Merits of Internet Marketing

by Dhruv Patel

Internet marketing is a major trend in the approach to investing in an industry that has over 2.2 billion users daily. Many companies and individuals who think in this direction usually only consider the online approach and ignore what benefits the online approach can be to the offline market. You can use a counterproductive approach in favor of these two sides. If you want to avoid one or the other, you will only end up losing a good potential of additional value to your business. Both approaches targets different people and it still end up being favorable to you by combining this two forms of marketing.
You should plan a strategy that will favor your offline value i.e. by using your online marketing medium to favor your offline physical location. You will use ads online that will direct people to your physical location. A lot of people do not really see how effective this channel can be to them and their business, there are adverts online that are just there to direct the traffic to your business location.
You can also create a website for this, a website that will give people additional information about your business. So the online form can just be a way to inform visitors of what you do in your physical office.
You should know that this is quite easy. Also it's cheap to setup a web site that will educate people about the details of a company.
When companies take advantage of these advertising medium, they tend to reap more from doing so. People who spend lots of money on the internet will like an alternative medium for other types of goods especially shippable goods. People prefer to buy some goods from store rather than buying on the web, so what online marketing will do for you is just to advertise the store and its services on the internet.
What an offline company should be thinking by now is this, how can you generate a good amount of traffic and direct it to your website? You can advertise your website through ezines and other forms or you can print greeting cards and use it to send people your website address. This is easy, an online business is so easy to gain access to, so be rest assured that you will have people visiting your site and through a website you will have a better means of gaining the person's attention.
On your greeting card, along with your website address, you can print your office address so that in case of further inquires, the person can just drive out to your office.
In addition to the way by which companies take advantage of the online market to further boost offline productivity, you can also effectively use brochures. Any company that is avoiding this advertising strategy, you are losing access to a great way of marketing.
Companies and organizations should always try to make better usage of marketing styles because they are relevant to whatever business. Now is the time for you to capitalize on this style of marketing and see your business move up to the next level.

About the Author
Dhruv Patel is a happy DreamHost customer. He has a web site to promote DreamHost. Use the DreamHost coupon to get a discount at DreamHost sign up.

Currency Forext Trading Tips - Analyzing the market trends

by Steve H. Colon

Analysis and strategic development
Forex trading is often touted upon as one of the most complex forms of investment. According to a large number of people, investing one's resources, time and energy in the trade markets is not a wise consideration, since all of the ventures which are even remotely related to technology are inaccessible and not within one's reach. Moreover, foreign exchange trade markets primarily being an online facility adds to the fears of people. But such fears are absolutely futile and have been unnecessarily exaggerated. The techniques do not involve complex technologies. One just needs a bit of expertise and a logical and deducing mind to be successful in this supposedly scandalous domain.
This field can be aptly termed as a 'fast moving' one because the players/investors need to be in constant touch with the latest available trading mechanisms. For this purpose, even some online tutorial forums have been launched to impart the right and precise knowledge to people interested. The benefits of such forums cannot be overlooked and some of the strategies taught over here can prove to be helpful for people in dire straits.
Forex markets versus stock markets
One of the essential elements of the forex markets is that survival over here is not in any manner affected by the whimsical and fanciful attitude of a bunch of people, better known as the stock brokers or agents. This behaviour is quite unlike the stock markets which are dependent on these agents. Rather, there are many other factors which would determine one's success or failure in the forex markets. The power of strategizing rests in the investors' hands, but the impact cannot be seen on the trading. It is the market fundamentals and other factors which actually make a difference.
The forex markets are highly vulnerable and can act as a great profit making, or even a loss incurring source. The concept of 'margin trading' is the main reason for such enormous benefits/losses. Hence, any investor should start with a properly planned strategy to ensure success.
Analytical tools- source
In the new technology driven era, there are a plethora of options available which are more than sufficient to quench anyone's thirst over forex related issues. These sources contain the most trivial to the most critical information and can be referred to time and again. The primary source is the website from where all relevant content can be extracted. With such a huge amount of information available, care must be taken to selectively utilize the one which is required. The reason for this is, that there might be outdated information still floating over the net, say on the currency conversion rates which might prove detrimental for the investor's finances, and hence success. The articles could be available on topics which discuss about the basics of forex trading, the strategies involved, players associated etc.
The other sources of information could be e-books and the literature which is available in hard bound copies. Moreover, there are specialists who can give a lecture on the related topics. All these sources are basically secondary, with the self- acquired knowledge and expertise being at the numero uno position.

About the Author
Discover the top resources on forex futures trading as well as getting exclusive invites to forex investment club when you visit http://www.fxtradingadvice.com, the top resource portal on forex market basics for beginners

Need Investing Ideas? Try These Strategies

by Dan Cappel

We live in the information age. You can find information about anything you can imagine. There are countless news websites, blogs, and online forums discussing just about any topic under the sun. The good news for investors is that learning how to effectively utilize this information can lead to a seemingly limitless stream of investing ideas. The challenging part is figuring out exactly how to use all of this information to your advantage. Let's briefly examine some of the predominant methods investors use to generate investing ideas.
The Top-Down Approach
What methods typically come to mind when you think about generating investing ideas? If you're like most people, you might consider reading the business section of the newspaper, or reading a finance-oriented publication, or visiting a finance website. There is no doubt that these types of sources can provide good information, but there are some also some potential pitfalls to exclusively using these types of sources to generate ideas.
For example, an article in the business section of your favorite website might report that GE's profits were up in the second quarter of the year compared to the first quarter. But what does this really tell you as an investor, and is it enough to make you think that GE might be a good long-term investment? On one hand, this news could mean that the company's products or services have improved, and this led to the increase in profits. On the other hand, the increased profits could simply be a result of a one-time event and might not be indicative of the direction of future earnings. It's hard to say exactly what the increased profits mean without doing more research.
People who use the top-down method typically prefer a much broader approach when it comes to generating investing ideas. In addition to reading finance and business-related news stories, they like to explore a variety of other sources of information, and even look for ideas in everyday life. They look for investing ideas while watching the news, reading articles online, watching television, or even listening to a conversation between colleagues or friends.
Let's take a look at a simple hypothetical example of how you can generate an investing idea using the top-down approach. Let's assume that you come across an article that says that there is increasing scientific evidence that drinking green tea regularly can lead to weight loss. Since you know that there has been an increased incidence of obesity in America, you think that drinking green tea is something that people will probably start to do in order to try to lose weight. You decide that you are going to find the best company that manufactures green tea products and invest in it to capitalize on this recent scientific breakthrough.
So what you have done here is taken a big picture idea (in this case, the assumption that drinking green tea causes weight loss), then considered the possible implications (that people would drink more green tea to try to lose weight), and based on the implications were able to generate an investing idea and narrow your focus to a specific company that might benefit from this trend.
This is just one example of how to come up with an idea using the top-down approach. Another popular way to use the top-down approach is to use the economic or business cycle as a guide. This is called cyclical investing. This involves pinpointing where you are in the economic or business cycle. Once you determine where you are in the economic cycle, you can then more easily locate industries that are undervalued, and thus possibly worthy of investment. You can then narrow your focus to more specific sub-industries and then to companies within the sub-industry.
In a nutshell, the top-down investment style involves looking at the big picture, thinking about what types of products and services are likely to be in demand based on your observations, and then investing in quality companies that offer these types of products and services. Using the top-down method, you'll be surprised about how many good investing ideas you can come up with, especially if you make a habit of thinking about the implications of what you observe in everyday life.
The Bottom-up Approach
Another popular approach to investing is the bottom-up approach. This is an entirely different approach that can also be successful if properly executed. As opposed to the top-down approach looking at the big picture and then eventually narrowing their focus to an individual stock, bottom-up investors like to focus almost entirely on individual companies. This type of investor typically thinks that good companies can make money regardless of economic or other external conditions. Analysis of both the competition and industry conditions is de-emphasized and a more thorough analysis of the company's operations and financial condition is emphasized.
For example, a bottom-up investor might start by running a stock screener to figure out which stocks meet his or her basic objective investment criteria, and then do some thorough research on each of these companies to determine which of these companies might make good investment candidates. Other methods that a bottom-up investor might use to come up with possible investment candidate companies include reading articles about individual stocks, listening to company conference calls, or reading annual reports.
Let's look at a quick example of how I might come up with an investment idea if I used the bottom-up strategy. Let's say I come across an article about a specific company and how well it has performed over the past several years. The article outlines some basic financial ratios and how the company's profitability has increased over the past several years. Now interested in the company, I decide to research the company in more detail. I read the annual report, study the balance sheet, income and cash flow statements, listen to the most recent conference call, analyze the company's management, and review some financial ratios. As a result of all of this research, I make a determination about whether this company is a suitable investment candidate.
To summarize, in contrast with the top-down approach which stresses starting with the big picture and narrowing your focus to an individual company, the bottom-up approach emphasizes analyzing individual companies on their own merits and determining their chances of success completely independent of external factors.
A Blended Approach
Maybe you decide that don't want to exclusively use either the top-down or bottom-up approach. Maybe you like to use a stock screener to come up with a few companies that meet your basic criteria. You then do some basic research on the resulting companies. You briefly review some financial ratios, but also think briefly about how the companies compare to other companies in their respective industries, and think about whether it is the right time in the economic cycle to invest in each company. Using the aforementioned steps you narrow the original list to two or three legitimate investment candidates.
Since you are reviewing both external conditions and information about the quality of the individual companies, you are using what I like to call the blended approach to generating investing ideas. I tend to think that most investors take this approach to one degree or another, and that it can also be a very successful approach if properly used.
In Conclusion
We have reviewed several different approaches that investors use to generate investing ideas. Regardless of which approach you choose, make sure the approach you decide to use makes sense to you and that you are persistent in your efforts. The best investors, even Warren Buffett, are constantly looking for new investing ideas. If you are diligent and consistent in your approach, you will be sure to find some quality investment opportunities. After all, developing the ability to pinpoint quality investment opportunities is the first step to becoming a successful investor.

About the Author
Dan Cappel is an experienced investor and is dedicated to helping other people learn how to invest in stocks . Get FREE access to the exclusive stock research tools and information he offers today!

What To Know Before You Begin Investing

by Dan Cappel

Eager to get started, many people begin investing in stocks before they really understand the basics of investing. While it there are some things that can only be learned from experience, jumping in too hastily can be a big mistake. Here are some things that you should know before you begin investing.
What is the stock market?
The stock market is the general term for a collection of stock exchanges that allow investors to trade securities. There are a number of stock exchanges around the world, including the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange, Tokyo Stock Exchange, and Euronext.
Why does a company issue stock?
A company issues stock to raise funds in a way that doesn't require them to issue debt. In exchange, shareholders get a piece of ownership of the company, and are entitled to dividends that the company decides to pay out. In addition, if a publicly traded company is acquired or purchased by another company, shareholders of the company being acquired are compensated in the form of cash or stock in the acquiring company.
How do you buy a stock? Investors can buy or sell stocks on any one of a number of online brokers, or using a full-service stock broker. Brokers actually buy and sell stocks for investors. Cost per trade varies greatly depending on what type of broker you use. Online brokers charge anywhere from around $5 to $20 per trade, while trading with full-service brokers can cost much more.
Are you an investor or a trader?
In order to identify stocks you are interested in, it is first advisable to decide on a basic investment strategy to use. First, decide if you are an investor or a trader. Traders are typically less concerned with financials and fundamentals and more concerned with the short-term movement of stock prices. Investors are typically concerned with the long term potential of a company. They do things like looking at financial statements, reading annual reports, and studying management. Investors typically think that if you choose to buy stock in quality companies, profits will eventually follow as the companies grow.
What is your investing style?
Once you decide that you are an investor and not a trader, you can also choose your investing style. There are two predominant investing styles that people commonly refer to: growth and value.
Value investors are like bargain shoppers. They look for a quality company whose stock is temporarily priced low. Growth investors look for companies whose revenues or earnings are growing at an increasing rate. Many people look for elements of both growth and value. Coming up with an exact strategy to pick stocks is one of the most difficult things about investing. But if you develop some basic guidelines for yourself, it will help you stay on track.
Where can you get information about stocks online?
Once you figure out what type of investor you are, you will need to know how to get access to the information you need. There are many sites that provide free information, including Yahoo! Finance, Google Finance, MSN Money, and many more. Get to know how to navigate one or several of these sites.
Once you know how to get access to information, you will need to be able to understand the information in order to be able to adequately make use of it. You will need to learn how to do things like read financial statements, calculate and interpret financial ratios, what to look for in annual reports, what to listen for in conference calls, and how to analyze management. There are plenty of books and online resources that can help you learn all of this.
Getting Started
Before you commit any real money, you might want to start a practice portfolio to get used to how the market oscillates. Once you are comfortable and think you can mentally withstand the ups and downs of the market, create an account at an online broker. Start by investing a small amount of money and then work your way up. Make sure to keep your portfolio relatively small (5-10 stocks) so you can stay on top of your stocks by doing frequent homework.
This should help you to get started. Keep in mind that there is no easy or fast way to learn how to invest. In order to really begin to understand how to invest successfully, you will need to invest some of your time in reading investing-related books and articles, and studying the habits of successful investors.
On the other hand, it is also important to keep in mind that becoming a successful investor is an ongoing process. There is no way to learn everything before you start, and you will gradually get better as you gain experience. So go ahead and get started now. Maybe you can become the next Warren Buffett.

About the Author
Dan Cappel is an experienced investor and is dedicated to helping other people learn how to invest in stocks . Get FREE access to the exclusive stock research tools and information he offers today!

Investing in Stocks: Why Now?

by Dan Cappel

Maybe you don't currently invest because you think it's too risky. Or maybe you have owned stocks and over the past couple of years and have seriously reconsidered your investing strategy because your portfolio took a turn for the worse during the recent bear market and still hasn't recovered. If either of these situations describes you, you have company.
In the wake of the recent financial meltdown, many people have had trouble understanding why or how they should be investing in the stock market. To many, the thought of investing in the stock market has become nothing less than frightening. The vast majority of people have seen their portfolios take a dive, or at the very least know other people who have lost a lot of money in the stock market. As a result of the decline in the value of their portfolios, many people were forced to at least temporarily alter the direction of their lives or careers. Many people who were close to retirement needed to postpone retirement because their 401k's lost too much money.
Others have stopped investing in the stock market altogether. They decided that it was just too risky. If you are one of these people who has completely given up on the stock market or if you have simply decided to sit on the sidelines for a while, I would like to outline a few reasons that you should reconsider your investing strategy.
First, let's define investing. According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, the primary meaning of the word invest is "to commit money in order to earn a financial return". Using this definition, you can potentially classify a number of financial activities as investing.
Some people claim that putting money into a savings account is investing. You probably have a savings account. A savings account is a very safe place to keep money, since your deposited money is insured by the federal government up to $250,000. The problem is that savings accounts yield extremely low interest rates, usually much lower than the rate of inflation, which typically hovers around 3 percent. If your money is losing more to inflation than it is gaining in interest, then, since your aren't experiencing a real financial return on your money, is it really investing?
Money market funds, for most practical purposes, are very similar to savings accounts. They usually pay slightly higher interest rates than savings accounts, but typically have higher minimum balance requirements. Although these accounts can pay a higher interest rate than traditional savings accounts, the real return is extremely low when considering inflation. Also, as opposed to savings accounts, there is a very small risk of actually losing money with a money market fund.
CD's, or certificates of deposit, are also a popular financial vehicle that you are probably familiar with. CD's usually earn a slightly higher rate of return than savings accounts, but the interest rates are still very low compared to the rate of inflation. In addition, once you put your money in a CD you usually can't withdraw it without a penalty until the CD matures.
Bonds are another popular place that people put their money. With bonds, the rate of return depends on the risk involved. Short-term and government bonds are typically considered less risky, and therefore yield a lower return. On the other hand, long-term and corporate bonds typically carry a higher risk, and thus typically have a higher return. In general, bond returns are typically higher than both CD's and savings accounts, but the gap between the rate of return on an average bond and the rate of inflation is still relatively small.
The stock market is commonly and erroneously considered to be the most risky place to invest money. While it is true that stock prices vary in the short term, and sometimes widely, if you look at the long-term rate of return of the stock market versus other investment vehicles, the stock market has consistently and handily outperformed all of the other previously described investment vehicles.
Depending on the source you check, the long-term real rate of return of the stock market ranges anywhere from 8 to 10 percent. Comparatively, according to Charles Schwab, the average long-term return on Bonds is 3.6 percent. The return on CD's and money market accounts might range anywhere from 2 to 4 percent in the long-term. In addition to the higher long-term rate of return, individual stocks have virtually unlimited upward potential, whereas bonds and the other types of investments we have discussed don't have this type of potential. A stock could go from $20 per share to $40 within a matter of days or weeks if conditions are right.
On top of this, if you invest in an average stock mutual fund or index fund, your long-term rate of return might be around the overall stock market average of 8-10 percent. However, if you can train yourself to do your own stock research and weed out the underperforming or badly run companies, don't you think it might even be possible to earn even more than the 8-10 percent market average in the long run?
Let's briefly go over a brief example to illustrate the difference between investing in stocks and other lower-yielding financial instruments. If I invest $10,000 now, in 2009, and earn, on average, a modest 8 percent rate of return in the stock market, after 30 years I will have around $93,000. If I only earn a 3 percent return by investing in a money market fund or CD, I will only end up with around $23,565 after 30 years. Pretty big difference between the two scenarios, isn't it?
If you also consider the long-term rate of inflation at 3.42 percent (according to Inflationdata.com), your initial $10,000 would be equivalent to around $26,369 at the time you retire. In simpler terms, a car that costs $10,000 today would cost around $26,369 in 2039. This means that, in real terms, if you had invested in an account that only yielded 3 percent, you would, for all practical purposes, you would have essentially lost money on your initial investment. In other words, after 30 years you could no longer afford to buy the same car in 2039 that you would have been able to purchase with the original $10,000 in 2009.
Economic downturns, like the one in which we currently find ourselves, can be some of the best times to start investing in stocks. If you had invested in the stock market when the Dow Jones hit its low in the 6000's just earlier this year, you would've earned almost a 50 percent return on your investment in the ensuing months. Or, if you had invested in the Dow Jones in April of 1932, at the bottom point of the stock market crash during the great depression, in a mere 3 years your investment would have more than doubled, and would have more than quadrupled within 5 years. While it may be very difficult to time the market exactly right, being methodical and investing gradually over time can lead to big gains over the long-term.
In conclusion, investing in stocks can be a very profitable proposition. Over the long term, you are likely to make much more money and actually minimize your risk because you are likely to earn a higher average return than most other popular investment vehicles. If you are still unsure, test the waters by investing a small amount of money in a few blue-chip dividend-paying stocks or an index fund. Twenty or thirty years from now, you'll be happy you made the decision.

About the Author
Dan Cappel is an experienced investor and is dedicated to helping other people learn how to invest in stocks . Get FREE access to the exclusive stock research tools and information he offers today!

How Risky are Real Estate Investments?

by Dannie Jensen

While a good many millionaires will agree that their fortunes were made in real estate, the honest ones will also tell you that they've probably lost a few fortunes in real estate along the way. This is a risky business and every property purchased doesn't always pan out to become a successful investment. There are many risks involved in real estate investing and you would be going to battle unprepared if you didn't take a moment to carefully study these risks and work to avoid them when planning your property investment strategy.
Unfortunately, there are very few one size fits all risks for real estate investing, as each type of investing is inherently different. This means that each type of real estate investment will involve a new set of risks. Below you will find a brief overview of different styles of investing and the common risks that are involved in each.
Rental Properties
This type of investing offers some risks that are unique and some that are also risks when investing in properties that are lease-to-own or rent-to-own as well. First and foremost is the risk of failing to make a profit. If the property in question cannot achieve an adequate monthly income to cover the expenses of operating the property then it is not a solid investment.
Other risks include the risk of getting bad tenants. This is particularly hard on first time investors. Bad tenants are costly and in some cases destructive (which leads to even greater expense). Vacancies are another risk for rental properties. These properties are only costing money as they sit empty rather than earning money as they were intended. Short turnovers are in your best interest as are long-term tenants.
"Flipped" Properties
This is one of the most enjoyable types of property investments for many 'hands on' investors. This allows the investor to roll up his or her sleeves and take an active role in creating the masterpiece that will eventually bring in serious revenue (at least that is the hope). This is also one of the riskier investments, particularly when trying to turn a profit in what is known as a buyer's market.
The risks are simple but often overlooked and they can have a significant impact on the overall success or failure of the project. First of all, the biggest risk is in paying too much for the property. Other risks include underestimating the costs of repairs, over estimating the ability of the investor to do the work him or herself, taking too much time, experiencing a down turn in the housing market, making the wrong judgment call for the neighborhood, becoming overly ambitious, and getting greedy. Sometimes it is much better to walk away with a lesser profit than to end up loosing money by holding out.
Personal Residence
Keep in mind that your personal home is essentially an investment. The intention is that your home will gain in value over time and that equity in your home will build as you age. There are risks involved in this transaction as well. Buying a home that is in a 'borderline' area or one that is not showing obvious signs of growth is one of the biggest risks. This puts your home in the position to lose rather than gain value. This can make your home a burden rather than the investment it was intended to be. Other risks involve is becoming involved in a loan situation that is not at all beneficial (such as an adjustable rate mortgage or an unreasonable balloon payment).
Perhaps the biggest risk of all when purchasing a personal residence as an investment is failing to get a proper inspection that could rule out potentially costly and even dangerous problems within the home your purchase for you and your family. Toxic mold is one problem that comes easily to mind that most proper home inspections would almost immediately rule out. Others include structural problems that are costly to repair and dangerous to leave in disrepair. Each of these risks should be considered before an offer is made on any property.
For those seeking to turn impressive profits in short order, real estate is one way in which this can be accomplished. It is in your best interest however to be aware of the risks that are involved and take careful steps to minimize those risks. Taking these steps now may cost a little more on the front end but in many cases the pay off for doing so well outweigh the expenses.

About the Author
Visit the Knowledge Galaxy website to learn about badminton tips, baking ham and other information.

Starting A Small Business-5 Key Steps

by Bruce Dillon

Economists and entrepreneurs would say that the best way to earn and keep your money is not to work for it but to let your money work for you. In the famous book "Rich Dad, Poor Dad" distinctions on how people manage their wealth were made between average to poor people and rich people. Rich people stay on top by learning to be their boss in the field of business. Opening a small business requires great effort, resilience, good management skills and of course a little bit of luck.
Planning
Opening a small business starts with planning. Concentrate first on what kind of product or service you want to engage in such as food, retail or real estate. Make sure that you have enough knowledge and passion to back it up.
The last thing you want is to be saddled in a business that you know nothing about and get bored after a year or so. Take the time to research what materials you need and where to get them at the best prices. If you are catering to a specific place ask people around what kind of product or services they are willing to pay for. Know the wants and needs of the community.
Finances
Second, consider your finances. If you are planning to support you business with your salary reflect on how much you are willing to risk on business without compromising your daily expenses.
Besides your salary, there are several options for you to choose from like taking a loan from banks or lending companies or to engage in a partnership. There are people who are more comfortable in investing their money and leave the management and work to other partner. This is where you come in.
Market Research
After deciding on the product or service for your business and settling your finances, the next thing is to survey the community for a good location. Location is a crucial aspect in opening a small business because this will affect your product/service introduction and accessibility.
Choose a place where there are many people like the downtown area, a corner of the street or a place in the mall. Your store serves as your best advertisement to your would be customers. Even without the flyers and banners curious customers will take time to see what is in that new place.
Marketing
Your next step is marketing. Opening a small business requires an extensive marketing strategy from product/service introduction to ways on how to sell it to the people. This is very important because through marketing you will be able to entice people to be your customers and possibly your patrons.
Some entrepreneurs would even go to the trouble of hiring professionals to come up with new and innovative ways on how to establish their product or service to the public. For starters, it is helpful to learn from the experts; however your finances may dictate that you carry out a lot of these tasks yourself but you will learn a lot from these processes-lessons that will serve you very well in the rest of your entrepreneurial career.
You might think of copying the marketing plans including selling methods, pricing and advertising of successful businesses.
Business Plan Execution
After drawing up your plans and strategy to launch your business, you now need to execute your plans. Buy the necessary equipments and materials and hire good employees for your business. For small businesses, it is advisable to have a hands-on management in order for you to familiarize the ins and outs. Most importantly, hire a good and honest accountant to take care of your records and financial statements.
You must always bear in mind that business can be risky. Your business might fail or succeed depending on many factors. Most successful entrepreneurs would tell you that it took them many years and many failed businesses before they arrived to where they are right now. But you do learn from your mistakes and hopefully this will be the start of a hugely successful business career.

About the Author
Bruce loves Pelikan fountain pens. Check out his reviews of the Pelikan fountain pen at
http://pelikanfountainpen.org/

An Overview of Investing in Real Estate

by Dannie Jensen

There are many methods for building fortunes in the world today. One of the most accessible even for the common entrepreneur however is real estate investing. In fact, you will find many rags to riches stories are built by investing in the real estate marketing in one form or another if not many methods for investing in this lucrative but risky field.
Real estate is a great strategy for the investor who is willing to make the time to learn about the options, risks, and potential rewards for this type of investment process. Some of the more common real estate investments are the following:
1) Rental property. Property ordinarily gains value over time unlike many other investments that may rise and fall quickly and without warning. The problem is that far too few people can actually afford to hold and maintain multiple properties over an extended and indefinite period of time while waiting for the value to rise. Many property investors manage to overcome this by renting the properties to tenants during the time when the property values are rising. This allows the tenants to essentially cover the note on the property and makes the venture a little less risky though there are risks involved when dealing with tenants (such as property damage, failure to pay the rent, and possible legal woes-the good tenants generally outweigh the bad).
2) Pre-construction investment. This is a highly speculative and very risky sort of property investment that has booms and busts. Many investors recently discovered exactly how risky this endeavor actually is when the property 'bubble' went bust so to speak. The risks involved in this type of investment should not cover up the fact that many millionaires have been created through pre-construction investing and many more will be created in the future. Pre-construction investing, just as its name implies is a type of investment in which investors purchase 'options' on the property before ground is broken. This is very popular in high demand areas that are known to experience housing shortages as prices often rise quickly and the units are often sold before they are completed and any 'real' money exchanges hands.
3) Flipping houses. This is a type of property investment that has made leaps and bounds in the last few years thanks to the popularity of many popular home improvement and house flipping shows on cable networks in the last few years. More and more people have decided to pursue this sort of investment in hopes of creating big profits in a short amount of time and with minimal investment. The problem, of course, is that it always looks much easier on television than it is in person. Couple this with the fact that many people have unrealistic expectations when it comes to costs and ability and there are plenty of risks involved with this type of investment as well. For those who are successful however, there is the potential for great profit in a relatively short amount of time as these televisions shows indicate.
4) Buy and hold. As mentioned above, real estate tends to gain value over time. Even if the buildings are in desperate need of TLC and repair the very land they are standing on is more often than not gaining value as the years pass by. Purchasing large lots of land or even several houses and holding on to them for as long as possible before selling can often fund college educations for children, pay for weddings, or greatly supplement retirement funds. The longer these properties are held the better in most cases as this provides the greatest opportunity for the value of the property to increase.
5) Lease options. There are few people in this world who never experience rough spots financially. Many of these people are denied traditional home loans because of their inability to cover debts properly in the past. For this reason they are often willing to pay for the privilege of rebuilding their credit while working towards a path of home ownership. For these people, a lease option presents a workable and often valued solution. Those investors who are willing to take the risks often find the rewards are well worth those risks.
These are only some of the investment opportunities that exist for those who are interested in real estate for an investment avenue. There are commercial real estate endeavors that have the potential to bring in big profits as well as the development and planning of housing communities as well. Needless to say real estate investing offers many opportunities to the savvy investor.

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How To Consider Buying Multi-Family Apartments

by Rudy Silva

Wish to start an apartment business? You can be as wealthy as you wish, when you try multi-family apartments business. You can earn much more if you choose multi-apartment than a single apartment. There are many advantageous factors when you invest in multi-family apartments. Read this article to have more helpful hints about multi-family apartments business. Improve your wealth by learning profitable multi-family apartment's techniques.
Multi-family Apartments are among the most profitable real estate investments to make today as they promise long-term returns. Irrespective of its type-whether it is townhomes, condos, luxury apartments or lakes apartments, Multifamily Investment will never be out in the business. In contrast, apartments function in two ways. First, multi-family housing can provide apartment dwelling for the Investing family.
Second, Multi-family apartments can be income apartments. Luxury apartments such as Lake Apartments, Apartments Park, Garden Apartments and River Apartments are very attractive to people who are seeking peaceful and calming dwelling away from the noise of the city. This holds true to individuals who have career in big cities particularly New York. Investment in Multi-family Apartments offer many advantages.
Foremost, as a real estate investor, Multi-family Investment provides the opportunity to own property at a lower risk with greater leverages as multi-family buildings generate income even when you do not work or out for a vacation with friends or family. It is also easier to manage 12-Unit apartment than managing 10 single home units. Second, Property Management Company assists people who want to invest in multi-family apartments without using their personal cash. In short, it is easier to apply for apartment loans from the banks when it is for multi-family apartments.
Third, there is the option of raising the value of the investor's income. The worth of income apartments is based on the rental rate of the multi-family Apartments. The investor may fix his income value by raising the fees while cutting off the expenses. Fourth, Multi-family investment does not give pressure to investors when it comes to competition. The competition is high in single unit home apartments.
Fourth, there is lesser risk in having several multi residential apartments when it comes to revenues. For example, if the multi-family investor loses two or three tenants out of 12, the losses may not that huge compared when the investment is one single house. Fifth, multi-family buildings can be converted into Condo. For added facilities and amenities therefore, attracts more cash flow, condo apartments provide more comfort to potential dwellers.
Admittedly, Investment in Multi-family Apartments is not easy as it sound. The decision involves careful planning and precise consideration of few factors. For instance, since multi-family investment is geared toward income-generating venture, it is important to determine the potential income it shall generate and this has to do with the value and location of the property. Company that provides services such as multi-property management will help the multi-family investors to initiate property and revenue reviews.
Part of the Investment planning is to have financial and marketing analysis. The Financial analysis includes the building maintenance and equipment, title deeds and income tax return of the property especially in the previous three years, insurance policies, litigation history [should there be any], fire systems, utility bills and details on existing liens. The task also involves inspection by the Engineering and Environmental departments respectively.
None of the above task is hard to do because the investors themselves shall need the services of real estate attorney who will do the process for them. The marketing analysis of Multi-family Apartments is to create marketing strategy to maximize the revenues and multi-family investment returns.

About the Author
We have a few multi-family apartment articles that will be useful to you and would be giving you ideas about the business. Go to apartment building to read several useful articles about multi-family apartments. Our site http://multifamilyinvestor.com can be your best passport to broaden your ideas on multi-family apartments.

The Importance of Research and Financing to Property Investment Buying

by Daniel Mc Grey

Property investment buying is one of the best ways to make money in real estate. It offers long-term investments, as well as a stable and continuous source of income. Buying houses for investment purposes can also give you the opportunity to enjoy non-traditional jobs such as renovating distressed and old homes for profit.
However, investing in real estate is not a "get rich quick" strategy. It requires hard work and dedication on the part of the investor. You also have to do your homework to make sure that you will get the results you are expecting when you started out in the real estate business.
Before buying investment properties, it would be wise to conduct some research on the nature of real estate investing first. Just like in any other business, you have to learn the nuts and bolts of your chosen career because jumping in the middle of things will make your life as a real estate investor very complicated.
Learn the latest market trends so you can use it to your advantage when going on a property investment buying spree. Joining real estate investing clubs and getting acquainted with people who shares the same passion in life with you can definitely help. It is because they can provide practical hints and tips on real estate investing that you won't get by reading instructional materials alone.If you are keen on pursuing a career in real estate investing, you might also want to check your finances. Always remember that the amount of money you possess can determine the type of investment properties you can buy. If you don't have sufficient cash flow, it might be difficult for you to make offers to motivated home sellers or find houses that you will flip or rehab.Fortunately, there are ways to obtain funds if you don't have a good amount of ready money on hand. You can ask banks and other lending institutions for help provided that you have a good credit history and a proof that you are capable of repaying your mortgages.If you want to try property investment buying but you can't qualify for a bank loan, you can secure hard money loans instead. A hard money loan is perfect for real estate investors since it is a type of asset-based financing in which a collateralize property's value is used to assess a loan application instead of the borrower's credit history.Doing your "homework" is indeed one of the secrets to become a successful real estate investor. Meanwhile, if you want to learn more about property investment buying, visit http://www.rehab-real-estate.com/.

About the Author
Rehab Real Estate is your perfect guide to the exciting and lucrative world of real estate investing. Whether you're into rehabbing houses, property investment buying, or fix and flip, we'll teach you everything you need to know so that you'll earn MAXIMUM PROFIT in each and every deal.

Short Sale Pre Foreclosure Investing Advice: How to Negotiate with a Homeowner

by Chris B. Jenkins

Negotiations with the parties involved in a deal take the bulk of the work in pre-foreclosure investing. Are you into short sale pre foreclosure investing? You will need to do a lot of preparations such as establishing a good rapport with the concerned party. If you are going to negotiate with a homeowner, the best way to make a good connection is to approach that person directly. Remember, you've got to get the short sale, so take your time to do the necessary preparations before you start your short sale negotiation.
Planning what you are going to say is a crucial step in your pre-foreclosure deal. First impressions last, right? So collect adequate information about pre-foreclosure investing because it will come in handy when the time comes you have to talk to the homeowners. Before you introduce your proposal to a homeowner, be sure that you are talking to the right person. Then ask the homeowner if he or she is willing to spare a few minutes for the short sale negotiation.
At this point, the negotiation for the short sale will begin. A good strategy for opening a conversation is to talk about jobs, kids, or pets and then slowly shift the topic to the pre-foreclosure deal. Being able to do so gives you the opportunity to be known by the homeowner as a person rather than as an investor.
During your conversation, try to avoid mentioning "foreclosure" or suggesting in any way that the homeowner is to be blamed for the pre-foreclosure. This tip makes a lot of sense because it is important for you to make the homeowner feel that you are on his or her side. So how can you be careful while being honest? Instead of saying bluntly that you have noticed that the homeowner was not keeping up with the payments, you can say that you have noticed that the bank was going to foreclose on the property. Or you can say that, according to your research, the homeowner was having problems regarding the property. The homeowner is facing a financial difficulty, and you do not want to make them feel more miserable by giving them the impression that you are going to take advantage of the situation (Of course, you are not!).
If you can carry on the conversation very well, then you will be rewarded with the trust and confidence from the homeowner who you are dealing with. These you won't get if you focus on closing the deal at once. Once you have already gained the trust and confidence of the homeowner, you can begin the discussion on your main purpose, that is, to offer help on the pre-foreclosure.
Short sale pre foreclosure investing can be very complicated. One minor slipup is enough to spoil a possible pre-foreclosure deal and spell disaster for your money making efforts on your investing. The key ingredients to a successful deal are making a good impression to the homeowner and gaining his or her trust and confidence.

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