BiggerPockets Daily

If you’re not into traditional budgeting, where you place all of your spending into rigid categories, then the 50/30/20 budget rule might be for you. This financial management budgeting method is broken into three main categories: 50% needs, 30% wants, and 20% savings and investing. It’s designed to take a full picture of one’s monthly living expenses in the simplest way possible and remove the ni...

When you’re in the market for a new property, one of the first things you’ll want to do is apply for a mortgage preapproval. This process can help you determine your budget, refine your house-hunting efforts, and give you an edge in a competitive market.  Let’s walk through the basics of mortgage preapproval, how it differs from prequalification, and why it’s important when buying a home.  Learn m...

What’s the number one skill all real estate investors need? It’s how to accurately estimate after-repair value (ARV). This critical skill could help you determine if a property is a good investment or something you should pass on. Knowing the value of a property is essential. Whether you’re a buy-and-hold investor interested in turnkey properties or a fix-and-flipper looking for a property needing...

So far, throughout 2023, we have published several articles on DSCR (debt service coverage ratio) loans, a loan product that continues to grow in popularity among real estate investors. These included an overview of how to get the best rate and terms, how to use advanced strategies to maximize returns, and an overview of the new small multifamily DSCR loans niche, which expands the loan product to...

Realtors are essentially intermediaries between buyers and sellers, so realtors get paid on commission when you close on a property. But who is responsible for that fee, and how much commission do realtors normally take? This article explains how realtor commission works and when they receive their payment. What Is The Difference Between a Realtor and a Real Estate Agent? It’s very common to use t...

Suppose you come across a house or land that interests you but don’t see a for sale sign. You might wonder how to find out who owns a property. Since property ownership records are public, you can access the property data quickly, especially if you have the property’s address. But not all cases are easy; sometimes, it takes some work. Whether you’re considering the home for your primary residence...

Multifamily properties are among the most common types of housing that investors rely on to grow their portfolios. They provide consistent and reliable income, have relatively low vacancy risk, and typically appreciate over time. Working with a multifamily real estate agent is smart if you are considering investing in this type of property. These professionals can help you find what you are lookin...

PropTech is a relative newcomer to the “Tech” suffix world; you may be more familiar with the more recognizable MarTech and FinTech terms. While this terminology may be trendy and buzz-worthy, what does it really mean to put it to work in your real estate investment business? Keeping your competitive edge, and creating efficiencies across your growing portfolio, requires deft use of technology. Im...

Real estate offers a variety of investment options. Tax lien investing is another method for real estate investors to make money, and while it is a little different than your typical buy, flip, and sell, there are some similarities. Some tax lien investments turn into property ownership if the property owner fails to pay back the property taxes on time. Finding homes with delinquent property taxes...

As a real estate investor, buying a new property is a significant personal and financial decision. While the process can be challenging sometimes, it’s all worth it once the transaction is complete.  Understanding how to purchase a house is vital to your success, and that’s particularly true of the closing process. One of the most important questions is, “How long does it take to close on a house?...

Workers were adding the finishing touches to a Ranch-style home just when an all-black Tesla Model 3 pulled up to the job site. As the door opened, an investor stepped out into the Dallas, Texas, heat. Enthusiasm emanated from this seasoned flipper as he encouraged his team and lent a hand. This is Don’nell Greer. With over 200 flipped houses under his belt, Greer is a real estate pro who has mana...

Congrats! You just closed on your new STR. Now the race is on to fix everything and prepare it for guests and 5-star reviews. As you contemplate your rental tech stack and how to get beds in bedrooms ASAP, don’t ignore your walls! These are the touches that will help cement your vibe, make guests feel like they’re entering a cared-for home, and are often the details that get mentioned in guest rev...

As a property owner, you’ll likely have neighbors who own property near you. And while friendly neighbors can make an area enjoyable, they can also be a source of frustration for many residential and commercial property owners.  One common frustration between neighbors is encroachment in real estate, when someone uses or builds on someone else’s land. On its face, encroachment isn’t a particularly...

Many landlords believe property management fees cut profit margins to a minimum in exchange for basic services to maintain your rental property. But the reality is that a property manager can simplify your life and smooth out the kinks in your investment properties—for a reasonable rate that maximizes profitability. A recent survey of landlords found that over 88% had experienced stress in renting...

Math is a vital component of real estate investing success. Understanding how your business makes money is imperative in helping it make more. To know how profitable your rental properties are, you’ll need to have a solid grasp on calculating rental property cash flow by using a rental property cash flow analysis. Let’s explore how to calculate cash flow and perform a cash flow analysis for your r...

There has been a lot of discussion on BiggerPockets about whether it’s worth getting your broker’s license. Still, the question of whether to get your CCIM (Certified Commercial Investment Member) has been left mostly unanswered. I touched on what such a designation offers here, but it certainly isn’t for everyone. What is a CCIM Designation? A CCIM designation recognizes an individual is an exper...

One of the most common questions people ask real estate agents is, “What credit score do you need to buy a house?” It’s a great question. Experian reports the average credit score in the U.S. is currently 714 as of 2021—and those numbers are steadily rising year over year. That’s a good credit score to buy a house, although by no means the lowest lenders will accept.  With some lenders, you can ta...

Becoming a successful investor doesn’t happen overnight. It requires patience, hard work, and the ability to reassess following any mistakes. Reflecting on over a decade of investing in real estate, I’ve concluded that five things have been the most influential in my success to date. These five things will also likely continue to be essential during my lifelong career as a real estate investor.  I...

The question of whether to trust one’s own gut or to painstakingly analyze any given problem has found different answers amongst different people and in different situations for centuries. On one hand, there is certainly such a thing as “paralysis by analysis.” I myself have seen numerous cases of wannabe real estate investors spend an enormous amount of time (and money) learning, only to never ac...

To understand a reverse 1031 exchange, you should first make sure you know the ins and outs of a 1031 exchange. Key differences exist between a standard 1031 exchange and a reverse 1031 exchange, designed to defer taxes while investing in real estate. Read on to learn more about what it is (and how it differs from a 1031 exchange), how to complete one, and how it can benefit you. What Is a Reverse...

Escrow is a key part of real estate transactions and mortgage agreements, but many homebuyers and homeowners aren’t familiar with escrow and how it works. Escrow protects homebuyers, sellers, homeowners, and even lenders with real estate-related financing—it supports those parties throughout the homeownership lifecycle. Let’s break down what escrow is, its role in real estate, and how it can be be...

So, the day has come to finally figure out how much your rental property income will affect your child support payment. You won’t be surprised that many states consider that pretty penny a critical component when calculating these payments. As with any financial analysis, it’s essential to understand how to break down the numbers, especially regarding child support. In most cases, parental income...

Custom building a home is a dream many homeowners share. Being able to design your home exactly to your preferences is an exciting but time-consuming endeavor.  So, how long does it take to build a home? Building a custom home can take as little as a year to upwards of three years. The reason it’s so hard to nail down an average time estimate for completion? The average time for how long it takes...

Did you know you can buy real estate using your IRA or 401(k)? Most real estate entrepreneurs are unaware of how easy it is to buy real estate with their retirement money.  Welcome to the world of Real Estate IRAs. 1. What is a Real Estate IRA? A real estate IRA is a supercharged IRA that enables you to invest your retirement money directly into real estate such as multi-family, commercial, land,...

I’ve been investing in real estate since 2005, and to this day, I have yet to hear any other investor say, write or even hint at anything that resembles the following, “You know, I have this problem where I’m just budgeting too much for rehabs. I end up borrowing more than I need, and I’m probably missing out on deals because my rehab budgets are too large. I just always seem to come in under budg...