Real Estate Investment Property | Expert Tips & Advice

Are you ready to buy your first investment property, such as an apartment complex, house, condo, or maybe a duplex?  Are you ready to own an investment property that will have long term benefits to you financially?

If so, this decision can catapult you directly into a real estate ownership position, which quite frankly might appear daunting at first, due to the high level of responsibility involved when owning an investment property. Needless to say, buying an investment property can fee like a brave leap into unknown waters—the water could feel too cold or look too deep, or the diving board seems too high.

But how do you go about buying an investment or rental property? Do you want to buy a single family home or a condo?

Fear not. Whenever we begin new projects or start new experiences, we often feel apprehensive because we don’t have enough information to help us along the way. We hope to ease this anxiety by providing you with all the key information you need on this website, such as:

It’s important to think about the long term benefits of property ownership. When approached with the right frame of mind, you not only can succeed at owning property but you can also get much more out of it than what you put in.

Ownership grants you a lot of power and freedom because you essentially become your own boss, and are limited only by your motivation and imagination. It gives you a sense of goodwill and kindness because so many people depend on you for a home. Ownership generates a tremendous amount of confidence from several avenues, such as potential for a sale or cash flow, or proficiency at a new task (e.g. electrical work or adding on to a property). With experience comes confidence and the ability to apply it to the future, such as how to deal with fussy tenants, how to repair things, and better yet, how to make more money.

Anybody can succeed with property ownership, but most people never try because of their fear of failure. But if a 65-year-old immigrant from El Salvador who I like to call “Latin Dad” can do it, why can’t you?

The most important thing is to never lose sight of the main goal of property ownership: making money.  This is business after all.  Remember, this is not a charity—you have to make a living, too. In the long run, you want the property to pay for itself, as well as generate a good profit that you can enjoy for years to come.  Sure, there are times when it makes sense to break even and ride out a real estate lull, but long term you need to see a profit.

So whether you want to jump right into the deep end, or just get your toes wet, let’s make sure you have your ducks in a row.

To begin, here are a few fundamentals you should know prior to ownership and things you'll need to get working on:

• Get your credit in shape
• Do a lot of research
• Talk to agents, brokers, individual sellers
• Have a plan (what type of property do you want to buy and where?  how long do you want to own the property?)

Questions You Should Ask:

Fear not. Whenever we begin new projects or start new experiences, we often feel apprehensive because we don’t have enough information to help us along the way. We hope to ease this anxiety by providing you with all the key information you need on this website, such as:

1. Is there another type of investment that’s better suited for me? Will a simple bond or CD generate more profit than this property? (If so, don’t buy this property. But if you insist on buying property, find another that’s priced below its value.)
2. Will this property pay for itself? (Remember, you have to pay for a number of things, such as mortgage, operating costs, taxes, insurance, and don’t forget about your own living expenses. You’ll need to have some money left over, i.e. a cash flow.)
3. Are there ways to increase the value of this property? (This is a wonderful benefit of being a property owner—you can directly impact the way your investment grows, which in turn earns you more money, unlike in the stock market, where you're giving your money to another company.)

What type of property do you want to own?

1. weekend or vacation homes
2. in-laws (can write off depreciation of the unit you're renting)
3. single family homes
4. multi units
5. condos
6. fourplex
7. duplexes
8. apartment complex
9. lofts
10. townhouse
11. age restricted community homes
12. college condos or apartment units

TIP: Statistics and numbers are the key underlying factors that determine if you should buy or sell your property. But be aware that statistics can have hidden elements that hide the whole story. It’s best to do your own research and investigating in conjunction with the information that a real estate agent gives you.

The real estate market depends upon a number of factors, interest rates being a key aspect, but the market usually has ups and downs, so there's no need to rush in and buy right away.

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