I.D.E.A.L.
Definition of "I.D.E.A.L."
An acronym stating the real estate is the I.D.E.A.L. investment. Each if the five letters in IDEAL stands for an advantage to real estate as an investment. "I" stands for interest deduction. The mortgage interest paid on the first and second residential homes are tax deductible. On the average, real estate is a good hedge against inflation because property value and the income from properties rise to keep pace with inflation. "D" stands for depreciation. The building on your land depreciates in book value each year and you can deduct this depreciation from your investment property and not residential. "E" is for equity buildup. This buildup of a capital asset is like money in the bank. As you amortize a mortgage, the value of your equity investment will steadily rise. In the case of income-producing property, this amortization could mean that your tenants help you build your estate. "A" is for appreciation. Your property value goes up every year, hopefully. Be careful because this is not guaranteed. "L" is for leverage. When you buy a house you make a down payment, say, 10% and you borrow the balance, say, 90%. You get the benefit of 100% even though you put up only 10% of your own money. You can maximize return with other people's money (OPM). The use of a mortgage and OPM means that you can use small amounts of cash to gain control of large investments and earn large returns on the cash invested.
Popular Real Estate Terms
House made using standardized components that are preassembled on an assembly line in a factory rather than being built from "scratch" on a site. Normally, the prefabricate house is trucked ...
Insulation covered on each side by a material, such as metal. ...
An insurance contract or home warranty, usually for one year, covering electrical, plumbing, heating, etc. ...
Portion of a construction loan withheld by a lender from a contractor until all construction work is satisfactorily completed or sufficient space is rented in a floor loan. The holdback ...
Property to be used by a retail business in the sale of merchandise or rendering of services. An example of retail property is a store. ...
Part of a capital gain constituting tax benefits previously taken and taxed as ordinary income. ...
The term agricultural property means a type of land that has been designed or is permitted to engage in agricultural activities. Also referred to as agricultural land, agricultural ...
Same as term soil porosity: Extent to which soil has cavities or pores, thereby allowing water to pass through. ...
An entrance hallway from the outside of a building. Foyers are intended as a gathering place for people either before exiting or upon entrance. ...
Have a question or comment?
We're here to help.