Commercial Real Estate Investment Articles

To sell a house quickly, the house must be attractive and so should the terms. By fixing your home to present it in the best light and offering flexible terms as well, you have, in fact, given your buyer an “offer they can’t refuse.”

A Missouri landlord bought an out-of-service U-Haul truck to offer as an extra perk to rental applicants and new residents. He bought a used U-Haul truck for just a few thousand dollars.

Explain your rent collection policy to all new residents before they move in. Have this policy in writing and stress the seriousness of prompt payment. Remind new residents that late payments may affect their credit rating. Have the new resident circle and initial the lease section that says rent due on the 1st.

Good news! Here are some great tips for landlords who might be experiencing difficulties with vacancies and collecting on-time payments given the current economic climate.

I bought a 5-bedroom, fixer-upper home in an old neighborhood that had $2,000 in back taxes owed on it. I paid 500 bucks for a quit claim deed, then sold it on payments to an investor for $7,500 cash–and they must assume the taxes on the deal. I got $1,500 down, and I get $1,500/month until the property is paid for.

I’ve found the Detroit real estate market to be a gold mine for smart investors. I purchased a home, 3-bedroom brick, from the bank for $6,500 put in another $2,500 in clean up and repair work. I sold the property on a land contract for $80,000 with minimal monthly payment to a senior citizen (actual FHA appraised value).

I found a 4-bedroom bank REO (real estate owned), with a full basement, 2 baths, 2-car attached garage, central air, a utility room attached to the garage with outside access and a heated 10 x 10 vestibule. I offered $52,000 in “as is” condition. I paid for an appraisal which came back at $105,000 “as is.”

I live in a small town in middle Tennessee with a population of about 4,000. I’ve been told it is difficult to find enough deals to survive in a town of this size. It’s true that there are not as many deals here as in a larger city, but there is not as much competition either.

Last April, I purchased a foreclosure at a great price. I spent three months fixing it up looking great. Then I put it on the market. To make a long story short, I FINALLY closed on Dec 12th. I still made money, but I had so many headaches–home inspections caused numerous delays, had to go FHA and could not sell “as is,” etc.

You can’t expect to reduce your risk of getting sued to zero, but you can take steps to reduce your risk as much as possible. In any situation where your money is at risk, ask yourself, “Is there a better way?”

As the real estate market slow down continues, and with foreclosures on the rise in most of the country, lenders are finding themselves overwhelmed with many sub-performing and non-performing loans.

Building an investor list is the key to success in real estate investing. The concept is simple: Find a list of investors who buy houses, then go out and find the inventory to flip to such investors. Let these investors know that you buy houses, too. The more people in your network, the easier it will be to buy and sell houses.

Editor’s note: You may not be aware that you can invest in real estate using your IRA or other retirement funds. If your retirement fund is “self-directed,” you can use your funds for “non-traditional” investments (as opposed to stocks, bonds, etc.), as long as all proceeds from your investments are put back into the retirement fund.

I was asked two questions recently: Are used mobile homes and mobile home parks still a good business to consider in the present economy? What would you do different if you were starting out today?

Despite the obvious bursting of the housing bubble and the associated freezing up of credit markets, many (suspiciously self-serving?) forecasters and investors suggest that the housing slump is close to bottoming out–or soon will be!

In 1986, I started buying used mobile homes for $2,000 to $3,000, and selling them for $5,000 to $6,000 with payments of $200 to $300 per month. Over 20 years later, I’m still buying and selling mobile homes at the same prices, same payments.

Whether you are new to real estate investing, or you have just reached a “plateau” and need some ideas, these reminders will help “jump-start” your real estate investing career and get you back on track.

"In this article, I want to share with you the concept of creating your own personal investing criteria. Why is this so important? I’m glad you asked! Here’s my best answer:

In today’s market where there are so many foreclosure and bank REO sales, figuring out the real value of a property can be difficult. The comparable sales method is the most commonly used (and still the most accurate one) to determine the value of single-family homes, condominiums, and smaller rental buildings (two to four units).

I am sure you’ve heard the expression, “Attitude is everything.” This is very true. Right now, it’s simply your attitude and mentality that will give you the edge over others who are trying to invest in this highly volatile market.

If you are serious about making money through the inevitable “thick and thin” of real estate investing, then you need to think about multiple income streams and a wider distribution of the potential risk factors which go with every investment.

Taxes are your biggest expense in your lifetime, so choose your source of income wisely! Real estate has some of the best tax breaks of any investment in America!

It looks like the IRS has hit pay dirt with their targeted audits of real estate professionals and real estate investors. From the emails and phone calls we’ve received, the number and voracity of the audits against real estate investors and real estate professionals is increasing.

In checking through my files, I came across this article from several years back. I think this would be a good time to run, since nothing has really changed. And while it was directed toward the manufactured housing business (mobile homes), it applies equally to the current housing industry, as well.

Dealing with the underwriter is one of the most critical parts of getting this loan funded. Let’s take a look.