Guest Post by Josie Fixler
Six years ago, my husband and I decided to take a leap, leave the rat race of New York City, invest in Florida Real Estate, and raise our daughter in tropical South Florida. Our friends and family thought we were insane, leaving behind everything we knew to search for a new life in the Florida Sunshine. But, we were determined.
Florida isn’t just one market—find the one that fits your lifestyle
Our search for our new home began in Fort Lauderdale. It became immediately clear to us that Fort Lauderdale Real Estate is notorious for its pristine sandy beaches, high end boutiques, and upscale restaurants. Fort Lauderdale is recognized as the Venice of America. It has a population of nearly 180,000 people and is the seventh largest city in Florida. Fort Lauderdale is filled with stunning ocean front condominiums and oversized custom built waterfront estates but we just weren’t sure it was the right fit for our family.
Ominous question, isn’t it? There are all kinds of implications that go with that possibility, and none of them fit neatly within the economic progression of the past 30-40 years when it seemed the entire economy was running largely on the back of the real estate industry. But whether we like it or not, new trends in housing are beginning to emerge, pointing to a future that will likely see more renters—maybe far more—than in the recent past. 
The criteria for refinancing a mortgage through a traditional lender typically require some degree of equity in the property. At the very least, homeowners should not owe more than the home’s value in order to qualify for the 
I’ve written a good deal about real estate as an investment on this site, but the emphasis has been on residential property, generally in the 1-4 family category. But there’s an entirely different sector in the real estate world involving commercial and larger multi-family property that has the potential to offer both greater rewards and higher risks. Sometimes referred to simply as 
For generations the conventional wisdom on housing was always to buy the most (or more) house that you can afford. The rationale—which worked for decades—was that a house was the closest thing to a guaranteed investment, and by buying the most expensive property you could afford you were insuring the greatest possible payoff over the long run. 
As of this week I’ve been officially welcomed into the ranks of the staff writers over at Lending Tree! With Lending Tree’s focus on lending and real estate, and my background in mortgages, the arrangement is a natural fit. 
If you’ve spent much time on this site, you know that I’ve taken aim at the assumption that homeownership is good for everyone. It’s not that I think owning a home is bad, but more that I don’t think it’s right for everyone. In addition, I think that the advancement of- and unquestioned belief in- universal homeownership was one of the root causes of the real estate and mortgage meltdown. 
Housing prices are lower than they have been in years. Mortgage rates are near all time lows. Housing stats are starting to pick up. The bottom on the housing market is in. Joe Smith around the corner sold his house in three days, and he had four offers (or was it four days with three offers?). Time to buy—and buy quickly! Prices will never be this low—rates will never be this low—the real estate agent said so. Buy, buy, buy!
Why Near Zero Interest Rates Are Hurting Economic Recovery
By Jessica Wagner
It seems that the FED isn’t planning to raise the interest rates for the foreseeable future and the near zero figure is likely to stay in place for another two years. This has many in the private and public sector seriously concerned as it’s widely seen to be a major factor in sustaining such poor economic results. Keeping the rate low was seen as a way to inspire investment growth, but it appears to have had the opposite effect and seems to be hurting the economy’s ability to recover.
What the Fed HOPED low interest rates would accomplish
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