In all my searches for information on real estate investing, I have not found many articles about what it really takes to become a “real estate investor.” There are lots of ads, and lots of people who want you to attend their classes while taking large chunks of your money, and then of course the personal mentoring, which takes even more of your money. Now that we have jumped into the field, I want to share our observations and lessons learned. It’s important to do your homework: research all the different avenues of education, decide how much money you have to invest (yes, you do need to have some cash, despite what all those “teachers” say), decide how much risk you can tolerate, because investing in real estate is not like purchasing $1000 in stock. You are purchasing a high-ticket asset, with value anywhere from tens of thousands to upwards of millions of dollars. And last but not least, you must be prepared to work hard and be persistent. It is not a part-time gig, no matter what those multi-gazillionaires claim. Following are four basic requirements that you will need in order to be successful.

You must have a desire for learning and continuing education, in whatever form it may take.

It is extremely important to take classes, attend seminars and read, read, read! Lots of people have followed teachers like Robert Kiyosaki, Donald Trump and Carleton Sheets. They all have powerful information to offer. But remember: giving us this “education” is their business. They are making money doing those seminars and boot camps, and making tons of it. You need to know that there are several different methods to make money in real estate (wholesaling, retailing, rehabbing, buying/selling contracts, renting, property management, commercial, etc.) Remember, each teacher has a different angle and each made their money in different manner. You need to decide which avenue is the most comfortable for you and go from there.

The Learning Annex provides good exposure to several different methods of making money in real estate and you can pick and choose whose methods you would like to learn more about. It is much easier to get into the business by focusing and learning one method at a time, and then move on to other avenues if you wish. You will only get overwhelmed trying to do everything at once.

It is also important to look at different types of education, including college courses and the internet. The single best tip you can follow is to join your local Real Estate Investment Club. To find your local club, go to www.creonline.com. This is a low cost way to start your education and also build contacts, which is extremely important in this business.

You need to have some cash to start.

Part of the hype from teachers of real estate investing is saying you can get into this business with “zero money down” or no money out of your pocket. The truth is, you really do need to have some cash in order to begin investing. Not only will you need some kind of down payment (anywhere from $500 to $5000), you will also need seed money for starting up your business. Remember, the days of 100 percent financing of properties is gone. You most certainly will need to come up with a down payment for your first investment property. Additionally, you’ll need money for starting your business. You might need to purchase equipment – both for your office and to do rehabbing. You will need professional consultants, an accountant and a lawyer. If you have left your J-O-B to pursue this business full time, you will need to replace your income until you get another income coming in. And don’t forget the cost of the education, classes seminars etc.

You need to have a comfortable tolerance for the “risk” you are taking on in this investment.

Buying and selling real estate is a risk – make no mistake, and it is a very LARGE risk at that. Part of the problem with the real estate market today is because [mostly novice] “real estate investors” rushed to cash in on rapidly escalating prices of real estate. Econ 101 – supply and demand. They bought recklessly, not intelligently, and now find themselves stuck with properties (whose values are resetting just as quickly) that they can’t unload. You must be aware at all times that any purchase you make, you must be prepared to hold if necessary. This is investing 101. Pay attention to the market.

You must work hard and persevere.

When it is all said and done, real estate investing is work. If you are coming from the corporate world where the work day is very structured and organized, working for yourself as an investor may come as a culture shock. Again, real estate investment teachers will tout “work for yourself” and “work your own hours.” They give the impression that you can come and go as you choose and work when you want. While this is partly true, you must also possess the self-discipline to sit down and perform the work you need to do in order to accomplish your investment goals. It is not as easy as it sounds. There is lots of research, the attention to business details such as book-keeping and stocking your office, searching for, then working the deal, completing the details of the deal (contracts, lawyers, titles, etc.) and then of course rehabbing the property, (or hiring and supervising rehabbers) if you intend to keep it.

Just as Murphy’s Law states, you will inevitably encounter road blocks along the way, some minor and some major. It is important not to give up or allow set backs to derail your progress.

The investing mantra is “Buy low. Sell high.” Current market conditions make it one of the best times ever to invest in real estate. Just remember, nothing is as free or easy as some “teachers” would like you to believe, all while they take your money to the bank. Just do your homework, choose intelligently and spend your money wisely. Learning Real Estate Investing can be overwhelming, but it is worth all your efforts.

Tim and Teresa Kistner are owners of JBT Investments, LLC. They entered the real estate investing field because they realized that, after working full time for corporations more than 15 years, they were never going to achieve the comfortable life-style they wanted unless they worked for themselves. Their website is www.jbtwholesaledeals.com

“We can have more than we’ve got because we can become more than we are.” — Jim Rohn

One of the things that I see in common with successful apartment investors is they spend time on, and focus on, things that others do not. What do I mean, and how can you profit from this?

The most successful people I know make it a habit to work on the things that are needed to maximize profits. They are not working on the day-to-day operations of their investment business. Focusing on increasing profits is what I would call their “big picture” idea, yet this requires some degree of attention to the details. As an investor you should adopt this motto:

“Do Things When Most People Do Not.”

You could look at this in a lot of ways…but…let’s go for the financial stuff. How about a few specific strategies for you:

1. Insurance. Property Insurance can be anywhere from 2% – 5% of your gross income. When do most people look for reduced rates for the same coverage? When their insurance policy comes up. When should you? At least three times per year, or quarterly. Why? You will find most savings this way and it can mean thousands in extra cash flow and value.

2. Management Reports. Most people look at management reports, etc. once every month. What I do? I look at reports once every two weeks! You do not want to go 30 days until you discover a problem.

3. Rents. Most people look at raising rents once a year? Look at raising rents 3 or 4 times per year. Now, probably not with the same tenant but most put this off…if you proactively raise rents you will be more profitable.

I could go on. Remember, the most exciting thing about investing in apartments is that you actually have some degree of control over your profits, and ultimately your wealth when you sell your property.

Take a look at your income property goals, what you own or want to own and use this motto. It will make you money.

Investment properties and tips for finding the perfect rental property to invest in.

Word is out: one of the most rewarding and safest forms of investment is in Property Investments. Although no investment out there comes with a 100% guarantee Investing in Property is considered one of the safest due to the fact that in almost all cases property appreciates in value. Provided you keep up to date with any repairs and appearance issues that may arise you are well on your way to having future financial security. This could also be attained in a few short years if you do your research and invest in that perfect property that will make the money you need.

Finding the Perfect Property

Before you go chasing that too-good-to-be-true bargain do your research. You will find that on a monthly basis the Real estate market rises and falls all around the country. You need to continually check your local market and see which way it is headed. During your research you will see definite inclines and declines in the Property Market. Therefore before you purchase an Investment Property ascertain whether you are in an area which will still be on the incline in five years time.

Building Inspections

You must always have the property inspected by a qualified builder before you buy. This is very important as the inspectors report may be the difference between you purchasing the property or not. Properties can have many problems that are unseen to the buyers and could cost them much more than they were prepared for in time, money and stress. Some financial institutions insist on a Building Inspectors Report before any approval for a Home Loan is approved. Having the property inspected is a definite safeguard for any buyer.

Know Your Area

You need to be able to trust the people you are renting your property too. This is your property and your future so you need to protect it. Know your area and the people who live in your area. It does not matter if your area is red hot in five years if your renters do mot treat your property with respect so try to buy in and area where you wont attract the wrong kind of renters.

A Final Tip

Try to see if you and find out why the current owner of the property you are interested in is selling. In most cases the reason is to move up in the market or they are just like you in the sense they are eager real estate investor who are trying to turn a profit, but you never know. This tip is just another safeguard for yourself so you do not find yourself having to sell your investment property sooner rather than later

Nicky Price writes on Investment Properties. You can learn more by visiting my blog =>http://realestateinvestmentadvice.blogspot.com

If you’re considering investing in property, or already are but are finding your profits leave something to be desired, fear not. Here are two property investment tips that will ensure you profit more while toiling less.

1. Buy tax foreclosure property, but only after the sale, and directly from the owners. Did you know you can legally buy deeds from their tax delinquent owners even after the tax sale has already occurred? Most investors focus on the time leading up to the tax sale (or worse yet, try to compete at the tax sale) but mystifyingly don’t contact the owners afterwards. The redemption period is the best time to approach them – as the time when they will lose their property permanently approaches, they will be more primed to sell than any other time in the process. It’s during this period that you will pick up deeds for a tiny fraction of their value– sometimes, even for free.

2. Don’t neglect to go after the overages created by the tax sale (and the mortgage foreclosure sale). When more is bid for a property than is owed in debt, that overage is held by the government for the previous owner to collect. They almost never figure this out. These funds aren’t governed by state law, so there is no cap to what finder’s fee you can charge, and 30-50% is standard.

You can put these two property investment tips to work hand-in-hand. You deal with many of the same agencies for both and may have even run across some of these overages, if you have any tax foreclosure investing experience. If you can put a full-time effort into both areas, you can create a very lucrative career for yourself and have five-figure checks coming in regularly.

Are you thinking about entering the buy-to-let market? If so then you need these property investment tips!

Well, it may be a great idea if you read our property investment tips first! This market can be confusing, but I’m going to help you by providing you with some valuable advice.

Tip #1: One of the most important things is to find the right property. That’s right. It may sound obvious, but you would be surprised at how many people don’t take the time to do this…and then suffer the consequences later when you can’t rent it out!

Two-bedroom flats in the city are a good buy-to-let choice because they can be shared by more than one person. However, a three-bedroom terraced house is a great buy-to-let choice because it will often bring you the highest return on your investment in an area filled with students!

Tip #2: Always remember that you are buying buy-to-let property as an investment, NOT as your personal home. This means you shouldn’t look for a home just because you would like to own it yourself or start decorating it in your own personal style. Make your decision a business, rather than personal one so you can maximise your investment returns!

Tip #3: Make sure yourbuy-to-let property is located near a good transportation system! Renters usually place high importance on being able to access motorways or public transportation.

Are you ready for the next of my property investment tips?

Tip #4: Hire a mortgage broker who can help you find the right mortgage. I know how hard it can be to find the best investment option out of all the available buy-to-let mortgage deals so find a professional to help!

Tip #5: Remember to factor in costs such as legal fees, stamp duty, ongoing mortgage costs and decorating expenses. This will help you to establish a realistic budget. Too many investors forget about these expenses, and they don’t put money aside to pay for ongoing repairs and maintenance.

Are you getting the hang of this yet? The buy-to-let market isn’t as hard as it looks…

Tip #6: Hire a professional letting agent who can help you take care of all the important details. This individual can manage the property, collect the rent and vet and select suitable tenants. Just remember that a full management service may eat up as much as 17.5% of your annual rent!

Tip #7: Don’t forget to purchase proper insurance for your buy-to-let property. If you decide to rent out your previous residence, you’ll have to buy new insurance because your existing ones won’t be valid.

Here are a few more of my property investment tips…

Tip #8: Find out your legal obligations. For example, landlords must consider fire, safety and health issues and hire authorised professionals to perform annual gas checks.

Tip #9: Consult with a tax expert or accountant to determine what taxes you must pay. You will have to pay tax on any rental income received from your investment property, but you may also have to pay Capital Gains Tax. This depends on the length of time you have owned the property and your current tax status.

Just one more of my property investment tips to go…

Tip #10: Last but not least, don’t enter the buy-to-let investment market planning on making a ton of money quickly. There are many upfront costs and property values tend to rise over time. If you plan on remaining in the market for 5 to 10 years, you’ll usually make a lot more money!

Now that I have shown you some important property investment tips, be sure to read my property Development Secrets

Surrinder Ahitan offers free property investment advice and tips on how to invest in residential and commercial property for maximum returns. He works for one of the top real estate companies in the world as an investment property Surveyor advising large blue chip companies and private investors.

Surrinder Ahitan offers free property investment advice and tips on how to invest in residential and commercial property for maximum returns.

Visit http://www.best-investment-property-tips.com where he reveals more valuable insider tips and property secrets.