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!

Reducing Risk While Nomading™

Real estate investing is risky. Learn how to reduce your risk in this special class for Nomads™ on how to reduce risk taught by James: This class was taught on December 9, 2020 via webinar. Here’s what I taught in the class. What Is Nomad™ Since this class is about the Nomad™ investing strategy, I took a moment to go over what Nomad is: Next, I share a quote from general George S Patton on fear and acting through fear. “The time to take counsel of your fears is before you make an important battle decision. That’s the time to … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Market Corrections

Watch the entire 1 hour 57 minute class that James taught on market corrections here: This class was taught on November 18, 2020 via webinar with Brian Williams. This class picks up where my class on Should I Wait for a Real Estate Dip to Invest in Real Estate? leaves off. In the “market dip” class, I talked about: The obvious idea that: if you buy at relative lows, you perform better Historically, recessions are not necessarily real estate market corrections Predicting the future: technical analysis versus fundamental analysis The smartest investors all say: timing the market is incredibly difficult, … Read more

How to Improve Rental Property Cash Flow

Cash flow is a major factor when calculating whether you’ve achieved financial independence. In fact, we know that it is a combination of cash flow and the safe withdrawal rate of your other non-real-estate investments that determines your standard of living. With that knowledge, let’s look at the top 17 ways to improve cash flow on your rental properties. 1. Rent By The Bed/Bedroom Often renting a house by the bed or the bedroom will allow you to significantly increase the amount of cash flow you’re able to get from the property. Many house hackers use this strategy to significantly … Read more

Analyzing Multi-Family Properties

Investing in multi-family properties is a lucrative avenue for generating passive income and building wealth. Unlike single-family homes, multi-family properties—ranging from duplexes to large apartment complexes—offer the advantage of multiple income streams from a single investment. However, analyzing these properties requires a deeper understanding of the market, financial metrics, and operational considerations. This guide will walk you through the essential steps and considerations for making informed investment decisions in the multi-family real estate market. Understanding the Basics Before diving into the analysis, it’s crucial to understand what multi-family properties are and how they differ from other types of real estate … Read more

Establishing Your Buying Criteria Workshop

Buying Criteria Worksheet Download Follow along and fill out your own Buying Criteria Worksheet (pdf). If you want to edit the worksheet, you can download the Microsoft Word version. Unlock Your Real Estate Investing Success: The Establishing Your Buying Criteria Workshop As a seasoned real estate investor, I understand the importance of having a clear and focused approach to selecting investment properties. It’s not just about buying real estate; it’s about investing in the right properties that align with your long-term goals and financial strategies. That’s why I’m thrilled to introduce the Establishing Your Buying Criteria Workshop, a comprehensive guide … Read more

Expected Value

Expected Value is a mathematical term used in probability and statistics to determine what a typical value might be. For a more detailed definition and discussion, check out wikipedia’s article. Here’s how I use it with the Real Estate Financial Planner™ software to model my own real estate investments. First, I model my entire real estate investing strategy by entering it in the software. See the How to Create a Real Estate Financial Plan™ post to get a good tutorial on how to enter in your own real estate investing strategy. When I do my modeling I do include things … Read more

Interest Rate Buy Down Spreadsheet

Interest Rate Buy Down Spreadsheet

Trying to figure out whether you should buy down your interest rate? Use Brian and Brendon’s spreadsheet to quickly and easily do the math for making your decision. This is the latest version, version 3.01, for classes in 2020 and later. It now includes a special spreadsheet from Brendon on how to do an entire Portfolio Optimization for Refinances as well (sheet 3 of the spreadsheet). Download Version 3.01 of Interest Rate Buy Down Spreadsheet Previous Spreadsheet Versions The following is version 2 for classes prior to 2020. Download Version 2.0 of Interest Rate Buy Down Spreadsheet Classes On Buying … Read more

How to Minimize Your Monthly Payment with Your Lender

This evening I was preparing for my Cash Flow Explosion presentation on how to improve cash flow on your rental properties for our local investor club. The Cash Flow Explosion presentation is pretty much the same presentation that I gave to Nomads a month or so ago called How to Improve Rental Property Cash Flow. At the start of that presentation I talk about the importance of using the Lowest Monthly Payment Guarantee Checklist as a starting point for making sure you’re maximizing your cash flow on your rental properties. So, I decided to also share with you the section … Read more

Builder Walkthrough FAQs

Do you usually test for radon during the builder walkthrough? No. If you’re testing for radon on a new construction property, this is often done independently of the builder walkthrough. Why? Because typically radon tests happen over several days. The person doing the radon test will set it up and then come back several days later to pick up the test and record the measurements. Because it takes several days, we do not usually do radon testing during the builder walkthrough itself. Do you usually test each electrical outlet at the builder walkthrough? Some people will bring an electrical tester … Read more

Real Estate is the “IDEAL” Model for Investing

I talk to a lot of Nomads as well as real estate agents and lenders that work with Nomads. Most of the people I talk to believe real estate is an awesome investment–and it is. Some talk about how great it is that you can cash flow or that property appreciates. Few people remember the easy little trick for recalling the 5 primary benefit areas of rental real estate. Here’s the trick. IDEAL Real estate is often called the IDEAL investment because IDEAL can be an acronym describing the benefits of buying investment real estate (like we do with Nomad). … Read more