It’s a typical story… Investor hears about all the ways real estate can be a good investment. Now that he has the real estate bug and is seeking financial freedom, he puts a little money aside. He’s ready when his first “great deal” comes along. Because he’s starting out on a small budget, he…

If you’ve noticed that finding reliable and quality vendors is harder than ever lately, you’re not alone. It’s affecting property managers everywhere, and it’s not a problem anyone wants to have. You trust contractors to partner with you to protect your community and its members, and nothing’s more…

Keeping up with millennial housing trends could be one of the best investments you make this year. Roughly one in five millennials moved between 2016 and 2017, and they continue to shape the housing market as they go. With 20% of millennials looking for homes, they have a heavy influence on housing…

It seems that every week, there is a new thread topping the BiggerPockets forums that discusses the probability (inevitability?) that we’re nearing the top of the real estate market cycle. As much as we all talk about how difficult it is to time the market or to predict market crashes, it’s…

Accepting monthly rents in cash is a stressful recurring task for many property managers. Even though having the funds in hand alleviates your most immediate problem, cash comes with responsibility and quite a bit of risk. Collecting the tender from residents, keeping it under lock and key, and then…

This post is based on a real deal in Rhode Island and approximate numbers. Our model involves primarily single family homes. But I always talk about becoming a master transaction engineer, and that means knowing how to handle any deal that comes your way. Real estate is forever evolving, so it’s…

When getting ready to move out, it’s really important that you follow a good moving checklist so that you have a much better chance of NOT failing to complete any of the many moving tasks that go hand in hand with a house move. If you’re moving across the country and you’ve hired a professional…

Moving day can be stressful and hectic — and that’s putting it mildly. So if you want to reduce your stress and turn a potentially chaotic situation into one you can handle with aplomb, we have one word for you: Checklists. Checklists are the key to keeping track of your moving day tasks and…

Before you jump into watching my video, I really want you to answer this question for yourself: “Are you ready ( really ready ) for your first apartment building deal?” This is a big question that needs to be answered before you begin looking for that apartment building deal. I can’t stress this…

Why do so many real estate deal sponsors fail — while others seem to effortlessly raise and close deals? In my experience, these are some of the catalysts that have caused sponsors, real estate syndications, and crowdfunding campaigns to fail (or at least not meet projected expectations). 1. Not…

Everyone else on BiggerPockets is wrong. That’s right, you read it here first. Everyone. Even these guys: “Personally, I prefer the 30-year mortgage, not only due to the flexibility, but also because I’m able to cash flow better with the lower monthly payment. Since I’m financing rental properties,…

Heading up a property management business is no joke. Employees, friends, and family don’t often see the blood, sweat, and tears that you pour into your company. If you’re looking at how to grow your property management business, it’s tough work and is not for the faint of heart. As I’ve scaled my…

If you’re a regular visitor to the BiggerPockets blog, you’ll know that not too long ago, I wrote an article that listed and described a handful of side-hustle ideas. Many of these ideas could make you an additional $1,000 per month, which you could then put away to save. So this article is…

September 13, 2018 by Sara Sugar Walton Communities — with 30 properties across the Atlanta, Augusta, and Gainesville areas — believes in the mission that apartments should be more than the places that people live, but should be thriving and impactful communities. From resident surveys to a Customer…

When you’re preparing for a move, it’s all about making the right choices. There are many important factors to take into consideration while getting ready to move out, and oftentimes, one of those considerations is which professional moving company to hire. As a rule of thumb, hiring a professional…

We’ve all heard it’s better to be a master of one trade than a jack of many. And this applies to entrepreneurs and investors as well. The dreaded “shiny object syndrome” can tempt and debilitate even—or perhaps especially—the most seasoned of investors. I’ve seen a lot of real estate investors get…

In real estate, it’s no secret that home staging directly impacts sales . Virtual home staging is no different. In today’s technological age, real estate agents can easily, inexpensively, and quickly turn an empty home into something extremely attractive to potential buyers. Especially in a world…

As real estate investors, we’ve all heard the horror stories of what could go wrong with owning any sort of real estate property. Vacancies, severe disrepair, creditors knocking, hoarding, death on the property—things that would make a leaky toilet seem like a walk in the park! Some of us even…

Having a decent rental property guarantees a steady cash flow as long as you manage that property well. In fact, the biggest contributor to your cash flow is your ability to increase the perceived value of your property. As a landlord, you should have two goals. First and foremost, you want to make…

You know how efficient direct mail marketing can be in this hot market—or so everyone says. This article will show you some simple things you can do to start (or improve) your direct mail campaign. Make your yellow letter stand out by following some quick tips! 1. Keep it short, sweet, and simple.…

New York home sellers have hordes of buyers to choose from—so why should they give their sweet apartment or house to little ol' you ? Here’s one major way to get the edge you need in this competitive market: Get pre-approved for a mortgage. Mortgage pre-approval is a process in which lenders review…

The business landscape in the Midwest continues to transform as industries diversify and look for new opportunities. With major companies opening offices left and right, Fort Wayne, Indiana, is no exception — so making a move to Fort Wayne could potentially be the next big step for your career. Here…

You have almost certainly heard before that we should spend more time listening and less time speaking. Whereas the natural urge in most conversations (particularly arguments) is to want to speak your mind, listening is a far more valuable skill. While most people are trying to figure out how best…

This blog post is part one of a series with guest contributor Brandon Hall, The Real Estate CPA, and aims to educate property managers on accounting best practices. Property management companies handle large amounts of money on a regular basis and, as a result, need a rock-solid financial system.…

September 06, 2018 by Sara Sugar Founded in 1992, LeaderOne Financial is rooted in the good ol’ Midwestern values of respect, keeping your word, and treating each and every customer equally and fairly. As a leader in mortgage lending, LeaderOne has expanded to over 70 locations with over 500…

Do you know why most people cannot invest in real estate? It’s because they don’t have the money. Are you one of these people? Are you dying to get in, but don’t have the funds to do so? You may have fully optimized your spending, but let’s be real—you can only save so much. Ideas on how to get into…

While there are always pros and cons of a long distance move , relocating to Fort Wayne, Indiana can be a great financial move. Fort Wayne has a cost of living index of 81.2, compared to a national average of 100. This means that living in Fort Wayne can afford you a higher quality of life than you…

Saying that proper organization is the key to a successful house move is quite an understatement. In reality, getting organized and then staying organized when moving is the key, the lock, the door and the path that will take you straight to the new home with minimum efforts and zero problems along…