Archive for April, 2008

Checkbook IRA Account: Determining a Real Estate Investment Strategy

Monday, April 28th, 2008

Checkbook IRA accounts, also called self-directed IRA LLC 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.

For all of the opportunity that the checkbook IRA presents, it can be a confusing, discombobulating journey for many. However, asking and answering a few questions can easily help you determine a sound investment strategy for which to use your self-direct IRA account funds.

3 Questions to That Help Formulate a Real Investment Strategy

Investor Risk Compass: We all have an inherent risk compass, especially when it comes to money. Some of us are extremely conservative, some of us are avid risk takers and many of us fall somewhere in between. Knowing your risk compass before you begin investing your checkbook IRA funds into the real estate marketing will help you to make smarter decisions.

How Far Off is Retirement? Becoming crystal clear about this question will help you decide what type of real estate deals you want to invest your checkbook IRA funds in. You might consider investing in properties to rent, for example, instead of going for the quicker return of buying, renovating and flipping properties.

Retirement Income Needs: Most focus on the big number when they think about their self-directed IRA accounts. Eg, how much do I have/want to have in there? It’s important to break this down into monthly amounts. You should run projects for 20, 25 and 30 years. As in, will how much do I have to have in my account to sustain an income of $5,000/month over 20,  25 or 30 years (maybe even more).

These are just three of the questions you will need to ask and answer before settling on an investment strategy for your checkbook IRA account. Albeit, they are three of the most important.

Small Office Moves

Thursday, April 17th, 2008

Moving when you work from home is a slightly more complicated – the home office is doubly hard to move – you’re moving your work place AND your house.
So what can you do to make the move easier?

Moving your home office, like any other move, is all about packing the non essentials – if you aren’t using your printer much, go ahead and box it, and some paper up – keep it handy so that you can pull it out and use it if you need it.  If you do use it, but not your USB, or other parts of your computer often, consider packing them away as soon as you can.

You can also take this chance to clear out or decide whether anything is needing renewed.  Got cartridges of ink that you want to recycle? Take them back or get them refilled as soon as you can – then pack em away – its one less job to deal with – and it will save you money if you use them to be refilled (if your cartridge supports that)

You’ll also need to consider how you’ll fulfill your duties whilst working from home – will you be able to work on your laptop?  Or will your Internet connection be completely non-existent for the next month, whilst you close down one house and settle into a new one.

You’ll also have to consider shipping issues – if you collect items regularly, you’ll need to make arrangements for them – if you’ve got stock that’s regularly sent to you, what will happen in the ‘grey’ area between your old house and new house, if there is one?

Moving your home office can be frustrating, and tiring, but well worth it in the long run – that corner you claimed in a rush when you started working from home could become a well planned nook in your new house, with a little imagination.

Article By International Auto Transport - International Shipping 

Real Estate IRA - A Special Type of IRA

Friday, April 4th, 2008

A real estate IRA is a type of self directed individual retirement account – IRA - used for the purpose of investing in real estate. Using an IRA to invest in real estate although is not widely known has been possible since the inception of the self directed IRA in 1974. The Real Estate IRA opens up a huge range of alternative investment possibilities and cash especially for investors who already comfortable in investing in real estate and for those investors who are tired of the ups and downs of the stock market.

With a real estate IRA, you can invest your retirement funds in real estate, but also in traditional options such as stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. In order for an investor to participate in real estate investments, the IRA must be transferred to an IRA custodian that will allow real estate within their planned document. But make sure to do your due diligence first.

Most real estate IRA custodians will allow investors to hold real estate in their IRA portfolio allowing them to purchase raw or vacant land, rental or residential properties, and commercial buildings. Whereas other real estate IRA custodians will allow investors to invest in additional options such as foreign property, leveraged property and tax liens. For a short list of self directed real estate IRA custodians go to Google or Yahoo and type in real estate IRA custodian.