google news nz: Buying a Home in Today's Real Estate Economy

Sunday, March 18, 2012

Buying a Home in Today's Real Estate Economy | Columbus Indiana ...

Warren Buffett speaks out:

Is it time to buy real estate?????? ?If I had a way of buying a couple hundred thousand single-family homes I would load up on them.?

Why invest in real estate now???? ?It?s a way, in effect, to short the dollar because you can take a 30-year mortgage and if it turns out your interest rate?s too high, next week you refinance lower. And if it turns out it?s too low, the other guy?s stuck with it for 30 years. So it?s a very attractive asset class now.?

Is buying your own home better than investing in stocks right now? ? ? ?If I knew where I was going to want to live the next five or 10 years I would buy a home and I?d finance it with a 30-year mortgage? It?s a terrific deal.?

Should we buy multiple houses? ? ? ?If I was an investor that was a handy type and I could buy a couple of them at distressed prices and find renters, I think it?s a leveraged way of owning a very cheap asset now and I think that?s probably as an attractive an investment as you can make now.?

Projection 2012:???? Frank Nothaft. Freddie Mac VP and chief economist

?The US economy continues to build on the momentum from the end of last year. Our outlook anticipates gradual, but steady, improvement in the economy and the housing market, supported by low interest rates and brightening job market prospects.?

MSNBC.com ? 2/6/12:???? Home Rents Will Keep Rising ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ??

?Paying rent is getting more painful for renters across the country in the face of rising demand and tight supply?

It?s bad timing for people who have been spooked by, or pushed out of, the residential housing market and have decided to rent instead of buy. Home ownership in the United States is at historic lows, but at the same time rental prices are on the rise.?