1. Should we own a home, or not?

    Reader Question: Should we own a home, or not? We have been married for six years. We have rented till now and have saved enough for a twenty-percent down payment with a tidy reserve. A variety of concerns make us wonder if we should buy a home. The economy appears to be doing well, but underfunded […]

  2. What is a housing cooperative?

    Readers Question: What is a housing cooperative? Monty’s Answer: When researching for a housing cooperative here are five tips. A housing cooperative is a form of ownership that creates an interest in an abode through stock ownership in a company, as opposed to a deed to a parcel of real estate. It could also be […]

  3. Who invests in commercial real estate in the US?

    Reader Question: I am researching commercial real estate. Who invests in commercial real estate in the US? Monty’s Answer: The definition of commercial real estate is buildings owned by an investor or investors to generate income from rent. According to the National Association of Real Estate Investment Trusts (NAREIT), the total size of the commercial […]

  4. I am considering investing in real estate. Can you explain how people avoid taxes just by owning property?

      Reader Question: I am considering investing in real estate. Can you explain how people avoid taxes just by owning property? Monty’s Answer: Real estate investors do not invest in real estate to avoid taxes. They invest in real estate to build wealth. Appreciation, income, and depreciation create wealth in real estate. Depreciation is also […]

  5. We found a home we are very interested in buying. We hear a lot of different opinions about how to check out the neighborhood. Do you have a due-diligence checklist?

    Reader Question: We found a home we are very interested in buying. We hear a lot of different opinions about how to check out the neighborhood. Do you have a neighborhood due diligence checklist? Monty’s Answer: Consider a conversation over a checklist. The reason you hear so many opinions is that people’s circumstances and life […]