Homestead Real Estate Investments LLC

05/11/2024

For those who have asked "How to buy the $500 and $1000 properties that our counties have"

You don't need any special licenses or experience.

You just need to know where, when, and how to purchase.

Option 1: You can purchase through the Tax/Sheriff Auctions.
1. You need to be present during the auctions
2. Times and Locations are posted on the Tax Sale Site
3. You need to fill out a registration form before the auction (https://luzernecountytaxclaim.com/bidders-document-download.html) (schedule here as well)
4. When you bid you need to have the money available and ready to cut a check the same day
5. If you cannot pay for what you bid you are banned from participating again
6. If it is a "Free and Clear" sale then there are no bank Leins against the property.
7. If not you may owe an unlisted amount of money to a current or former mortgage lender. If not a "free and clear" sale you need to research the properties ahead of time with a lawyer or title company to determine if there are outstanding loans or claims.

Option 2: County Repository List
The properties that do not sell during auction are moved to a registry.
1. Go to county site (https://luzernecountytaxclaim.com/repositorylist.html)
2. Check the list
3. Research the property, drive by, confirm it is in a condition you can work with.
4. Fill out the form
5. All of these should be "Free and Clear" but as a precaution I'd suggest having a title company or real estate lawyer check first.

**Disclaimer**
I'm not a lawyer or representative from the county or a title company. This is my interpretation of my research and questioning from professionals.

Next Auction: Find Here
https://www.luzernecounty.org/544/Sheriff-Sales

All sales will be at Kings College Scandlon Gymnasium - Auxiliary Gym, all guests use the entrance at 150 North Main Street.

03/19/2024

Savings, Credit, and Storing Money

Checking Account...
The expectation is you put your money in and take it out when you need it. Used for your day to day and Regular Transactions
- Sometimes there might be an APY at some immensely low rate. Like if you had $1000 in there and a .1% APY... You'd get $1 in interest over the year, broken into payments monthly.
- It might require an Initial Deposit of some amount to open.
- It might require a minimum of some amount to keep open

Savings Account...
- You put money in, ideally for longer terms than your Checking.
- The APY is generally higher on Savings Accounts than Checking. If you put $1000 in, on a 4% Rate, you'll get $40 in a year paid over 12 months
- There may be Minimum Monthly
- There may be an annual fee

CD and Flex CD
- You buy the CD and wait until it matures.
- Can buy them at different increments: 3mos, 6mos, 1yr, etc
- The APY is usually higher than Savings and Checking Accounts.
- If you buy one at $1000 on a 5.5% Rate... It'll pay out $1055 after the CD matures

FDIC and Insurance
- All of these are generally considered "Safe" ways to hold money if you have less than $250,000 in not just the account, but that bank.
- The FDIC insures up to $250,000 per Social Security Number, between all of your accounts in a single bank.

There's other options...

Hedge Funds and Venture Capital Groups
- If you've got a cool few million sitting around and 4% isn't enough you can let a group invest for you.
- They'll have a mixed portfolio of things like stocks, art, property, etc. They may do Real Estate development loans with huge returns
- They might return you 7-10%
- You need a few million to get in the door

There's more... But I think those things are a little more technical.
- Money Market
- Mutual Funds
- Bonds
- Stocks
- Crypto
- NFT
- Good old fashioned Real Estate Holdings

By the way, your bank probably has you in the worst Savings Account they offer. Call them and ask to move you into the Highest APY Savings Product with no Annual Fees.

03/03/2022

Let's Talk Credit Score Knowledge, Tips, Tricks.
- Grab literally any credit card.
-- if you have little to no credit you may be limited to cards with fees or no perks.
-- Check Reddit, BBB, or Nerd Wallet to make sure it is a reputable company.
-- you can work your way up to cards with better features and rates

The Basics
- Never pay for anything with cash or debit.
- Strictly pay from the credit card.
- Then immediately pay back/off the card every 1-2 weeks.

Level up
Then every 6 months request a credit line increase on your card.
Your credit score increases on several factors:
- Amount of Total Credit (increasing your line adds credit)
- Amount of Available Credit (pay it off frequently so you don't have a large outstanding balance)
- Amount of Lines (don't have too many)

Extreme Tier
- There are some means of having your monthly payments for services reported to the credit bureaus, so your positive payment activity starts to contribute to your credit history.
Tips:
- Refinance: When your credit improves, refinance your loans. It is literally like free money. Your payments just drop.
- Safety: you can contact each credit bureau and lock down your account so no one can take loans out on your name, even if they have you social security information.

Disclaimer: Please consult a Financial Advisor for detailed advice pertaining to your exact situation.

02/18/2022

There are more Types of Mortgages with much greater flexibility in Credit Score and Down Payments then you realize!!

Types of Mortgage Loans
I. Conventional Fixed Rate
- 15 Year
- 30 Year
- Credit Score: 620
II. Adjustable Rate
- Credit Score: 620
III. FHA Mortgage
- Credit Score: 580s
- Down Payment as low as 3.5%
- Higher Credit scores can lower down payment to 3.0%
IV. VA Mortgage
- Credit Score: No Minimum
- Available for Spouses of Service Members as well
V. USDA Mortgage
- Rural Area and/or Farmland
- Incentives for POC, Women, First Time Farm Buyers
- No down payment is required on most properties.
- Home improvement loans and grants are also available.
- Credit Score
ᴑ Above 640 - Streamlined Quick Process
ᴑ Below 640 - Lengthier Process
VI. Jumbo Loan
- Credit Score: 700s
- Large Limit Loans
VII. CDFI
- Charitable Community Development Lender
- Terms based on Organization

05/28/2021

Real Estate Developers & Activists

Primary Business
- We acquire Properties and Rehabilitate/Improve them for Sale or Rent

Community Work
- Actively Developing Affordable Housing Programs targeting Recidivism, Recently Graduated Foster Children, and Veterans (Affordable Housing Programs)
- Downtown/Main Street Beautification via Repainting, Refacing, Restructuring Buildings and Walkways (Facelift Initiative)
- Educating Community members and introducing them to Trade Skills (Neighbors Helping Neighbors Initiative)
- Structuring Community Investing Projects with strong Financial returns for beginner Low to Middle Income Investors