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!

Return in Dollars Quadrant™

The Return in Dollars Quadrant™ is the amount, in dollars, of each of the four primary returns in a real estate investment. The four primary areas of return are: Appreciation Cash Flow Cash Flow from Depreciation™ Debt Paydown In some cases, we will also include the return earned on reserves as well. This is especially true if we are calculating returns and including the drag from setting aside reserves to invest in real estate. This is a more correct methodology since you really need reserves to prudently make investments in rental properties. We typically display this graphically as: Or, with … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Investment Property Loans

Whether you’re looking to learn how to finance and buy your first rental property or are already a seasoned investor hoping to access future deals without paying a premium, this is the ultimate guide to investment property loans. As you can imagine, how you choose to finance the purchase impacts multiple aspects of the process for real estate deals. With that in mind, here are the main topics we will teach you here to take your investing knowledge to the next level: Lender Selection Dos and Don’ts – The lender(s) you work with should be part of your dream team … Read more

Lease-Option

The latest version of the lease-option can be downloaded here: IMPORTANT NOTE: We are providing you these documents as examples for entertainment purposes only and you MUST have them reviewed and approved by your own attorney before using them yourself and in your own business. By using them you agree to hold us harmless. Seriously, don’t use this stuff without having your attorney review and approve them. Download Lease-Option as PDF Download Lease-Option editable in MS Word

The Book on Rental Property Investing – Free PDF Download

I wrote the book on rental property investing… the definitive guide… the ultimate guide to rental property investing… and you can download it for FREE as a PDF below. Download Book as PDF for FREE!Use right-click “Save link as…” to save the file to your computer. I explain why I wrote it and why I am giving it away free here. Inside the book, you will find: Assumptions about your real estate investing 10 paths to financial independence analyzed Financial independence defined: philosophically and mathematically Investing in stocks and bonds compared to real estate Saving 10% per year Safe withdrawal … Read more

Real Estate Investing for Dummies? No Thanks!

If you’re looking for Real Estate Investing for Dummies, it is available on Amazon. But, if you ask me if I’d like to learn about something where the authors think you’re a dummy and tell you that in the title… I’d personally say, “no thanks!” I think you’re smart and I think you’d like to learn about real estate investing. So, I will provide you with with hundreds of hours of some of the best training materials on how to invest in real estate… from someone who respects and appreciates that you’re an intelligent human-being… but a human-being that just … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Low Ball Offers for Real Estate Investors

If you’re interested in learning more about low ball offers then you’ve found the right place with The Ultimate Guide to Low Ball Offers for Real Estate Investors. Wondering how to make an offer on a house as a real estate investor? Should make an offer lower than the price that is listed in the MLS? After you read this guide you will be better prepared to answer that question than 99.9% of all buyers ever. I can say this with confidence because I will be sharing with you real-world, hard data on low ball offers. Both data in aggregate … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Gross Operating Income for Rental Properties

Want to learn more about Gross Operating Income? Check out The Ultimate Guide to Gross Operating Income for Rental Properties where we will start with the basics and dig into more advanced and nuanced discussions. Gross Operating Income = Gross Potential Income – Vacancy Gross Operating Income, often abbreviated GOI, is the Gross Potential Income that a property could generate minus the Vacancy on the property. Gross Potential Income is the most you could possibly receive on the rental property if you collected all the income generated on the property. It is defined as: Gross Potential Income = Rent + … Read more

The Ultimate Guide to Net Operating Income

If you’re looking to learn more about Net Operating Income (also abbreviated as NOI) then check out our Ultimate Guide to Net Operating Income. Net Operating Income = Gross Operating Income – Operating Expenses NOI is defined as the Gross Operating Income minus Operating Expenses. Calculating Net Operating Income The following walks you through how to calculate NOI on rental properties. I will be adding to this page in the future: Show where NOI is located on spreadsheet and walk through the calculation of it using the spreadsheet and images Show REFP charts of Net Operating Income for buying one … Read more

Real Estate Investing Rules of Thumb

1% Rule, 2% Rule, 3% Rule, 4% Rule, Rule of 72, Rule of 144, and many more… if you’re interested in learning more about all the different real estate investing rules of thumb, then you’ve found the right place. Below is a list of each rule of thumb along with a very brief description of what the rule is and how it is used. 1% Rule The 1% Rule suggests that a rental property should have monthly rent that exceeds 1% of the purchase price. 1% of Purchase Price = Monthly Rent For example, if you’re buying a duplex for … Read more

Financial Mindset and Overcoming Fear Investing in Real Estate

Mastering the Financial Mindset for Real Estate Success Investing in real estate and buying rental properties can be a formidable path to financial freedom and wealth building. However, it’s not just about having the capital or the knowledge; it’s equally about fostering the right financial mindset and overcoming the fear that inevitably comes with such significant decisions. Let’s dive into how you can navigate these challenges and set yourself up for success. Understanding the Financial Mindset The journey to becoming a successful real estate investor begins in the mind. Here’s how to cultivate a mindset that breeds success: Embrace Learning: … Read more