Sometimes, getting started is the hardest part. We’re a distracted and busy people. That busyness can derail the best intentions, delaying and diminishing potential returns. Maybe you’ve been considering investing in real estate for a long time. It’s something you want to do, something you know you should do for your financial future.

You just keep kicking the can down the road.

Is the Spring homebuying season kicking off in January? Some experts think so, with lowered interest rates drawing buyers back to the housing market. There’s no doubt that the decline will be gradual over the next few years, but it won’t stop activity from kicking back up. 

Just as the smallest rise in rates meant adding hundreds of dollars to mortgage payments, a decline – even a tiny one – represents greater savings and housing affordability. It should be no surprise that investors want to make acquisitions in 2024. But how does a real estate investor wisely prepare?

2023 presented some unique challenges for real estate investors. But as much as we can bemoan rising interest rates and stubbornly high property prices, the current market – and the market we’re likely to see in 2024 – has a lot going for SFR (single-family rental) investors.

Remember: your success in this business isn’t decided by the sway of the market. It all comes down to your fundamentals and a willingness to adapt your strategy to suit your needs under the full gamut of market conditions.  Including...remembering that time in the market matters more than timing the market.  Just getting in, getting started or getting growing is enough to put an SFR investor ahead of the masses who are waiting for big shifts and changes before making their next moves.

It’s hard to deny that 2023’s real estate market has been frigid. After all, this year’s total home sales are shaping up to be at the lowest levels since 2011 and the peak of housing crash-induced buyer anxiety. That said, the experts are feeling cautiously optimistic about the real estate market for 2024.

It might be cliché to think of a new year as a clean slate, but it can still be a beneficial way to think about it. Besides getting in shape, financial health is one of the top priorities among those who make New Year’s Resolutions. Regardless of where you are with your financial goals, now is a great time to refocus. And what better way to do that than through a financial advisor?

Tired of making the same old resolutions about finally using that gym membership? Maybe it’s time to shift your gears towards financial resolutions. Real estate investors are in a prime position to renew their efforts in the new year, riding the wave of resolve. But what should a passive real estate investor’s new years’ resolution look like?

2024 seems like it will break out of some of the downward real estate trends we’ve seen due to rising interest rates and inflation. While it’s unlikely we’ll see a break-out year for real estate, signs indicate that conditions will warm up to buyers over the next few years.

During different seasons and cycles of the real estate market, investors will find their priorities changing. Maybe property acquisitions must take a backseat or decrease in frequency. When your focus must shift, you may not always know what to do with yourself.

Investor-influencer Grant Cardone was recently in hot water in the form of a class-action lawsuit alleging fraud and false promises through his real estate investment fund. You can read all about it on Bigger Pockets (linked above) and other news outlets. Regardless of how the lawsuit has turned out, we see it as a cautionary tale to passive investing hopefuls.

Due diligence is a simple concept to understand but challenging to execute. It’s anticipating and mitigating risk, gathering accurate facts and data for informed decision-making, and doing your best to ensure you’re building your wealth and managing risk exposure.