Quote:
Originally Posted by ErikLS2
I get that same fear Greg. I can't stop hearing ads on TV and radio from brokers wanting to sell you gold. Was just at my dentist's office and he wouldn't stop talking about buying silver right now. I think if you were going to buy it, buy it in coins or whatever you can hold in your hand. I wouldn't feel safe buying some piece of paper that said I owned gold or silver
Real estate (rental property) can also be a good hedge against inflation, provided you buy it before there's any real inflation taking place, like right now. Plus, unlike with gold or silver, it pays you while you wait, you get a tax deduction by depreciation and it's a fixed asset that can't easily go away (provided you pay your property taxes and insurance). You can even make money on the money you borrowed to buy it if you do it right. It can be hard to sell though but if you keep it in good condition when the inevitable boom happens, it shouldn't be too hard to get out of. Last one I sold at pretty much the peak in '06 was under contract in 3 days and I made a killing. The best thing about investing I think is that if you own something that's just experienced a big upturn, there are plenty of knuckleheads waiting in line to buy it before it goes up more.
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I'm in the real estate market to buy a house for my son as well as my sister and brother in law... I'll "rent" to them - take the depreciation... and "gift" equity to them over time (26K max gift per year - so 4 years out - they have 100K equity). I'll then sell my share to them if they want to buy... otherwise I still own a rental. On a 700K house I'll put 400K down - finance 300K... I'll pay cash for the house for my sister (I set a 325K max - it's a different market - different amount of 'help')... give them a below market rent and the equity 'gifting'. I plan to amend our estate planning to gift them the house should we pass before they are able to purchase.
Housing is a bargain right now and so is the cost of money. We just missed one in the Portland area that had a separate shop! Dang! I was on the road and they couldn't pull the trigger fast enough... But houses are like buses... there will be another one coming along in 15 minutes or so.
