Sunday, June 24, 2012

4 Practical Tips: Investing

By Scott Arnn


Many people aspire to invest in real estate. Today, prices are very low, making it a great time to get started. However, there are many ways to invest in real estate and it can be difficult to determine the strategy that will work best for you.

Wholesaling is a great way to get started in real estate for many people. Maybe you're unfamiliar with the term wholesaling. In real estate wholesaling, someone makes profit by finding properties for very low prices, then selling then for a gain. This seems simple, but is it really that easy to find undervalued real estate? Foreclosed properties are often a great place to look for wholesale real estate. The reason foreclosures are undervalued is that banks don't want to hold onto them any longer than they have to. By undervaluing the properties, banks can sell them quickly.

Obviously, real estate can get quite expensive, but you can get started wholesaling for very little money. A wholesaler should think of himself or herself as a broker. Banks have properties they don't want, and investors have money they want to spend; you're trying to connect the two of them. You may not think that sounds very lucrative, but the reality is that wholesalers are very important.

Believe it or not, you can wholesale a property without ever actually purchasing it. When you buy a foreclosed property, you will have an inspection period; this is a period of time where you can decide to back out of the contract if necessary. As a wholesaler, you will use the inspection period to find a buyer who will take the property off of your hands. If you are unsuccessful, you cancel the contract. Because you are not required to actually buy the property that you are wholesaling, you can get started wholesaling for very little money.

Beware of any company that wants to charge you just for attending an auction. Any legitimate real estate auction should be free to attend. Be aware, however, that some companies will charge you a percent of your winning bid as a fee. There is nothing out of the ordinary about this, but you should consider any fees that will be applied before bidding.

Remember that the main advantage of wholesale properties is that they are often severely undervalued. There is also a downside to this, however. Some wholesale properties will not be in excellent condition when you purchase them. Be aware of this, and factor it into your bidding strategy.




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