#1 Real Estate Investing Mistake Of 2005

December 20, 2011 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

Over the past few years, real estate investors, hungry for break-even or positive cash flow rental properties, purchased income properties out of state. California investors bought houses in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. Florida investors purchased houses in Louisiana. Texas investors purchased in Las Vegas. Many of these investors made millions of dollars because of the appreciation in hot markets.

On the other hand, in 2005, some beginning investors lost their hard-earned investment capital or only made a meager profit because they failed to do their homework on the out-of-state area’s real estate market and customs.

If you ‘re thinking about buying investment properties in a different state than you’re accustomed to, beware of these five surprises.

Surprise # 1 - ‘These (extra) costs are the norm in this state!

Besides extra closing costs like pricey surveys, common in Florida but rare in California, other surprise costs included higher transfer fees and taxes. Property taxes in Florida cost much more for investors in Florida than in California. On the other side of the country, out-of-state investors were shocked by California’s state tax held in escrow: 3.8% of the property’s SALES price, no matter the actual profit made. In other words, an investor who made a quick profit of $20,000 on a fast flip could have more than the profit held until the next year’s income tax filing.

Surprise # 2 - ‘You can’t lease this property!

New home developers and many Homeowners’ Associations (HOA)s prohibit property owners from leasing their properties. Some of these restrictions got passed, without the investor being notified, during the property purchase phase. You must read the fine print to see if any clauses prevent the rental of the property. Home builders, to keep the value of the neighborhood up, added restrictions requiring the purchaser to occupy the home as a primary or secondary residence.

Surprise # 3 - ‘This house will only rent for $750 per month, not $1200!

This was one of the top mistakes made in 2005. Large real estate investing groups, selling out-of-state properties to local investors, inflated the rental income. Because so many houses were purchased in a limited area by investors, a rental glut lowered the expected income. This created hardships for investors who suddenly had to pay out hundreds of dollars a month instead of reaping promised profits.

Surprise # 4 - ‘You can’t sell this house, now!

Some investors who couldn’t rent the out-of-state property decided to sell because the values did rise significantly while the house was built or during the purchase time. However, many investors were stunned when they were told they couldn’t sell the property within the first year after purchase. Restrictions prohibiting real estate investors from quick-turning their properties is a trend that is growing increasingly popular with some developers.

Surprise # 5 - ‘Houses don’t appreciate 30% per year here!

Perhaps you’ve attended or been invited to a high-power investment seminar that promotes out-of-state real estate investing. Some of these ‘investor clubs’ really are promoters who receive kick-backs in real estate commissions, property management fees, mortgage loan fees, and even fire insurance premiums. They tell stories of huge appreciation gains, which are probably true. However, not all areas enjoy significant appreciation–year after year.

Don’t make the costly mistake of not fully researching the complete market customs and restrictions in the area where you’re thinking about investing. If you can’t afford to go check out the area in person, choose another area that you can visit.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

About the Author: Jeanette Fisher offers FREE “How to Start Real Estate Investing Teleseminar,” free ebook, “The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses” http://doghousetodollhouse.com

Real Estate Investing Strategies and the Economic Cycle

September 26, 2011 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

The Economic cycle plays an important role in real estate investing. The idea of an Economic cycle is simple. It states that what goes up must also come down. Although housing prices and real estate in general have had an overall increase in value for a great many years and there is confidence that the market will never crash completely. This has led many investors to consider real estate investment a secure thing, and their strategy is usually based on the long term potential of the investment. In other words, buy property and hold on to it until the profit you seek can be realized.

Although this strategy is not really bad for the long term investor, it will not enable him to realize the type of return that is possible when investing in certain profit rich areas such as Utah real estate. The cyclic nature of the Economic Cycle presents a danger that the market will be on a downswing when you are looking to unload your investment and the years taken to reach your goal might tie up your investment capital so that other opportunities are missed.

In an area such as Provo real estate, where profit potential is so great because of the attractiveness of the area for investing in properties that can be converted to rental units, the hold on to it strategy is a poor choice for the investor who wishes to make a solid return. There are other strategies that make much more sense. Even the Bargain Purchase strategy is better. In this concept, only properties that can be purchased at below 20% their true value are considered. The 20% figure allows the property to be returned to the market at once at its full value.

Another strategy that is related is the Increased Value strategy. This is going to be more likely in an area such as Provo real estate. It involves purchasing at the actual true value and making improvements within the first six months that increase the value by 20%, and then returning the property to the market at the increased value figure.

When rental property is the thrust of your real estate strategy, the Double Digit Cap Rate plan is a good investment choice. It limits your property purchases to those that can produce a capitalization rate of at least 10%. The capitalization rate is the net operating income of the property. The percentage figures in these strategies are guidelines for making the investment practical. If these minimum figures are not met, the investment capital should be invested in other low return investments and the real estate market avoided unless the hold on until it goes up strategy is used.

About the Author

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer.

Real Estate and REITS Investing

July 24, 2011 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate 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 and REITS Investing

June 13, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate 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.

#1 Real Estate Investing Mistake Of 2005

April 14, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

Over the past few years, real estate investors, hungry for break-even or positive cash flow rental properties, purchased income properties out of state. California investors bought houses in Florida, Texas, and Oklahoma. Florida investors purchased houses in Louisiana. Texas investors purchased in Las Vegas. Many of these investors made millions of dollars because of the appreciation in hot markets.

On the other hand, in 2005, some beginning investors lost their hard-earned investment capital or only made a meager profit because they failed to do their homework on the out-of-state area’s real estate market and customs.

If you ‘re thinking about buying investment properties in a different state than you’re accustomed to, beware of these five surprises.

Surprise # 1 - ‘These (extra) costs are the norm in this state!

Besides extra closing costs like pricey surveys, common in Florida but rare in California, other surprise costs included higher transfer fees and taxes. Property taxes in Florida cost much more for investors in Florida than in California. On the other side of the country, out-of-state investors were shocked by California’s state tax held in escrow: 3.8% of the property’s SALES price, no matter the actual profit made. In other words, an investor who made a quick profit of $20,000 on a fast flip could have more than the profit held until the next year’s income tax filing.

Surprise # 2 - ‘You can’t lease this property!

New home developers and many Homeowners’ Associations (HOA)s prohibit property owners from leasing their properties. Some of these restrictions got passed, without the investor being notified, during the property purchase phase. You must read the fine print to see if any clauses prevent the rental of the property. Home builders, to keep the value of the neighborhood up, added restrictions requiring the purchaser to occupy the home as a primary or secondary residence.

Surprise # 3 - ‘This house will only rent for $750 per month, not $1200!

This was one of the top mistakes made in 2005. Large real estate investing groups, selling out-of-state properties to local investors, inflated the rental income. Because so many houses were purchased in a limited area by investors, a rental glut lowered the expected income. This created hardships for investors who suddenly had to pay out hundreds of dollars a month instead of reaping promised profits.

Surprise # 4 - ‘You can’t sell this house, now!

Some investors who couldn’t rent the out-of-state property decided to sell because the values did rise significantly while the house was built or during the purchase time. However, many investors were stunned when they were told they couldn’t sell the property within the first year after purchase. Restrictions prohibiting real estate investors from quick-turning their properties is a trend that is growing increasingly popular with some developers.

Surprise # 5 - ‘Houses don’t appreciate 30% per year here!

Perhaps you’ve attended or been invited to a high-power investment seminar that promotes out-of-state real estate investing. Some of these ‘investor clubs’ really are promoters who receive kick-backs in real estate commissions, property management fees, mortgage loan fees, and even fire insurance premiums. They tell stories of huge appreciation gains, which are probably true. However, not all areas enjoy significant appreciation–year after year.

Don’t make the costly mistake of not fully researching the complete market customs and restrictions in the area where you’re thinking about investing. If you can’t afford to go check out the area in person, choose another area that you can visit.

Copyright ? 2006 Jeanette J. Fisher

About the Author: Jeanette Fisher offers FREE “How to Start Real Estate Investing Teleseminar,” free ebook, “The Truth about Making Money Flipping Houses” http://doghousetodollhouse.com

Real Estate Investing Strategies and the Economic Cycle

March 31, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

The Economic cycle plays an important role in real estate investing. The idea of an Economic cycle is simple. It states that what goes up must also come down. Although housing prices and real estate in general have had an overall increase in value for a great many years and there is confidence that the market will never crash completely. This has led many investors to consider real estate investment a secure thing, and their strategy is usually based on the long term potential of the investment. In other words, buy property and hold on to it until the profit you seek can be realized.

Although this strategy is not really bad for the long term investor, it will not enable him to realize the type of return that is possible when investing in certain profit rich areas such as Utah real estate. The cyclic nature of the Economic Cycle presents a danger that the market will be on a downswing when you are looking to unload your investment and the years taken to reach your goal might tie up your investment capital so that other opportunities are missed.

In an area such as Provo real estate, where profit potential is so great because of the attractiveness of the area for investing in properties that can be converted to rental units, the hold on to it strategy is a poor choice for the investor who wishes to make a solid return. There are other strategies that make much more sense. Even the Bargain Purchase strategy is better. In this concept, only properties that can be purchased at below 20% their true value are considered. The 20% figure allows the property to be returned to the market at once at its full value.

Another strategy that is related is the Increased Value strategy. This is going to be more likely in an area such as Provo real estate. It involves purchasing at the actual true value and making improvements within the first six months that increase the value by 20%, and then returning the property to the market at the increased value figure.

When rental property is the thrust of your real estate strategy, the Double Digit Cap Rate plan is a good investment choice. It limits your property purchases to those that can produce a capitalization rate of at least 10%. The capitalization rate is the net operating income of the property. The percentage figures in these strategies are guidelines for making the investment practical. If these minimum figures are not met, the investment capital should be invested in other low return investments and the real estate market avoided unless the hold on until it goes up strategy is used.

About the Author

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer.

Real Estate Investing Strategies and the Economic Cycle

January 5, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

The Economic cycle plays an important role in real estate investing. The idea of an Economic cycle is simple. It states that what goes up must also come down. Although housing prices and real estate in general have had an overall increase in value for a great many years and there is confidence that the market will never crash completely. This has led many investors to consider real estate investment a secure thing, and their strategy is usually based on the long term potential of the investment. In other words, buy property and hold on to it until the profit you seek can be realized.

Although this strategy is not really bad for the long term investor, it will not enable him to realize the type of return that is possible when investing in certain profit rich areas such as Utah real estate. The cyclic nature of the Economic Cycle presents a danger that the market will be on a downswing when you are looking to unload your investment and the years taken to reach your goal might tie up your investment capital so that other opportunities are missed.

In an area such as Provo real estate, where profit potential is so great because of the attractiveness of the area for investing in properties that can be converted to rental units, the hold on to it strategy is a poor choice for the investor who wishes to make a solid return. There are other strategies that make much more sense. Even the Bargain Purchase strategy is better. In this concept, only properties that can be purchased at below 20% their true value are considered. The 20% figure allows the property to be returned to the market at once at its full value.

Another strategy that is related is the Increased Value strategy. This is going to be more likely in an area such as Provo real estate. It involves purchasing at the actual true value and making improvements within the first six months that increase the value by 20%, and then returning the property to the market at the increased value figure.

When rental property is the thrust of your real estate strategy, the Double Digit Cap Rate plan is a good investment choice. It limits your property purchases to those that can produce a capitalization rate of at least 10%. The capitalization rate is the net operating income of the property. The percentage figures in these strategies are guidelines for making the investment practical. If these minimum figures are not met, the investment capital should be invested in other low return investments and the real estate market avoided unless the hold on until it goes up strategy is used.

About the Author

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer.

Real Estate Investing Strategies and the Economic Cycle

November 25, 2009 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

The Economic cycle plays an important role in real estate investing. The idea of an Economic cycle is simple. It states that what goes up must also come down. Although housing prices and real estate in general have had an overall increase in value for a great many years and there is confidence that the market will never crash completely. This has led many investors to consider real estate investment a secure thing, and their strategy is usually based on the long term potential of the investment. In other words, buy property and hold on to it until the profit you seek can be realized.

Although this strategy is not really bad for the long term investor, it will not enable him to realize the type of return that is possible when investing in certain profit rich areas such as Utah real estate. The cyclic nature of the Economic Cycle presents a danger that the market will be on a downswing when you are looking to unload your investment and the years taken to reach your goal might tie up your investment capital so that other opportunities are missed.

In an area such as Provo real estate, where profit potential is so great because of the attractiveness of the area for investing in properties that can be converted to rental units, the hold on to it strategy is a poor choice for the investor who wishes to make a solid return. There are other strategies that make much more sense. Even the Bargain Purchase strategy is better. In this concept, only properties that can be purchased at below 20% their true value are considered. The 20% figure allows the property to be returned to the market at once at its full value.

Another strategy that is related is the Increased Value strategy. This is going to be more likely in an area such as Provo real estate. It involves purchasing at the actual true value and making improvements within the first six months that increase the value by 20%, and then returning the property to the market at the increased value figure.

When rental property is the thrust of your real estate strategy, the Double Digit Cap Rate plan is a good investment choice. It limits your property purchases to those that can produce a capitalization rate of at least 10%. The capitalization rate is the net operating income of the property. The percentage figures in these strategies are guidelines for making the investment practical. If these minimum figures are not met, the investment capital should be invested in other low return investments and the real estate market avoided unless the hold on until it goes up strategy is used.

About the Author

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer.

Real Estate and REITS Investing

November 16, 2009 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate 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 Strategies and the Economic Cycle

October 14, 2009 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

The Economic cycle plays an important role in real estate investing. The idea of an Economic cycle is simple. It states that what goes up must also come down. Although housing prices and real estate in general have had an overall increase in value for a great many years and there is confidence that the market will never crash completely. This has led many investors to consider real estate investment a secure thing, and their strategy is usually based on the long term potential of the investment. In other words, buy property and hold on to it until the profit you seek can be realized.

Although this strategy is not really bad for the long term investor, it will not enable him to realize the type of return that is possible when investing in certain profit rich areas such as Utah real estate. The cyclic nature of the Economic Cycle presents a danger that the market will be on a downswing when you are looking to unload your investment and the years taken to reach your goal might tie up your investment capital so that other opportunities are missed.

In an area such as Provo real estate, where profit potential is so great because of the attractiveness of the area for investing in properties that can be converted to rental units, the hold on to it strategy is a poor choice for the investor who wishes to make a solid return. There are other strategies that make much more sense. Even the Bargain Purchase strategy is better. In this concept, only properties that can be purchased at below 20% their true value are considered. The 20% figure allows the property to be returned to the market at once at its full value.

Another strategy that is related is the Increased Value strategy. This is going to be more likely in an area such as Provo real estate. It involves purchasing at the actual true value and making improvements within the first six months that increase the value by 20%, and then returning the property to the market at the increased value figure.

When rental property is the thrust of your real estate strategy, the Double Digit Cap Rate plan is a good investment choice. It limits your property purchases to those that can produce a capitalization rate of at least 10%. The capitalization rate is the net operating income of the property. The percentage figures in these strategies are guidelines for making the investment practical. If these minimum figures are not met, the investment capital should be invested in other low return investments and the real estate market avoided unless the hold on until it goes up strategy is used.

About the Author

Natalie Aranda is a freelance writer.

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