To Buy Maui

Five Reasons Houses Beat Stocks

By Blanche Evans
Despite what Wall Street wants you to believe, CEO 500 times the average worker's salary for results
owning a home isn't the same kind of investment as you'd lose your job for. With a home, you have control -
stocks or bonds. What you get is a USE asset that what you buy, how much you pay, and where you live.
depreciates over time, while it grows in market value. All You can improve the value with repairs and updates.
you have to do is keep the home in good repair to max Compare that to getting heard at the next shareholders'
out your take. meeting.
Here are five reasons why you get more for your money with a house than a worthless sock puppet.
• Leverage: with stocks, you put in all your money for a little piece of a company. With a house, you put in a little money to get all of the house .
• Tax benefits: Uncle Sam knows that owning a home
is a pain in the neck, that's why you get subsidies. These are basically government bribes to get you to buy. What other investment can you put in 5 percent of the cost of the asset, reap all the appreciation and pay no capital gains? That's right: live in your home two years, rent it for three, sell it, and pay no tax on capital gains up to 250,000 for singles, $500,000 for married couples. And you're worried about paying too much?
And that's not all - think about the benefits of fixedrate mortgages, property tax write-offs, interest rate deductions, depreciation. Is this a great country or what?
• Control: When you buy stocks, you're paying some
• Lifestyle: Do you want to look at a dumpsite or your children playing in their own back yard? With a home, you're purchasing a vantage point for yourself and your family. The neighborhood you want to be in, the size and style home that fits your needs. And the more wisely you choose, the better off you are.
• Value: Unlike our little sock puppet friend, your house will seldom become worthless. Barring a catastrophe, your home will retain a major portion of its value, even in the worst of times. So don't freak out about a losing a few percent this year. You'll make it up. Housing has lost value only one year out of the last 35. It's more normal to beat inflation by one to two percent.
Let's get a little perspective here. You lost a greater percentage on the stock market this year than if you owned a house. You lost more on your SUV. And you sure lost more on your iPhone.
And keep this in mind - when it rains, which would you rather have over your head, a roof or a stock certificate?

All rights reserved by Realty Times

For more information on Maui Real Estate please contact Steve for information on Maui condos for sale in Wailea and Kihei Maui. Also for upcountry Maui homes for sale.

Steven Nickens R(S) GRI,
The Wailea Group LLC. 808-575-9913
The Shops At Wailea
3750 Wailea Alanui, Suite 5EW Wailea, Maui, Hi 96753
www.nickensmaui.com