I think most of us can agree that optimists tend to be happier than pessimists, but in real estate investing it is important to balance optimism with a degree of conservatism. Being overly optimistic usually leads to disappointment when reality does not unfold the way we expect. Conservative optimism will help you “keep it real”.…
Getting started as a real estate investor can seem like a daunting task. There are so many things to consider, so many different strategies, and so many opportunities. As an aspiring real estate investor, there are 3 steps you can take to take in order to get started on the right foot. Continue reading “3…
When the expenses of home ownership are high relative to incomes, housing affordability is low. Poor affordability becomes a problem as people in an area struggle to sustain a reasonable standard of living. When a large portion of income is spent on housing, less disposable income is available for families to enjoy and serves as…
Anyone involved in real estate would be happy to have a crystal ball which would allow them to predict future trends in the market place. In order to do well as investors we need to see ahead, but the statistics we hear most are all about the past. While it is nice to keep up…
What do coffee, a notepad, and a pair of reading glasses have to do with my new gig or report? Well both were the result of coffee and writing, and I might need reading glasses one day since this new gig will mean more time at the computer every week. In this week’s post I’ll…
At some point in our real estate investing career, most of us have trouble coming up with additional funds to continue acquiring properties. Whether this happens after your first property or your tenth, one of the most common ways to continue buying property is to begin working with partners. After using your own resources to…
Over the past decade we have become accustom to low interest rates. After rates plummeted to “emergency” levels in 2007 following the global financial crisis, healthy cash flows were a nice perk as real estate investors made their way through our most recent recession. With rates still hovering below historical averages and our economic recovery…
When considering investments, most of us consider the Return On Investment (ROI) when evaluating our options, but we may forget to consider an even more important metric – Return Of Investment. First and foremost, the return of your invested capital is the most important consideration when making an investment. For the purpose of this article…
High ratio (80%+ LTV) mortgages haven’t been an option for investors since April 19th, 2010 when Jim Flaherty last announced changes to Canadian Lending standards. Again in 2011, we face new rule changes which tighten lending practices yet again. Lenders now require a minimum down payment of 20% on non-owner occupied purchases, so these new…
With interest rates having been at historic lows for the past couple of years, it is inevitable that they will continue to increase. Whether you finance your properties with variable or fixed interest rates, at some point your rate will adjust, and this will have a real impact on your cash flow. To add some…