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Posts Tagged ‘Real Estate Investment’

Investing in Real Estate How and Why

December 21st, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

If you are thinking about investing in real estate how and why are two very important questions that you should ask.

To begin with how… You need to find sources of information that are going to provide you with all the information you need to get you started with on your investment. You can use resources such as…

- The internet for research. If you utilize this tool it can be your starting point in respect to investing in real estate. Contemplating investing in real estate how and why are the two important questions to ask because It’s your money and you don’t want to lose it. That’s why starting your research from the bottom up will lead you in the right direction.

- Reading Material. There is excellent reading material regarding real estate investment that can be obtained from the internet as well. Then you can also purchase this from book stores. Even the financial papers will provide you with some excellent information.

- Online courses. Once you begin thinking about investing in real estate how and why are the two questions that you not only need the answers to, but you must understand the concept of the answers. This can easily be achieved through many of the great online courses that are available for real estate investment.

- Ask the experts. Don’t be afraid to ask questions of every expert that crosses your path regarding real estate investments. The majority of them would be more than willing to answer them. You can refer to professionals such as bankers, loans officers and other investors.

As we mentioned if you are thinking about investing how and why are two important questions, and after answering the how its important to address the why.

Why should you invest in real estate… To begin with its one of the safer types of investments. Stocks can be volatile. If the economy is bad then one stands to lose their entire investment. With investment in real estate in a bad economy most often you can just weather out the storm and hold onto your investment until things get better.

Its also an investment that you can maintain control over. You are the one making the decisions about your investment. Most often when you are involved in stocks the decisions are being made by the portfolio manager.

As you can see there are many advantages to real estate investment. This can be done with even a minimal amount of funds.

The first thing in investing in real estate

December 19th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Real estate investments can be extraordinarily profitable provided one is aware of the several keys to successful real estate investment deals. Investing in real estate has become increasingly popular over the last few decades and many investors are finding great opportunities in real estate for making big gains. But beginners in real estate investing need not be disheartened as they will learn through experience and eventually become adepts at closing profitable deals. There are some fundamental skills that one has to acquire for building a sound real estate investment business.- The investor must continuously look for information about desperate home/property sellers who are facing emergency situations and identify hidden opportunities.- The investor must become a master negotiator for favorably closing the real estate investment deals. – The investor should acquire the uncanny knack to accurately analyze each real estate investment deal and learn exactly when to proceed with the deal and when to retract. – The investor must gain expertise in all areas of real estate investment and understand what is meant by lease options, cash sales, wrap mortgages, foreclosures, auction sales and such other aspects of real estate investment trade. – The investor should understand all the financial risks and benefits of investing in real estate. – The investor must become conversant with the real estate laws of the state concerned and the federal income tax lawsYour confidence levels will steadily grow as you gain experience and successfully close a few real estate deals. Like in any other business, there are no get-rich overnight schemes in real estate investment. Over a period of time you will surely find yourself managing a profitable and growing portfolio of investment properties. The opportunities to build wealth are definitely there in the real estate market and with a fair knowledge of the market you can go for the kill. Understanding real estate investment is crucial because it usually involves a substantial investment and a long-term one. Besides, the real estate market can quite often be unpredictable. There are a number of ways in which an investor can participate in the real estate market.One can opt for real estate investment with an aim to rent the property out to a tenant. This is a safer bet and the investor will then have a steady rental income from the tenant, though he will be responsible for paying the mortgage, taxes and other expenses associated with maintaining the property. The owner also benefits from capital appreciation when he decides to dispose off the property. Be careful to whom you rent because your property must be well-maintained. There are real estate investment groups that are similar to mutual funds. While an investor may own many rental properties, a professionally managed company acquires builds, maintains and lets out all the properties in exchange for a small percentage of the monthly rent. This can save you a lot of bother.Real estate trading is of course where the money lies. Traders buy and hold properties for a short span of time and then sell them off at a profit. This process is called flipping properties and investors buy significantly undervalued or very hot properties.

Why High Net Worth Individuals Invest In Real Estate

November 17th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

All investors prefer to invest in a diversified and balanced way, whereby the funds are spread out rather than being concentrated in one basket alone. Present day investments range over stocks, shares, mutual funds, insurances, pension plans and most importantly into estates and properties. Allocation of funds is governed by a number of parameters like taxes, goals and preferences.
Is real estate a good investment? The rich seem to think so! Without a doubt most high net worth individuals put their money into real estate. This is either in the country where they reside or “offshore” in places where they like to holiday or let it out to holidayers. Places which feature and fall into the popularly opted for locations are Hawaii being close to the US, or in the Balerean Islands in close proximity to Spain and such other places.
Why do high net worth individuals invest in real estate? Today most families love to holiday at sea resorts or in the mountains and other places of interest. So buying property in such places is ideal for letting out during peak seasons when the place is crowded with tourists. Out of season is the time then when the place is available for you to holiday or get-away.
The category of residential and commercial properties falls within real estate investments, and are available in most areas, dependent on where you would like to invest. Many high net worth individuals invest in resorts and hotels as well. The various offshore companies and brokers can inform you on real estate available and how the taxation laws work.
Investing in real estate with mortgage facility helps save taxes legally. Most of the brokers and financial advisors offer their customers personalized and comprehensive advice on matters of real estate. They also arrange for local finances in cases of investing abroad. Investors are taking advantage of the low borrowing rates to finance direct investments in commercial and residential properties.
The good thing about locating and identifying real estate abroad and even locally today is that it is becoming easier and easier. All you have to do is access the information over the net. However, in the case of high net worth individuals, you do not have to do it yourself. You only have to tell your broker or investor and the job is done. The broker will do all the research and may even check out the property to give complete information on the property to his client, i.e. the net worth individual. He will save you the time and effort of running property to property, which is to be done only after he has short-listed the ones nearest to your requirements.
The broker takes on the responsibility of reviewing the various financial models and the current interest rates on mortgage taken by banks and insurance companies.
Real estate investments are on the rise for the simple reason there is an increase in the number of high net worth individuals all over the world. High net worth individuals have major global or national investment advisors handling their asset management portfolios.

Ways to Profit from Investing in Real Estate and Land

November 14th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

In today’s competitive world, land is shrinking fast and population is multiplying by many scores. The need for new houses and land is thus rising and today there is no other option but for making for an investment in the real estate and land market. Once you purchase a property or land, the value of it cannot decrease below some level on the contrary the thriving economy demands more land and more properties. There are fewer disadvantages and far greater returns in investing in the real estate and the land market.
In order to make the most of your real estate investment all you have to do is just waiting and that is the mantra of high profit in this industry. Buying at low value and selling at higher prices is the basis rule of profit in this hot market of today’s world. The real estate and the land market have witnessed tremendous growth not only in the developed countries but also in other countries where the economy of the nations is at an all time high.
Profit in the Real Estate Investment
Real investment in areas like commercial real estate, boarding houses, mobile homes, rental houses, and many other areas have become popular with the real estate professionals. The buyer and the seller in the real estate market profit equally well. In order to reap maximum profits from your investment in the real estate investment there are some qualities that you should possess. Abilities like, a thorough knowledge of the market, the ability to know the needs of the customers, and capacity to see in the future that is you should be able to comprehend the future market trends in the industry.
Selling the property that is bought is not the only way to profit in the real estate rather one should buy the property hold it maintain the property so that the net worth of the property increases over time and then you can sell it for a good profit. For example if you hold rented property and the rent is on time by the boarders and you maintain the property regularly with the rent being paid increases the value of the property and also the net worth of yours.
The other way to profit in the investment of real estate is buying a property that can attract the potential customer. It may be that one buyer may be repelled by the location of the property while some other will pay whatever amount to have the property. This fact points to your ideal selection of the property and its other attributes like its maintenance, the number of rooms, the spaciousness of the property and other factors.
Profit in Land Investment
Land investment market is today considered more lucrative than the real estate investment. The land investment market does not depend on the housing market and the government policies. All the investor needs to do is to buy a strategically positioned land and wait for the right time. Land that has bee declared for residential use, amenities, good road accessibility, things like nearby schools, markets, and hospitals should be looked for having a good return on investment in your land. The investors can even decide to develop the land all by themselves and that is the most profitable way to earn great ROIs on your land investments.

With the Current Stock and Credit Market Crises, Investment in Real Estate Will Make Even More Sense in the Future

November 11th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

With the current financial crisis pervading stock markets in the global ecomony, real estate once again should be looked at as a serious, long-term investment strategy that can help investors further diversify their investment portfolios in the future. The reality is that the current stock market malaise that has decimated so many long-standing financial institutions and subsequently stock investments and 401Ks is not the only major stock market troubles we have seen in recent times. Arguably, there have been as many as three “bubbles.”
The dot-com bubble and decline of the stock market helped push investors into other markets where money was cheap and regulations loose. Because of lax oversight and inaction, the housing bubble was allowed to form. The oil market represents a bubble to many as the cost of a barrel of Brent crude went from $100 per barrel in February 2008, to a high of $145 per barrel by July 2008. Brent crude is now trading under $60 per barrel.
Going forward, there are two very real concerns for investors. First, many may be looking at the performance of stock investments over the past eight years and calculating what their true return from those investments has been. Second, many will be asking if their investments can sustain another severe market imbalance in the future. In effect, they are wondering as to where the ‘Fourth Bubble” will come from.
All of this gives credence again to having an even broader diversification of investment portfolios. As a result, real estate should once again be seriously looked at as part of an investor’s diversification strategy for several reasons.
First, property valuations have fallen considerably from market highs. Prices in some markets have dipped to 2004 levels. In some instances, prices have dipped to 2003 levels.
Second, real estate has intrinsic value. Unlike stocks and financial-related investments that can see depreciation in their worth down to zero, real estate has inherent value down to the land and will not experience a wholesale collapse in its value to zero.
Third, real estate is real. It can be seen and touched, and managed closely by the owner.
Fourth, real estate has certain tax benefits that can contribute to the overall performance of the property as an investment.
Fifth, a successful rental property as an investment presents an opportunity to create a revenue stream and/or create equity in the home as the renter indirectly is contributing to payment of the principal over time. Regardless of the market and whether appreciation or positive-cash flow rental income is preferred by the investor, the principal is being paid down on the property.
Lastly, based on proposals floated by President-elect Obama, we should expect additional legislation that puts guidelines, regulations and accountability in this industry that ensures proper lending practices and reduces the risk for rampant speculation that has battered the markets in recent times.
Of course, there are certainly risks to holding real estate as an investment in your portfolio. For instance, there may be unexpected property repairs, assessments, or other extraordinary costs that the investor has to incur. So, an investor has to look at real estate also as a business with income and regular and extraordinary expenses.
For those investors that are looking for a simpler way to be diversify without the additional headache, a REIT may be a logical avenue to investigate. A Real Estate Investment Trust is a company that invests in income-generating properties to drive returns for its investors. The income-generating properties may be apartment buildings, industrial and commercial properties. REITs allow smaller investors the ability to invest in larger real estate operations that they wouldn’t be able to otherwise. REITs also should be able to show their overall historical performance to investors.
Again, investors are faced with the question of how to protect and grow their assets in the future. The stock market’s high level of volatility in recent years has many investors questioning the percentage concentration of their portfolios in stocks and similar investments. As a result, the pressure to further diversify those portfolios will mean that other asset categories will have increasingly greater appeal and should be considered for investment.
Overall, real estate presents a great opportunity once again for the long-term investor as outlined above. In addition, the incoming administration has put forth numerous proposals to improve transparency, implement sound business and ethical practices to the industry with the singular purpose to eliminate the probability of a similar crisis ever occurring in the future. All of this will work to give investors options once again for a safer, more consistent and calculable return in the coming years.

Before You Invest in Real Estate

November 4th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

1. What are you wanting to invest in? You have to decide if you are going to invest in commercial or personal property or both. If you are looking to invest in commercial property you will want to ensure you do so in an area that is in high demand and will bring you in potential buyers or leasing agreements if you are going to rent it out. Commercial property should be inspected carefully as you will have to meet certain requirements when you begin leasing it out.

If you are deciding on investing in personal property you should find the desired areas that are favorable for FHA loans, this will ensure you a greater number of potential buyers if you are planning on selling the property after renovations.

2. What do you want to do with the property? You should determine what your goal for the property is. If you plan on renting it out then with commercial and personal location will be key. Rental properties are more desirable in locations that either offer a family environment near parks and schools or a business surrounding for the professional who does not wish to commute.

If you are planning on selling the property, especially with personal property you will want to check the area to ensure that is an area that allows FHA lending. You may have to do some minor repairs such as scrape off any flaked paint, repair a cracked window and re -attach the gutters to have the FHA loans approved, but you will have an enormously larger group of potential buyers.

3. How will you get the funds to purchase the property? Obtaining a loan from the bank is easy if you have good or excellent credit or can prove that you have some cash reserves such as a bank account or a 401k. If your credit is less than desirable and you do not have any funds to back up or secure the loan you may want to look into hard money investors.

Hard money investors are not concerned with your credit or your cash reserves, they only care that the property can be sold and their money returned if you default on the payments. You will find that the hard money lenders will close quicker but will also carry slightly higher fees at closing.

To cushion the cost of closing the lenders will loan you 65% of the home’s value after renovation, so that means if you find a property that is listed for $60,000 and the value after rehabbing is $100,000 then they will loan you $65,000, this will be enough to purchase the property and cover any closing costs you may have.

Real estate investment is a very lucrative opportunity for many and with the right tools you will be well on your way to creating wealth and security for your future.

Automate Your Real Estate Business

Real estate investor can go about their investment options in a more effective way by automating their real estate business.

This cutting edge business automation can slash your working hours as it increases the money you earn in your real estate business. Grab this rare opportunity to learn and discover the best way to automate your business.

Things to remember when investing in real estate

November 2nd, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

In the last couple of years real estate investment has taken a huge beating. With the markets crashing in most parts of the US and in some parts of the UK, the general mood is grim, as far as real estate is concerned. In almost all parts of the world, home sales have slowed to a snail’s pace and value of properties has plunged like never before. The cause is not helped by climbing mortgage rates either.

A good majority of investors are therefore staying away from investing in real estate. Understandable, but a tad overcautious?

It would seem so.

The financial downturn has its benefits. For instance, if you are a buyer in this market, chances are you will make a handsome profit because it is a buyer’s market out there. For one thing, rates have crashed. So, anyone making a buy today can be assured that they are buying when rates have bottomed out. Secondly, most sellers have come down from their high horses and are willing to sell if they get a genuine buyer with a reasonably good offer. Some are even ready to sell if they break even. So, if you have the money, there’s no reason to hold yourself back.

But there are a number of things you need to remember before investing in real estate.

Real estate is not the stock market. You cannot expect to play it for short term profits. In the past, people have invested in property and flipped it for handsome profits. But that bubble has popped and it is anybody’s guess when things will be as they were before. So, play in real estate only if you are in it for the long run.

The second rule in real estate investing is to always, always be prepared for the deal. Many people buy as a direct result of knee jerk reactions to all the bad news they hear. That’s the natural thing to do when sources around you are pushing nothing but volatile pieces of news. But a wise investor needs to be objective and dispassionate in their decision.

The best way to achieve objectivity is to collect as much information as possible. Every investor needs a systematic and disciplined approach to the investment process and must act in keeping with a grand plan of events.

Another important thing to remember in real estate investing is to keep your risks proportionate to your ability to absorb these risks. Make an investment only when you are financially capable of it. For instance, a person who is accumulating assets can take higher risks than, say, a retiree.

For someone looking for an opportunity to invest in real estate, the sky is really the limit. As the economy picks up and growth begins to make itself felt once again, the wise can make huge profits. However, the bottom line is that investing in real estate is a huge risk. You can win only if you utilize and take advantage of superior research, planning and high quality financial planning

Pros of investing in real estate

November 2nd, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

If you notice only 5 percent North Americans are financially independent till they reach retirement age. Remaining 95 percent are independent on friends and families to fulfill their needs. If you don’t want to face problems in your retirement age the best solution would be to invest in real estate. If you invest in real estate in a right way, it can be very profitable and an exciting adventure, but if you do it wrong, you may end up with a huge mess. Some major advantages of investing in real estate are as follows:Appreciation: By investing in real estate you will notice that their will be a steady increase in the value of your house or land. This appreciation is due to overwhelming demand for real estate. One of the main reasons for investing in real estate is to satisfy basic human need i.e. shelter. Leverage: Leverage the use of borrowed funds to finance the purchase of asset leverage basically allows you to use other people’s money to buy more properties. Leverage allows investors to earn a higher return on their equity. Make this kind of purchase with the help of your company’s 401 (k) program or buying stocks in the stock market. Tax savings:If you buy right property at the right time at a good price and manage it properly and also your rental properties generate a positive cash flow you can take advantage of tax write offs including depreciation. For example: if your property generates $1000 a month and positive before tax cash flow you would pocket $12,000 a year. Also assume if your depreciation amount is nearly $15,000 the same year. You can get double benefits, you can show a paper loss of nearly $3000 and you can avoid paying taxes on the $12,000 gain for that year. Freedom:If you invest in real estate you require less commitment when compared to other business. If you invested in a software company, consulting firm, coffee shop or bakery you have to spend long hours to achieve success. Real estate investing can be done without too much interference with your current job. Most of the real estate work is done in the beginning when doing research and property selection. Once you have purchased a house or apartment, you just have to just call property Management Company.Pride of Ownership:One important aspect of real estate investing is that you should physically own a building and are responsible for people’s shelter. Unlike owning a stock, whose value may decrease if stock market crashes, real estate investment may make you happy as the value of property will only increase and you can physically go stand in front of and look at and say this is yours. One major advantage of investing in real estate is it is easy to conclude that very few if any other investments can match it.

Multiple things to be noticed before investing in real estate

November 1st, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

There cannot be two opinions that investing in real estate can be a fabulous method for creating wealth. There are multiple ways to invest in real estate. But it is better to confine your interests to one particular segment and stay focused. It can be starter homes, foreclosures, houses, low down payment properties, condominiums, small apartment buildings etc.So real estate business is an awesome business. In general people who are equipped with the necessary knowledge and continuously in touch with the market trends and have the necessary contacts are able to earn huge money by investing in real estate – despite market fluctuations. It is common knowledge that investing in real estate market carries far less risk than many other forms of investments.Economy plays a crucial role in determining the value of real estate. Because when there is economy recession, then the value of the property comes down. When number of properties offered in the real estate market is selling fast and at high prices, then it is an indicator that the real estate market trend is on the upswing.If your intention of investing is a rapid growth of money, then you can opt for adding value to real estate investment. Renovating or making physical improvements or adding additional built area – are all ways to increase the market value of the property. It is prudent to buy property that is in need of repairs at a nominal or below market price. You should be vigilant and be on the look-out for sellers who desperately want to dispose of the property. In all such transactions, you can assuredly make a windfall profit. If you are a skilled negotiator, your profit can even shoot up further. Buying foreclosed homes is another way to buy a house at a below market price. When the house owner is unable to meet the mortgage payments, for whatever reason, then the lender will foreclose the property in order to get his money back. In such circumstances, the lender takes over legal possession of the foreclosed home and goes in for a quick sale. A foreclosure is a home that has been repossessed by the finance company or a bank that lent the original loan amount for buying it. The bank or the lending institution does not want to indefinitely hold onto these homes, as they usually cost them money, so they opt for a foreclosure to get back the money.  The one important thing in real estate investment is not to get emotionally or sentimentally attached to any property. Bear in mind that you are only an investor and not buying a home where you are going to reside with your family. If you have the required financial resilience and market knowledge, you can make handsome gains by buying land and then building houses. One of the best scenarios is to buy enough land to build and sell finished houses or apartments at fancy prices. In a nutshell, sound real estate investment means a well-conceived investment strategy and making informed decisions about price, location and market trends. There are quite a few proven methods of investing in real estate that can generate wealth for you. In the real estate investment business the right tools are thorough knowledge of the market, adequate financial resources, the ability to decide what and when to buy/sell etc.

Why Does Investing In Real Estate Create Wealth

October 29th, 2009 CheapFlatsLondon No comments

Investing in real estate is just like doing any other business. The main goal is to earn money. By buying and selling properties or even renting it out you are creating wealth. The aim is to create a regular positive cash flow.
The trick here is to use as less of your own money as possible. Pay only the down payment when buying a property. Take a long-term loan with the least amount of interest. Once you have purchased a property, then you can put it up on rent. Now your cash flow begins. Once you deduct your maintenance charges, your taxes and the interest payments on your loan and your other running costs from the rentals you have received, you can reach a conclusion as to exactly how much you are earning. If the earning is substantial, then you have made a good decision and you can now replicate it again. This is wealth being created and multiplied.
Once you have started receiving regular income from your property, then you could also think about getting a re-finance on it. This will give you an additional loan to purchase a new property and put it again on rent. This method will also be helpful in avoiding any payment of capital gains tax since you have not sold any property.
When you decide to buy any property, you should also conduct proper research before buying it. Consult an experienced real estate broker if you are new in this field. His experience and contacts can be useful in getting a wide range of properties to choose from. Also hire the services of a good real estate attorney who can read between the lines before signing up any documents. All these services cost money but these are necessary expenses, which will help you stay out of trouble and save you even more money in the future. Also, learn to identify properties, which have good potential and sellers who are serious about doing business with you. This can save a lot of time and effort while hunting for a good deal.
You could also go in for an interest only loan, where the loan period is only between 5 to 10 years. In this type of loan you only have to pay interest, but you will have to sell the property after the loan period or re-finance it. This is also a good way to build up wealth in a short period. Anyway, in theory, your property would also have appreciated within the loan period. The important thing to remember is that some activity should be taken up once you have purchased a property. If it is lying idle, then it is not creating wealth. If you are not getting good rental offers, then it is better to sell it or re-finance it and move elsewhere. A cash flow has to be maintained for wealth to be created.
It is these dim times of foreclosures, which are ideal for you to jump in and make some good real estate investments. You can get properties at very low prices, and by using the above tips you could start creating real wealth in real estate.