Author: Rik Footebr
Source: articleage.combr
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Why should you invest in real estate? Well, investing in real estate for profit is one of the most popular approaches to generating additional income in the United States today. In fact, if you pay attention to recent press you will have seen numerous reports about the real estate investment craze that seems to be sweeping the Nation.
When done carefully and intelligently, real estate can yield fantastic benefits that can not be achieved through any other type of investment. Here are just a few examples of why real estate investing can be such a powerful wealth generator.
1. Real Estate Markets Are Slow to React – Although real estate, like everything else, has ups and downs, it is generally a lot slower to react than the stock market. For example, you wont get up in the morning and discover that your real estate investment is worth ten or twenty percent less than it was yesterday.
2. Leverage. You can borrow money to buy real estate, whereas, generally you can not borrow money to buy stocks. You can control a large dollar value of real estate with a small amount of your own money by using loans and mortgages. The stock market, by law, limits the amount of leverage (margin) you can use to buy stock. There are no such limits with real estate.
3. You Can Purchase Real Estate For Less Than Its Market Value. In many cases you can purchase a property for as low as 60 to 70 percent of the market value. When buying stocks, you may be able to find a stock that is considered under valued but generally its tough to do that on a regular and consistent basis.
4. Real Estate Offers A Tremendous Amount Of Tax Advantages Through Depreciation. Real estate basically has two values, the land and the building(s) on the land. For example, if a property is valued at $250,000 and the assessed value of the land is $75,000, the building would be worth $175,000.
The government allows real estate investors to depreciate the value of the building in equal parts over its useful life which is defined as 27.5 years. So for example, based on the $175,000 building value above, the annual depreciation value would be $6,363.63 ($175,000 divided by 27.5). This means that for tax purposes, the investor would be able to reduce his/her annual income by $6,363.63!
Many people find the notion of depreciation to be confusing since its not really a loss of money. I recommend you check with a qualified tax professional for more details and how this can benefit you.
5. Real Estate Markets Are Insulated Local Markets. For instance, when the stock market falls, it takes down just about everybody and everything involved with it. When home values drop in one city such as New York, generally it does not affect property values in other cities like Boston or Chicago. To protect yourself, you can have a geographically diversified portfolio of real estate investments to hedge against these types events.
6. You The Investor Can Control The Value. Another aspect of real estate investment is that unlike any other investment, this investment is controlled by the investor. For example, as an investor, you can increase the value of your investment property by making some modifications to the property such as adding a garage or replacing the carpet, etc. With stocks or any other investment, the investor cant do anything to increase the value of the investment.
7. The Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH). When a market has prices that always fully reflect available information, it is called efficient. The stock market for example is considered by most to be an efficient market. When you call your broker to purchase or sell a stock, you can be sure of one thing – the price you bought or sold the stock for was indeed the correct price for that stock on that day and at that time. Why? Because the existing price for the stock will already incorporate and reflect all relevant available information about the company such as earnings, and other metrics.
With real estate, the market is very inefficient. Unlike the stock market, with real estate, the correct price discovery mechanism is left to each buyer and seller to figure out on their own. There is the almost always uncertainty as to whether the price offered by the seller is too high or too low. Moreover, there is typically little to no help available from analysts and research agencies (like when dealing with stocks) in this respect. This inefficiency is the very reason why real estate offers such a great investment opportunity to be smart and win! But it requires experience and a sharp eye for good deals and great negotiation skill. This expertise can be developed.
If done correctly, real estate is probably one of the smartest investments you could ever make. Hopefully this short rambling has provided you with a fresh perspective of the many benefits of real estate investing. So be smart, continue to learn and above all dont wait for some magic moment, just get started.
To Your Success!
Rik Foote
Rik Foote is the President CEO of The Dorian Group, Inc. Dorian is a software company that develops affordable software applications designed to help beginners get off to a realistic and practical start as real estate investors. To learn more about Dorians products and services visit http://www.reiscouts.combr
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Author: Michael Setz
Source: articleage.com

There has been a lot of talk lately about the “Real Estate Bubble”, and a lot of folks are asking the question: “When it is going to burst”?
They are saying that the market just can’t sustain this level of growth and appreciation much longer, and I heat them say that it is inevitable that it must come crashing down soon. People are worried. They don’t think it can last; That whatever goes up, must come down.
These folks have been conditioned to believe what they believe most likely from the experience of the stock market bubble of 2000, and maybe the 1990’s when the real estate market was hit hard in many large metropolitan areas across the country.
Its human nature to feel this way. We all know the saying (or the 80’s tune for you big hair folks), “Once Bitten, Twice Shy”. Or what about, “All good things must come to an end.”? Its how we react to almost everything that affects our well being and general safety. Its a subconscious reaction at the gut level.
Just like in the stock market, there are bulls and bears. Bulls are typically more optimistic about the market and expect it go up, and bears are generally more pessimistic and expect the market to go down. They will always be there to provide free advice and “expert consulting”. Remember though, who you decide to listen to will certainly have an effect on your decision making, and ultimately your success.
Well, I’m here to say that there is no real estate bubble! There never was a real estate bubble. Its a complete and utter fallacy.
“How can I say that?” you ask. I can say that because the real estate market is in reality, a Wave. Its a cycle, and we just happen to be riding the big swells, or the crest of this long, consistent, and fairly predictable pattern.
There is no doubt that real estate has been a rock solid investment for decades, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future and for many reasons that I would like to demonstrate here and now. Because you, as a real estate investor, must be able to move forward with confidence when deciding which projects and properties you want to buy and sell. That is the purpose of my website, www.realestateinvestment.net, to provide you timely information, strategies and techniques to help you succeed.
But first, what is a bubble? In terms of economics and markets, the best definition is probably something along the lines of “an isolated or ephemeral situation or condition with little support or substantiation from external conditions”.
The best example, and the one foremost in the minds of us all, is the stock market tech bubble of 1999 and 2000. We all rushed into the tech stocks and the stock market in general as we saw the .com millionaires being made.
Y2K was a big factor in the tech bubble. People were buying new systems at a unprecedented rate in order to prepare for doomsday. People were also buying consumable goods to stock up for the dreadful event that never came.
So what was holding up, or supporting the “irrational exuberance” as Alan Greenspan characterized it? Well, we learned soon afterward, not much. It was an isolated, temporary incident that had little support from the other conditions. It was indeed like a bubble that burst.
And it has had little support since then. Historically speaking, after the stock market crash of 1929 and 1987, it took decades for the market to recover, although it did eventually recover. Just look at the Dow average and the S&P average for the last hundred years and see the pattern of recovery. You can be sure that a slow steady rise for stocks is in progress.
Now back to real estate. Let me explain why this is not a bubble.
Real Estate is Cyclic
Real estate has had its ups and downs over the years, but it is generally stable, with no drastic swings per se. If you were to look at the cycles on a chart you would see a clear pattern of gently rolling swells. This pattern is consistent across cities and regions all across the United states, although slightly varied in degree.
In addition, the cycles tend to favor the ups rather than the downs. It is not uncommon to see large cycles of appreciation and much smaller downward cycles. In other words, the current double-digit growth we’ve all come to know and love in recent years will likely be followed by downturns of single digit declines. Its like taking two steps forward and one step back.
In the big picture you will still be further ahead than when you started. You may see slower growth, but it will still be growth.
Real Estate is a Basic Necessity
People need to live somewhere. They need a roof over their head and their children’s heads. Like food and clothing we must have a home. People don’t need stocks or bonds. Therefore, you can be sure that whether the market is high or low in growth, whether interest rates are up or down, people will be buying, renting, leasing, and selling homes. It is as perennial as the years.
This Real Estate Wave Has Been Around Awhile
I don’t know when you first realized we were in an up market in real estate, but it has been on a solid upward trend for at least the last 3-4 years. It didn’t just happen yesterday. Of course like anything else, awareness of the general public is a bit latent, and dependant upon the media. It has only been lately that the media has really focused on it and thrust it onto the front page.
The old adage “Success breeds success” is also true. The momentum will grow as other more traditional investors continue to jump on the band wagon and pour their money and resources into real estate investment. It tends to create a perpetual, self-feeding market that is ideal for more seasoned investors.
Real Estate is Local and Regional
It is true that even in today’s real estate boom, there are areas in the United States that are not enjoying the high rates of return that others are experiencing. California is a fantastic place to invest, so is Arizona and a host of other places.But the Rust Belt states are not as fortunate. Watch what happens to Florida home values after this horrendous hurricane season. This is because real estate is driven by the primary capitalistic force of Supply and Demand.
Generally speaking, property values increase in areas where the job market is strong, and where there are more people moving into than away from. Of course there are other factors to consider; including interest rates, availability of funding, climate, and governmental policies. These are all important and you must be cognizant of their impacts to your strategy.
However, it is true no that matter what the rates are or how nice the climate is, people will continue to migrate where there are abundant job markets and affordable housing. If you can stay just slightly ahead of that migration, you will profit immensely.
Real Estate Investing is Diverse
You can invest in so many different ways, from foreclosures and fix and flips, to buy and hold and everything in between. Right now the commercial space is relatively soft. It will recover no doubt, but people investing in single family homes are probably doing slightly better in returns. Vacancies are up and rents are down for commercial properties, but fortunately, the forecast is for this sector to improve over the next few years.
The key to successful real estate investing is to understand the forces, trends, and conditions that are driving the market. BE AWARE of your surroundings; Read articles and stay on top of industry news; Look in your own area at the job market and forecasts. Check my website www.realestateinvestment.net for all the news and information you need to help you succeed in your real estate investing career.
There is no real estate bubble, but there is a real estate wave. Like any dedicated surfer, when the surf’s up, get in the water and catch a wave! But watch for danger, be flexible, and be smart. Invest wisely and you can prosper in any real estate market.