JJ & Ainsley Gordon, The Gordon Group

Many homeowners consider investing in an income or rental property as a means for extra income. Many real estate markets throughout the U.S. have seen tons of growth in recent years, with rental properties highly sought-after in some popular markets. Generally, real estate is a solid investment in terms of ROI (return on investment) over the long term. While a rental property might seem like a sure thing for extra income, there are advantages as well as disadvantages to income properties. If you've been toying with the idea of investing in another property, consider some of the points below before making your final decision. Advantages of Rental/Income Properties Direct Income Stream One major advantage of an income property is a direct income stream. Monthly rent checks go directly to you, which based on whether or not the property has a mortgage, go directly into your business account. Should the property be continually rented throughout the year, the monthly payme

With the start of a new year, it's always a good idea to assess your home and its needs. Taking stock of appliances, home systems, and other items that make a house a home will help guide you to home improvements needed, appliances that may be near the end of their lives, and any other updates that can help to boost your home's worth. Listed below are major home systems to evaluate in the new year to help give you peace of mind.   HVAC In the winter and summer months a home's HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) systems are put to good use. January is the perfect month to replace disposable filters or wash permanent ones in your home's HVAC or humidifier systems. Filters should be regularly replaced or washed when use is high or during peak seasons. The start of a new year is an excellent time to vacuum all heat vents, especially those that are located on the floor. The vents are overly susceptible to dust, dirt, pet hairs, and other particles

Perhaps you're considering buying or selling a home or property in the New Year. For some, the idea of selling a home might seem like a challenge worth taking. For others, the thought of selling or buying a property is incredibly daunting, which is a major reason why real estate agents and brokers exist: to help us with our real estate transactions. Even so, there are some people who question the value in an agent. Because a normal real estate transaction takes on average between 30 to 45 days (there are times when it's shorter or much longer), it might seem as though an agent gets a lot more out of the transaction than they put in, prompting a buyer or seller to attempt the transaction on his/her own. What many people don't realize is the incredible value offered to buyers and sellers by using an agent. If you're looking to buy or sell in the New Year, read below to find out all the value you receive by using a real estate agent. Pre-Listing Activities A huge