Confident Real Estate Decisions

The Essential Qualities of Multi-Millionaire Property Investors

2008-02-19T17:14:00.000-08:00

By: Dale Beaumont

Ever wondered why some investors achieve extraordinary success, while others struggle to make the grade? Why some investors attract an abundance of great opportunities, while others are still out there looking?

A new book titled: 'Secrets of Property Millionaires Exposed!' takes people up-close and personal with eleven of the country's most successful property investors, including John Fitzgerald, Hans Jakobi, Peter Comben, Ed Chan, Dymphna Boholt, Gordon Green, Craig Turnbull and others. In a surprisingly candid way each contributor shares their own unique wealth strategy and dozens of hints and tips from years of experience.

The following ten (10) points are the author's perspective of those personal qualities and attributes that all multi-millionaire property investors have in common.

1. A strong desire

Successful investors have a strong desire to achieve their goals. They are not willing to compromise on their dreams and tend to be people that won't settle for a mediocre life. They understand the importance of building wealth, not for the sake of having more money, but for the lifestyle, time and choices it brings. For example, one of the people in the book, Dymphna Boholt, was at a low point in her life where she'd just gone through a divorce and had two hungry mouths to feed. Her wish to spend time with her kids and provide them with a good upbringing fuelled her desire and drove her to achieve great heights.

2. Think abundance

Every person interviewed in the book had an abundance mindset. They are of the belief that opportunities are always there and if they remain positive and optimistic, life will attract to them what they need. In fact, a number of them commented on the belief that the deal of a lifetime comes around once a week. So if you miss an opportunity, keep your chin up, because another deal is waiting just around the corner.

3. Be committed to a strategy

Many of the millionaires commented that the biggest mistake they see new investors make is that they try to execute too many strategies at once. As a result of chopping and changing, they lose focus, have fewer results and at worse, withdraw from property investing entirely. So take the time to devise a well thought out plan and then stick with it long enough to see it bear fruit.

4. Great communication skills

Multi-millionaire property investors understand the fact that real estate is ultimately a people business! While the properties themselves may be inanimate objects, the people that own them, and the people around them are real people with feelings and emotions. That is why it's important to treat people with respect and listen to their needs. News travels fast in property and your reputation is the key.

5. Action orientated

This is where the rubber hits the road. High achievers understand there is time for setting goals and developing plans, but then there's time for action. They know that when all is said and done, most talk but few do. High achievers take deliberate action. They know that anything worthwhile in life does not happen by accident. You must go after it and make it happen.

6. Take responsibility

People who make a real success of property investing take responsibility for everything that happens to them. They resist the urge of blaming others for their circumstances. For example if one of their properties becomes vacant for two months they accept responsibility and become proactive about finding a tenant, rather than blaming the property manager.

7. Focus on the team

Highly successful investors have all come to the realisation that you can't do everything on your own. That's why they're committed to finding and keeping the best people to work with.

8. Have an ability to bounce back

Challenges and obstacles are part of any worthwhile journey. Successful investors understand this and have developed a special ability to express resilience when times are tough. There's a Japanese proverb which says, 'fall down seven times, get up eight'.

9. Committed to continual growth

The only certainty in property is that things will never stay the same. That's why each of the people interviewed for the book are committed to broadening their knowledge base. They advocate the importance of knowing what's happening in the market and being aware of new issues that might affect them now or in the future.

10. Celebrate your success

There is one more quality of successful property millionaires and that is they celebrate their successes and reward themselves for their achievements. There are a lot of people who are not happy because they haven't mastered this particular quality. So go on, get out there and enjoy the journey!!

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About the Author

Dale Beaumont is a young entrepreneur and the creator of the 'Secrets Exposed' series. Having now released over 15 best-selling business books (available in bookstores across Australia or from www.SecretsExposed.com.au). Dale has been featured in all forms of the media and has become a sought-after speaker. To discover more about Dale's books, read his blog or to download other free articles and resources, please visit: www.DaleBeaumont.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.smh.com.au

Turning Houses Into Dollars: Reasons To Invest In Property

2008-02-19T16:56:00.000-08:00

By: Dale Beaumont

When is the perfect time to invest? What demographics should I look at? How much money do I need? Why should I invest in property? There will always be questions about property investing because it involves risk and uncertainties. And while these drawbacks are often pushed to the forepart of our mind, we often forget about the benefits that property investing can provide.

A new book titled: 'Secrets of Property Millionaires Exposed!' takes people up-close and personal with eleven of the country's most successful property investors, including John Fitzgerald, Hans Jakobi, Dymphna Boholt, Ed Chan, Craig Turnbull and others. In a surprisingly candid way each contributor shares their closely guarded success secrets that have lead to a combined portfolio worth over $183 million.

Property investing may not be for everyone, however, ruling yourself out of the property game without the proper knowledge can be disadvantageous. This book serves as an introduction to property investing and offers strategies for becoming a property investor.

The following four (4) points are the author's perspective on reasons people should consider property investing.

1. The 'Great Australian Dream'

Buying your own home features prominently in the 'Great Australian Dream'. It is something that sits comfortably with most people and is a low risk investment that is relatively stable.

For author and speaker, Craig Turnbull, his reason for property investing stemmed from the financial struggles he experienced growing up. Noticing that many rich people either created or held their wealth in property, he realised he needed to invest in property in order to live the 'Great Australian Dream' - his dream!

2. Buy back your time

Most people reach a point when they realise that there has to be more to life than working long hours and long weeks. To make money you have to work for it, which is essentially selling your time. Time is a commodity that can't be stretched or taken back, however, property investing offers an alternative.

This is Gary & Jenny Leather's approach to property investing and one that lead them to establishing Jenger Investments. The dissatisfaction of the nine-to-five grind and two undervalued incomes prompted Gary and Jenny to explore the possibilities of using positive cash flow properties, which would allow them to buy back their time and find the freedom they were looking for.

3. To be uncomfortable

People need to be challenged. We need to learn, to grow and develop in order to improve ourselves. Property investing gives people the choice of moving out of their comfort zone and opening their eyes to other alternatives beyond their normal scope of living. No matter what field of work you are involved in, property investing can be undertaken by anyone who has a passion and willingness to learn the industry. It is never too late to invest in property.

One of the reasons property developer, Peter Comben started in property was that he found himself in a comfort zone in which he had grown accustomed to the security that a salary provided. So he took leave without pay to try something different. He is still in the industry today.

4. Passive is good

Property is one of the best assets you can own and will literally earn you money while you sleep. It is a passive income, which allows you to have money coming in whether you work or not.

Dymphna Boholt had just come out of divorce, had a baby to care for and another on the way when she started Active Financial Answers. When she decided she would rather enjoy a retirement lifestyle sooner rather than later, she understood that property investing was the ideal solution.

In Summary

Many uncertainties are associated with property investing and a lot of this hesitation has to do with a lack of knowledge. However, while property investing should not be entered into light-heartedly, do not overlook the benefits. According to investor, Patrick Bright, property investing is the best and safest way to create and hold onto wealth.

There are many reasons to invest in property. Identify why you would invest in property and keep an open mind to the endless possibilities.
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About the Author

Dale Beaumont is a young entrepreneur and the creator of the 'Secrets Exposed' series. Having now released over 15 best-selling business books (available in bookstores across Australia or from www.SecretsExposed.com.au). Dale has been featured in all forms of the media and has become a sought-after speaker. To discover more about Dale's books, read his blog or to download other free articles and resources, please visit: www.DaleBeaumont.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.investaustralia.gov.au

Investing In Real Estate - Six Specific Tips

2008-02-19T04:34:00.000-08:00

by: Steve Gillman

Investing in real estate should be a pleasurable and profitable activity. Listen carefully to investors, though, and you hear not just success stories, but sad tales of stress and losing money. Here are some tips for keeping your real estate stories happy ones.

- Have a top price. Properties have a market value, and then they have their value to you. Many investors pay too much just because everyone else is doing so, and then they have negative cash flow month after month. Just because others are paying too much for duplexes, doesn't mean you have to. Once you decide on a top price that works for your plan (which hopefully involves cash flow), start below that and don't go a penny higher. The time to set your limit is before the negotiations start, not during them.

- Choose partners carefully. Investing in real estate can be an uncertain process. Too many decision-makers just make it more so. If you must have a partner, clearly define your roles before you start a project. Group decisions tend not to work well, and will cause you much stress. It is often best if one partner puts up the bulk of the money, and the other runs the show. Agree to a plan, then step back if you are investing the capital, and let your partner do his thing. Of course, step up and take control if you are managing the project.

- Listen to what the market is saying. When the cabinet guy asked me for a decision I realized that I knew nothing at all about which cabinets people like. I asked him which ones home owners were most often choosing, and he pointed to one that three quarters of his last forty customers had chosen. Then that's the one I want, I told him. Why would I argue with the market I am trying to sell to? I have seen sellers paint a home a certain color because they like it. That's a quick way to reduce the market value of a home. What colors do the potential buyers like? That's what is important.

- Understand the numbers. Investing in real estate is all about the numbers. If it is an income property investment, it's about one number in particular: cash flow. Be aware of whatever the local formulas are, whether gross rent multipliers or capitalization rates or whatever. Ultimately, though just be sure that after every last expense you'll have cash flow from the very first month. If it is a residential fixer-upper, know what it will sell for and what it will cost to fix it up - before you even make an offer.

- Don't confuse investing with gambling. Investing in real estate isn't gambling, or at least it shouldn't be. There is risk, but unlike true gambling, the odds are in your favor. At least they should be, and you should be able to clearly see the outcome. This why you shouldn't invest based on the assumption of continued fast appreciation. Over time, real estate values do trend upwards, but there is no guarantee that prices will continue up at any particular rate during a given time. Do deals in such a way that they'll be profitable even if prices go nowhere. If values go up, you're that much better off.

- Do the research. Understand the statistics and information you are looking at. It is possible that the real estate agent will show you only the comparable sales that make the property look more valuable. With a bit of your own research, and an understanding of how the various numbers are arrived at, you can avoid overpaying. Many counties have made researching prices easy, with sales prices online. Other web sites, such as the U.S. Census site, have information on population and jobs. Understanding these figures can mean not investing in real estate just before the town declines.

These tips, like all others, are just guidelines of course. You can "gamble" on rising values, for example, if you really did your homework and know the demand for housing in a town is about to explode. You might pass up a great opportunity too, because you refuse to go $500 over the top price you set. While having a few rules and guidelines is a good place to start, don't let them take the place of thinking when investing in real estate.
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About The Author

Photo: Courtesy of www.extremehomeraleigh.com

Real Estate Investors Beware!

2008-02-19T04:23:00.000-08:00

by: Robb Beltran

Can you really make money in real estate? You bet you can, but you better beware of what you’re getting yourself into. I have been investing in real estate for years now and I can’t tell you how many properties I have bought from burnt out landlords or young couples that really started too soon.

Like anything the key to being successful in real estate investing is education and practice. I have had some really good deals and others I thought were going to drag me down to the deepest of money pits. So for what it’s worth here’s a few observations I think will be helpful to investors just starting out.

Beware of the late night infomercial real estate gurus when they say you can build wealth in real estate with only five or ten hours a week. To be successful you need to be on all the time. It’s all about marketing and following through and networking and did I mention marketing. I am astounded every time I meet a so-called investor and ask them for a card and they don’t have one. How is anyone supposed to know you buy houses or invest in real estate if you don’t tell them every chance you get?

Beware of rentals. Land lording is a pain. I don’t care if you have a management company in place or not you are always going to get calls about something being broken or some inspection the city wants to run you through. New investors should especially be aware that almost all of the tenant/landlord laws favor the tenants. If you want a taste of what can happen rent the movie “Pacific Heights” with Michael Keaton sometime. You may never buy another rental again. Remember peace of mind could cost you more than great cash flow.

Beware of contractors who want to be paid by the hour and not the job. Unless you are constantly there with them, they will take you for a ride every time. Make them sign a must be completed by clause and if they don’t complete the job by the said date, your cost should be discounted.

Beware of homes sold at sheriff sales or on the courthouse steps. Yes you can find some great deals there, but make sure you do your due diligence and always try to inspect the house first. Judgments and out of this world repair costs could chomp away at your potential profit quickly. I like buying the foreclosure properties after the bank gets them back. They are still “As Is,” but you can always inspect them and have an out if you use a realtor. Better safe than sorry right.

Beware of taking advice from someone who doesn’t own any investment property, rents or swears he knows of the next big market if only he had the money.

I have learned and still believe you can never learn too much about something so when it comes to building wealth though real estate education really is the key. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned investor the Real Estate Info Network may be just the tool to take you to your next level of investing.

The Real Estate Info Network promotes real estate education through real estate seminars, e-books and real estate investing. Learn how to make no money down deals, profit in foreclosures and short sales and how to rehab your way into real estate riches.
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About The Author

Robb Beltran is an active real estate investor and publisher of the Real Estate Info Network. The Real Estate Info Network promotes real estate education through real estate seminars, e-books and real estate investing courses.

http://www.realestateinfonetwork.com

http://www.belstarproperties.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.archibaldjx.com

Negotiation: The Highest Paid Work You'll Ever Do

2008-02-19T03:55:00.000-08:00

By Dale Beaumont

Let's do a quick test!!

1. What is your hourly rate?
2. Now divide that number by 60 and what do you get?

That's the value of your time every minute. If it's more than $1.00 you're doing well. However, how would you like to increase that figure to $100, $1000 or even $10,000 per minute? Well you can, simply by learning the art of how to NEGOTIATE. As real estate investor Hans Jakobi says, "NEGOTIATION Is The Highest Paid Work You'll Ever Do!"

A new book titled: 'Secrets of Property Millionaires Exposed!' takes people up-close and personal with eleven of the country's most successful property investors, including John Fitzgerald, Hans Jakobi, Ed Chan, Dymphna Boholt, Gordon Green, Craig Turnbull and others. In a surprisingly candid way each contributor shares their own unique wealth strategy and dozens of hints and tips from their years of experience.

The following six (6) points are the author's perspective of the contributor's views on the subject of 'The Psychology of Negotiation'.

1. Understand where the money is made

All successful property investors know that the money is made when they 'buy' and not when they sell. Buying at wholesale or 15-20% below market value is like adding rocket fuel to your portfolio's growth. By buying below market value you instantly build significant equity in your investment. You can use this equity to move onto your next property faster, or perhaps to fund renovations which in turn increases the property's value even further (more equity) and enables you to receive a higher rental return (more income).

2. Know that the deal you do is the best deal for them

Remember that if you come to a deal with the vendor, it was the best deal they had on the table. So by doing a deal with them, you have in fact helped the vendor take the property off their hands and you've paid more than what others could afford to pay. By understanding this you will make a small yet significant shift in your psychology when negotiating on a property. By having the mindset that you are there to help the vendor out of their predicament you'll be less inclined to become emotionally involved in the negotiation.

3. Get to know the vendor's needs

Although it is true that in negotiation 'information is power', it is information about the vendor's needs that will help you to reach the best deal for both parties. If you can find out the real reason why the vendor is selling, you'll know how motivated they'll be to accept your low offer. What's more, by asking questions, you'll be in a better position to offer more favourable terms and conditions. So show interest and ask questions!

4. Don't act too keenly on a property

When talking on the phone or while doing a house inspection, a trained real estate agent will ask pointed questions of you to extract information which may later be used against you to lever up the price. When this happens stay neutral and even a little nonchalant. But be careful to not come across as disinterested, otherwise you wonÕt be seen as a serious contender and you'll be left out of the communication loop. So stay relaxed and cool but with your eye on the ball.

5. Never lose your cool

Keep in mind that you'll need to be communicating with the agent and vendor over the entire length of the contract, which could be up to 90 days or more. So it's imperative you stay consistent and refrain yourself from sudden outbursts if something doesn't go right. Remember if the vendor believes they have been taken advantage of or felt offended, even the smallest request by you will be seen as an opportunity to get even. It's called human nature!

6. Be prepared to walk away

Sophisticated investors understand the deal of a lifetime comes around once a week, so don't be disheartened if one slips through your fingers. Take some time to sit and think about what happened and what you can learn from the experience. Then get on your feet and keep moving, because another deal may just be waiting right around the corner.
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About the Author

Dale Beaumont is a young entrepreneur and the creator of the 'Secrets Exposed' series. Having now released over 15 best-selling business books (available in bookstores across Australia or from www.SecretsExposed.com.au). Dale has been featured in all forms of the media and has become a sought-after speaker. To discover more about Dale's books, read his blog or to download other free articles and resources, please visit: www.DaleBeaumont.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.mastercleanco.com

Four Steps To Real Estate Investing Success

2008-01-28T19:03:00.000-08:00

by: Regine Hehn

The following article is the result of years working in the real estate business. It was written to answer some of the most frequently asked questions, as well as address common issues that people have with this topic. I hope that you will find the information in this article helpful.

Real estate investing is always good and sometimes it's red hot. When it's hot dozens of real estate seminars begin rolling across the country and thousands of people spend thousands of dollars for investing education.

It's startling to learn that of all those thousands of eager folks who attend these seminars only about 5% buy even one investment house. Why? The real estate gurus sell the "sizzle" and make profiting from real estate sound easy. The truth is that it's simple, but not easy.

Here's a quick plan that will enable anyone to begin building financial independence.

There are basically four steps to investing in single family homes:

1. Buy homes below full market value. Yes, people really do sell homes for less than the home's full value. The key is to understand that most home owners will only consider a purchase offer that is all cash and within 5% to 10% of their asking price.

The successful investor learns to find financially distressed home owners who have no choice but to sell for less than market value. They have lost their job or been suddenly transferred; they are divorcing; they been living beyond their income; the family has been overwhelmed with medical bills and, not uncommonly these days, their money has gone to support a drug habit.

Those are examples of motivated sellers. They have to sell and they will accept something other than a conventional, all cash offer.

2. How do you find motivated sellers? You work at it! Like any business it is important to develop a little marketing plan. One that is simple, yet very effective, is the one that was proven 75 years ago by the Fuller Brush company; door to door sales.

You are selling your skill as a home buyer to people who must sell. Your are there when they need you and you have the skill to help them solve at least part of their problem. With door to door prospecting you will learn more and buy more homes quicker than any other method. However, most people just won't walk door to door for three or four hours per week. OK, there are other ways.

You can watch public notices for the announcement of foreclosure sales. Meeting with a home owner right after they've received a notice that they are about to lose their home allows you to deal with a very motivated seller. Other public notices that provide buying opportunities include probate, divorce and bankruptcy. You can follow the Homes For Sale listings in your local newspaper or Internet site.

You can telephone the names found in these notices or, and this is the least time consuming, send a postcard expressing your interest in buying their property. It will produce buying opportunities, just not as many as personal contact.

3. After you've found a motivated seller you must understand how to frame offers that provide benefits for both you and for the home owner. A good real estate investor quickly learns that this is not a business of stealing property, but of solving problems in a way that benefits the seller.

The home owner is in a tight spot of some kind and you can save them from public embarrassment and, in most cases, give them at least a little cash to get a new start.

No investor can afford to leave cash in every deal. No one but Bill Gates has that much available money. You must use creative techniques like, leases, option and taking over mortgage payments. Little or no cash is needed for those deals. You can find plenty of reasonable priced educational material on those subjects in book stores or on EBay. The same education that seminars sell for thousands of dollars.

4. You make your profit when you buy! Never make a purchase until you've carefully determined exactly how you will get to your profit. If you hold it as a long term investment will the monthly rental income more than cover the monthly mortgage payment? Will you sell the deal to another investor for fast cash? Will you do some fix-up and sell the property for full value? Will you quickly trade it for a more desirable property? Have a plan before you buy.

There you have four steps that even a part-time investor can execute in three to four hours per week. What's the missing ingredient? Your determination and perseverance. If you will unfailingly follow the plan for a few months you will be well on your way to financial independence.

OK, now that you have finished reading this article I want you to find more resources on this subject. Within just a short period of time you will have all of the answers that you need!
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About The Author

Regine Hehn
If you want to buy or to sell any kind of properties in any place on the world than visit our site: http://homesnatch.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.GetACoach.co.nz

How Can Inspections Save You Money in Real Estate Investment

2008-01-28T18:50:00.000-08:00

by: Paulie Sabol

Think about this: any property you come across is likely to be a used good. Real estate investment is like a garage sale; only instead of exchanging old t-shirts and record players, you’re buying and selling the actual garage, the High Victorian, the Colonial.

You will never find the perfect house, but you may certainly find the perfect house for you. For these reasons, it is absolutely essential that your investments are inspected thoroughly by a licensed professional. The sale of property is always negotiable, and a proper third-party inspection is a tenant of the deal that you’ll want to remain always firm upon. Put it in writing, and get it signed. Leave nothing to chance.

Here are a few things to consider:

If there is wood in or on the property, you may need a separate termite and pest inspection of the premises. General home inspections focus primarily on structural and mechanical features; they don’t typically check for bugs. Here again is an opportunity to get to know your inspector. Termites, carpenter ants, mice and other bugs can severely weaken walls, floors, attics and shelving. They can chew through wiring and cause electrical problems.

Professional inspectors will likely begin at the foundation, searching for major cracks, level ground, and/or evidence of water damage (i.e. water stains, mold, mildew, and mineral deposits). Some inspectors will also check for the presence of radon gas concentrations.

The house is examined as a structural whole; angles and joints and frames must meet at proper locations to ensure a solid foundation. Plumbing and electrical systems are inspected for damage, wear, and to be certain they conform to industry specifications. Pipes are checked for leaks, rust, lead, and other chemicals. In addition, some inspectors measure flow-rate and water pressure.

It is important to have properly functioning electrical systems. Be weary of faulty wiring, uncovered switches or receptacles, incorrect grounds, inadequate or malfunctioning circuit breakers, or poor-quality GFCI trips (those tiny red buttons in the middle of your outlets, which act as miniature circuit breakers).

Air conditioning and heating systems will be checked for duct leaks, the condition of filters, and adequate capacity and flow. It is also important to ensure that the thermostat is in proper working order.

Attics are checked for proper framing and strength, noting any water leaks or obvious damage. The roof is inspected for tears or holes, loose tiles, weaknesses, and to be certain that vent pipes are sealed properly.

Appliances (i.e. stove and water heater) must comply with standards. If there is a propane or wood-burning stove, these must be checked for physical integrity and proper function.

Carpets should not show signs of inappropriate wear or water damage. All faucets must be tested for leaks.

In addition to these major aspects, your inspector may check a variety of other systems. You’ll receive a detailed report of his or her findings, and as the buyer you may use these defective items as bargaining chips during the negotiation phase. As a seller, this professional inspection may be done before listing, so that problem areas can be given attention before the property reaches the market.

Home inspection can be costly, but a few hundred dollars may well save thousands in the long-run, and there’s something to be said about peace-of-mind.
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About The Author

Paulie Sabol, often called the ‘legal bank robber’ for his real estate financing and bank owned foreclosure investing, is a nationally recognizedreal estate investor trainerand financial thinker. Sabol, has personally completed 100’s of real estate investments, and helps real estate investors learn to make more money with creative investing. Visit his site at http://www.reiunion.com/rei.html

Photo: Courtesy of www.HMRInspectionsllc.com

Real Estate Investments and How to Make Them

2008-01-28T18:20:00.000-08:00

by: Milt Tanzer

Mistake # 1. Spending thousands of dollars buying books, tapes and attending seminars and then putting all of that information on a bookshelf and never looking at (or using) it.

I’m continually amazed at the number of “would be” investors who have spent a bundle of money attending seminars, getting an education and then never using it to start their investment program. Not only is it a waste of thousand of dollars but it could be the biggest financial mistake you can make.

Mistake # 2. Failure to learn the basics of real estate investing.

The other extreme to Number 1 above, are potential investors who realize real estate is the best way to accumulate wealth and venture into the purchase of properties without knowing the basics of real estate investing. Those investors are almost certain to get into financial trouble.

Mistake # 3. Fear of making a huge financial mistake

We all fear making mistakes, especially a large financial one. If you follow the advice in Number 2 above, you won’t have to worry about making a financial mistake.

Mistake # 4. Not looking at enough properties

Don’t fall in love with the first property you look at. Too many investors buy properties because they “look nice” or they are just to lazy to see what else is currently on the market that may be better. Part of sound real estate investing is in giving yourself a choice so you can select the best one, financially.

Mistake # 5. “A better deal may be just around the corner” syndrome

This is the opposite mistake of Number 4. This investor never starts his or her real estate investment program because they always hope a better deal may be out there somewhere if they just wait...and wait...and wait.

Mistake # 6. Thinking that real estate investing is strictly a complicated game that only the wealthy can play.

First of all real estate is NOT complicated if you learn how to do it first. Did you know that even professional investors use a simple nine step process to analyze the financial feasibility of an investment property? Here's a brief idea of the nine simple steps they use in analyzing any type or size investment property.

A Basic Financial Property Analysis

1. Scheduled Gross Income (Income if 100% leased) = $ 26,000

2. Less: Allowance for vacancies (5% of Gross Income) -1,300

3. Operating Income before expense & Mtg. Pmts. $ 24,700

4. Less Operating Expenses (Taxes, insurance, utilities,

repairs and maintenance etc.) 40% - 9,846

5. Equals: Operating Income (Income before Mtg. Pmts.) $ 14,854

6. Minus: Mortgage Payments: -12,863

7. Equals Cash Flow 1,991 = 6%

8. Plus: Mortgage Principle Payment +1,697

9. Total Return: $ 3,688 = 10%

There's a lot more to it than that, but you just read the basic nine step procedure most professional investors use when analyzing any income producing investment property.

Mistake # 7. Falling in love with a property

Once you get your feet wet and become a real estate investor, you’ll wonder why you waited so long to begin. Now you’ll face another problem. Many investors fall in love with their property. They have seen how well it is doing, cash flow has been going up each year, and they have fallen in love with their tenants (not literally). Two big mistakes are made here.

First, never fool yourself into thinking your property is doing too well to sell or trade up because your cash flow is considerably higher than when you purchased the property.

The second part of mistake number 7 is getting so friendly with your tenants that you fail to maintain rental standards based on what the market will bear. This greatly hinders your growth potential. .

Mistake # 8. Failure to plan your financial goals

Before you purchase that first property, which, of course, you financially analyzed, determine what you expect from your investments…your financial goals.

It's known as "The 'time vs. money’" concept. The more you have of one the less you need of the other in order to reach your financial goals.

Mistake # 9. Trying to purchase properties that the seller is not motivated to sell

I’ve seen potential buyers continually try to purchase investment properties that are not really on the market. This includes property owners with the attitude that “Sure, it’s for sale… for a price”. Unfortunately the ‘for a price’ part usually means it will make no financial sense for a buyer.

Mistake # 10. Believing you can get rich quick overnight with no money invested of your own.

Getting rich overnight will not happen . . . (regardless of what some of the so called "experts" tell you). It takes some time, effort and knowledge of real estate investing to do it with minimum financial risk.

The important thing to remember is that YOU can do it, too. You can join the millions of investors who create sizable incomes by investing in real estate.

Mistake # 11. No money down investing usually isn’t.

Somewhere, somehow there will be some money required to put a transaction together and make it profitable. It may be closing costs, repairs or upgrading, whatever. But somewhere, some money will be needed. There are ways around this problem without getting into a high risk situation. You may be able to finance every dollar you need, but it can come back to haunt you in the form of mortgage payments you cannot afford to make. Again, learn what you are doing first.

Mistake # 12. Not financially analyzing a potential investment property.

This is the most serious mistake an investor, or potential investor, can make. I've seen a few pros in the business rely on a "worthless and inaccurate" rule of thumb to make a huge financial decision to purchase, with total disregard for how well the property will perform.

Oh, yes, there is one more major mistake many investor make:

Mistake # 13. Thinking it's important to pay off your mortgage as soon as you can because mortgages are a 'necessary evil'.

First of all as a real estate investor, mortgages are good and not a necessary evil. You must learn why this is true. You must learn how, in the right situation, a second or third mortgage can be a good thing.

Second: mortgages are one of the keys to creating wealth in real estate. You must learn how to use financing as one of the keys to creating your own financial estate, without concern for it being "risky".
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About The Author

Milt Tanzer has been a Commercial/Investment real estate broker and investor for over 25 years. Author of 7 books on real estate investing. Gave seminars to both the general public plus Realtor Association meetings for several years. Published by Prentice Hall division of Penguin Putnam.

Websites:
http://www.investmentre.com
http://www.realestate-supermarket.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.Squidoo.com

Brokers or Lenders — Which Do You Want for Your Real Estate Mortgage?

2008-01-28T17:44:00.000-08:00

by: John Harris

A mortgage is a mortgage is a mortgage. NOT! Not only do mortgages differ between lenders, but they also differ greatly by the lenders, themselves. There are two types of real estate originators — brokers and loan officers.

Brokers generally are self-employed professionals, who work to secure a real estate loan for you. They work through a variety of lenders and earn a fee for the transaction. Most of the mortgage lenders who advertise on the Internet are brokers.

Loan officers are employees of a bank, credit union, or other lending institution, such as a mortgage company. They sell and process mortgages and other loans only for their employers. They are usually local and in a physical location.

There are advantages and disadvantages in using both brokers and loan officers for your real estate purchase, so you need to shop for the one that is right for you and your particular circumstance.

Brokers

The advantages to using a mortgage broker for your real estate purchase are many. Usually, the better deal they get for you, the buyer, the more they are paid on the transaction — a big plus for you. If your local bank, mortgage company, or credit union has refused you a loan, a mortgage broker may be able to find a lender, even if you have bad credit — just expect to pay a higher interest rate. If your real estate is unique or commercial property, using a mortgage broker to secure a loan is at times easier and faster.

One downside of using a mortgage broker is that your mortgage loan will be sold to another lender immediately after closing. Another is that brokers choose to do either non-conforming loans, which are higher risk and usually higher interest rates, or conforming loans. This limits your loan options. Brokers do not have to disclose a “good faith” estimate on what closing costs will be, nor are they regulated by the Fair Credit Act. Additionally, they seldom have a physical office with employees offering you face-to-face customer service, and they generally are in another town or state than where your real estate is located. This means they may not understand the local market in which you purchased your real estate. Important issues may arise from the real estate classifications and terms used by your appraiser, for example.

Loan Officers

Though loan officers offer a variety in the types of loans available, you are limited to only those products offered by one institution. Usually a local institution, the loan officer will be familiar with all local regulations and issues will not arise over lack of knowledge in local market terminology.

Banks and Mortgage Companies

Bank and mortgage company loan officers will give you face-to-face customer services, at least before the closing. Like brokers, banks have the option of selling real estate loans on the secondary market. Some banks sell only low-end mortgages or those that require too much servicing with little return. Some sell the loan but keep the servicing portion, making it appear that your mortgage continues to be owned by the bank or mortgage company. They are required, however, to tell you during the initial paperwork if your mortgage may be sold. I suggest you ask before you ever get to that point, if this is a deal breaker for you.

Bank and mortgage company loan officers are licensed and must meet certain criteria. They have more criteria that you must meet, as well, in order to secure a loan (banks usually require the most). Many real estate buyers are refused mortgage loans by these institutions. Both banks and mortgage companies generally do offer better rates and terms. They also must disclose a good faith estimate on what closing costs will be, and they are regulated and audited under the Fair Credit Act.

Credit Unions

You must be a member of a credit union to apply for a loan with them. Many credit unions do not offer real estate loans. The major advantage of securing a loan from a credit union is that they pass on only actual costs of the loan to you — no broker fees or commissions. They also never sell their loans on the secondary market, they always are local, and give you continuing face-to-face customer service.

What to Do

The time to begin looking for a mortgage lender is before you begin looking at real estate. Ask family and friends for referrals, as well as their experience with the real estate lender. Ask your real estate agent for referrals. Then, contact each prospective lender and ask questions — lots of questions! Compare interest rates, terms, after the closing mortgage sale policies, and what criteria do they require that you meet in order to qualify for a real estate loan.

If you are a residential real estate buyer, consider getting pre-approved for a loan. You will know exactly what you can afford to buy, which usually turns out to be much more than you expect.

Spend as much time shopping for a mortgage lender as you will for your real estate. The deal you get can save or cost you thousands or even millions over the life of the mortgage. Get the best deal possible, as well as the right lender for your real estate purchase.
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About The Author

John Harris is an expert researcher and writer on real estate topics such as economics, credit improvement tips, home selling advice and home buying preparations. For more on San Diego Homes for Sale visit http://www.twtrealestate.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.HollanderFinancial.com

10 Tips for Successful Real Estate Property Investment

2008-01-22T19:17:00.000-08:00

by: Rhiannon Williamson

Just because real estate prices seem to have hit a temporary ceiling in many countries around the world, that doesn’t mean that profits from property investments are hard to come by.

Even during a real estate market slowdown, stagnation or depression profits can be made locally and overseas. This article shows you the top ten tips that real estate investors apply to their property portfolio building strategy to ensure success from their investments.

1) Research the curve - the concept of a property market cycle existing is not myth it’s a fact and is generally accepted to be based on a price-income relationship. Check the recent historical price data for properties in the area of the country you’re considering purchasing in and try to determine the overall feel in the market for prices currently. Are prices rising, are prices falling or have they reached a peak. You need to know where the curve of the property market cycle is at in your preferred investment area.

2) Get ahead of the curve – as a basic rule of thumb, professional real estate property investors seek to buy ahead of the curve. If a market is rising they will try and target up and coming areas, areas that are close to locations that have peaked, areas close to locations experiencing redevelopment or investment. These areas will most likely become ‘the next big thing’ and those who by in before the trend will stand to make the most gains. As a market is stagnating or falling many successful investors target areas that enjoyed the best levels of growth, yields and profits very early on in the previous cycle because these areas will most likely be the first areas to become profitable as the cycle begins turning towards positive once more.

3) Know your market – who are you buying property for? Are you buying to let to young executives, purchasing for renovation to resell to a family market or purchasing jet to let real estate for short term rental to holiday makers? Think about your market before you make a purchase. Know what they look for in a property and ensure that is what you are going to be offering them

4) Think further afield – there are emerging real estate property markets around the world where countries’ economies are going from strength to strength, where a growing tourism sector is pushing up demand or where constitutional legislation has been or is about to be changed to allow for foreign freehold ownership of property for example. Look further afield than your own back yard for your next property investment and diversify that real estate portfolio for maximum success.

5) Purchase price – set yourself a budget that will realistically allow you to purchase what you’re looking for and profit from that purchase either through capital gains or rental yield.

6) Entry costs – research fees, charges and all expenses you will incur when you buy your property – they differ from country to country and sometimes even from state to state. In Turkey for example you should add on an additional 5% of the purchase price for all fees, in Spain you will need to factor in an average of 10% and in Germany fees and charges can be in excess of 20%. Know how much you will have to incur and factor this amount into your budget to avoid any nasty surprises and to ensure your investment can become profitable.

7) Capital growth potential – what factors point to the potential profitability of your real estate property investment? If you’re looking overseas at an emerging market, which economic or social indicators exist to suggest that property prices will increase? If you’re buying to let out are there any indications to suggest that demand for rental accommodation will remain strong, increase or even decline? Think about what you want to achieve from your investment and then research and find out whether your expectations are realistic.

8) Exit costs – if you will incur substantial capital gains taxation liability if you sell your property investment for profit, will that render the investment profitless? In Spain a foreign buyer can incur up to 35% capital gains tax, in Turkey on the other hand property sales are capital gains tax free if the underlying real estate has been owned for four or more years.

9) Profit margins – what levels of capital growth can you realistically gain on your property investment or how much rental income can you generate? Work out these facts and then work backwards towards your initial budget to work out your potential profit margins. At all times you have to keep the bigger picture in mind to ensure that your real estate investment has good potential for profit.

10) Think long term – unless you’re buying property off plan and intending to flip it for resale and profit before completion you should view real estate investment as a long term investment. Real estate is a slow to liquidate asset, cash tied up in property is not simple to free up. Take a long term approach to your property portfolio and give your assets time to increase in value before cashing them in for profit.
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About The Author

Rhiannon Williamson is a freelance writer whose articles about property investing and emerging real estate markets have appeared in publications around the world. She is currently working on a brand new property investment resource http://www.amberlamb.com/

Photo: Courtesy of www.ValuePlusAppraisals.com

Rental Property Investment - Finding The Properties

2008-01-22T19:01:00.000-08:00

by: Steve Gillman

Rental property investment starts with finding the best deals. To do this, you can increase your odds by finding more deals. Who's more likely to get a cheap apartment building, an investor that looks through the MLS listings and calls it a day, or the one that uses ten resources? Here are those ten:

1. Look in old papers to find "For Rent" ads. Call if they are a few weeks old. The landlord may be ready to sell, especially if he hasn't yet rented the units out.

2. Look up old FSBO ads. Call on two-month-old "For sale By Owner" ads, and if they haven't sold, they may be ready to deal. Owners often give up the effort, but still would love to sell. Help them out!

3. Drive around looking for "For Sale By Owner" signs. Owners often don't want to pay to keep the ad in the paper every week, so you won't see all properties there.

4. Find abandoned properties. That's a pretty clear sign that the owner doesn't want to deal with the property. He might sell cheap.

5. Talk. Let people know you are looking and sometimes the properties will come to you. There are a lot of owners out there who want to sell, but haven't yet listed their property.

6. Talk to bankers. You might get a foreclosed rental property cheaper if you buy it before they list it with a real estate agent.

7. Offer someone a finder's fee. There are people that always seem to hear about the good deals. Have such people coming to you.

8. Eviction notices. If your local papers publish eviction notices, or if you can get the information at the courthouse, it can be useful. A landlord who just went through the procees of evicting tenants is a likely seller.

9. Use the internet. Go to a search engine and enter the type of real estate you are looking for, along with the city you want to invest in. You never know what you might find.

10. Put an ad in the paper. "Looking for rental properties to buy," might be sufficient to generate a few calls.

There is a lot more to learn to do it right, but finding good properties is a good place to start for rental property investment
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About The Author

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com.

Photo: Courtesy of www.Properties4Auction.com

More Return On Equity For Your Investment Property Dollar

2008-01-22T18:48:00.000-08:00

by: Cary Losson

Few would deny that real estate is a solid investment. It provides an attractive combination of stability, reliable cash flow, preservation of principal and capital appreciation. However, many investment property owners nearing retirement find themselves in a quandary. They are equity rich, but cash poor, with increases in the value of their property far outpacing income growth. They also are often tied down by the day-to-day issues of property management and, particularly in cities like San Francisco, California, shackled to the constraints of rent (and eviction) control. In fact, San Francisco is home to some of the lowest cash return on equity in the state's real estate marketplace, which is somewhat counter-intuitive given California's ever-booming property market.

The obvious answer is to sell the property and unleash the dormant equity, but that can be problematic. These investors face the reality of prohibitive capital gains taxes and recaptured depreciation, as well as the task of identifying an alternate investment venue; or locating, acquiring and financing suitable replacement property in the time period allowed, taking advantage of tax deferral under IRS code section 1031.

An ideal solution for many investment property owners may be to reinvest the proceeds from the sale of their property and utilize a subsequent 1031 exchange into a tenancy-in-common (TIC) ownership type, also known as co-ownership of real estate (CORE) interest in a suitable replacement property.

1031 exchanges, also known as Starker exchanges or tax-deferred exchanges, permit owners to sell investment property and defer tax payments by reinvesting the proceeds into another investment property (or investment properties). In order to completely defer the payment of tax, among other things, the replacement property must be of equal or greater value and all the equity from the sold property must be reinvested in the new property. The marriage of 1031 exchange and TIC/CORE allows investors not only to defer their capital gains taxes but also to upgrade their investment real estate.

TIC/CORE is a way of sharing ownership of property among two or more persons whereby each tenant holds an undivided interest in the property. Tenants-in-common may own interests of differing sizes. TIC/CORE investors are on the title and considered separate owners of the real estate. They share pro rata in the income, tax benefits and appreciation of the property. Their TIC/CORE interest can be purchased, sold, gifted, bequeathed by will or inherited; and it is subject to property taxes, gift tax, and estate and inheritance taxes in the same manner as any property held in sole ownership. With a TIC/CORE property, each of up to thirty-five investors have the opportunity to own an undivided fractional ownership interest in an investment-grade property, such as an office building, shopping mall, apartment complex or industrial property, costing anywhere from $10 million to $150-plus million.

The benefits of investing in TIC/CORE properties are substantial. Such properties employ professional asset and property management, relieving the investor of day-to-day tenant headaches. More important, investors often receive greater cash flow and overall returns than they had in their previous sole ownership property. Typically, many people receive between 2-3 percent of their equity in their property in rental income. By selling this property and placing the equity into a larger investment-grade property, they can potentially experience annualized cash flow from 6-8 percent, paid monthly, and 12-16 percent overall return on their investment. Also compelling is that TIC/CORE exchange investors can diversify among several property types, and geographic locations through fractionalized ownership, while still enjoying 1031 exchange benefits on each amount. Thus, investors can potentially reduce risk in their overall real estate portfolio.

Investors seeking to exchange for a TIC/CORE property are best advised to work with a financial advisor experienced in 1031 exchanges. Such advisors work closely with top real estate providers, who give the investor access to the best properties available. In addition, many TIC/CORE opportunities have pre-arranged, non-recourse financing in place, which is perfect for investors working within the 1031 exchange time frame. Numerous hours of upfront investigation, evaluation, due diligence and life cycle planning transpires before a property is offered to an investor group. Investors faced with only a 45-day window to identify a suitable replacement property to complete a 1031 exchange can select a suitable project with confidence.

Given the tax deferral, institutional-grade quality of the property, professional property management and pre-arranged, non-recourse financing aspects, a 1031 exchange replacement property structured as tenancy-in-common ownership can be a very wise and profitable solution. It allows the investor to maintain everything they like about real estate (monthly income, preservation of principal, capital appreciation, etc.), while eliminating most of the hassles of property ownership.

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About The Author

Cary Losson is the Founder and President of 1031 Exchange Options. A luminary in the TIC/CORE 1031 exchange marketplace, Mr. Losson is frequently quoted in journals and periodicals concerned with investment property issues and advice. For more resources to assist in your learning: http://www.1031exchangeoptions.com/resources.html

(c) 2005, 1031 Exchange Options. Reprint rights granted so long as the article and by-line are reprinted intact and all links made live. This article is neither an offer to sell nor an offer to buy real estate or securities. There are material risks associated with the ownership of real estate. You must be an accredited investor. Securities offered through Sigma Financial Corporation, Member NASD/SIPC.

Photo: Courtesy of www.EdmontonRealEstateBlog.com

Real Estate Investment – Three Ways To Success

2008-01-13T16:40:00.000-08:00

by: Joel Teo

If you ever wondered about the most profitable investment avenue, real estate investment comes out tops. Did you know why? As population rises, demand for services and quality living space is bound to grow. Families would look for residences and business would want more offices. Naturally then, owning a piece of real estate would bring higher returns in the form of rental income and capital appreciation over time to beat inflation.

Before you jump at the friendly next-door real estate agent with dreams of cornering a property in the most glamorous district in the city, do your groundwork well. Here are three simple ways to success with real estate investment.

• Determine your time span and budgetary constraints.
• Do a thorough research on the investment.
• Stay motivated to make real estate investment an ongoing habit.

The first step in your attempt to invest in property consists of making a realistic estimate about your finances. You need not save up for the entire value of the property. Even if you decide to purchase a mortgage, the lender would first ask for your financial position. So, calculate your present and potential future earnings, deduct living expenses, payment for other debts and outflows for savings. You can find out the sum you would be ready to pay monthly towards home purchase.

You should calculate the probable number of years for which you could invest in real estate. This puts a dollar value on your capacity to invest and removes ambiguity.

The second step is the most crucial and time-consuming. You must perform a detailed study of the trends in the real estate market. A few rules of thumb are:

• Concentrate your search closer to your area or at least within your state.
• Look for growth potential in upcoming areas.
• Personally inspect the property and the area a couple of times before making the decision.
• Consider areas with good infrastructure as these bring higher rentals.

Investing in real estate should not be a one-off affair. You must imagine property as a component of your investment portfolio. Hence, you must remain an active investor. Keep watching the trend and move out of unprofitable areas to more lucrative ones. Do not be disheartened by the occasional losses. With time and experience, you would make better choices.

Real estate investment calls for careful planning and methodical execution. It is the best way to make your hard-earned money multiply faster and easier. If you did your preparation well, it would be impossible to go wrong.
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About The Author

Joel Teo writes on various financial topics relating to arizona estate goodyear investment real. Signup for his free online Real Estate Investing newsletter today and gain access to the “Six Day Real Estate Investment Profits Course” now at http://www.realestateinvestment101.info/Arizona.html
Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved.

Photo: Courtesy of www.ConstructionDeal.com

What You Need to Know About Your Real Estate Rental

2008-01-13T16:30:00.000-08:00

by: Nicholas Fagan

Often a rental agreement is called a lease, especially if your renting real estate or immovable property such as building. You may rent real estate to park vehicle(s), storage, office/business space, agricultural, institutional, or government use, and of course housing. Basically the rental agreement will state who, what, when, and how much.

As the tenant or lessee, you may be required to state who will be living with you, whether its a roomate, family, or others. Also, the rental agreement will have the landlord's or lessor's policy on pets. Your rental agreement will have the landlords policy on when the landlord may enter your home, usually for emergency purposes. As the renter you are in possesion of the property and If the landlord enters your home without proper notice or authority, he will be violating your rights and he would be trespassing.

Rented real property or real estate may include all or part of almost any piece of real property including land. Sometimes the rental agreement will include access to certain pools, bathrooms, laundry rooms, off-set parking, and other things if the premise is split up. If access to rooms is outlined they will define the times you are allowed to use them.

Did you know when you rent a room at a hotel for a night your signing a rental agreement? Chances are you`ve already signed one then, but sorry to dis-appoint you but long-term rental agreements are usually more in depth. Rental agreements could specify that your staying just days, weeks, months, or years. Typically a rental agreement is month to month or annually and usually the rent for annual leases are cheaper because you exclude the month to month turn-over costs. The downside of having a long-term lease is if you decide to leave early, usually you are charged with penalties. The good news is though the rental agreement can specify to automatically renew your lease so a month to month lease may be your best option.

If a tenant is unable to pay or does not follow policy, then landlord may ask you to "quit" (legal term for leave) the premises at your own will, and if the tenant refuses to do so, the landlord then will 99.9% of the time proceed to serve an eviction notice on you. In many states it is illegal for the landlord to change locks on doors, or remove any personal belongings, and extremely illegal to forcibly eject a person, without a court order of eviction. If the landlord violates any of the above contact your lawyer, you are entitled to compensation for "triple damages", plus expenses from your attorneys' fees. The landlord then could face stiff criminal penalties if you decided to press charges.

Finally your rental agreement will state how much you will be paying and on what bases, month to month, annually, aslong as you want, or even in advance. A typical "down payment" will consist of how much the first and last months rent would be and a security deposit. If you do not return your property in ordinary "wear n' tear" condition, the landlord can with-hold your security deposit to pay for the damages. If a security deposit is required, some states will require the landlord to give you the bank account number and the banks name of where your security deposit is being held. Some states also require the landlord to list pre-existing damages to the property, or the state will force them to give back the security deposit.
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About The Author

Nicholas Fagan is the proud to be an author of http://LegalFormsBank.biz providing information for legal do-it-yourselfers. We provide your state specific, do-it-yourself, Residential Lease Form for only $7.95 - http://www.legalformsbank.biz/lease.asp.

Photo: Courtesy of ohmyapt.apartmentratings.com

So Now That Your Real Estate Deal Has Closed...WHAT’S NEXT?

2008-01-13T16:12:00.000-08:00

I am sure that you already know the scenario. The momentum builds up, your paperwork is all in place after rushing for last minute signatures, etc., you overnight your package in and without you even having to be there, you are the proud owner of a new addition to your real estate portfolio. Now that the smoke clears and everyone goes home from the closing table, you may be left with the burning question…. "Now What?"

After all the adrenaline and getting to the closing table which takes a lot of patience, attentiveness, organization, etc., you may feel a bit of a let down. Not to worry! Amongst all the excitement of now being the proud parent of a new born project (at least new for your portfolio), you should not forget that there are still items and tasks that need your attention.

Immediately After the close.

After you leave the closing table (if you were even there at all), one important thing that you should make sure that you have is a copy. A copy of what, you may ask? A copy of everything that crossed the table during closing, especially anything that you put your signature on. While this may be a common sense item, it is amazing when I talk with clients and members of our group who say that they did not get a copy. If you did not get it right after closing, then make sure that you request a copy from the group that coordinated the closing, whether it is the attorney, title company, etc. This is something that could save a lot of headaches in the future.

A PARTICULARLY important part that you will need is called the HUD, and is the long legal form that shows all of the closing costs and other money transfers. The reason this is so important is that you will need to provide a copy to your accountant at tax time, or if you do you own taxes, you will need the facts and figures.

Hopefully this next step should have already been started during the initial reservation or letter of interest stage. Again, this is a common sense item but still very important. Make sure that you have a separate file or folder that you keep for this new project. Keep it identified so that you can easily go back and find the project that you are looking for. However you do it is up to you and I am sure that everyone has different ways to organize their files (by State or location of project, address, date of acquisition, type, etc.).

You may even want to have a file for the project and subfolders for individual items such as initial deposit (copy of completed reservation form, check, unit selection criteria, etc.), loan application, closing papers, and folder for post-closing events (such as loan payoff, insurance, taxes, etc.)

The good thing is that you have time; time to get things straightened out and prepared.

Don't Forget the Essentials Whether or not you are running your real estate projects through a company (i.e. you have set up an LLC or other company for the transaction(s)) or you are doing this individually, these next items are essential in having a successful real estate project/experience.

Accounting – While the extent to which the following applies will vary according the number of projects you have or the complexity of your business, etc., doing it now will save a lot of headaches, especially during tax time and when you go to sell your project. If feasible:

1. Set up separate bank accounts for the project. Alternately, you may want to lump several projects under one account. One way to group these projects is by project type (i.e. rental units, land-only, etc.). It may be best to check with your financial advisor for their suggestions and advise in this area.

2. If you use a financial Software package, where applicable set-up different sub-accounts for each project. For example, if your receive Rent on several projects you would have Rent – Project 1, Rent – Project 2, and so forth. This will help track income and expenses on a per-project basis.

3. Keep your financial advisor aware of your recent acquisition. Hopefully already discussed before the purchase, etc.

4. Keep your financial (and other) advisor(s) aware of planned purchases and acquisitions. They may be interested in purchasing for themselves as well and if it is a great deal, they will be thankful for your passing on the information.

Legal – One of the common issues that comes up with every new purchase is the following. Has the purchase of your new property changed any liability issues that you may have? You should discuss the new acquisition with your legal advisor (once again, if you have not already done so). One of the main topics for that discussion should be if there are any necessary changes to you coverage or liability protection that may be needed resulting from the new project. Here is another instance of where you hopefully are just continuing discussions with your team of advisor that were started before the purchase.

Property Management – if the project has property management built in as part of a preconstruction incentive package (like you may get with a wholesale buying group), make sure that you coordinate with them on issues such as upkeep, maintenance, rent collection, etc. If the management is not part of the incentive package, get some references of Property Management groups that are in the area and do some digging around. If the project is new construction and there is a build out period, you may want to start ironing out the details ~ 60 days before the certificate of occupancy (i.e. before you can put a tenant in place, etc.). With wholesale buying groups, typically discounts can be negotiated if a large enough representation of that group goes with the same Property Manager.

Expenses – now for the fun part. Usually, there are bills associated with any real estate project (i.e. Mortgage, Insurance, etc.). Check to make sure that all bills are being sent to your correct address; make sure that the mortgage payments are being sent to your home/office address and not to a PO Box in, for example, Las Vegas as I have heard may occur from time to time. As a helpful hint, if you need to do an address change the US Postal Service offers a free service to have your mail routed from the incorrect address to the correct address; you need to go to your local post office and fill out the form Vs doing the on-line submission. This will help get any mail that is "sitting in the wrong box" over to you directly while the vendor is correcting the address in their system.

Another thing for you to verify are the numbers. As expenses start rolling in, you may want to verify that the actual expenses are what you had planned for during your initial analysis. If there is a large discrepancy, find out why and also take the actual values into consideration in any of your spreadsheets or project evaluation forms.

Plan for the Future

Phew! Ok, so now the smoke has cleared (or at least, thinned out a bit). You have done all that you can do for the time being with respect to the closing of this project. Do you just sit back and then wait until it is time to exit the project? The answer, as you may have expected, is NO! Based on your own investment strategy (or at least the initial strategy which prompted you to get involved in this project in the first place), plan regular evaluations of the property to make sure that it fits your portfolio and your initial investment strategy. It may be a good idea to have a folder with the rules and thoughts written down as to why you first got into the property, and your initial thoughts for the exit as well. This way, you can revisit these items and re-evaluate the property and or your strategy as well.

Once you do your review, plan on meeting with your advisory team to share ideas with them and to see what their inputs are as well.
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About The Author

Michael C. Zari is a founder of http://www.GetPreconstructionDeals.com , a real estate investor and entrepreneur. His works have been referenced in many venues including the New York Times and USA Today. To continue to get weekly thought-provoking articles, go to http://www.GetPreconstructionDeals.com and sign up today!

Photo: Courtesy of www.Pentegra.com

Fix it and Flip it - How I Lost Money on Real Estate

2008-01-13T15:45:00.000-08:00

by: Jonni Good

I've known a lot of people who have lost money when they sold their homes. In fact, I'm one of those people, and it's happened to me more than once.

There are a number of factors can cause a financial loss when you sell your house, including the need to sell at the wrong time due to divorce or an impending foreclosure, or a downturn in the local real estate market. However, it's also common to lose money simply by making too many expensive changes to the house before putting it on the market. This is how I lost money on real estate, before I wised up.

My most resounding failure in the fix it and flip it market was a house I bought in Spokane, Washington. Knowing what I know now, I would have restricted myself to replacing the carpets and the kitchen and bathroom fixtures, painting inside and out, and buying new appliances. I probably would have replaced the old-style windows, too, to make the place look nicer and appeal to the energy-conscious buyer. These fixes could have been done easily within the two years I needed to live there to avoid capital gains taxes.

Since I didn't know what I know now, I made major renovations, which included moving the bathroom. I did most of the work myself, but the materials alone cost more than I could get back when the house was sold. With the exception of repairs done to the house to make it eligible for an FHA loan and watering the grass, I doubt that any of my major projects really helped me sell the house or increased its value.

If a house is actually sound, with no structural damage or insect problems, the biggest reason it will sell for less than its worth is usually cosmetic. This was certainly true of the house I bought in Spokane. Dirty carpeting, and a wall in the living room covered with mirror tiles, kept most buyers from going any further into the house. I could see past the cosmetic problems and see the home's full potential - but my imagination went a bit too far.

The floor plan was odd, and slightly inconvenient, but leaving the bathroom where it was would have been far more rational, financially. Why didn't I do that? Because my emotions and my nesting instincts took over, pushing aside all thought of future gain or loss.

Let's face it - most people don't buy their own homes with the intention of making a profit, although they certainly hope the house will be a good investment. In fact, the emotional stress caused by the process of buying a house and moving into it can be enough to completely erase any thought of moving again a few years later. However, I know several families who have made a very good living by buying underpriced homes, living in them and fixing them up, and then selling them when the IRS will allow them to do so without paying extra taxes. Clearly, these folks don't make any changes to these houses without carefully considering the bottom line.

After my Spokane adventure, I decided to learn from my mistakes, and find out how to stop losing money on houses. I read books by authors who are experienced in fixing and flipping houses - and then read them again. When I saw that most remodeling projects almost never recoup their costs when the house is sold, I was a little shocked, because I had been guilty of almost every mistake on the list at one time or another. I know many people who have also made the same mistakes, even when they started those remodeling projects with the intention of increasing the value of their homes.

When I bought my next house, I kept that list very firmly in mind. For instance, my kitchen was badly in need of a major overhaul, (or so I believed), and it was far too small. I pored over the latest home decorating magazines, and ideas came flooding into my head. I thought about knocking out some walls, and I even tried to imagine adding on to the house to make the kitchen bigger. New cabinets would be needed, and new appliances...

In the end I painted the kitchen cabinets and replaced the sink with a new one I purchased at Ikea. I covered the chipped orange Formica counters with printed cotton fabric, and coated it with many layers of water-based Verathane that was intended to protect wood floors. The complete "remodel" cost less than $400, as opposed to the thousands of dollars that I would have spent if I followed through on my idle dreams of a "perfect" kitchen. Since the house sold at a very good price within two weeks of listing it, my buyer obviously didn't mind that the kitchen didn't meet my idea of perfect. Because I kept my costs down, I made a handy profit on the sale.

Would I have been able to sell the house for more money if the kitchen had been remodeled and expanded? Perhaps, but not enough to cover the cost of the remodel. Although the National Association of Realtors lists a kitchen remodel as one of the projects that will increase a house the most, they still advise that you should expect to get back only 80% of the costs. If your new kitchen is far fancier, bigger, and more expensive than any other kitchen in the neighborhood, the returns will be even less. A full kitchen remodel can cost thousands of dollars, so the 20% you don't get back can be a big chunk of change.

Does this mean that you shouldn't make changes to your home that would make you happy? Not at all, especially if you intend to live there for many years. But it does pay to sit down with your spouse or partner before you start making your remodeling plans, determine exactly how long you'll be staying in the home, and then think about the full financial implications of the remodeling project. Even if you don't think of yourself as a professional house flipper, it might pay to slow down a bit and find ways to improve the home without spending money you'll never see again. As a bonus, your family might be able to avoid the stress and disruption of all that remodeling mess.
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About The Author

Jonni Good is the author of a new report that shows how she used these fix it and flip it ideas - and how the profit allowed her to buy her next house with cash. Visit - http://www.BuyAHouseWithCash.com

Photos: Courtesy of www.H3Renovations.com and www.AcmeJoinery.com.au

The Racy World of Property Investment

2008-01-10T16:50:00.000-08:00

by: Scott James

There has always been a degree of “racy glamour” to the world of property investment. Too often the image has always been portrayed as an industry being handled and managed by “be-suited city types” wheeling and dealing any huge multimillion dollar fortunes.

It doesn't really matter what your perception of property development he is, the fact is that if you can time it correctly, manage it properly it's a very useful tool in any investment portfolio.

Investing in residential property has become well and truly established in recent years. Volatile share and bond markets have simply underlined the inherent strengths in bricks and mortar for long-term investments.

Few can have failed to notice the growth in residential property investment over the past decade. There have been many contributing factors behind this, not least the advent of buy-to-let finance offered by banks, the increased volatility in equities markets that has seen supposed blue chip names fall from grace and of course the significant returns from residential property over the pasta for 30 years.

The great majority of people are now looking to own an investment property as part of a balanced and well diversified portfolio. Private bankers and IFA’s have tended to bypass the residential sector, leaving their clients to deal with this themselves.

If you were to ask most people what their concept of property investment was I wouldn’t be surprised to see the response's comeback in much the sort of vein as “well, buy a flat or a house, do it up and then sell it on, make a profit and reinvest”. This as an approach might be simplistic but it's not too far from the truth and if followed to a limited degree in theory should lead to success.

However their comes a time as in any business or industry that you move out of the shallows into slightly deeper waters on this point you really do need to know what you're doing or you need to get in the services of experts.

This is the point in the entire process way you start to consider issues like gearing and borrowing funds to help increase the asset base of your portfolio thereby actually giving you a greater return on your initial capital. It is this sort of concept that differentiates a part time player from the professional who read he does understand what they're doing.

Only when you start to look a property like this do you really stand a chance of making regular sizable returns on your hard earned money and giving your self a fighting chance to actually make a profit so that you can reinvest and earn more. If you are going to be remotely involved in property beyond buying renovating and selling then you need to consider issues like ongoing property management and tenancy agreements. Not only do you need to consider these issues you need to understand them properly as well.
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About The Author

Scott James writes regularly on Finance issues and more on the above can be found at http://lifeafterbankruptcy.us/afterbankruptcy/ and http://uptoyoureyesinit.com/debt/

Photo: Courtesy of www.ArjaniHomes.com

Key Factors To Consider When Buying Investment Property

2008-01-10T16:42:00.000-08:00

by: Joel Teo

Buying investment property with discretion is perhaps a foolproof way of accruing long-term wealth. With the stock markets being overly volatile the investor is anxious and often seeks haven in real estate, which unequivocally involves less uncertainty than other investment options. While real estate has drooped a bit from its zenith during the late 1980s, astute real estate investments can still deliver significant gains. In general, buying investment property gives you access to three benefits: yield, capital growth, and tax advantage through negative gearing.

Investment properties are also known as Non-Owner Occupied properties. Since every investor looks for high capital growth, buying investment property in a developing area does make sense. Experienced investors state that suburbs located within a 10 km radius of a city’s hub can be regarded as developing areas. It is recommended that you explore the area prior to buying investment property. Ensure that the basic amenities and emergency provisions are easily accessible to potential tenants. This would result in healthy rental returns and minimal vacancy periods, if any.

While buying investment property, you must consider that renting an apartment unit is much easier than renting a separate house. Moreover, the expense of rectifying problems, such as replacing the heating ducts, is shared among the several owners in the apartment.

The locale also plays a crucial role in determining which property to purchase. Properties with a panoramic view are often more desirable than others. Undoubtedly, the rental income from such a property would be huge. But there is no point going overboard and purchasing an expensive property, prior to ensuring that potential tenants can afford renting such a property.

If capital growth is what you look for in an investment property, then seek a property that can be sold quickly. Augmented properties, such as a unit with a balcony, garage or laundry, are rather alluring and can be sold with ease.

While buying investment property with the key intent of renting it, you must bear in mind that there might be periods when the property is unoccupied, either because of repairs or lack of tenants. Therefore, you must have a contingency plan for such vacancy periods.

Property investment might not seem all hunky-dory during the initial few years. But after a few years of holding a property, you might hopefully see yourself from being negatively geared to being either neutrally geared or positively geared. That is, your returns would be higher than your operating expenses. This is because the rental income would increase on a gradual basis, keeping pace with the market sentiments. Over time, you would also generate extra capital in your investment property.

On the whole, buying investment property can be a profitable venture if it’s done astutely.
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About The Author

Joel Teo writes on various financial topics relating to Ahwatukee Real Estate Investment. Signup for his free online Real Estate Investing newsletter today and gain access to the “Six Day Real Estate Investment Profits Course” now at http://www.realestateinvestment101.info/Ahwatukee.html.
Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved.

Photo: Courtesy of www.RomaniaReport.com

Investment Property Portfolios - 6 Key Strategies for a Smart Loan

2008-01-07T16:47:00.000-08:00

by: Brian Long

A booming market for buy-to-let and investment property portfolios has created the need for new types of mortgages and investment property loan facilities. Securing finance for buy to let and holiday rental properties classed as an “investment property loan”, has never been easier and many of the main lenders have transformed their lending criteria to support property entrepreneurs.

Historically lenders were reluctant to support property investors unless they had serious investment equity ranging from 25-40% of a given properties value. The latest range of financial offerings, are now more in-line with existing household mortgages where buy to let loans are available for up to 90% of the value of the property. The criteria for lending, depends very much on the anticipated yields for the property and to some degree on solid business plans and logic that reflect capital growth in the investment. With a myriad of product offerings available it maybe difficult for a prospective property investor to determine what constitutes a good offer from a financial institution.

The best investment property lenders will look and consider 6 key elements in their risk assessment. So it is very important that you as the proposer understand clearly and prepare in advance a plan that accurately presents your facts in order to pitch smartly to get the finance you need.

6 key Investment Property Loan points

Equity available – Know what you have in terms of tangible equity in your home, other investments in assets, and liquidity. Use this valuable information to form the basis of calculating your security to finance the investment plan. This ensures to the lender that you have a sound knowledge of your strategy in investing and you have a good consideration in managing your risk.

Interest Rate Percentages – It is generally anticipated that the higher the investment deposit the better the mortgage rate. Buy-to-let mortgages rarely attract the discounts that home mortgages attain. However interest rate benefits are gained if you are prepared to put up front 20 – 25% of the loan value. Try and avoid low deposits as the rates for larger deposits will be more attractive both in the short-term overhead reduction and long-term gain.

Current debts – Ideally all outstanding mortgage and loan liabilities or commitments should be understood and declared when requesting the finance. This will determine the maximum loan available to you for your investment project. Ideally this should be considered in advance of any property speculation or viewing of proposed properties. You may also find through this process that it presents an excellent opportunity to consolidate current finance and reduce overheads through the consolidation process.

Current Income or Salary – Lenders will often consider salary and income within the mix of calculating repayments. Multiples of salary are often considered along with the yields or estimated monthly rental incomes from the property portfolio. Important to the property investment will be the current state of the property and whether the property requires investment in refurbishment or modification to enable tenants or renters to occupy.

Tax liability Reduction – You can often save money by offsetting your mortgage payments, maintenance costs and agents fees against rental income. This will ultimately reduce tax liabilities against any profits made in rental and capital growth.

Insure properly – Accidental damage caused by renters or tenants does occur as does general wear and tear. So, make sure that you invest in adequate insurance and don’t let these costly overheads affect your profits. There are specialized landlord and investment property insurers who will cover your property for these eventualities and once again these fees should be tax-deductable.

Summary:

Investing in a property portfolio can be a lucrative venture provided that you are prepared and you understand and manage your risks. Lenders will look for good credible knowledge of the investment and will make assessments based on the six points raised earlier. An ill-conceived plan and approach will unlikely attract the finance desired from leading financial institutions. Alternative sources of finance may be available to you, although you should expect to pay significantly higher costs in terms of interest payments set-up fees and management costs. If the numbers don’t add up in the plan the leading lenders will not support your venture. If this is the case then veer towards prudence and carefully rethink the 6 key steps to a smart loan.

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About The Author

Brian Long is the the author of numerous article. He has an MBA and writes about various finance related topics. For more information or to find a investment loan property Holiday Home Loan Online, Investment Property Loan, Home Building Loan, Business Investment Loan, visit (Second Home Loans). http://www.2ndhomeloans.co.uk.

Photo: Courtesy of www.smh.com.au "Invest in the Best" article by Annette Sampson, February 28, 2007
Photo-illustration: Jojin Kang

Who Should Hire the Real Estate Appraiser and Why?

2008-01-02T16:24:00.000-08:00

by: John Harris

Everyone involved in the sale of real estate has a vested interest in the results of a real estate appraisal. The outcome affects the seller, the buyer, the lender, and even the realtor.

A too low valuation of the property by the appraiser could mean a seller must lower the asking price. For a lending officer, it could mean a lesser commission or none at all. A too high valuation means the buyer could be paying more than the property is worth. For the realtor, his/her commission could go higher or lower, which is based on the purchase/sell price of the real estate.

An appraiser, who should be licensed by the state, performs the real estate appraisal. It is best to hire someone local with years of full-time experience in order to get a more accurate appraisal. The appraiser and appraisal are governed by the minimum standards, published periodically in the Uniform Standard of Professional Appraisal Practice by the Appraisal Foundation. The Foundation is chartered by Congress.

The recent real estate bubble, unfortunately, brought problems for appraisers and many involved in real estate transactions. According to Realty Times in their April 2006 issue, appraisers have been routinely asked by lenders to inflate real estate values to keep up with the ever-rising real estate market. One real estate appraiser in San Diego quit and turned in his license to the state, after being fired three consecutive times for refusing to inflate his valuations. Now, real estate appraisers across the United States are under a microscope from federal financial regulators and Congress.

The real estate appraiser may be hired by the seller to determine an accurate selling price or by the buyer to ensure the accuracy of the purchase price and mortgage; but generally, the lender does the hiring or uses their own in-house appraiser. Though buyers may assume the lender has their best interest, mortgage lenders have their own best interest at the forefront, especially some not-so-scrupulous lending officers who may be targeting a higher commission.

If I were a seller, I would hire my own real estate appraiser to ensure I was getting the most for my property. As a buyer, I would put the money out upfront to hire an independent and objective appraiser with no connection to anyone within the real estate transaction. This ensures that I do not contract for a mortgage, based on an inflated appraisal valuation, that will give me a new home with a lower or negative equity. The lender still may require a different appraiser.

If five different real estate appraisers evaluated the same property within the same timeframe and under the same conditions, it could result in five different and varying real estate valuations. Why? There is no set checklist or established value for each property feature and amenity. Though appraisals are based on prescribed standards, it is a subjective process.

If there is more than one real estate appraisal and they disagree significantly, you have options. If the value is too low for the seller, renovations may raise the value — or you can decline to sell. If the lender insists on its appraiser’s value, which disagrees with your real estate appraiser’s value, as the buyer you can look for financing elsewhere — or decline to purchase the real estate. There also is the option to bring the appraisers together to come to a common agreement on the value.

Remember, the person looking out for your best interest is yourself. Ensure the appraiser in your real estate transaction is reputable, objective with no connections to anyone in the transaction, local and experienced.

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About The Author

Why Do You Need a Real Estate Appraisal?

2008-01-02T16:05:00.000-08:00

by: John Harris

Anytime you buy or sell real estate, you need a real estate appraisal. The primary purpose is to find out exactly how much your property is worth. Banks and similar lending companies also require it, before a buyer can obtain a mortgage.

A real estate appraisal develops an “educated and trained opinion” on the value of the property. It also, in some circumstances, may ascertain the best use of the property, garnering the best selling price. For example, a long-time residential property may be in an area that has been rezoned for limited commerce, which could potentially bring in a higher sales price than marketing the real estate to potential residential buyers.

An appraiser differs from an inspector, who is looking for things that need to be corrected, repaired or replaced — things that are required by law to be completed before the property can be sold or to enhance your sale price. Though an appraiser will look at these same things, he/she is only interested in developing the value of the property.

A real estate appraisal is based on the highest and best use of real property — what use of the property will produce the highest possible value? The final appraisal must be both profitable and probable.

The real estate appraisal includes a definition of the type of value that is being developed — whether it is a market value (what most sellers need), a condemnation value, quick sale value, and so on.

The Process

The appraiser looks at each property individually, beginning with an objective inspection of the interior and exterior of the home or building, as well as driving through the surrounding neighborhood. The appraiser looks for the assets, as well as the detriments, of the property. For homes, gross living space, quality of construction, location, layout, the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the lot size, condition of the home and land, central air conditioning, landscaping, number of fireplaces or the lack thereof, decks, pool, fencing, recent renovations, amenities provided by the surrounding neighborhood, and crime statistics of the area are all considered by the real estate appraiser.

Living space is calculated by measuring the outside of the home. It does not include such areas as the garage, porches, sheds, and so on. Basements are generally calculated separately from the living space. The contributory value of basements is determined by the local market, government regulation, if it is finished or not (and the quality of the finish), and so on.

The real estate appraiser usually only considers permanent buildings within his/her appraisal. Fixtures that can be relocated, such as above ground pools and sheds, are not included in the appraisal.

If you are the real estate seller, you should point out any features, amenities or improvements of your home that are not readily discernable.

Next, the real estate appraiser analyzes the available market data for your area and the surrounding neighborhood, including current and historical comparable sales, current offers for comparable homes, pending sales, and proposed improvements. The appraiser gathers data from a variety of sources, as well as his/her own personal knowledge of the local market. The appraiser then compares your real estate to the broader market.

Each real estate appraiser has his/her own process of analyzing, collecting and reconciling the needed appraisal data. If you get five different appraisals for your real estate, you may receive five different appraisal opinions. They should, however, all be within a similar value range, if they are completed within the same timeframe and under the same conditions.

Though the real estate appraisal is not for public consumption, it may be shared with all parties concerned. For instance, a buyer has offered $150,000 for a home, but the buyer-side, commissioned appraisal value is only $146,000. Sharing this appraisal with the seller means that the owner can do needed improvements to bring the price up or offer the real estate to the buyer for the appraisal amount.

For the highest appraisal possible, real estate sellers should have an inspection and appraisal done before putting the property on the market. First, the inspection in order to make any needed repairs or renovations. Then, get the appraisal to ensure you are getting the most for your real estate.

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About The Author

Real Estate Investment - Still a Great Option for the Long Term Investor

2008-01-02T15:55:00.001-08:00

by: Matthew Honsberger

Investing in Real Estate is a great Addition to any portfolio, but what is the best way to do it? There are a number of different options, and we will go through some of them here.

The first one, and the one that seems to get the most attention these days is the "Flip". With the emergence of shows like "The Big Flip", and "Flip This House", this Buy, Renovate and Resell strategy is the 'sexy' option for most real estate investors right now. However, there are a few things to consider before you go about this. The first thing to think about, of course, is where are you going to find the property that is priced well for the flip.

There are a few options for investors - the first of which is to contact a good Real Estate Agent and have them scan all listings for you for any that are undervalued, priced as is, owned by the bank or foreclosure company, or any other good opportunities that might be on the market. Your Real Estate Agent is your best friend in this respect, as they will be very motivated to find you the best property, and will be very vigilant, if for no other reason than they know you will be reselling the property at some point pretty soon!

When looking for Properties to Flip in your area, remember that the same rules apply as to your own home - the first three things you should look for is Location, Location, Location! Properties that are in Downtown Areas are often the easiest to resell, however, they are often more expensive than more suburban properties, so that will eat into profit margins. Look for houses on popular streets, in good neighbourhoods. If you are buying into a worse neighbourhood, make sure you are factoring that into your price of purchase, and projected resale.

The other Key factor to the Flip, is that you must ensure that you don't price yourself out of the neighbourhood. For Example, no matter how nice you make your small bungalow in an area of starter homes, Don't expect to resell it for 50% more than anything else in the area! Ensure that your renovations don't bring the price too high. Finally, Understand that the higher price bracket you try to flip, the longer it is going to take to resell, and the higher your materials costs will be. You need to consider all of this and much more before considering the flip.

The other main strategy that you can use to add to your investment portfolio in the real estate world is the rental property. Rental Properties offer two different qualities to your portfolio - income and capital gain.

Your rental property can offer you a monthly income over and above your monthly outlay of expenses (mortgage, utilities and taxes). Even if your rental property doesn't offer you a huge (or any) monthly income, remember, you are also earning a capital gain on the property, as it is very likely to increase in value... just like your personal home is.

All of this should be taken into consideration when deciding on a property. However, with Rental property, the most important consideration is always the Tenants that you have. A great looking, well maintained and located property can still be a nightmare if you get a bad set of tenants in their. It is important to do stringent interviews, check references and draft a strong lease agreement. You should also familiarize yourself with the Nova Scotia Tenancy Act. Finally, you need to decide what kind of rental property you are going to run. Do you want to rent to students? Young Professionals? High or Low Income? Students offer payment by room, which is often higher than you could command for entire flats, but you have to consider that they will likely not care for the building very well, and might not have the rent each month. Additionally, you have the concern of them bailing out on you once school ends for the year.

Young Professionals will often be very easy to deal with, will pay their rent on time, but will also be very astute about how much they will pay, and are likely to be there for only a short period of time. Your Rental portfolio must always account for at least a 5% vacancy rate (in the good times), and must still generate money for you with that in the equation.

Like I say, in both of these cases, your real estate agent can be your best friend, and you should seek out one that you feel can be an informative and trusted advisor. They will work in conjuction with your financial planner as well, to determine what the best course of action for you is. As always, you should feel comfortable with whatever investment you make!

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About The Author

Matt Honsberger is a Licensed Real Estate Agent in the heart of maritime Canada - Halifax, Nova Scotia, and the designer of http://www.homesinhrm.com.

Photo: Courtesy of www.ProRealEstateHomes.com

Real Estate and Your Retirement

2008-01-02T15:44:00.000-08:00

by: John Harris

Many people are looking for ways to increase their retirement income. For most of these individuals, their homes are the greatest asset. A large section of the aging population has failed to plan effectively in order to have sufficient savings at retirement. They now are looking to their real estate to supplement their retirement income.

Real estate values are very unpredictable, especially now with the decrease in the real estate bubble. Prices are falling in some cities and flattening in others. It will take some planning to get the most from selling your real estate to supplement your retirement.

Be Realistic. To plan effectively, you must be realistic about the price you may get for your home. Real estate is an up and down market, so you should assume a traditional real estate market for valuating your home, with gains in value equal to the inflation rate. At retirement, you will have the same purchasing power you currently have. If gains in real estate values are better than the inflation rate, then you will have more. Just don’t count on it.

Get the Most from Your Real Estate. People used to work hard to pay off their mortgages for homes they planned to raise their children in and retire. Since 1989, the number of people 65 and older with mortgage debt has nearly tripled, adjusting for inflation. Making payments on real estate in retirement years will deplete your savings and retirement income faster than any other expenditure.

There are three reasons to pay off your real estate mortgage — (1) decrease expenditures in your retirement years, (2) use the mortgage interest rate that you will save to increase your retirement savings, and (3) build more equity, in case you need it as income on which to live later. Paying off your mortgage is a good thing to do, regardless of what the real estate market is doing.

Downsize Your Home. If you are living in a home that is larger than what you need, do not hold on to it for sentimental reasons. Selling the larger home for a smaller one can: (1) give you a smaller mortgage payment than you currently have, or (2) purchase a smaller home outright with no mortgage. It also means less physical upkeep by you, as well as less maintenance and repair costs in the future during retirement. Please keep in mind that there will be selling, moving and new home renovation costs that must be deducted from the sale proceeds.

Sell the Extra Real Estate. If you have a second home or vacation real estate that will not be your retirement residence, you may wish to sell this extra real estate now, putting the sale proceeds into your retirement savings. You can put the mortgage and annual upkeep payments for this property into your retirement savings, too.

Reverse Mortgages. Though these products have been around for some time, we are hearing a lot about them lately. Such mortgages give you 50 percent or more of your home’s value with no mortgage payments, which are collected by the lender at your death or if you sell the real estate.

Beware! Reverse mortgages should be used only as a last-ditch effort at survival. The interest and fees added to your mortgage debt can be very costly. If you must consider a reverse mortgage, here are a few smart tips:

• There are only a few reverse mortgage products now on the market, but others are coming soon. So, wait two or three years to garner more options and possibly better products.

• You must be 62 to qualify for a reverse mortgage loan, but wait as long as possible to take such a loan. The younger you are, the smaller the loan and higher the cost over time.

• Check out all of the products on the market and get independent financial counseling on the best one for you. They may look the same upfront, but the number of years and the loan value differ greatly between products, as well as the costs over time.

• Do not buy into the hype! Mortgage brokers receive a large commission on these products. If you feel you are being pushed in this direction, check out other lenders.

• Plan ahead. If you move and sell your real estate, the lender receives all that is due on the reverse mortgage from the sale proceeds. This could actually leave you in a worse financial state.

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About The Author

Real Estate - Buy New Property With Ease Through Loan

2007-12-29T17:34:00.000-08:00

by: Tim Kelly

Real estate is perhaps the most beneficial if you are looking around for investing money. However buying a highly costly property is not that easy for everyone. So a loan for buying property becomes inevitable. Loan for real estate has gained importance and popularity amongst the property buyers.

Real estate loans are especially meant for buying a highly priced property like a commercial building or any property you think is fit for investment. Real estate loans are secured loans that require the borrower to place a highly valued property like home, business or papers as security. On having the security in place, the lender will shower benefits on the borrowers. For instance you can borrow greater amount under real estate loans. the main requirements that the lender would like to ensure before approving reap estate loans are that you must be having a sound repaying capacity, your past credit history should be good and the property you are going to buy.

You should be having a great bank balance and should have a convincing loan repayment plan in place. You would be immediately investing the loan in buying the property. So the lenders surely want to know your source of income for timely repaying the loan installments. So keep all the relevant documents ready before applying for the loan.

An advantage of real estate loan is that it comes at lower interest rate as it is secured loan. Also you can repay the loan installments with easy as you have the option of paying off the loan in larger duration of say 30 years. Thus while you have bought the property, the loan itself is easier to repay.

And do not worry about your bad credit. As you offer valued property as security, the lender’s risks are reduced substantially. So despite your past bad credit history, the lender is ready to approve real estate loan, though interest rate may be a bit higher. You can apply for real estate loans to online lenders who have cheaper rates. But first take their rate quotes so that you can compare lenders for a suitable deal.
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About The Author

Tim Kelly is an expert in finance having completed his LLM in Finance (Master of Laws in Finance) from Institute for Law and Finance at Frankfurt University. He is currently working with business loans as a financial advisor. To find Real estate, Commercial real estate loan, Commercial real estate loan rate, Private real estate money loan, Online real estate loans visit http://www.commercialrealestateloan.co.uk

Photo: Courtesy of www.MTGFoundation.com

Stages of a Real Estate Market

2007-12-29T17:22:00.000-08:00

by: Dave Dinkel

The stages of a real estate market are most often recognized only after the fact. Even when all the historical data confirms that a downturn is in progress, most speculators won't stop gambling. Real estate speculators call themselves investors because they believe they are taking calculated and controllable risks when purchasing homes.

In the mid to late 1990's real estate investing was virgin territory because it was easy to use formulas of 60% to 70% of Fair Market Value minus repair costs to determine an offering price for a seller. The "chant" was "Get as many properties under contract because they can only go higher!" In the earlier years, buying properties cheaply enough allowed them to be rented and they supported themselves while the investor simply collected checks. In only three years, a groundswell of speculation led to frenzied buying. Families looking for a home to live in got caught up in the buying panic because of the scarcity of homes for sale. The market quickly and efficiently climbed with the help of lending institutions who were offering low interest rates, 100% financing, with no proof of the buyer's income. Almost no other speculative opportunity in history caught on as fast because of real estate investors needing little or no money down and ease of loan qualification for "retail buyers".

Even when many of the potential borrowers had credit issues and minimal down payments, the lenders created more lenient loan requirements. The number of single family homes that were owned by investors rose from 2.5% in 1995 to almost 29% by the end of 2006. Effectively, these investors took away at least 26.5% of available single family homes with the intent of selling them at higher prices to retail home buyers.

Here is a summary of the stages of a real estate cycle:

Stage 1 – This is where supply closely equals demand and home prices fluctuate between +/- 3% per year and prices are basically stable over a five year period.

Stage 2 – Here demand out-strips supply, or a "sellers' market" develops because of fewer homes on the market. This can be created by investor speculation.

Stage 3 - Here demand far out-strips supply with resulting large annual price increases. Homes now offer new speculators more attractive yields than stocks and money market instruments. More so called "investors" begin buying multiple properties with expectations of selling for huge profits because of the low down payments required for mortgages or using creative financing. The market begins to feed on itself as homeowners begin to rush to take profits.

Stage 4 – As home prices become unaffordable, interest rates increase making financing costs too expensive for homeowners to purchase, and investors have inventory that can't be sold. Seemingly everyone tries to sell and the market readjusts to former market conditions by pulling back as much as 30% to 60% of peak values as the market begins to stabilize for 3 – 8 years.

Summary - Based on the current market conditions and continuing available data, the real estate market is well into Stage #4. There is no way to determine how long this swing will last but historically they have lasted for 6 to 15 years. This stage offers huge opportunities for real estate investors and homeowners alike that want to purchase homes either for living in for 5 years+ for homeowners, or for "flipping" for investors. Both homeowners and investors looking to buy a property need to be very selective about how much they pay for a property, the amount of costs to rehab it, how they will be financing it, how long they intend to stay in it, the carrying costs, other properties currently listed on the MLS®, and neighborhood conditions. Unfortunately, retail buyers who wait to get the lowest possible price often wind up paying higher mortgage rates which offsets the cost savings by waiting, especially when you include their cost to rent, and the interest tax-deduction that they lose by not owning. Investors will have to buy low and sell low, while the retail buyer has become "king of the mountain" in picking the best possible home for the lowest price.

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About The Author

David Dinkel has over 30 years experience in real estate investing which has given him a unique perspective into the real estate market. He has created a powerful CD available for Free entitled "How to Sell Your Home in as Little as 72 Hours" designed to help homeowners sell their houses quickly and save thousands of dollars. The Free CD is available at http://www.FSBOTLC.com http://www.FSBOAutoPilot.com and complete details of his complete Home Study Course can be seen at

Making Profits in Real Estate

2007-12-29T17:05:00.000-08:00

by: Paul R Wilson

We have all seen people making fortunes by investing in the stock markets and at the same time millionaires turning into paupers. This rarely does happen with real estate investing. There are living examples among us that some of us may or may not be aware of. A good example is the properties we inherit. The values of these have been growing all these years with appreciation annually. The investment was made years ago. Over the years the increase in the property value is the returns that we are benefiting from these days.

Real Estate

A Real Estate is a piece of land with all its natural resources and more often than not contains a building of some sort. You can take any type of building that is either a constructed or a manufactured property, however an immovable property is always permanently affixed to the land.

Why The Rush To Invest In Real Estate?

* Falling stock market has generated fear psychosis among the investment community reminding them of the Great Depression.

* Failing pension system with growing inflation has added to the woes of the retirees and employees.

* Lower interest rates have compelled the money to be diverted somewhere else for higher returns.

* Moreover banks are willing to extend loans for the purchase of land and buildings at lower interest rates.

How Lucrative Is The Real Estate Business?

Real estate has wide options for making money; one being to buy and either hold it or rent it. Likewise other benefits are:

* With the rents from the tenants continuous cash flow is guaranteed.

* Mortgage loans from banks help in buying with or without personal investment.

* In case of mortgage loans, the cash flow by way of rents will continually reduce the principal borrowed.

* Improvement of the locality will in turn increase the value of the property overtime.

Statistics reveal that housing is a low risk investment. Gauging by the market trend the average market value of the homes has risen by 50% in the past 10 years. The wealth earned from the real estate investment has surpassed that of the stock market returns indicating the faith of the investors in real estate. This is a sign of an upward trend in the days to come.

Haven’t we all heard of our neighbors making big bucks in real estate very often? Every now and then we see some one selling off a home or a real estate property in a week or two of buying it for a big profit. Every one of you, like I, must have thought real estate is where quick money is. But is the market quite so? Can anyone make quick money by investing in real estate? Unfortunately, it is not quite so, although we rarely, if ever, hear people loosing money in real estate investment.

Making quick money is something that takes a lot of preparation and planning before investment, when you are invested and when selling or closing the deal. Further more, the investment amount is not small too, which no one can ignore. A slight mistake in prediction or a change in the legislation concerning real estate property or tourism or industry sector has the potential to turn over the whole real estate economy on its head resulting in wiping out of your capital too.

Any real estate broker would vouch for this fact. Take a scenario, for example. These brokers, in addition to brokering deals, also enter into contracts with sellers for selling off their property by making a down payment, which obligates them to sell at higher than the contracted price. Federal housing loan rates have revised now and there prevails a real estate slump, which is unforeseen. Wealthy brokers can wait till turn around of the market and still make a profit but they are still tied down by the blocked money. The case will be worse for smaller players with this condition.

Similarly, speculative investors are either forced to sell at loss or wait for unknown periods of times. The burden of interest you have to pay if you invested borrowed money might eat into your capital too, if the slump prolongs.

Unlike in stock and shares investment arena, you don’t have enough instruments in real estate to spread your risks and investment. All is fine when market booms but tough gets the going when things go awry. Lesson: longer you are invested better will be the return; no room for quick money, in general.

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About The Author

Paul Wilson
PRW Realty - http://realestateinfoinsider.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.SellYourNotes.com

Smart Real Estate Investing Tips

2007-12-29T16:53:00.000-08:00

by: Ben Euporian

Real estate investing is a topic that many people wonder about. The earning potential of a smart investor is extremely high, because unlike nearly every other type of investment, real estate does not typically decrease in value. When you are looking for a way to ensure your security for the future, or to build a retirement portfolio, real estate is a good vehicle to use. Here are some things that you might want to know about real estate investing…

- Work with a mortgage broker. When you are considering financing options for the purchase of your investment property, contact a mortgage broker to see if he can help you to find financing that is the most advantageous for you. Shop around, and talk to several different brokers to get a feel for experience and access.

- Don’t pass over properties that you may be able to resell to other investors. Sometimes it is a good idea to purchase a property that is an excellent value simply because it is a property that is attractive to other investors. Keep in mind that when you purchase a property that is not what you are looking for or one that requires extensive work, it may end up being a long term investment. However, when someone who specializes in rehabbing comes along you are likely to make a substantial commission on the sale.

- Research potential properties before purchasing them. When buying a rental property, there are several key features that you should be looking for. The first is sustainability. Is the property in solid condition and is it going to stay that way with minimal upkeep? The second is the location. Yes, location is extremely important for most rental properties. You need to ensure that your tenants can get to where they need to go and that the property is near commonly used retailers and service providers. The third is the average income of the area. This is different from physical location, because you should keep in mind that a high rent area is definitely a better location than a low rent area. And, in high rent areas location is often less of a concern than in low rent areas.

- Start by purchasing a home of your own. If you are not already a homeowner, it is probably a good idea to purchase a home before you purchase an investment property. There are several reasons, but perhaps the most important is that you will learn the process of purchasing a property by actually buying one. It is not unusual for investors to turn their first home into their first investment property, because the property and the market become familiar entities.

- Let potential home sellers know you’re looking to buy. One way to find hidden investment properties is to distribute flyers around a neighborhood in which you would like to buy. Consider having someone drop them door to door. A thousand flyers will only cost you around fifty dollars, and you never know who might give you a call to discuss or point you in the direction of a property. And, much like business cards, you never know who is going to see your contact information. This is an excellent outreach technique when you would like to get your name out there and to find properties that meet your criteria.

- Consider living in your own rental property. A good strategy to consider when you are looking to purchase an investment property is purchasing a multi-unit property and becoming an occupant. The advantages include low cost living, because the other rents coming in should cover a good portion of the mortgage payments, higher deductions at the end of the year and the ability to stay current on maintenance.

- Find a great attorney. Before you become involved in the purchase of an investment property, you should form a relationship with a real estate attorney who is familiar with situations similar to yours. This is especially true if you are attempting to purchase a property with non-conventional financing, because an attorney will help you to ensure that you are making good decisions in terms of your investment.

- Know exactly what you’re getting in to. If you are considering purchasing a rental property with existing tenants, it is imperative that you have access to all tenant records prior to signing a purchase agreement. Otherwise, you may be inheriting another landlord’s problem. Keep in mind that you will most likely not be able to increase the rent amounts after purchasing an occupied property for at least the duration of the existing lease.

Hopefully, the information presented here has given you new insight into the world of real estate investing. Our intention is that you can now take this information and put it into play in your own investment plan. Careful planning is the first step to financial freedom, and real estate is an excellent vehicle for carrying out the plan.

Ben Euporian makes it easy to learn from today's real estate investors. For details, visit this site now: http://www.easyrealestateinvesting.info/

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About The Author

Ben Euporian provides information on a wide range of topics.

Photo: Courtesy of www.CEOConsultant.com

How to Get Rich: Is Real Estate Investing The Number One Way?

2007-12-29T16:34:00.000-08:00

by: Danny Welsh

“How to get rich”: there are few more written upon topics in the history of history than how to get rich. Is Real Estate Investing the Number One Way to leverage yourself and build wealth easily? If you’re an entrepreneur who is constantly striving to get to that next level in your life, your business, and your finances, you’ll likely agree with me when I say that we entrepreneurial personality types have an insatiable appetite for consuming material on how to get rich, and how to leverage yourself to build wealth easily. As a real estate entrepreneur who writes often on investing, I’m not going to focus on how to get rich in real estate investing with this article. In fact, I’m exploring if there could be something even better for building wealth easily. An even more powerful way to leverage yourself!? Let’s see!

Build Wealth Easily?

But despite our best efforts and intentions and goals, that doesn’t mean each of us is able to figure out the why, where, who, when, and most frequently the what of how to get rich. Not all of us can drive every vehicle capable of shuttling them to success equally or as quickly as they might another vehicle. That’s why I wrote this article. Real estate investing is my passion. Real estate investing can build and keep wealth like nothing else. But I won’t claim it’s the best vehicle to build wealth easily. In fact, I’m not sure it is!

This article will help some of you see the types of actions and scenarios likely to take someone reading about how to get rich and propel them into a future full of success and sharing with others how to get rich— just by taking each of these vehicles for a mental test drive.

I believe one of the fundamentals of how to get rich is becoming a master of leverage, learning to leverage yourself by learning and applying systems of duplication and delegation and automation. By using creativity and the creation of value to multiply your results with the systems, efforts and resources of other people and organizations, you can be sure that every minute and every dollar you spend in pursuit of your goals learning how to get rich will come back at you in droves.

In real estate investing, I’m familiar with a lot of these methods to leverage yourself, as you can see from visiting the website -- but what about these other plans for how to get rich?

That brings me to the top 13 ways in my opinion to get rich in today’s world— without having to be someone special, have special knowledge or look like a million bucks— as I see them, with an emphasis on how much LEVERAGE you have.

How to Get Rich Top 13 Answers

13. Steal the money

Whatever your religious beliefs, or whether you are consciously aware that there is a God or not, stealing money from others is not a great strategy on how to get rich. Humans are hard-wired with a conscience that in most cases knows right from wrong. Few people can live a full and happy life knowing that their fortune was built on robbery, theft, deception, trickery, or lying. It may appear the “easy route” but in the end karma always wins.

12. Winning the lottery

We do not value that which we did not work to earn. Sure it’s nice to fantasize about what we would do with a hundred million dollars, or fifty, or twenty, or ten. Some people say they play the lottery as an “investment vehicle”. The only more ridiculous statistics than the odds stacked against you winning are the statistics of what happens in the financial futures of the average lottery winner: 4 in 5 are BROKE or in debt within 10 years. How? When you have a paycheck to paycheck mentality (as much of the world does) lottery winnings are just a much bigger paycheck. For most people, as one’s income increases so too do the expenses—but faster. Lottery winners who did not have some financial success already are doomed to lose it all.

11. Being born rich

Napoleon Hill once said, in paraphrase, “there is nothing more dangerous than unearned riches”. What did he mean by that? It’s a simple factor of human nature that the more we are given the less we appreciate. Or know the value of. Or how to get it on our own. There’s a reason predators bring meat to their young early on but later set them loose to learn how to feed themselves. The worst possible position to be in, should you lose all your wealth, is that of never having had to learn how to get rich in the first place. The only reason this is better than winning the lottery is because if you are determined to make it happen, you’ve already been exposed to wealth— so you’re not mentally limited as to how much you think you can earn. That’s a huge limitation for many people looking to build wealth easily, not having “seen” wealth.

10. The professional/corporate grind

Being a regular 9 to 5 employee with a guaranteed salary, benefits, 401k and stock options, and job security is not a negative— unless you want more than trading your time for dollars, that is! Admittedly, for some people, there’s something to be said for the safety of a secure, well-paying job that makes us feel normal. You can get rich just by living below your means and investing the difference— even teachers who made no more than $30,000 a year have died leaving multi-million dollar estates. This is great if you are patient, disciplined and can wait 30 years— but it’s not MY idea of how to get rich. Nor is ANY job or career exactly so “safe” anymore in today’s world of downsizing, layoffs, outsourcing, off-shoring, corporate mismanagement, and eroding benefits. Worse, you’re not using leverage here— no matter how hard you work, you can leverage yourself to a great degree as an employee! You’re a cog in someone else’s machine as an employee.

9. Unlimited income direct sales

Sales is one of the highest-paying professions in the world. It can also be the lowest-paying profession in the world. Being a commissioned salesperson with no earnings cap on commissions can bring in a lot of money if you’re good. IF you’re good and you bust your hump. And if your product is solid. And if the economy is strong. And if your company stays in business. And on and on. Too much is not in your hands! The main issue though is that the skills that will avail you of a successful career in professional sales can be used much more efficiently when you leverage yourself by using other vehicles to channel your talents.

8. Franchise Owner

2 + 2 = 4 no matter whether you can do math or not. Franchises are set up to be businesses run based on a system already proven profitable. Whether they are as “turnkey” as their promoters claim is debatable, but there is certainly money in the franchise game to be made. It’s no wonder economists have labeled the franchise boom of the 20th century as the McDonaldization of business when the average McDonald’s restaurant franchise grosses $1.9 Million per year for its franchisee owner. Still, the financial barrier to entry can be as high as a normal business and in many cases even higher.

Leverage Yourself

7. Network Marketing

This one could closer to the top of the list if the opportunities available were worthy to be at the top—most aren’t. If you find the right opportunity, however, and work it with a vengeance on a consistent basis you can gain leverage yourself substantially by using other people’s time. Unfortunately, most people never find the right company at the right time and make the right choice to take action. Then, when they fail, as 9 in 10 do within a year, they give up never having gotten past the dream of buying into someone’s plan to teach them how to get rich—and into the reality. However, for the person in sales who can sell and recruit, network marketing is a better answer in many cases than just conventional selling— for the simple fact that you’re building your own business and residual income streams that will continue whether you continue to work or not.

6. Information Product Sales

Internet marketers of today are capitalizing in ever-increasing numbers on human nature tendencies direct marketers have known for many, many long years. There are some “problems” we have as people that there is NO LIMIT to the amount of money we will throw at the problem trying to find the perfect “solution”. The best markets to sell information products to are: (1) Business Owners Seeking Solutions (2) Better Appearance Seekers (3) Business Opportunity Seekers (3) Diet & Fitness Seekers (4) Dating Advice Seekers and 5) Avid Leisure Hobbyists. The best part about information product sales is the low overhead cost to produce the products you deliver, and the high profit margins you can earn.

5. Business Owner

Business ownership has many more benefits than can be touched on in a short paragraph but suffice it to say that if you’re not in business for yourself you should be. There is little more fulfilling than being your own boss, and working to build something that might outlast you. The cash flow, the tax benefits, the respect in the community, the outlet for creativity— all of these things make owning a small business (or growing a large one) a large part of the average human dream. As a business owner, you can incorporate many of these other vehicles in your plan for building wealth easily.

4. Celebrity

Clearly, celebrity sells. There are many mega-millionaires on this planet with no other talent than somehow managing to capture the interest of an audience worldwide (or even regionally) longer than their allotted “15 minutes of fame”. Publicity equals better than advertising and advertising done skillfully equals revenue. Celebrities are money machines who can make money in most of the rest of these categories but there are three reasons this is not nearer the top of the list. Despite the number of “what did they do’s?” out there , there are many more celebrities who are famous for a reason— they worked very hard to become the best (or best promoted) at what they do— be it sports, entertainment, speaking, etc. Secondly, there is a very high barrier to entry to this kind of life, one most people just do not have the look, skills, contacts, nerve, or charisma to break into. Lastly, there’s a huge cost to celebrity that would take it out of the top choices of a “best ways on how to get rich” list: your privacy is nonexistent in today’s world of celebrity.

3. Intellectual Property

With income streams from licensing to franchising to royalties to patents, copyrights, and trademarks— creating intellectual property is a serious method of building wealth easily. Musicians, authors, inventors, creative artists, franchisors, entrepreneurs, and high-level marketers are all making tons of money, residually, for many years from work they completed just once. This is a very high leverage activity! Books, music, ebooks, graphic and multimedia designs, software, copywriting, inventions, franchisable sales systems, the list goes on and on. Is this a vehicle you can put into action tomorrow? Not usually! But as you make your way in the world of wealth do not forget to use intellectual property to leverage yourself!

How to Get Rich: Real Estate Investing the Best?

2. The Real Estate Business

It’s widely accepted that 90% of all the world’s millionaires either made or keep their wealth in real estate. Water is wet. The sky is blue. Over time, real estate goes up. These are simple facts. Contrary to the “get rich quick” infomercials you’ve seen, though, figuring out how to get rich in real estate investing isn’t easy. But it is simple, once you understand the processes involved and actively and consistently pursue the business. Real estate investing is one of the highest forms of leverage we have as entrepreneurs, with savvy investors utilizing not only other people’s money, but also other people’s time and even other people’s credit. The real estate business is full of wealth-building opportunities: foreclosures, rentals, lease options, commercial properties, short sales, tax liens, being an agent or loan officer, investing in notes and mortgages…the list goes on and on! Of these, investing in notes and mortgages is pretty high on the easy scale, getting the benefits of real estate without some of the management headaches.

I obviously believe in real estate investing, but I’m not so sure there isn’t an even better, easier, higher leverage vehicle out there for creative entrepreneurs like you and me!

1. Joint Ventures (A.K.A. Strategic Alliances)

Joint Ventures is the best way to build wealth easily. Scratching your head? Well, soon you’ll see that doing successful joint ventures to make massive cash with minimum efforts and minimum risk is just common sense. Too bad common sense ain’t common! If you can master putting together joint ventures, you can be assured that if you build wealth and lose it all— you can quickly earn it back. When you master joint ventures, everything you need to get started again building wealth easily is now in your thought processes. It’s become as simple as common sense. This is because with successful joint ventures you don’t need products or services or invesntory. You don’t need an office, factory, employees, customers, or anything else traditional businesses need. You just need ideas. Of course, if you have any of these things, it only makes it easier because you bring something even more to the table than your brilliant ideas. The basic formula of how to get rich with joint ventures is answering these questions: “Who do I know?”, “What do they have?”, and “What do they need?” Then you play deal maker. That’s it! Zero risk, high profit potential. The ultimate in way to leverage yourself to build wealth easily.

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About The Author

Joint Venture with America’s #1 Real Estate Network -- no cost, $2,000 commissions. Danny Welsh and HIS Real Estate Network are seeking INFLUENTIAL professionals/entrepreneurs with EXISTING client base for joint venture marketing of high-caliber real estate investment product with $2000 commissions and turnkey marketing support. You do not need a license of any kind but realtors, mortgage officers, CPAs, CFAs, REIA organizers and real estate attorneys will profit well. Your clients will love you! Not a Job. Not an MLM. No cost for you. To find out more and schedule a quick no-obligation talk you can call/write now at phone (813) 425-3349 x. 710, email JV@homeinvestingsolution.com or visit http://www.hisjointventures.com today!

Biggest Home Improvement Mistakes For A Real Estate Investor

2007-12-28T17:29:00.000-08:00

by: Joel Teo

As a real estate investor it is sometimes a good investment move to make home improvements to any real estate properties that you purchase. There are several mistakes that commonly occur involving home improvement and real estate investing, and by knowing what these mistakes are you can save a lot of money and aggravation. Let the mistakes that other real estate investors have made be your guide on what to avoid.

The first mistake that some real estate investors make is to buy a property in a bad location or for more money than the house is worth. No matter how many home improvements you make on one of these properties it is unlikely that you will recover a decent profit or even your investment back. Always consider both of these factors before deciding to invest in the property and make home improvements.

A big mistake that many real estate investors make when they are doing home improvements is not knowing or finding out about the building codes in their area. Some investors do not obtain the necessary permits that are required by the city where the real estate investment property is located. This is one of the biggest mistakes, and it can cost you plenty if you make it. The building inspector is there to make sure that the home improvements are safe and done properly. If there is a permit required and you neglect to get one, you may be required to tear down any work that was done, get the permit, and then start from scratch.

Under budgeting for the home improvement project is another common mistake made by real estate investors. The old saying was to take the costs and triple them. That is an exaggeration but not by much. Most investors do not make a full detailed budget of what is needed for the home improvement project down to the last nail and staple. By being realistic and budgeting for all possible materials you will have a more realistic budget and are a lot less likely to go over budget. You should also plan for any unexpected eventuality that could occur and plan for it in the budget as well to avoid any unexpected and costly problems.

The single biggest mistake that real estate investors make is trying to save money on home improvement by doing projects themselves when they are not qualified. There are some projects that should have a licensed contractor or repairman on them. Many home improvement projects can safely be taken on by an amateur and turn out beautiful, but some projects like a new roof or any other extensive renovations should only be done by experts. This is because there are many safety issues involved in these projects, not just for the person doing the job but also for any tenants or owners who live in the house.

By avoiding these mistakes you can save a lot of money on your real estate investment. Know the value of the property before you purchase so you do not pay too much, and make sure that the location is decent. Make sure that your budget is realistic and that it takes into account every possible piece of material and cost. Also make sure that you factor in any possible unexpected cost or problem. The biggest mistake to avoid is to know when you should call for professional help and when you can safely do the home improvement project yourself.

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About The Author

Joel Teo writes on various financial topics including Las Vegas Real Estate. Learn more about Las Vegas Real Estate Investing at http://www.realestateinvestment101.info

Photo: Courtesy of www.StellarForce.com

Home Improvement And The Real Estate Investor

2007-12-28T17:22:00.000-08:00

by: Joel Teo

Investing in real estate can be a very lucrative investment if it is done properly. Whether you are investing in a brand new home or an old fixer upper, all houses will gain value if you spend the necessary time and money making sure that the property is maintained. Some people may feel that improving the home is not required since they are only going to sell it anyway, but that line of thought will cost you money in the end. Your investment will gain tremendous value if you are willing to repair and remodel whatever is needed before you sell the investment property.

Some real estate investments may only need a little spring cleaning and a few minor repairs, while other investments may need to be completely redone. Properties that need more work usually cost less to purchase because of the amount and the extent of the work needed. Even properties that need a lot of repairs and renovations can be terrific investments, because their value increases significantly more than the cost of the repairs and home improvements.

Most real estate investors do not realize the importance of making home improvements. Even simple things like painting the walls or weeding the lawn and putting down a good grass seed can raise the value of your investment. You can ask for and get a much higher price for real estate if everything is in great condition. Even houses that are in good repair should be thoroughly cleaned from the top to bottom, including gutters and eaves troughs. When you are considering a property to invest in, it is a good idea to do a very detailed inspection to evaluate all repairs that need to be addressed, whether they are minor or major.

It is important that you keep all receipts for any labor and materials you purchase to repair and improve your real estate investment. When you get ready to sell your investment you will have a record of all the money you have invested in home improvement for the real estate. This will allow you to show an increased value of the home due to the home improvement. It will also enable you to sell your real estate investment faster for a larger price. In a buyer's market, the repairs and maintenance of your property may be one of the biggest sellers. No one wants to buy a home to live in and then have to take the time and money to do a lot of maintenance or repairs.

Home improvement is very important to real estate, whether you are just trying to flip a house to make a profit or you have rental property with tenants. By improving the property you will greatly improve the profit you will make from your real estate investment. A lot of real estate investors do not think about home improvement, and it costs them in the form of lower sales prices and lower monthly rents.

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About The Author

Helpful Team Players for Your Next Real Estate Purchase

2007-12-28T16:48:00.000-08:00

by: Jeff Hammerberg

Buying a house is a major financial and legal process that typically encompasses a wide range of smaller transactions along the way. A single real estate sale – no matter how simple – will usually involve a smorgasbord of different specialties, professions, and areas of expertise, not to mention the potential for myriad emotional and psychological demands and reactions. For most consumers a real estate purchase does, in fact, represent the most comprehensive and complex deal of an entire lifetime.

Those who venture into such undertakings can help ensure their success by enlisting the support of a talented and educated team of pros, and here is a recommended list to use as a starting point when recruiting help for your big home purchase project:

• Real Estate Brokers and Mortgage Lenders

Ask friends for recommendations, and when you interview potential brokers and lenders ask them about their experience and track record. Also find out what particular area of real estate and neighborhoods they specialize in, because this can be incredibly important. If you’re buying a downtown condo, for instance, you want someone who knows that market, not somebody whose experience is primarily in listing and selling suburban houses or mountain lodges. Communication is essential, so only choose those with whom you have a comfortable rapport. If the interpersonal chemistry doesn’t feel right, keep looking.

• Building Inspectors

Just as when you have a question about your car you go to a trusted mechanic, when buying a house or condo you should have a reliable building inspector on your team. But keep in mind that there are different kinds of inspectors. You’ll want one to check for termites and other pests, and another to check for environmental hazards such as radon gas and asbestos. For a general inspection, you’ll hire a licensed general building inspector to study the mechanical and structural components of the house, such as the electrical system, appliances, foundation, roof, and plumbing.

Building inspectors are also the best source of information about how to properly maintain your home. Follow them around as they check your home, and ask them to teach you how to do your own routine inspections after you move in, to look for potential problems before they happen.

• A Real Estate Attorney

Real estate is a specialized legal field, and when buying a house you should enlist the services of someone who only practices real estate law.

• Contractors

Contractors are the ones you’ll call to actually get repair cost estimates and do the work. Folks such as house painters, carpenters, landscapers, and plumbers can help you estimate how much to negotiate with the seller for repairs, and they can also provide insight into how to approach any improvements, updates, or remodeling projects that you might envision.

Get competing bids, but remember that the cheapest bid doesn’t always guarantee the best work. The main thing to look for is a stellar reputation for exceptional quality and attention to detail, and your contractors should all carry appropriate insurance to cover themselves in case they are injured while working on your premises.

• Chimney Sweeps

If you have a chimney, you’ll also need a certified chimney sweep to check it for cracks, leaks, or potentially dangerous build-up of flammable residue. Thanks to modern tools, those in this old-school trade can now snake a tiny video camera into your chimney and make a thorough visual examination of every nook and cranny, no matter how ancient or narrow the air passageway may be. The best chimney sweeps also have powerful vacuum cleaners – often mounted on trucks – that are especially designed to let them capture dust, ashes, and soot without letting any of it escape and settle on your fine white rugs and draperies.

This list is by no means complete, and you may or may not need all of these experts for your particular purchase. On the other hand, you may need to add to the list to bring others on board. For instance, if you are buying property in an historical neighborhood, you might need to hire someone who knows old-fashioned plastering techniques. If you’re looking at farmland, you could need a well digger or an agricultural consultant. Buying a cool urban warehouse loft? You may very well need to call that guy in town who knows how to fix antique elevators or the woman in the neighborhood who sells steam radiators that come in different Crayola crayon colors.

Buying a home can – and typically does – have significant repercussions that last far into the future. A house purchase influences the personal and financial lives of both you and your partner, so it is always wise and prudent to approach the event with as much information, guidance, insight, and reliable professional support as possible.

To find great help when you buy your home, visit www.GayRealEstate.com. This global network of Realtors and Lenders offers solid expertise and demonstrated proficiency in all areas of real estate and specializes in services to the GBLT community. Or contact them toll free by calling 1-888-420-MOVE (6683).

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About The Author

Commitment, passion and dedication to changing what you perceive as a social injustice and prejudice was the drive that encouraged Jeff Hammerberg to create a monumental service to the American LGBT community, one that he had envisaged for a quarter of a century. 2004 was a significant year in realizing his dream, as Jeff Hammerberg, founder of the largest LGBT real estate marketplace in the world, reaped the rewards of his vision that had been nurtured for 25 years.

During the 1990s, Jeff Hammerberg worked in residential real estate, and observed first hand the "quiet homophobia" that pervaded the industry and silently but effectively hampered the lives of LGBT consumers nationwide by placing barriers between them and home ownership. By 1997, with little more than foresight, a strategy, and zealous fortitude, Hammerberg broke away from the traditional real estate community to create the first virtual real estate marketplace for LGBT clients.

Beginning with http://homelounge.com, an Internet company dedicated to assisting home buyers and sellers in the USA, Hammerberg gradually added services and sites, while adhering to a strict personal commitment to donate proceeds from his businesses directly into the LGBT community.

By 2004, he had created http://www.lesbianhomes.com, http://www.gayrealestateplanet.com, and http://www.gaymortgageloans.com, which are all ground-breaking companies in terms of concept and adherence.

Photo: Courtesy of www.DigitalRealEstateTeam.com

Make The Most Out Of Your Catalogue Real Estate With These Tips

2007-12-26T20:03:00.000-08:00

by: Janice Jenkins

More than your pictures and illustrations in your catalog, your catalog copy is one of the most significant elements in your marketing collateral.

Copywriting is basically an art form that lets you communicate your message to convince your target readers to do your bidding. And this is not an easy task. Mastering the art of persuasion involves creating descriptive copy that allows your audience to see, feel, taste, hear, and smell your products through your words.

As your target readers don’t experience all these activities in your catalog in reality, you need to provide the sensory experience through your text. Your words should be able to fill that gap between your prospective clients and your product.

It’s not a new concept actually – copywriting as a sensory activity. If you think about it, it’s always part of having to convince your target readers to see your products the way you see them.

And mere words just don’t work. You need effective descriptions to make your audience really understand your product. Effective descriptions are what draw your clients to the situation even if they are not there.

For your real estate catalogs, you don’t just write how many units you have in your condominium, or how many rooms and bathrooms each unit has. Your descriptive copy should be able to use words that actually transport your client from his dreary place to a place where the breeze is blowing in his cheeks and the warm sun waking him up in the morning.

Can you feel the cool breeze kissing your cheeks? Can you smell the newly cut grass from your lawn? Does it paint a pretty picture for you?

How about “sun-dappled terraces”, “authentic hand woven hammock that cradles you while you sleep”, “sunning in your tree-shaded veranda”…these are examples of how you can infuse your catalogs with effective descriptions to make your real estate business more appealing.

I can’t say it enough. Writing descriptive words that appeal to the senses is essential to having an effective custom catalog for your business.

Your clients can’t see, feel, hear, smell or even taste what you have. The next best thing is to provide them a clear illustration that will attract their senses so that they’ll want to purchase from you.

When you write your custom catalog copy, choose the most suitable feeling and focus on those senses. If you’re into real estate then obviously you need to target on the sights and feelings.

The main thing here is to help your readers see, feel, hear, smell, and taste your product that is not there in front of them. Let them experience what you yourself have experienced with your product. When you have great copywriting for your catalogs, then that’s the time that you will truly get the most out of your real estate catalogs.

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About The Author

Janice Jenkins
For comments and inquiries about the article visit: http://www.printplace.com/printing/booklets.aspx

Photo: Courtesy of www.EdmontonRealEstateBlog.com

Why You Shouldn't Get Hung Up On The Interest Rate Of A Real Estate Loan!

2007-12-25T04:07:00.000-08:00

by: Jim Olivero

If you where told by a lender you where going to have to pay a high interest rate for your loan, say 12 interest for 30 years on his home with a payment of $750.00 per month. John's friend Bill is renting a house, but he is paying $750.00 per month in rent with no interest (I am using these numbers for illustration purposes). Now, it's a funny thing, but both men live in their homes for the full 30 years and guess how much money both paid out in that 30 years?

Do you think John would have paid more money in the 30 years then Bill did because John was paying a mortgage? The answer is no! Thirty years equal 360 months of payments and if you multiply 360 X $750.00 you get $270,000.00. That means both men paid the same amount of money over the 30 years with one BIG difference! John now OWNS his home but Bill is still paying rent and does not own the home. In fact Bill's rent more then likely paid the mortgage off for the owner of the house he is renting from.

As you can see, even though John was paying a mortgage payment of $750.00 per month, the total amount of dollars paid in the same time period of 30 years is the same. Now Bill has nothing to show for all the rent payments he made except for 360 rent receipts. So you can see how the interest rate does not change the total amount paid over the time period because $750.00 per month is $750.00 per month. No matter what you call it a mortgage payment or rent payment, the bottom line is the same.

So whatever type of mortgage you can qualify for has to suit the payment you can afford and are comfortable with. Of course; the amount of money borrowed, the interest rate, and the term or years the money is borrowed is what will determine your payment.

So the bottom line is: if you get a mortgage that is comfortable for you payment wise... let's say equal to what you were paying for rent, the major thing you changed is the fact that you own the home now and you are not just paying rent or paying off someone else's mortgage.

You know the bottom line is we all have to live somewhere and we have to pay for that living space, so why not own what we have to pay for anyway. And don't get hung up on the interest rate to where it stops you from buying your home... just make the payment amount work for you.

Now let me show you what you can do with a mortgage payment that you can't do with a rent payment.

Stay with me now because it is going to get really good! As you have seen from our example above, the total amount of money paid over the 30 years or 360 payments for the mortgage and rent came out to be the same dollar amount in the end. However, did you know you could change the bottom line or the dollar amount paid when you are making a mortgage payment as well as the amount of time it will take to pay the money back?

A mortgage is calculated by the amount of money borrowed, the interest rate, and the amount of time it will take to pay it back. This calculation is called an amortization schedule. I am going to show you an amortization schedule for a mortgage now and show you how to change the total amount of money you will pay and the amount of time it will take to pay it back! Lets say you get a mortgage for $75,000 @ 12% for 30yrs This is what the amortization schedule will look like:

Payment ---- Interest ---- Principle ---- Balance

$771.46 ----$750.00 -----$21.46 ------$74,978.54

$771.46 ----$749.79----- $21.67 ------$74,956.87

$771.46 ----$749.57 -----$21.89 ------$74,934.98

$771.46 ----$749.35----- $22.11 ------$74,912.87

$771.46 ----$749.13 -----$22.33 ------$74,890.54

$771.46 ----$748.91 -----$22.55 ------$74,867.99

$748.68 ----$748.68 -----$22.78 ------$74,845.21

$771.46 ----$748.45 -----$23.01 ------$74,822.20

$771.46 ----$748.22 -----$23.24 ------$74,798.96

$771.46 ----$747.99 -----$23.47 ------$74,775.49

$771.46 ----$747.75 -----$23.71 ------$74,751.78

Totals ----$8,237.84 ----$248.22

As you can see, when you make a payment on a mortgage a large part of the money goes to interest with a small part of the money going to principle. You will notice the principle balance increases with each payment and the interest balance decreases with each payment, but this happens very slow.

Now, let me show you what control you have over a mortgage:

As you can see; in the 11 months of payments we made on this mortgage, we paid $8,237.84 in interest and $248.22 in principle! This is what YOU can do. When you looked at this schedule after your closing, you noticed the figures. If you were to add the total of the principle for the 11 months of payments ($248.22) to your first mortgage payment and told the lender you wanted the extra money to go towards the principle this is what would happen for you: you would reduce your mortgage by 11 months and save $8,237.84 in interest payments! This happens whenever you make extra payments on a mortgage, no matter how much or little you pay. You always have to specify that this extra payment is designated to go towards the principle and this works best if you start right away in the very beginning of the mortgage!

This means that in your first month you have already changed the total amount of money and time it will take to pay back your loan. The more you can do this, the less money you pay in interest and less time it takes to pay the money back.

The mortgage has to have no pre-payment penalties. That happens to be the majority of mortgages that we see today. However, ask and make sure so that you have no surprises later. This is just one simple thing you can do with a mortgage which gives you control of the bottom line as far as money paid back and the time it takes to pay it back.

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About The Author

Jim Olivero

I have been in the real estate investment business for over 25yrs. I have put a web site together with tons of information for anyone who wants to learn.

Come visit me at: http://www.easymoney-123.com

Photo: Courtesy of www.MTGFoundation.com