Bitcoin Moves to Real Estate: A Real Estate First!

"Accepts Bitcoin" signs are popping up worldwide from NYC to South Africa. Rapidly gaining acceptance, Bitcoin use is growing from smaller coffee and retail merchandise purchases to the first ever real estate buying transaction accomplished entirely via Bitcoin. Another sign of the widespread acceptance of the currency: a newly built custom Texas home's entire purchase price was recently transferred to its seller/builder via Bitcoin.

Show Me the Money

The seller later converted the Bitcoin funds to USD. Shocked by the ease of the process, the broker stated, "In all of my 33 years of closing transactions, I honestly couldn't have expected something so unique to go so smoothly. In a matter of 10 minutes, the Bitcoin was changed to US dollars and the deal was done." This may lead to other companies and industries to look at this and similar digital currencies as a means for investments and asset transfers.

Why Use It for Real Estate Buying?

Quicker, cheaper, and more reliable than currency tied to individual nations, anyone can purchase and sell Bitcoins via online digital currency exchanges. Finite in number with complicated identification (hexadecimal code), they are far more difficult to steal than other credit sources. However, Bitcoins today don't offer complete protection against fraudulent charges.

What the Heck Is Bitcoin, Really?

Bitcoin is simply digital currency. But unlike nationally-specific currency, it doesn't experience inflation. It's number is finite: 21-million max. Divorced from government, it cannot be diluted by the introduction of new currency. It's value variable: Up $1,200 from April to May alone. But it's entirely digital – you cannot carry one in your wallet. Cryptography is used to secure transaction and coin creation, putting it in league with other 'cryptocurrencies' like IOTA, Litecoin, Peercoin, etc. (This site breaks it down using an easy to follow metaphor.)

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