Keeping Real Estate Investing Simple

In real estate investment, do you know what the hardest deal to close out is?

The first one!

The challenge is such that most people eventually quit even before ever getting their first deal completed; in fact some would be real estate investors quit even before getting started!

With the glut in available information and the numerous real estate investment options available, getting started is as challenging as getting your very first deal!

Consider some of options that you can choose from if you want to invest in real estate.

Buy and Hold

Commercial space rental

Subject to the existing financing

Fixer Uppers

Flips

Foreclosures or Pre-foreclosures

Lease-Purchase or Lease

No Money Down

Single-family homes, condos, mobile homes or apartment buildings

Confusion arises when you are undecided which of the profitable and popular options as enumerated above you want to engage in.

Unless you are a very liquid and well-financed organization, you can engage in all of them. However, for ordinary investors, engaging in one or two investment options at the most is the preferred method.

If you are lucky enough to make up your mind in which real estate option you want to engage in, the next step is then to systematically search for and close your very first deal.

Again, there are several options open to you on how to close your deal and get to the bank in order to deposit the check of your deal.

The best way to invest in real estate is to find the option you are comfortable with and specialize in it! Learn everything all you can about your particular investment option.

If you have to, take informal courses related to it so that you will become knowledgeable and on the road to becoming a specialist!

Once you have mastered your specialization, take the necessary action in order to get and close your very first deal.

Then and only then, and only if you are serious in making money in real estate can you diversify and learn another real estate investment method.

In learning the ropes of real estate investing, either you choose to undergo a training course or do it on your own.

If you choose to take formal lessons, do not confuse the price of the program with the value of the program.

The cost of a training program is not related to the value it has and the methodologies and techniques you will learn.

About the Author:

Download A Free Ebook That Shows You How You Can Make $50,000 Per Deal From Real Estate Preconstruction: Free Preconstruction Ebook

Socially Responsible Real Estate Investing

There are many ways to practice socially responsible real estate investing. In this article I will outline what I believe to be the best way to invest in real estate in a socially responsible manner.

I run into all kinds of people, many of whom are less than charitable when they find out I own rental property, and that I also flip houses and mobile homes. I frequently find myself disagreeing with those same people about just what socially responsible real estate investing means. For some strange reason, many people are predisposed to look down on those who engage in such capitalistic endeavors. Often, these are the same people who take advantage one or more of the many government programs that my tax dollars support.

Here?s what I mean when I talk about socially responsible real estate investing.

I am a man of my word, so when I say I?m going to do something, I make every effort to do it. This applies to offers I make on properties, promises I make to tenants, and agreements I make with contractors and service providers. In my mind, there is no more powerful way to engage in socially responsible real estate investing.

Being a landlord and property investor makes me a productive member of my local economic community. I strongly support and add to the tax base, and help provide a healthy living to several Realtors, contractors, and service providers. I also bank locally, and contribute to my local Real Estate Investor club. These are all great ways to pursue socially responsible real estate investing.

In addition, I provide clean, safe, affordable housing to several tenants, including children and senior citizens. I also provide housing to those in the lower income brackets through HUD?s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8. Providing this type of housing is another powerful way to practice socially responsible real estate investing.

There are those who believe that in order to practice socially responsible real estate investing, one needs to provide free housing to the deserving poor. I do not agree with that assessment. The Bible says, ?The laborer is worthy of his hire,? and certainly that applies to property owners. I commend those who choose to be charitable, but I do not believe it should be legislated. It needs to come from the heart, and be supported by a consistent practice of sound business principles.

That attitude, and the underlying economic practices, are reasons why the United States of America has been, and continues to be, the most charitable nation on the face of the earth. Practicing socially responsible real estate investing isn?t the result of some feel good nonsense, but rather the application of wise investing habits and moral consistency.

Now, go make more offers!

Real Estate Investing - Are You Landlord Or Investor?

When I first started buying real estate, I made a conscious decision to avoid rentals because I had no interest in being a landlord. Like you, I heard all the horror stories of nightmare tenants, late night plumbing problems, lead paint hassles, and evictions. I wasn’t interested in putting a lot of time and effort into screening tenants, dealing with vacancy and repair, and going to court.

In fact, the very first book I bought on real estate was Lonnie Scruggs’ Deals On Wheels, a brilliant treatment of mobile home investing, and a more dedicated "anti-landlord" than Lonnie has never been born. The entire concept of buying and selling mobile homes, as developed by Lonnie, evolved as an answer to his "tired landlord" syndrome.

After reading Lonnie’s book, and others like it, my mind was more set than ever- I would never buy rental property. I would never have a tenant. I would NEVER, EVER be a landlord.

My how times change. Based on the knowledge I have gathered over the last several years as a real estate investor, and conversations with hundreds of experienced investors, I now know that it’s not what you do, but how you do it, that determines the level of frustration you experience with ANY type of investing, rental or otherwise.

In short, it’s the position you choose.

Choose A Position Of Strength

You can be a landlord if you want. I choose to be an investor.

Landlords do many things that investors don’t, unless they choose to. Let’s compare:

Landlords put up "For Rent" signs, place newspaper ads, and hold open houses and showings. Landlords deal face to face with tenants, screen them, and do background checks. Landlords tell tenants they’re approved (or not), explain the rules to tenants, and sign leases with them. Landlords collect deposits and rents.

Investors hire professional property managers.

Landlords take tenant phone calls when there are problems, no matter what time it is. Landlords tell tenants their rent is late, assess late charges, and enforce rules. Landlords apologize to neighbors for unruly tenants, cut grass, and plow snow. Landlords fix appliances and leaking toilets.

Investors hire professional property managers.

Landlords apologize to tenants for problems, fill vacancies, and inform tenants they are not getting their deposit back because of damage done. Landlords evict tenants and go to court with them. Landlords do many, many other things I don’t want to do.

What about investors? Let’s see.

Investors hire a professional property manager to handle all of the things that landlords do themselves. Which is easier, more cost effective, and a more efficient use of your limited time? If you answered, "Hiring a professional property manager," you’re right!

A quality property manager is worth every dollar you pay them. They will make sure that your units are rented to the right tenants, that the property is well cared for, and the tenants are happy. They will fill vacancies and answer trouble calls. They will deal with repairs and evictions. They will handle the bookkeeping, collection of rents, and assessing of late charges. They will form a buffer between you and the headaches of running a rental property. They are experts at all of these things, and much more.

You will get a check at the end of each month.

Get the picture?

It seems so simple, right? Why does it take some investors, including me, so long to see the difference?

Change The Way You See Yourself

It’s all in how you view yourself. When you see yourself as a landlord, you fail to recognize that your time is better spent doing what puts money in your bank account- namely, finding and acquiring property that meets your investing criteria. Unless you are a plumber by trade, or a professional property manager, or landscaper, wouldn’t your time be better spent doing what you have learned to do so well- investing in real estate?

Does that mean that if property management is something you love to do, something you aspire to, you shouldn’t do it? Of course not. If you have a passion for managing your own properties, and you like the idea of being a landlord (with all that entails), by all means go for it. I’m not trying to change what you love- I want you to see that you have a choice.

Maybe you’re like me. I had to teach myself to think differently about who I am- to think like an investor, not a landlord. When you begin to think like an investor, you start approaching real estate like a business rather than a hobby. You realize that you don’t have to do everything yourself just to save money. You come to understand that doing everything yourself is most likely costing you money- maybe a ton of money.

To repeat, the two keys are:

1. Learn to see yourself as an investor.

2. Learn to think like an investor.

Are your strengths really in the areas of landlording I listed above? If so, fine. Keep doing what you’re doing. But if, as I imagine, you are better suited to finding deals and bringing them to the closing table, then hire a pro to manage the properties you decide to hold and rent. Play to your strengths- you will multiply your time and your business will grow like a thoroughbred racehorse bursting from the gate.

Now, go make more offers!

Keeping Real Estate Investing Simple

In real estate investment, do you know what the hardest deal to close out is?

The first one!

The challenge is such that most people eventually quit even before ever getting their first deal completed; in fact some would be real estate investors quit even before getting started!

With the glut in available information and the numerous real estate investment options available, getting started is as challenging as getting your very first deal!

Consider some of options that you can choose from if you want to invest in real estate.

Buy and Hold

Commercial space rental

Subject to the existing financing

Fixer Uppers

Flips

Foreclosures or Pre-foreclosures

Lease-Purchase or Lease

No Money Down

Single-family homes, condos, mobile homes or apartment buildings

Confusion arises when you are undecided which of the profitable and popular options as enumerated above you want to engage in.

Unless you are a very liquid and well-financed organization, you can engage in all of them. However, for ordinary investors, engaging in one or two investment options at the most is the preferred method.

If you are lucky enough to make up your mind in which real estate option you want to engage in, the next step is then to systematically search for and close your very first deal.

Again, there are several options open to you on how to close your deal and get to the bank in order to deposit the check of your deal.

The best way to invest in real estate is to find the option you are comfortable with and specialize in it! Learn everything all you can about your particular investment option.

If you have to, take informal courses related to it so that you will become knowledgeable and on the road to becoming a specialist!

Once you have mastered your specialization, take the necessary action in order to get and close your very first deal.

Then and only then, and only if you are serious in making money in real estate can you diversify and learn another real estate investment method.

In learning the ropes of real estate investing, either you choose to undergo a training course or do it on your own.

If you choose to take formal lessons, do not confuse the price of the program with the value of the program.

The cost of a training program is not related to the value it has and the methodologies and techniques you will learn.

About the Author:

Download A Free Ebook That Shows You How You Can Make $50,000 Per Deal From Real Estate Preconstruction: Free Preconstruction Ebook

Real Estate Investing Course - Help Yourself

There are many late night advertisements that offer real estate investing course for you. However, before you order any of these, you have to ascertain whether they have the required information that you wish to learn. Still, it does not imply that any of these courses have irrelevant information but the key thing to consider here that whether it serves your purpose or not. This is because different people have diverse types of style of working and the way of earning in real estate suits for one may not be as effective for another one.

What Interests You?

Luckily, there are so many variations that are based on the several methods of making money in real estate. You should choose a real estate investing course that can teach you the way that best suits you. For example, if you have interest in commercial property then this could be the area where you should focus. On the contrary, chances of success are less likely if you enter in the field of mobile homes where you have no interest at all.

Even after the availability of so many variations, what should you do if you feel that you are not getting the type of real estate investing course that you are looking for? Maybe this is the moment when you should think of devising your own course so that you can succeed in your objective of making money in real estate. To begin with, you should go to a good book store where you can find some books describing the different methods of building fortune in this business.

How Books Can Help You?

Glance through these books, try to understand and write down whatever appeals you. You can learn that investing in the fixer uppers earning money quickly. This is an imaginative style of investing. Nevertheless, you should be equipped with the necessary tools to manage the uncertainties and the risk factor associated with it. Unforeseen surprises and continuing decision-making is always linked with this type of real estate investing.

On the other hand, if you are good at dealing with the talents you can go for rental homes. This is a harmless to begin with when the Residual Income cash flow is there and you have performed your homework well. However, this is not as exciting as other options and you may have to wait longer for big returns. There are many other options that you can find in these books so, choose whatever kind of method suits you best.

Now, it is the time to formulate your own real estate investing course. You have three different sources for gathering facts and information about the type of investing you have chosen for you. You can categorize them as books, people and other resources. Dig up all the books that are relevant, from a bookstore, internet or a library. Then talk to the people who are experienced in the area you are venturing.

Finally, under the other resources category you can collect information from the seminars, tapes and Internet forums.

Keeping Real Estate Investing Simple

In real estate investment, do you know what the hardest deal to close out is?

The first one!

The challenge is such that most people eventually quit even before ever getting their first deal completed; in fact some would be real estate investors quit even before getting started!

With the glut in available information and the numerous real estate investment options available, getting started is as challenging as getting your very first deal!

Consider some of options that you can choose from if you want to invest in real estate.

Buy and Hold

Commercial space rental

Subject to the existing financing

Fixer Uppers

Flips

Foreclosures or Pre-foreclosures

Lease-Purchase or Lease

No Money Down

Single-family homes, condos, mobile homes or apartment buildings

Confusion arises when you are undecided which of the profitable and popular options as enumerated above you want to engage in.

Unless you are a very liquid and well-financed organization, you can engage in all of them. However, for ordinary investors, engaging in one or two investment options at the most is the preferred method.

If you are lucky enough to make up your mind in which real estate option you want to engage in, the next step is then to systematically search for and close your very first deal.

Again, there are several options open to you on how to close your deal and get to the bank in order to deposit the check of your deal.

The best way to invest in real estate is to find the option you are comfortable with and specialize in it! Learn everything all you can about your particular investment option.

If you have to, take informal courses related to it so that you will become knowledgeable and on the road to becoming a specialist!

Once you have mastered your specialization, take the necessary action in order to get and close your very first deal.

Then and only then, and only if you are serious in making money in real estate can you diversify and learn another real estate investment method.

In learning the ropes of real estate investing, either you choose to undergo a training course or do it on your own.

If you choose to take formal lessons, do not confuse the price of the program with the value of the program.

The cost of a training program is not related to the value it has and the methodologies and techniques you will learn.

About the Author:

Download A Free Ebook That Shows You How You Can Make $50,000 Per Deal From Real Estate Preconstruction: Free Preconstruction Ebook

Real Estate Investing: Mobile Homes

Real estate investing has many facets to it. It offers a multitude of ways to make reasonable profits. Your own creativity can contribute a lot to the profitability of your enterprise. One way to do this is by investing in a mobile home and locating it on the land that you own. Alternately, you may buy land with a mobile home on it. Mobile homes are located in parks and you can make a regular income by selling the mobile home while at the same time renting out the lot on which it is parked.

Advantages of Investing in Mobile Homes with Land; Combining the mobile home and the land into a package deal adds considerable value to the offering. Some other advantages are: This being a comparatively unique type of investing with fewer investors, you face less competition than does a real estate agent. Generally, you will be able to buy both the mobile home and the land for about the same amount as a mobile home on someone else?s land. As mobile home properties are much more affordable, their demand is inelastic and remains high even during bad economic times. This ensures that your returns keep coming in during downturns in the economy. Mobile home properties are less expensive to maintain and you may well be able to handle most routine maintenance jobs on your own, with substantial cost savings. It is also easier to upgrade these properties at a much lower cost than conventional fixed homes. Owning the land where the home is parked gives greater control and you do not have to put up with the whims of the property owner. You can select the tenants you want to sell the home to and how long they stay. This also ensures that the tenant cannot leave the premises until clearing his dues.

Economics of a Mobile Home Park; One unique advantage of investing in mobile homes on land is the option of being able to sell the mobile home and rent the land. It is possible to earn a return of over 25 percent of your investments in this business. Some other financial aspects are: The best option is to buy on cash and sell on terms. It is possible to arrange the finances from lenders, even if it means paying a higher interest rate on the borrowing. Higher earnings will compensate this. A promissory note, secured by a first lien in the home being acquired and guaranteeing payments will convince the lenders to part with their money. Providing seller financing will give greater returns than profit from sale of the property. The returns are increased proportionately if the park has many vacancies that can be rented out. An attractive and well-kept park will allow you to get higher rentals.

Many americans are opting to stay in mobile homes since the costs are lower as compared to fixed properties and the homes are getting improved. At the same time, the higher demand for such properties presents a lucrative business opportunity that you can well cash on.

How Does Real Estate Investing Work

A question often raised by brand new real estate investors, and those who would like to be, is ?How does real estate investing work?? I will attempt to provide you with a brief overview in this article, and hopefully you will have a better understanding of real estate investing and how you might become involved.

First of all, when answering the question, ?How does real estate investing work?? it?s important to begin by stating that there are almost as many different types of investing as there are investors.

You could become involved in commercial real estate investing. This would include many different kinds of property and types of investing, from strip malls to mobile home parks, from malls to apartment complexes. You could buy commercial property at bargain prices, and sell for immediate gain, or you could buy income property and hold for the long term. You could also combine the two, and realize income from both the increase in value and the month-to-month rent. Commercial property is an important consideration when answering the question, ?How does real estate investing work??

You could also get involved in any of a number of different strategies involving residential property, from single family homes, duplexes, small apartment houses, even mobile homes. When it comes to answering the question, ?How does real estate investing work?? the possibilities are limited only by your imagination.

If you?re the type of person who enjoys projects, you might enjoy buying ?fixer-uppers? and rehabbing them. You could become a wholesaler or a bird-dog and find deals for other, more experienced investors, some of whom have already worked out the answer to the question, ?How does real estate investing work??

Maybe you like helping people? If so, working with buyers and sellers to solve their credit or payment problems will provide you with ample opportunity to profit from their dilemmas. You could also negotiate directly with the mortgage lender to buy houses, either in foreclosure or ?short sale? investing. A little investigation of these terms will give you a clearer picture of the answer to the question, ?How does real estate investing work??

Alternatively, you may have money to invest, but little or no time. You may find that investing as part of a group, or ?trust? is a good fit for you. These trusts can be very lucrative, and a good option for the less hands-on investor. Even very busy professionals find REIT?s (Real Estate Investment Trusts) a good choice when deciding for themselves, ?How does real estate investing work??

Hopefully, you?re curiosity has been piqued by this brief introduction to the question, ?How does real estate investing work??

Now, go make more offers!

Socially Responsible Real Estate Investing

There are many ways to practice socially responsible real estate investing. In this article I will outline what I believe to be the best way to invest in real estate in a socially responsible manner.

I run into all kinds of people, many of whom are less than charitable when they find out I own rental property, and that I also flip houses and mobile homes. I frequently find myself disagreeing with those same people about just what socially responsible real estate investing means. For some strange reason, many people are predisposed to look down on those who engage in such capitalistic endeavors. Often, these are the same people who take advantage one or more of the many government programs that my tax dollars support.

Here?s what I mean when I talk about socially responsible real estate investing.

I am a man of my word, so when I say I?m going to do something, I make every effort to do it. This applies to offers I make on properties, promises I make to tenants, and agreements I make with contractors and service providers. In my mind, there is no more powerful way to engage in socially responsible real estate investing.

Being a landlord and property investor makes me a productive member of my local economic community. I strongly support and add to the tax base, and help provide a healthy living to several Realtors, contractors, and service providers. I also bank locally, and contribute to my local Real Estate Investor club. These are all great ways to pursue socially responsible real estate investing.

In addition, I provide clean, safe, affordable housing to several tenants, including children and senior citizens. I also provide housing to those in the lower income brackets through HUD?s Housing Choice Voucher Program, also known as Section 8. Providing this type of housing is another powerful way to practice socially responsible real estate investing.

There are those who believe that in order to practice socially responsible real estate investing, one needs to provide free housing to the deserving poor. I do not agree with that assessment. The Bible says, ?The laborer is worthy of his hire,? and certainly that applies to property owners. I commend those who choose to be charitable, but I do not believe it should be legislated. It needs to come from the heart, and be supported by a consistent practice of sound business principles.

That attitude, and the underlying economic practices, are reasons why the United States of America has been, and continues to be, the most charitable nation on the face of the earth. Practicing socially responsible real estate investing isn?t the result of some feel good nonsense, but rather the application of wise investing habits and moral consistency.

Now, go make more offers!

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