The Buy and Hold methodology, as it is applicable to property, is and always has been the cause for making more millionaires than any other method. The main reason is really because it lets you develop equity through appreciation over a period of time. There are numerous short term techniques like lease-options, wholesaling, and flipping that will create some cash in your pocket, but in no way will it improve your net worth in the long run.

I have found in my 20+ years of investing that the process of purchasing real estate is the most significant part of the ownership cycle. Selling is straightforward in the right market, and the only time in the property transaction you become accountable for commissions and capital gains tax. It can kill the whole deal if done improperly and at the wrong time.

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While buying single family rental properties has become the darling investment strategy of Wall Street, it may not always make sense for individual real estate investors — particularly in some markets already picked over by the large institutional investors. But there are still markets where the numbers work for the conservative, individual investor looking to purchase foreclosures and other homes as single family investment properties.

RealtyTrac developed a list of the 20 best markets nationwide for purchasing single family rentals by analyzing median sales prices and average rental rates for 3-bedroom homes and using that data to calculate capitalization “cap” rates and average cash flows.

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Property management, in its broadest terms, is the oversight of real estate. This can encompass everything from personal property to capital assets. Property management is a service provided by local businesses who do their best to manage your assets. The current state of the local and national economy will play a huge role in their decision making process. Before you invest your hard earned capital, you have to ask the question – is their personal best sufficient for the betterment of your business?

The question of whether it makes good financial sense is important. Many of the smaller investors just don’t have the answer. Lack of knowledge prevents them from bringing on professionals – leaving them to manage the property on their own. Does this short-term savings result in long-term profits?

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The economic recession only lasted a year, but there wasn’t a recovery for homes because prices had climbed much too high and builders had built way too many of them. Prices had to fall, not just back to a “normal” level, but to an even lower level so that the large inventory of excess homes could be moved – a sort of clearance sale. We’re not yet done with that sale – see the large number of mortgages still delinquent – but enough has been cleared out so that prices can drift up to a more normal level.

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A Phoenix property with 95 bids is just one example of a housing market entering a new and unprecedented phase. Experts with Arizona State University’s School of Business say the city is heading for a significant housing shortage.

Long gone are the days when the Phoenix metro was riddled with available, well-built single-family homes in the wake of the 2008 housing market bust.

Five years after the crash, the desert metro is facing lagging home construction, predictions of population growth and rising land prices, according to real estate experts with ASU.

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The April Zillow Real Estate Market Reports cover 365 metropolitan and micropolitan areas. In April, 2012 (55%) of the 365 markets showed monthly home value appreciation, and 266 (73%) of the 365 markets saw annual home value appreciation.

Among the top 30 metros, 27 of them experienced monthly home value appreciation, and 29 of them experienced annual increases with only Chicago (0.2% down) showing declining home values over the past year. Leading the pack in positive monthly appreciation were Sacramento, Las Vegas, San Jose and San Francisco, which experienced 3.4%, 3%, 2.8% and 2.8% monthly home value appreciation, respectively.

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California is a huge state and there are various market currents flowing throughout its regions, but at the moment, there are some quite similar trends happening in both Northern and Southern California. Both sections of the state are largely being driven by an increase in demand coupled with a dearth of single family homes, resulting in strong increase in prices throughout the state.

From 2008 to 2011, housing construction was at the lowest level that it had been in years. In 2005, 209,000 permits were issued for new housing units, compared to a low of fewer than 50,000 in 2008. California’s housing market is characterized by its cycles, and this one is operating along the same lines as previous ones, even if it is more pronounced than others. Part of the reason that California’s market is so volatile is because it is typically in the vanguard of trends and change in the United States, which is reflected in the housing market.

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Today’s wealthy investors seem to have split personalities. Part of them is brimming with confidence and optimism. Survey after survey shows that they are back to pre-crisis boom years when it comes to their outlook for their own finances, their investments and their retirements. Then there is the darker side.

When it comes to their outlook on the broader economy or in stock markets, they take a dimmer view. This contrast was on view in a recent survey from US Trust.

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Which States is the best to invest in?
The best State to invest depends upon your goals. If you are interested in a return on your investment than a Lien State is the way you want to go. Iowa is a great Lien State to invest in because it currently pays 24% interest with a 2-year redemption period. If you are more interested in trying to acquire property, a Deed State is the best choice. Texas is possibly the best Deed State to invest in with a 6-month or a 2-year redemption period. To redeem property in Texas the owner must pay a 25% penalty, which you as the investor receive.

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As a member of our Investor Network, you know that I am a big fan of Robert Kiyosaki’s message and mission.

Robert is the best selling financial author in the history of the world.  And now he’s released what he claims to be “the most important book I’ve ever written.“

The world’s educational system is mass producing job seekers. But sadly, it isn’t producing job creators. So it’s no surprise there aren’t enough jobs to go around.

Politicians may pander and point fingers, but the root cause of the problem needs to be identified and fixed.  That’s what Robert is doing is this new book and you can be a part of the solution.

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The self-directed Solo 401k retirement plan offers powerful advantages for real estate investing. The Individual k or Solo 401k is an IRS-qualified retirement plan that has been simplified for the self-employed and small business owner. The structure of the plan gives participants more options than a traditional 401k. The Solo 401k’s investment capability, direct access, loan feature, and tax benefits make it the perfect vehicle for investing in real estate.

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With Inland Empire foreclosures at pre-recession lows, Riverside County’s foreclosure rate dropped to No. 21 statewide in April. A total 1,403 mortgage default notices, auction sale notices and bank repossessions were recorded in April, meaning 1 in 566 households was in some stage of foreclosure, according to Irvine-based RealtyTrac.

Of those, 45 were from Palm Desert, according to data provided by the organization to Palm Desert Patch. In Palm Desert:

• One out of every 538 households received a foreclosure filing in April
• That number was down by about 25% from March 2013, and down 55% from last April.
• In April 2012, 100 households had been in default.

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CoreLogic today released its March CoreLogic HPI report. Home prices nationwide, including distressed sales, increased 10.5% on a year-over-year basis in March 2013 compared to March 2012. This change represents the biggest year-over-year increase since March 2006 and the 13th consecutive monthly increase in home prices nationally. On a month-over-month basis, including distressed sales, home prices increased by 1.9% in March 2013 compared to February 2013.

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Ask most investors what they think about the housing market today, and they will most likely cringe out of habit. The reality is that the housing market in 2013 is making a recovery, a quick and expected one.

Before we get into why the market is looking good as of right now, let’s remind ourselves how the housing market got such a bad rap in the first place, shall we?

As the twenty-first century came along, many people pounced on land as if it were going out of style. People snatched up acres upon acres of real estate, as is human nature, because you can never have too much of a good thing right?

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Long-term mortgage rates continued to move lower this week, with a 15-year fixed-rate mortgage falling to a record low for the second consecutive week.

The weekly rate report from Freddie Mac says 30-year fixed-rate mortgages averaged 3.35 percent in the week ending May 2, down from 3.4 percent last week. The average rate on a 30-year fixed rate loan is just above its all-time low of 3.31 percent set in November.

A 15-year fixed rate loan fell to an average of 2.56 percent, on par with average rates for both one-year and five-year adjustable-rate mortgages.

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What is a FICO Score? Most credit bureau scores in the U.S. are calculated from software developed by Fair Isaac and Company. They are commonly referred to as FICO scores and include a rating based on information found in credit reports.

If you’re planning to finance the purchase of any investment properties now or in the future, then knowing what make up your credit score and how to improve it are critical.
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