We get it – houses are expensive, now more than ever. It’s only natural that investors would turn to low-cost properties. On the surface, there’s clear appeal: less capital upfront for an income-generating rental property. Why wouldn’t you go with the cheapest houses you can find?

If you’re like many people, you like to browse real estate listings. Sometimes, you come across a property with a shockingly low price tag in a great part of town. You might think, “Wow! What a deal!” Then, you start looking at the pictures and realize that the whole thing has been stripped down to the studs, and it would take double the asking price or more to get it habitable. Oof. 

That opportunity might excite some more hands-on, flip-minded investors, but it’s not for us. At that point, it’s pretty evident that the property will cost you far more than the seemingly low asking price. But it’s not always so obvious. Some properties may not look the best – they’re serviceable – or be in the best neighborhood, but they’re affordable, so why not?

Well, we’re here to tell you. Here’s why investors shouldn’t target low-cost properties.

For real estate investors, it’s relatively easy to look at all the news coming out about the real estate market and lament. You might feel like there’s no place for you anymore, and investing is too hard. Believe us, that’s not the case! Part of the problem is that many of these reports and analyses look at overall medians and averages. 

While these are concise ways to talk about overall trends in the country, investors need to zoom in. The real estate market is not uniform. It varies, and investors must take advantage of it. We found these maps by ResiClub (courtesy of Fast Company) helpful in illustrating this point.

These maps effectively represent median home prices within individual markets across the country. While the $380,000+ median price sounds scary, we must recognize that that number doesn’t reflect every market.

So, what do these maps tell us about the real estate market…and investing?

You’ve undoubtedly poured over the details when looking for a real estate investment market. You’ve analyzed rental rates, median income, sales prices, local economics, and more…but have you asked about the weather?

Location matters, not just because of the economics, housing affordability, or rental demand but because of the climate. 

Both run-of-the-mill weather risks and natural disasters could jeopardize your investment property. If anything, it could be costing you a pretty penny in maintenance and insurance costs! Here’s what you need to consider about the climate as you choose an investment market:

The term “turnkey” isn’t regulated in this industry. The original concept is clear enough – turnkey properties mean you can “turn the key” and step right into a new or fully renovated property ready to earn passive income. But not everything advertising “turnkey” is doing the same thing. Because the definitions vary and the word is used purely for marketing, investors need to know what they want from a “turnkey” experience.

What do turnkey investing companies ideally do, and what are the signs that something might not really be turnkey? Keep reading to find out.

Sometimes you’ll hear us refer to a very simple rule for real estate investors: take nothing on faith. But what does that really mean, and why is it essential to success as a passive real estate investor? 

Essentially, we’re telling investors to do their due diligence, to ask questions, to verify, and to absolutely look a gift horse in the mouth. We’ve all heard what they say about making assumptions!

One of the arguments critics like to use against real estate investment is its lack of liquidity. To access cash, you must endure the rigamarole of selling the property. As any seller knows, this process can be one long headache. 

Fortunately, having cash in hand isn’t the only way to reap the rewards of your property’s equity. Investors should know all of their available options. We’re not necessarily recommending these strategies. They each come with unique benefits and drawbacks, and we urge individuals to do their due diligence.

Passive and active real estate investing are two distinct approaches to this business, each with advantages, drawbacks, and considerations. The strategy you choose often comes down to personal financial goals and preferences, but there’s no denying that passive investing offers a few distinct advantages for all investors.

Committing to a huge financial decision is never easy. It’s a process of back-and-forth, pros and cons, self-doubt, and infinite, exciting potential. For many, this is the decision to make a significant investment. We all know how critical due diligence is, including asking serious questions!

If you’re here reading this, you’re at least interested in turnkey real estate. 

With so many ways to invest in real estate, why go turnkey? In this economy, the premium cost of turnkey investing can seem like a deterrent. We’ll tell you right now – not because we want you to invest with us, but because we know from experience – this model works. It continues to work through economic ups and downs, allowing investors to build their wealth without demands on time and expertise. 

From the outset, we want to say this: turnkey real estate investment isn’t for everyone. That’s why before we proceed with any potential client, we have a frank discussion about their goals, resources, and desired investment experience. We’re honest when things don’t line up because everyone deserves the best avenue to lasting wealth, even if that means looking elsewhere.

There are plenty of qualities we’d say are necessary for one’s success as a real estate investor. There are two of the traditional “holy virtues” we’d consider non-negotiable for success: diligence and patience. But let’s be honest, we’ve hammered in the importance of diligence (in the form of due diligence). We’re going to keep talking about it, too. 

It’s almost a given at this point. That’s why we want to discuss the neglected, overlooked, and fundamental virtue of patience.