Real estate legends Bob Steers of Cohen & Steers and Robert Shiller of MacroMarkets and Yale University provide their insights into the current state of both REITs and residential real estate.

 

In this sweeping look at the current trends and opportunities in real estate investing, Robert Steers of Cohen & Steers looks at the history and potential of the REIT market, while Robert Shiller of MacroMarkets examines the environment and opportunities for investors in retail housing. A lively panel discussion moderated by IndexUniverse.com's Jim Wiandt follows.

Click here to view the archived recording of this webinar.

Click here to download a PDF copy of the presentations.

Note: Certified Financial Planners who preregistered and attended this event live are eligible to receive one CE credit. Information on receiving credit has been sent to all registered attendees

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Perhaps the mishmash of numbers floating around the housing market have you confused.  For those who follow the market closely, the daily news seems to bring a never-ending stream of contradictory data. 

Here are just a few statistics in the news lately from respected market mavens like the S&P/Case-Shiller Indices and the National Association of Realtors:

The “average” price of homes in the U.S. is down almost 35% from the record highs of 2006. “Median” housing prices are down 19% in 90% of the major markets in the United States. Building permits were up 4% in April from last year, and homebuilder confidence increased from 16 to 18.

So what do these numbers mean to you?

Probably nothing.

“It’s like a weatherman who combines conditions in Nome, Alaska and Clearwater, Florida and issues an “average” national forecast of 45 degrees,” according to

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by Eric T. Rightley

The 1031 Exchange process starts with your CPA or accountant. The discussion should include the amount of taxes owed if you sold the property outright. The adjusted basis would be determined, and based on this adjusted basis, you can determine what the “normal” capital gains tax liability would be. Also, you can determine the amount of taxes that would be due to depreciation recapture. This depreciation recapture is currently taxed at a maximum rate of 25%. The capital gains that are attributed to depreciation are taxed at a higher rate.

Likewise, your CPA or accountant will determine how much of the gain relates to normal appreciation from the natural increase in the value of the property. This appreciation is currently taxed at a maximum rate of only 15%. Your CPA will also determine if any state income tax or capital gains tax would be incurred. This …

by Doc Schmyz

It used to be that “people” made decisions about your credit worthiness. You knew your banker and your handshake was all the collateral you needed. Those days are long gone, and now a single number – your FICO score – determines your credit worthiness.

We can talk about several ways to review your credit but to keep it simple we are going to focus on the credit model created by Fair, Isaac Company. Better known as FICO.

Your FICO credit score can be used to determine your interest rate and how much credit a lender will give you. So taking care of your score, and keeping your credit clean will save you money.

Keeping your credit history in good order and improving your rating is not a hard thing to do…but it will take time. Here are a few ideas how to do just that.

FIRST: Get a copy of …

Real estate investing is not nearly as complicated, financially burdensome, or time consuming as you might think. In fact, Its easy to add raw land, shopping centers, apartment complexes, and private homes to your portfolio without brokers, bankers, attorneys, and handymen on your payroll. Even better, the zero overhead approach allows you to blend your real estate investments into your securities portfolio for ease of management, income monitoring, diversification, and analysis.

I know you think that the entire real estate market is in a shambles, and that it is far too dangerous to get involved now, what with all the nasty uncertainty that has decimated property values. But where did the real damage take place, and why? Without having mega millions to work with, or a line of credit that goes around the block, you can have positions in various forms of Real

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Checkbook IRA accounts, also called self-directed IRA accounts, provide many options for account holders to increase their portfolio value through investing in real estate. As real estate investing is the number one way to make money in the U.S., it’s no wonder that many want to capitalize on this.

Real estate investing is a very diversified field, which can stymie some investors when it comes to determining how to invest their money. It needn’t be at all, however. Asking yourself a few questions will help you to quickly put together a real estate investment strategy for your self-directed IRA account funds.

3 Questions to That Help Formulate a Real Investment Strategy

Investor Personality: As in, what type of investor are you? Do you like to take chances, are you super conservative. Or, do you fall somewhere in between the two. Knowing your investor personality will guide in selecting the most appropriate investment that …