RFG is the place to find practical, real world information on personal finance, real estate, investing, stock options and more.
With government subsidized mortgages and tax deductible interest, buying a rental property is an accessible way for anyone to invest with leverage. But, even if you start Googling like mad, you won’t see very much about investing in condo rentals. Im my opinion, they’ve gotten a bad rap when they offer a lot of advantages. Here’s what I mean…
One of the main reasons real estate is so attractive as an asset class is its privileged tax treatment. Understanding the full implications of real estate taxes for both primary residences and income properties is a vital part of being a real estate investor.
For some reason, people get confused about condos. I think it’s because most Americans -myself included- grew up in a single family home and the idea of owning only a piece of a building is weird. But, condos are a great way to get started on the property ladder and they don’t have as many downsides as you might think!
Given the recent volatility in the market, I’ve been realizing that passive income is an incredibly effective hedge against a recession, if and when it comes. If I lost my job, even a small passive income stream could give me the extra month or two I need to find a new one during a recession.
Last week I wrote about the different types of diversification. To put it simply, there's quite a few. It can be exceedingly complex trying to figure out the best way to find a portfolio balanced for growth and security. Luckily, there are a couple of free tools that can make everything much, much easier.
Because investing is so vital and so confusing, most people decide to hire an investment advisor instead of doing the work themselves. Investment advisors serve a vital role, but depending on the way they are compensated, they can also seriously harm the long term performance of a portfolio. Today, I will take a deep look into what financial advisors do, how they are compensated, and a selection of other tools and resources that can help with financial planning and investments.
Homeowners association fees are one of the biggest expenses that condo owners have to deal with, but they cover maintenance and upkeep that decreases the overall burden of ownership for condo owners.
It’s easy to get suckered in by a beautiful house. “I can afford it, but just barely…” you might say. But, as the largest expense on most people’s budgets, housing is the number one factor determining whether you will be able to save and invest enough to retire early - or at all.
This week, I take a look at the process and timing of leaving a company when you have stock that remains to be vested.
This week I am going to be telling you every detail of my own experience working at a startup, going through an IPO, and slowly trying to turn my shares into something beyond paper profits.
Last week I looked into the two worst work from home jobs I ever had. This week, I am going to tell you the inside story behind my (budding) success with RFG, my ups and downs, and plans for the future. Note: this post was written by me and originally published on The Money Mix.
Online jobs are awesome. I want to make my own hours, and work in my socks if I want to. I’ve tried a few, but they never had the leverage and earnings that made it worth my time.
NSOs (non-qualified stock options) vest over time, giving you the ability to purchase shares at a discounted rate and participate in the (potential) rise of your employers stock. Unlike ISOs, they are not tax advantaged.
I write quite a bit about buying and remodeling condos, because they are the best way to get into the market in expensive cities. But what questions should you ask before you pull the trigger?
Even some of the most intelligent and successful people struggle with money. Here’s how you can dig yourself out of the cycle.
It takes a big pot of money to retire early. And if you want to have a nice lifestyle as well, it takes millions to safely retire early. But, if you are smart about your taxes, you can reduce those numbers significantly. Here's the smartest ways to keep your income taxes low for FIRE.
Mortgage recasting lets you pay down your mortgage and secure a lower monthly payment. But, when does it make sense to refinance instead?
Mortgage recasting is a little known but useful trick that allows you to pay down your mortgage balance and secure a lower monthly payment while keeping your original loan and rate. Read on to see when mortgage recasting makes the most sense.
There are hundreds of different suggestions for how much you should spend on a car, but they all share one common fault: they assume we are all the same! Use this interactive calculator to type in your situation and preferences and see how much you could spend on a car.
You have your appraisal back, finally. But… uh… how do you read it. And what are all these Q’s and C’s?
