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3 Invaluable Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Investing

Dave Van Horn
3 min read
3 Invaluable Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Investing

As mentioned in my last article, “How to Invest Your Money When You’re NOT a High Net Worth Investor,” saving money to invest and then investing it strategically can be tough when you’re just starting out. It was tough for me, too.

Looking back now, after 30 years of investing in real estate, there are plenty of things I’d tell my younger self to do—and not to do—if I were ever given the chance. Even so, I’ve learned many lessons throughout the years that I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Before I get into what those lessons are, I should say that not every path is the same. Just because certain financial and investing strategies worked for me doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re right for you. It may be wise to consider your strengths, weaknesses, goals, time commitment, risk tolerance, etc. before making any decisions.

So, what areas did I gain knowledge in, and how can those lessons be applied in your overall wealth building strategy?

3 Invaluable Lessons Learned From 30 Years of Investing

1. Find tax-savings opportunities.

Back in college, I took a taxation course on a whim. The professor had previously taught my economics class, and I liked his teaching style, but I had little to no interest in the subject. Looking back, learning the basics helped me eventually implement strategies to save on taxes that have made all the difference.

I realized that the government rewards (through tax deductions and by taxing profit distributions at a lower rate than earned income) those who create jobs by starting businesses or those who provide shelter via investing in real estate. The government also encourages philanthropy and home ownership through tax deductions and tax-savings opportunities.

Related: The Surprising Lesson a Six-Figure Salary in My 20s Taught Me About Wealth

So what did I do? I started a real estate business.

The specific strategies I’ve used throughout the years have changed, but as I mentioned in a previous article, it usually pays to call up your accountant and talk strategy. Are you getting all of the deductions you could be?

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2. Leverage what you can.

My first time using other people’s money (OPM) to invest was through credit cards (i.e. the bank’s money). I would use a credit card to purchase and fix up the property, then refinance it to pay back the credit card and make a generous return.

Today, instead of using credit cards, I’d recommend what I did next, and that is to use private money (or even hard money) to invest in real estate. Looking back, I should have borrowed more hard money. I was afraid of the high interest rates, but before I had a track record, I was turning down deals left and right due to the lack of capital.

Next, I decided to leverage my properties. This decision was a game changer for me.

For example, you could take out a HELOC (Home Equity Line of Credit) with an interest rate of approximately 4%, and then you could lend that capital via a hard money deal making about 15-18%. In other words, you could make 11-14% on the spread.

It seems that many investors are afraid to access their equity, but I’m afraid not to, as doing so has been instrumental to my success. I do prefer to invest that equity into short-term deals, though, as to avoid interest rate risk, i.e. the possibility that the interest rate adjusts on the HELOC between the time you access the capital and when you pay it all back.

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Related: 3 Tales of Landlording Catastrophe—And the Invaluable Lessons They Teach Us

3. Buy intentionally.

When you’re just starting out with limited capital to invest, you may think that your buying power is also limited.

A good strategy for building your real estate portfolio is to buy intentionally, even with your primary residences. For example, I kept every house I ever lived in and turned each of them into a rental.

These strategies, among others, helped me build wealth through 30 years of investing, and I absolutely recommend considering them as part of your overall plan.

We’re republishing this article to help out our newer readers.

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So, what are some of your favorite strategies for building wealth? Or, if you’re a seasoned investor, what strategies can you share with those who are just starting out?

Comment below!

Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.