There’s no doubt about it – for those with a bit of know-how, real estate can be a fantastic way to invest. No other type of investment combines income potential, price appreciation potential and leverage the way real estate does. Plus, real estate is tangible. You can see it, touch it, and understand it. And unlike stocks and bonds, it can never go to zero. Buy a stock? The company can go bankrupt tomorrow. Buy a bond? It’s a piece of paper, representing a promise to repay. The company could vanish tomorrow, leaving you holding the bag. But when you buy a house, at the end of the day, no matter what happens in the economy, there’s still a house.
The potential for terrific success is there even in a recession and after the real estate bubble burst. Indeed, the time to get involved in real estate is when prices are low. In recent years, many markets in the U.S. have been hit with severe price declines. With investing, though, the lower the prices go, the better your chances. After all, people still have to live and work somewhere. But the risks are there too – as we all know by now. If you’re seriously considering becoming a real estate investor – either as a property “flipper,” or as an owner of rental income property, you need to make sure you use your natural strengths and advantages to the fullest, while keeping a watchful eye out to keep risks as low as possible.
That’s where I come in. My name is Jason Van Steenwyk, and welcome to Flippin’ Insider! I’ll be your host every week, bringing you the best in common sense advice, tips, techniques and procedures in real estate investing. My job is to help you get every advantage I can to help you be successful. We’re going to start the same way you build a house … from the ground up.
Who This Column Is For
New to real estate investing? A rank beginner? Greener than the Shamrock shore? You came to the right place. This column is your launch pad. But my plan is to help provide you with a solid foundation of real estate investment knowledge that you will carry with you for years, through many successful investments. I’ll also keep an ear to the ground to help you understand breaking news, trends, research and studies that will affect your real estate decision-making.
I’m also here to make sure you can get your questions answered. If I can’t get the answer to you, I’ll find someone who can. Please leave a comment on any post that spurs your questions. I value your feedback and dialogue, and I look forward to being a part of your success!
Jason Van Steenwyk is a veteran financial industry journalist who has been fighting to make the world safe for the retail investor since 1999. He lives at Ground Zero of the real estate bubble in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
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Would like to hear more about flipping house
I hope you elaborate on your statement above in future columns:
“you need to make sure you use your natural strengths and advantages to the fullest.”
What do you believe are some of the best strengths, assets or advantages a potential flipper might need to have?
Looking forward to reading more.