Over the last several years real estate investing has become extremely popular, almost mainstream. Real estate investment groups have sprung up all over the country, complete courses have been developed to educate the masses, books on the subject arrival on the shelves daily, and reality TV even joined the bandwagon with a variety of shows. Suddenly every bartender, receptionist, cabdriver, and Tom, Dick and Harry is into real estate “investing”. Everybody is trying to create wealth through real estate.
And for a while it was working. As a whole, our country experienced several years of exceptional appreciation in real estate values, making many investors wealthy. Most were accomplishing this by “flipping” real estate. People from all walks of life were buying house on Sunday and quickly selling them for a profit on Monday, with very little downside. There was a time when almost everybody thought real estate investing meant buying and “flipping” properties.
But then things changed. Virtually overnight the real estate fairytale ended. The subprime market crashed. Interest rates on ARMs started to climb. Foreclosures hit record highs. Values started to plummeted. Really plummet.
In fact, as I write this, it is estimated that the current real state crash will be the second largest since the Depression. Some analysts are projecting drops in value of 10 to 20%, maybe more. Foreclosure rates may again double. (Currently, one of every 200 homes is said to be in foreclosure). Some lending institutions are closing their doors. Others are barely hanging on.
But even though this may be an extremely large crash, there are a few factors that separate it from previous down markets. For one, the economy is still pretty strong in most areas of the country. This means, as of yet, we are holding our own against a recession, or worse, a depression. Also, interest rates are still very affordable and should be in the near future. These are two important factors real estate investors look for as they invest in property.
What does this all mean? To sum it up, it means the real estate market is flooded. It means people and banks are willing to deal. It means anyone wishing to dispose of real estate are selling real estate gold at silver prices. It means it’s is time to buy! Only now the investor will not profit by flipping or selling their property, they will have to hold their property and wait for values to resurface. The new strategy for real estate wealth will be simple, buy at the fire sale, and sell after recovery. This wealth will come to those who can successfully accomplish two important during this time:
1. Purchase solid homes in stable neighborhoods at steep discounted prices,
2. Rent those homes to quality tenants who will pay the rent and maintain the property until the recovery occurs.
The average investor thinks wealth is accumulated by purchasing real estate. Successful investors know wealth is created by having quality tenants pay for that real estate under your name. If you really want to invest in real estate, now is the time, fire sales don’t last forever.
Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. I have gold to purchase.
Watch the video related to real estate
From the October 6, 2009 PBS “News Hour.” One sees this every day. Storefronts on Park Avenue South where overpriced restaurants sat two years ago are empty with “For Rent” signs, something one never saw in such neighborhoods. Traditionally in NYC, property changes hands in private deals, never through the posting of rent signs. With 1% down payments, commercial real estate makes the subprime meltdown look outright responsible.
Help answer the question about real estate
How can I find a good real estate investment coach?I am a new real estate investor. I am looking for a good real estate investment coach in San Francisco Bay Area. I have a real estate saleperson license and have basic real estate investment knowledge. I am looking for a good real estate investor coach who have years of success investment experience in residential and commericial. I have private funds for good deals and would like to be partnership or learn from savy investors.
Hi Jeannie!
I suggest you first learn the difference between Real Estate Companies. Some charge desk fees, some do a split with commissions (find out what other monthly fees they have), some are flat fee brokers. Find out if they have retirement, residuals, if they offer profit sharing how long does it take to get that profit, training, what programs do they offer and do they cost? Do they have a training schedule? Do they have a mentor program? Do they have a new agent training course? Do they have health insurance?
Then go meet the Broker. If you can't relate with them, then it's not a good fit! If you have any questions, email me! Good luck and make us all proud!
Vicki Watzlawick
Broker Owner
Exit Platinum Realty
http://www.ExitPlatinumRealty.com
stay out of the mainstream area;
that is, listing houses for sale.
become an exclusive buyer's agent.
Rep middle income and upper income
black women as a niche.
Also poke into doing commercial
and industrial purchases.
and maybe business brokerage
plus, interview different agencies–
most are Realtor focused; which
means they take listings. YOU can
choose not to do that via being
an exclusive BUYER's agent.
[they don't sell RE--they help
buyers buy, and that is a different
approach].
plus u can find those offices that
have 100% approaches [where
the agent pays for desk space and
does not split the commission.]
available to help -though I am not
in TN.
my fav place in la… miss it so much!!
My favorite place to vacation. If I win the lottery, I’m moving right on the beach.
Depends on the licensing requirements in your state. Check with the Department of Real Estate for their requirements. Most states require some basic courses, but there may be exemptions or partial exemptions for experience in the field. The only exception in California is that licensed attorneys, regardless of their field of practice, can go straight to the Broker level exam. Afterwards, most states also require a certain amount of continuing education for license renewal at either the Agent or Broker level…so you might as well get used to taking classes…and who knows, despite all your experince, you may learn just the thing you needed to know…
One doesn't eliminate the other one. My broker is a Lawyer and his experience/practice is in Real Estate. After 10 years of practicing law, he decided to be a Broker.
Go ahead!
Wow! what a great question from a 14 year old. a LLC (Limited Liability Company) is incorporated with the Attorney Generals office in the state it is established in. The best way to do that is to go to an Attorney. A holding company and a Development company may be combined into one, have different division or groups to do the different objectives, or even the same people.
You can never have too much money to start a company, it's the too little that matters. Your best bet is to save as much as possible, write up a business plan, go to friends and family for investment in the company before you start out and hope to have a minimum of $50,000 to $500,000 to start your company. Then you can go to a bank and borrow, usually 2 to 3 times that much more to make your first purchases.
Yes there are Capital gains even for companies to pay with investment properties.
When you are ready, have your board of directors vote to take your company public by registering with the Securities and Exchange commission, with the assistance of a Stock Brokerage Company.
You have a LEGAL AND BINDING CONTRACT. all disclosures within the contract should be what the seller knows about the property. Now the other agent cannot FORCE you to sign anything. Basically what the agent is trying to do is cover his clients ass- if the selling side has a problem with it you can always take it before arbitration (see how they like that). Either way the selling agent is not within his rights to present other docs. for disclosures, nor do you let them off the hook. You will have no recourse if you do. Hope this helps.
Awesome show!
I am a real estate agent in Australia with my own independent office.
I am not sure what courses are like through franchises, however, here, the courses with regular real estate schools are very good.
When you are looking to find an agency to work for, consider the following:
- do they regularly pay for training for their employees? what kind of training and how frequently?
- does management get regular training and upgrade their knowledge on changes in legislation etc (here we have special annual education to attend to stay in the know)
- what internal systems and procedures do they have that will assist people who are just starting out? for example, a good computer software and training resources in the office for when you get stuck on something.
- is there someone more experienced in the office that can mentor you?
I believe that a franchise is not necessarily the best, often all the training that they attend is in house, and they are not open to external training providers (which can be very beneficial).
You need to look at the individual operator of the office to decide if it will be a good environment to start your career or not.
I am a real estate agent and I think it's a wonderful career choice. If you have self determination, love working with people, think it's fun to show houses and don't want a regular 9-5 job, you will love it too.
I don't know what state you are in, but in California you are required to have three classes and then pass a test that is different from the three classes you take. So you have to study hard for the test, which is like taking an extra class.
One wonderful thing about real estate is that you can choose how many clients you want to work with. If you work a lot, you can make a good living. Or you can do it part time while you continue to go to school and your real estate income will help you get through college.
I don't think real estate is ever too risky to get into if you are self motivated. Even in a bad market, there are people who still want to buy and sell and they are looking for an agent who cares about their needs and will do whatever it takes to make their real estate sale go as smoothly as possible. If you like that idea, go for it.
Russ Whitney has a great coaching program you may want to take a look at.
Good Luck
Sheldon Moylan of Dominion Lending Centres
i live here! i love mb!