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Should You Invest in the Current Real Estate Boom in the US?

Posted by Sruti Permalla

· July 21, 2021

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More than a year after the Covid-19 pandemic began, it is still making headlines. There are people who have been forced to sell their houses and rent instead as a way to survive after losing jobs.

Despite all the negative effects of the pandemic, certain opportunities have also presented themselves and real estate counts as one of them. In 2020, the National Association of Realtors in the U.S. recorded growth in home sales by a large margin compared to previous years.

Do your research

If you decide you want to invest in real estate, you can’t just do it blindly because everyone tells you the time is right. You must do some research, such as checking out house prices, prospective locations etc. For those looking for get rich quick schemes, investing in real estate is probably not a good idea.

When thinking about get rich quick schemes, sports betting at Betus.com can be a great way to have fun but if you want to win money, you can’t rely on luck alone. Success at online sports betting involves learning certain strategies. The same applies to investing strategically in real estate. Making wise choices in the right location offers the kind of reliability that will make an investment in real estate worthwhile over the long term.

There’s never really a wrong time to buy

Historically, trends show that home prices go up over time. Over the long term, there’s definitely value for money when you invest in real estate. Rental property mortgage interest rates are at a historic low, so it could well be worth buying real estate now and locking it up in a 30-year mortgage.

You do need to be selective about the location you choose to invest in if you want reliable tenants who will pay the rent in full and on time so you can support your mortgage, insurance and taxes as required.

Real estate offers stability that stocks can’t

It’s no secret that stock markets are volatile. Investing in stocks is, therefore, more risky than investing in real estate. Investing in real estate gives you control in the sense that you can sell, lease or borrow against your property if necessary. The performance of stocks is out of your control and offers you less versatility.

Real estate has a low correlation with other asset classes and it can do well when stocks are down. It’s, therefore, a wise choice to have some real estate as part of your investment portfolio.

A sellers’ market

Demand for homes is high and a dwindling supply is a perfect recipe for higher prices. That is good news for those who can sell their homes right now. They may even consider selling earlier than they initially planned. The problem is that sellers still need a place to live. They are out there competing with all the other buyers for homes.

Due to the steep competition, buyers may make concessions to make their offers more attractive. Sellers can take advantage of this – they can move a closing date to coincide with the purchase of a new home.

You will need a stable income stream

In 2020, many people experienced a great shake-up and those who were able to work remotely were fortunate in that they could keep earning.

Others were not so lucky. Those considering investing in real estate need to analyze their income flow and its sustainability before choosing to invest. If you believe you can consistently pay a mortgage and all the costs related to housing, an investment in real estate could be really worthwhile.

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The grind never stops: productive things to do during your spring break

Posted by Sruti Permalla

· June 21, 2021

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It is hard to believe that spring break is just around the corner. For many of us, spring break is the time to see family and friends and to take a break from school and work. For some, it might be a chance to catch up on missed lectures. But for others, spring break is also the perfect time to put academics on hold and focus on preparing for your professional life. If that sounds exciting to you, here are some productive things you can do over spring break to prepare for life after college.

Polish and reflect on your résumé

When was the last time you updated your résumé? If you have not looked for internships for a while, it might be outdated. But, who has time to update a résumé in the thick of midterms? With school work on hold, spring break is the perfect time to update your résumé and improve your professional prospects.

Take a moment to look back at your recent professional growth. Are there any new projects you’ve been working on? Have you been promoted? Have you learned any new skills? Have you taken any interesting courses that might be relevant to your professional interests? Reflecting on questions like these will help keep your résumé up to date and can also help you see the bigger picture of where you are headed. Is your portfolio missing any skill you want to highlight? For more information on building your résumé, visit the CCE.

More importantly, you might want to think beyond your résumé. Update your LinkedIn profile and your bio on social media to attract more potential employers and expand your network. Make sure to check out LinkedIn Learning, a platform—similar to Skillshare—with videos on how to build your software, business, and creative skills. Not only will it help you spruce up your profile, but you might also pick up some skills you can use to flex on your résumé.

Practice your current skills

After updating your résumé, you also want to make sure that you are up to date on those skills you listed. Is there anything that you were particularly good at a few years ago and haven’t practiced in a while? If so, spring break is a good time to revisit and solidify your strengths.

Whether it is photography, a new language, or music, diverse skills can differentiate you from other job applicants or employees. You might also be able to create a portfolio to show off your work, which can make your applications even stronger.

Learn new skills

If you are feeling adventurous, you might want to start learning new skills. Although a five-day break is not a long time, there is still a lot you can do.

For quick classes, you can hop onto Leetcode, Brillant, or Duolingo—websites that teach various skills, such as coding, finance, or a new language. You can also start a free trial on Skillshare and learn photography, drawing, or video editing.

Even if the program you started cannot be completed in five days, it is still worth enrolling. Courses on Khan Academy, EdX, Coursera, Codecademy, or MasterClass can last weeks but can be very useful for learning a variety of subjects.

When signing up for these services, look at the length of their trial periods. If you plan to use the premium plan for free, the five-day break is the perfect time to maximize your benefits.

Apply for internships

Now that you have updated your résumé, practiced your current skills, and learned new ones, it’s the perfect time to apply for internships. Many summer and fall internships are still accepting applications. So, why not put your brand new résumé and skills to good use? You can find internships by searching through companies’ websites, going through LinkedIn suggestions under the “Jobs” tab, or using websites like LionSHARE and Indeed to input your preferences.

If you are not planning to intern this summer or fall, but are interested in interning next year, it might be a good idea to look for similar positions anyway, so you know what the requirements are and can be ready for the next round of applications.

All in all, spring break is a great time to take a break from school. Whether you decide to be productive and gain that edge in your professional life or take a much-needed recess from everything, we wish you a great spring break!

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Little things to lift your spirits for online graduation

Posted by Sruti Permalla

· March 21, 2021

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Graduation is a time for students to celebrate their accomplishments while surrounded by the friends, family, and teachers who have impacted them throughout their four years in college. But since Columbia released its plans to move the 2021 Commencement ceremony online, many seniors might feel that they are missing out on this milestone. If you are feeling down during these last few weeks of your senior year and need a pick-me-up before finals, Spectrum is here to show you that with the right mindset going into your virtual graduation, you can have an experience that is just as good or even better than an in-person ceremony.

Your pet will be there.

They have been the audience to so many of your presentations and classes this past year that they could probably earn an honorary degree. They deserve to be there.

Free tickets for everyone in the family.

Having to choose between taking your Aunt Nicole and Uncle Charlie to graduation might be one of the hardest decisions that you would have had to make. Now, you do not have to! Additionally, nobody has to pay for transportation and accommodation costs.

Zone out during long speeches. No one will notice.

Do not worry, you will not offend Prezbo if you close your eyes during his one hour speech (or even mute him).

The sweet, sweet feel of an air-conditioned room.

Standing outside in the sun in the beginning of the summer is not ideal––not to mention the microwave effect of a floor length robe. We’ll take air conditioning.

All the snacks you want.

Stuff your face with the CraveBox Ultimate Assortment Package and no one is going to judge. If you are feeling more boujee, coming in at $47.95, snack in style with a Yukon Gourmet Gift Basket from Dan the Sausageman. You can also make graduation extra exciting by creating your own virtual graduation drinking game and drinking a shot every time you hear a specific cliché phrase (if you’re 21, of course).

Nobody can you see you getting emotional

Class Day can get emotional, especially when you spend time taking those last cap and gown pictures with your friend group and reminiscing about the past four years. Behind a computer screen, nobody will be able to tell if you shed a tear or two.

Dressing up? Forget it.

Instead of spending hours getting ready and making sure you look your best for 30 seconds of recognition and a grainy picture while strutting across stage, you can literally graduate in your pajamas. Not a lot of people could say the same.

Graduate on your terms, it’s overrated anyways.

Expectations for graduation tend to be high. After spending hours listening to speeches, many come to the realization that the graduation ceremony is overrated. This year, you can truly make that day your day, without any schedules, tents, or rules to think about.

Good luck Class of 2021! We are excited to see the great things you will accomplish.

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