BiggerPockets Daily

When you successfully manage your property manager, you’re saving time, minimizing stress, maximizing profits, and giving yourself the opportunities to grow as a real estate investor. If you fail to hire a good property manager or establish clear expectations, your investment can quickly become stressful and costly. Whether you’re a newbie, a seasoned investor, or are considering hiring or switchi...

When you successfully manage your property manager, you’re saving time, minimizing stress, maximizing profits, and giving yourself the opportunities to grow as a real estate investor. If you fail to hire a good property manager or establish clear expectations, your investment can quickly become stressful and costly. Whether you’re a newbie, a seasoned investor, or are considering hiring or switchi...

For some newbies, reading a real estate agreement can seem like reading a foreign language. The contract is typically full of confusing legal jargon that doesn’t make sense. But navigating contracts in real estate transactions is crucial for becoming a successful investor.  The term “real estate contract” refers to several types of agreements or contracts to “seal the deal.” So, whether you are bu...

Whether you’re building or rehabbing your investment property, the structure will require an inspection during the construction project—and you’ll most likely have more than one. Familiarizing yourself with the building inspection process can help investors better prepare for inspections, ensure compliance with building codes and regulations, and avoid costly mistakes that may result in failed ins...

The time value of money states that the money you have today is worth more than the money you’ll have at a future date. The two main reasons why are your potential earning capacity and inflation. It’s why people make investments instead of letting their money sit in their checking accounts. It’s why Mad Men’s Peggy Olson didn’t balk when she was offered $19,000 per year in 1970 (the equivalent of...

The time value of money states that the money you have today is worth more than the money you’ll have at a future date. The two main reasons why are your potential earning capacity and inflation. It’s why people make investments instead of letting their money sit in their checking accounts. It’s why Mad Men’s Peggy Olson didn’t balk when she was offered $19,000 per year in 1970 (the equivalent of...

Applying for an investment property loan requires understanding the terms used in the lending industry. This is especially important if you are considering taking out a hard money loan. Hard money loans are typically used for short-term financing and are secured by real estate.  Let’s take a look at 10 hard money terms to look out for when applying for a loan. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...

Real estate syndication can be a lucrative way to enter the real estate investing business. Syndication in real estate gives you a share in investment properties with all the perks—passive income, tax breaks, and property appreciation. You also avoid the hassle and stress of being a landlord. So, suppose you want to invest in property without spending much capital. In that case, syndicated real es...

If you’re like many property owners, you want to use your investment property to make rental income. But before you can get to the cash flow part, you likely need to rehab and prepare the rental property for tenants. Rehabbing a home isn’t the same as preparing a home for rental, though. Not all homes require rehabbing, but all rental properties must be prepared for prospective tenants. There’s a...

Water damage and moisture issues can be anything from a pipe leak to a foundation issue. However, if not taken care of promptly, it can lead to mold growth and cause further structural damage.  If the home inspection report finds water damage or moisture issues, it’s not usually a deal breaker. Once the homeowner hires a water mitigation company to address the damage and prevent further problems,...

Home inspections are crucial in identifying potential property issues that may not be visible to the naked eye. By providing comprehensive information about the property’s condition, home inspections help homebuyers make informed decisions about whether or not to purchase the property. Home inspectors will generally cost you between $300 and $500. However, owning a larger home or requesting additi...

Several days ago, the Wall Street Journal published an article about real estate syndicator Applesway Investment Group (owned by real estate entrepreneur Jay Gajavelli), which lost more than 3,000 apartments across four rental complexes that went into foreclosure.  What led to one of the largest commercial real estate bursts since the financial crisis of 2008? In a nutshell, Gajavelli’s company he...

Rent prices tend to increase in spring and summer as more people seek new rental homes, but lower demand alongside new inventory keeps rent prices nearly flat nationally. In some states, however, an influx of new residents is causing median rents to grow, according to a May report from Rent.com. The trend is clear: People are moving to areas with strong economies that still have affordable rent an...

Forget basketball and even the weather—when anyone mentions the Miami “heat” in recent years, it’s more likely to be real estate talk. But in 2023, when interest rates have spiked, and the markets are showing signs of slowdown and seasonality returning, is Miami still the hottest place to own a residential investment property? What about Central Florida’s boom cities Orlando and Tampa? Or are the...

If you were to ask most investors who they thought the biggest player in the real estate industry would be, the name Sam Zell would be many’s first thought. The legendary real estate investor and entrepreneur passed away recently at the age of 81.  His legacy is vast. Many have referred to him as the “grave dancer” because Zell took seemingly dead assets and breathed new life into them. Learn more...

Institutional investors (those who own 1,000 or more homes) have been selling off their inventory in 2023. These big investors have reduced their buying activity by nearly 80% from Q4 of 2022 compared to Q4 of 2021, according to John Burns Research and Consulting.  This change in activity has led to 90% fewer purchased homes in January and February of this year than in the first two months of 2022...

It’s difficult to predict what will happen in the housing market, even during normal times. Given that the economy is anything but normal right now, predicting what will happen in the housing market over the coming months is pretty much a fool’s errand. But it’s important to have an investing thesis, and it’s also fun, so I will try anyway.  Below I will share my five predictions for the housing m...

For decades, when investment advisors talked about “diversifying your portfolio to include real estate,” they typically meant adding REITs to your stock portfolio. Don’t get me wrong, real estate investment trusts (REITs) have their advantages. They’re extremely liquid and easy to buy or sell with the click of a button in your existing brokerage account. And you can invest for the cost of a single...

The financial press is abuzz again about the debt ceiling deadline and the risks of another government shutdown and perhaps a catastrophic default on U.S. debt if an agreement cannot be reached. The ceiling (currently sitting at $31.4 trillion) is set to be hit on June 1.  The Washington Post is particularly apoplectic, “Federal workers furloughed. Social Security checks for seniors on hold. Soari...

Tampa, Florida, is one of the fastest-growing cities in the U.S. and boasts a strong housing market that’s held up to correction pressures through this point. With a diverse economy, large tourism sector, and growing population, investing in the Tampa Bay area is a no-brainer for anyone looking for long-term growth. Population and Labor Market Located in the southwest portion of Central Florida al...

You never know when you might change your business for good. One day at breakfast, I met with a builder with almost $100MM on the street. He had incredible development ideas, with joint venture potentials that promised amazing opportunities for my business. Then, I hopped on a phone call with my partner on developing our client strategies for investors in the United States and internationally. And...

Setting great goals is hard. Achieving them is even harder.  How many times have you made a New Year’s resolution (aka goal) and abandoned it by February? Maybe you intended to do one of the following: Lose 30 pounds Start eating healthy Spend more time with family Buy your first investment property But all too often I see newbie—heck, even seasoned!—investors set less-than-stellar real estate inv...

When did we stop growing like we used to when we were kids? Remember being young and absorbing knowledge like a sponge? Growing both mentally and physically like anything is possible—believing the future was limitless. This growth doesn’t have to stop. Our future can still be limitless. The truth is: we all limit ourselves by our own imagination to some extent. Luckily, there’s a way to break this...

Of all the rental properties I’ve ever owned, there is one utility bill I’ve always gotten stuck paying out-of-pocket. The water bill. There are a few reasons why the water bill always ends up being my problem. In my area, unpaid water bills go as liens on a property (instead of collections to tenants), so if my tenants ever stop paying—it hurts me, not them. Water bills in my city are read quarte...

October is the perfect time for snack-size candy, questionable costumes, and entertaining your own worst fears. And for those of you (my mother) who love a good horror story, Airbnb news may definitely feed those fears (more on that later). But for those of you curious about Airbnb-ing—but aren’t sure—who would like to hear about all the stuff that doesn’t make the news (but could potentially be a...