Top 10 Mistakes of Real Estate Investors
Hey girls! Let's talk about Real Estate Investing. It is like a game of Monopoly. If only it were so simple that one could simply flip over the Park Place card and receive money from the bank for a mortgage.
Mistakes will be made. How you learn from those mistakes and press on will determine your success.
Here are some of the common mistakes in no particular order:
1. Not Getting Educated
Real estate investing has a learning curve. The more that you learn, the
less mistakes that you will make. I have been doing it over 12 years now
and I still learn something new everyday.
Laws are constantly changing daily, even hourly. Read books, take
classes, ask questions, get a mentor, get advice from experts.
If you want to be a full-time real estate investor, for real, this will be the
most exciting and most life-changing e-book that you will read. ⬇️
Click here to get my e-book for just $5.60
2. Not Getting Pre-Approved
Unless you are getting owner financing – you must have cash or credit or find someone to partner with who does.
Do not be scared to ask the
banks for financing.
3. Budget
When rehabbing – you will go over your budget. I GUARANTEE
IT! Everyone does it. Always factor in an extra percentage for repair
costs above the amount that you estimate for repairs. You will still go
over. I guarantee it.
4. Location
Location is a key factor in determining a good deal. Some
neighborhoods make better “flip neighborhoods” while others make
better “rental neighborhoods.” Invest where the people and the jobs
are, not in some ghost town with no one around.
5. Using a Team That Doesn’t Have Investment Experience
…Or not using a team at all! Never Ever use a real estate agent that
does not have investment experience themself. It is a whole different
ballgame.
Way too often I see flippers list their property for sale with agents that
do not understand the game. These agents overprice the properties
because they comp multi-units to single family homes.
As a result, the property sits for months causing the investor time and
money. The same goes for the rest of your team – your accountant,
attorney, etc. should all be investors.
6. Contractors
Always get estimates from at least 3 different contractors and let them
compete for the job. Always Always get all estimates in writing. It
sounds so simple right? Yet so many people end up in court each year
due to price discrepancies and not getting the bid in writing.
7. Buying/Selling Based On Emotions, Not Facts
I think that Armando Montelongo said it best – You fall in love with the
deal, not with the house. If the numbers work, then it is a good deal. Investing is a numbers game.
Remember, that you are not going to be living in the house. Just
because you like a red bedroom does not mean that your potential buyer
will like it. Do not put granite counters in a house if the market does not
command it. In other words, if all the other houses selling in the
neighborhood have Corian countertops, it does not make sense to use
granite. You will not get the return on your investment.
8. Taking Things Personally
This isn’t personal, this is business. Tenants will tell you every excuse
as to why their rent is late. Learn to say, “I’m sorry that you are having
problems, but your rent is still due.”
Stick to your guns and follow the lease to a T. If you are supposed to
mail a late notice 5 days after the rent is late, then do it! Evictions
suck. They are not fun for either the landlord or the tenant. You will
evict some really nice people, that just don’t pay their rent on time.
9. Not Having An Exit Strategy
After you buy the property – what do you plan to do with it? There are
over 112 different ways to invest in real estate. You could rent it, flip it,
wholesale it, lease option it, do a land contract, etc. If you plan to buy
and hold or roll your gains over using a 1031 exchange – then you need
some type of estate planning to protect your wealth.
10. Making Excuses
…and never getting into the game at all because of fear. Often people
will say, “I’m too young, too old, I don’t have enough money.” I hear,
“My best friend’s sister’s husband’s brother tried it once…” That’s
BS! There is never a better time to start than now. It is the best time in
U.S. history to buy! Mortgage rates are low and property is cheap.
Look, real estate investing can be risky. That’s why not everyone does it. But, if you go into this armed with the knowledge to foresee
the problems before they exist, then you can greatly minimize your
financial risk.
Hope you found these tips to be useful!
About Me:
My name is Cynthia Cuccuini and I’ve been
investing in real estate for over 10 years. I first got started on this
exciting real estate journey when I lost my corporate job.
I was a single 24 year old girl with no money and no job living in
Pittsburgh. Yes, I’m a Steelers fan. Yes, I was devastated. But, also
tired of being a slave to corporate America and being told what to
wear, what time to come to work, etc.
I went from a broke 24 year old girl with no job and no money to owning
my own real estate company!
If I can do it, so can you!
Come along the journey as I educate entrepreneurs how to invest in real estate.
Website: https://heyrichgirl.com
Follow Me:
