Real Estate Investment Opportunities

The

property market was the place where the recent credit crunch and recession started. Over ambitious lending to customers that did not have the ability to repay fuelled the expansion of the property boom in the early part of this century but also proved to be its Achilles heel once defaults and repossessions started to kick in and the financial markets began to realise that the underlying property behind the lending was valueless.Property prices in the US have fallen dramatically in the past two years. Demand has dried up and new housing starts by builders have reduced to a trickle. Once booming and popular property areas like Florida, Las Vegas and California have undergone a rapid fall in prices of up to 50% as lenders dump their repossessions into the market in a hope to recoup something from their failed investments.If you are an investor, this is good news! With the US dollar equally as weak as Sterling, exchange rates have recovered somewhat and buying in the US represents a fair investment opportunity compared to continental Europe where the Euro has strengthened considerably against the pound.In addition, buying in the US is a relatively straightforward process. All the documentation is in English and the process is not too dissimilar to that in the UK. Beware, though, in that the real estate agent has a vested interest in the sale of the property and will not always have your best interests at heart. Find a professional and independent licenced real estate agent to work on your behalf even if you are buying property.Getting a mortgage to help buy your property can be a challenge. Essentially you can try and borrow in the UK in sterling so you become a cash buyer in the US or try to arrange a US dollar mortgage through a local lender. Understandably, the market for lending is somewhat tighter than a few years ago so be prepared to hunt around and put down a sizable deposit whatever route you undertake.If you plan to let your house in the US to earn some income whilst you or your family and friends are not there then you will need to make sure that the property is licenced for short term rental. Some districts prevent houses being let on a short term basis so make sure to check that your area is correctly zoned.You will also need to register for a tax identity number with the Internal Revenue Service and, probably, set up a local bank account. You will almost certainly have to file a US tax return each year if you engage in any letting activity. As a property owner, you will also become liable for a range of taxes from real estate to regional tax charges. You may also find yourself part of a community and have one or more housing association fees to pay for the upkeep of common areas.