There are a thousand different ways to invest in real estate. While single-family properties have and continue to be at the forefront, they are far from the only way to invest. Multifamily properties, commercial real estate, land, wholesaling, and yes...vacation homes.

The summer vacation rental has been around for a long time. It’s a strategy that seems like it’s best left to the experts, and, in many ways, that’s true. Vacation rentals aren’t for the faint of heart.  I'll be very clear on the front end of this article and say that vacation homes are not our forte.

Kent Sr. owns several short-term, vacation rentals and as a company we have certainly explored them as an alternative investment for clients.  So in our research and with Kent Sr.'s experience, we have a few thoughts.

While you might have pictures in your head of sipping a mojito on the beach while the money pours in, that’s not reality. Like any investment property, vacation rentals come with their own unique risks and challenges.

Summer. It’s hot. The real estate market is also hot. It’s the time of year when everyone wants to buy and everyone is selling.

For real estate investors who want to get in on the frenzy, there are a few things that you need to know so that you don’t get caught up in the heat of the moment and make critical errors.

For a lot of us, 2016 was a little rough. Maybe not for our real estate investment endeavors, but in other ways. Even if one area goes well, when others seem shaky or uncertain—maybe it’s global politics or the death of a beloved celebrity, or some other turmoil—it can be hard to believe that everything is going to go right.

2017 hasn't exactly been cupcakes and rainbows either, but this is where we have to start taking stock of our year.  We are halfway done and regardless of the ares where things could be better, we have to plan for the second half of the year and how to improve the things we can control.  We have control over items such as our investment mindset, where we choose to focus, steps we take to grow and improve our real estate investments.

For those of us thinking towards retirement planning, there are a lot of options put in front of us. While historically, many have relied on career retirement plans—do they really cut it anymore?

Those who are serious about having a solid retirement fund will want to look into investment options well before their golden years. Some might just settle for IRAs, stocks, and bonds, while others will look into more ambitious options. And those options can be hit-or-miss!

There are bad investment options out there. You know the ones. Gold. Gemstones. Tax shelters. Collectibles. Even stocks, except for the most experienced and savvy investors. For the average American, you’re going to want an investment that really pays off. Not one that you spend time hoping and praying works out.

One of the unique features of the Memphis Invest story, is the transition from a transaction based company focused on selling houses, to a customer service based company focused on providing an experience.

Friday October 7th 6:00PM to 7:30PM ~ Memphis Invest offices, Grapevine, TX.
Saturday October 8th 8:30AM to 12:30PM ~ The Palace Theater, Grapevine, TX.
Saturday October 8th 12:30PM to 2:30 PM ~ Lunch at Memphis Invest offices, Grapevine, TX.

As with just about everyone, real estate investors can fall prey to hype. While the tried-and-true ways to invest still reign supreme, there are new trends constantly popping up—flavors of the week that don’t last and rarely deliver on their promises.

In real estate investment, hype can look like a lot of different things...

Many of us are guilty of focusing a little too much on income. Granted, income is important. We have to have money to cover bills, needs and desires and offer life security for ourselves and families. No one is denying that security is very important to our overall wellbeing.

Its never too early to start planning for taxes!  It may be tax day 2016, but we have a fantastic webinar with Amanda Holbrook, formerly with Memphis Invest and currently a superstar at Specialized IRA services, to help you get planning for next year!

If you invest in real estate, there is a trend that you need to know about.  For real estate investors, and real estate professionals in general, big data is slowly transforming how we do real estate, especially when it comes to the buying and selling process. But it goes deeper than that, too.

Big data, more than anything, is making things more accessible, more transparent, and less risky for real estate investors. But how, exactly? What does it mean for investors?

Defining Big Data

Forbes has one of the best definitions of big data we’ve seen:

"Big data is a collection of data from traditional and digital sources inside and outside your company that represents a source for ongoing discovery and analysis."

This data can be high-volume or high-velocity to be “big,” and it’s only worth anything to you if it’s accurate. After all, making decisions based on bad data will wind you up in a world of trouble.