Biggest Real Estate Investing Mistake Ever

[Wale Lawal]

Hey All,

What are the BIGGEST Real Estate Investing Mistakes you have made so far in your investing journey?

Please let's share it all so we can help someone out there avoid them or learn from your experience.

For me, it's trusting and relying on contractors too much. 

Now I still trust but I verify everything and kick out any shady contractors from my circle.

Please share it all.

Happy Investing.

[Chris John]

@Wale Lawal

Great thread.  I'm excited to see what people say so hopefully I can learn a lot.  I would say that my two biggest mistakes have been:

1.  Not understanding the importance of appreciation (and focusing too much on cashflow) as early as I'd have liked.

2.  Trusting my tenants too much.  It was a blessing and a curse as we've had some absolutely amazing tenants.  I truly believe we've been able to bless their lives as they've blessed ours and it was always exciting to lose them to becoming homeowners themselves.  However, there have definitely been some tenants that have taken advantage of that trust, so now, we run it like a business.