How to Invest in Real Estate When Everything Is Too Expensive The most inexpensive property I’ve ever bought was for $16,000.00. It wasn’t in terrible shape, but it did need a good deal of work to get it up to a rent-able standards (about $30,000.00). The most expensive property was over a half-million for an apartment complex which I still own and love dearly.However, in some areas of the country, those prices are simply not realistic. In fact, in some areas you can barely buy the … [Read more...]
Real Estate Investing Without Cash: Leasing Your Credit
September 11, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Real Estate Investing Without Cash: Leasing Your Credit Rather than re-hash the same “getting started in real estate without cash” article, I thought I would take my post in a different direction.Let me explain. . .A few weeks ago, Todd, a former co-worker, and I went out to dinner. During our meal, the topic of real estate investing came up. Todd shared that he had wanted to invest in real estate, but just never had enough capital to get started. I asked him why he let money stand … [Read more...]
The Seven Deadly Sins of Real Estate Investing
September 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Seven Deadly Sins of Real Estate Investing Have you committed one of the seven deadly sins? No, I’m not referring to gluttony, wrath, or sloth. I’m talking about the Seven Deadly Sins of Real Estate Investing. Ok, maybe they aren’t physically deadly – but they are possibly catastrophic to your business. If you are concerned about the health of your investments, make sure to steer clear from these seven sins:Buying Based On Future Value Also known as “pro forma” numbers, many … [Read more...]
3 Missteps That Can Derail Your Real Estate Investing
August 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
3 Missteps That Can Derail Your Real Estate Investing With the unprecedented drop in real estate values over the last few years, more and more people are trying their hand at real estate investing. With the wealth of available knowledge related to real estate investing, it is not difficult to research the possible investment strategies and locations in which to invest.Not surprisingly, investors in this market cycle seem to be more cautious about their investing … especially when compared … [Read more...]
The Pros and Cons of Investing in Small Towns and Rural Areas
July 25, 2012 By Leave a Comment
The Pros and Cons of Investing in Small Towns and Rural AreasCity folk are often attracted to the country life. In many parts of the United States “the country” can be less than an hour’s drive away. I have seen more than one real estate investor (myself included) attracted to rural areas and small towns, but like anything there are pros and cons to investing in rural areas and small towns.Let me list some of the good points first.Benefits of Investing in Small Towns and Rural … [Read more...]
What is Driving You to Invest in Real Estate? Understanding your “Big Why”
July 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
What is Driving You to Invest in Real Estate? Understanding your “Big Why”If you work full time and have decided to become a buy-and-hold real estate investor, you have chosen a path that is long, paved with many obstacles, and full of chances to make mistakes. That said, it is also a tremendous way to establish retirement income, secure financial stability, and eventually live financially free without the need to work for someone else.As a 10+ year veteran of buy-and-hold real estate … [Read more...]
Need vs. Want in Real Estate Investing
July 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Need vs. Want in Real Estate InvestingApparently, when American consumers get above 35,000 feet they become impulse buyers. There’s no way else to explain the success of the SkyMall catalog. Fly any of the major U.S. airlines and this little magazine can be found in the seatback pocket in front of you.The next time you travel try to resist picking this thing up. I dare you.It’s easier to say no to another potato chip than it is to fight off the urge skim every item in SkyMall’s … [Read more...]
Non-Conforming Real Estate: Why You Should Conform
June 17, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Non-Conforming Real Estate: Why You Should ConformReal estate investors know the dangers of investing in a property that does not conform to the area; exiting the deal becomes very difficult .What is Non-Conforming Real Estate? In real estate there are several reasons a property would be considered non-conforming:1) Non-conforming use – most local governments enact zoning laws/ordinances that regulate the use of property. As zoning requirements change, pre-existing structures are often … [Read more...]
Invest With the End in Mind
June 13, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Invest With the End in MindMore investors than ever are choosing to invest in real estate right now. It’s no surprise considering values are incredibly low, interest rates are at historical lows, rents are strong and most people agree that prices will recover over the coming years. With so much investing activity from a diversity of experience levels, I have noticed that many investors simply want to “invest” without taking the time to really map out a strategy.While there really … [Read more...]
Should You Partner with Family When Investing in Real Estate?
June 9, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Should You Partner with Family When Investing in Real Estate?For those who know me and my family, you can easily guess my answer to the question, “Should family members go into real estate investing together?” Our business was formed as and still remains a family affair. Although it has worked well for my family, there are many instances where this is just a bad idea. Lets talk about it:You need 3 things in place for this to be a good idea:1. There must be a long-standing, healthy … [Read more...]
“Jogging” into Real Estate: Setting the Pace for Your Investing Success
May 18, 2012 By Leave a Comment
“Jogging” into Real Estate: Setting the Pace for Your Investing SuccessWhile first getting started in real estate, the issue I had to deal with most was the pace at which I moved. Move too slow and you’ll never get any momentum behind you and lose out on credibility. Move too fast and you get overextended and end up wearing a straight-jacket in a padded room. It’s a very fine line that the beginning investor must learn to toe, along with the experienced investor learning to … [Read more...]
Creating Successful Direct Mail Campaigns for Real Estate Investing
April 23, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Creating Successful Direct Mail Campaigns for Real Estate Investing I have said many times before, that direct mail is my number one source of leads. But there are some basics concepts that you need to follow in order for it to work for you. Direct Mail Basics One of the biggest mistakes that I see real estate investors make is to send out just a few mailings and then throw in the towel. These are called “campaigns” for a reason. It’s very important to understand that your response rates … [Read more...]
Pros and Cons To Mobile Home Park Investing
March 30, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Pros and Cons To Mobile Home Park InvestingMobile Home Parks, A Lucrative Real Estate Niche Not Many Investors Know About. Here’s What You Need To Know About Investing in a Mobile Home Park…Mobile Home Park Investments – Pros and Cons To Mobile Home Park Investing is a post from: Real Estate Investing Blog For Real Estate InvestorsRead the full post here... … [Read more...]
Investing and Retirement Planning
March 2, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Investing and Retirement PlanningI learned very early on that many real estate veterans are big fans of note investments. It wasn’t until I had seen enough toilets, tenants and trash that I understood what they were getting at…… the consistent cash flow that comes from the note!!I want to give you another perspective to consider in your investing business, note sales. The government and financial advisers will often tell you the best way to prepare for retirement is to invest in … [Read more...]
Analyzing The Property – Most Important Aspect Of Investing
February 14, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Analyzing The Property – Most Important Aspect Of InvestingOne thing is for sure, just because you find a foreclosure that is selling for half of what it did three years ago doesn’t mean that it’s a good deal. As a matter of fact, determining if a property is a good deal and acquiring it for a good deal are the most important aspects [...]Read the full post here... … [Read more...]
Even Note Investing Has Guru Traps
February 4, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Even Note Investing Has Guru TrapsOur education in any business is infinite, and my passion in note investing has given me the opportunity to meet with some amazing people in the note business and I actively look for new information to perfect my craft. Currently I receive daily newsletters and publications on the concept of note investing, some of which make me very nervous.As the “new” frontier of hands off, passive real estate investing there are more and more companies and gurus popping … [Read more...]
Getting Started in Multifamily Apartment Investing
January 12, 2012 By Leave a Comment
Getting Started in Mulitfamily Apartment InvestingI want to start investing in apartment complexes. How do I get started?”If that is a question you have asked yourself recently, you are not alone. It’s something I hear on a weekly basis from both new and experienced real estate investors. They all want to know the keys to get started in multifamily investing the right way.If done correctly, investing in multifamily apartments can be one of the most rewarding and best ways to grow your net … [Read more...]
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How The Summer Squeeze is Changing Investing
How The Summer Squeeze is Changing Investing Investor participation in the housing market dropped sharply In July for the second straight month, reversing long-term growth in investor purchases of residential properties, according to the Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey.Investor participation in the housing market fell to 21.9 percent of all transactions in July, from 23.5 percent in June, based on a three-month moving average. Investor participation back in May … [Read more...]