You’ve been thinking of quitting your corporate job and starting a real estate investment business. You’ve been mulling this over for years, in fact. The only thing that’s stopped you from taking the plunge thus far is not knowing if you’ve got what it takes to become a real estate investor–especially with your limited knowledge and experience–and
On my last vacation with the family, I found myself catching up with my former colleague, Ron, who happened to be at the same hotel. He was on a much-needed break from his desk job back at home and was spending his free time researching the ways he could break out on his own.
We’ve all heard those horror stories involving a tenant who lingers in a property for months, digging in their heels and slowing the eviction process as much as humanly possible. My own personal nightmare began with a seemingly very nice family who every month experienced some kind of financial crisis. At first, I was
I like to think it wasn’t that long ago that I got curious about becoming an investor, when I started reading books on real estate investing, attending weekend introduction seminars, and chatting up anyone I could find on residential construction sites. Although it’s somewhat embarrassing to admit now, in the beginning, I was just looking to
Setting up an efficient workflow, from lead generation to the closing table, is absolutely essential for becoming a successful real estate investor. Many investors still use just good old fashioned Excel and` QuickBooks to track their leads and evaluate potential properties to buy. Others realize that they need more than that and try to
I’ve been investing in real estate for years and have seen plenty of investors come and go. Not everyone is able to make a career of it like I have, but many well-intentioned people certainly try. These days, thanks to some of the more popular real estate shows on television, even more people seem
The minute my son was born, I knew in my heart that I was going to be taking more time away from my career than I’d anticipated. I loved my job but having him in my life fulfilled me in ways that I’d never experienced before. The practical business woman inside me, however, said
When I think of startup businesses that bring innovative products and solutions to market, my mind automatically drifts west to Silicon Valley, which spawned tech behemoths such as Apple, Uber, and Airbnb. In 2018, Northern California saw more than $25 billion in seed money funneled to companies hoping to be the next unicorn—a business that
There’s something special about New York City. For some, it’s the buildings; for others, the rush of people. But as an investor, I’ve always loved the sense of opportunity. Anything seems possible here. Take NYC’s housing market, for example—prices continue to soar despite rumors of a recession. I guess the saying is true: New
When Felipe approached me after dinner one evening to tell me that he wanted to be a real estate investor like me, I told him that the news called for a celebration. I had known for some time that my son-in-law was interested in buying, rehabbing, and reselling houses, thanks to my daughter, Jenna. But, I
What is “Home Flipping” Really? This guide, written with the help of the experts at HomeVestors®, the largest home buyer in the U.S., is meant to familiarize new potential investors with what some people refer to as the “home flipping” process, but HomeVestors® prefers to address the professional home buying business with its challenges, benefits,
My first glimpse of the ocean took place a few decades ago in Spring Lake, New Jersey, a tiny seaside town between the more notable Asbury Park and Point Pleasant. My elderly aunt had a summer home there. When my uncle wanted some company on his return ride from our neighborhood in Northeastern Pennsylvania,
Real estate is an exciting industry. I’ve met some of the most enthusiastic and driven people, many of whom are now lifelong friends. But what I love most is that the market is always changing. It really keeps you on your toes! When most people think about transitioning to a career in real estate,
Since the housing market crash of 2008, Florida has rebounded to become one of the hottest real estate markets in the US. Prices have recovered significantly, surpassing pre-crash levels in most areas. The state's warm weather, beautiful beaches, and growing job market continue to attract homebuyers. Several cities in Florida—including Orlando, Tampa, and Jacksonville—have been
My friend, Adam, came to me recently with questions about using hard money for buying his first investment property. He’d been wanting to start house flipping houses for some time but wasn’t sure he’d qualify for financing through a traditional lender like a bank or credit union. He had no idea how hard money worked, only
It wasn’t long after giving a talk on buying investment property in Florida over at the Marriott on Westshore that a few attendees followed up with questions via email. I wasn’t surprised. It happens every time I speak on the subject of real estate investing, whether it’s here in Tampa or across the bay in St.
Not long after moving out of state to try her hand at the restaurant business near Washington D.C., Jula found herself closing up shop and heading back home to Georgia. Coming back to Atlanta to start a real estate investing company from scratch, however, was intimidating—especially since Jula didn’t feel as familiar with the local
It’s no surprise that California is a wonderful place for real estate investors. There’s a niche for every type of real estate business there, and the state’s market is so large that the sky’s the limit when it comes to expansion opportunities. For me, California is the place where I cut my teeth on
A hand went up at the seminar. “I don’t have any experience. How can I start investing in California real estate?” “Well, not like me,” I joked. “The California real estate market is unique. First, you need to do your research. Then, you need to decide where you want to invest.” I started my
While the government’s foreclosure moratorium and mortgage forbearance program provided relief to many homeowners during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, it created an unprecedented situation: historically high numbers of seriously delinquent loans and historically low levels of foreclosure activity. Despite this skew in data, Illinois still ranked #2 on the list of highest foreclosure rates,
