smithpaul's  Instablog

Much can be found online and otherwise exalting the importance of starting retirement investing at a young age. But often people don't find the importance, motivation, or patience it takes until much later to start their investing journey.

Enter in real estate, quite possibly the sexiest avenue to invest, with the smallest barriers of entry for the types of returns it can produce. The income and potential earnings can produce a white collar nest egg for a blue color worker.

Add the appeal of finding good deals, negotiating, and fixing up your own assets. Thanks to the likes of larger than life personalities with network television sponsorship, flipping for huge profits continues to attract ambitious and venturing souls.

When it comes down to making an honest go of it, though, who makes a better investor…young ambitious go-getters or been-around-the-block old timers?

Let's compare the two sides and see what your thoughts are as well:

Young Bucks:

Positives
+ Time is on their side. The earlier you get started, the better. Plus, you can learn from the Old Dogs in the field what NOT to do, and cut out a lot of the learning curve if you connect with the right mentors.
+ Not afraid to hustle. Late nights, early mornings and plenty of energy drinks are the usual agenda for college students and recent grads. With little expenses, the drive, energy, and desire to succeed, new blood has the advantage of spending the resources they do have towards investing: their own time and efforts.
+ Less fear, less to lose: It's easier to take chances when you're failures and wins are tied to your own credit and accounts. Plus, no real career may be established yet, so leaving a comfortable position with benefits and tenor won't be an issu.

Source: http://www.investmentguidance.us/who-invests-better-young-bucks-or-old-dogs/

Foreclosure activity during the first quarter of 2013 was at the lowest level since the 2nd quarter of 2007, according to the latest report from RealtyTrac. During the first quarter of 2013, foreclosure filings were reported on 442,117 U.S. properties, down 12 percent from the previous quarter and down 23 percent from the first quarter of 2012.

During the month of March 2013, there were foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions and bank repossessions) on 152,500 properties in the U.S., down 1 percent from the month before and a decline of 23 percent from March 2012, according to the report.

Highlights from the RealtyTrac Foreclosure Report for March and the 1st Quarter of 2013;

• U.S. foreclosure starts increased 2 percent from February to March, the second straight monthly increase following three consecutive monthly decreases. There were a total of 73,113 foreclosure starts nationwide in March, still down 28 percent from a year ago.
• Foreclosure starts in March increased from the previous month in 23 states and were up annually in 12 states, led by New York (200 percent increase), Maryland (193 percent increase), Washington (154 percent increase), Arkansas (101 percent increase), and Nevada (88 percent increase).
• Lenders repossessed 43,597 properties nationwide in March, the lowest since September 2007. U.S. bank repossessions (REOs) in March decreased 3 percent from February and were down 21 percent from a year ago.
• A total of 34 states reported annual decreases in REO activity in March, including Oregon (down 72 percent), Utah (down 71 percent), Massachusetts (down 61 percent), Michigan (down 56 percent), and Nevada (down 55 percent).
• States bucking the national downward trend in REOs included Arkansas (up 121 percent annually in March), Maryland (up 114 percent), Washington (up 88 percent), Pennsylvania (up 41 percent), and Ohio (up 39 percent).
• Properties repossessed by lenders in the first quarter took an average of 477 days to complete the foreclosure process, up from 414 days in the previous quarter and a record high since RealtyTrac began tracking this metric in the first quarter of 2007.
• The average time to foreclose in the first quarter increased from the previous quarter in 39 states, led by Oregon (up 61 percent), Arkansas (up 42 percent), Texas (up 40 percent), Tennessee (up 37 percent), and Michigan (up 22 percent) - all non-judicial foreclosure states... Read more

Florida's housing market is on the rebound, according to a new report from BMO, and Canadian Snowbirds and other investors are helping lead that recovery.

"Beyond the obvious attraction of great weather and beautiful beaches, there are two factors that are making Florida real estate an especially good value for Canadians," said Jack Ablin, chief investment officer for BMO Private Bank. "The first is that Florida properties are a bargain compared to real estate in Canada.

"The median priced home in Florida is nearly half than that in Canada. At the same time, the Canadian dollar is trading nearly 10 per cent above 'fair' value versus the U.S. dollar, arming Snowbird shoppers with extra buying power."

The analysis is largely reflected in the results of the report, which points to a surge in the price of a single family home in South Florida, up 12 per cent from its low point in April 2011. The report also identifies growing demand for Florida real estate from foreign buyers, most notably Canadians, who have helped support property prices.

Canada remains Florida's No. 1 source of foreign real estate buyers, although the same rising prices BMO points to have led to bidding wars and turned off some Canadians.

That is less so for some key markets. The report also outlines the key geographies in Florida where Canadians currently own real estate. These include:
• Sarasota-Bradenton-Venice (17 per cent)
• Orlando-Kissimmee (13 per cent)
• Miami-Ft. Lauderdale-Palm Beach (13 per cent)
• Cape Coral-Ft. Myers (9 per cent)
• Tampa-St. Petersburg (9 per cent)
• Naples-Marco Island (9 per cent)

Source: http://www.investmentguidance.us/bmo-names-key-florida-markets-for-canuck-investors/