Wherever you’re investing, it’s vital that you have the market information you need in order to make smart, sound decisions. Where can you go to keep your ear to the ground on what’s going on in your local real estate market? Here are some suggestions… 1. The MLS will always be a go-to source of immediate data on critical factors such as properties on the market, asking prices, recent sales, time on the market and much more.  However, you may find that a mountain of raw data only goes so far when it comes to crafting long-term strategies. 2. Personal Read more…

What if you have good credit, but don’t quite qualify for a mortgage loan?  What are some other options to get into a real estate investment on your own credit? 1)      If you don’t have enough down payment for the property you want, a lease-to-own contract may be an option.  Lease-to-own gives you time to accumulate the down payment and qualify for a mortgage loan, while locking in the purchase price. If you negotiate the deal correctly, you can even lease it to a tenant at the same time.  It’s common for lease-to-own contracts to include a premium over and Read more…

When it comes to watching the real estate market, one of the most effective tools you can use is the Internet.  Here are three places to go online for useful real estate information… 1. The Wall Street Journal’s Market Watch real estate section will help you stay aware of national business and economic trends that influence interest rates and the perceptions of buyers and sellers nationally.  Don’t forget local online business news reporting to keep you in touch with your local market, ranging from the San Francisco Chronicle to the Miami Herald. 2. Trulia.com is a real estate site with Read more…

At different times, different investing strategies work better than others. Changing market dynamics mean that a strategy that might work today won’t work tomorrow – and vice versa. What’s working today? A buy-and-hold real estate investing strategy. Why is now such a good time to buy and hold?  Here are a few key factors… 1)      It’s a buyer’s market.Right now in most places across North America it’s a buyer’s market.  You can get rock-bottom prices on high-value properties that are sure to increase in value in the mid- to long-term. Prices in many areas of the USA are below replacement Read more…

Successful real estate investors keep themselves aware of the economic indicators that have the most influence on their markets.  As we’ve discussed the last couple of weeks here on the blog, real estate comes down to the economic fundamentals that influence people’s lives and choices.  Here are the 5 most important real estate market factors to watch. 1)      Demographics create the underlying need for housing and commercial property in your area of interest.  How many people are in the age range and life status with the most need for new housing and job space?  Not just population numbers, but factors Read more…