Are you considering a career as a real estate investor?
Investing in real estate can be an excellent way to earn a comfortable living, control your own work schedule, and be your own boss. But, the payoffs don’t always come easy.
If you enter into property investment blindly, you could wind up making a lethal mistake that sends you right back to that dreaded 9 to 5 office grind.
Knowledge is power in every industry. And in real estate, knowing the right stuff can be the difference between making it to the top and going under fast.
Read on for the early investor’s ultimate guide to success!
Your Guide to Getting Started in Real Estate Investing
The good news about becoming a real estate investor is that anyone can become successful if they have what it takes. And, unlike other high-paying careers, you don’t have to have a fancy college degree or even a list of references from your former employers to get your foot in the door.
But, this doesn’t mean that there aren’t some essential requirements for success.
Check out our tips below to gauge your readiness as a real estate investor.
Give Yourself a High-Quality Education
No, you don’t need to have a college degree and in this field, an ivy league experience won’t guarantee your success. But you still need a high-quality education. You just won’t be receiving it from a traditional institution.
Instead, it’s up to you to educate yourself.
Before you get in over your head, which isn’t hard to do in real estate, you need to make it a priority to develop an extensive knowledge, both in real estate and investing.
You should be aware of key trends, terminology, and processes prior to your first buy-in.
Create a Business Financial Plan
Before jumping into investing, you should have a plan in place that addresses a few key categories.
Determine how much you will need to save to make your first investment, and how much you plan to spend on the purchase. You will also need to figure the minimum amount of profit needed to sustain a decent salary and to afford your first year’s business expenses.
Decide if this will be your full-time career or whether you will ease into it at first. Also, choose whether you will pay outright for investment properties or whether you will consider mortgaging your buys.
Choose Your Niche
To become successful as an investor, your best bet is to find a niche and stick to it.
As you grow, there may be times when you occasionally step out of this comfort zone that you’ve established when there’s a clear advantage. But, for the most part, you won’t want to, especially once you understand the purposes it serves.
You’ll gain greater knowledge and insights, develop a stronger network, establish credibility and expertise in your chosen area, and learn the secrets to success quicker if you don’t attempt a “jack of all trades” approach to investing.
A few areas that hold potential include:
1. Commercial or Residential Land
Undeveloped land can be sold as-is or added to for maximum value resale.
2. Prefabricated Buildings
Once you score a great deal on land, you might consider adding a prefabricated building that could be used as a warehouse, storage facility, or many other ways. These buildings can be quickly built, are cost-efficient, and offer the potential to greatly increase your land’s value.
If this interests you, read more here.
3. Flip Properties
Flipping properties can be a big money maker and is a popular technique of both commercial and residential real estate investors.
If you’re a skilled do-it-yourselfer and have just enough patience, this could be your ticket to jump-starting a successful investment career.
4. Multi-family Housing
Purchasing apartment complexes or duplexes are highly sought and can create a steady income flow for investors. But, make sure that you are making a wise buying decision. Making a poor choice could prove to be costly.
Of course, there are many additional niches to choose from. The main idea is to choose what works best for you. Typically, investors choose an area of personal interest that has solid money-making potential.
Make Your First Purchase
It’s a well-known fact that location is a critical component of any real estate market. Look for an area that you can afford, but where you will also have a good chance of reaping a return.
Always perform a comparative real estate market analysis before making a decision to buy. This will help you to get an understanding of the risks and benefits of a particular property.
Have a plan outlined ahead of the purchase that details what you will need to do to create income. You may be planning to fix the property and resell it at a higher price. Or you might be planning to develop a building into apartments that you will rent to tenants.
Whatever you decide, have a plan and a timeline to keep you on track towards your goal.
Ready to Start Your Investing Career?
Ask yourself if you’re willing to put in the time, training, and self-discipline that’s vital to your first few years as an investor.
During the early years, you will be responsible for the majority of tasks involved with your investments. Make sure you find out everything you need to know about getting started in real estate investing. But you should also make a point to explore financial management and delve into creating your own marketing strategy.
We touched on the basics of establishing a financial plan in the post above, but if you are a newbie to the marketing world, we can help with that, too.
Check out this post to learn more about today’s most effective marketing strategies!