http://www.jeffreyhare.com JeffreyHare.com Thu, 29 Jul 2010 21:39:51 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en No question about it -- real estate prices are at bargain levels.  Many individuals seeking to recoup their stock market losses, or who are considering a career change, are seriously considering real estate as an investment opportunity.  However, despite the fact that rates are at historically low levels, lenders are ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2010/07/using-a-checkbook-llc-to-invest-ira-funds/ All types of investing involves risk, and investing in real estate is no exception.  There is no such thing as a “risk-free” investment.  You can learn to manage risk, and take steps to reduce risk – you cannot eliminate it. According to conventional wisdom, higher risk is associated with higher rates ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2010/05/avoiding-risk-what-you-need-to-know/ Easter is a time of inspiration -- to look for the positive side of life.  The economic crisis and its impact has been devastating, and the doom-and-gloom forecasters tend to get the headlines.  Despite this, I know we've survived worse, and we'll get through this as well.  On reflection, it ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2010/04/good-return-on-investing-in-your-community/ Are municipal bonds going the way of subprime loans?  Will the threat of municipal bankruptcies adversely impact real estate values?  Should real estate investors be concerned?  Recent articles suggest the answer to these questions is a qualified "Yes."  But while it may be too early to tell for certain, the ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2010/02/municipal-bonds-the-next-subprime-crisis/ Every successful real estate investor works with a team of professionals.  For those who are getting started, you should include a lawyer on your team, but start early.  If you wait until a situation becomes a crisis, the process can be confusing and could get very expensive.  Selecting the right ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2010/01/ten-questions-to-ask-before-hiring-a-lawyer/ Many people would like to invest in real estate.  Housing prices have plummeted; rates are at historic lows.  You can actually buy cash-flow investment property in California!  It's a great time to buy real estate.  But how do you get started? There are several ways to invest in real estate.  You ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2009/12/getting-started-in-real-estate-investing/ "You're going to lose everything you own," the speaker solemnly warned the audience at a recent real estate investment program.  "We live in a very litigious society," he continued; "you need asset protection." Real estate investors, as a group, will flock to hear speakers talk about the need for what is ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2009/10/asset-protection-a-rational-approach/ Is the glass half full or half empty?  Or is it the wrong glass?  On October 8, Treasury Secretary Geitner announced that the Administration's loan modification program was on target to help 500,000 households avoid foreclosure.  On October 9, a Congressional TARP Oversight Panel released a crtical report that predicted ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2009/10/loan-mod-catastrophe-can-be-avoided/ In a recent article published on September 18 in Forbes Magazine, "Where Home Prices are Hitting Bottom," author Francesca Levy attempts to make sense out of recently compiled housing price data produced by a Mountain View research firm, Altosresearch.com, in effect trying to explain where and how different Metropolitan Statistical ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2009/09/forecast-cloudy-with-100-chance-of-uncertainty/ As an attorney, I see the end result of bad investment decisions.  As an investor, I've made a few of my own.  Naturally, I wonder how these mistakes could have been avoided.  Would a better understanding of the psychology of investment decision-making  decision process help the investors avoid unnecessary losses? Dr. ... http://www.jeffreyhare.com/2009/09/statman/