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When investing in real estate there are many different avenues to choose from. When deciding which avenue is best for you, it’s important to consider the difference between passive-income generating avenues and earned or working-income generating avenues. In fact, in my opinion, understanding the difference between passive income and working income is one of the most important things to consider when investing in real estate.
Working Income vrs. Passive Income:
Working Income: Working Income is buying a house, fixing it, and then selling it for a profit. Or building a house then selling it for a profit. Or my favorite is buying a house, holding it (hoping it will appreciate in value, while losing money every month), then selling it.
Passive Income: The best way to understand passive income is to play Robert Kiyosaki’s board game, “Cash Flow 101.” To win (get out of the rat race), you have to get your monthly passive income to exceed your monthly expenses. It’s a real eye-opener. In his game, the quickest way to achieve this is purchasing cash flowing rental properties. Passive income is income that is earned without you doing the work to earn it. Rental income is a great avenue for passive income.
Here are a few reasons why investing in rental properties are an attractive avenue for investing in real estate:
Lower Taxes: Passive income is one of the lowest taxed forms of income, especially rental income. Uncle Sam likes that you’re providing affordable housing and is willing to cut you some slack on the taxes. When you buy, fix, and sell a property, that income is taxed as capital gains and you’re going to pay Uncle Sam 25-40%. Also, owning rental properties is a business, allowing you to write off operating expenses of your business.
Depreciation: This is a benefit often overlooked. Owning rental property provides a non-cash write off over the useful life of the property. Depreciation is defined as the loss in value of the property over time due to wear and tear, physical deterioration and age. Residential income property is depreciated over a 27.5 year period using straight line depreciation (or in other words, depreciated by equal amounts each year over its useful life). While your accountant will do the math, the point is, it’s a non-cash expense lowering you overall tax liability.
Time: Perhaps the best benefit of investing in turn-key rental properties is that it creates time. Remember, passive income creates time, working income takes time. The problem with working income, not only in real estate but in any business, is you have to keep working to make money. The whole reason why any of us get into real estate is for the life-style it can provide. To me, real estate is a means to and end. It doesn’t define who I am. But if done right, it provides time and money to be, do, and have everything I want in life. That’s what this is all about. While a measly $200/mo cash flow on a single family rental property doesn’t sound as sexy as flipping a house and making a quick $15,000, you have to look at the bigger picture.
For example; if you acquire 20 turn-key properties from Equity Services, LLC, each providing $200/mo cash flow, that would be $4,000/mo passive income. That money comes in while you’re eating, sleeping or surfing on the beach (we have a lot of Hawaiian investors)! Now there is some work you’ll have to do, unless you get someone else to do it. Someone has to walk to the mailbox to collect your checks! I get my kids to do it. (There’s more to it than that but you get the point). If 20 properties seems too hard to achieve, remember the old saying; “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time!” Well, how do you acquire 20 rental properties? One house at a time! We have one client, Mitch, who is buying his first rental property from Equity Services, LLC. His goal is 500 units in 3 years. Wow! He’s definitely caught the vision of passive income.
Equity Services, LLC = Turn Key
When we’re asked what it is we do, we often state that we sell “turn-key rental properties.” In fact, if you look at our company logo, you’ll see a house with a key. So what does turn-key mean? It means, we have a system in place to handle everything from acquiring the properties, to managing the renovations, to providing the tenants and everything in between. While there are many benefits to using Equity Services, LLC such as our houses are priced right, they have equity, etc., the real value we add is by saving you the time and energy to acquire solid cash-flowing properties. We have a strong relationship with the banks and purchase distressed properties at a discount. We renovate the properties to our high standards (we have rehabbed over 100 properties since 2007). The property manager handles filling the units and managing the tenants. As Timothy Ferriss states in his book, The 4 Hour Workweek, “Our goal isn’t to create a business that is as large as possible but rather a business that bothers us as little as possible.” We have developed a proven system that saves our investors their valuable time. Every now and then we run into the “do-it yourself” investors. We had one investor who gathered information from us, flew down to Michigan, and bought a house. He quickly found out that it wasn’t as easy as he thought, especially long distance. If anything, it helped him appreciate what we do.
Before you run out and quit your “working income” J.O.B., consider this; Keep your job but focus on building your passive-income empire. Use you earned income to invest in more passive income. Then as Robert Kiyosaki teaches in his book Rich Dad Poor Dad, once your passive income surpasses your expenses, you’re financially free. And remember, “profit is only profitable to the extent that you can use it. For that you need time.” (T. Ferriss, The 4 Hour Workweek)

More than anything, the first thing that one must keep in mind when looking at a piece of property to invest in is whether that property will generate a good income at some indefinite point in the future. This is considered the chief criterion while investing in real estate. If it seems that the investor will not be able to sell the property at a profit in the future, then that property is usually not worth considering.
Apart from this, it is very important to do proper market research on the property before investing in it. Consider opinions from various sources and dont just take your agents word for it. This will help you verify not only the earning power of the property but also other details that one must be aware of before investing in real estate.
It is very important to know your seller well. Make sure his credentials are genuine and you are not being taken for a ride. Run a background check before you get too excited and pay through the nose for the property of your dreams.
Old houses always look pretty and are prettier when they are put up for sale. Dont get carried away by the outward appeal; make sure youve done a thorough check. It makes absolutely no sense to invest in property that will cost more to maintain than the revenue it will generate. This, of course, can happen to a piece of new property too, but its usually the older ones that have this problem.
You obviously dont want property on which youll be spending thousands for repairs. However, there is no harm in investing in something if it requires just a few touch-ups here and there so that you can make it ideal for you. For this, you need to have an honest heart-to-heart with the original tenants, who will be able to tell you everything from pest infestation to how many cracks there are on the ceiling.
Make sure the insurance coverage that you currently have is enough and more to cover your recently bought property. This may seem overtly cautious to some, but you must be prepared. Suppose you move in from a small apartment to a huge Spanish style mansion and something were to happen. Wouldnt you want your insurance to cover all of it?
If you choose to let out your property to tenants, make sure you charge a fair rent. This way, your tenants will be happy and will stay long. Also, before deciding on tenants, run a background check on their credentials, making sure they are people you wont have any trouble with.
If youve just closed a good deal and have made a good amount of profit, dont go wild spending all that money. Instead, act wisely and invest some if not all of that money into another piece of property. Now that you know how profitable real estate is, invest in some more.

Investments in real estate serve as a good depository for your extra funds since real properties usually appreciate in value over time offering you far better returns than many other sources. Owning a real property also gives you the absolute right to sell or rent the real estate and even acquire some more if you intend to, as mandated by law.
It is typical for realtors to come in when buying real estate for the first time. It’s always a good idea to consult a licensed realtor. Their expertise will surely aid in your choice of a property that suits your taste and budget. If you are a seller, realtors are likewise around to help in the process of finding the right buyer and getting the best possible price for your property. Also, if you are interested in the lease of a property, realtors can help you locate properties on lease.
Hiring a real estate agent is necessary in most instances. But don’t just hire any run by the mill agent. Select one that is a member of a local group that provides Multiple Listing Services (MLS). These agents are linked professionally so your choice of possible alternatives can be far-reaching.
If you are buying real estate as future investment, then check with “for sale by owners” (FSBO) ads because the price rates are normally liberal and properties on sale are usually in good condition. Also a nice spot to look at are banks, especially during auction sales for foreclosed properties. There are usually great bargains to be found because seized properties usually go for lower than their actual market value. You can find more information on this at http://www.Click-Rent.com
Real estate financing is also an option if you are cash strapped but interested to acquire the property anyway. Financing institutions offer deals easy on the pocket with the 20 to 30-year payment terms available.

When investing in Real Estate, you may choose to buy and rent a property, or you may choose it flip it, buy and sell quickly. The safest way to invest is to buy wholesale properties that are in the sweet spot of the rental market i.e. they are not in the best or worst neighborhoods. The goal is to find an investment property with a good, or great positive cash flow. This is how you will create wealth.

Positive cash flow is the amount of money that is left over after all of the expenses have been paid on the property and what you can put into your pocket at the end of the month. Expenses that you deduct from the rent payments you’ve collected may include items such as operating costs, taxes, and the mortgage payment. The positive cash flow that one gets from a property will depend upon three different things: the amount of the rent being charged, the amount of the mortgage payment, and the cost of operating the building. To create wealth by investing in real estate, analyzing these three things is crucial.

Using borrowed money to finance your real estate investment is how many investors make a profit. They simply make money off borrowed money. One way to get good cash flow is to make a small down payment on the property, making certain you acquire a mortgage that is lengthy and low-interest. Basically, a lower mortgage payment means you will be getting a higher cash flow.

For example, if you purchase a four-unit apartment building for $125,000 and rent each apartment for $600 each month, you will receive $2,400 a month. Less your mortgage payment of $625 and operating expenses of $300, you should have a cash flow of $1,475. If, however, your mortgage went up to $925 per month, you would only have a positive cash flow of $1,175 each month. The key is to get the lowest payment possible and keep your operating expenses down.

Another method of keeping a positive cash flow is to take out an interest-only loan. This type of loan usually is a short-term loan, usually about a five-to-ten year length of time, in which you are paying the interest only. After the period of the loan is up, you will need to either sell the property or refinance. This, however, does give you a low payment and will help you to get a higher positive cash flow from your investment property.

With a positive cash flow coming in from your investment property, you can use this to help you acquire more investment properties. One way to do this is to refinance your current investment property, using the money you get to help you acquire another investment property and so on. In this sense, you are creating positive cash flow from several properties and you haven’t had to pay the capital gains tax on the original property as you did not sell it, but instead, refinanced it to help you purchase more properties.

The most important thing to remember is that if you want to create wealth by investing in real estate, you must maintain a positive cash flow on your properties. By making certain your mortgage payment is as low as it could be, keeping the operating expenses at a minimum, and pricing the rent amounts correctly, you will find that you will not only create a positive cash flow, you will be able to create the wealth you want for yourself.

Do you want to get involved in investing in real estate but don’t seem to have any extra money in the bank? This is a common problem, but what you may not realize, is that you can start investing with little or nothing in your bank account. Basically, if you own your own home, you can leverage this asset and find yourself investing in no time flat.
As long as you own your own home, pay your mortgage and have fairly descent credit, it will actually be easy to get started in real estate investing. There is most likely a pretty good amount of equality in your house. Even if you have only owned your house for a short time, you have been paying it off and it is most likely has been increasing in value. Just take a look at the balance of your mortgage and subtract it from its current value. Of course you may need to include a second mortgage or and other liens that may be on your property, but you should still have equality to work with. This is your green light to move forward into investing.
Here three ways to use the equity in your home to raise the capital for real estate investing.
1. Refinancing Your Home – You can refinance your house, get a better interest rate and also get some cash out from a refinance mortgage. You can use the cash to purchase an investment property outright, or you should at least have least enough money for a down payment of a property. Be sure to check with your lender or mortgage broker for any of the rules about cash-out refinancing. Keep in mind, a cash-out refinance mortgage may have higher interest rates than other types of mortgages.
2. Using a Home Equity Loan – A home equity loan uses the equity in your home as collateral, this would be a second mortgage to the one you already have. The mortgage amount is based on a percentage of the equity in your house. You may be able to borrow up to 100% of your homes value, but if you are getting a home equity loan on a second property, you may not be able to borrow as much. This type of loan allows you the option to pay the loan back early without penalty, just a nice little bonus.
3. Open a Home Equity Line of Credit – A home equity line of credit has a credit limit similar to a credit card. This is not much different from a home equity loan, the amount that you can borrow is based on your credit score and the amount of equity in your home. You can transfer funds from your home equity line of credit, or even write checks directly from the account. Interest rates are generally lower than cash-out refinance mortgages, and there are tax advantages as well. Another advantage is that you are only paying interest and making payments on the amount you owe at the time, not the entire amount of the loan. In the future, you may also be able to renegotiate for a higher credit line when the equity in your house increases, especially if you have made improvements to your house.
Real Estate Investing is not only for the rich. The average homeowner can get started in real estate investing even if you don’t have a lot of money in the bank. You can use cash-out refinance mortgages, home equity loans, and home equity lines of credit to begin your journey as a real estate investor, and continue to build more investments into the future.

Can we really stop wanting to buy houses? We are constantly developing, constantly making progress, and of course, constantly adding to the population. The more the development, the more the place that is needed by the businesses; and of course the growing population only means added demand for housing. In such a scenario, the real estate sector has no choice but to grow!
Real estate investment is considered to be the safest option for investment. Of course there will be detractors who will try to tell you otherwise. The truth is you need to be well aware and purchase the right property so that you may be a success at the business. This you can only do when you know exactly what the demands of the market are, and the ideal property to buy.
Property-buying Tips
So what should you do to make sure you buy the right piece of property? Well, first of all, you need to make sure that your property generates residual income. This is the chief point of consideration when investing in real estate. You have to make sure your property gives you the maximum returns and you make a good profit at the end of the day.
To understand how residual income may be generated through real estate, you must educate yourself well, through various books, websites, and of course a tremendous amount of survey. Online tutorials are also a popular way of educating yourself regarding the real estate business. You need to grab at any bit of knowledge that comes your way because believe it or not, all of it will come of use to you at some point or the other.
Market-Related Information To Gather
Apart from reading, you need to survey the market in the area in which you intend to buy and sell. You need to be tuned in to the demands of the people in the area. The demands of the businessmen will vary from the demands of regular individuals. You need to make sure you understand all of these finer details really well. Once you understand the demands and know exactly what the local trends are likely to be in the coming months, you will know exactly which properties you should invest in, and understand which ones will generate suitable income.
Of course, you can learn a great deal from people whove been in the profession longer than you have. It would help tremendously if you have friends who are real estate agents or real estate brokering mortgagers. If you dont, maybe you should try and befriend a few, or apprentice with a few so that you can learn on the job. Theres nothing like practical experience. Many a professional real estate investor would probably be more than glad to give you beginners tips.
Once youve got the hang of it, start with helping friends and relatives with their real estate investment deals, and if you do well, youll know youre all set to take on the real estate world!

For those investing in real estate, you may find that there are several unknowns that have to be accounted for that are related to money.
This investment relates to both home owners as well as those involved in the real estate business. There are several common fears that are related to money in real estate.
One of the major problems that are part of real estate investing is taking risks.
If you are investing in a property to own a home, you will have to take out a loan. If you are unable to pay taxes or the loan at any time, you will be at risk of loosing the home.
This can cause several levels of fear to occur, which may lead to the wrong loan being purchased for security. Knowing how much risk you are willing to take with your loan will define what type of loan you should get.
Another common fear factor with money is in relation to investing in a property during the wrong time.
If the economy is at a low or if the market price is not good, investing in a certain property may mean a loss. This is a risk factor that many real estate companies will decide to take in order to sell a home.
When deciding if this is a good investment or not requires some risk and can cause fear if you are unsure about the economy and sale of the home.
Money in the real estate business means taking risks. Whether you are a home owner or are in the real estate business, there will be several times where you will have to determine logical decisions without knowing if there will be money to back up the decision.
It is important to acknowledge these fears so that certain boundaries can be set in relation to them.
This means that you know when you are going too far with a purchase or investment or when the fears are holding you back from making the right moves.
By knowing the financial details of a home purchase, you can move past your fears and make the right investments.

I bought my first apartment 10 years ago, on my 20th birthday. I had spent the previous 5 years working and saving for college; but when I finally entered college at 19 on a full academic scholarship, I decided that instead of spending my accumulated savings, I would try my hand at investment. Here I am 10 years later. This is not a story of extreme or fast wealth building.

But it is a story of effective “forced savings” that has provided me significant insight into financial planning, real estate investing, and balancing the books. While it hasn’t always been a barrel of laughs, overall, I’m reasonably satisfied with the outcome so far.

I thought I would share some real world real estate investment thought. Let’s start at the end, where I am today: I currently own 7 condo apartments in my general geographic area. All of these condos are revenue neutral or revenue positive. I don’t have significant savings to fall back on, and I am just now in the process of “cashing in”, by selling my first apartment. My approach is best described as “slow and steady”; my outlook is 20 – 25 years.

Here the top points I like to share about investing in real estate:

1) Path to (instant) riches

I will never argue that real estate investing is an instant, or even particularly easy, path to significant wealth. My bank statement demonstrates that. I am willing to grant that many people are able to turn real estate in wealth quickly; I’m afraid that hasn’t my approach. Instead, I’ve taken the long view, with the hope that my real estate portfolio will provide a steady cash flow in 10-15 years time. For me, slow and steady really does win the race.

Just think about it: if you can manage to buy and hold 5 properties, within 15 years all five will turn in heavy revenue and heavy profit. For example, my two oldest properties now generate $3500 in revenue each month, with monthly expenses of just $1400. Imagine what that will look like once I’ve paid off all the mortages!

2) For a cautious investor, take the long view

This a vast generalization, but I hold to it pretty firmly: if your outlook is long enough, you will not lose money. At the worst, investing in real estate is a forced savings.

That’s not to say that you’ll never lose money; circumstances such emergency repairs, a destructive tenant, or rapidly inflating interest rates certainly increase the risk. But, if you can hold on through any such upheavals, you’ll find that within two or three years things will settle and you’ll start to benefit from increased appreciate in property value, increased rental income, or both.

And, while property values might dip for periods, keep in mind that over 5 years it’s virtually impossible that your overall property won’t appreciate. At the very worst, you’ll have paid down some of your mortgage.

Plus, you have a tangible, physical asset. There’s a lot to be said about that kind of peace of mind.

3) Operating costs – if they balance, you’re in the good!

You’re probably not going to earn back your down payment quickly – that’s ok! Keep in mind that the portion of your down payment that goes toward principle (ie: the part not eaten up by lawyer and realtor fees) is still in your hands. It just happens to now be in your property. You will see this money again when you sell.

So, the real goal is to be at least neutral on an operating basis. Ideally, that means that your rents will cover mortgages, strata fees, taxes and maintenance. This might not be possible for the first year or three, but even if you’re paying out a few dollars each month, you are still gaining more than if you were not investing.

4) Tenants – do your research,

I learned this lesson the hard way, when I had a tenant cause about $5000 in damage to one of my apartments. What I learned is that tenants have histories; if they are unwilling to share, or if you don’t receive sufficient references to make you comfortable, it’s probably better to just wait. Personally, I now ask for 3 references, and I require proof that the people I’m talking to are actually who they say they are (requiring a work phone number, for example). It might seem extreme, but this type of due diligence at the beginning increase comfort throughout a tenancy and reduce the chances of serious damage.

5) Tenants, Part Two – Late rent is forgivable – Once and don’t be afraid of the eviction notice

Real estate investing is a business. And, like many small businesses, it is sometimes operated on small margins. That means, if a tenant doesn’t pay their rent, it comes out of my pocket. I know that nothing works perfectly, so I will always forgive the first missed rent if there is a reasonable explanation. However, a second missed rent, and I will immediately begin eviction proceedings.

The laws of our state are very strict when it comes to evictions; there must be good and reasonable cause; here, at least, missed rent is just cause for eviction. Don’t misunderstand; I always keep an open mind. But many individuals will take advantage of a situation if they believe there is no consequence.

All in all, I’d say real estate investing has been a very positive experience and I would recommend it to anyone who has patience and fortitude. Do your research, though, because real estate investing has highs and lows, just like any other type of investment vehicle.

Just turn on the television and you’ll see that real estate is hot. Home renovations, home flipping, buying and selling – all are topics of reality shows that many tune into with fanatic fervor. When it’s all over the television, then you know it’s everywhere. It’s real estate, and it’s a great investment opportunity. But what is the very best place to invest in real estate?Insiders Real Estate

For those wanting to make fast cash in a quickly-growing industry that even soaring oil prices can’t slow down, real estate is the way to go. While the stock market may be tricky, politics may get sticky, and the price of driving makes you feel icky, real estate can leave you lucky and in the money. People are still interested in buying and selling their homes, both new and remodeled. Those who can handle themselves in this market, and learn how to make a profit, can find a very lucrative career in the arena of real estate. But to succeed, you’ll want to know the best places to invest in real estate.

Where are they? First, think about the kind of profits you want to make, the kind of properties you want to sell. Do you want to sell million-dollar homes, or affordable properties that small families and couples can share happily? Do you want to do renovations, or simply buy properties and sell them for a quick turnaround? Will you be flipping properties, or just putting a little make-up on them before you sell? In order to find the best place to invest in real estate, you have to decide what kind of a real estate investor you are. And you have to know how much money you can reasonably afford to spend.

Don’t sink every last dollar into your real estate investment, and always leave room in the budget to spend more. Unforeseen problems may arise, and you may have to pull out the check book even when you don’t want to. As the investor, the bulk of the monetary burden will fall on your shoulders – so make sure you can cover it. Some properties need more work than others, before they’re ready to be purchased and lived in by the general public. The better your property looks, the better your chances of getting a great profit. Knowing how much you can afford to spend is a very decisive factor when it comes to where you’re going to invest that money. The best place to invest in real estate is always going to be the place that you can afford.

Also, check out the surrounding properties in any area before you buy. Areas with very low property values are not the best investment idea, as you stand little chance of getting large profits. Desirable locations are neighborhoods with high property values, areas close to schools and parks, homes that sits in an area that you, yourself, wouldn’t mind living in. If you take one look at a neighborhood and say “no way,” then any potential buyers are probably thinking the same thing. The best place to invest in real estate? The place that you think you would live in, too. The place that you can afford. That’s the best place to invest your hard-earned dollars.

Not all people interested in real estate know that there are grants for real estate especially from the state and federal government. Billions of dollars are available as grants and there are many ways to put this money in to good use.

Grants from the government are offered to help them outsource and distribute the workload of providing homes to the people. While it is mainly the job of government housing agencies, many real estate businesses and non-profit parties can help make it possible for the government to reach out those who need it.

Loans and Grants for Real Estate Investing

The government provides grants for real estate investing as well as low cost loans. Grants and loans for real estate investing programs such as property acquiring, building homes, purchasing land, rehabilitation and refurbishing properties, are just to name a few. And real estate grants and loans are accessible provided that you meet the requirements set by the government.

The availability of grants for real estate investing from the government is also meant for non-profit organizations. One good example is investing in senior homes. The government has supported projects for the senior citizens and has continually given considerations to most projects that involve them. Non-profit organizations can work with real estate investors in these home building projects and they can utilize the grants for real estate investing programs and such.

Real estate investors can also take advantage of the grants for real estate investing. They may apply for a loan from the government or they can be a partner and offer their services to ongoing real estate investing programs.

Real estate investors who have partnered with the government can benefit from sharing their services and expertise. Since there are billions of dollars in funds for grants, chances are these investors spend almost nothing in these real estate investing programs.

Furthermore, if the partnership thrives and shows a promising future, more grants for homes and non-profit real estate programs can benefit from the government funds.

For new real estate investors, getting a grant for real estate investing may pose some challenges. But never fret because the government is there to help everyone. Offer your services and expertise to them and ask for their specific requirements to become a partner. Who knows, you might thrive and succeed as a real estate investor right away when you put your knowledge into good use while servicing your fellow citizens.