Today’s Real Estate Market: Gold at Silver Prices

Over the last several years real estate investing has become exceptionally well loved, very nearly mainstream. Real estate investment groups have sprung up all over the country, complete courses have been developed to educate the masses, books on the subject arrival on the shelves daily, and reality TV even joined the bandwagon with a variety of shows. Abruptly every bartender, receptionist, cabdriver, and Tom, Dick and Harry is into real estate “investing”. Everybody is trying to make wealth through real estate.

And for a while it was working. As a whole, our country experienced several years of exceptional appreciation in real estate values, making many investors wealthy. Most were accomplishing this by “flipping” real estate. People from all walks of life were buying house on Sunday and quickly selling them for a profit on Monday, with very small downside. There was a time when very nearly everybody thought real estate investing meant buying and “flipping” properties.

But then things changed. Virtually overnight the real estate fairytale finished. The subprime market crashed. Interest rates on ARMs started to climb. Foreclosures hit record highs. Values started to plummeted. Really plummet.

In fact, as I write this, it is estimated that the current real state crash will be the second largest since the Depression. Some analysts are projecting drops in value of 10 to 20%, maybe more. Foreclosure rates may again double. (Currently, one of every 200 homes is said to be in foreclosure). Some lending institutions are closing their doors. Others are barely hanging on.

But even though this may be an exceptionally large crash, there are a few factors that separate it from before down markets. For one, the economy is subdue pretty strong in most areas of the country. This means, as of yet, we are holding our own against a recession, or worse, a depression. Also, interest rates are subdue very affordable and must be in the near future. These are two vital factors real estate investors look for as they invest in material goods.

What does this all mean? To sum it up, it means the real estate market is flooded. It means people and banks are willing to deal. It means anyone wishing to dispose of real estate are selling real estate gold at silver prices. It means it’s is time to buy! Only now the investor will not profit by flipping or selling their material goods, they will have to hold their material goods and wait for values to resurface. The new strategy for real estate wealth will be simple, buy at the fire sale, and sell after recovery. This wealth will come to those who can successfully accomplish two vital during this time:

1. Buy solid homes in stable neighborhoods at steep discounted prices,

2. Rent those homes to quality tenants who will pay the rent and maintain the material goods until the recovery occurs.

The average investor thinks wealth is accumulated by purchasing real estate. Successful investors know wealth is made by having quality tenants pay for that real estate under your name. If you really want to invest in real estate, now is the time, fire sales don’t last forever.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have to go. I have gold to buy.