Written by Jb

Real estate investing has been made out in the media to seem like it’s the best thing since sliced bread. This in no small part due to late night cable television infomercials espousing the high deals of no money down or next to nothing down real estate investing. They make it look like anybody can do these commercial real estate investing deals easily. You will be shown, how by just writing things down on the back of napkins, you have the makings of a real estate fortune. Things will reach boiling point when supposedly real interviews are held with people who have succeeded wildly after using the promoter’s commercial real estate investing system.

It is a fact that real estate fortunes can be made. More often however, the person who’s making it is the guru owner of the real estate course! Truth be told, real estate investing is a lot harder than what you are led to believe. Every buy, sell or renting of real estate involves dealing with people directly. Unlike stock transactions, there are no organized exchanges to keep things standardized. Furthermore, the courts are more sympathetic and protective toward delinquent family tenants. Another common problem is many real estate rehabbers take on drifters to do odd jobs. Instead of fixing up the properties, they do more damage than good and usually end up disappearing after getting paid an initial amount. Lots of real estate investors are burned this way.

You still have to take many years to learn how to assess the value of properties in a town or neighborhood. You also need the street experience in negotiations so that you don’t lose out the profits that you originally thought you had. The main point here is real estate investing, whether commercial or residential, is best thought of as a business. It needs your dedication and constant education. Moreover, if you are working full time and you invest in real estates, you will be losing your free time to collecting rentals and doing rehabs. You will need to cover the mortgage out of your own pocket if the property does not sell, or when tenants are not able to pay up on time. You want to enjoy the fruits of your labor, not leaking out your time and salary to patching up hiccups in your real estate investments. If you enjoy cookouts and trips to the beaches, you might want to consider the stock market rather than real estate investment. Both are part-time businesses, but which one leaves you with more free time and less income fluctuation?

Jim Banks has over 15 years investing experience investing in everything from real estate to commodity futures and is a frequent contributor to http://www.profit-mountain.com

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Written by Gray Rollins

Over the last several years, real estate investment has been the center of much interest. Infomercials abound about the money to be made by real estate investment. Reality television shows concerning fixing houses and reselling them are in great abundance, and a new American dream has been born. While real estate investing can be quite profitable, it’s not as easy as they make it look on television. You must know your market area very well and while there is potential for great profit, the risks are high in real estate investment. There is always the possibility of failure and that must be an acceptable risk for you if you wish to prosper through real estate investing.

Here are some tips to keep in mind when investing in real estate:

1) Specialize. Don’t bounce back and forth between different types of real estate investing (such as fixer uppers, rentals, lease options, low down payment homes, etc.). If you specialize in one and become an ‘expert’ in that particular type of investment you will only be making the costly mistakes that are made during the ‘learning curve’ for one type of investment property rather than for several. In addition to missing out on some of the costly errors, you are becoming more and more accomplished in your chosen area of expertise with each new transaction.

2) Inspect. Always, always, always have a thorough inspection of any property before you buy. This can be costly but it is much less expensive in the long run to know without a doubt what you are getting into before buying the property.

3) Compare. Compare the value of other properties in the area with the asking price of the property you are considering. You want to insure that you have an accurate understanding of the value of property in the area in which you are buying. If you are buying a fixer upper you wouldn’t want to pay a price equal or near the prices of houses of similar size and better condition in the area.

4) Education. Educate yourself on the local market. This should include information such as the number of bedrooms the average home buyer wants, the school districts that are in demand and those that aren’t, and the features that home owners pay the most attention to in homes (such as kitchens, bathrooms, fenced in yards). Find out what the housing trends in your area are and make it your mission to provide houses that fill those particular needs.

Following the tips above will not guarantee you success or prevent failure, but they will get you started on the right foot in real estate investment. Keep in mind that there are other extenuating circumstances that must be considered when investing in real estate: among these are taxes, back taxes, the local economy, and actual demand for housing. If you have a firm understanding of the local real estate market perhaps you are ready to delve into the world of real estate investing.

Gray Rollins writes for InvestmentPropertyHelp.com. To learn about real estate investing courses and real estate investment

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Written by Kris Koonar

Most of the millionaires are made through investing in real estate. Investing in real estate is also popular because every investment made provides a financial security for the future, which proves to be more than just a monetary assurance. Many people are opting for real estate investments, especially after the volatility experienced by equity markets over the last few years. The fall in stocks has made the novice investor a bit reluctant to participate in the market and real estate ventures offer an appealing alternative. However, not many are aware of the rules and guidelines of the trade hence; here are a few tips, which a real estate aspirant needs to know:

First the investors should get a clear idea about the prices of the real estate property around the proposed investment location. They should compare the prices and market value of the estate and evaluate it with their budget and needs before proceeding with the deal. Since many investors deal in property mainly to save on the taxes, they should make sure that they do not base their investment on the current tax laws as they could change. An optimum financing scheme combined with the appropriate property is a fundamental requirement for any real estate investment. Unlike the market it is much more difficult to cash out of a real estate investment so long term considerations are much more important.

Assess the market for various types of real estate investments before deciding on the type of property to invest in. For instance, apartment buildings, condominiums, foreclosures or low-down payment properties could be high on the list since they are generally considered safer equity bets. If you do not have much knowledge about any aspect of real estate then it is advisable to seek the advice of a real estate consultant or broker. Investors are advised against signing any contracts before seeing the place and examining the property personally unless they are investing in a REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) or similar marketable product.

Investing in your own property requires evaluating the operating costs and revenues. Investing in real estate requires you to keep a tab on the entire profit and loss statement and calculations that go with it, right from operating expenses, vacancy costs, management expenses and taxes to cash flow and balance sheet statements. How much the property is going to cost and what charges you are going to incur for its maintenance should be ascertained before you invest.

The rent roll generated by the property is also an important factor that the investors should consider. They need to check the neighboring tenant contracts to know the current rent rates and check out the neighborhood to assure them of its potential. Utility expenses should be calculated based on history but factoring in the changes being made to the property.

The tax laws are subject to change and hence, an investor should keep up with the amendments that could affect his deals. Hiring a tax consultant will make it possible report real estate deals in a way that generates the maximum benefit.

Cautious investment strategies blended with patience to get the right deal are important in real estate investing.

We will buy your house As Is Now in any condition including Ugly Homes. If you need to Sell Your Home Fast Orlando, Jacksonville, Atlanta, Charlotte, Cincinnati, For Lauderdale, Houston, Tampa and Fort Myers. Call 1-800-AS-IS-NOW (800-274-7669)

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Written by Dr.Phil Speer

Lots of folks think it can%2526#8217;t be done.

How in the world can you buy a piece of real estate property without cash or credit? How is it possible to buy a $50,000 house or a $1 million dollar house if I don%2526#8217;t have an abundance of cash or an excellent credit rating?

Nothing stops a would-be investor cold in his tracks like %2526#8220;no cash or credit.%2526#8221; The prevailing perception is that %2526#8220;I can%2526#8217;t start real estate investing%2526#8221; because (1) I sure don%2526#8217;t have any money and (2) my credit is horrible!

The typical way real estate investing is accomplished is with an earnest money deposit to accompany the Purchase Contract and a down payment at closing. Many real estate investing tycoons, in wanting an offer accepted, make large earnest money deposits so the property seller will recognize the buyer as a serious investor. And because many real estate investing tycoons use real estate agents as their purchasing liaison, they provide sizable down payments out of which the sales commission will be paid.

Well, when I started my real estate investing career, I had neither cash nor credit. I had a serious business failure prior to my start in real estate investing, so I had to conjure up a way to succeed outside the traditional norm.

While I was well aware of the accepted procedures of earnest money deposits and down payments in real estate investing, I was forced by my situation to find alternatives. I did not realize at the time that commercial property is often purchased without any cash outlay at closing or even a credit check of the buyer.

So without any pocket change or a savings account, I began offering a $10 bill as my earnest money deposit! And I began offering no down payment at closing. My Purchase Contract offered simply the assumption of an existing loan! (In the 1980s when I started my real estate investing career, wrap mortgages were common, whereas today other legal instruments accomplish the same purpose.)

I don%2526#8217;t have to tell you that real estate agents were not exactly fond of me. In fact, in my highest week of tendering offers, I submitted 235 offers on MLS houses, and got 235 rejections. I mean, the realtors and brokers were infuriated at my non-traditional offers! Most went to great pains in writing %2526#8220;REJECTED%2526#8221; across the entire length (even both sides) of the legal-size Purchase Agreement I had laboriously filled out for submission. The young man %2526#8220;running%2526#8221; my offers (and his broker) were verbally blasted out of the saddle! I got NO acceptances from my 235 offers. Yet, I still managed to buy two properties from the 100%25 (humiliating) rejection. Two property owners approached me later and said, %2526#8220;I can%2526#8217;t accept your offer on that property I had listed with my real estate agent, but I have another house you can have on the same terms!%2526#8221;

That break-through began my trek into the Nothing-Down Wilderness that made me a multi-millionaire in three years. Once I realized it was persistence with a thimble-full of know-how, I forged on to discover motivated sellers who accepted my offers. I bought $1 million in properties that first year, another $1 million the second year, and $10 million by the 4th year.

It%2526#8217;s a shame that even some real estate investing tycoons don%2526#8217;t know how to buy with no cash and no credit. But the bottom line is that know-how still makes possible the impossible.

Buying property of any price is still achievable with no cash and no credit. It%2526#8217;s done every day in residential and commercial property. And because it is achievable, anyone can enter the real estate investing arena, regardless of the size of his or her wallet.

Phil Speer, Ph.D., started his real estate investing career 25 years ago. Without the availability of credit and using only a $10 bill, he purchased $1 million in properties in his first year, and had accumulated $10 million in properties by his fourth year. He was featured in a Wall St.Journal editorial as most successful investor in the Nothing Down Real Estate Movement, and was honored with a Caribbean cruise as top investor of the year. In his hometown of Nashville, Tennessee, he has been a businessman and Human Resources Consultant for 30 years. He is an author, speaker and seminar director. To learn how to profit in real estate investing, even without cash or credit, read his report at at www.CashinHouses.com/. Subscription is free to his Fix-up Ezine. He and other contributing authors provide free articles and resources on real estate investing at his online %2526#8220;Academy of Advanced Real Estate Investing Techniques%2526#8221; - www.AAREIT.com/.

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Written by John Mussi

With all of the investment opportunities available these days, it can sometimes be difficult to decide which one is right for you and your money. If you find yourself trying to make a decision about where your money should be invested, you might want to take a few moments to consider investing in real estate. While real estate investment isn’t right for everyone, there is a rather significant potential to make money if you handle your real estate investments correctly.

To help you to decide whether or not real estate investment is right for you, here is some additional information on investing in real estate for both resale purposes and rental purposes, as well as some of the advantages and disadvantages of this type of investment.

Investing for Resale

One common method of investing in real estate is investing for the purposes of resale. This method uses real estate in much the same way that other investors use stocks or similar investments; you purchase a piece of property and then attempt to sell it for more than you invested into it. Investors who buy and sell real estate in this manner will often use the money made from one piece of property to purchase another, keeping some real estate on the market as much as possible and keeping the excess money that was made from the last sale.

Investing for Rental

Another common method of investing in real estate is investing for the purposes of owning rental property. Instead of putting a house or apartment building back on the market after purchasing it, the rental investor finds individuals who are interested in renting their property and then serves as landlord. This type of investment doesn’t yield as much at one time as resale investments, but has the potential to bring in a somewhat steady return for months or years to come.

Advantages of Real Estate Investment

The advantages of real estate investment are much like the advantages of any investment… there is an opportunity to make money, sometimes large amounts of money. Resale investors can often purchase property that needs minimal repair, fix it up, and see a significant increase in their profits for not a whole lot of money. Rental investors can make even more over time, because as long as their property is occupied they’re going to be making money. Years down the road, they can also choose to sell their rental property for additional profits.

Disadvantages of Real Estate Investment

While there is a great potential to make money with real estate investment, it’s not without its disadvantages. For resale investors, they may not be able to find a buyer as quickly as they’d like, or the real estate market might drop after they’d made their purchase… either scenario meaning that they aren’t able to get the money out of the property that they want or in some cases not even able to get back what they put into it.

Rental investors have to deal with the people who are renting the property, as well as potential periods when no one is renting it… and are responsible by law for certain amounts of maintenance and repair even though it may be the tenant’s fault that the repairs are needed.

They also have to deal with non-paying tenants, and those who are quick to threaten legal action even if it’s not legitimate. Both types of investment also require payment of property taxes and other fees.

Money can be made with real estate, just make sure that you’re ready for the drawbacks as well.

You may freely reprint this article provided the following author’s biography (including the live URL link) remains intact:

John Mussi is the founder of Direct Online Loans who help homeowners find the best available loans via the www.directonlineloans.co.uk website.

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Written by Joel Teo

Have you tried your luck at foreign exchange, bonds and stocks, but to no avail? Are you perplexed as to what to put your money on? Consider real estate investment, as several people have turned into millionaires through shrewd investments in real estate. By means of this article, we will elaborate four common real estate investing tips, which would help you realize significant profits via property investment. Be it a newbie or a seasoned investor, these tips are sure to be of help to one and all alike.
Real estate investing tip #1 - Perhaps the most lucrative investment technique is to buy a run down property, fix it up, and then sell at a significant profit. Since the property is shabby, you might be able to acquire it for a low price. However, you must ensure that the cost incurred in the repair is restricted to a minimum so as to guarantee a profit. You can do this by making sure that the basic amenities are in place, without going overboard with the renovation. Such a buy-fix-sell scenario demands excellent property valuation skills and a rather frugal attitude while renovating.
Real estate investing tip #2 - Purchase properties that are about to face a foreclosure. A property typically faces foreclosure when the homeowner is financially distressed and is unable to repay the loan. Another common reason for foreclosures is dissolution of marriage with the abandonment of the house by either of the couple. Such a distressed property can be bagged for a low price by an articulate investor, who can convince the homeowner to sell the property prior to the foreclosure sale. Then the investor may sell the newly bought property at a significant gain.
Real estate investing tip #3 - Locality is a paramount aspect in real estate investment. Two similarly built houses may have varying valuations if they are situated in different locations. So, you must be abreast of the hot locations in your concerned region. If you are just about to start you real estate venture, I suggest you look for places that offer high rentals. Purchasing a property in such a region would result in a healthy monthly source of income.
Real estate investing tip #4 - Ever heard of Warren Buffett? The acclaimed stock investor made billions through a contrarian’s approach to stock investment. You may take a contrarian’s view to real estate investment as well. For instance, you may buy a property when it is out of favor with the majority of investors. That is, acting in opposition to the majority opinion. A contrarian’s approach is not a sure shot path to real estate success. Moreover, it’s complicated and therefore beginners are advised against it.
All in all, there are several avenues that you could realize profit in real estate. However, it is imperative that you be prepared to put in extra work hours, especially at the beginning of your real estate career. Putting your shoulder to the wheel is what’s required to make substantial profits in real estate.
Copyright © 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved.

Joel Teo writes about making money with
Property Investment. His site,
http://www.RealEstateInvestment101.info provides a wealth of informative articles %2526 Tips.

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Written by Ron victor

Lots of methods are there ways for explaining the real estate markets, including “hot” versus “flat” or “rising” versus “falling” or “buyer’s” versus “seller’s.” All real estate markets are subjected to greater fluctuations; but typically all those fluctuations do not influence the ability for the informed investor for attaining a profit. In fact, some strategies, such as flipping real estate, can be the least risky way for a beginning investor for making a profit in a vague market because of the relatively short amount of time the flipper will own the property. Unlike the stock and commodities markets, real estate markets will not be raising or falling quickly. Additional market factors are important to your buying decision for long-term investing. Investors who have planned for short-term real estate market appreciation are always wondering at, which is outside of the basic model of low-risk investing.

What is the ideal market for investing?

There are no such things like ideal real estate market for investing and they tend to be more complicated for obtaining bargains in rising markets. If the market keeps on rising, the probability of selling the property quickly for a large profit increases. But when the values of property get reduced, more “bargains” can be obtained.

What are some basic strategies to limit risk?

Learn about target neighborhoods and also enroll the aid of successful real estate professionals along the way. So that these professionals will help to infer market indicators, such as the average length of time houses are sitting on the market this month versus last month or last year. You will be able to make good decisions and are armed with this type of information.

Inventory trends

Inventory is defined as the number of properties offered for sale, and it is a good indicator of current market trends. But sellers obtain benefit from the excitement of new listings frequently to get properties under contract quickly, at premium asking prices in rising markets. Generally, seasonal drops in inventory reflect the trend more aggressively to market properties during the months of spring and summer when real estate markets become more active. Properties sell year-round, though investors should plan to reduce the price for winter listings.

Falling markets

Property values are always inversely proportional to inventories. That is when property values are falling, inventory rises, and so lots of sellers become highly motivated when their properties fail to sell quickly. The main drawback is that in a falling market, even a single month delay can bring a sound deal into a headache.

Exit strategies

You need to have a clear plan in mind more importantly while purchasing a property than guessing the future of a local market. A smart investor knows well and accurately how he will come out of the property before he buys it. Suppose if the first course of action doesn’t work, smaller investor will have a backup plan or two.

For more Real Estate Investing Informationplz visit our website.For a complete run down of how to find the right preconstruction real estate investment.Visit ourReal Estate Investment Informationwebsite and browse our huge collection of free real estate investing news.ron.seocopywriter@gmail.com

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Written by Jake Sebastian

When you think of real estate, what do you think of? Buying a home, building a home, or realtors are what most people think of when the term real estate crosses their minds. Real estate is also a great way to invest your money and can be very profitable if you go about it carefully and wisely. However, just like any other business there are sneaky secrets and tips that you should consider before embarking on a real estate investment. Buying real estate to rent or buying real estate to fix up and resell are two of the most common ways to make money investing. However, there are a few things to keep in mind before you take the leap and hand over the cash!

The first thing that you have to do is to take action. Don’t sit around thinking about real estate investing, jump out there and do it! There are thousands of people that kick themselves daily for not trying something new. Yes, it is a risk, but think of the rewards that could be yours if you do great! Next time you think about buying and investing in real estate, keep in mind that you are letting the money sift through your fingers each minute that you think instead of act! The truth is that there will never be a perfect time to do anything. And that is just as true with regards to real estate as for anything else. Do not be a fence sitter! And look back in three years time wondering on what might have been ‘If Only’ you had developed a property portfolio. Of course I am not saying to be rash! Try to Invest wisely (obviously ) but don’t be so cautious that you can never bring yourself to pull the trigger and actually take action.

Secondly, keep your expectations realistic and detailed. Saying that you “want to get rich” is not reason enough to take the jump into the real estate market. Choosing to invest in real estate to bring in extra money for a specific purpose is a good place to start. It may be a while before you are able to quit the day job and buy yachts and vacation homes. Let’s be honest. It may never happen. It could in fact cost you the shirt on your back. By their very nature investments can go down in price as well as up. So picking the right investment property is a must. However, you will achieve more by focusing on what you actually WANT, rather then what you don’t want. So stay positive. Read some books on real estate. Visit some estate agents or real estate brokers and then lay out a list of attainable goals for you to achieve over a year’s time and every three months or so go over your list to see how you are doing.

Some of the benefits to real estate investing are being your own boss, cash flow, appreciation of property, and more! You are your own boss if you invest in real estate. However, whilst that has many upsides, remember that it is down to you to be motivated to develop the properties you buy, and that ultimately you will have to provide for yourself. There is no safety net when it comes to your property portfolio. The upside is ALL yours. But so is the downside. So be careful!

When you get to the point where it is a full time job for you, then you can take a vacation when you want, wear what you want, and go and play golf when you want. But the only place that money and success comes before work is in a dictionary! So get busy working before you spend all your days daydreaming about spending your gains!

Cash flow is another great benefit of real estate investing, because when you rent out a property it will provide you with a rental income. Hopefully, you will have a positive cash flow instead of a negative cash flow (ie the incoming cash flow is greater then the costs like repairs, mortgages etc) and be able to do all of the things that you have wanted to do. Another great benefit is that when you invest in property that property values usually rise (over time this is generally the case…but remember you can also potentially lose EVERYTHING…So stay awake to that possibility and be cautious. You can get more great information about Loans at http://www.just-loans.com). This is like earning interest on your money. What a bonus!

Real estate investing can give you a great return on your investment if you choose wisely. But, be careful that you go into it with your eyes open. Are you going to have rental properties? Office properties? Are you going to fix up houses and resell them? Will you buy those properties using buy to let mortgages, or finance it from money you already have? Whichever method of real estate investing that you choose, if you are wise, then you will make lots of money for you and your family. Make a plan TODAY to reach your goals and go for it! You will be glad you did!

Take control of your real estate needs! Here is a great collection of real estate investing resources. Visit - http://www.goodrealestatehome.com NOW!

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Written by Donovan Baldwin

Copyright 2006 Donovan Baldwin

All right, you’ve seen the infomercials for people like Carleton Sheets, or you read an ebook by somebody like T. C. and Vickie Bradley, and you’re hot to trot out your wallet and get rich with real estate investing…just like everybody else.

Whoa, Trigger.

Not everybody IS getting rich with real estate investing, no matter what the hype leads you to believe.

First, let’s understand a couple of things. There ARE people getting rich with real estate investing. Many of these people have followed the lead of Carleton Sheets or T. C. Bradley or other real estate investing gurus. Those are facts.

Here’s one additional fact. If you don’t know what you are doing, you can lose your shirt in real estate investing…like a lot of other people.

That’s not to say you can’t learn, and it’s not to say that people like Carleton Sheets or T. C. and Vickie Bradley can’t teach you. What it does mean is that you can’t listen to one tape, or read one book and run out the door asking for somebody to please take the contents of your wallet! You have got to take the time and make the effort to learn the facts, steps, and inside information necessary to become successful in real estate investing.

However, I realize that those dollar bills are burning a hole in your pocket and you want to get started NOW, so here’s a simple way to begin your trek to the top.

Let me tell you how Lois got her real estate investing empire started in Austin, TX. She looked around until she found a small, but well-maintained 4-unit apartment complex in a nice Austin neighborhood. The price was right, so, not having the credit herself to swing the deal, she got her dad to cosign with her. Once the place was hers, she moved into one unit (no more rent to pay), the rent from another unit covered the monthly mortgage, and the rent from the other two units was hers to keep.

Not exactly a get rich quick plan, but it was a start. Since she still had a full time job, she used the extra money from the apartments to pay off bills and loans, including the mortgage, at an accelerated rate. This gave her leverage to buy another unit, and the rest is history. She now is an Austin slumlord…! Seriously, she has done well in this simple way and has grown her initial real estate investment considerably.

In his article, “Buy High Yielding Turnkey Real Estate Investments With Your Signature Alone!”, Bill Young, a former bank mortgage officer and real estate investor since 1980 gives valuable pointers in getting started in this sort of deal, sometimes with no down payment required. You can find a copy of this article at http://real–estate–investing.blogspot.com/2006/03/real-estate-investing-buy-with-your.html .

While wheeling-and-dealing in real estate investments can make fortunes, there is a learning curve required to make the kind of money professionals like Carleton Sheets and T. C. Bradley do. If you are a total newbie and just HAVE to get into real estate investing, you might be well advised to follow the example of my friend, Lois, and start with small, occupied apartment units, perhaps using some of the space as a residence, as she did, and using income from the units for investment growth.

The author is a graduate of the University of West Florida with a BA in accounting. He has worked as an accountant for the Florida State Department of Education, as Business Manager of a community mental health facility, and in various other management positions. You may read additional articles on this topic at http://real–estate–investing.blogspot.com .

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Written by Ryan Gibson

It’s no secret that real estate investing has become the “weapon of choice” for many investors. With the stock market growing more and more uncertain it’s not hard to understand why. While real estate investing can be very lucrative and when done right can present very little risk, it’s important to remember that timeless adage “knowledge is key”. As with any financial decision to be made, no one should jump into real estate investing without gaining as much knowledge as possible on the front end. While it is true that experience is the best teacher, having a good knowledge base to begin with might just make your experience a little less scary. With this in mind, following are five things to consider BEFORE doing your first deal.
1. Tend to your personal finances first
Many prospective investors view real estate as a means to get out of financial trouble. Many real estate “gurus” will advocate this practice and even use it as a selling point to sell their latest and greatest real estate investing system. I am definitely not of this mindset. Real estate investing is a great way to secure your financial future but certainly not at the expense of your financial “present”. If you are having financial problems and are having trouble making ends meet, take steps to rectify the situation before risking any money in real estate. As I stated earlier real estate investing can carry less risk than many other forms of investing, but there are still risks and if you are not in a position to handle the setbacks than you are basically just gambling and that is a very dangerous investment strategy.
2. Choose a strategy.
There are many ways to make money in real estate investing. You can buy a property and immediately flip it for profit. You can buy a property and hold it banking on an increase in value in the near future. You can buy a property for rental. You can buy a distressed property and make improvements. There are countless ways to make money. The important thing to remember is that each of these strategies carries its own set of “rules”, if you will, for making a profit. Some might say you should never limit yourself to one strategy and I whole-heartedly agree in the over all realm of your real estate portfolio. What I want to stress here is that indecision in regards to each individual real estate deal can cause you a lot of heartache, frustration and LOST PROFIT, which we could all do without. Decide up front which strategy is best for you and then proceed to find a property that meets your needs.
3. Do your research
While this may sound elementary, it’s very easy to get caught up in the emotion of what seems like a good deal and in the process act hastily. Always, and I mean ALWAYS thoroughly investigate a property before you sign anything. Try to determine if the property has suffered any significant damage, find out if the property is in a flood plain, find out if there is more than 1 lien against a property, etc. Create a property inspection checklist up front and check every one off before you decide to do a deal. When doing a conventional deal with a mortgage lender the lender will likely take care of a lot of these steps (they want to protect their investment as well) however, it is always good practice to pay for a thorough inspection before you make the deal.
4. Stick to a budget
Decide what you can afford and are willing to spend on a real estate deal and DO NOT deviate. Many real estate investing coaches will tell you not to let a good deal go just because you don’t have the money. “Get creative” they say. While I do not shun the idea of creative financing completely I certainly don’t recommend it for the beginning investor. “Zero Down” deals can be very appealing but they also can increase your risk factor tremendously. In a nutshell, if you can’t afford it, it’s not a good deal.
5. Be prepared to walk away
Never get emotionally attached to a property. Emotions can cloud your judgment causing you to make unwise decisions. It’s almost a certainty that if you stick with real estate investing long enough you will come across a deal that seems irresistible. Do not get overly excited and sell yourself on the deal before due diligence is done. This mindset can cause you to overlook some warning signs that otherwise might be deal breakers. Go back and read number 3 again. Be objective and be skeptical. Reserve judgment for after your inspection checklist has been completed. Always be prepared to walk away; there’s likely another prospective deal just around the corner.
These five principles are a good guideline for anyone starting out. While real estate investing can be a rollercoaster ride at times with many ups and downs, sticking to these basic principles will all but guarantee that you will come out on top. Happy Investing!

Ryan Gibson is an avid real estate investor and webmaster for the popular investing site http://www.the-investment-place.com

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