People invest in real estate for a myriad of different reasons. Some people have a very clear plan for what they want to accomplish, while others jump in on a whim. It can be very seductive to see the amount of wealth that can be created in real estate. With so many different avenues available to a new investor, which one is right for you?
Do you start by being a bird dog or wholesaler? Many people choose this road because they do not have the access to capital that is required to follow other paths. Do you try your hand at being a landlord? This can be a fantastic way to amass wealth over the long-term but it can be a source of frustration as well. Perhaps you are looking to flip-and-grow-rich. There are a plethora of great deals to be had. The obvious challenge is being able to flip them to a willing buyer at a decent profit.
My Chosen Route
My path was to follow the rehab road. I was led in that direction by circumstance, not by an overwhelming desire to find my fortune in real estate. I was at a point in my life when I was looking to purchase a home for myself. I bought a “fixer” because I was able to buy a house in a better neighborhood by using my own sweat equity. I soon discovered three things about rehabbing houses:
- I had a knack for it.
- I enjoyed it.
- It was a great way to make money.
Rehabbing, without a doubt, is not for everyone. There are so many traps that await the novice. Cost overruns are almost guaranteed, as are unexpected problems. It is difficult for a veteran rehabber to stick to a timeline, a rehabbing rookie is sure to exceed his or her time estimate. Rehabbing requires a certain mental makeup to do it successfully. If you are unprepared to deal with the frustrations that you will encounter, you should go down a different road.
Do What you Enjoy
With so many different aspects of real estate investing, there is sure to be something that you are good at and enjoy. Many people who invest in rental properties find that they are not cut out for it. Dealing with tenants can be very difficult and stressful. You can avoid a lot of that by using a property manager, but that has its own set of problems. Then you have to deal with repairs and vacancies. However, many others have no problem with those issues.
Nothing in life is perfect, but you need to choose what is best for you. Spend time investigating different aspects of investing until you find something that you think you would enjoy. Proceed slowly until you find out if you are suited to that particular investment style. When you discover your niche, run with it.
Finding Your “Why”
In order to achieve any significant goal in life it has to have meaning. New Year’s resolutions are a great example. Most people who make resolutions at the start of the year will break them quickly. They stop smoking for a short time, stick to a diet until they get a whiff of a fresh sticky bun, or they work to get out of debt until they see something on sale that they absolutely have to have.
If you are able to get in touch with your “why” you have a much greater chance of reaching your goal. You may think of investing as a great way to make money, but what will that money do for you? Perhaps it means more time with your family or time to pursue activities that you enjoy. Maybe you have a desire to get out of the rat race that is your typical 9-5 corporate job. Whatever it is, if you keep sight of why you are doing something, you have a much greater chance of following through with it.
What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals. – Zig Ziglar
Related posts:
- Finding a “legit” real estate investing club
- Finding real estate bargains with government foreclosed properties
- Meet the Investor: Real Estate Investing Interview with Rehabber Richard Warren
- Finding the Owner of a Property
- Finding Properties Under Fair Market Price
Article Author: Richard WarrenRichard has written 179 articles for us.
Visit Richard's Website: http://www.rehabberseye.com
Joshua Dorkin
{ 8 comments… read them below or add one }
Richard~ very good points. Rehabbing tends to be addictive– there’s just something infinitely satisfying about watching a dump turn into a cottage and knowing you’re responsible
Another great article~!
Good points about finding a niche. It’s important for people to find a niche and focus on it. Picking one area and becoming very seasoned at it, increases the chances of success.
Many newbies fail because they think they are going to do everything at once, and as a result, spread themselves out too thin. Focusing on a niche and creating a feasible plan is of the utmost importance for beginning investors!
I have the utmost respect for those who see buildings that are in terrible conditon and can not only make the repairs, but make it a better place by their improvements. Those investors take a risk that helps the entire community. However, at the height of the so called bubble, there were hordes of “investors” wanting to “flip” real estate without putting a dime of improvement into the building. Then there were the ones that hid all the defects with paint and carpet and re-sold the place to the unsuspecting public. I hope they were not part of the stupid bail out. Good Luck to you, Richard! I hope you continue to do well.
Picking the proper niche is important thing in all kind of business and what is better than earn money by doing what we like.
One doubt I have with investing is the notion that you don’t need money to start investing. If you’ve never invested before and have very little money, you have a lot to loose. The investors say: no – you can just borrow the money. But investing requires a ton of learning and risk. But I might be wrong
I really like what you said about Finding your “Why,” and keeping your ultimate goals clear in your head. It seems I can apply that EVERYWHERE in my life, not just in an investing context.
Thanks, have a good day!
I believe the Rehabber not only has the potential for profit, but I think there is something essentially good about taking something that is broken or in bad repair and making it whole again!
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