How Can Renters Solve the Housing Crisis?

This article highlights the current investment opportunity in real estate. Even though there is a great opportunity, these articles typically reflect the national picture. Our local opportunity is even better when you add in:
  • the stability of our regional employment
  • the Ft. Meade BRAC program (which is initially bringing in 22,000 jobs)
  • the strength of area schools
  • local income levels being some of the highest in the country 
and you have a pretty spectacular result. There are special investor loan programs available. Let me know if you'd like information on how you can profit from the housing crisis.
Full Article if you prefer -
Residential real estate is not rocket science. We know that this housing crisis is:
1. Explainable – bad lending, mad speculation, wild expectations, government meddling
2. Isolated – bad mortgages, negative equity, strategic default, government meddling
3. Temporary – demand for housing always catches up to supply eventually

Anyone with any experience and perspective will agree that this market will recover over the next 10 years, but what will this particular recovery look like? Since the root of the problem was unprecedented, the solution might be as well.

My belief is that renters are going to solve the housing crisis.

Homeownership rates have fallen by a few percentage points, which has translated into more than four million new rental households in just the past few years. According to the Census, 1.4 million of those were added between July 2010 and June 2011, showing that this trend is accelerating.

As a result, rental rates are growing at more than 5% per year, and this trend is also accelerating.

As a result of this, investors are pouring capital into American housing with a long-term mindset, kicking this trend into hyperspeed.

This crisis will not be solved by enticing home buyers. Their confidence is waiting for unemployment to come down and government to act responsibly, which could take a while.

But investors are confident right now. Why? Because they see the big picture. Rental demand equals stable cash flow. So what can be done to encourage them?

How about eliminating archaic waiting periods for investors who want to buy foreclosures? How about eliminating waiting periods for investors who paid cash and want to tap it with a refinance? Today they have to wait months to put that money back to work. Why not eliminate the overall bias against investors in FHA, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and require big down payments to make it safe to lend, and lend?

Better yet, keep your eyes peeled for a private sector player to seize this opportunity to create America’s first national investor mortgage brand. The estimates are that half a million investor loans close every year, and who owns that niche? No one.

The Martial Arts teach you how to use the weight and momentum of your opponent against them (or so they say in the movies). This is the same thing. This drastic increase in rental demand is a by-product of the foreclosure crisis. Use it against the crisis by turning it into positive cash flow investments for those willing to be confident and take a risk in this environment.

Burn off that shadow inventory and create housing options for newly minted renters, which will, in turn, stabilize rental rates, and everybody wins. Good credit renters and buy-hold investors will be the heroes at the end of this saga.

Howard County - Lowest Unemployment in the State of Maryland

I recently read an interesting article about Howard County's Unemployment Rate.

Our regional economy has performed very well over the past few years especially compared to other areas of the country. It's always important to note that the news we hear in the general media is just that - general. It does not always reflect the local or regional picture. Howard County’s unemployment rate has just been announced as the lowest in the state. It also notes that Maryland's unemployment rate is one of the lowest in the country. More reasons to consider real estate investment in this area!
 

Howard County’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.1% in October, representing the lowest figure in Maryland. The county’s previous unemployment rate, documented in September by the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing & Regulation, was 5.4%

“It is very encouraging to see our unemployment rate consistently drop from month to month — evidence of our focus on fostering economic development opportunities through innovation and entrepreneurship,” said County Executive Ken Ulman. “While 5.1% is still unacceptable to us and to those looking for work, I assure you that job creation is a top priority of this administration and we will continue to focus on creating and retaining good jobs in Howard County.”

The unemployment rate in Maryland also dropped in October, from 7.4% to 7.2%, putting the state below the national average and among the lowest in the country.

How to Buy a Home by Age 25

Here is an interesting video about a goal that can actually be accomplished with some hard work and dedication.

Boyd

PS - Did you know that there are grants available that would give you as much as $32,000 to buy your first home? Contact us for more info on grant programs available in Maryland!