Has the economy moved too far past the point when a cascade of cheap foreclosures made it easy to buy distressed properties at the lowest prices in a decade, rehab, and sell at a nice profit? In today’s improving economy, can you still make money on a fix-and-flip?   The good news – conditions for profits on distressed properties may be better now than they were during the bottom of the market, when I had a great run of flipping profitable foreclosures! What factors are creating a strong positive market for fix-and-flip properties, now that the economy and the housing Read more…

What makes interest rates such a key factor in the real estate investing market?  How do interest rates signal investors about opportunities in today’s market?   Mortgage interest makes up a significant part of a home buyer’s monthly payment.  Lower interest rates mean lower payments, and that makes a higher-value home more affordable to a buyer.  Without any change in the sales price, an interest rate movement of fractions of a point can mean a buyer does or doesn’t qualify for a loan, based on the monthly payment.   When interest rates are as low as they are today, real Read more…

The fun of real estate, for me, is being out in the field, getting dust on my shoes, tramping along driveways, and prowling through distressed properties. I like being with the sub-contractors in a hot, grimy building, surrounded by old, shattered cabinets and stacks of new floor covering. But as much as I relish a passion for this business, keeping notes of every great idea, organizing mountains of documents, and getting necessary photos to the right people – these could be overwhelming without a great online tool that handles and organizes everything: Evernote and Evernote Business.   Evernote is an Read more…

Great real estate investing partnerships combine the expertise and skills needed from the partners, along with the financial backing and the leadership to find projects and get them done – profitably.  The best partners share values of integrity and commitment, people you can rely on.  What are the top 3 ways to build great real estate partnerships?   Make sure your partners include expertise in all the skills you intend for partners to contribute.  Don’t ever take on a partner (give up equity) that you could instead hire. One of the best partnerships is one where someone with money and Read more…

I’ve chosen “How to Build a Real Estate Empire” by Marcel Arsenault, John Hamilton, Ben Leeds and Gerald Marcil to include in my essential reading list because it is grounded in practical, real-world advice, from 4 men who did everything in real estate investing that they write about. Arsenault, et al, write from their own personal experience, and includes their own stories of building real estate portfolios to values of hundreds of millions of dollars. All describe the pitfalls and triumphs, and the methods and strategies for achieving enormous success in real estate.   The book is not written for Read more…

What a stroke of good fortune to find ourselves in a unique moment in financial history to take advantage of profit opportunities which are rarely as strong as they are right now!  Are you waiting on certain economic signals to step into real estate investing?  Here are 3 compelling signs that NOW is the time to get in!   Low interest rates are bringing buyers into the market now.  Interest rates are one of the most powerful forces in any housing market.  Because mortgage payment amounts are partly determined by interest rates, low or high rates make a home more Read more…

The internet is rich with tools for real estate investors.  These are the 6 websites I recommend as essentials for your real estate investing business.   1)    Listings and local information websites – Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com and similar websites are invaluable resources not only of currently available listings, but local information on schools and services, sales of comparables, and statistical data.  I use Zillow most often as it has readily accessible statistics and community information for each property listed. 2)    The MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is still an essential for a complete look at the available listings.  MLS is a Read more…

What is the most costly mistake you can make in real estate investing?  Is it getting into a project doomed by hidden problems, or following the wrong market strategy?   ‘No’ to both of those – because neither situation will cost you as much in the long run as neglecting the real key to successful real estate investing.  The most important factor in your success is YOU, including the training and preparation you give yourself to solve problems and identify sound strategies for profits.   Successful investors never stop learning and building what they themselves bring to the table.  Where Read more…

The basic principal behind finding great real estate investing partners: BE the partner you hope to have. You need business partners to make it in real estate investing – not just good business partners, but great business partners.   Bring to the table not just your skills or money, but your personal integrity and your commitment to your partners and to the project. As others observe you living these qualities, as they see your self-confidence, people who also live up to these high ideals will be more interested in working in real estate investment partnerships with you.   How do Read more…