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First Time Real Estate Investor (Part 1)

Now is the perfect time to begin investing in real estate.  Many buyers are sitting on the fence waiting for things to change and talk about how our market is “down.”  In reality, you now have more negotiating power than ever.

If you are a new investor starting out, I recommend starting small.

Duplexes and Mother-in-Law apartments are a great beginning.  They allow you to live on one side and keep an eye on the premises while generating income at the same time.  Of course, there are drawbacks to this set-up.  Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investor (Part 1)”
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First Time Real Estate Investor: Good Rental (Part 2)

So, you’ve decided it’s time to purchase an investment property.  How do you know if it’s a good rental?

There are a couple basic items to consider when looking at an investment property.  Just like in real estate, rentals are about location, location, location!

If you are considering a full-time rental property, is it close to schools, shopping or allow for easy commuting?  If you are looking at a vacation rental, what is the draw for that area and why do people visit?  Is there a golf course, beach or another attraction that brings people to the neighborhood consistently?  Even a retirement community?  Find out what it is and utilize that. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investor: Good Rental (Part 2)”
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First Time Real Estate Investors: Long Term (Part 3)

As with any investment, part of planning is knowing how long you are going to keep it.  If you plan on keeping a property for 20 years, chances are you’re going to have to replace the roof, water heater and other items with a limited lifespan.  If you plan on keeping the property for only 5 years, then you’ll want to avoid those costly items if possible.  Or, at least take them into account with your costs and purchase price. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investors: Long Term (Part 3)”
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First Time Real Estate Investors: Value (Part 4)

If you are just tuning in and are interested in investment properties, take a minute to browse through my previous articles before you get started. Part 1 – Tips for First Time Investors.  Part 2 – Is it a Good Rental?  Part 3 – How Long is Your Horizon?

So, you’ve found a couple properties that might be a good investment.  How do you know if they are worth it?  First, when looking at a potential investment property, use actual numbers, not future projected numbers. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investors: Value (Part 4)”
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First Time Real Estate Investors: Final Steps (Part 5)

To wrap up this series on investment properties, let’s take a look at some final pieces to keep your investment an investment.  If you haven’t read previous articles, start here for some worth while information on how to look at investing.

Investment-Income Producing Properties are a wonderful thing to have.  While everyone else is waiting for the market to change, this is the ideal time to negotiate some fabulous deals.  But it takes more than just purchasing a property to make it worth your while. Continue reading “First Time Real Estate Investors: Final Steps (Part 5)”
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3 Considerations Before Investing

3 Factors to Consider Before Investing

 

Investing in real estate can certainly be a lucrative investment, but only when done right!  The flip side of that is that it can also turn out to be not only a financial nightmare but a huge burden emotionally when done wrong.

Before you even start thinking about investing, you need to do your homework.  I don’t mean just looking at returns like most “investors” do.  There is so much more than the $/sf, the cap rate today or even the purchase price and interest rate you’ll pay on the loan!

There are 3 main categories you must consider when analyzing real estate investments.  Continue reading “3 Considerations Before Investing”
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Be the Bank

Let’s admit it.  Making money in real estate during times of appreciation and free flowing financing does not take skill, negotiation or fluent understanding of the market.  For the last decade, you could have pretty much bought something with your eyes closed and still made money the next year.  Did you notice that “real estate investors” started coming out of the woodwork?  Of course, now we have “foreclosure specialists” and “short sale experts,” but that discussion is for another day.

 

Today’s market takes skill, knowledge, creative thinking and… hard work…  so, where did those guys go? Continue reading “Be the Bank”