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To own a home is still many people’s dream in today’s world. As the times have been going, many people have tried their luck in various investments, major among them being real estate investment. In present times, real estate investment has grown into a big field and the homes being built are even more diverse as many contractors try to make more comfortable places for people to live.

A number of people are reluctant to venture into real estate investment inspite of the promising prospects on board. This is because they do not understand how the industry works. From a business perspective, real estate can be a worthwhile investment. It offers diverse benefits including generation of rental income, profits in the event that one decides to resell the house and it acts as collateral when you want to get a loan.

If you get into real estate investment, you will be sure of significances which come with fewer risks as long as you understand the various aspects of real estate. One of the best examples of a real estate investor is a person owning some real property in which he resides or he has let some of the houses and therefore receives rent payments from his tenants of a specific period of time. The other fine aspect of real estate is the fact that the value of a property appreciates especially for land and houses for living and this guarantees that you will continue receiving more returns as time goes by.

The Internet has made it easier for real estate investors to track possible ventures and explore new real estate investment offers. It is also a learning ground for anyone who wants to gain knowledge on real estate investment.

Low interest rates on mortgage have contributed to the explosion of real estate investment. More people can now afford to buy property compared to previous years. There has been an increase in the value of property found in big cities and towns, making many more want to invest. Another major contributor to this is the amount of equity, that is, the difference between real market value and the balance to be paid on the mortgage.

In some parts of the world, real estate investors take advantage of the tax breaks to invest and get huge returns eventually.

Real estate investment is better when you fully understand and cover costs incurred to ensure that the returns are visible.

This article is part of the Real Estate Investment Success Series and continues from http://www.realestateinvestment101.info/realestatebargain.html

Real estate brokers are the greatest asset of small investors since brokers deal with more properties than the individual real estate investor could ever deal with. That said, however real estate agents usually act for the seller so tend to act directly opposite to that of the buyer. In addition, their commission depends on the price that they can sell the property, so the higher the price they sell the more they can earn.

This article acknowledges this and lists four things you can do to get the most out of the real estate agents that you meet when you are shopping for your next real estate investment deal.

Tip #1- Use their knowledge

Most people know that some places have higher rental yields than other similar properties in the same class of real estate. If you are new to an area, you would want to tap on the vast knowledge of the real estate agent’s local knowledge. Ask him what areas command a better rental and why. Then ask him to show you those properties. In this way you would get a better return on investment as opposed to him showing you the properties he wants you to see.

Choosing a property in a good area good as it allows you have a maximum upside when the economy turns around. Let the real estate agent know that you are a committed real estate investor and when he knows that you might be a potential return purchaser, he will let you know of any new real estate deals that come his way that might interest you.

Tip #2- Go early to scout out the area

This is a simple tip that most people seem to miss out when looking for a real estate property. If you are the potential buyer, spend some time going to the property in question earlier then the said time and check it out. You want to spend some time observing the neighbourhood and talking to the neighbours so that you can find out all you can about the neighbourhood before you talk to the real estate agent who would try to paint a glowing picture of the area. Look out for things like crime problem, bad neighbours and other things that can turn away potential tenants.

For commercial property real estate investments, you might want to go there a day before so as to scout the area for the purpose of ascertaining walkthrough traffic. The greater the walkthrough traffic the higher your potential rental returns. Its no good purchasing a commercial property in an area that has no visitors since your rental returns would be very low.

Tip #3- Compare stories with other agents

Once you have figured out what type of real estate investment property you are interested in and what area you want, you would want to make appointments with several real estate agents so as to learn more about the potential area that you are acquiring property in. Since real estate agents are competing with each another so you can find out the downside of another agent’s proposed property at no charge at all.

In addition to learning the downside of your possible real estate investment, some of these real estate agents can give you valuable information that you can use tell your prospective tenants to rent out your property like for instance proximity to bus stations, the proximity to the subway, low crime rate and secured vehicle parking.

Tip #4- Get an agent that is qualified and in a medium to large agency

In general novice investors should contact a long-established real estate agent that is very familiar with the area that you intend to invest in. The reason is that you want an agent that knows that area very well and knows what properties are on sale and a bargain. The agent will also be able to tell you which areas are good for rental purposes and these areas should be the areas that you should spend your energy on.

Another thing to take note is that your agent should be a medium to large agency so as to gain access to a large database of properties for sale and rental. This would facilitate your search for high rental yielding properties through the agent. A medium to large real estate company would also not fold so easily and leaving you in the lurch while in the midst of a real estate transaction.

In conclusion, real estate agents are a useful part of the real estate investment process but if you mentally know what you want, you can benefit greatly from their years of industry knowledge. Effective real estate investment requires education and massive action on your part.

Real estate is a big business and everyone seems to want to invest in real estate. You keep hearing a lot of stories about how people made a quick buck by investing in real estate. There are stories about people who made $50000 in a fortnight by making the right kind of investment in real estate. Every now and then, newspapers keep coming up with statistics about the appreciation in the real estate prices. There seems a mad rush for investing in real estate (and this gets even bigger when the mortgage interest rates are falling). However, not everyone has the time, money and expertise to be able to profitably invest in real estate. So what does one do? Is there any other option?

Yes, there is another way of investing in real estate and that is through Real Estate Investment Trust. Real Estate Investment Trust is an organisation that invests in real estate as a full fledged business. By investing in a Real Estate Investment Trust, you can become part of the real estate investment party and enjoy profits (of course, the assumption here is that the Real Estate Investment Trust is good and professionally managed).

Investing in Real Estate Investment Trust is very easy too. You can just buy Real Estate Investment Trust shares which trade on all major exchanges. There are certain laws governing the Real Estate Investment Trusts that help them avoiding the tax at corporate levels e.g. it is mandated that Real Estate Investment Trust?s portfolio has 75 percent of investment in real estate. Moreover, 75% of the income of Real Estate Investment Trust must be from rents or mortgage interest. There are various types of Real Estate Investment Trusts. Some Real Estate Investment Trusts own properties themselves and hence feed on the rental income from those properties. Some others indulge in providing only mortgage loans or go for mortgage backed securities. Then there are Real Estate Investment Trusts which do both i.e. rental focussed investments and mortgage based investments.

There are a number of Real Estate Investment Trusts operating in the market and a lot of these Real Estate Investment Trusts are doing good business. By investing in Real Estate Investment Trust you are basically investing in real estate without actually buying a property yourself. This is one easy way of investing in real estate (and much safer too). You must surely evaluate this option for your real estate investments.

The Phoenix residential real estate market represents a great opportunity to individuals, families, and investors who are weary about the stock market and are realizing that their investment portfolios are too exposed to fluctuations in Wall Street.

By now, the reality has sunk in with most people – the stock market’s decline has hit 401K and other retirement investments hard. As a result, this is a critical time to for individuals, families, and investors to rethink diversification of their portfolios again. Portfolios need to be more highly diversified than ever before.

And it’s time to rethink real estate as one component of your diversification in the future in addition to stocks, bonds, commodities, international investment, and low-risk savings instruments, to name a few.

Wall Street, Main Street, and My Street, and Real Estate

There is no doubt that the goings-on in the real estate industry are intermingled with the market challenges that Wall Street is facing, which in turn impacts Main Street and “My Street.” But the issues with real estate largely emanated from the many corporations that make up Wall Street combined with lack of government oversight and inaction. Lack of personal discretion also contributed to the problem.

Having said that, here is why real estate should be a component in your investment portfolio once again, and why the Phoenix real estate market is an excellent choice for investment to help you diversify that portfolio.

First, due to the wave of foreclosure-related properties, prices have declined to 2004 and even 2003 pricing levels. This is pricing that is pre-run up. Though there is a risk that prices may drop further, the extent of a further decline may be limited in the short term while the long term outlook gradually gets stronger.

Second, real estate can prove to be a more reliable investment in a normal market environment. Prior to the run-up in home valuations in the second half of 2004 through 2005, annual home appreciation in the Phoenix residential real estate market averaged 5%-6% . Playing the long game as investors should, holding a property for 5-20 years could yield a solid return.

Long term is key here. The investor has to be committed to a lower but steady return on their investment when it comes to real estate. The Phoenix housing market will not likely experience a meteoric rise in valuations like it did again. That’s not to say that there won’t be some opportunities to turn properties fast (whether through acquisition at a foreclosure auction or wholesale, or a flip), but this model will have the high risk that most investors will and should shy away from.

One note here. At least in the Phoenix area, investors have to weigh the merits of investments in homes and real estate by several components to get a true picture of the return on a property. These factors are growth in appreciation, rental income and offsets, tax benefits, and equity paydown and buildup.

Third, real estate is real. You can see it. You can touch it. You can check up on it (if you buy locally). And it will always hold some intrinsic value no matter what happens. If you have a home in Chandler, it is easy to get across the Phoenix area, to check up on an investment property in Glendale. Or, perhaps the investment property you choose is right next door to your home in Tempe.

Fourth, under certain circumstances, real estate taxation on capital gains growth can be minimal. The same cannot be said of many other investment vehicles.

Fifth, an investor has much more control in determining the value of the property. Smart improvements and renovations combined with effective property management can increase the value of the property substantially.

Sixth, the Phoenix area continues to grow. The Valley saw a 2.8% increase in the number of residents here last year. This trend will continue as Phoenix and surrounding areas are perceived as a stable, optimum climate to live and to work. With the decline in real estate prices, this perception will also be reinforced by a sense that Phoenix and surrounding areas are once again affordable.

Finally, real estate can serve a dual investment/personal objective. For instance, an investment in real estate can serve as a later gift for children. Or, it can be utilized as a sort of savings plan for children’s college tuition as a complement to 529s and Coverdell plans. The investment could be a retirement property for later in life. Real estate investments can also be used to create income streams to live off of (when rents and equity buildup eventually turn the property cash-flow positive).

There are numerous reasons to invest in real estate even beyond this list.

Real Estate Has A Role to Play in Your Investment Portfolio

The difficult truth about the stock market is that over the past eight years, the U.S. economy has seen two major disruptions or recessions that were severe enough to have rippling effects for all Americans as seen by the decline in 401K and other retirement savings values. As a result, further diversification of investment portfolios is needed across many different asset classes with a regional focus as well.

Real estate should be one of those classes. Given real estate has seen real substantial pricing declines over the last three years to levels seen before the run-up period, one has to consider that there are real deals in the marketplace for real estate. Coupled with the right long-term outlook and commitment to investment fundamentals, real estate can have a more effectual, countervailing purpose in investment portfolios that can help Americans better weather substantial market disruptions in the future. For investors looking for specific markets that may be worthwhile to investigate, real estate in the Phoenix area is a compelling choice.

Investing in income property can be a great way to increase your capital. But for many people, investing in real estate, especially commercial and industrial real estate is just out of reach from the financial point of view. But what if you could join forces with other small investors and large investments in commercial real estate in the group? With Real Estate Investment Trust, you can do it!

REIT means Real Estate Investment Trust, and is sometimes referred to as “real estate holdings.” Real estate investment trust is a companie that owns and manages a portfolio of real estate and mortgages. Anyone can buy shares of the REIT. Real estate investment trust offers the benefits of real estate without the headaches or expense of the landlord. Said another way the investor has the benefits of real estate ownership with no management role in the toilets and tenants.

Real Estate Investment Trust of certain types offers great benefits of liquidity and diversity. In contrast to the actual ownership of real estate, these measures can be quickly and easily sold. And because you invest in a portfolio of real estate, rather than one building, it comes with less financial risk.

Real Estate Investment Trust was created in the sixties when Congress decided that small investors should also be able to invest in large-scale, income-generating properties. It was found to be the best way to make it a model of investment in other sectors – the purchase of shares.

The company must distribute at least ninety percent of their taxable income to shareholders each year as a Real Estate Investment Trust. Most Real Estate Investment Trust pays out one hundred percent of their taxable income in dividend distributions. To maintain its status as a pass-through entity, Real Estate Investment Trust dividends are paid to shareholders annually.

From 1880 to the 1930’s, a similar provision in place, which allows investors to avoid double taxation – paying taxes as private and business – were convinced, because they do not pay income tax if the income is distributed to beneficiaries. It was abolished in the nineteen thirties, when the passive investments are taxed at the corporate level, as well as part of the profit tax. Real estate investment trust supporters were not able to change the law to overturn the decision within thirty years. Due to high demand for real estate funds, President Eisenhower signed the nineteen sixty Real Estate Investment Trust as a REIT tax pass-through entities.

The company must comply with all other requirements to qualify as a real estate investment trust and to win passage of a person. They should:

1. Be structured as corporation, business trust, or similar association

2. Be managed by a board of directors or trustees

3. Offer fully transferable stock shares

4. Have at least one hundred shareholders

5. Pay dividends of at least ninety percent of the REIT’s taxable income

6. Have no more than fifty percent of its shares held by five or fewer individuals during the last half of each taxable year

7. Hold at least seventy five percent of total investment assets in real estate

8. Have no more than twenty percent of its assets consist of stocks in taxable real estate investment trust subsidiaries

9. Derive at least seventy five percent of gross income from rents or mortgage interest

At least ninety five percent of a real estate investment trust gross income must come from financial investments (in other words, it must pass the ninety five-percent income test). These include rents, dividends, interest and capital gains. In addition, at least seventy five percent of its income must come from certain real estate sources (the seventy five percent income test), including rents from real property, gains from the sale or other disposition of real property, and income and gain derived from foreclosure of property.

This article was written by Robert Shumake, CEO of Inheritance Capital Group, LLC and founder of http://reitbuyer.com/ an online service for people who wish to invest in real estate without the headaches and liability exposure that go with being a landlord. Visit Robert?s website to learn more about Real Estate Investment Trust.

Now seems to be the best time to invest in properties in college towns where housing demand is high due to a soaring rental market according to the New rules of real estate by Business 2.0 Magazine. With home prices still out of home buyer’s range, and homeowners selling their homes due to rising interest rates, rents are expected to increase nationwide. This makes buying investment property in rental markets such as college towns an attractive option, one that is already being pursued by investors. Rents are expected to rise by 5 % by the end of this year according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and investors are looking at college towns with increased interest.

There are two major reasons why it is prudent to buy investment property in college towns now. When compared with other rental markets, the rentals in apartment buildings in college towns are much stronger and hence more profitable. This has been augmented by the fact that apartment buildings in college towns are fewer in number. This demand for apartment buildings has also increased due to the rising admissions in colleges mostly from the Gen Y or the echo boomers, which has further increased the asking rates in the college town rental markets. These properties have a low vacancy rate, especially in buildings located near the campuses. Investors in commercial apartment buildings also get to increase their rent with the mounting demand making such investment a highly profitable venture.

So if you are a prospective landlord who has decided to encash this favorable situation, then you can start with choosing the college town that has the lowest ratio of university-owned beds to the student population. As Michael Zaransky, co-founder of Prime Property Investors in Chicago says, prospective investors would do well to pick the college towns that have the ratio of university-owned beds to students at 30 % or lower. One should also look into colleges that propose to expand their student ranks by 2 or 3 % every year.

Investors should also need to take into consideration the disadvantages involved in owning commercial apartment buildings in college towns. The business could be trying sometimes, and involves risks with college policies liable to changes and the difficulty involved in predicting volatile student demand. However, considering the high rate of returns that the investment has to offer, the pros seem to far outnumber the cons making buying investment property in college towns a smart option.

I want to invest in real estate but want to protect my personal assets.

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.

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