Real Estate Investing: Protecting Your Assets

Real estate investing can provide you with positive cash flows, tax benefits and the satisfaction of having impacted your life positively. Just like in any other business, in real estate investments too, there are intricacies that are personal to it, and can cause negative impacts if ignored. Many first time real estate investors make the mistake of investing their hard earned money without understanding, and thereby risking their investments. There is a need in real estate investing of protecting your assets.

Avoiding the Errors:

It depends on why you are investing in a particular property. Do you intend to hold it for a long period, or do you intend to turn it around for selling at the earliest? Let us look at some of the errors that certain investors make, which you need to avoid to protect your assets, and ensure excellent returns on your investments.

Check the Property:

Do not get sucked into the excitement of investing in a real estate property. There are rampant claims of high return on investment in the real estate business. Check the condition of the property, and how much modifications, renovations, etc will be required. Ensure you have a right real estate agent who will not overlook all the seemingly insignificant but important details.

Inspect Thoroughly:

Have a professional inspector thoroughly check the property. You need to exercise sound business judgment, as you are ready to invest your hard earned money. If it is a rental property, check with the tenants regarding pest problems, structural damage or any reoccurring problems.

Check All Documents:

Documents involved in a property can be overwhelming: building permits; zoning laws; rental and lease applications (in case of rental property); underlying loan documents; CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions); by-laws; title policies; inspection reports; purchase contracts; insurance; the list is never ending.

Cash Flow:

If your real estate investing is in a rental property, you intend to hold on to the property for a longer period, as much as 15 to 20 years. You will need to ensure cash flow to take care of your property, vis-?-vis the property?s maintenance, repairs, improvements, etc. There will be times when your rental property will be vacant and not earning you a rental. You still need to have cash for the upkeep of your property.

Short Duration Investing:

If you plan to invest in a real estate property for a shorter duration, you may not feel the need to invest heavily on improvements etc. Sometimes, short duration investing could be risky, as the property may lose in value. Generally, property prices appreciate over longer periods.

To help you in real estate investing, there are professionals available, online as well as offline, who can guide you in protecting your assets.

Real Estate Investing: Protecting Your Assets

Real estate investing can provide you with positive cash flows, tax benefits and the satisfaction of having impacted your life positively. Just like in any other business, in real estate investments too, there are intricacies that are personal to it, and can cause negative impacts if ignored. Many first time real estate investors make the mistake of investing their hard earned money without understanding, and thereby risking their investments. There is a need in real estate investing of protecting your assets.

Avoiding the Errors:

It depends on why you are investing in a particular property. Do you intend to hold it for a long period, or do you intend to turn it around for selling at the earliest? Let us look at some of the errors that certain investors make, which you need to avoid to protect your assets, and ensure excellent returns on your investments.

Check the Property:

Do not get sucked into the excitement of investing in a real estate property. There are rampant claims of high return on investment in the real estate business. Check the condition of the property, and how much modifications, renovations, etc will be required. Ensure you have a right real estate agent who will not overlook all the seemingly insignificant but important details.

Inspect Thoroughly:

Have a professional inspector thoroughly check the property. You need to exercise sound business judgment, as you are ready to invest your hard earned money. If it is a rental property, check with the tenants regarding pest problems, structural damage or any reoccurring problems.

Check All Documents:

Documents involved in a property can be overwhelming: building permits; zoning laws; rental and lease applications (in case of rental property); underlying loan documents; CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions); by-laws; title policies; inspection reports; purchase contracts; insurance; the list is never ending.

Cash Flow:

If your real estate investing is in a rental property, you intend to hold on to the property for a longer period, as much as 15 to 20 years. You will need to ensure cash flow to take care of your property, vis-?-vis the property?s maintenance, repairs, improvements, etc. There will be times when your rental property will be vacant and not earning you a rental. You still need to have cash for the upkeep of your property.

Short Duration Investing:

If you plan to invest in a real estate property for a shorter duration, you may not feel the need to invest heavily on improvements etc. Sometimes, short duration investing could be risky, as the property may lose in value. Generally, property prices appreciate over longer periods.

To help you in real estate investing, there are professionals available, online as well as offline, who can guide you in protecting your assets.

Real Estate Investing Ethics - When is Lying Just Being Creative?

Here’s the story. An investor- we’ll call him “Bill”- was preparing to close on an investment property. He received a copy of the final loan documents via fax, and took the opportunity to look them over so he would be prepared to sign them at closing the following day.

Bill was surprised to find that the loan application contained some glaring inaccuracies, including a gross overstatement of his income and a property usage declaration stating the property would be used as his second residence. In fact, Bill had clearly informed the mortgage broker he had no intention of ever living in the home.

Bill was in a bad position. He was committed to closing on the property the next day, or he faced over $100 per day in penalties. Yet he knew that signing the application with the false statements was an act of fraud. What to do? What would you do?

The answer to that question is at the heart of a growing split in the ranks of real estate investors, and I believe it reflects a similar split in our society as a whole.

Many would look at Bill’s situation and claim, ‘It’s not his fault- he didn’t tell the lie, the broker did! Look at what he stands to lose if he doesn’t close. Besides, he committed to close on that house- he can’t back out now. He should just go ahead and sign the documents. It will work out alright in the end, especially since he’s just going to flip or refinance the property within a year anyway.”

The other side of the argument states, “Signing those documents is clearly loan fraud, and quite simply lying on Bill’s part. Even though the original deceit wasn’t his, once he signs his name he knowingly becomes a party to it, and the loan would be funded under false pretenses. Even though it may cost him money, and possible the deal, Bill should refuse to sign and try to work it out some other way.”

There is no middle ground here, and if you plan to invest over the long term you WILL face some similar dilemma. The question is not IF but WHEN. Now, not when you are in the heat of the moment, is the right time to decide how you will respond.

Simply stated, what kind of person are you? The kind for whom ethics are relative to the situation you are in, and how much pressure you’re under? Or, are you a person who knows right from wrong and is prepared to do the right thing no matter the consequences?

The more of us who choose to be the second kind of person, who choose right every time, the better will be our industry and, by extension, our society and our world.

The answer to the question in the title? When is lying just being creative? Never. Lying is always just plain lying.

Real Estate Investing: Protecting Your Assets

Real estate investing can provide you with positive cash flows, tax benefits and the satisfaction of having impacted your life positively. Just like in any other business, in real estate investments too, there are intricacies that are personal to it, and can cause negative impacts if ignored. Many first time real estate investors make the mistake of investing their hard earned money without understanding, and thereby risking their investments. There is a need in real estate investing of protecting your assets.

Avoiding the Errors:

It depends on why you are investing in a particular property. Do you intend to hold it for a long period, or do you intend to turn it around for selling at the earliest? Let us look at some of the errors that certain investors make, which you need to avoid to protect your assets, and ensure excellent returns on your investments.

Check the Property:

Do not get sucked into the excitement of investing in a real estate property. There are rampant claims of high return on investment in the real estate business. Check the condition of the property, and how much modifications, renovations, etc will be required. Ensure you have a right real estate agent who will not overlook all the seemingly insignificant but important details.

Inspect Thoroughly:

Have a professional inspector thoroughly check the property. You need to exercise sound business judgment, as you are ready to invest your hard earned money. If it is a rental property, check with the tenants regarding pest problems, structural damage or any reoccurring problems.

Check All Documents:

Documents involved in a property can be overwhelming: building permits; zoning laws; rental and lease applications (in case of rental property); underlying loan documents; CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions); by-laws; title policies; inspection reports; purchase contracts; insurance; the list is never ending.

Cash Flow:

If your real estate investing is in a rental property, you intend to hold on to the property for a longer period, as much as 15 to 20 years. You will need to ensure cash flow to take care of your property, vis-?-vis the property?s maintenance, repairs, improvements, etc. There will be times when your rental property will be vacant and not earning you a rental. You still need to have cash for the upkeep of your property.

Short Duration Investing:

If you plan to invest in a real estate property for a shorter duration, you may not feel the need to invest heavily on improvements etc. Sometimes, short duration investing could be risky, as the property may lose in value. Generally, property prices appreciate over longer periods.

To help you in real estate investing, there are professionals available, online as well as offline, who can guide you in protecting your assets.

Real Estate Investing: Protecting Your Assets

Real estate investing can provide you with positive cash flows, tax benefits and the satisfaction of having impacted your life positively. Just like in any other business, in real estate investments too, there are intricacies that are personal to it, and can cause negative impacts if ignored. Many first time real estate investors make the mistake of investing their hard earned money without understanding, and thereby risking their investments. There is a need in real estate investing of protecting your assets.

Avoiding the Errors:

It depends on why you are investing in a particular property. Do you intend to hold it for a long period, or do you intend to turn it around for selling at the earliest? Let us look at some of the errors that certain investors make, which you need to avoid to protect your assets, and ensure excellent returns on your investments.

Check the Property:

Do not get sucked into the excitement of investing in a real estate property. There are rampant claims of high return on investment in the real estate business. Check the condition of the property, and how much modifications, renovations, etc will be required. Ensure you have a right real estate agent who will not overlook all the seemingly insignificant but important details.

Inspect Thoroughly:

Have a professional inspector thoroughly check the property. You need to exercise sound business judgment, as you are ready to invest your hard earned money. If it is a rental property, check with the tenants regarding pest problems, structural damage or any reoccurring problems.

Check All Documents:

Documents involved in a property can be overwhelming: building permits; zoning laws; rental and lease applications (in case of rental property); underlying loan documents; CC&Rs (covenants, conditions and restrictions); by-laws; title policies; inspection reports; purchase contracts; insurance; the list is never ending.

Cash Flow:

If your real estate investing is in a rental property, you intend to hold on to the property for a longer period, as much as 15 to 20 years. You will need to ensure cash flow to take care of your property, vis-?-vis the property?s maintenance, repairs, improvements, etc. There will be times when your rental property will be vacant and not earning you a rental. You still need to have cash for the upkeep of your property.

Short Duration Investing:

If you plan to invest in a real estate property for a shorter duration, you may not feel the need to invest heavily on improvements etc. Sometimes, short duration investing could be risky, as the property may lose in value. Generally, property prices appreciate over longer periods.

To help you in real estate investing, there are professionals available, online as well as offline, who can guide you in protecting your assets.

Real Estate Investing Ethics - When is Lying Just Being Creative?

Here’s the story. An investor- we’ll call him “Bill”- was preparing to close on an investment property. He received a copy of the final loan documents via fax, and took the opportunity to look them over so he would be prepared to sign them at closing the following day.

Bill was surprised to find that the loan application contained some glaring inaccuracies, including a gross overstatement of his income and a property usage declaration stating the property would be used as his second residence. In fact, Bill had clearly informed the mortgage broker he had no intention of ever living in the home.

Bill was in a bad position. He was committed to closing on the property the next day, or he faced over $100 per day in penalties. Yet he knew that signing the application with the false statements was an act of fraud. What to do? What would you do?

The answer to that question is at the heart of a growing split in the ranks of real estate investors, and I believe it reflects a similar split in our society as a whole.

Many would look at Bill’s situation and claim, ‘It’s not his fault- he didn’t tell the lie, the broker did! Look at what he stands to lose if he doesn’t close. Besides, he committed to close on that house- he can’t back out now. He should just go ahead and sign the documents. It will work out alright in the end, especially since he’s just going to flip or refinance the property within a year anyway.”

The other side of the argument states, “Signing those documents is clearly loan fraud, and quite simply lying on Bill’s part. Even though the original deceit wasn’t his, once he signs his name he knowingly becomes a party to it, and the loan would be funded under false pretenses. Even though it may cost him money, and possible the deal, Bill should refuse to sign and try to work it out some other way.”

There is no middle ground here, and if you plan to invest over the long term you WILL face some similar dilemma. The question is not IF but WHEN. Now, not when you are in the heat of the moment, is the right time to decide how you will respond.

Simply stated, what kind of person are you? The kind for whom ethics are relative to the situation you are in, and how much pressure you’re under? Or, are you a person who knows right from wrong and is prepared to do the right thing no matter the consequences?

The more of us who choose to be the second kind of person, who choose right every time, the better will be our industry and, by extension, our society and our world.

The answer to the question in the title? When is lying just being creative? Never. Lying is always just plain lying.