Real Estate and REITS Investing

You might think the first rule in real estate investment is location but really it is to be cautious of who you are working with. As with any other industry the real estate world is filled with its share of bad apples including a large majority of those late night infomercial gurus claiming to teach you the way to become a millionaire through real estate.

For those who are thinking about investing in real estate there are a few things you will need to make it a successful venture. First off you need investment capital or some form of getting it without putting yourself upside down financially.

Location of the investment property is highly important. You don’t want to invest in an area that has a failing economy or has too many for sale signs.

If you want to invest in real estate then you need to have great management, people, and negotiating skills to help you in every step of the process. It is likely that some sort of problem will occur so be prepared. Some people have the idea that flipping a house is as easy as buying a property, fixing up a few small inexpensive things, and then selling it for a major profit but it is never as simple as that.

There is also real estate investment trusts. This allows you to invest in real estate for far less money and there is no stress of fixing any tenants problems. REITS invest into several different corporations that are involved in real estate including everything from shopping centers to development companies. They are also listed on the NASDAQ and the stock exchange.

REITS work in a similar way as mutual funds with the exclusion that they set up a portfolio that is only involved in real estate. They must pay a large portion of their earnings to investors.

Before investing in a REIT you should fully think about the economic conditions where the key holdings are located. You should also know the past performance of the REIT and what the future projections look like. Speak with the REIT manager who works like a mutual funds manager.

REITS are similar to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds in the fact that they have high and low periods. They can turn into financially strong investments over time and pay dividends. REITS are liquid assets and are a much more secure way of investing in real estate then buying property.

The major reason that investing in real estate is considered so high risk is because the market is constantly fluctuating. For anyone to invest in any type of real estate without having adequate knowledge of the area surrounding it is very high risk.

It is wise to enlist the help of a professional real estate agent who can provide you with information that can help you profit despite the fluctuations in the market. Even if you only use one for your first investment a real estate professional can provide you with information that can help you find more profitable homes.

You may wish to contact Joe and Colleen Lane, Realtors? for more info on real estate, especially in the areas of Pasco Wa Real Estate, Richland Wa Real Estate, and surrounding Southeastern Washington Communities.

About the Author

Published by author Spencer H. The Lane Real Estate Team services Tri City Wa Real Estate, Kennewick Wa Real Estate.

Real Estate Investing: How Long Will It Take To Rent My House?

How many times have I heard the question ?How long will it take to rent my house?? Every investor that brings us their property wants to know the answer to this question. So, being in the property management business for five years I pull out my crystal ball and give them the answer. It isn?t always what they want to hear, but it is the answer.

I tell them that renting a house is similar to selling a house. If an investor chooses to do it themselves typically the results match the efforts that are put into it. Certainly a sign is necessary, so they pick one up at the local home improvement store, but will the homeowner covenants allow rental signs? They can put an ad in the local paper, but it is expensive. Don?t all the gurus tell you that print ads are a thing of the past and that the internet is the way to go? Well maybe you put it on a free internet site, and wait.

If they choose to use a professional property management company, the Management Company should put the property on multiple internet sites that reach agents, other property managers, as well as individuals. Individuals know to look for property managers because they remember their signs and other marketing and the tenants know they have a wide variety of properties. The better tenants also feel more comfortable renting from company because they know that they have recourse if there is a problem.

We have had investors turn properties over to us that they have had on the market for six months and they are amazed when it rents so quickly with us. The professional property manager does the marketing and also the qualifying so the resident you get is typically a better caliber of tenant, better screened and managed. They also know landlord tenant law protecting you and your asset.

There are cycles to the real estate market whether buying, selling or renting. Spring and summer are the best times to be on the market. There is a big rush to get into a house over the summer before school starts. It typically slows down in the fall, and then picks up again at the end on the year. We find that at mid month people are looking for a place for an end of month move in. Very few tenants look more than one month in advance.

Currently the Atlanta market has good rental absorption. Finally, the apartments that we compete with are no longer offer three months free rent and a flat screen television just for moving in.

For the past several years we have seen rental properties sit on the market and rental rates drop. Rents have declined for the past three years in the Atlanta area, but we are now turning the corner. Now we are able to increase rents each time there is a renewal. Every 3-5% helps.

One thing that has helped is the rise in mortgage rates. With many lenders raising rates and becoming more stringent in lending guidelines, many would be homeowners are now being priced out of the market. Less and less people are qualifying to buy, so they must rent. Everyone wants a house with their own yard. This is good for you and for us.

In reality you never know how quickly the property will rent. Curb appeal, cleanliness and livability mean a whole lot, so make your place look good. Look at what price comparable houses are renting for and then keep your price in line.

Soon you will have a qualified resident moving in and then you will have that answer to that question ?How long will it take to rent my house??

About the Author:

Mark Lackey is a real estate investor in Atlanta and works with The REI Team at Solid Source Realty, Inc. http://www.theREIteam.com. He frequently helps other investors in their pursuit of financial freedom. In addition, he is the Vice President of Solid Source Property Management, Inc. http://www.solidsourcepm.com.

7 Tips For Real Estate Investing Success

1. Find out what you really want from your investments.

Set goals. Where do you want to be 5 years from now? Do you want a much larger nicer house for your family? How about waltzing into a car dealership and paying cash? Picture what you want.

Your investing needs to provide a living -and a lifestyle. You need to be able to look forward and enjoy your life and your family.

If you want to coach your children’s sports teams, your real estate needs to give you the time, not steal the time from those precious events.

With proper planning you can learn how to out-source but you’ve got to know where you want to go before you can get there.

2. Start simple and keep it simple

Sometimes it’s too easy to lose focus because of information overload. Our generation is being bombarded with more knowledge than any in history. And it’s only going to get worse.

Real estate is basic investing. Stick to the fundamentals. Go to the old gurus such as Tyler Hicks and read the old books. Markets come and go, but the basics never change.

3. Do your investing one small step at a time

Don’t try to compete with Donald Trump with your first property. Start small.

Get your first property going. Then move on to the second and the third. Don’t worry about what the stars and experts in online forums are doing. They’ve been at it for a long time. Naturally they can do more. And you will too if you don’t allow your investing to get too complicated.

4. Focus on one aspect of investing for six months

What are you really interested in? Foreclosures, Buy and Hold, Short Sales?

How is the market doing in your area of interest? Concentrate on one type of investment and soak up everything you can about it for six months. Not only will you become an expert but it will be almost second nature to you.

5. Design your investing around your strengths and weaknesses.

Okay, this is the challenging one.

We’ve been taught all our lives that winners do what they hate. It’s a conditioning process. In order to get it done, we’ve got to make ourselves do the dog work.

That’s okay for football or high school algebra, but real estate investing is different.

You need to like it. If there are parts of it you don’t like, don’t get bent out of shape about it. Sub those parts out. Out sourcing is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach yourself.

Don’t get upset about landlording if it’s not your thing. Out source that too. The most important point is to invest. That’s where the money is.

6.Stop analyzing and buy something

There are investors who paralyze themselves to death with market analysis. Another way of putting it is they are fearful of doing it. Jump in. Get your feet wet. Sure, you might make some mistakes but if you read the right real estate materials and study the right courses, as well as networking, you can cut those mistakes down to miniscule small potatoes.

7. Set aside some properties for your lifetime profits.

This is your own personal bank. Whether you’re a flipper, wholesaler, rehabber and you want to move those properties fast, this advice still applies to you.

It’s amazing to me how some investors let perfectly great properties get out of their hands because they want to make a quick profit. Occasionally, keep a few of them. Hold on and watch them appreciate. They may truly pay for your old age.

Real Estate Property Tax Lien Investing Caution

Gather around children for a tale of royal power. Far back in history the king owned everything. (Does that remind you of Donald Trump?). Occasionally the king would grant property to a duke. Property ownership meant wealth, so the king would demand that the duke pay yearly taxes. To this very day much of the money that supports government comes from property taxes, for you see children, government is still king.

If the property owner fails to pay the tax the county government places a lien on that property. Every year property tax liens are sold at auction to the highest bidder. If the property owner fails to satisfy that tax lien the new owner of the lien can begin foreclosure and acquire the property. That seldom happens, but it is possible. Usually the liens are redeemed (paid) before the time limit expires.

You’ve probably seen the TV infomercial extolling the benefits of buying property tax liens. It’s true, property tax liens usually pay an above average rate of interest (it varies from state to state) and the lien is secured by some kind of real estate. Because of the infomercial and real estate seminars, tax lien investing has became very popular. There was a time in some counties when few people would show up at the property tax lien auction. These days the seminar gurus often arrive with bus loads of students ready to bid.

A good investment, yes, but there are some surprises for the uninformed. Because property tax sales occur each year, there may be liens on the same property, for different tax years held by different investors. Like this… Bill bought the 1980 lien; Hillary bought the 1981 lien and George was the successful bidder the next year when the 1982 liens were offered.

Here in Arizona the law is very clear that tax liens for different tax years held by different private parties have parity among themselves. So if the redemption period for Bill’s 1980 tax lien had expired without being paid he could foreclose on the property, but his foreclosure would not wipeout the liens held by Hillary and George. Bill might have a right to the property, but he could not get clear title until he pays off Hillary and George.

If Hillary and George had been influenced by that infomercial and thought that they could scoop up ownership of property for the simple price of a tax lien, well they are more than a little disappointed.

Oh, there could be one more surprise. Sometimes the state owns tax liens. When the state government forecloses all other privately held property tax liens are turned into waste paper.

Property tax liens certainly can be a good investment if you always keep one fact one mind… You are the duke and the government is the king!

About the Author

Markk Walters is an investor and manager of the Real Estate Investor Base Camp at http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com

Real Estate and REITS Investing

You might think the first rule in real estate investment is location but really it is to be cautious of who you are working with. As with any other industry the real estate world is filled with its share of bad apples including a large majority of those late night infomercial gurus claiming to teach you the way to become a millionaire through real estate.

For those who are thinking about investing in real estate there are a few things you will need to make it a successful venture. First off you need investment capital or some form of getting it without putting yourself upside down financially.

Location of the investment property is highly important. You don’t want to invest in an area that has a failing economy or has too many for sale signs.

If you want to invest in real estate then you need to have great management, people, and negotiating skills to help you in every step of the process. It is likely that some sort of problem will occur so be prepared. Some people have the idea that flipping a house is as easy as buying a property, fixing up a few small inexpensive things, and then selling it for a major profit but it is never as simple as that.

There is also real estate investment trusts. This allows you to invest in real estate for far less money and there is no stress of fixing any tenants problems. REITS invest into several different corporations that are involved in real estate including everything from shopping centers to development companies. They are also listed on the NASDAQ and the stock exchange.

REITS work in a similar way as mutual funds with the exclusion that they set up a portfolio that is only involved in real estate. They must pay a large portion of their earnings to investors.

Before investing in a REIT you should fully think about the economic conditions where the key holdings are located. You should also know the past performance of the REIT and what the future projections look like. Speak with the REIT manager who works like a mutual funds manager.

REITS are similar to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds in the fact that they have high and low periods. They can turn into financially strong investments over time and pay dividends. REITS are liquid assets and are a much more secure way of investing in real estate then buying property.

The major reason that investing in real estate is considered so high risk is because the market is constantly fluctuating. For anyone to invest in any type of real estate without having adequate knowledge of the area surrounding it is very high risk.

It is wise to enlist the help of a professional real estate agent who can provide you with information that can help you profit despite the fluctuations in the market. Even if you only use one for your first investment a real estate professional can provide you with information that can help you find more profitable homes.

You may wish to contact Joe and Colleen Lane, Realtors? for more info on real estate, especially in the areas of Pasco Wa Real Estate, Richland Wa Real Estate, and surrounding Southeastern Washington Communities.

About the Author

Published by author Spencer H. The Lane Real Estate Team services Tri City Wa Real Estate, Kennewick Wa Real Estate.

Real Estate Property Tax Lien Investing Caution

Gather around children for a tale of royal power. Far back in history the king owned everything. (Does that remind you of Donald Trump?). Occasionally the king would grant property to a duke. Property ownership meant wealth, so the king would demand that the duke pay yearly taxes. To this very day much of the money that supports government comes from property taxes, for you see children, government is still king.

If the property owner fails to pay the tax the county government places a lien on that property. Every year property tax liens are sold at auction to the highest bidder. If the property owner fails to satisfy that tax lien the new owner of the lien can begin foreclosure and acquire the property. That seldom happens, but it is possible. Usually the liens are redeemed (paid) before the time limit expires.

You’ve probably seen the TV infomercial extolling the benefits of buying property tax liens. It’s true, property tax liens usually pay an above average rate of interest (it varies from state to state) and the lien is secured by some kind of real estate. Because of the infomercial and real estate seminars, tax lien investing has became very popular. There was a time in some counties when few people would show up at the property tax lien auction. These days the seminar gurus often arrive with bus loads of students ready to bid.

A good investment, yes, but there are some surprises for the uninformed. Because property tax sales occur each year, there may be liens on the same property, for different tax years held by different investors. Like this… Bill bought the 1980 lien; Hillary bought the 1981 lien and George was the successful bidder the next year when the 1982 liens were offered.

Here in Arizona the law is very clear that tax liens for different tax years held by different private parties have parity among themselves. So if the redemption period for Bill’s 1980 tax lien had expired without being paid he could foreclose on the property, but his foreclosure would not wipeout the liens held by Hillary and George. Bill might have a right to the property, but he could not get clear title until he pays off Hillary and George.

If Hillary and George had been influenced by that infomercial and thought that they could scoop up ownership of property for the simple price of a tax lien, well they are more than a little disappointed.

Oh, there could be one more surprise. Sometimes the state owns tax liens. When the state government forecloses all other privately held property tax liens are turned into waste paper.

Property tax liens certainly can be a good investment if you always keep one fact one mind… You are the duke and the government is the king!

About the Author

Markk Walters is an investor and manager of the Real Estate Investor Base Camp at http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com

7 Tips For Real Estate Investing Success

1. Find out what you really want from your investments.

Set goals. Where do you want to be 5 years from now? Do you want a much larger nicer house for your family? How about waltzing into a car dealership and paying cash? Picture what you want.

Your investing needs to provide a living -and a lifestyle. You need to be able to look forward and enjoy your life and your family.

If you want to coach your children’s sports teams, your real estate needs to give you the time, not steal the time from those precious events.

With proper planning you can learn how to out-source but you’ve got to know where you want to go before you can get there.

2. Start simple and keep it simple

Sometimes it’s too easy to lose focus because of information overload. Our generation is being bombarded with more knowledge than any in history. And it’s only going to get worse.

Real estate is basic investing. Stick to the fundamentals. Go to the old gurus such as Tyler Hicks and read the old books. Markets come and go, but the basics never change.

3. Do your investing one small step at a time

Don’t try to compete with Donald Trump with your first property. Start small.

Get your first property going. Then move on to the second and the third. Don’t worry about what the stars and experts in online forums are doing. They’ve been at it for a long time. Naturally they can do more. And you will too if you don’t allow your investing to get too complicated.

4. Focus on one aspect of investing for six months

What are you really interested in? Foreclosures, Buy and Hold, Short Sales?

How is the market doing in your area of interest? Concentrate on one type of investment and soak up everything you can about it for six months. Not only will you become an expert but it will be almost second nature to you.

5. Design your investing around your strengths and weaknesses.

Okay, this is the challenging one.

We’ve been taught all our lives that winners do what they hate. It’s a conditioning process. In order to get it done, we’ve got to make ourselves do the dog work.

That’s okay for football or high school algebra, but real estate investing is different.

You need to like it. If there are parts of it you don’t like, don’t get bent out of shape about it. Sub those parts out. Out sourcing is one of the most valuable lessons you can teach yourself.

Don’t get upset about landlording if it’s not your thing. Out source that too. The most important point is to invest. That’s where the money is.

6.Stop analyzing and buy something

There are investors who paralyze themselves to death with market analysis. Another way of putting it is they are fearful of doing it. Jump in. Get your feet wet. Sure, you might make some mistakes but if you read the right real estate materials and study the right courses, as well as networking, you can cut those mistakes down to miniscule small potatoes.

7. Set aside some properties for your lifetime profits.

This is your own personal bank. Whether you’re a flipper, wholesaler, rehabber and you want to move those properties fast, this advice still applies to you.

It’s amazing to me how some investors let perfectly great properties get out of their hands because they want to make a quick profit. Occasionally, keep a few of them. Hold on and watch them appreciate. They may truly pay for your old age.

Real Estate Property Tax Lien Investing Caution

Gather around children for a tale of royal power. Far back in history the king owned everything. (Does that remind you of Donald Trump?). Occasionally the king would grant property to a duke. Property ownership meant wealth, so the king would demand that the duke pay yearly taxes. To this very day much of the money that supports government comes from property taxes, for you see children, government is still king.

If the property owner fails to pay the tax the county government places a lien on that property. Every year property tax liens are sold at auction to the highest bidder. If the property owner fails to satisfy that tax lien the new owner of the lien can begin foreclosure and acquire the property. That seldom happens, but it is possible. Usually the liens are redeemed (paid) before the time limit expires.

You’ve probably seen the TV infomercial extolling the benefits of buying property tax liens. It’s true, property tax liens usually pay an above average rate of interest (it varies from state to state) and the lien is secured by some kind of real estate. Because of the infomercial and real estate seminars, tax lien investing has became very popular. There was a time in some counties when few people would show up at the property tax lien auction. These days the seminar gurus often arrive with bus loads of students ready to bid.

A good investment, yes, but there are some surprises for the uninformed. Because property tax sales occur each year, there may be liens on the same property, for different tax years held by different investors. Like this… Bill bought the 1980 lien; Hillary bought the 1981 lien and George was the successful bidder the next year when the 1982 liens were offered.

Here in Arizona the law is very clear that tax liens for different tax years held by different private parties have parity among themselves. So if the redemption period for Bill’s 1980 tax lien had expired without being paid he could foreclose on the property, but his foreclosure would not wipeout the liens held by Hillary and George. Bill might have a right to the property, but he could not get clear title until he pays off Hillary and George.

If Hillary and George had been influenced by that infomercial and thought that they could scoop up ownership of property for the simple price of a tax lien, well they are more than a little disappointed.

Oh, there could be one more surprise. Sometimes the state owns tax liens. When the state government forecloses all other privately held property tax liens are turned into waste paper.

Property tax liens certainly can be a good investment if you always keep one fact one mind… You are the duke and the government is the king!

About the Author

Markk Walters is an investor and manager of the Real Estate Investor Base Camp at http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com

Real Estate and REITS Investing

You might think the first rule in real estate investment is location but really it is to be cautious of who you are working with. As with any other industry the real estate world is filled with its share of bad apples including a large majority of those late night infomercial gurus claiming to teach you the way to become a millionaire through real estate.

For those who are thinking about investing in real estate there are a few things you will need to make it a successful venture. First off you need investment capital or some form of getting it without putting yourself upside down financially.

Location of the investment property is highly important. You don’t want to invest in an area that has a failing economy or has too many for sale signs.

If you want to invest in real estate then you need to have great management, people, and negotiating skills to help you in every step of the process. It is likely that some sort of problem will occur so be prepared. Some people have the idea that flipping a house is as easy as buying a property, fixing up a few small inexpensive things, and then selling it for a major profit but it is never as simple as that.

There is also real estate investment trusts. This allows you to invest in real estate for far less money and there is no stress of fixing any tenants problems. REITS invest into several different corporations that are involved in real estate including everything from shopping centers to development companies. They are also listed on the NASDAQ and the stock exchange.

REITS work in a similar way as mutual funds with the exclusion that they set up a portfolio that is only involved in real estate. They must pay a large portion of their earnings to investors.

Before investing in a REIT you should fully think about the economic conditions where the key holdings are located. You should also know the past performance of the REIT and what the future projections look like. Speak with the REIT manager who works like a mutual funds manager.

REITS are similar to stocks, bonds, and mutual funds in the fact that they have high and low periods. They can turn into financially strong investments over time and pay dividends. REITS are liquid assets and are a much more secure way of investing in real estate then buying property.

The major reason that investing in real estate is considered so high risk is because the market is constantly fluctuating. For anyone to invest in any type of real estate without having adequate knowledge of the area surrounding it is very high risk.

It is wise to enlist the help of a professional real estate agent who can provide you with information that can help you profit despite the fluctuations in the market. Even if you only use one for your first investment a real estate professional can provide you with information that can help you find more profitable homes.

You may wish to contact Joe and Colleen Lane, Realtors? for more info on real estate, especially in the areas of Pasco Wa Real Estate, Richland Wa Real Estate, and surrounding Southeastern Washington Communities.

About the Author

Published by author Spencer H. The Lane Real Estate Team services Tri City Wa Real Estate, Kennewick Wa Real Estate.

Real Estate Property Tax Lien Investing Caution

Gather around children for a tale of royal power. Far back in history the king owned everything. (Does that remind you of Donald Trump?). Occasionally the king would grant property to a duke. Property ownership meant wealth, so the king would demand that the duke pay yearly taxes. To this very day much of the money that supports government comes from property taxes, for you see children, government is still king.

If the property owner fails to pay the tax the county government places a lien on that property. Every year property tax liens are sold at auction to the highest bidder. If the property owner fails to satisfy that tax lien the new owner of the lien can begin foreclosure and acquire the property. That seldom happens, but it is possible. Usually the liens are redeemed (paid) before the time limit expires.

You’ve probably seen the TV infomercial extolling the benefits of buying property tax liens. It’s true, property tax liens usually pay an above average rate of interest (it varies from state to state) and the lien is secured by some kind of real estate. Because of the infomercial and real estate seminars, tax lien investing has became very popular. There was a time in some counties when few people would show up at the property tax lien auction. These days the seminar gurus often arrive with bus loads of students ready to bid.

A good investment, yes, but there are some surprises for the uninformed. Because property tax sales occur each year, there may be liens on the same property, for different tax years held by different investors. Like this… Bill bought the 1980 lien; Hillary bought the 1981 lien and George was the successful bidder the next year when the 1982 liens were offered.

Here in Arizona the law is very clear that tax liens for different tax years held by different private parties have parity among themselves. So if the redemption period for Bill’s 1980 tax lien had expired without being paid he could foreclose on the property, but his foreclosure would not wipeout the liens held by Hillary and George. Bill might have a right to the property, but he could not get clear title until he pays off Hillary and George.

If Hillary and George had been influenced by that infomercial and thought that they could scoop up ownership of property for the simple price of a tax lien, well they are more than a little disappointed.

Oh, there could be one more surprise. Sometimes the state owns tax liens. When the state government forecloses all other privately held property tax liens are turned into waste paper.

Property tax liens certainly can be a good investment if you always keep one fact one mind… You are the duke and the government is the king!

About the Author

Markk Walters is an investor and manager of the Real Estate Investor Base Camp at http://www.CashFlowInstitute.com

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