Commercial Real Estate Investment Articles

As real estate investors, don’t we all wish we had a crystal ball to forecast the real estate market future? With that crystal ball, we could confidently invest in certain areas, strategically buying and selling in some markets, and using buy and hold strategies in other markets.

Investing in real estate can be a little scary at times, especially for beginners. But please don’t let your fears hold you back from jumping into the very best real estate market we have seen in decades.

Despite the 2008 housing downturn and troubles that persist in the market, real estate remains one of the safest, surest investments there is. But if you’re still a little gun-shy about buying a house, we understand. Instead you may want to invest in these 13 Bizarre Real Estate Investment Opportunities. At best, you could end up with a lucrative outside-the-box endeavor that will grow your financial stake considerably. At worst, you’ll have an intriguing story to share at parties.

I didn’t understand the concept of a real estate investment team at first, so I had a hard time with real estate investing. I was a “lone wolf” trying to do too much myself. I have since learned that in real estate, you need a team of people you can trust and rely upon. Here are your top 10 team members–and what they need–in order to be on your team. Investing in real estate is less stressful and more profitable with a good team.

Real estate has historically created more wealth than any other investment platform. This exchange or transfer of wealth has happened over and over again and most clearly during the tough economic times of recession.

9 Mistakes All New Real Estate Investors Make

I recently received a detailed email from a frustrated real estate wholesaler stating that he is sending thousands of postcards every month and is still rarely able to connect with a motivated seller.

You’ve always thought outside the box. In kindergarten, you colored so far outside the lines that your parents had to pay for a new desk. In high school, you created a new club every year. (Spelunking – really?) So now that you’re an adult, why are you suddenly so content to follow the “status quo” when it comes to your investments? Maybe it’s time to challenge the standard credit guidelines and try hard money investing instead. After all, it’s more your style. A hard money loan is a form of real estate financing that’s based on the value of the property to be purchased rather than the credit of the borrower. Hard money loans are most often used for house flipping or other investing strategies that require a quick turnaround. It’s like another tool for your toolbox, and as you’ll see, the benefits of this unique financing strategy are worth learning about. Here’s how hard money loans can help:

Winning in real estate investing requires that you follow two simple rules: Understand which asset classes have the best risk/reward ratio. Invest in the best locations for your asset class and strategy. Investing in apartments provides stability and safety, even as other economic sectors endure dramatic swings.

As we near the bottom of our real estate market, investors are realizing it’s becoming a great market and it’s time to start buying houses again. Investors who buy now can hold onto the investment for very good cash flow or flip the house for an instant income.

Smart real estate investments go beyond word-of-mouth figures and perceived popularity. You may hear rumors of “hot” markets, but nothing beats cold, hard data when it comes to forecasting real estate investment viability.

Did you get the memo from your local code enforcement office? New construction permits are way down, which means the code enforcement officers are looking for ways to increase activity on existing housing.

Many investors start out by driving through neighborhoods, writing down the address of an ugly or vacant house, and sending “we buy houses” letters and postcards to the owners. It’s called “driving for dollars,” and it has made many investors a fortune. I should know because I’m one of them!

When I am considering investing in an apartment building, the ultimate question in my mind is: Is this a good deal? Sounds obvious, but I am amazed at how many investors don’t know how to recognize a good deal. Learning to recognize a good deal takes research, education, and experience. Here are the five most important issues to consider when investing in apartment buildings.

This article completes our series on “wholesaling” real estate. So, I’d like to give you a few more ways to get wholesaling prospects. In the last article, How to Find the Right Kind of House to Flip, we talked about the “driving & calling” method, and it’s a method that will produce some results. However, it takes a lot of energy and has a limited potential.

If you follow the news, it’s likely that you’ve become concerned about the state of today’s housing market. And it’s no wonder. Just open up the real estate section of any paper, and you’ll see nothing but negative headlines.

Connecting with burned out landlords can lead to finding some great deals and buying houses directly from motivated sellers. And believe me, there are plenty of burned out landlords in the real estate business.

When you’re dining at an upscale restaurant, do you choose the straightforward steak, or do you bravely order the dish you can barely pronounce? Does your family spend summer vacations huddled in the same old cabin every year, or do you travel to new exciting destinations instead? Moxie is an elusive trait. If you have it, you know the value of pushing yourself out of your comfort zone once in awhile. Real estate investors from all over the globe have a surplus of moxie, and they’re using it to seize investment opportunities on American soil. Lately, real estate investors from all over the globe have a surplus of moxie, and they’re using it to seize investment opportunities on American soil. These experienced investors see something in the American real estate market that causes them to skip over their own backyards and purchase properties in the U.S. instead. But what exactly is it they see, and what does it mean for you?

After working 22 years in the corporate world with AT&T, Lucent Technologies, Avaya & ADC in the telecommunications industry, I got downsized. I took the opportunity to move to the beach and chose the beautiful Alabama gulf coast even though I had never been here.

In my previous article, “Why You Don’t Need Fannie Mae or HUD,” I shared why I believe we are at a critical time for real estate investors to begin finding their own deals.

In this first blog article, I’ll introduce you to the many reasons you should consider investing in apartments. Over the next few weeks, I’ll elaborate on the details because I want to give both the experienced and novice investor my insights and experiences. As with most investments, apartment investing has its pros and cons. But I think it has many advantages over investing in single family residences (SFRs).

The information discussed in this article is VERY important and a major step to wholesaling real estate, or house flipping, so take the time to read it carefully.

Investigating an income property is a lot like a detective story. You’re never quite sure if what you’re seeing is the whole truth, or even relevant to solving the case. We wade through reams of facts in search of bits of information that, when considered as a whole, point to the right conclusion.

Did you get the memo from Fannie Mae?  They are making some significant changes in their approach to managing their foreclosure inventory, and it affects real estate investors.

House flipping is all the rage in America these days, but what explains the buzz? The promise of a fat profit is the biggest draw, of course, and many people also seem to take pleasure in making a beautiful home out of a neglected foreclosure. Then there are the reality shows that make flipping look so easy and so glamorous. Remember, every investor secretly believes they’re just as good as Donald Trump, just with better hair. But whatever the reason, there’s no denying the popularity of house flipping. That’s why many investors are surprised to learn that a buy and hold strategy could be a better fit for their investment goals – and especially now. While renting out a property has always been a solid way to create a stream of passive income, current market conditions are making quite a case for a buy and hold strategy, at least for a little while. So what’s the argument?