The Real Estate Financial Planner™ Blog

Welcome to the thrilling world of Real Estate Financial Planning! If you’re on the hunt for savvy investment strategies, transformative financial insights, and the ultimate guide to building wealth through real estate, you’ve just hit the jackpot. Whether you’re a seasoned investor or just dipping your toes into the vast ocean of real estate opportunities, our blog is your new go-to resource.

Why real estate, you ask? Simple. It’s one of the most powerful vehicles for generating long-term wealth and achieving financial freedom. And who doesn’t dream of that? But here’s the kicker: navigating this world can be as complex as it is rewarding. That’s where we come in. Our content is designed not only to enlighten you but also to inspire action and drive results.

Imagine unlocking the secrets to acquiring lucrative rental properties that pay for themselves and then some. Picture yourself living off passive income, where your investments work for you, not the other way around. It’s not just a dream; it’s a very achievable reality, and we’re here to show you how.

From deep dives into market analysis, investment strategies, and financial planning, to actionable tips on property management and scaling your portfolio, our blog covers it all. We believe in cutting through the noise to bring you straightforward, actionable advice that makes a difference.

But it’s not just about the “what” and the “how”; it’s also about the “who.” Meet James, a former real estate broker turned investment guru, who lives and breathes real estate. James has walked the walk, transforming his passion for real estate into a thriving portfolio of income-generating properties. Now, he’s here to share his wealth of knowledge, experiences, and insights with you.

Our mission is simple: to empower you with the knowledge and tools you need to make informed decisions, maximize your returns, and build a financial legacy through real estate. We’re here to guide you every step of the way, from your first investment property to your hundredth.

So, are you ready to embark on this exciting journey with us? Let’s dive in and explore the endless possibilities that real estate investing has to offer. Together, we’ll unlock the door to financial freedom and success. Welcome to the Real Estate Financial Planning blog, where your financial dreams are just a blog post away. Let the adventure begin!

True Net Equity™

Traditionally, equity (for real estate investors) is defined as the property value – mortgage balances. Equity = Property Value – Mortgage Balances However, in almost all cases, equity defined that way means that only a portion of that equity “belongs” to the real estate investor. To access that equity the real estate investor must either sell the property or cash-out refinance the property. In both cases, some or… possibly all of the traditional equity… is consumed by sale or refinance costs. In the case of a refinance, there are costs to the lender and title company to access the equity. … Read more

An Alternative to Cash Flow – Saving Money With Rental Properties

Never buy rental properties with negative cash flow. Or, so the advice goes. But what if you find yourself in a real estate market that is near impossible to find a property with positive cash flow? In this special, one-time only class, James talks about an alternative to cash flow by using your rental properties… even ones with negative cash flow… as a means to save money. This two-hour class was recorded on March 31, 2021. Premise of the Class Cash flow is important. Some folks may argue that investing in real estate for anything other than cash flow is … Read more

Wait! Before You Make That Offer…

In this special, first-time-ever class, James shares the two-hour version of the stuff he wishes he could share with every client that is about to make an offer on a property. This class was taught on March 24, 2021. Premise of the Class If I could have the following two-hour conversation* with everyone right before they make an offer: that would be ideal. *Plus, the reference materials/classes. Here’s the library of real estate investor classes by year (for those that don’t know). Resale versus New Construction I am primarily referring to buying a resale property. New construction has its own … Read more

10 House Hacking Tips and Tricks for Real Estate Investors

Interesting in learning about house hacking? How about the top 10 tips (plus a couple bonus tips) on house hacking? Follow James in this special class recorded on March 4, 2021. House Hacking versus Nomad™ House hacking is different than Nomading™. They can overlap… you can house hack while you Nomad™ or Nomad™ while you’re house hacking, but they are distinctly different. House hacking has you rent out part of the property you’re living in. That could be buying a duplex, triplex or fourplex as an owner-occupant and renting out the other units. But it can also mean getting roommates. … Read more

Nomad™ – Ask Me Almost Anything

Let’s ask James the hardest questions yet about the Nomad™ real estate investing strategy in this special edition of Nomad™ – Ask Me Almost Anything. Recorded on February 24, 2021. What Is Nomad™? We started by covering what Nomad™ is: Questions Answered First, multi-part question: “I’m really excited to begin my nomad journey! I’m in a unique position. My non real estate day job income won’t allow me to realize the immediate tax benefits of investment properties (until I sell, of course).” “When I run the numbers to convert my NOCO townhome, the numbers look horrible. With a property manager … Read more

Return Quadrants™

If you think about the 4 areas of return you get from owning a rental property they are: Appreciation – The tendency for property values to increase over time. Cash Flow – The net proceeds you get from collecting rent on a property after all expenses. Debt Paydown – The amount of the loan that is paid down each year (presumably—albeit indirectly—by your tenants) when you make your mortgage payments. Depreciation – The tax benefits you receive by statute from owning rental properties. As I was teaching real estate investing classes, I would methodically go through each of these 4 … Read more

Pros and Cons of Every Real Estate Investing Strategy Compared

Are you considering investing in real estate? What strategy are you considering? How does that compare to all your other options? Let’s dive into the pros and cons of every real estate investing strategy… compared in this special one-time-only class taught by James on February 10, 2021. Before I share with you the outline of the class, I want to mention that I could have opted to do either a qualitative comparison or a quantitative comparison of each strategy. I ultimately chose to do a qualitative comparison for this class. Perhaps I’ll do a quantitative class in the future. Real … Read more

Download Log for Qualified Business Income Deduction with Rental Property

Do you want the Qualified Business Income Deduction with Rental Property for Landlords, then you need to keep a detailed contemporaneous log (that means document it as you do it) documenting the qualified 250 hours you put it managing your properties. In this brief, one-time-only class taught by James and Jassen on January 29, 2021 they discuss what the tax deduction is and what you need to do to be able to get it. According to the IRS: “The taxpayer maintains contemporaneous records, including time reports, logs, or similar documents, regarding the following: (i) hours of all services performed; (ii) … Read more

Go to College or Skip It to Invest in Real Estate

College or real estate investing? That’s a great question. What if you earn $30,000 more per year after you get your degree than the person who doesn’t go to college and you decide to invest the full $30,000 per year extra? We tackle the age-old question: Go to College or Skip It to Invest in Real Estate in this special class by James. This class was taught on January 13, 2021 via webinar. Tammy had sent over an article, Is This The End of College As We Know It, and James decided to do some math to see if the … Read more

Rental Property Tax Deductions

I’m not sure how a guy who doesn’t even do his own taxes ended up presenting an entire class on rental property tax deductions, but that’s exactly what happened. This class was taught on January 6, 2021 by James and IRS Enrolled Agent, Jassen Bowman via webinar. Here are the rental property tax deductions covered: Above the line versus below the line and a discussion of standard deduction versus itemizing your deductions The tax free sale of a primary residence including how this often confusing for new Nomads™, the 2 out of 5 year rule and more. House hacking and … Read more