Originally posted by JaTo:
Unless you're wealthy to start off and have access to a pile of money to invest or have an extraordinary combination of talent and luck, it's going to take time.

Learn the ropes of business (that means working in the business world a good 5 years out of college at a minimum) and investing before signing your life away on a loan and throw it into the first attractive thing that comes along as well. I've seen a few people throw themselves and their hard-earned (or loaned) money into projects and investments and end up losing their shirts because of poor planning and trusting more on the "roll of the dice" than actual research and patience on the right deal to crop up. I konw of people buying up older buildings without really checking into what they were purchasing and before they know it, they find out they've got asbestos in the tile and in the ceiling of the place and a subsequent cleanup move the ROI of the project WAY the Hell out and eats up a nice chunk of money in the process...


I've done small-time stuff as a side hobby and am trying to move into larger projects (group investing with people I know and trust and whom I've watched invest into properties as groups and make a consistent killing on); I honestly have no better advice to give other than know the market, buy low, repair, sell high and MOVE ON to the next deal. Some guys like the steady payment stream that rental properties give them; I don't like potential headaches and insist on selling out and turning things over to a management group ASAP.

Sounds like you are interested in sitting on real estate for the appreciation value or potential rent hike scenario if you get into a hot rental area, though. Not my cup of tea as I'm not that sophisticated, savy or dedicated of a real estate investor by any means.



although i agree with most of what you said, i have to diagree with the first statement. you don't need to have a pile of cash if you surround yourself with the right people. i am working on my MBA at Babson (#1 program for entrepreneurship), and my focus is on real estate development and investment. i am not cold to the industry, but many of the financial tools i am learning in this program will give me the preparation i need to start a successful real estate business.

feel free to PM me if you want to talk about the industry.

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