needed, and you can buy fast.

One letter will not get the job done. You may have to send out five letters or postcards to the same person before they will respond. You want to make sure you respond right away to any calls. We have a dedicated number set up just for postcard calls so we can call them back whether they leave a message or not.

It is a lot of work to set up a direct mail campaign and it takes a lot of persistence. This is why most investors will not do it or see a campaign through. There is a company that will find a list, create letters or postcards for you, and even mails them.

I have used this company to set up a separate phone line that rings different on my cell phone so I know it is a direct lead coming in and not a regular phone call. I hate answering my phone and love this setup! Vonage

How to negotiate with an off-market seller?

The scariest part of any direct mail campaign is talking to the sellers. Many people will call you very upset that you are sending them mail asking to buy their house. Usually, when you talk to them and explain you are buying houses in the neighborhood and are pleasant they calm down. You will have to deal with some property owners who have nothing better to do than to yell and complain. I had one lady threaten to call the police if I did not stop sending her letters, but she refused to tell me her name or address so I could take her off my list.

There will also be many property owners hoping to sell their house, but they want full retail value without paying a real estate commission. Then you will talk to the motivated sellers who want to sell right away and are willing to take a lower price for their home, because of the urgency or the condition. I talk as much as I can to the sellers to see why they are selling, how much they want for their house, and when they want to sell. Many times the sellers are happy just to talk to anyone to tell their story.

Since I am an agent I like to give sellers a couple of options. I am very honest with them and tell them that most of the time they will get more money if they list the home on the MLS. Even knowing they will get more money on the MLS there are some sellers who don’t want to list on the MLS or the homes are in such bad shape that it makes more sense for me to buy them. Otherwise, as an agent, I can list the home for them and make money that way. If you are not an agent you may be able to sell your leads to a real estate agent, but it is illegal in most states for a real estate agent to pay a referral fee to someone who is not licensed.

When you talk to a seller you want to highlight the advantages of selling to you.

  • No repairs needed
  • No commissions
  • No closing costs
  • Fast closing
  • Cash closing
  • No Showings
  • No appraisal

These advantages are for an investor who can pay cash for houses and close very quickly. Some wholesalers will use these terms as well assuming they can assign a contract to a cash investor who will buy the property. Don’t lie to the seller and claim you can buy with cash if you have to get a loan. Almost all the successful investors I talk to have a couple of things in common. They know their market like no one else, they are honest and follow through on deals if they say they will buy a house.

Conclusion

It takes a lot of work to buy off-market properties. You must find the property, negotiate with the seller, get the house under contract, and figure out the closing process. If you are wholesaling, there are many more steps involved. I get many deals that are off-market for my flips and rentals, but it took a lot of time to figure out the practices to get those deals. Here is a link to the company I use for my direct mail (I may receive a commission from them if you sign up). I like them the best because they make custom pieces and it takes little work from me! Direct marketing done for you.

Build a Rental Property Empire

Categories Real Estate

Source: investfourmore.com

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Deciding you’re ready to consult with a financial advisor is a first and important step in reaching your financial goals — but finding the right professional for your needs takes some time and effort, starting with a closer look at what you need, exactly.

A financial advisor can do many things. Generally, they examine a client’s current financial picture, from debt to savings and investments; discuss financial goals (whether retirement, saving for college, or another goal); and create a plan to help the client get there.

Some financial professionals simply offer guidance or a basic plan; others may completely manage a client’s portfolio, while others may offer services that fall somewhere in between. Finding the right person hinges on whether their services match your needs, whether their cost structure makes sense, in addition to other considerations.

Benefits of Using a Financial Advisor

Financial advisors can help their clients create a financial plan that allows them to save and invest for future goals while still meeting the obligations of today. In other words, they can help craft a comprehensive plan to guide people through multiple stages of life in a way that dovetails with their unique goals. Typically, the plan has some degree of personalization.

Plus, advisors can help their clients stay the course, saving and investing for the long term. Creating a financial plan is a key step, but then it’s crucial to stick with the plan. This isn’t always easy when, for example, the market is volatile and emotions are triggered. But that’s when an experienced advisor may come in handy; they can provide perspective and help clients stay focused.

Some financial advisors help clients to become more financial savvy. Some may make trades for their clients, while many monitor investments made to help ensure that a client’s portfolio is on track. Some help with tax issues as well, e.g. whether to use a strategy like tax-loss harvesting, and more complex financial matters like estate planning.

By looking at these benefits, which seem most important to you? Sometimes making a list of requirements can be helping when trying to find a financial advisor. Under some circumstances you may even want to consider hiring a wealth advisor.

Seeking an Advisor

Next step in finding an advisor is to obtain some recommendations. To get a list of advisors to consider:

Friends and Family Recommendations

•   Ask friends and family if they’ve used or are using an advisor. If so, what services are they receiving? How happy are they? Are there any concerns about any of the advisors they’re using? Ideally you want to take recs from people in similar circumstances to your own.

•   Do the same with business colleagues, or people who belong to the same organizations that you do.

By looking at the websites of these advisors, do they seem like a potential match?

Industry Associations

Another option when seeking an advisor is to consult industry associations and trade groups.

•   The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors website (NAPFA focuses on fee-only financial planners).

•   Financial Planning Association. Advisors in this network are CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNERS™ (CFP®s) and you can search by location, area of specialty, how they’re paid and any asset minimums that may exist.

•   Garrett Planning Network. All advisors in this network charge hourly.

Finding the Right Fit

Just as you wouldn’t buy the first car you test-drove, or the first pair of shoes you tried on, you don’t have to commit to working with the first financial planner you talk to. Many advisors offer a free consultation so you can find out more about them. While the selection process does take a little extra time, it’s worth investing that time for your future.

Questions to Consider

Some people may find that the same names keep cropping up when asking for recommendations and exploring online sites. It can therefore make sense to create a short list of financial advisors from those findings and explore those options in more depth.

Questions to ask those advisors can include:

•   What specific services do you offer?

•   What processes do you use to create a plan for me?

•   What qualifications do you have?

•   How often would we meet or otherwise communicate?

•   What is your overall investment philosophy?

If you’re a beginning investor, it can help to ask about the financial advisor’s experience in getting new people started with planning and investing in a basic portfolio.

Fiduciary Rules

Another key question: is a financial advisor a fiduciary? If so, the advisor must work in the best interests of a client and either disclose conflicts of interest or avoid them. If an advisor is not a fiduciary, he or she is required only to make recommendations that are considered suitable.

In 2013, the U.S. Department of Labor tried to mandate that all financial advisors needed to follow a fiduciary standard with retirement accounts. But in 2018, the Fifth Circuit Court overruled the standard. Although this issue may be revisited, for now, investors who want a fiduciary must find out what standard a particular financial advisor follows.

Advisors who follow a fee-based payment structure are, by definition, fiduciaries. Those who get paid a commission when clients make certain investments may or may not be. When an advisor isn’t a fiduciary, they might recommend investments because they’re right for the client, but they could also be recommended because the advisor gets paid a commission.

Also, when comparing advisors, what will services for each of them cost?

Common Financial Advisor Charges

Financial advisors’ fees can be structured in a number of ways, and what you pay for a financial advisor depends on a number of factors. In general, financial advisors are either paid a flat fee (such as a retainer or a fee-for-services), commissions on products and investments they sell you (such as insurances and/or mutual funds), or a hybrid.

Retainer

Some advisors charge fixed retainer fees, due monthly, quarterly, or annually. The fees can range significantly; annually, the low end may be $2,000, with the high end at $7,500. Investors can ask an advisor to explain what they get for paying the retainer.

Commission

In this scenario, advisors get paid based on the products they sell to clients. Some advisors may receive a percentage of the assets of a client before the investments are made. Others can be paid by a financial institution after the transaction has occurred, while others may charge clients each time that a stock is bought or sold.

Advisory Fees

This can be a percentage of the assets being managed by the financial advisor. Generally speaking, paying 1% annually is reasonable under this structure when including both the fees of a financial advisor and any investment fees. When considering an advisor who charges these fees, it can make sense to ask for a breakdown and the reasoning behind the fee structure.

Planning Fees

This could be an upfront fee for a financial plan or for ongoing advice. There can also be a subscription-based fee structure, similar to a retainer. Fees for these services vary widely, so be sure to ask what your all-in costs would be when working with any advisor.

Hourly Fees

This would involve a straight hourly fee for services provided. For example, setting up your retirement portfolio might cost $X, while setting up a 529 college savings plan for your kids might cost $Y.

Robo Advising vs Financial Advisors

It may also make sense to consider an online robo-advisor, or automated investing platform. This is an algorithm-driven digital platform that provides clients with basic financial guidance and pre-set portfolio options.

First, the investor responds to a questionnaire by inputting their goals and time horizon. Typical questions may also include risk tolerance. (Here’s a helpful risk tolerance quiz.)

Based on the investor’s preferences, the technology on the backend comes up with a basic plan and a recommended portfolio option (e.g. one that’s more aggressive or more conservative).

Because most automated portfolios are built with low-cost index or exchange-traded funds (ETFs), these services are considered efficient and low cost compared with using a human advisor.

Robo portfolios often involve an annual fee, perhaps 0.25% to 1% of the account balance. In some instances, a robo advisor may charge a small monthly dollar amount for lower balances, e.g. $4 per month, instead of a percentage. Remember, these costs are in addition to the fees for the underlying funds in your portfolio.

Automated investing platforms may not be the right choice for people who need advice for complex financial situations, such as tax planning. It also wouldn’t fit the needs of investors who simply prefer to sit down with a human advisor, of course.

Just like with human advisors, different robo advisor programs offer different services. So if the idea of robo advising sounds appealing, it can help to check more than one option.

Free Financial Advice

Some companies offer complimentary financial advice for their customers. In some cases this feature is only offered if your account balance is high enough. But even though an advisory service might be touted as ‘no cost’, remember that different investment products always come with a fee, such as an expense ratio. Topics discussed can include how to:

•   Set and reach financial goals, based on the current financial landscape.

•   Create a budget and practice good spending habits.

•   Leverage debt strategically by balancing repayment of debt with saving for long-term goals.

•   Build an emergency fund and save for the future.

•   Create an investment strategy that dovetails with personal risk tolerance and goals.

The Takeaway

Deciding to work with a financial advisor is an exciting step toward taking control of your financial future. Finding the right person, however, takes time and diligence. Financial advisors can come with a range of qualifications and specialties. The services they offer and the fees they charge also vary.

Fortunately, there are a number of organizations that can help you do a search for someone who is the right fit. And you can also consider taking a more tech-driven route and using a robo-advisor.

Ready to invest in your goals? It’s easy to get started when you open an Active Invest account with SoFi invest. You can invest in stocks, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), and more. SoFi doesn’t charge commissions, but other fees apply (full fee disclosure here), and members can access complimentary financial advice from a professional.

For a limited time, opening and funding an account gives you the opportunity to win up to $1,000 in the stock of your choice.

SoFi Invest®
The information provided is not meant to provide investment or financial advice. Also, past performance is no guarantee of future results.
Investment decisions should be based on an individual’s specific financial needs, goals, and risk profile. SoFi can’t guarantee future financial performance. Advisory services offered through SoFi Wealth, LLC. SoFi Securities, LLC, member FINRA / SIPC . SoFi Invest refers to the three investment and trading platforms operated by Social Finance, Inc. and its affiliates (described below). Individual customer accounts may be subject to the terms applicable to one or more of the platforms below.
1) Automated Investing—The Automated Investing platform is owned by SoFi Wealth LLC, an SEC registered investment advisor (“Sofi Wealth“). Brokerage services are provided to SoFi Wealth LLC by SoFi Securities LLC, an affiliated SEC registered broker dealer and member FINRA/SIPC, (“Sofi Securities).

2) Active Investing—The Active Investing platform is owned by SoFi Securities LLC. Clearing and custody of all securities are provided by APEX Clearing Corporation.

3) Cryptocurrency is offered by SoFi Digital Assets, LLC, a FinCEN registered Money Service Business.

For additional disclosures related to the SoFi Invest platforms described above, including state licensure of Sofi Digital Assets, LLC, please visit www.sofi.com/legal.
Neither the Investment Advisor Representatives of SoFi Wealth, nor the Registered Representatives of SoFi Securities are compensated for the sale of any product or service sold through any SoFi Invest platform. Information related to lending products contained herein should not be construed as an offer or prequalification for any loan product offered by SoFi Bank, N.A.
Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs): Investors should carefully consider the information contained in the prospectus, which contains the Fund’s investment objectives, risks, charges, expenses, and other relevant information. You may obtain a prospectus from the Fund company’s website or by email customer service at [email protected] Please read the prospectus carefully prior to investing. Shares of ETFs must be bought and sold at market price, which can vary significantly from the Fund’s net asset value (NAV). Investment returns are subject to market volatility and shares may be worth more or less their original value when redeemed. The diversification of an ETF will not protect against loss. An ETF may not achieve its stated investment objective. Rebalancing and other activities within the fund may be subject to tax consequences.
Fund Fees
If you invest in Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) through SoFi Invest (either by buying them yourself or via investing in SoFi Invest’s automated investments, formerly SoFi Wealth), these funds will have their own management fees. These fees are not paid directly by you, but rather by the fund itself. these fees do reduce the fund’s returns. Check out each fund’s prospectus for details. SoFi Invest does not receive sales commissions, 12b-1 fees, or other fees from ETFs for investing such funds on behalf of advisory clients, though if SoFi Invest creates its own funds, it could earn management fees there.
Financial Tips & Strategies: The tips provided on this website are of a general nature and do not take into account your specific objectives, financial situation, and needs. You should always consider their appropriateness given your own circumstances.
Claw Promotion: Customer must fund their Active Invest account with at least $10 within 30 days of opening the account. Probability of customer receiving $1,000 is 0.028%. See full terms and conditions.
SOIN0423021

Source: sofi.com

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It usually takes a lot of money to flip houses. You have to buy the house, pay for the repairs, pay the carrying costs, and then wait for it to sell to get your cash back out to invest again. Luckily there are ways to flip houses with no money, but it takes work. Some … Read more

Apache is functioning normally

A rate hike is “appropriate” The Federal Reserve is poised to raise rates at its March 15-16 meeting — the first of seven possible rate hikes expected this year. The […]

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