With interest rates still hovering near all-time lows, and a deluge of TV shows out there about fixing and selling rental properties, the interest about investing in real estate has never been higher. That is why I am hosting an informational webinar on Sept. 10 aimed at providing a variety of useful, highly effective strategies for investing in real estate. It will be held at the New Hanover County Executive Development Center, 1241 Military Cutoff Rd # A, and begins at 6:15 p.m.
 
Aside from pointing out the benefits, such as leveraging borrowed funds to purchase rental properties and generate a monthly cash flow, the webinar will dispel many of the myths and rumors associated with investing in real estate. As an example, there is a widespread belief that it is necessary to have a 20 percent down payment to purchase an investment property. This is not the case, as there are a range of options available that would allow an investor to only make a 15 percent down payment.
 
The point is that it is all situational. A licensed and professional mortgage broker will carefully weigh all of the factors associated with a person’s individual circumstances and financial situation. After that, an investment strategy that is customized to the investor can be developed and put into action.
 
There is not a “one-size fits all” approach to assessing the ability of buyers to repay a loan, just as there is not a specific investment strategy that will fit the current needs and future goals of everyone on the planet. To ensure that the webinar I am hosting will offer information that is useful to people from a variety of demographics and financial situations, I will cover the following topics pertaining to real estate investments:

• How to use “hard money” loans to negotiate a lower price and faster closings,
• How to roll construction and renovation costs into the initial mortgage,
• How to purchase and quickly sell a home at maximum profit (fix-and-flip),
• How to borrow against home equity,
• How to choose the best possible loan,
• How to refinance and build equity quicker,
• How to transform a primary residence into an investment property,
• How to recover renovation dollars through refinancing, and finally,
• How to understand the tax ramifications of each alternative.