The real estate industry is recovering from a slump that affected all industries during the global economic downturn. Real estate investment is appealing to those looking for long term sources of money and those who want to build fortunes following in the footsteps of millionaires such as Donald Trump. Those interested in the real estate industry but lacking in experience usually turn to seminars for information and advice on how to make the most of their investments. If you are in this category you will be interested in the costs of investment seminars.

Before you consider the costs, it is important to protect yourself. There are many people taking advantage of the current improvement in the economy and the willingness of people to invest in real estate. Avoid seminars organized by people you have never heard of or that do not have any credentials that can be checked. In the event that you attend an investment seminar, avoid buying or signing any contracts for property that you have not seen or had checked by an external party. Genuine investment seminars will not offer you a get-rich-quick scheme. Any that does should be avoided.

Now that you know what to look for you can begin considering the prices of seminars in your area. Contrary to popular belief, genuine high quality investment seminars are not always expensive. Many of the investment seminars featuring speakers such as the self made millionaire and real estate guru Donald Trump are absolutely free. These seminars can run up to two days and will involve talks and discussion sessions where you will learn skills necessary for making a fortune in the real estate industry.

Some seminars are quite expensive. The costs of investment seminars featuring Robert Allen range between $2000 and $3000 for example and run for about 3 days. However, you ought to be careful when considering investment seminars that charge high prices. Many scams charge exceedingly high prices and offer you information that is either easily accessible on the internet or is not entirely accurate.

Whatever the costs of investment seminars, you ought to know that the advice given is not full proof. What has worked for one person may not work for you too.

By: Martin Njogu

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Investment seminars are lectures designed to help attendees develop skills that will assist them to overcome financial hardships. The financial freedom preached in investment seminars is as a result of making the money you have work harder for you. Investment seminars are becoming increasingly popular in this day and age of high rates of unemployment, pay cuts and job loss.

Legitimate investment seminars offer you advice that may be risky, but have great pay backs. However, some seminars are scams that lead people to make the wrong kind of investments or pay a large sum of money attending the seminar without benefiting in any way. It is therefore important to ensure that the seminar you attend is the real deal.

Although some seminars are free of charge, most speakers and seminar organizers make money from the fee charged to attend the seminar. Unless the speaker is a well known person, be on your guard when you receive an invitation to attend an investment seminar that costs an arm and a leg to attend.

The organizers and speakers in seminars also make money from selling books and reports. Some real estate investment seminars may sell property to attendees not giving them the opportunity to seek help or advice from external sources. These seminars are to be avoided. Their reports and books may be over priced and may provide you with information that is in most cases inaccurate. Property sold in these seminars may also be overpriced. Don’t allow yourself to be bullied into buying a property that you have not had a chance to view physically or have external sources check for you.

Investment seminars offering you properties for sale may also charge you a commission for the purchase. You may find that you are paying extra fees and charges that were not included in the cost of the property. Ignore all the gold plated deals such seminars offer you, as they usually do not end up as they were presented to you.

Investment seminars should be fully investigated to avoid spending large sums of money on scams. Ensure that you are well protected and avoid buying or signing any contracts that have not been looked over by an external party.

By: Martin Njogu

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For those who have access to funding, the time is ripe for investing in real estate, and potentially making big profits. With foreclosures on the rise, and so many REO properties, getting a good deal can be relatively easy. Even with it being a buyers market, there are a few things you need to consider when purchasing real estate in hopes of a big return.

The majority of REO homes are being sold “As is Where is.” This type of sale is exactly as it states, has no warranty, and any repairs are at the expense of the buyer.

It is a buyers’ market; however, common sense needs to prevail. It makes sense, that if the homeowner could not afford their house payments, then chances are, they could not afford the maintenance of the home. Many of these homes will not have the equity to do repairs needed to make the home sell, while still allowing for a profit margin that will make it worth your while, let alone leave some money on the table to offer built-in equity to a potential buyer. Many of these homes are those you would purchase as long-term investments. You will be making the needed repairs on your dollar, in hopes of gaining equity later on. Once the repairs are made, you can rent the home to keep your payments made, while waiting for the property values to rise.

Although As is Where is properties can be a good deal, it is a good idea to research the property thoroughly, making sure you get inspections done in order to know what you are getting yourself into. Although banks will not put money into a property for general repairs or cosmetic repairs, they may negotiate a little on the price if you can show that the repairs are excessive for the price they are asking, such as having to replace a roof. Remember to get estimates of the needed repairs, and keep copies for your records.

Real estate investment property can be very profitable if you approach it with a keen eye for business. Remember your goal is to make money. If you are planning to purchase a home in hopes of an instant income, depending on the amount of repairs needed for the home to sell, you need to get the property for no more than 60% of the estimated value of the home. If you are planning on wholesaling the home “As is Where Is” to someone else to fix up and repair, remember to leave some equity on the table for the next guy to make your deal more attractive.

By: Lou Steverson

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When someone mentions the word condo, people are more familiar with residential condominiums. However, there is another type of condominium for those who are interested in buying investment property. Commercial condos are built for non-residential uses such as offices, retail shops, hotel rooms, etc.

Like residential condos, owners of commercial condos can rent or sell individual units to interested buyers. Even though all the units are attached to each other, a different person or business owns a separate piece. There are multiple owners, similar to a residential complex. The question becomes what are the advantages for investors and business owners for choosing a commercial condo when buying investment property. The biggest advantages of commercial condos are flexibility and affordability.

Since each condo unit is a separate, transferable piece of property, the unit can be sold without seeking approval and permission from multiple parties. Commercial condominiums also provide an option for investors who cannot afford to buy an entire building or complex. Each condo unit is only a part of a building or complex and therefore more affordable.

When buying investment property, you should look at combining a commercial and residential condo units for a mixed-use development. Some common examples of mixed-use developments include medical office parks or retail condos at street level and residential condominium units in the upper level. Combining the two types of condos into one development increases the pool of possible owners and tenants.

A commercial condo also provides business owners an alternative to renting or leasing space and gives them tax advantages. Some of the advantages to businesses who are owners of commercial condos instead of tenants of rented or leased space include deductions for property taxes and interest, building assessments, utilities, insurance, repairs and depreciation.

When buying investment property, commercial condos are a good option for both investors and business owners. It is important to look at any agreements with condominium associations to see how any regulations or fees can affect the value of your investment. This is especially important to investors who are renting their condominiums to tenants because it must be decided who will pay for any regular maintenance and assessment fees.

Commercial condos are a good starting point for investors and businesses that have a smaller budget, are interested in buying investment property and want to take advantage of ownership benefits. It is important to look do your research and make sure buying commercial condos is the right fit for you.

By: Greg W. Hughes

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If you are considering a refinance of your investment property mortgage, now is still a very favorable time. While interest rates are no longer at rock-bottom prices, the rates are still historically low.

Refinancing your investment property mortgage loan is never a simple matter, but there are a few things which you can do to insure that you get the best refinance rate possible. Here are 4 tips you can use to help you in the process:

Tip #1: Get the Best Refinance Investment Property Interest Rate by Doing Your Homework

Even if you choose to use a mortgage broker, you will find that interest rates constantly change, literally hour by hour. By taking the time to educate yourself about mortgage rates you can help yourself to better gage when the rate is at its best it is likely going to be. By reading about mortgage rate trends, the U.S. economy and other financial news you can help insure you get the best refinance mortgage rate possible.

Tip #2: Get the Best Refinance Investment Property Interest Rate Possible by Using a Mortgage Broker

Brokers are professionals in their trade. Just as an accountant is the best person to do your income tax returns, a commercial mortgage broker is trained and skilled in helping you to find the best refinance investment property rate possible. A broker has access to literally thousands of lenders and programs to choose from. They can suggest lenders for just about every scenario possible. If you have bad credit, if you are self-employed, etc., no matter what your unique situation is a commercial mortgage broker can help find you the absolute best deal possible.

Tip #3: Get the Best Refinance Investment Property Interest Rate by Buying Down

Assume for a moment that the best commercial mortgage rate available today is 6%. By buying down your rate you can lower your interest rates over the length of your loan. This is also called “paying points.” If you were to buy down the 6% rate, you might easily end up with a 5.5% mortgage. The cost to you would be a few thousand dollars at closing; however, this would save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of your mortgage term. Paying points always makes sense if you have the available capital and do not need to use it in other areas of your business.

Tip #4: Get the Best Refinance Investment Property Interest Rate by Negotiating

A little known fact is that mortgage rates and even fees are always negotiable! By playing two lenders, or even two brokers, against each other, you can come up with an absolute rock-bottom interest rate. Successful negotiation requires that you are always prepared to walk away from the deal, that you say “no” until you get what you are looking for, and that you are both patient and well educated.

By educating yourself, using a mortgage broker, paying points, and using simple business negotiation skills, you can get the best refinance investment property interest rate available. Whether you have excellent credit, or not so good credit, you can find an excellent rate and refinance your current commercial mortgage. By doing your homework you can save yourself thousands of dollars over the life of your investment property loan.

By: Andrew Stratton

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Buying investment property at the courthouse steps seems to be a great way to get property for a bargain-basement price. However, as amazing as some of those deals seem to be, there are some big risks associated with purchasing property from a courthouse auction.

One of the biggest risks of buying investment property at a courthouse auction is that the condition of the property is usually unknown. Interested buyers typically cannot inspect the property prior to the auction, unlike if you were to buy property from a real estate agent. The potential investment property is still considered private property and interested buyers should not expect the right to inspect the property before they decide whether to bid on it or not.

While you most likely will get a great price when buying investment property at an auction, you need to include other costs into the price. The costs for renovation, repair and maintenance might wipe out whatever money you saved by purchasing a house below market value at an auction. More often than not, people who were going through foreclosure very likely could not afford to repair and maintain their property, or they were no longer willing to spend the money on something they were about to lose. Researching common costs associated with buying property at an auction can help you stay within your budget and increase your profits. It would also be wise to have money set aside in your budget for renovation and repair if you do decide to buy investment property in Reno at an auction.

Buying investment property at an auction might seem like a good way to save money, but it is important to look at all the pros and cons, especially if you are not familiar with the auction process. Doing some research prior to auctions can save you time and money in the long run. You should consider finding real estate investment advisor services or real estate investment fund if you are just getting started at buying property at courthouse auctions. Be aware that there is no money back guarantee at auctions. You need to make sure buying investment property at an auction is the best avenue to spend your money. It is important to know your budget and understand the risks and rewards of this method of buying real estate before you set foot on the courthouse steps.

By: Greg W. Hughes

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Real estate investment involves placing your capital in real property with the expectation of generating favorable rates of return along with the amount invested (i.e., you want your investment back with a return to cover the risk). As a result, many investors are very interested in wealth maximization and therefore are always searching for competitive rates of return, and this is why many turn to real estate investing. To maximize yields consistent with acceptable levels of risk.

Okay, but bear in mind that yields from a real estate investment result from a host of sources that include annual after-tax cash flows, equity buildup through appreciation of the property, and cash flow after tax once the rental property is sold or upon some other form of disposition. Fair enough; so let’s move on and discuss some typical investment objectives you should understand.

Leverage, of course, is paramount to any investment decision. It is always an advantage to an investor to use other people’s money to magnify the rate of return on investment equity at the same time being able to control the investment property. This is made possible when you are able to borrow money against the rental property, and in fact, allows you to control a larger investment than would be possible without borrowed resources. So always approach your decision to invest in real estate seeking to leverage the property and use other people’s money to help get you your rate of return.

Your personal investment objectives are also important. You may want to purchase a rental property in a location that will insure low vacancies. Or perhaps you want ownership and control of a property that will give you a pride of ownership. Maybe you just want to acquire a rental property to insure your financial security upon retirement. Your own particular objective for investing in real estate is very important.

Tax shelter advantages might pose another objective you have that would drive you to make a real estate investment. Investors that own rental property can defer tax on income through depreciation, a variety of tax credits, the conversion of qualified into qualified income sources into capital gain tax treatment, and more.

Finally, you might simply want to diversify your portfolio. Perhaps the role in selection of real estate as an investment is your way of spreading risk management over different types of assets.

Okay, but here’s the bottom line. Regardless what objective drives you to real estate investing, you must not neglect doing your homework and running the numbers on any rental property you consider purchasing. Like the proverbial saying, “measure twice and cut once.” That’s how the most prudent and successful investors do it.

By: James Kobzeff

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Realty market is one of the most profitable sources of investment. Be it the residential or commercial properties the growth is considerably high in the leading cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon etc. The considerable property appreciation in just few months has drawn a large number of investors to the market.

The market is offering variety of properties to invest. You may invest in residential or commercial properties that are ready to move or under-construction properties. Investment in the residential and commercial land is also quite profitable. Investment in properties that can be rented is a rising trend these days.

Rental properties are quite a lucrative investment wherein the rental charges are getting costlier and costlier. The demand of rental properties is quite high in the industrial and commercial hubs such as Bangalore, Delhi, NCR cities, Mumbai, Chennai etc. Owing to the high demand of rental properties such as flats, offices, shops etc. The rental values are rising day by day.

A flat rent in Gurgaon is quite high with a variety of rental options such as high rise flats, low rise builder and independent floors, independent houses etc.

A Flat rent Gurgaon for 2-3 BHK ranges from 15 to 25k per month whereas the penthouses and villas on rent may go up to a lac. With such high rentals the investors are purchasing properties to be rented as a handsome source of monthly income.

The IT& ITES hubs such as Gurgaon, Bangalore, Pune, Chennai, etc. have a huge demand for rental properties. The builders are launching many residential and commercial projects to cater to the rising demand of the properties.

There are many upcoming residential and commercial projects which are quite profitable investments. Many investors buy properties for the purpose of rent whereas some investors buy to sell after earning a satisfactory appreciation or growth.

Commercial rental properties are more profitable than the residential properties with much higher rents. But the investment in residential properties is more than the commercial properties because the commercial properties demand huge investment of money. The residential properties can be purchased at affordable rates also. There are many affordable properties coming up in Indian cities.

By: Monica Swaroop

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Property investments are nothing new. Before the advent of stocks and foreign exchange, people used to invest their money largely in land or some sort of property. It is only recently that people after looking at the stock markets and the like and with the lure of instant money have begun to stay away from property investments. But, the lack of popularity in no way mitigates or reduces the benefit or safety of these investments. If you invest wisely and choose a piece of property after consulting all the right factions, the results will definitely surprise you. A property investment is something that just incurs a one-time expenditure of the down payment. If you play your cards well and have been doing so, the cash flow of profit will start immediately.

Getting Property Investment Knowledge

Many people sometimes suffer losses and discourage other people from making a good investment. This is because those people perhaps did not take a measured decision or perhaps did not seek proper expert advice. When you are considering a property investment, you should always make sure to take the help of good property consultants.

These people have been in the business for years and if you find a trustworthy consultant, you will get excellent advice. They can properly guide you into excellent deals that on your own you would have been unable to find or would have been unavailable for you in the open market.

They can also get you the best mortgage deals and advise you on the further course to make your investment in property self-sufficient by putting it out on rent. They will also negotiate all the deals and take care of all the bothering and vast amount of paperwork that is part and parcel of investing in property in the UK.

By: Adams Noyes

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Real estate has traditionally been an avenue for considerable investment per se and investment opportunity for High Net-worth Individuals, Financial institutions as well as individuals looking at viable alternatives for investing money among stocks, bullion, property and other avenues.

Money invested in property for its income and capital growth provides stable and predictable income returns, similar to that of bonds offering both a regular return on investment, if property is rented as well as possibility of capital appreciation. Like all other investment options, real estate investment also has certain risks attached to it, which is quite different from other investments. The available investment opportunities can broadly be categorized into residential, commercial office space and retail sectors.

Investment scenario in real estate

Any investor before considering real estate investments should consider the risk involved in it. This investment option demands a high entry price, suffers from lack of liquidity and an uncertain gestation period. To being illiquid, one cannot sell some units of his property (as one could have done by selling some units of equities, debts or even mutual funds) in case of urgent need of funds.

The maturity period of property investment is uncertain. Investor also has to check the clear property title, especially for the investments in India. The industry experts in this regard claim that property investment should be done by persons who have deeper pockets and longer-term view of their investments. From a long-term financial returns perspective, it is advisable to invest in higher-grade commercial properties.

The returns from property market are comparable to that of certain equities and index funds in longer term. Any investor looking for balancing his portfolio can now look at the real estate sector as a secure means of investment with a certain degree of volatility and risk. A right tenant, location, segmental categories of the Indian property market and individual risk preferences will hence forth prove to be key indicators in achieving the target yields from investments.

The proposed introduction of REMF (Real Estate Mutual Funds) and REIT (Real Estate Investment Trust) will boost these real estate investments from the small investors’ point of view. This will also allow small investors to enter the real estate market with contribution as less as INR 10,000.

There is also a demand and need from different market players of the property segment to gradually relax certain norms for FDI in this sector. These foreign investments would then mean higher standards of quality infrastructure and hence would change the entire market scenario in terms of competition and professionalism of market players.

Overall, real estate is expected to offer a good investment alternative to stocks and bonds over the coming years. This attractiveness of real estate investment would be further enhanced on account of favourable inflation and low interest rate regime.

Looking forward, it is possible that with the progress towards the possible opening up of the real estate mutual funds industry and the participation of financial institutions into property investment business, it will pave the way for more organized investment real estate in India, which would be an apt way for investors to get an alternative to invest in property portfolios at marginal level.

Investor’s Profile

The two most active investor segments are High Net Worth Individuals (HNIs) and Financial Institutions. While the institutions traditionally show a preference to commercial investment, the high net worth individuals show interest in investing in residential as well as commercial properties.

Apart from these, is the third category of Non-Resident Indians (NRIs). There is a clear bias towards investing in residential properties than commercial properties by the NRIs, the fact could be reasoned as emotional attachment and future security sought by the NRIs. As the necessary formalities and documentation for purchasing immovable properties other than agricultural and plantation properties are quite simple and the rental income is freely repatriable outside India, NRIs have increased their role as investors in real estate

Foreign direct investments (FDIs) in real estate form a small portion of the total investments as there are restrictions such as a minimum lock in period of three years, a minimum size of property to be developed and conditional exit. Besides the conditions, the foreign investor will have to deal with a number of government departments and interpret many complex laws/bylaws.

The concept of Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is on the verge of introduction in India. But like most other novel financial instruments, there are going to be problems for this new concept to be accepted.

Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) would be structured as a company dedicated to owning and, in most cases, operating income-producing real estate, such as apartments, shopping centres, offices and warehouses. A REIT is a company that buys, develops, manages and sells real estate assets and allows participants to invest in a professionally managed portfolio of properties.

Some REITs also are engaged in financing real estate. REITs are pass-through entities or companies that are able to distribute the majority of income cash flows to investors, without taxation, at the corporate level. The main purpose of REITs is to pass the profits to the investors in as intact manner as possible. Hence initially, the REIT’s business activities would generally be restricted to generation of property rental income.

The role of the investor is instrumental in scenarios where the interest of the seller and the buyer do not match. For example, if the seller is keen to sell the property and the identified occupier intends to lease the property, between them, the deal will never be fructified; however, an investor can have competitive yields by buying the property and leasing it out to the occupier.

Rationale for real estate investment schemes

The activity of real estate includes a wide range of activities such as development and construction of townships, housing and commercial properties, maintenance of existing properties etc.

The construction sector is one the highest employment sector of the economy and directly or indirectly affects the fortunes of many other sectors. It provides employment to a large work force including a substantial proportion of unskilled labor. However for many reasons this sector does not have smooth access to institutional finance. This is perceived as one of the reasons for the sector not performing to its potential.

By channeling small savings into property, investments would greatly increase access to organized institutional finance. Improved activity in the property sector also improves the revenue flows to the State exchequer through-increased sales-tax, octroi and other collections.

Real estate is an important asset class, which is under conventional circumstances not a viable route for investors in India at present, except by means of direct ownership of properties. For many investors the time is ripe for introducing product to enable diversification by allocating some part of their investment portfolio to real estate investment products. This can be effectively achieved through real estate funds.

Property investment products provide opportunity for capital gains as well as regular periodic incomes. The capital gains may arise from properties developed for sale to actual users or direct investors and the income stream arises out of rentals, income from deposits and service charges for property maintenance.

Advantages of investment in real estate

The following are the advantages for investing in Real Estate Investment Schemes

• As an asset class, property is distinct from the other investment avenues available to a small as well as large investor. Investment in property has its own methodology, advantages, and risk factors that are unlike those for conventional investments. A completely different set of factors, including capital formation, economic performance and supply considerations, influence the realty market, leading to a low correlation in price behaviour vis-