Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Investment’

IRA investments are suffering right now. The stock market is plunging, the real estate market is a disaster, and the economy is wobbly. So why would you consider an IRA real estate investment in such tough times?

Any time is a good time for IRA real estate investments, with a proviso. And it’s a big proviso. You have to choose the right real estate investment for your IRA. Choose wrong, for either an IRA real estate investment or any other IRA investment, and you’ve got a disaster. But choose the right real estate investment for your IRA and you’ll set yourself up well for a comfortable retirement.

That’s equally true now, when times are tough, because there are some excellent IRA real estate investments available if you know where they are.

IRA investing isn’t easy. Of course you could do what 96% of the population do with their IRA investments. Leave the investing to your custodian, and if you do chances are that like everyone else you’ll get a return of around 4% – 9% per annum. Not the sort of return that is going to result in a comfortable worry free retirement.

Or you could do your own IRA investing. It’s quite allowed, there is no reason to leave the investing to your custodian like almost everyone else does, and there are much better returns to be made.

But doing your own IRA real estate investing isn’t easy. You need to learn all about buying right, maintaining your real estate investment, finding loans, finding tenants and ultimately, as some stage, selling the property. And none of these is easy to do for the average IRA owner who wants to find a great IRA real estate investment but isn’t a real estate professional.

Or you could leave all that work to someone else. Someone who does it full time and knows exactly what they are doing.

Because if you’re not a professional real estate investor then you aren’t doing yourself a service trying IRA real estate investing on your own. There’s too many pitfalls and you’ll probably pay for it in your retirement.

And of course there’s all the work for you in the meantime. After all, who wants to be fixing toilets? Or leaky faucets, or getting out of bed in the middle of the night because a tenant has a broken window?

Is there a turnkey solution to finding high quality IRA real estate investments? Yes there is. It’s perfectly possible to find a good company offering solid IRA real estate investment opportunities, and one in particular that offers a total turnkey solution to IRA investing. The work is done for you, no fixing toilets. And no cash down.

And of course a company like this will know exactly where the best real estate investments are to be found, whereas you may find that locating these yourself isn’t easy. After all, who has time to be combing the country looking for good real estate investments? You don’t, but the professionals do.

And believe it or not, the current state of the real estate market is creating some fantastic, once in a lifetime real estate investment opportunities for IRA investors, and many are taking advantage of these investment opportunities right now. Many people will be setting the foundations of their future retirement through their IRA right now taking advantage of some of the best times we’ve seen for top quality IRA real estate investments.

So if you’ve got an IRA and have tired of losing money in the stock market, and don’t want the work or responsibility of real estate investing in difficult times like these, consider using a professional IRA real estate investment company.

Times like these only come around rarely for the canny real estate and IRA investor.

Commercial real estate partnerships can be the best way for beginning investors or those who know little about commercial real estate to make money in the market today. At this point in time commercial real estate is the only way to make quick money since the bottom has pretty much fallen out of the residential real estate market.

When seeking commercial real estate partnerships, you want to find out as much about the partnership as possible. While some people choose to invest with friends, others find fellow investors in all sorts of places, including the internet. There are also real estate investment agencies that match people with the types of investment that they want, similar to mutual funds.

It is probably best, when seeking commercial real estate partnerships to find a group that you know and trust and who are investing in local property. This way you can not only get to know the other investors, but you also have some control over the real estate investment that you are making.

If you have money to invest in the real estate market but are unsure about sinking it all into one investment or not familiar with the commercial real estate market, the best way to go about such an investment is through commercial real estate partnerships. These can be an ideal way to not only make money in the real estate market, but also learn about the business.

Commercial real estate has many different facets. It can range from large shopping centers to industrial parks to hotels. Commercial real estate is usually more of a safe bet than residential real estate investing, although the stakes are higher. You normally only get fifty percent of the price of the property in financing, unlike the residential market, where you can get ninety five percent of the financing. You have to have a little bit more money to invest in the commercial real estate market, but it is generally a very secure option and a way to get a steady income from rentals.

Speak to your investment counselor about reliable commercial real estate partnerships in your area. He or she may be able to direct you to a reliable group or give you some other options when speaking of investing in commercial real estate. Investment groups can be found just about anywhere, even among your neighbors. The best part about joining one of the commercial real estate partnerships is that you do not have to take all of the risk with the real estate investment.

For those with only a little bit of money in which to invest or who are not well versed with the commercial real estate market, it makes more sense to seek out commercial real estate partnerships.

When should you hire a real estate coach? If you’re committed to investing in real estate, there are a lot of reasons to hire a coach. The main reason is to produce better results in your real estate business and make more money than you currently are. You may feel that you should be operating your business entirely by yourself. After all, real estate naturally attracts the sort of people who like to work independently, and succeed based on their own mettle. Pride is fine, but you’re in this to make money, aren’t you? Wouldn’t it make sense to set your pride aside and do whatever makes sense for your career?

No doubt, you are enthusiastic about real estate investing. If you’re just starting out, though, you’ll no doubt admit you’ve got a lot to learn. Wouldn’t it make sense to find a mentor who knows the ropes, and can help you achieve greater success than you would on your own? If you’ve worked in the corporate world, you know how effective a good mentor can be in furthering your knowledge and improving your skill set. Coaching is different from teaching per se in that it is more focused on setting and pursuing goals. It’s not that different from sports coaching, except that it is focused on real estate investment. Even if you are goal-oriented already, a real estate coach can help you set better, more realistic, more achievable goals without sacrificing ambition.

Even if you are already successful at buying and selling real estate, you might benefit from the services of a real estate coach. A real estate coach can focus your business and your goals, and give you an informed second opinion on your real estate practice. In fact, coaching is a better option for experienced real estate professional than for absolute beginners. Once you know the basics, you can hire a real estate coach to help you close the gap between where you are now and where you really want to be.

You are probably, at this point, wondering how real estate coaching proceeds. Real estate coaching usually moves forward through a series of structured conversations revolving around your approach to your real estate investment business. These conversations are designed to help you set and pursue clearer, more achievable goals, think more clearly about your business, and gain better perspective. Real estate coaching is designed to provide the tools to enhance the process of building a successful business, and helps you approach becoming more accountable to yourself for achieving your goals.

Real estate coaching is often done by telephone. It doesn’t have to be; it can be done in person as well. A good real estate coach will tailor his or her approach to your needs. Before you hire a real estate coach, make they are able to adapt to your unique needs and your approach to the working relationship. If you choose the right real estate coach, you can expect them to give you objective feedback on your business and your approach to real estate investing, thus putting you in a better position to attain your real estate investment goals.

You’ve got a Roth IRA and you’re thinking a lot lately about returns on your IRA when times get tough, like now. One of the best investments for any IRA, including a Roth IRA, is in real estate.

Believe it or not Roth IRA investments in real estate are STILL the single best investment you can make right now in 2008, when the economy is terrible and the real estate market in turmoil.

But surely you wouldn’t make a Roth IRA real estate investment in the current market? The real estate market is in meltdown. Why would you invest your retirement plan in a real estate market that looks a little like the Titanic, going down.

Real estate as an investment is alive in well in 2008, whether you’ve got a Roth IRA or any sort of employer sponsored retirement plan.

Of course you always need to examine your plan and see what investments are allowed. With many plans you have a limited or non existent right to invest your own retirement funds yourself, or if you do you can only invest in a limited range of investments.

For example many IRAs are with custodians that allow only traditional stocks and bonds and CDs as investments, and usually they try and direct your retirement funds into investments in their own products.

So the first thing you need to do before investigating investing your retirement plan is to make sure you’re allowed to invest in real estate, yourself. So you may need to do a rollover if you’ve got, say, a traditional IRA or perhaps an employer sponsored retirement plan or even a 401(k). Rollover into a fund that allows you to invest yourself, into real estate, and you’re way ahead preparing for your retirement.

Of course you should get some solid financial advice from your financial advisor before you undertake any rollover to make sure you do it right, and there are various Roth IRA websites you can use to educate yourself on rollovers and Roth IRA rules.

If you’ve got a self directed Roth IRA right now you should be able to invest in real estate now, but check with your financial advisor first.

So, back to Roth IRA investments in real estate in 2008. Why would you?

Firstly, real estate investments have created, it is estimated, around 80% of the wealth in the US today. Real estate offers a better long term opportunity for a good return on investment, both from rental returns and capital growth, than any other form of investment. Real estate allows you to borrow larger amounts more safely, and if you’re investing through a Roth IRA it also allows you to invest tax free due to the significant tax advantages afforded to formal retirement funds like IRAs and 401(k)s. Even on a marginal tax rate there are significant tax advantages to investing for your retirement through a formal retirement fund.

And real estate offers excellent returns even in 2008. Because, although the real estate market is in general decline, there are pockets of the real estate market that still offer significant opportunities for an excellent rate of return from an investment, income tax free.

But be warned, unless you’re an extremely experienced investor you’re likely to get burned. Professional real estate investors know where to look and how to buy to make significant gains in a market like this, but unless you’re a professional real estate investor you’re playing with fire.

One professional real estate investment company is hitting some solid home runs right now. Investing in simple middle class housing and refurbishing each home, adding value to the neighborhood by building parks and playgrounds and making homes more attractive to prospective tenants and buyers, this company is creating it’s own capital gains. Investors, including Roth IRA investors, are securing no money down properties with immediate equity of 15% – 20%, guaranteed returns and the backing of a respected, solid, listed US public company that has an envied record in real estate.

So if you’re wondering about your retirement, and concerned about current financial conditions, there are options. Roth IRA investments in real estate are a solid, long term stable investment strategy, even in current economic conditions.

But unless you’re an experienced professional real estate investor don’t start making any Roth IRA investments in real estate yourself. Let the professionals who know how to create value in the current market do it for you.

Don’t get your fingers burnt. Let the professionals do your real estate investing for you.

To become more familiar and who want to stay on top of real estate industry trends designed for real estate investors should have the strategic investing and planning programs. Exclusive investments, strategic planning, training and industry information for the real estate professional, membership has its privileges and rewards. It you are serious real estate investor or just want to be more informed about your industry, membership with Property visitors offers you immediate access to exclusive on and off market investment opportunities, educational seminars and strategic real estate advice and counsel to help you build your net worth.

Investing in real estate can be a very profitable. But it also has potential pitfalls that need to be avoided and questions that need to be answered if you want to achieve long-term financial security and success. Real Estate Investment Terminologies, in recent years many people started to show interest in purchase of the real estate for their vacation or for future requirements. This real estate purchase decision is taken by the people after realizing the value of the property or when they are looking for an investment property.

Real estate investment has very good terminologies. When you decided to buy a property in the any place, locate the place carefully whether the property has a good value in that area. Only after collecting proper details and information regarding that area, then move on to that area. This will help you find a real estate as per your desire without wasting your money. Some Real Estate Investing Kit gives you the valuable information and customizable forms you need to make the process simpler, efficient and more cost-effective, allowing you to invest like a seasoned professional even if it’s your first venture in investment property.

The investment securities of real estate investment have a close relationship with the term finance and economics. The addition made in some kind of asset which in turn receives the good return from the real estate investment means that putting something to yield a good return. In real estate, issuer means any person who issues or proposes to issue the security. Person means any individual, a corporation, a partnership, an association, joint stock Company where the interest of the beneficiary is evidenced by the real estate investment securities, unincorporated organization, government, and any of the subdivision of the government.

Sale or sell means the sale of every contract or disposition of the real estate investment securities or in the interest in the security for the value. The term real estate “security” refers to any note stock, treasury stocks, bond, debenture, evidence of indebtedness, transferable shares, real estate investment securities, certificate of deposit for real estate security and many other things are commonly called as security. Periodically or in some other specified period the investor had to pay the fixed sum of amount, a security does not include any insurance or donation or annuity contract in which the insurance company gives assurance to the investor.

With abundant information and guidance available online, people sometimes feel they can dispense with hiring a real estate investments professional and do things on their own. This may be an attempt at over-simplification as home buying calls for certain expertise and without the help of a real estate investment professional you may be creating avoidable problems for yourself. Let us assume you have decided to buy a home and going to make one of the largest investments of your life-time. You are understandably excited, but at the same time tense and anxious.

There are many imponderables – whether you can afford the home you have selected, whether there is enough money for an initial payment, is the home free from encumbrances, are you fully aware of the prevailing market conditions, are you competent to carry out the home inspection, do you have the skills to negotiate the price, are you familiar with mortgage procedures etc. Buying a house can be confusing. Few people have the knowledge and experience needed to find, evaluate, and then buy a house without the help of various home buying professionals. The home buying process can be overwhelming, but if you go into it with the help and support of a professional real estate investments agent, your purchase can be a good and satisfying experience.

The process of buying a house is indeed complex, and most people find it is easier to accomplish this with a professional agent by their side. It can be helpful to have someone familiar with all the processes and concomitant paper work. Other parts of the transaction will be happening quickly too — hiring inspectors, negotiating over who pays for needed repairs, and more. What’s more, experienced real estate investment agents usually have contacts with good inspectors, mortgage loan brokers, and others who can make your buying process smooth.

You need not burden yourself with the entire knowledge about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who is an expert in this field. Real estate professionals possess intimate knowledge where to find the right type of homes for you. They can identify comparable sales and provide you comprehensive information regarding, neighborhood, schools in the district, bus facility and other amenities in the vicinity etc. Contrary to popular belief, agents do not determine prices for either sellers or buyers of real estate investments. However, an agent will help you with the required market information to help you arrive at the right price to pay for your home.

An efficient method of shopping for a house is to avail the services of a real estate investment professional. How do you select one and what services can you expect? Try to find an experienced real estate investments professional who works primarily in the area in which you are interested in buying your home. All home buying professionals should be able to give you a clear idea of what they will do for you and how they will proceed. Some will put it in writing before you hire them. When a service cannot be summed up in writing, ask to see samples of their work.

Real estate is often termed as the safest investment avenue. In fact, real estate investments done with proper evaluation of the property (and its true value), can lead to good profits. This is one reason why some people pursue real estate investment as their full time job. The talks of real estate are generally focussed towards residential real estate; commercial real estate seems to take a back seat. However, commercial real estate too is a good option for investing in real estate.

Commercial real estate includes a lot of different kinds of properties. Most people relate commercial real estate with only office complexes or factories/ industrial units. However, that is not all of commercial real estate. There is more to commercial real estate. Health care centers, retail structures and warehouse are all good examples of commercial real estate. Even residential properties like apartments (or any property that consists of more than four residential units) are considered commercial real estate. In fact, such commercial real estate is much in demand.

So, is commercial real estate really profitable? Well, if it were not profitable I would not have been writing about commercial real estate at all. So, commercial real estate is profitable for sure. The only thing with commercial real estate is that recognising the opportunity is a bit difficult as compared to residential real estate. But commercial real estate profits can be real big (in fact, much bigger than you would expect from residential real estate of the same proportion). You could take up commercial real estate for either reselling after appreciation or for renting out to, say, retailers. The commercial real estate development is in fact treated as the first sign for growth of residential real estate. Once you know of the possibility of significant commercial growth in the region (either due to tax breaks or whatever), you should start evaluating the potential for appreciation in the prices of commercial real estate and then go for it quickly (as soon as you find a good deal). And you must really work towards getting a good deal. If you find that commercial real estate, e.g. land, is available in big chunks which are too expensive for you to buy, you could look at forming a small investor group (with your friends) and buy it together (and split the profits later). In some cases e.g. when a retail boom is expected in a region, you might find it profitable to buy a property that you can convert into a warehouse for the purpose of renting to small businesses.

So commercial real estate presents a whole plethora of investing opportunities, you just need to grab it.

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Even if you have strong positive cash flow from your rental real estate, chances are you still have a loss for tax purposes due to the depreciation deduction.

This is a great tax strategy because your positive cash flow is sheltered from tax. But, it can be even better if you are able to take your losses against your other income (like your income from your job or the business that you run).

The general rule for rental real estate losses is that they are passive. This means they can only be taken against passive income. The income from your job and the business you run is active income so your rental losses cannot shelter this income. However, there are two exceptions to this rule.

** Exception #1: “Active Real Estate” exception. **

The Background on the Active Real Estate Exception

Rental real estate, in many cases, is held to provide financial security to individuals with moderate incomes. Because of this Congress believed that a rental real estate investment in which a taxpayer has significant responsibilities and which served a significant non-tax purpose should be treated differently than the activities meant to be limited under the passive loss provisions. So Congress created the active rental real estate exception.

- How It Works -

If you are active in your rental real estate activities you may be able to deduct up to $25,000 of your rental losses against other ordinary income. We say may be because there are income limitations which phase out the $25,000 deduction. The phase out will start when your adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 and end when your adjusted gross income is at $150,000. This means that for every $2 over $100,000 of adjusted gross income you will lose $1 off the $25,000 deductible amount. For example if your adjusted gross income is $120,000 you will have to reduce the $25,000 exception by $10,000 and the most rental real estate losses you can deduct will be $15,000 for that tax year.

Don’t let your high income penalize you! Learn my tax secrets to increase your cash flow by uncovering the hidden cash flow in your real estate. Several of my secrets reveal how to legally get around these income limitations!

What constitutes active participation?

Active participation exists so long as you participate, in the making of management decisions or arranging for others to provide services (such as repairs), in a significant and bona fide sense. Also, you must have at least a 10% interest in the activity at any time during the year.

** Exception #2: “Real Estate Professional” exception. **

What is a Real Estate Professional?

First, let’s dispense with one myth: Real Estate Professional status does not mean you have to hold a real estate license. Rather, it is a designation you obtain by meeting certain specific requirements. If you qualify as a real estate professional you can deduct all your current year rental real estate losses against other income without limitations.

Requirement #1

The first requirement is that you spend more than 750 hours in real estate trades or businesses in which you materially participate.

What is a real estate trade or business? A real estate trade or business is defined as ANY real estate development, redevelopment, construction, reconstruction, acquisition, conversion, rental, operation, management, leasing, or brokerage trade or business.

The 750 hours test must be met for each activity. So for example, say you have three rental properties. The general rule is that you have to perform at least 750 hours on activities related to EACH of those three properties. Fortunately, there is an exception to this rule. If you make the election to aggregate all of your rental real estate activities into one activity, you only have to meet the 750 hours requirement once for the tax year.

What types of activities qualify as real estate professional activities? Activities such as:

- Searching for possible rental properties

- Attending real estate seminars or reading real estate books

- Meeting with real estate agents and viewing properties

- Meeting with mortgage brokers with regards to getting loans on properties

- Travel time to and from the seminars and your property searches

- Preparing your bookkeeping and tax information for your rental properties

- Time spend buying or selling properties (i.e. signing the closing documents)

- Studying and reviewing financial reports (Investor-type)

- Preparing summaries or analyses for personal use (Investor-type)

- Monitoring finances or operation in a non-managerial capacity (Investor-type)

An important note to the investor-type activities mentioned above is that these activities can only be counted towards real estate professional time if you are involved in the day-to-day operations or management of the activity for which you perform those tasks. Essentially, this means that if you have an independent property manager and your only real estate business is your rental properties, you probably will not qualify as a real estate professional.

Requirement #2

The second requirement is that you spend more time in your real estate trades or businesses than in ALL OTHER trades or businesses combined. Time spent as an employee in real estate activities is counted only if you are a more than a 5% owner in that business.

- What You Need to Do -

You have to meet the above requirements each year. So, you could be a real estate professional one year but not the next. Only one spouse needs to meet the requirements in order for a married couple to take advantage of the benefits provided by the real estate professional status.

The extent of an individual’s participation in an activity may be established by any reasonable means. Contemporaneous daily time reports, logs, or similar documents are not required if the extent of such participation may be established by other reasonable means. Documentation required includes the identification of services performed over a period of time and the approximate number of hours spent performing such services during such period, based on appointment books, calendars, or narrative statements.

If you are audited, the IRS will ask you to prove your real estate professional status. For more on how to be prepared, see my recent article titled: “Three (3) Things You Can Do To Be Prepared For An Audit”

Over the last several years, real estate has been as hot as any other investment. It wasn’t until recently that real estate cooled a bit. During this time, we’ve all heard the stories of the easy money made investing in real estate. When money was easy, and there was no end in sight to the real estate boom, people were flipping houses like crazy. For many of these individuals, the 1031 exchange money could not be any easier. However, the times have changed. The downturn has taught even the most bullish real estate speculators that real estate can also go down in value. More than ever, investing in real estate, takes professional know-how, time, and resources to successfully invest in real estate. So, how does the average person invest in real estate, this day and age?

Well, there is a way, and it’s been around for quite some time. It’s called a Real Estate Investment Trust, or REIT. A Real Estate Investment Trust is a way for the small investor to invest in big real estate. A Real Estate Investment Trust is an organization that is set up to manage and invest in real estate professionally. You can purchase a Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) via the stock exchange in the form of a stock, or privately. Private Real Estate Investment Trusts typically require that certain suitability criteria be met. Also, private REITs are typically longer-term investments, with liquidity considerations. Public Real Estate Investment Trusts can be bought and sold on the stock exchange and are considerably more liquid than their private counterparts.

Investing in a Real Estate Investment Trust can come in many forms. You can purchase a Real Estate Investment Trust that focuses on large-scale commercial real estate, for example. This would allow you to take part in major real estate deals involving 100 plus story buildings, that would otherwise be available to the ultra rich. Some Real Estate Investment Trusts may have their focus in apartment buildings or even new housing construction. The point here is that you can choose your Real Estate Investment Trust sector through one of these REITs. If you want a more professionally managed approach there are a large number of REITs actively managed through the purchase of mutual funds. This can provide for diversification, and individual real estate sectors.

Properly set up Real Estate Investment Trusts are tax-advantaged. This means that they are not taxed at the corporate level. However, they must be set up properly. It is required that REITs invest 75% of their funds in real estate. These requirements are met by income derived from mortgage or rent interest. Essentially, you’re relying on other parties for their expertise in the real estate arena. Going at it alone is tougher than ever these days. You have the typical headaches, like qualifying for a 1031 exchange, property taxes, escrow, title insurance, and so on. But, that’s really the easy part. When the real estate market only went up, the biggest worry for speculators was how to take advantage of a 1031 exchange and save on capital gains. Now, there’s much more to worry about, as real estate not only goes up, but it can certainly come down.

It’s important to keep in mind that Real Estate Investment Trusts also come with inherent risks. If real estate values plummet, and you have a large percentage of your assets exposed to Real Estate Investment Trusts you may experience declines, as well. This is where diversification is very important. The standard Real Estate Investment Trust me diversify you within different types of real estate, but you should always practice further diversification. Investing in different asset classes, sectors, and the life will provide you with further diversification. Make sure to work with a qualified investment advisor or do your due diligence when investing in any type of Real Estate Investment Trust.

This article covers six dynamite real estate investing tips intended to help anyone just getting started in real estate investing to successfully launch and hit the ground running with real estate investment property.

1. Develop the Correct Attitude

To stand a chance of succeeding at real estate investing, foremost, you must understand that real estate investment is a business, and you will become the CEO of that business.

As your first order of business, then, it’s crucial to develop the correct mind-set about investment real estate and be able to make this distinction between buying a home and investing in real estate:

“You buy a home to live and raise a family; you buy real estate investment property to pay for the home, live comfortably, and raise your family in style”

As one very successful real estate investor said, “Only women are beautiful, what are the numbers?” In other words, you will not succeed at real estate investing until you acknowledge that it’s not curb appeal, amenities, floor plan, or neighborhood that should turn you on or off to the investment opportunity; what counts most is the property’s financial performance.

2. Develop Meaningful Objectives

A meaningful set of (realistic) objectives that frames your investment strategy is one of the most important elements of successful investing. Yes, we may all desire to make millions of dollars from real estate investing, but fantasy is not the same as expressing specific goals and a method on how to achieve it.

Here are some suggestions:

How much cash are you willing to invest comfortably? What rate of return are you hoping to achieve by making the investment in real estate? Are you expecting instant cash flow, looking to make your money when the property is resold, or merely looking to achieve tax shelter benefits? How long are you planning to hold the property before you dispose of it? What amount of your own effort can you afford to contribute to the day-to-day operation of running the property? What net worth are you hoping investing will help you to achieve, and by when would you like to achieve it? What type of income property do you feel most comfortable owning, residential or commercial, or does it matter?

3. Develop Market Research

If you’re new to real estate investing, you undoubtedly know little about investment real estate in your local market. So, do market research to learn as much as you can about income property values, rents, and occupancy rates in your area. The better prepared you are, the more likely you are to recognize a good (or bad) deal when you see it.

Here are some good resources:

(a) The local newspaper, (b) A local appraiser, (c) The county tax assessor, (d) A qualified local real estate professional, (e) A local property management company

4. Run the Numbers

I can’t stress enough the importance of running the property’s cash flow, rates of return, and profitability numbers. Remember, real estate investing is a business, and as the CEO of your investment enterprise, you’ve got to know what you’re buying, especially if you’re trying to determine which of several investment opportunities would be the most profitable.

You have two options:

(a) Invest in real estate investment software. This will enable you to discover for yourself the investment property’s cash flow and rates of return, and create your own analysis reports. Plus, by running the numbers yourself, you gain a broader understanding of real estate investing nuances, and in turn might be less likely to fall victim to the wiles of someone with little concern about how you spend your money.

(b) At the very least, work with a real estate professional that has invested in real estate investment software and can calculate, present, and discuss the property’s financial data with you.

5. Develop a Relationship with a Qualified Real Estate Professional

Working with a qualified real estate professional is a great way for beginners to get started with rental property investing because an astute professional can acquaint you with local market conditions, recommend a property that meets your investing objectives, and discuss strengths and weaknesses about specific property performance.

Here’s a warning, however: Work with a real estate person who understands investment real estate.

Be sure the agent has a firm grip on key financial measures inherent to real estate investing, knows how to measure profitability and rate of return, has the ability to present the data you need to make wise investment decisions, and, most importantly, shows a genuine interest in how you spend your money. The last thing you want to do is to get involved with a real estate agent that would throw you under the bus just to make a commission.

Here’s a good way to interview for an agent. Ask them for the property’s cap rate and then request an APOD. If their response (even to these basics) is to stand there looking at you like a deer into the headlights of a car, find another agent.

6. Start Investing

Hopefully, this has given you some insight into real estate investing, highlighted a few things to make you a more prudent real estate investor, and perhaps alerted you to a couple of things that should be avoided.

Okay, that does it for us, now it’s time for you to get started. Here’s to your success.

Real estate investing in Miami real estate is now becoming popular again as there are many properties in foreclosure, short sale, bank reo’s, and government foreclosures. With such an overwhelming inventory of homes available for sale a real estate investor must be able to determine which one to purchase. Investors must follow six steps in order to learn, understand and achieve Miami real estate investment success.

These are the six L steps to Miami real estate investing:

1. Location – Location, location, location is still the key of buying Miami real estate. Buying Miami real estate just because the price is low in a declining area is big mistake that should be avoided. Look for homes in an excellent location like, good schools, economic stable and growing neighborhoods, near shopping centers and malls, near bus stops and metro rails, near hospitals and restaurants. Sometimes it is better to pay a little more for a property in a good location than getting a bargain in a place where it is very hard to sell or rent the asset. Location is often overlooked in purchasing real estate as many investor think they can overcome a bad location if the price is low enough. Out of two homes that are exactly the same, the one in the best location will command a much higher sales price and rental income. Location is the number consideration when purchasing Miami South Florida real estate.

2. Long Term – Real estate investing is a long term proposition. Don’t think you are going to be a millionaire over night. It takes years of hard work and dedication in order to succeed. Hold any property at least one year before selling it. Capital gain taxes will be greatly reduced. Consider renting the property for at two or three years. The rental income generated will help you to properly repair and renovate the property. Many investors purchased properties in the middle of real estate boom with no money down and no equity. These investors were thinking of flipping the homes fast and make a killing in the process. Many homes now in foreclosure are due to investors that were caught in the middle and now realize that real estate investing is very hard to time. Long term Miami real estate investing is the secret to a successful real estate career.

3. Lease Option – Never rent a property with a lease option to buy. Either sell or rent it straight out. A lease option usually is a disaster for both buyers and sellers. The tenant will demand a large discount of the rent to go towards the down payment and closing costs. The problem is that tenant will not buy the property at the end of the lease and the landlord/seller will have wasted a lot of money in rebates given to the tenant/buyer. Demand a 20% or 30% deposit from the tenant/buyer and a clause in the contract that if they default on the purchase they will lose the deposit. This technique will force the tenant/buyer to purchase the property or lose the deposit. The risk of losing the deposit will eliminate the tenant from taking advantage of the landlord by walking out of the contract after receiving a monthly rental discount.

4. Local – Buy real estate close to where you live. Don’t buy real estate in another state or in another country. Keep real estate investing local. Buy in your own county and in your city. The more you know about the area where you are buying the better the decision will be. The investor should always be close to the investment property. The Miami real estate investor should inspect the property often to determine any repair, roof and other problems. The landlord must inspect the property every month when collecting the rent. Check for the number of tenants actually living in the property, check for damages and destruction of the property and overall condition of the place. The investor/landlord will not be able to inspect and determine the condition of the property if it is located far away. Keeping real estate local is an essential step in real estate investing.

5. Leverage – Most real estate books and seminars tell you to use other people’s money when purchasing real estate. This technique is not the best and buyers should try to buy the property in cash if at all possible. Buying a house in cash will help you get a better deal and allow you to negotiate from a position of strength. A cash buyer will always have the upper hand in negotiating with banks, property owners, and other sellers. Cash buyers will not suffer and go into foreclosure if the market turns and they are unable to sell or rent the house right away. Like Dave Ramsey always says “cash is king and debt is dumb”. Buying an investment property in cash is an excellent way to avoid Miami real estate investment mistakes.

6. Learn – Research the property and learn everything about it before you buy. A mistake in Miami real estate investing can be very costly. Usually you make your money when you buy not when you sell. Buying the property at the wrong price the wrong place and at the wrong time could be detrimental. One mistake could wipe you out and put you out of business before you start. Ask questions to the experts, real estate agents, appraisers, mortgage brokers, and other real estate investors. Learn, research, educate yourself in all aspects of real estate investing before you purchase the asset.

It is definitely a buyers market in Miami-Dade County. Miami real estate investors have more choices than ever before when it comes to real estate investing. Investors must follow the L steps, the 6 steps real estate investor guide to successful real estate investing in order to achieve their investment goals in the Miami real estate market.

Real estate investing in Miami real estate is now becoming popular again as there are many properties in foreclosure, short sale, bank reo’s, and government foreclosures. With such an overwhelming inventory of homes available for sale a real estate investor must be able to determine which one to purchase. Investors must follow six steps in order to learn, understand and achieve Miami real estate investment success.

These are the six L steps to Miami real estate investing:

1. Location – Location, location, location is still the key of buying Miami real estate. Buying Miami real estate just because the price is low in a declining area is big mistake that should be avoided. Look for homes in an excellent location like, good schools, economic stable and growing neighborhoods, near shopping centers and malls, near bus stops and metro rails, near hospitals and restaurants. Sometimes it is better to pay a little more for a property in a good location than getting a bargain in a place where it is very hard to sell or rent the asset. Location is often overlooked in purchasing real estate as many investor think they can overcome a bad location if the price is low enough. Out of two homes that are exactly the same, the one in the best location will command a much higher sales price and rental income. Location is the number consideration when purchasing Miami South Florida real estate.

2. Long Term – Real estate investing is a long term proposition. Don’t think you are going to be a millionaire over night. It takes years of hard work and dedication in order to succeed. Hold any property at least one year before selling it. Capital gain taxes will be greatly reduced. Consider renting the property for at two or three years. The rental income generated will help you to properly repair and renovate the property. Many investors purchased properties in the middle of real estate boom with no money down and no equity. These investors were thinking of flipping the homes fast and make a killing in the process. Many homes now in foreclosure are due to investors that were caught in the middle and now realize that real estate investing is very hard to time. Long term Miami real estate investing is the secret to a successful real estate career.

3. Lease Option – Never rent a property with a lease option to buy. Either sell or rent it straight out. A lease option usually is a disaster for both buyers and sellers. The tenant will demand a large discount of the rent to go towards the down payment and closing costs. The problem is that tenant will not buy the property at the end of the lease and the landlord/seller will have wasted a lot of money in rebates given to the tenant/buyer. Demand a 20% or 30% deposit from the tenant/buyer and a clause in the contract that if they default on the purchase they will lose the deposit. This technique will force the tenant/buyer to purchase the property or lose the deposit. The risk of losing the deposit will eliminate the tenant from taking advantage of the landlord by walking out of the contract after receiving a monthly rental discount.

4. Local – Buy real estate close to where you live. Don’t buy real estate in another state or in another country. Keep real estate investing local. Buy in your own county and in your city. The more you know about the area where you are buying the better the decision will be. The investor should always be close to the investment property. The Miami real estate investor should inspect the property often to determine any repair, roof and other problems. The landlord must inspect the property every month when collecting the rent. Check for the number of tenants actually living in the property, check for damages and destruction of the property and overall condition of the place. The investor/landlord will not be able to inspect and determine the condition of the property if it is located far away. Keeping real estate local is an essential step in real estate investing.

5. Leverage – Most real estate books and seminars tell you to use other people’s money when purchasing real estate. This technique is not the best and buyers should try to buy the property in cash if at all possible. Buying a house in cash will help you get a better deal and allow you to negotiate from a position of strength. A cash buyer will always have the upper hand in negotiating with banks, property owners, and other sellers. Cash buyers will not suffer and go into foreclosure if the market turns and they are unable to sell or rent the house right away. Like Dave Ramsey always says “cash is king and debt is dumb”. Buying an investment property in cash is an excellent way to avoid Miami real estate investment mistakes.

6. Learn – Research the property and learn everything about it before you buy. A mistake in Miami real estate investing can be very costly. Usually you make your money when you buy not when you sell. Buying the property at the wrong price the wrong place and at the wrong time could be detrimental. One mistake could wipe you out and put you out of business before you start. Ask questions to the experts, real estate agents, appraisers, mortgage brokers, and other real estate investors. Learn, research, educate yourself in all aspects of real estate investing before you purchase the asset.

It is definitely a buyers market in Miami-Dade County. Miami real estate investors have more choices than ever before when it comes to real estate investing. Investors must follow the L steps, the 6 steps real estate investor guide to successful real estate investing in order to achieve their investment goals in the Miami real estate market.

In order to buy and sell Real Estate most states require that an applicant take a minimum number of classes before taking the state licensing exam.

Real estate brokers and their agents typically do not provide title service such as title search or title insurance and do not conduct surveys or formal appraisals of the property such as those required by lenders. Further, they do not act as lawyers for the parties, although they may “coordinate” these activities with the appropriate specialists.

The good news is that there is a way for you to buy and sell Real Estate without becoming a licensed real estate agent or Broker. This would include but would not be limited to Real Estate Foreclosures.

Real Estate Foreclosures is one of the HOTTEST INCOME producing streams of all time using LITTLE or NO MONEY of your own. One market in particular is tax sales. Real Estate agents won’t tell you about tax sales because they earn no commissions on these properties. Real Estate Tax Sales are a little known but potentially lucrative way to expand your portfolio.

John Beck’s proven Amazing Profits tax deed and tax lien education teaches people how to buy properties for just pennies on the dollar. The Free and Clear Program Course is a must have for anyone looking to get ahead in real estate investing. John Beck is a guaranteed name for real estate business consultancy.

His program is primarily advertised via infomercials and primarily runs on late night and cable channels in the United States and Canada. You have no doubt seen his late night infomercials!

On his infomercials he repeatedly holds up color photos of houses and states the price at which they sold via delinquent-property-tax procedures. He is well known for his expertise in the real estate business.

He has also been a real estate broker, syndicator and real estate consultant who has been listed in Who’s Who in Creative Real Estate. He is a much sought after speaker who regularly conducts real estate investment seminars in both Northern and Southern California and who has spoken extensively throughout the United States and has appeared on numerous radio and television shows as a guest expert on foreclosures.

John Beck is constantly sifting through the tax lien and foreclosure information on the Internet to find the most valuable and profitable research available which he puts on his site as a benefit to his students.

John Beck’s unique system of researching tax lien and tax foreclosure properties and his long history of studying the foreclosure market gives him insights into properties that others simply do not have and cannot provide.

His proven tax lien and tax deed system teaches you exactly how to get your share of the profits this section of the real estate market represents and again, you don’t even need to get a real estate license.

The course has a lot to offer to those who come with the pure intentions of growing their business community. John Beck’s, Buy Real Estate Free and Clear for Pennies on the Dollar is a popular website and TV campaign that basically advocates purchasing taxed out properties. He shows you how real estate investors can profit from his free and clear real estate system.

John Beck has personally attended thousands of tax auctions around the country and has personally invested in nearly every state. His current experience and his vast knowledge of the tax foreclosure and tax lien market has been developed into an easy-to-read format to make it easy for you to learn John Beck’s incredible method of finding, buying and profiting from tax auctioned properties you buy for just pennies on the dollar.

He has been working with real estate for over 20 years and has helped many people just like you accumulate wealth through real estate investment.

John Beck’s Property Vault tool has been designed to make finding deals like this easy because you can download the information in Excel format making it a snap to screen for the best deals matching your investment criteria.

John Beck’s Amazing Profits Tax Deed and Tax Lien Real Estate Investment System has been created to make it easy to understand what to do in real estate to make big money now. He continues to make unbelievable tools available to his students that makes it even easier to find profits in your investing today.

Investing in income property can be a great way to increase your capital. But for many people, investing in real estate, especially commercial and industrial real estate is just out of reach from the financial point of view. But what if you could join forces with other small investors and large investments in commercial real estate in the group? With Real Estate Investment Trust, you can do it!

REIT means Real Estate Investment Trust, and is sometimes referred to as “real estate holdings.” Real estate investment trust is a companie that owns and manages a portfolio of real estate and mortgages. Anyone can buy shares of the REIT. Real estate investment trust offers the benefits of real estate without the headaches or expense of the landlord. Said another way the investor has the benefits of real estate ownership with no management role in the toilets and tenants.

Real Estate Investment Trust of certain types offers great benefits of liquidity and diversity. In contrast to the actual ownership of real estate, these measures can be quickly and easily sold. And because you invest in a portfolio of real estate, rather than one building, it comes with less financial risk.

Real Estate Investment Trust was created in the sixties when Congress decided that small investors should also be able to invest in large-scale, income-generating properties. It was found to be the best way to make it a model of investment in other sectors – the purchase of shares.

The company must distribute at least ninety percent of their taxable income to shareholders each year as a Real Estate Investment Trust. Most Real Estate Investment Trust pays out one hundred percent of their taxable income in dividend distributions. To maintain its status as a pass-through entity, Real Estate Investment Trust dividends are paid to shareholders annually.

From 1880 to the 1930′s, a similar provision in place, which allows investors to avoid double taxation – paying taxes as private and business – were convinced, because they do not pay income tax if the income is distributed to beneficiaries. It was abolished in the nineteen thirties, when the passive investments are taxed at the corporate level, as well as part of the profit tax. Real estate investment trust supporters were not able to change the law to overturn the decision within thirty years. Due to high demand for real estate funds, President Eisenhower signed the nineteen sixty Real Estate Investment Trust as a REIT tax pass-through entities.

The company must comply with all other requirements to qualify as a real estate investment trust and to win passage of a person. They should:

1. Be structured as corporation, business trust, or similar association

2. Be managed by a board of directors or trustees

3. Offer fully transferable stock shares

4. Have at least one hundred shareholders

5. Pay dividends of at least ninety percent of the REIT’s taxable income

6. Have no more than fifty percent of its shares held by five or fewer individuals during the last half of each taxable year

7. Hold at least seventy five percent of total investment assets in real estate

8. Have no more than twenty percent of its assets consist of stocks in taxable real estate investment trust subsidiaries

9. Derive at least seventy five percent of gross income from rents or mortgage interest

At least ninety five percent of a real estate investment trust gross income must come from financial investments (in other words, it must pass the ninety five-percent income test). These include rents, dividends, interest and capital gains. In addition, at least seventy five percent of its income must come from certain real estate sources (the seventy five percent income test), including rents from real property, gains from the sale or other disposition of real property, and income and gain derived from foreclosure of property.

This article was written by Robert Shumake, CEO of Inheritance Capital Group, LLC and founder of http://reitbuyer.com/ an online service for people who wish to invest in real estate without the headaches and liability exposure that go with being a landlord. Visit Robert’s website to learn more about Real Estate Investment Trust.