Are you contemplating or in the market for buying investment property such as multi dwelling homes? We have the pro's and con's, as well as creative financing avenues, including no money down and 100% financing.

"Second homes 40% of market Highest level ever helps drive up prices. Americans snapping up second homes - as investments or vacation properties - accounted for four out of every 10 sales of existing homes last year, a record that helped drive the real estate market to new highs, according to a report being released today by the National Association of Realtors. Nearly 28% of homes bought last year were for investment purposes, and an additional 12% were vacation homes, the figures show. Most of the buyers were baby boomers in their top earning years, looking towards retirement and hoping to build wealth or find a more desirable place to live. "Baby boomers are such a powerful economic force," said Dave Jenks, co-author of The Millionaire Real Estate Investor. "They're using their wealth to go buy second homes." The typical investment buyer last year was 49 years old with annual income of $81,400. He or she paid $183,500 for the median-priced investment home, up 24% from 2004. The trend really started after 1997, when Congress changed the tax code, allowing most homeowners to duck capital gains taxes when they sold their homes. The exemption is $500,000 for married couples, $250,000 for singles, if it was their primary residence for two of the past five years. Under the old system, the only way to avoid the tax was to "roll" the gains into another home of equal or greater value. Americans bought bigger and costlier homes. But now, they can downsize and use the equity built up in their homes to buy second homes." - Noelle Knox, USA Today