How To Buy More Houston Area Real Estate Investment Properties Than You Can Handle

There are several ways to buy houses: Houston foreclosures from the downtown auction, Houston pre-foreclosures by mailing to a list of those about to go to auction, or even from the primary website for Realtors (HAR.com).

But what are the top investors in Houston doing to find bargain priced properties? Well, they use several different methods, that's for sure. But one method in particular has been used regularly by EVERY top investor I've spoken to, including myself.

So what is this method? It's buying properties from OTHER Houston real estate investors at huge discounts.

But first, some vocabulary for you: When one investor sells to another investor at a discount, it's called "Wholesaling". The person who buys (you) is called a "Rehabber" if they plan to fix and resell it or "Landlord" if they plan to fix and rent it.

Most new real estate investors don't realize how powerful this source of deals (other investors) can be. Heck, most don't realize that wholesaling even goes on! "Why would another Houston real estate investor sell a house to me for dirt cheap?," they say.

Well, the reason is that the selling investor wants to make a quick buck by selling "as is" quickly an easily with no hassles. The seller doesn't want to deal with fixing it, marketing it, and eventually selling it to a retail buyer.

That's where you step in: You buy the property, fix it, re-sell it, and make the big profits.

I have wholesaled a number of properties in may day, and all of the buyers (investors) made some good money by fixing and re-selling the houses. And I was happy to get some quick $$.

But my best profits have come when I bought from a Wholesaler and fixed and sold the property. I still do a combo of wholesaling, rehabbing, and renting. I wholesale when I need a small amount of fast cash. And I rehab when I'm willing to wait 3-5 months to make the big bucks.

Ok, now you know the basics! So the next logical question is, "Where do I find these wholesale deals?" Fortunately for you, I've become a master at rounding up these wholesale deals, so I'm qualified to tell you.

Just do these four things consistently:

1. Go to most of the RICH Club (Realty Investment Club of Houston) meetings (richclub.org) so that you can get to know some of the active investors in Houston. Find out what deals they are wholesaling. The RICH Club has 20+ meetings per month now.

2. Call ads in the newspaper (Houston Chronicle, Greensheet, Thrifty Nickele, etc.) that say "We buy houses". These ads are always placed by investors. Ask them if the wholesale properties and which properties they're selling.

3. Search the Internet for deals: You can use Craig's List (craigslist.org), the Rich Club's website (richclub.org), Linda Purcell's group (finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/lindas_realty_investments_group), Joshua Berg's list (houstonrealty.us) and more.

4. Follow up with everyone that wholesales deals on a weekly basis with phone calls and emails.

That's about it! But it actually does take a lot of time an energy. I should know. I spend much of my week doing the things above. But it's worth it!

Happy (and profitable) investing,

Real Estate and Property Rights, a Cautionary Tale That Is a True Story

As a child I received a piece of advice from my mother. She told me never sell your mineral rights or your water rights on a piece of real estate you own. She also said don't buy a piece of land where those rights don't convey.

This may not be the kind of advice little kids usually receive from their moms, but it is very good advice.

My mom was the daughter of a farmer. People tend to think of farmers as ignorant rubes. In fact good farmers have to be pretty savvy about property legalities and scientific matters like soil conservation, plant propagation, animal care and biology, too.

As an adult I was a Master Gardener with our local county Agricultural Extension office. In my training course we learned that plants need somewhere between 16 to 18 minerals to be present in soil to grow. Most farms use fertilizers that include only 3 minerals, nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous.

About 14 years ago I read the annual report of a large mineral company. In it they said that when they mined minerals from a piece of land it is so devoid of nutrients that without intensive efforts to restore the fertility of the land they have mined nothing will grow for 1,000 years or more.

Plants cannot grow without minerals.

Many less educated people who farmed in the US and other places sold their mineral rights to this company. They believed they could make money from the sale of the minerals and still farm the land they owned.

In fact the land became profoundly infertile after the minerals were gone. Worse still, the company knew what would happen.

Was it deceptive?

Of course it was.

Mom, the farmer's daughter, knew what she was telling me was important.

With oil producers, oil leases and "fracking" it's more important than ever. Ask yourself, "What will this do to the land?"

This is an important issue for other property owners, too.

Many developers of subdivisions and gated communities reserve the rights to minerals, water and other resources when they sell lots. It might be a real shock to look out the window of your dream home and see an oil derrick pumping away, or someone digging a mine.

To protect yourself find good legal representation and learn all you can about property rights. The risk is, you could discover a very bad surprise down the road, particularly as natural resources become even more scarce.

Zoning Your Real Estate - Commercial Property Land Can Be Somewhat Challenging

Proper zoning for the type subdividing you have in mind is critical! Eighty percent of the counties in the US having zoning of some kind. Some people look at this as an advantage as it controls the amount and quality of the growth in an area, while others look at it as an infringement of their rights as owners. The counties have zones which are created by the planning or zoning commission and some of the basic zones are; residential, commercial, industrial, and agricultural, with each one having several categories of restrictions. There can be restrictions on the minimum number of acres per parcel that you can subdivide your property into, limits on the number, size, or purpose of buildings, number of homes and population density per acre, etc.

New zoning is not normally that much different from the type activities or zoning already in the place for a neighborhood. But there are stories of people who have owned their property for many years and suddenly are restricted as to hat they can do with it! And without compensation! Zoning laws for particular areas cause some problems but their absence can also. You may have a beautiful tract of land and unexpectedly have a paper mill built near you, or have mobile homes or very small houses appear nearby, or a stock car track! Who knows? Personally I prefer zoning restrictions as long as they aren't greatly restrictive. If you are involved in real estate, it is beneficial to stay informed of the present zoning laws and proposed changes, as well as other county activities, such as planning for new roads or industrial parks, etc.

Once zoning laws are in effect, the county building and health departments ensure they are abided by as they won't issue building or sewage permits until they have analyzed your proposed building or subdivision plans. Should you locate a parcel of land that you like but it has the wrong zoning for your plans, there is a possibility that you might get a particular zoning changed. Once I was successful in getting the zoning changed from residential to commercial on a large building lot my wife and I had acquired, which allowed us to sell it to a doctor for a new office. But it was a great deal of trouble and was certainly time consuming. After I submitted the request to the planning commission, we had to get signatures from property owners in the neighborhood stating that they didn't object to the zoning change, and present them to the commission. Once they received the signatures it still took forever as it had to be advertised and presented at a council meeting. But if finally worked. If a Realtor tells you that the zoning can be changed or a variance received on a particular property, I would be cautious as it is difficult, and sometimes impossible.

Real Estate Commercial Property

The buyer's market in real estate these days has created all types of real estate available for investors. One of these markets that are considered cheap and more affordable is the commercial real estate market. This can be one of the most profitable markets for investors, but many investors do not put much effort in purchasing commercial properties, because they do not understand the benefits. By comparing costs with benefits, you will soon come to know that commercial real estate is the actual way to go. You should consider the use of property that you are selecting. If it is a commercial property then it is only good for business world, you will find it difficult to sell out property in the future. By choosing a property that is flexible and supple in its usage, you will raise the chance of success with your investment.

You should also consider the location of property. Is it located on main road? Is it behind other buildings? By checking all these facts, you will be able to get the property that is right for your needs. Try to find the profit margin of the property. By considering the profit margin of the property, you will be able to decide if it is good for you or not. This is an important decision for you to make, so run those numbers and try to find if this property best suits your financial condition. Commercial investment is said to be a great choice over residential investment, simply because it doesn't look to fluctuate so much. By choosing the right property with right place, considering the profit margin, you will be able to invest successfully in commercial real estate and make most of your profit.

Earn By Means of Real Estate Investment Properties

Because of the financial meltdown that has impacted most of the countries in the world, individuals have recognized the importance of spending their funds correctly. They have learned their lessons and do not want to make the same mistakes once more. It requires lots of time to search for the finest investment available. Lots of individuals are taking advantage of the gullibility of other folks who are willing to spend their money on anything that would make them make money. What they do not know is that not all these investments are great ones. If there is one thing that has stayed optimistic despite this monetary turmoil, then it is the opportunity of earning big through real estate investment properties.

Many people are interested in real estate properties. These are not only the rich folks, but also those people who want to earn money by buying and selling properties at a high price. As opposed to what some people believe, making money through real estate properties is not only for the wealthy. Anyone can make millions of dollars by being involved in buying and selling these properties. There are even several methods that will enable individuals to earn money without investing a single dollar.

Real estate investment properties range from small houses to luxury houses. Some people prefer to go with luxury homes because the costs of these houses are high. This signifies that any individual who can sell one will have the potential to earn big. Then again, lots of people are concerned that they will not have any profits in the future. This could happen if you buy a house and sell it in the future. Nonetheless, there is a different way to earn money without needing to buy a house. All you have to do is to locate a purchaser and acquire part of the sales.

Marketing a real estate property could mean counting on newspaper ads or going to auctioneers. Both of these techniques might be costly, but they are also effective. There are plenty of auctioneers in existence, and the cost of marketing a home through an auction company could reach thousands of dollars. Nonetheless, there are also several auction companies that do not ask for too much and also have much better conditions. This is how folks generate income. Selling even just one home can result into earnings as high as hundreds of thousands of dollars.

When it involves spending an individual's funds, real estate investment properties are still the smartest choice. Now that there is a way to make money without needing to spend just one dollar, people must take advantage of this wonderful opportunity. There are plenty of individuals who are hoping to sell their properties, but they are having a difficult time finding a buyer. Any person, even those who have no experience in selling, could make money by looking for inexpensive and efficient ways to market these properties. Lots of people have become extremely successful simply because they did the right thing of going with real estate instead of wasting their time on other ventures.

Real Estate Investing? 5 Ways to Buy a Perfectly Priced Real Estate Investment Property

Looking for the "perfect real estate investment property?" Is there such a thing? Yes, but you have to find it first.

There are few investors who would argue the old adage that "every profitable investment begins with a bargain purchase." That's not to say that you can't buy at regular retail price and still make a profit. It just reduces that profit margin, or makes it more difficult to sustain.

With the goal of a buying a property below market value, where should a real estate investor look for properties?

1. Your own website. There are certainly value buys through wholesalers and other property marketers. However, getting to a distressed homeowner when they need you with an offer to help them avoid foreclosure or bankruptcy is the most direct route. If you buy directly from an owner, you won't be passing along some of your profits to someone in the middle. Put up a small free or inexpensive website with articles about how you help homeowners by buying their homes.

2. Ads and area signs. You've seen them. The "I buy homes" signs and classified ads. The reason you see them a lot is because they work. You must be consistent though. Run a classified ad continuously, and in the same area of the paper.

3. Foreclosure websites. There are a number of national foreclosure websites. You'll find listings placed there by lenders. They can be old, so check on new listings promptly.

4. Wholesalers and "flippers." Though we've placed someone in the middle, this is still a useful approach. Those who have excellent resources can locate properties that you may never find on your own, and their markup to flip them to you can still leave an excellent return on investment.

5. Realtors and MultiListing Service listings. Though the least lucrative for you, there can be bargains listed on the MLS. You might also create relationships with agents who list properties in your chosen locations. They may tell you when their desperate homeowner client is about to go into foreclosure.

Though you may find that you can hone one of these approaches to a fine art, keep them all on your list to avoid missing that perfect real estate investment.

Indian Real Estate and Property Market

Indian real estate and property market has received huge investment in recent years. The growing Indian economy is still attractive to both national and international investors and will continue to be so for the foreseeable future.

As the spending power of Indians increases, there is a growing demand for high-end properties. Besides the software industry, other IT enabled services and outsourcing services industry has driven up the demand for real-estate. Another key contributor that is fuelling this growth is the retail industry. Retail industry is itself projected to grow by more than 25 per cent for the coming years.

The huge and growing, Indian middle class is another driving force causing increasing demand for real-estate. Large number of shopping malls, multiplexes and other public recreational establishments are being built all over India. These construction activities are not just limited to the metros and bigger cities such as Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kolkata, Chandigarh, and the National Capital Region (NCR), but also smaller and upcoming cites and towns.

Every major international firm is trying to get involved with the Indian Real estate market. Unlike many other businesses in India, real estate is a low maintenance and high return of investment business opportunity. Before investing, you should make sure that the location is to your liking. If you are buying just to sell it later then location is the most important aspect in selecting property, followed by infrastructure and connectivity. If you are planning to reside then other factors, such as basic amenities, proximity to markets, schools, hospitals etc. also needs to be considered.

For more, visit the Indian real estate and property market website.