REI Fundamentals
Whether you're pre- first deal or a seasoned professional, explore the foundational knowledge upon which real estate investment success is built.
Back To: All Topics | Operations
REI Fundamentals
Whether you're pre- first deal or a seasoned professional, explore the foundational knowledge upon which real estate investment success is built.
Back To: All Topics | Operations
3 Red Flags for Any Real Estate Market
This is a transcript of a previously-aired segment of “Self-Directed Investor Talk,” a radio show dealing with self-directed IRA strategy hosted by Bryan Ellis. Did you know that there are three housing market indicators that can tell you, with astounding certainty, whether a region and the real estate located there ...
Where High Property Taxes Kill Cash Flow
This is a transcript of a previously-aired “Real Estate News” podcast broadcast by Kathy Fettke, co-CEO and founder of the Real Wealth Network. Property tax is one of the costs that can vary a lot in the United States. It can run from an extreme high to an extreme low ...
Rental Properties, Like Money in the Bank
I have been a real estate investor in Dallas, Texas for over 10 years, and just like many of you, I started part-time. Now I'm a full-time investor. Many investors start as part-time with the intention of going full-time. Let me explain how I was able to go full-time with ...
Panelists Offer “Sneak Peek” Secrets on Baltimore Real Estate
When the “conventional wisdom” no longer holds in a real estate market, most real estate investors turn and run the other way. That exodus leads to something Think Realty members know is a prime target for their investing strategies: opportunity. Perhaps one of the ripest markets in the country for ...
5 Actionable Tips for Buying in a Tough Market
Real estate investing isn’t always a bed of roses, especially in a tough market. However, given that the vast majority of real estate investors say that at the end of the day, they prefer to invest in their “own backyard,” it is vitally important for every investor to understand how ...
Which is Best: SEP IRA or Solo 401(k)?
This is a transcript of a previously-aired segment of “Self-Directed Investor Talk,” a radio show dealing with self-directed IRA strategy hosted by Bryan Ellis. Listen up, you self-employed people. If you’ve ever wondered: What’s right for me: A SEP IRA or a Solo 401(k)… I’ve got the crystal-clear answer for ...
Remember: “It’s Only a Zestimate!”
Real estate investors have always had a love-hate relationship with Zillow, which has firmly ensconced itself as a force in the housing data industry thanks to millions of listings with hundreds of details about each property in the system. In what is perhaps its greatest strength, Zillow excels at posting ...
We are wrapping up the first quarter of 2017, and I continue to prepare for the remainder of the year here in Dallas, Texas. Yet after talking to other real estate investors, in various markets, I have recognized a unique theme: the residential real estate environment, right now, is an ...
Light Pollution, Stargazing, and Your Retirement Portfolio
This is a transcript of a previously-aired segment of “Self-Directed Investor Talk” co-hosted by Carole Ellis, managing editor of Think Realty Magazine Do you struggle with stargazing? If so, you are part of the 99 percent of the population who does according to a recently-published study by the journal Science ...
Baby Boomers Enjoy a Boost in Home Equity
Retiring Baby Boomers are enjoying a big boost in home equity that could help pay for their retirement. But a new survey shows there’s a surprising lack of understanding about home equity products, like reverse mortgages, among both seniors and their financial advisers. According to the National Reverse Mortgage Lenders ...
Master Investor: John Larson of American Real Estate Investments
Sometimes a successful real estate investor stretches himself too thin by trying to be involved in too many types of investments. This “jack of all trades, master of none” approach may work for some investors, but it can also bring stress and poor returns. Other investors stick to one asset ...
As a real estate investor, I would venture to say that many people who aspire to be real estate investors are very likely aspiring for freedom. The freedom they hear about, learn about and read about, which results from owning your own business - specifically, owning your own real estate ...
Over time, we are taught and trained in school, at work, or at home, that we need to eliminate distractions so we can focus. That this is the only way we can stay on course and true to our objectives. But when you are a real estate investor, disruptions are ...
Renovation Success: No Longer a Rookie
Exactly two months after we closed on our rental property, Lucas and I welcomed our renters into their new home. I felt emotional as we drove away from the house that day because (1), we had spent the morning there doing final cleaning and capturing the “after” photos of the ...
Real Estate Investing: Simple vs. Easy
The distinction between simple and easy is critical for real estate investors. I’ll admit, I didn’t understand the distinction myself until I had been investing for quite some time. Your ability to recognize and differentiate between the two could be a strong indicator of your future success. That’s why I ...
3 Tips for Landing the Perfect Renter
One of the scariest parts of flipping a rental property is wondering whether or not you’ll find a good renter. Thankfully, I got great advice on this topic while attending the Think Realty event in San Diego in February. At the time Lucas and I were halfway through our renovation ...
Are You Ready to Transition to Full-Time Investing?
There are many part-time real estate investors who ask this one specific question, “Am I ready to transition from part-time real estate investing to full-time?” I know from my own experience this question is an important one. I started investing in real estate 10 years ago, part-time, and five years ...
Glutton for Punishment or Naive DIY’er?
You know those things that everyone tells you not to do, but you think, “It won’t be like that for me!” and you do it anyway. Like, when your parents tell you not to get a dog. They tell you, “It’s a lot of responsibility,” “It’s like having a child,” ...
Classically Simple Design Choices are Best
In last week’s column, I discussed my lack of design skills and how Lucas and I called in our talented friend, Jess, to help us choose aesthetically pleasing choices for our rental home. We talked mainly about exterior last week (take a look here!), so this week we’ll attack the ...
Hope for the Design-challenged Renovator
It became clear pretty quickly that the one area where we were ill-equipped for this renovation was in the area of DESIGN. While I love to watch HGTV, it overwhelmed me to have to pick out paint colors for the rental house, and because neither my husband, Lucas, nor I ...
Be the Best Version of Yourself
There are real estate investors out there who are striving to be their best. Yet there are a lot of real estate investors who are not even sure what they should be good at. This was me, more than 10 years ago. As I did my due diligence and pondered ...
Know Your Deal. Price is only part of it.
If you’ve met me in person it’s likely my height and nose already tipped you off, but for those of you that haven’t, I’ll fill you in: I am Dutch. Because of this, by both nature and stereotype, I LOVE a good deal. Yes, it’s true, we Dutch are tall ...
When it Gets Real: 4 “Must-haves” Before Buying your First Investment Property
Growing up, my mom and I spent our Sundays at open houses around our Midwestern hometown. We were never actually looking to buy a home; we honestly just loved walking around and dreaming (and yes, Dad, being a little bit nosy). We’d walk through a home and talk about which ...
Are Your Goals and Expectations Realistic?
In a blog post, earlier this year, we talked a lot about goals—and specifically, goals for 2017. Veteran and beginning real estate investors alike will set their goals based on what they want to accomplish in a given year. But are your goals realistic? New and part-time real estate investors ...
I still remember the night I made the list. I was babysitting for Tyler and Charlie while their parents went out for dinner and a movie, and after putting the boys to bed, I got to do every middle-school babysitter’s favorite thing: get paid $7/hour to watch TV. I quickly ...
