Real Estate Investing - An Alternative To Traditional Stock Market Investment

From a historical perspective, investing in real estate is almost as old as the construction of property itself. Indeed many business owners who created their wealth through companies then went on to diversify into real estate investments. In fact, over the years real estate investments have produced similar returns to those found in the stock market. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons:

First of all, and most obviously, the supply of building land around the world is limited, even when taking into account landfill opportunities. Since the world’s population is growing and the demand for housing ever increasing, then there would seem to be a never-ending and increasing requirement for real estate of all types.

Now let’s take a look at the mechanics of buying property. Here it can be seen that investing in real estate is quite different from most other traditional investments such as stocks. With real estate you can often borrow up to around 80 percent of the value of a property, sometimes even the full value and beyond under special circumstances. Thus a more modest investment of say 20 percent of the value can be used to buy and control the full value of the larger investment. Naturally, if the value of your investment increases, I.e. property prices rise, then the value of your real estate investment also increases. If so, then you are into profit, including that on the money you originally borrowed.

Naturally, there will be costs associated with real estate investing (such as legal fees and property maintenance, taxes, etc), but these are usually small in comparison with the potential gains.

Borrowing in order to invest in real estate makes real estate a type of leveraged investment. But if you know anything about leverage, you will realize that leveraged investments can also go against you. What, for example, if the property you purchased for $300,000 decreased in value to $240,000? Even though the value only dropped by 20 percent, you actually lose 100 percent of the original $60,000 investment. And if you have a mortgage on this property making up its full purchase price, you will actually need to pay money to the mortgage provider in order to cover the costs of selling the property. That’s in addition to the loss of the whole of your initial investment.

So, as you see, investing in real estate is something to be taken very seriously and should not be done with money which you might need for other things in the near future. Investment in property is more secure as a long-term investment. In the above example, if you could have held onto the property and not sold it, the loss would purely have been ‘on paper’. In all likelihood, over time the value of the property, unless grossly overpriced when you originally bought it, will rise and you will likely not only recover the full value of the initial investment, but also possibly make a nice profit when you do come to sell.

Another reason that real estate is a popular investment is that there are profits to be made from it whilst you are the owner. In addition to the tax-saving benefits (in that any tax due on the property’s increase in value doesn’t become due until it is eventually sold), you can also make additional money from renting out the property. This can often cover all your running costs of the property, plus providing a profit on top.

Unless you make a large down payment, early on during your ownership the monthly operating profit from your property business is likely to be small or non-existent. But over time this profit will increase as the amount of rent you can charge increases at a higher rate than the running costs. Naturally these profits will be subject to normal income tax rules.

A further benefit of investing in property is that you might be able to purchase cheaply a run-down or ‘distressed’ property and fix it up or develop it further. Properties like this can still be found if you look around carefully. Naturally, investing in this type of real estate can still produce large gains. This is something you certainly can’t do with traditional stock market investments.

However, returning to the initial question about whether real estate investing is still a viable option when current prices seem to be nearing their peak: yes, it can still be so, but you might need to be more creative and prepare to be in for the long haul. Property ‘flipping’ methods that worked extremely successfully yesterday, might not work at all well tomorrow.

You might also consider diversifying into overseas real estate markets. Whilst this will require greater study and analysis, and there are many more legal issues to consider, seeking out what appear to be undervalued international real estate opportunities has the potential to be highly profitable if handled correctly.

Naturally, you should always seek the advice of professionals, both financial and legal, before investing in properties of any description, particularly when considering investing overseas. There might be major implications to your overall taxation. Risks can also be substantially higher when you are not there to oversee your investment in person.

About the Author

You can learn more about real estate investing and Bianca Tavares’ guide to Florida property at Florida Real Estate.

Real Estate Investing - Start Learning Today!

You often hear about every day people who made their money investing in the stock market, but you also hear about people who lost it all the same way. You hardly ever hear about real-estate investors who lost all there money because it doesn’t happen nearly as much.

Those who invested in the key areas of real estate years ago are living the dream! The information I am providing I feel will prove helpful for any experience level of investors.

Why just think about it! Do something about it!

Everyone has heard there is money in real estate but no one does anything about it! This is because no one hears actually how much money there is to make by investing in real estate. Why doesnt everyone try to make there share?

The reason is simply the fear inside of everyone. The majority of people feel that it is to much work and to much of a risk to take. Even with all the helpful information thats out there today. People still feel they dont know enough to take the chance of investment. Fortunately for you it will always be this way and they will always be the ones supporting you with rent money each month.

What do you have to look forward to?

When I decided that investing in real estate was what I wanted to do. I really didnt know what to expect The only thing I knew was that making money without dealing with my boss was what I wanted. No one just said here I want to pay you so you dont have to work, I had to come up with a plan and idea of exactly what I wanted to do.

Real estate takes alot of time and patients. You will be dealing with all types of tenants good ones bad ones and everything in between. You also need to deal with stuff when it breaks, heating bills, and just fixing the place up now and then.

Looking at it that way may upset you but dont forget, I dont have to follow my boss around asking what he needs done next all day for the same salary every week. Getting paid for extra work you accomplish is a breath of fresh air after working 40 hours a week trying to help your boss make money. Knowing extra work you do helps the company more then it helps you.

The weather is crummy and I want to get away I leave, its that simple I dont loose money! I EARN it my rent money keeps coming each month and loans keep amortizing! The job does itself even while I lay on the beach.

Knowing that I could have the freedom to go where ever I want when ever I want while earning money doing it was enough of a reason for me to love real estate. All this without a boss breathing down ur neck and throw in the other little benefits I think I found my new full time job!

Cash flow

It is what is says basically cash flow is the difference between your income and your expenses. Basically it’s your situation when it comes to your investment you can have a positive or a negative cash flow. If you dont know what one you want please dont read anymore!

When you do obtain a little positive cash flow never use it all to pay get out of a debt in a certain area. You have alot more options by keeping a strong positive cash flow.

Appreciation

The two types of appreciation are economic conditions and market appreciation. Economic conditions would be out of your control like a inflation in a certain area but as you know the more popular the area the higher cost of living so you dont make as much here. Market appreciation is the more profitable of the two its a increase in value due to renovations. Buying a home touching it up and reselling for a profit would be a example of market appreciation.

Appreciation is the increase in value of a property. There are two kinds of appreciation. The first is from economic conditions beyond your control, such as inflation. But you won’t gain much from this type of appreciation since the gain is offset by the higher cost of living.

The second kind is market appreciation, which you can control. When you improve a property (through renovations), you force its value higher. You can purchase a piece of property in need of repairs and bring it back up to neighborhood standards or slightly higher; this will give you a property that is much higher in value.

Leverage

Having the ability to borrow a percentage of the value of a piece of property is what leverage is. Most of the investments im sure you have been looking at are not even a comparison to real estate when it comes to leverage. In example a couple who buy a single family home can obtain up to 95% financing. This being said allows you to purchase real estate with little or none of your own money. Like I said what other investment offers this high of a degree of leverage?

Amortization

When you are able to make money off of other people’s money how could you not be involved! Loans of course have interest but each payment also goes to pay off principal. Principal reduction is called amortization and this my friend can make you wealthy!

Advantages

When you own your own real estate and are focused of making profit with it, you have the option to deduct interest and other payments when tax time hits. Although purchasing real estate just to receive tax advantages is not what you should be aiming for. You need to purchase it because it makes sense.

Benefits of purchasing

Owning your own real estate business is wonderful way to escape and obtain the financial freedom you have been looking for.

Remember real estate can be a hobby or it could be your new full time career the sky is the limit its what ever you make it.

Real Estate Investing - Start Learning Today!

You often hear about every day people who made their money investing in the stock market, but you also hear about people who lost it all the same way. You hardly ever hear about real-estate investors who lost all there money because it doesn’t happen nearly as much.

Those who invested in the key areas of real estate years ago are living the dream! The information I am providing I feel will prove helpful for any experience level of investors.

Why just think about it! Do something about it!

Everyone has heard there is money in real estate but no one does anything about it! This is because no one hears actually how much money there is to make by investing in real estate. Why doesnt everyone try to make there share?

The reason is simply the fear inside of everyone. The majority of people feel that it is to much work and to much of a risk to take. Even with all the helpful information thats out there today. People still feel they dont know enough to take the chance of investment. Fortunately for you it will always be this way and they will always be the ones supporting you with rent money each month.

What do you have to look forward to?

When I decided that investing in real estate was what I wanted to do. I really didnt know what to expect The only thing I knew was that making money without dealing with my boss was what I wanted. No one just said here I want to pay you so you dont have to work, I had to come up with a plan and idea of exactly what I wanted to do.

Real estate takes alot of time and patients. You will be dealing with all types of tenants good ones bad ones and everything in between. You also need to deal with stuff when it breaks, heating bills, and just fixing the place up now and then.

Looking at it that way may upset you but dont forget, I dont have to follow my boss around asking what he needs done next all day for the same salary every week. Getting paid for extra work you accomplish is a breath of fresh air after working 40 hours a week trying to help your boss make money. Knowing extra work you do helps the company more then it helps you.

The weather is crummy and I want to get away I leave, its that simple I dont loose money! I EARN it my rent money keeps coming each month and loans keep amortizing! The job does itself even while I lay on the beach.

Knowing that I could have the freedom to go where ever I want when ever I want while earning money doing it was enough of a reason for me to love real estate. All this without a boss breathing down ur neck and throw in the other little benefits I think I found my new full time job!

Cash flow

It is what is says basically cash flow is the difference between your income and your expenses. Basically it’s your situation when it comes to your investment you can have a positive or a negative cash flow. If you dont know what one you want please dont read anymore!

When you do obtain a little positive cash flow never use it all to pay get out of a debt in a certain area. You have alot more options by keeping a strong positive cash flow.

Appreciation

The two types of appreciation are economic conditions and market appreciation. Economic conditions would be out of your control like a inflation in a certain area but as you know the more popular the area the higher cost of living so you dont make as much here. Market appreciation is the more profitable of the two its a increase in value due to renovations. Buying a home touching it up and reselling for a profit would be a example of market appreciation.

Appreciation is the increase in value of a property. There are two kinds of appreciation. The first is from economic conditions beyond your control, such as inflation. But you won’t gain much from this type of appreciation since the gain is offset by the higher cost of living.

The second kind is market appreciation, which you can control. When you improve a property (through renovations), you force its value higher. You can purchase a piece of property in need of repairs and bring it back up to neighborhood standards or slightly higher; this will give you a property that is much higher in value.

Leverage

Having the ability to borrow a percentage of the value of a piece of property is what leverage is. Most of the investments im sure you have been looking at are not even a comparison to real estate when it comes to leverage. In example a couple who buy a single family home can obtain up to 95% financing. This being said allows you to purchase real estate with little or none of your own money. Like I said what other investment offers this high of a degree of leverage?

Amortization

When you are able to make money off of other people’s money how could you not be involved! Loans of course have interest but each payment also goes to pay off principal. Principal reduction is called amortization and this my friend can make you wealthy!

Advantages

When you own your own real estate and are focused of making profit with it, you have the option to deduct interest and other payments when tax time hits. Although purchasing real estate just to receive tax advantages is not what you should be aiming for. You need to purchase it because it makes sense.

Benefits of purchasing

Owning your own real estate business is wonderful way to escape and obtain the financial freedom you have been looking for.

Remember real estate can be a hobby or it could be your new full time career the sky is the limit its what ever you make it.

Real Estate Investing - An Alternative To Traditional Stock Market Investment

From a historical perspective, investing in real estate is almost as old as the construction of property itself. Indeed many business owners who created their wealth through companies then went on to diversify into real estate investments. In fact, over the years real estate investments have produced similar returns to those found in the stock market. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons:

First of all, and most obviously, the supply of building land around the world is limited, even when taking into account landfill opportunities. Since the world’s population is growing and the demand for housing ever increasing, then there would seem to be a never-ending and increasing requirement for real estate of all types.

Now let’s take a look at the mechanics of buying property. Here it can be seen that investing in real estate is quite different from most other traditional investments such as stocks. With real estate you can often borrow up to around 80 percent of the value of a property, sometimes even the full value and beyond under special circumstances. Thus a more modest investment of say 20 percent of the value can be used to buy and control the full value of the larger investment. Naturally, if the value of your investment increases, I.e. property prices rise, then the value of your real estate investment also increases. If so, then you are into profit, including that on the money you originally borrowed.

Naturally, there will be costs associated with real estate investing (such as legal fees and property maintenance, taxes, etc), but these are usually small in comparison with the potential gains.

Borrowing in order to invest in real estate makes real estate a type of leveraged investment. But if you know anything about leverage, you will realize that leveraged investments can also go against you. What, for example, if the property you purchased for $300,000 decreased in value to $240,000? Even though the value only dropped by 20 percent, you actually lose 100 percent of the original $60,000 investment. And if you have a mortgage on this property making up its full purchase price, you will actually need to pay money to the mortgage provider in order to cover the costs of selling the property. That’s in addition to the loss of the whole of your initial investment.

So, as you see, investing in real estate is something to be taken very seriously and should not be done with money which you might need for other things in the near future. Investment in property is more secure as a long-term investment. In the above example, if you could have held onto the property and not sold it, the loss would purely have been ‘on paper’. In all likelihood, over time the value of the property, unless grossly overpriced when you originally bought it, will rise and you will likely not only recover the full value of the initial investment, but also possibly make a nice profit when you do come to sell.

Another reason that real estate is a popular investment is that there are profits to be made from it whilst you are the owner. In addition to the tax-saving benefits (in that any tax due on the property’s increase in value doesn’t become due until it is eventually sold), you can also make additional money from renting out the property. This can often cover all your running costs of the property, plus providing a profit on top.

Unless you make a large down payment, early on during your ownership the monthly operating profit from your property business is likely to be small or non-existent. But over time this profit will increase as the amount of rent you can charge increases at a higher rate than the running costs. Naturally these profits will be subject to normal income tax rules.

A further benefit of investing in property is that you might be able to purchase cheaply a run-down or ‘distressed’ property and fix it up or develop it further. Properties like this can still be found if you look around carefully. Naturally, investing in this type of real estate can still produce large gains. This is something you certainly can’t do with traditional stock market investments.

However, returning to the initial question about whether real estate investing is still a viable option when current prices seem to be nearing their peak: yes, it can still be so, but you might need to be more creative and prepare to be in for the long haul. Property ‘flipping’ methods that worked extremely successfully yesterday, might not work at all well tomorrow.

You might also consider diversifying into overseas real estate markets. Whilst this will require greater study and analysis, and there are many more legal issues to consider, seeking out what appear to be undervalued international real estate opportunities has the potential to be highly profitable if handled correctly.

Naturally, you should always seek the advice of professionals, both financial and legal, before investing in properties of any description, particularly when considering investing overseas. There might be major implications to your overall taxation. Risks can also be substantially higher when you are not there to oversee your investment in person.

About the Author

You can learn more about real estate investing and Bianca Tavares’ guide to Florida property at Florida Real Estate.

Real Estate Investing - An Alternative To Traditional Stock Market Investment

From a historical perspective, investing in real estate is almost as old as the construction of property itself. Indeed many business owners who created their wealth through companies then went on to diversify into real estate investments. In fact, over the years real estate investments have produced similar returns to those found in the stock market. Let’s take a look at some of the reasons:

First of all, and most obviously, the supply of building land around the world is limited, even when taking into account landfill opportunities. Since the world’s population is growing and the demand for housing ever increasing, then there would seem to be a never-ending and increasing requirement for real estate of all types.

Now let’s take a look at the mechanics of buying property. Here it can be seen that investing in real estate is quite different from most other traditional investments such as stocks. With real estate you can often borrow up to around 80 percent of the value of a property, sometimes even the full value and beyond under special circumstances. Thus a more modest investment of say 20 percent of the value can be used to buy and control the full value of the larger investment. Naturally, if the value of your investment increases, I.e. property prices rise, then the value of your real estate investment also increases. If so, then you are into profit, including that on the money you originally borrowed.

Naturally, there will be costs associated with real estate investing (such as legal fees and property maintenance, taxes, etc), but these are usually small in comparison with the potential gains.

Borrowing in order to invest in real estate makes real estate a type of leveraged investment. But if you know anything about leverage, you will realize that leveraged investments can also go against you. What, for example, if the property you purchased for $300,000 decreased in value to $240,000? Even though the value only dropped by 20 percent, you actually lose 100 percent of the original $60,000 investment. And if you have a mortgage on this property making up its full purchase price, you will actually need to pay money to the mortgage provider in order to cover the costs of selling the property. That’s in addition to the loss of the whole of your initial investment.

So, as you see, investing in real estate is something to be taken very seriously and should not be done with money which you might need for other things in the near future. Investment in property is more secure as a long-term investment. In the above example, if you could have held onto the property and not sold it, the loss would purely have been ‘on paper’. In all likelihood, over time the value of the property, unless grossly overpriced when you originally bought it, will rise and you will likely not only recover the full value of the initial investment, but also possibly make a nice profit when you do come to sell.

Another reason that real estate is a popular investment is that there are profits to be made from it whilst you are the owner. In addition to the tax-saving benefits (in that any tax due on the property’s increase in value doesn’t become due until it is eventually sold), you can also make additional money from renting out the property. This can often cover all your running costs of the property, plus providing a profit on top.

Unless you make a large down payment, early on during your ownership the monthly operating profit from your property business is likely to be small or non-existent. But over time this profit will increase as the amount of rent you can charge increases at a higher rate than the running costs. Naturally these profits will be subject to normal income tax rules.

A further benefit of investing in property is that you might be able to purchase cheaply a run-down or ‘distressed’ property and fix it up or develop it further. Properties like this can still be found if you look around carefully. Naturally, investing in this type of real estate can still produce large gains. This is something you certainly can’t do with traditional stock market investments.

However, returning to the initial question about whether real estate investing is still a viable option when current prices seem to be nearing their peak: yes, it can still be so, but you might need to be more creative and prepare to be in for the long haul. Property ‘flipping’ methods that worked extremely successfully yesterday, might not work at all well tomorrow.

You might also consider diversifying into overseas real estate markets. Whilst this will require greater study and analysis, and there are many more legal issues to consider, seeking out what appear to be undervalued international real estate opportunities has the potential to be highly profitable if handled correctly.

Naturally, you should always seek the advice of professionals, both financial and legal, before investing in properties of any description, particularly when considering investing overseas. There might be major implications to your overall taxation. Risks can also be substantially higher when you are not there to oversee your investment in person.

About the Author

You can learn more about real estate investing and Bianca Tavares’ guide to Florida property at Florida Real Estate.