In 1624 Peter Minuit bought the island of Manhattan for $24 in trinkets, thus establishing a precedent of foreign investment in U.S. real estate that is still going strong. Though the numbers may have changed -- today foreign investment accounts for $44 billion of investment in U.S. real estate -- the principle is still the same. Investors from foreign countries who are seeking consistent returns at lower risk, availability of property, political and economic stability, and market liquidity are looking at the U.S. real estate market. However, foreign investors may be unsure or unaware of the tax ramifications of investing in U.S. real property, including the provisions of any tax treaties that may override the general provisions of U.S. tax laws.

The structure of foreign investment in U.S. real estate can take many forms. A foreign individual can own a direct interest in U.S. real property, he/she can invest in a partnership or limited liability company that owns the real property, or the U.S. real estate can be held through a domestic or foreign corporation. The most commonly used structure for foreign real estate investors is a limited partnership or limited liability company.

A limited partnership or limited liability company has several advantages for all involved parties. For all practical purposes, this structure gives each individual the assurance of financial protection for all unrelated assets in the event of law suits or bankruptcy.

Foreign Investor Rule #1: A foreign partner must obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. This number must be used on all tax forms and will assure the correct application of withholding taxes.

Income from foreign partners can be treated in one of two ways. Real estate investments by foreign investors can be held as portfolio investments and considered investment income described as fixed and determinable annual or periodic income. Included in this category are dividends, interest, gains, rents, and royalties unless specifically exempt under the Internal Revenue Code. This type of investment income is generally taxed at the flat rate of 30% on the gross revenues, without reduction for expenses.

However, when income allocated from the limited partnership is effectively connected with a trade or business within the U.S., the income is taxed to the nonresident alien partner at the graduated U.S. tax rates, on a net basis, after deducting all expenses and allowances. In order to take advantage of this strategy and be considered as actively engaged in a U.S. trade or business, the partner's level of involvement with the activity generally must be considerable, continuous and regular.

To alleviate the harsh tax treatment of rental income, foreign individuals can take advantage of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code permitting foreign investors to make an election to treat investments in U.S. real property as trade or businesses. By making this election, the net income is taxed rather than the gross income, saving the taxpayer significant tax dollars. The election applies to all income from U.S. real property that is not already effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and, once made, the election is effective for all subsequent years and can only be revoked with the consent of the IRS.

Foreign Investor Rule # 2: Save taxes by electing to treat U.S. property as effectively connected to a trade or business; attach the appropriate statement to a timely filled income tax return that reports income from U.S. real property.

The tax treatment for foreign investors becomes somewhat more complicated when we look at tax withholding, a frequently misunderstood but extremely important area. The payor of investment income to a foreign investor is required to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30%, unless a reduced rate or exemption under a tax treaty applies.

When a limited partnership has effectively connected income allocable to a foreign partner, the partnership is required to withhold tax on that partner's distributive share of the net income. The amount of the withholding tax is calculated at the highest rate of U.S. tax to which each foreign partner is subject. For corporate partners the rate is 35%; for individual partners and other partnerships the rate is 39.6%. Since tax is withheld at the highest U.S. tax rate, most partners will be due a refund when filing their U.S. income tax return.

Business is booming in all areas of the Canadian real estate market, offering attractive opportunities to American investors.

The market has been experiencing a lot of growth over the past two years.

The first half of 2005 featured a double digit increase in total investments, surpassing $9 billion Canadian.

It's expected that by the year's end $17.4 billion total will have been invested in Canadian real estate.

This is up from $14.2 billion in 2004 and $11.3 billion in 2003. Also, the current vacancy rate is 3%, down from 11% in only two years.

"2005 featured positive economic growth, increasing absorption and decreasing vacancy rates," said Peter Senst, vice president and director at CB Richard Ellis, at a recent presentation entitled Opportunities in Canadian Real Estate.

On top of its recent strong economic performance, investing in the Canadian market is advantageous to Americans for several other reasons.

Canada's proximity to the United States is important, as well as the fact that they share the same time zones and speak the same language. Because of political stability, it's a safe place to invest and there are some price advantages compared to the United States.

"Canada looks cheap compared to New York," Senst said, "and you're seeing more and more activity."

The Greater Toronto area is an especially successful region in Canada.

It's ranked #7 in the North American office market and has the fourth largest industrial market in North America.

The office market especially is producing better quality, trading bigger assets and featuring more strategic selling. Vacancy rates are below 5%, making for a very tight market.

The Canadian industrial market is also a good one to watch. By the end of the year, 7.5 million s/f of new industrial space is expected.

"The industrial market involves U.S. capitals, fueled by GP pension funds," Senst said. "It's been a very dynamic market. Developers from the U.S. are accepting lower development returns.

"There's not a lot of growth in cap rates and the net yield is putting pricing pressure on rental rates." Retail is the more balanced of the markets. According to Senst, it's "in vogue in the Canadian market." The vacancy rate in the retail market is between 23%. There's almost no new supply plan, making another very tight market.

All of this means that 2006 should be another strong year for the real estate market in Canada, also making it ripe for investment from U.S. businesses.

In 1624 Peter Minuit bought the island of Manhattan for $24 in trinkets, thus establishing a precedent of foreign investment in U.S. real estate that is still going strong. Though the numbers may have changed -- today foreign investment accounts for 44 billion dollars of investment in U.S. real estate -- the principle is still the same. Investors from foreign countries who are seeking consistent returns at lower risk, availability of property, political and economic stability, and market liquidity are looking at the U.S. real estate market. However, foreign investors may be unsure or unaware of the tax ramifications of investing in U.S. real property, including the provisions of any tax treaties that may override the general provisions of U.S. tax laws. In many instances this could lead to problems for an investor unless he or she carefully plans for the tax aspects of this investment. The following rules can serve as a general guide, although any specific investment should be discussed with your tax advisor .

The structure of foreign investment in U.S. real estate can take many forms. A foreign individual can own a direct interest in U.S. real property, he/she can invest in a partnership or limited liability company that owns the real property, or the U.S. real estate can be held through a domestic or foreign corporation. The most commonly used structure for foreign real estate investors is a limited partnership or limited liability company.

A limited partnership or limited liability company has several advantages for all involved parties. For all practical purposes, this structure gives each individual the assurance of financial protection for all unrelated assets in the event of law suits, bankruptcy. The partnership structure can also be especially significant in terms of tax ramifications. Although the partnership files an income tax return annually, it does not pay any tax on its income. Instead, it serves as a conduit -- passing all of its income through to the partners. The partners then include this income on their tax returns and must pay the taxes. However, the partnership is required to withhold tax on the income of foreign partners which they then claim as a prepayment on their tax returns. Therefore, only one level of taxation exists for partnership income. The foreign investors will generally be taxed at the same rates as individuals who hold their property interests directly.

Foreign Investor Rule #1: A foreign partner must obtain an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number from the Internal Revenue Service. This number must be used on all tax forms and will assure the correct application of withholding taxes.

Income from foreign partners can be treated in one of two ways. Real estate investments by foreign investors can be held as portfolio investments and considered investment income described as fixed and determinable annual or periodic income. Included in this category are dividends, interest, gains, rents, and royalties unless specifically exempt under the Internal Revenue Code. This type of investment income is generally taxed at the flat rate of 30% on the gross revenues, without reduction for expenses.

However, when income allocated from the limited partnership is effectively connected with a trade or business within the U.S., the income is taxed to the nonresident alien partner at the graduated U.S. tax rates, on a net basis, after deducting all expenses and allowances. In order to take advantage of this strategy and be considered as actively engaged in a U.S. trade or business, the partner's level of involvement with the activity generally must be considerable, continuous and regular.

To alleviate the harsh tax treatment of rental income, foreign individuals can take advantage of the provisions of the Internal Revenue Code permitting foreign investors to make an election to treat investments in U.S. real property as trade or businesses. By making this election, the net income is taxed rather than the gross income, saving the taxpayer significant tax dollars. The election applies to all income from U.S. real property that is not already effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business and, once made, the election is effective for all subsequent years and can only be revoked with the consent of the IRS.

Foreign Investor Rule # 2: Save taxes by electing to treat U.S. property as effectively connected to a trade or business; attach the appropriate statement to a timely filled income tax return that reports income from U.S. real property.

The tax treatment for foreign investors becomes somewhat more complicated when we look at tax withholding, a frequently misunderstood but extremely important area. The payor of investment income to a foreign investor is required to withhold U.S. income tax at the rate of 30%, unless a reduced rate or exemption under a tax treaty applies.

Due to the rapid decline in stock prices, including a recent 61 percent decline in the Nasdaq Composite Index, more pension funds and other big investors are looking to put money into real estate today. This presents a golden opportunity for investors, managers and opportunity funds based in New York and the tri-state area who desire to implement national and international strategies.

Real estate is by nature cyclical, and can be regarded as a commodity, with opportunities to buy, hold and sell. While many investors rode the wave of the boom that overtook New York and other areas, the climate for U.S. real estate investing is better than it has been in several years.

Many traditional sources of capital have left the market. That leaves a void for the remaining participants. Institutional capital has been focused on buyout, private equity and venture capital, to the detriment of real estate. Few REITs are currently making additional acquisitions, and many opportunity funds have been focused offshore. Major banks are out of the loan market and, for those loan programs that remain, long term investors are low and spreads are historically high. At the same time, concerns about the economy are increasing buying opportunities.

To take full advantage of the current market, it is advantageous to joint venture with local partners in local markets. These local partners form the basis for targeting market efficiencies and evaluating the risk profile of each investment.

For example, in the retail sector, Starwood has formed ventures with Starwood Ceruzzi and Starwood Wasserman to develop credit-tenant, build-to-suits with strong anchors in infill locations. In the mixed-use arena, Starwood has followed a local approach, forming a venture with Gene Heller, whose knowledge of the New Jersey markets surfaces outstanding local projects. On the opposite coast, Seattle-based Tri-Met Realty has brought Starwood an excellent portfolio of waterfront office, condo-conversion properties, single family lots and industrial land with a pipeline of new industrial properties.

While many of the larger, high-yield properties have been snapped up, 2001 is shaping up as a prime time for smaller transactions. For example, Starwood recently invested $50 million to recapitalize a three million square-foot portfolio of Southern California industrial, flex and research-and-development properties owned by Westcore Industrial Properties, a unit of the Shidler Group. Starwood has been extremely successful in identifying real estate sectors with optimal risk-adjusted returns, then adds value through asset and financial restructuring, by attracting local market expertise and management through local market expertise. In most cases, Starwood focuses on "off-market" transactions, often sourced by its local partner network.

Investors in the New York area are seeking out new opportunities abroad, as well. The world of international investing presents exciting new real estate opportunities for the informed investor. Select European markets offer opportunities for compelling, risk-adjusted returns due to strong supply and demand fundamentals, combined with significant barriers to new supply and a relatively inefficient marketplace. Asian markets offer intriguing opportunities as economies start to recover and local governments intervene in the real estate marketplace through new REIT legislation and the creation of RTC-like agencies. Such government intervention frequently provides profitable opportunities for experienced investors.

Starwood believes that partnering with top local market experts is one of the largest factors in achieving success in a foreign market. Aside from forming the basis for targeting market inefficiencies and evaluating the risk profile of each investment, local partners also provide knowledge necessary to navigate around local, governmental, legal and cultural obstacles.

As an example, Starwood formed a venture with an established national partner in Japan, Nomura Real Estate Development Company, Ltd. By entering into this venture, Starwood gained access to Nomura's local expertise in deal sourcing, as well as asset and property management. Starwood has similar ventures in the United Kingdom, and prospective ventures in Western Europe.

The economic downturn and the decline of the stock market has created favorable conditions for real estate investing in the New York area and abroad. With the right partnerships, and consideration of economic as well as demographic conditions, the current market will reward the informed investor.

Yardi Systems, Inc., announced today that TimesSquare Real Estate Investors has chosen the Yardi Enterprise software solution to manage their extensive portfolio of institutional-grade investment property. TimesSquare's experience in commercial real estate investing spans four decades and includes expertise in office, residential, retail, research and development, warehouse, industrial, and hotel properties. TimesSquare Real Estate Investors, headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, is a division of TimesSquare Capital Management, which is a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation.

In looking to enhance its internal analysis capability and expand its investor reporting abilities, TimesSquare decided to replace the existing MRI system with Yardi. "The functionality of the Enterprise suite can accommodate TimesSquare's complex investment structures and portfolio reporting requirements," says Bruce Morris, Yardi Vice President of National Sales. "The Yardi Conductor Report Manager will assist TimesSquare in meeting its goal of providing more property-level information to investors by automating the generation and distribution of investor oriented reports."

TimesSquare Real Estate Investors manages 125 properties, including 4,600 residential units, 23.1 million square feet of commercial space, and 2,500 hotel rooms. Yardi Enterprise Property Management offers the functions, features, and scalability necessary to address the demands of managing TimesSquare's operations. Yardi's integrated system will enable third-party property managers at approximately 45 sites to process real-time information remotely using Citrix technology. The hotel management functions will continue on hotel-oriented software, with summary financial data imported into Yardi. Data and reporting from an existing Times Square proprietary system, originally created to track non-property data and data on proper ties in the acquisition phase, will also be integrated with Yardi. Enterprise's open Oracle database structure and standard SQL report writing capabilities will accommodate TimesSquare's changing needs as they continue to explore new ways to leverage information and perform meaningful analysis of its investment portfolios.

Yardi Systems, Inc., announced today that TimesSquare Real Estate Investors has chosen the Yardi Enterprise software solution to manage their extensive portfolio of institutional-grade investment property. TimesSquare's experience in commercial real estate investing spans four decades and includes expertise in office, residential, retail, research and development, warehouse, industrial, and hotel properties. TimesSquare Real Estate Investors, headquartered in Hartford, Connecticut, is a division of TimesSquare Capital Management, which is a subsidiary of CIGNA Corporation.

In looking to enhance its internal analysis capability and expand its investor reporting abilities, TimesSquare decided to replace the existing MRI system with Yardi. "The functionality of the Enterprise suite can accommodate TimesSquare's complex investment structures and portfolio reporting requirements," says Bruce Morris, Yardi Vice President of National Sales. "The Yardi Conductor Report Manager will assist TimesSquare in meeting its goal of providing more property-level information to investors by automating the generation and distribution of investor oriented reports."

TimesSquare Real Estate Investors manages 125 properties, including 4,600 residential units, 23.1 million square feet of commercial space, and 2,500 hotel rooms. Yardi Enterprise Property Management offers the functions, features, and scalability necessary to address the demands of managing TimesSquare's operations. Yardi's integrated system will enable third-party property managers at approximately 45 sites to process real-time information remotely using Citrix technology. The hotel management functions will continue on hotel-oriented software, with summary financial data imported into Yardi. Data and reporting from an existing Times Square proprietary system, originally created to track non-property data and data on proper ties in the acquisition phase, will also be integrated with Yardi. Enterprise's open Oracle database structure and standard SQL report writing capabilities will accommodate TimesSquare's changing needs as they continue to explore new ways to leverage information and perform meaningful analysis of its investment portfolios.

he advent of browser-based, or web-based, technology is enabling businesses across industries and around the world to connect their people and data on unprecedented levels.

Commercial real estate is no exception, and as we head into a new year, the demand to improve data access and sharing has reached new heights.

The most forward-thinking property management systems vendors are responding accordingly by embracing these new technologies. We are seeing a thinning of our marketplace; those that are remaining competitive are migrating their computing platforms to data bases or technologies that embrace Internet platforms and standards.

The resulting benefits for users are speed, efficiency and ease of use. For example, IBS has developed a new prospect data base within the recently completed browser-enabled version of our system.

Site management personnel for several of our multifamily clients now manage their workflow and leasing traffic utilizing this software. At any time, someone from their headquarters office can hit a single button and see, up to the minute, what their activity looks like.

Users can easily share data with their business partners, lenders or other parties with the click of a mouse in a secure environment. In our incredibly fast-paced world, having information on time and on the mark can be critical to getting a deal done.

As property management systems providers continue to move forward with new technologies, real estate companies are faced with the task of re-examining their current systems in the context of what has become available. Every senior management team should ask itself how quickly decisions can be made with their existing system.

They should consider whether their competitors are running on systems that could enable them to pull ahead in terms of operating performance.

Finally, they should determine whether their software vendor has a specific upgrade plan in place for them--or whether they will be required to re-buy the entire environment if and when it is migrated to a browser-based or future technology plan.

During this process, companies should be sure that they partner or continue to partner with a vendor that embraces future technologies while continuing to uphold the traditional standards that make a software vendor successful. This includes topnotch support and all of the auditability, integrity and controls that comprise a superior accounting system.

Looking ahead, we can expect to see continued adoption of browser-enabled technology.

Capabilities will become even more sophisticated, with additional conveniences like mobile-based computing features just around the corner. It truly is an exciting time for both the users and vendors of real estate property management systems, as the e-commerce-based world has finally arrived.

Buying and selling business property the smart way

IN THE LIFE OF A BUSINESS, opportunities to own real estate often arise. A company's management may consider relocating to a facility better suited to its current operations. Or perhaps the company's lease contains an option to buy its existing space.

At first blush, owning rather than renting saves money. The lessor's mark-up is removed. Equity is built up over time. In the troubled economy several years back, many businesses were able to weather the storm by drawing on free and clear real estate to sustain them. For other businesses, real estate became the owners' retirement nest egg.

Of course, there are also pitfalls. The typical business owner or manager has little direct experience with real estate investing. Past appreciation is no guarantee of what the future may bring. Gluts of office and industrial space impact values severely. Unanticipated risks accompany the dollar savings.

Also, when the time ultimately comes for the owner to retire, exiting a business tied to real estate is more difficult than a business alone. Competitors interested in buying the business are likely to have no interest in its facilities.

Assuming that these issues have been satisfactorily considered, and the company is to go ahead with the purchase of real estate, tax-saving strategies should be planned. Two major areas are ownership and exchange. This article is not intended to provide advice in any particular situation. The advice of competent counsel should be sought.

Ownership

Because of the significance of the asset and tax implications, it is best not to commingle real estate with existing business assets. Unlike the business, real estate is a passive investment. Even if its value is not appreciating, equity grows as the mortgage is paid down over time.

From the standpoint of asset protection, businesses incorporate to limit liabilities to their owners and the owners' personal assets. Likewise, real estate should be separated from the business, so that built-up equity is not accessed by business lawsuits.

From a tax perspective, the same principle applies. Carrying title to real estate through the business inevitably makes it harder to separate the two later. In some cases, the tax consequences can be severe.

For example, two major disadvantages accrue when real estate is owned in a regular "C" corporation. One is that the lower tax rates for individuals on capital gains arising from the sale of real estate do not apply. Full "C" corporation taxes are incurred on capital gains just as ordinary income.

Secondly, "C" corporations incur double tax. The "C" corporation is taxed on its income. Then, the owner incurs tax when drawing out the money as dividends. Effective tax rates for profitable companies can easily exceed 50%.

Owning the real estate personally overcomes these problems but creates others. Just as in a business, if litigation arises relating to the property itself, the owner's personal assets are put at risk in absence of a separate entity.

It is better to own real estate in an entity where taxable items "flow through" directly to its owners. In that manner, capital gains retain their beneficial tax treatment and the income is not double-taxed. Ideally, it is as if the owner held the property personally, but with less risk.

Today, the most popular and useful "flow through" entity for holding real estate is a Limited Liability Company, or LLC. It allows for flexibility of structure and distributions, as well as providing additional basis for deductions if losses occur.

Even after separating the real estate from the business through an LLC, problems are not yet completely resolved. Rent between a rental entity and the business should not be set at a bargain rate. Real estate losses are considered passive under tax law, meaning that they are suspended until there is income or disposal of the property.

The mayor of Chicago is a 31-year-old microbiologist who lives in Canada and probably could not tell a political machine from a soda machine. He does collect taxes, however, and would flip the Second City for the right price. So who does this guy think he is, Richard M. Daley? "I guess he's someone in Chicago?" said Andy Jonson, who holds the deed to the City That Works within new online social networking site Weblo.com. "I'm just learning about this stuff."

Launched last October by an Internet gaming entrepreneur and funded to the tune of $2.6 million, Montreal-based Weblo is part MySpace, part Second Life and perhaps part tulip craze. The company makes money by selling virtual plots of land -- including municipalities, landmarks and ordinary addresses -- to willing buyers who purchase the intellectual property for reasons both speculative and nostalgic. Andy Jonson paid nearly $150 for Chicago, but has since earned a few pennies a day while collecting taxes from the property owners who acquired virtual rights to the Sears Tower, Wrigley Field and other local institutions. He also gets a cut of any ad revenue circulated through his cities, which include San Francisco, London and Paris.

"I'm sort of playing it like any other investment," he said. "I've managed to resell some properties, and so far this is doing better than my mutual funds."

According to sales data supplied by the company, Weblo property owners are making tangible profits from their virtual assets. The state of California sold for $53,000 after it was initially purchased from Weblo for approximately $37,000 only months earlier. Illinois is listed for more than $17,000. As of Jan. 31, more than 5,200 cities have been purchased worldwide.

Weblo founder and CEO Rocky Mizra said that nearly a decade ago he conceived the idea of assigning real ownership to virtual properties that are based on actual addresses. Until recently, however, Mizra focused on Web site consulting, buying and selling domain names, and running a gambling business at iBetX.com. As sites like MySpace and Facebook started turning heads, Mizra contemplated how social networks with exorbitant traffic could more efficiently make money from and for their members.

"I'm used to having a revenue model right from the onset," said Mizra, 34. "Until now, the only thing you can accumulate on social networking is fame. Where Weblo comes in is the commerce part of it."

Weblo's investors include former MySpace Chairman Richard Rosenblatt and Fred Harmon, a managing partner with Silicon Valley venture firm Oak Investment Partners.

Mizra said the company employs approximately 120 developers in India and Pakistan to codify his bizarro reality as well as other ventures. In addition to loading up on real estate, Weblo members can purchase rights to celebrities ranging from Brian Urlacher to Jennifer Lopez. They can also create their own profiles.

While sites such as Weblo and Second Life, which now has more than 3.6 million members, are not my cup of tea, the economies that develop within them warrant attention. Over one 24-hour period last week, more than $1 million was generated through Second Life. On Weblo, in addition to resale opportunities, members are financially motivated through advertising commissions to their expand networks and presence on the site.

Anyone can invest in Florida real estate, if they desire to. Indeed, investing can help anyone earn profits.

Investing property in Florida real estate is a huge investment anyone can do in their entire life. But of course, investing in Florida real estate is not that easy. Investing in real estate requires money, and certainly, you want that money to earn more.

So in order to make sure that investing to Florida real estate will be a success, you have to be prepared in entering this type of business. Do not try entering this business empty handed, it is too risky, you will just put your money into waste, if you are empty handed.

Be sure you have the necessary knowledge you need in this type of business. You know, investing like in Florida real estate, you have to know the world you are entering into, in order to do things successfully.

Maybe you are now starting to lose hope in entering into real estate investing. You see, do not lose hope, there are lots of ways in order to gain the knowledge needed in investing in real estate.

One of the ways you can do to earn knowledge or information about real estate investing is by reading books about real estate investing. Certainly, there are heaps of books to read in order to obtain information and knowledge.

You can also use the internet in having the valuable information you need to know. Indeed, internet has all the information you need to know. All you need to do is do you homework. Research, research and research. Researching can help you find the information and knowledge you need in entering real estate investing in Florida real estate.

There are also universities that you can enroll with, universities who are teaching about real estate investing in order to gain knowledge and information in this type of business.

If you desire to invest in Florida real estate, you need to know the market you are entering into. You can go around the place, search for the neighborhood you desire to invest with, try to talk to some people living in the neighborhood, and ask them what they can say about the place and the like. Having all these information, it can help you in deciding which property to invest.

For sure, you want to invest in Florida real estate, in order to gain profit. So to make sure you will gain money and not lose money, be prepared in entering to this business. Knowledge and information are very important in this field. These are the factors that can help you to be successful in Florida real estate investing.

So be equipped with knowledge and information as soon as you decide to enter to Florida real estate investing, in order for you to gain more profits and to become successful in this field.

Indeed, those investors who gain million dollars in real estate investing entered into this business with the proper knowledge and information. So if you want to be like them, start gaining the knowledge and information needed.

When I first began buying rental properties, one phrase that I would continuously hear was “What if”. I’d like to share some examples with you.

What if the tenants do not pay their rent? What if the market goes down? What if you can’t find tenants? What if you have a lot of repairs and damage? And on, and on, and on…

The people asking those types of questions were not really asking, “what if”. They were simply asking me to validate their own way of thinking. In actuality, those individuals believed that buying rental properties was risky and was something to avoid doing. I could have turned it around on those very same people that worked their corporate jobs by asking questions such as the examples given below.

What if the economy goes down and you are laid off or “downsized”? What if the corporation has been fudging the books and goes bankrupt? What if your job is outsourced to India and China? What if you are injured and can no longer work? And on, and on, and on…

You can play the “What if” game all you want, so why not play to win!

What if I invest in rental properties that cash flow to cover some of my monthly income and that enables me to save more money? What if I put everything I have into real estate, make strategic moves and make a ton of money? What if I control what I do and when I do it by working for myself and love life?

You cannot control the external forces of your environment. No one is able to predict the exact path of the market. However, you can control how you adapt. If you remain faithful to the one constant in your life, yourself, you will never have to questions the “What if’s” that life throws your way!