A self-directed IRA can be a great investment vehicle, even for real estate! Before you buy your next Dallas-Fort Worth investment property, read this article first!

Most of the questions surround buying investment properties in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas. Which we, of course, know a lot about. The biggest question about buying an investment property or rental property is how will you pay for it and can you use your IRA to buy local investment properties?

Self-Directed IRAs for Real Estate – Can You Use Them to Buy Dallas-Fort Worth Rental Properties?

First off, IRA refers to an individual retirement account. Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are tax-advantaged retirement savings accounts that people can utilize to save and invest for the future.

IRAs traditionally hold investments like stocks, mutual funds, bonds, etc., mainly because that’s the mainstream way most people save for retirement.

However, after reading this article, you will see that real estate can be a fantastic way to increase your wealth. So, how can you use your IRA to increase your retirement account funds w
Read More...

A business card is not a memoir or biography of you. No one cares how great you are, how long you’ve been in business, your great service, and empty promises, no one believes anyway.

For any of your advertising to be successful, it must answer one very important question in the mind of the reader…

WIIFM?

What is in it for me?

In other words, who cares?

If it doesn’t answer this question, your cards are almost worthless. You have a nanosecond to capture the prospect's attention, and if you fail the cards will hit the trash as soon as you leave.

Fancy graphics, your photo, and any words that don’t contribute to answering WIIFM is a waste of space.

There is only one purpose of a card, sign, letter, ad, or most any other media. It’s not to sell anything… It’s to get the phone to ring.

Here are some common mistakes I see at every Quick Start School when I critique cards:

Don’t answer WIIFM: Leaving no reason to call. Many cards are worded so poorly you can’t tell what business they’re in, much less have a reason to call.

Too hard to rea
Read More...

What’s stopping you from getting started may be the question you’ve asked yourself for quite a while now. Because this is a simple topic to address, I'm going to keep this post brief today. It cannot be easy to put into practice at times, but the remedy is straightforward.

Here's the million-dollar question: 

"What can I do to overcome my apprehension and procrastination and get started"?

--Get rid of your excuses and your mile-long to-do list.

This week, I've heard more excuses from people who can't seem to get started in real estate investing than I have in a long time. They must wait until the stars are "perfectly aligned" before they can begin. You know, reasons like these:

• I don't know where to start
• I haven't chosen a logo yet.
• I have to make a decision on whether or not to form a limited liability company (LLC).
• I need to decide whether to use a yellow or green postcard.
• I don't have a suitable image to utilize in my marketing materials.
• I'm undecided on whether to use white or colored envelopes for my mailings.
• I'm not sure where my buy-and-hold
  Read More...

Real Estate Investing in Dallas: Why and Where to Invest

Read More...

Diversity of Real Estate Investing

7 Feb 2021
Real Estate Investment | Longhorn Investments

If you own your home, your home equity may be your biggest asset. However, few people consider home equity an investment asset because it does not produce income. Rather, its value comes as collateral on a home equity loan, home equity line of credit, or mortgage and it can only be monetized by selling the home. To generate income from real estate, you need to be involved in real estate investing.

The housing bubble of 2008 disabused investors of the notion that real estate will always appreciate in value. On the contrary, real estate is subject to the same market forces as any other asset. However, real estate has a few attributes that make it uniquely suited to any investment portfolio – land is in limited supply, location determines value, real estate lasts forever, and the property has multiple uses besides investment. Because of the uniqueness of real estate as an asset, real estate investing can be attractive as a side gig or as a full-time job. Here are some considerations for getting start
Read More...

 
Starting February 1, 2021, Texas Real Estate Agents have the option, but not the requirement, to use the new TREC 20-15 1-4 Family Residential Contract (Resale), which contains new provisions for the Title Insurance Agent to receipt and disburse the Option Fee.  This contract form becomes mandatory for use by all Texas Real Estate Agents after April 1, 2021.

Changes from the prior 20-14 form contained in the new 20-15 contract form include –

      Deleting paragraph 23 dealing with the Option Fee and combining Option Fee provisions into paragraph 5 with the Earnest Money Provisions.

      Both the Option Fee and the Earnest Money are to be delivered to the Title Insurance Agent, referred to as escrow agent in the Contract form.

      The Option Fee and Earnest Money can be delivered in a single check, rather than in separate checks as required previously.

      The new Contract form now provides for a separate receipt of the Option Fee and the Earnest Money, with the receipt of the Option Fee being subtly changed from being signed by the Seller’s Broker to requiring the signature of the escrow agent. Make sure yo
Read More...

Must-Know Tax Tips For Real Estate Investors in North Texas

Here are a few must-know tax tips for real estate investors in Dallas, Fort Worth. Taxation on income is a given, by making the right moves, you can lessen the impact to your bottom line. Using tax laws to your advantage can maximize the returns that you will realize on your investments. 

Planning

Prior proper planning prevents xxxx poor performance, most especially when it comes to organizing your real estate investment business. As a real estate investor, you will want to seek out a real estate investment experienced Certified Public Accountant (CPA), through recommendations from other investors in the West DFW REI Group if possible. You will want to select a CPA with experience in this sector of the market that can offer guidance and recommendations which places you in a position of optimizing your tax deductions for your real estate holdings in Dallas Fort Worth. You should plan to work closely with your CPA, to create a plan that is specific to meeting the needs of your circumstances and business model.

Write-Offs

Every decision you make with your real estate investing business
Read More...

 Evaluating A Real Estate Investment Deal

We talk with many people looking to buy real estate investment properties in Dallas Fort Worth and the surrounding areas. Some of them know what they're doing when evaluating a real estate investment deal, and some are still in the learning process.

But, since our entire business is finding great deals at deep discounts... and often passing those deals onto real estate investors like you... I thought it would be a great idea to share with you some resources to evaluate a real estate investment deal.  This works in any market... Dallas Fort Worth and surrounding areas, Texas, and any other states across the country.

When you boil it down... evaluating a real estate deal is a pretty simple process.  If you're looking to buy real estate as an investment, wholesale properties, hold them for rent... whatever, one of the most important parts is "buying it right" (i.e., not overpaying).

So let's dive in.

What Goes Into Evaluating A Real Estate Investment Deal - (for single-family houses)

There are just a few main elements when you're evaluating a deal.

• Cost of repairs needed to get it back up to good condition. The after-repair value (ARV) of the property (what it's worth and can sell fo
  Read More...

Benefits of Joining Your Local REIA

REIA is an abbreviation for Real Estate Investing Association / Group.  REIA groups or clubs as some are called, are an invaluable tool to meet people from all walks of life who have an interest in real estate investing and to learn all about the REI business.  Members of REIA groups are like-minded groups of men and women “where deals and funding meet.”  Companies have been formed, and deals have been made directly from the relationships developed and information shared at REIA group events.  I refer to them as your real estate investor “watering hole.”  Members attend the “Watering Hole” to learn and find deals and funding. 

Learn more about the benefits of joining your local REIA group through the Infographic below:

Education - Here's a small list of topics you may see at your local REIA:

+ Getting Started

+ Foreclosures

+ Sh
Read More...