Invest In Pattaya Blog

A 7-Day Plan for Aspiring Real Estate Investors

This blog post is for the newbies, but for those who have crossed the line into actual real estate investor, I believe there’s something in here for us all!)

As someone who was an inexperienced real estate investor only two years ago, I can completely relate to the challenge of moving from an aspiring real estate investor to an actual real estate investor. It’s a daunting process for many.

You may be feeling overwhelmed by any number of obstacles…

* No money and/or bad credit
* Information and sales pitch overload (typically leading to analysis paralysis)
* Fears of losing money, doing something wrong, ticking off a spouse, or accidentally doing something illegal

I’m currently reading a book by author and multi-millionaire entrepreneur Dan Kennedy, titled No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs and there’s one specific thing he said that inspired this post:

“When you focus your self-discipline on a single purpose, like sunlight through a magnifying glass on a single object, look out! The whole world will scramble to get out of your way, hold the doors open for you, and salute as you walk by.”

A key to your success in moving from “aspiring to actual” real estate investor is within that quote – self-discipline on a single purpose. In other words, laser focus.

If you’re feeling stuck in a seemingly unending “aspiring” spiral, I want to urge you to take the next 7 days and immediately do the following things to help you practice self-discipline on the purpose of being a successful real estate investor:

* Today, Day 1: Determine your “why”. Why are you looking to do real estate? What’s the end goal? What is it that you’re seeking to achieve that makes you so excited and gives you the drive to keep at it and crush any obstacles you may face? You have to start with the end in mind. Don’t move forward unless you’ve done this.

* Day 2: You know that there are a ton of ways to get started in real estate…you’ve already spent days, weeks, or maybe years consuming information on these various ways. Pick one! The options are limitless…you can focus on absentee owners, short sales, free & clear properties, subject2 deals, lease options, wholesaling or doing rehab flips with distressed properties, probate and estate deals, I can go on and on (and on and on). All of these ways have worked successfully for hundreds, even thousands of investors so just pick one that feels right for you. [Word of caution: If you’re looking to start off with buying & holding for passive cashflow, please make sure you have reserves to deal with vacancies, termites, other maintenance issues that will come up.]

* Day 3: Evaluate the Real Estate Investing related e-mail lists that you’re on – pick your favorite 1 (no more than 2) that is directly focused on your area of real estate investing interest and unsubscribe from all the rest. You simply cannot afford to be listening to every new webinar, compelling story, and sales pitch. Almost all of it sounds good…in fact, quite a bit of it is good and working well for people! But you can’t do it all. Not right now. Laser focus…remember?Once you’ve moved to actual investor, feel free to add some of these back on if you’re looking to branch out into other areas to diversify your investing experience and increase your profits…the lists will still be there (and if not, thank goodness you unsubscribed!).

* Days 4-6: You’ve picked a real estate investing focus. Now put a plan in place. What are you going to do in the next 30-60-90 days to make progress? What will you accomplish in that time and what resources do you need to get it done?

People may disagree with me, but I strongly believe that you should have at least a little operating capital if you’re going to do real estate investing. Depending on your strategy, it can take anything from a small investment to a pretty significant one. Even if you’re low on cash and need to focus on a very low budget strategy, that’s fine. Just know that even the littlest things cost money – paper, stamps, gas to drive around looking at houses, signs, a domain name for a website, etc. This stuff is not free. Don’t let that be a discouragement. You have a plan…so figure out what you need financially to support that plan and hustle and make the necessary sacrifices to ensure you have what you need.

* Day 7: Commit to do something every single day for at least 30 minutes that will help you move forward on your real estate investing goals. If you’re taking massive action and have some rather aggressive goals, you’ll need to spend more than 30 minutes daily on this, but hey, you have to start somewhere. Just be careful to spend more of that focused time doing, rather than talking about it (or socializing with others who may or may not be doing).

Bottom line, this is an excellent time to be involved with real estate investing, so I urge you to get off the sidelines and play – just stay focused, be willing to keep learning, don’t let obstacles trip you up, and keep taking massive action!

Here’s to your success!

Ashley Tiernan
Iguana Company Limited

Are You Really a Real Estate Investor?

At a small lunchtime gathering of real estate investors last week someone made an interesting comment. The conversation had turned to the topic of wholesaling and then rehabbing and flipping properties. The comment was very simple on the surface – if you didn’t actually hold on to properties were you an investor, or did you merely have a real estate business?

A Real Estate Business

If someone says they have a real estate business you think of mortgage brokers, real estate agents, title people and the like. Their business is obviously centered around real estate transactions in some way. A wholesaler who places properties under contract and then assigns the contract to the end buyer also has a business based on transactions. Someone who acquires properties to rehab and flip is also in a transactional business. The length of time involved is significantly longer but it still isn’t investing.

The point that was being made is that a real estate business, like any other business, has to be tended to constantly. As soon as the transaction, sale, loan, or project is completed you need to do it again. Much like a job, you are trading money for time and working for your money. If you don’t have another transaction lined up you are out of business.

The Business of Investing

Make no mistake, investing is a business as well. An investor’s business is looking for opportunities to put his or her money to work. As an investor instead of working for money, the money is working for you. An investor can have a team in place so that it can truly be a hands-off business.

Plenty of people get into real estate because they envision a lifestyle free from the chains of the working world. If you do not have a lot of cash it is almost impossible to start off as an investor. Instead you can start a real estate business that not only allows you to build the cash needed, it puts you close to the action where you can spot opportunities as they come along. Hopefully you’ll be in a position to take advantage of one of these opportunities at some point.

An Investor’s Life

Years ago I started a real estate business of rehabbing properties. Eventually I did a rehab deal that turned out so well that I became an investor. While still rehabbing properties, I know hold a number of rentals. I’ve also sold properties with seller financing and now hold mortgages, which is another form of passive investing.

Last year I went on a cruise for two and a half weeks. With a job or business that would have meant lost income. However, as an investor I still had rents being paid and interest on mortgages earned. That truly is having your money work for you. If you have a real estate business, isn’t it time you became an investor?

How many millionaires do you know who have become wealthy by investing in savings accounts? I rest my case. – Robert G. Allen

Park Lane Jomtien Resort is Now available 1.19 Million Baht.

Only 800 meters from Jomtien Beach, Pattaya Thailand.

The project is now available to be yours:

For more information , please call: +(668) 7607 8880

or visit the official website: www.1millionbaht.com

Pattaya Thailand, Jomtien condominium 1.19 Million baht

Park Lane Jomtien Resort

1-2 Bedroom Studios and Apartments From 36 sq.m to 72 sq.m 8 Floors – 4 Buildings 608 Apartments 1867 sq.m. Lagoon Swimming PoolStudio – Building 4 room is on sale only 1.19 Million Thai Baht(approximately 35,762 USD*) *today currency reference

These rooms are available to be yours. Number; 314, 315, 316, 317, 318, 319 and 320

Please see , the project is under-construction.

PROPERTY INVESTMENT OR THE STOCK MARKET?

To obtain an accurate picture of house price performance versus the stock market, it is necessary to look over a longer period such as the last 35 years. In the UK house prices have increased 11% per year on average, whereas the stock market has produced around 13% growth – at first sight this suggests that the stock market would be a better place to put your money.

Bear in mind that many people borrow money to purchase property and that the interest payable on this loan is usually covered by the rent charged to a tenant on the property. Therefore, property growth should perhaps be considered in relation to the deposit paid for the property rather than assuming the property has no mortgage.

So let’s assume the next 10 years are much more modest in growth and compare £20,000 invested in the stock market earning 5% pa vs £20,000 invested as a 10% deposit on a property that only grows at 2.5% pa and the rent covers the mortgage.

ASSET CLASS Assumed Return %pa Capital Growth after 10 years
STOCK MARKET 20,000 5.0 12,578
PROPERTY 20,000 (10% deposit on a 200,000 Property) 2.5 56,017

The figures speak for themselves – by gearing your investment with borrowing you can make your investment work much harder for you.

If the big hotels are coming so will the investors

Pattaya’s first themed beach resort hotel the “Centara Grand Mirage” (CGM), officially opened its doors to the public on Tuesday the 3rd November 2009. The resort hosted a wonderful “Lost World – Indiana Jones” theme party, which was well received by over one thousand visitors and dignitaries alike, making it Pattaya’s “Party of the Year.”
Located on “Wong Amat Beach” in North Pattaya, the newly constructed 5-star resort hotel was designed with a “Lost World” concept in mind, featuring an outdoor jungle setting and water park as well as many other similarly themed attractions through the vast expanse of prime land that the hotel occupies. It may not quite be the biggest, as far as the number of rooms are concerned, but “Centara Grand Mirage” executives believe that it is the best in terms of quality and what it has to offer its clients.

Published in Pattaya Daily News

Prices start at only 1 million baht for 1 bedroom fully furnished

PARK LANE JOMTIEN RESORT IN PATTAYA
The concept and planning that went into Park Lane Jomtien Resort was the result of extensive market research within Pattaya and Jomtien areas. The intention of the research was to find out what people really needed and wanted when looking for an apartment in Thailand.

Park Lane Jomtien Resort is the result of the vision and dream requirements of the buyer rather than the developer and includes all of the prerequisite needs and wants of you the customer. (Possibly the first time this has been accomplished here in Thailand.)

Prime Location in Jomtien

The Apartment Buildings occupy a strategic position with walking distance to Jomtien Beach, only 600 meters to Sukhumvit Road and within 5 minutes you can reach some of the regions finest restaurants, shopping centers and the best entertainment available.

A number of world class golf courses on the Eastern Seaboard are within a 30 minute drive.

Published in Pattaya Daily News

Be Greedy When Others Are Fearful

In times of uncertainty, when many fear the sky is falling and that there is no hope for recovery, the wise investors plant their seeds. The wise investors are not bothered that the seeds will not grow into anything for many years; This is expected and can be considered the price of admission for any good deal. This is because the wise investors fears not, for they know that when others are fearful, it is time to be greedy. When stability returns to the market, those who were fearful will turn into the greedy, and those who were once greedy will sell for large gains and return to fearfulness.

The famous investing philosophy to be fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful comes from the king of wise investors, Warren Buffet. This philosophy is timelessly profound, can be applied to any form of investing, be it real estate, the stock market, etc., and is simple to understand.

When others are greedy, it commonly means a recession is soon to follow, or at the very least that a bubble exists. You should be putting into consideration all of the potential risks when you do investments in a time of greed. However when others are fearful, it usually means we are in a deep recession or soon near it. This is the time to be greedy, when prices are dropping like flies because people lose perception of value in the midst of all the chaos. During times of fearfulness is when all the bargains can be found, and where the seeds are planted.

Our economy will recover and collapse time and time again, that is for certain. What isn’t for certain is whether you will keep a clear head through it all and stay the wise investor.

Written by The Investors Journal.Com

Real Estate Investing Pros and Cons

Although it’s debatable whether real estate investing is superior or inferior to stock market investing, what isn’t debatable is that real estate provides a multitude of ways to make money in the long run. There are many reasons to choose real estate investing over stock market investing, and many reasons not to. Personally I believe both are great investments, as diversification is one of my investing rules to success. Have said that, here are some of the major pros and cons of real estate investing:

Pros of Real Estate Investing

A Tangible Asset
Real estate is a tangible form of investing; You invest in properties, and you can physically see and feel your investment. This is somewhat of a luxury, as you can rest easy knowing at the end of the day that your investment isn’t going anywhere (unless it’s a mobile home of course). With stock market investing, you only have a computer screen showing you what you own… unless you request to have hard copies of your shares.

True Value No Matter The Economic Health
When it comes down to it, no matter if you overpaid for a property or got a great price, you still own a piece of property. Real estate will always have value, even in the worst of times because real estate is one of our basic needs. People need homes to live in, businesses need places to conduct business, and real estate will always be in demand for that reason. This doesn’t mean you can’t lose money in real estate, but it does mean that if you hold a piece of real estate free and clear, you own an asset with true value.

Efficient Markets Don’t Truly Exist
With real estate investing you don’t really have efficient markets, or markets with true transparency like you do with the stock market. What I mean by this is that you can’t just easily come up with a value for a property; You can do your due diligence and reach an estimated fair value price, but it just doesn’t compare to the kind of research and information available on the stock market. This is a good thing though, as inefficient markets present great opportunities for bargain priced deals. Sometimes people just don’t know what is the right price to sell at, other times people are desperate and price their property extremely low. If you are familiar with your local real estate market you can easily identify these deals and invest in them.

Cons of Real Estate Investing

Not Liquid At All
Unlike the stock market, real estate investing is not a quick buy and sell atmosphere. Even if you bought a property and had a buyer lined up for it the next day, closing the deal would still take about a month on average. This can be a problem if you need liquid cash immediately, and it’s a definite disadvantage compared to stock market investing.

Steep Learning Curve
In real estate you have to be knowledgeable in many different ways, and you have to have experience (or the ability to learn quickly) to overcome many little oversights or difficulties that will often come up. Knowledge is required in every sub category of real estate: mortgages, titles, insurance, construction, negotiations, market familiarity, appreciation potential, income potential, etc.. you have to be somewhat of a jack of all trades if you want to invest properly or it could cost you everything.

Significant Liabilities
If you own shares of a publicly traded company, you are not held responsible for the company’s actions and thus cannot be held liable for any illegal activities. However with real estate investing, you are pretty much a target for the sue-happy type. You’ll need insurance to protect yourself from the shady tenants who try and reach in your pockets, or when someone accidentally hurts themselves on your property that was entirely their own fault.

5 Traits of Every Successful Investor

Every investor has their own strategies, methods, and techniques to achieving success. Though despite these differences, all successful investors share the same distinct traits which truly separate them from the herd. The five traits of a successful investor are:

1. Highly disciplined and committed

Discipline is the backbone of a successful investor. Being highly disciplined means you are committed to your efforts so that you are always prepared. If you want to be successful in the stock market, you need to commit to it. There is no such thing as a free lunch. Successful investors don’t let the hurdles such as previous investing failures get in their way, and neither should you. If you know how to invest properly, discipline and commitment will ultimately be your gateway to success.

2. Invests without emotion

Emotions are the handicap of the novice investor. Successful investors know that rational investing is fundamental, so they disregard their emotions while analyzing their investments positions, decisions, and ideas. If emotions are thrown into consideration while investing, the thought process of a rational investor becomes clouded and often leads to failure.

3. Always up to date with the market

A funny thing about the stock market is that everybody has the same information, but everybody interprets it differently. Successful investors are always up to date about the current market by using unbiased financial media sources to get their information. The stock market is full of variables that can drastically influence market prices, so staying on top of those variables is crucial.

4. Possesses a realistic outlook on investing

Having a realistic outlook on investing and success coincides with being highly disciplined and committed. Successful investors understand that they probably will not become the next Warren Buffet, by which I mean they won’t make astronomical returns on their investments. However, humble expectations often lead to high returns, as an investor without excessive greed will have a clear state of mind and will invest properly.

5. Always has a plan

Not having a plan while you invest is like a coach telling his players “Just go out there and win”. Sure, if you’re lucky and/or naturally talented enough, you might make a few successful investments, but this plan (or lack of) hardly is effective in the long term. Successful investors understand the importance of having a plan. They know where they want to get in, where they want to get out, what they will do if something changes or goes wrong, and what their goals ultimately are. Having a plan keeps an investor focused so that they will stay rational while they invest.

Published by The Investors Journal.com