In today’s real estate landscape, the rules of the game are evolving. Investors are entering the space with high expectations—and sometimes without the preparation necessary to meet them. I’m seeing it in investor conversations, online forums, and in the hundreds of inquiries we receive each month at REI Nation.

If you’re investing in real estate for the first time, you probably have lots of questions. After all, there are so many options and strategies available. It can be overwhelming! But let’s focus on one of the bigger decisions investors must make: To invest in older properties that require renovation or opt for shiny, brand-new builds.

We’ve been in this business for a while now. It’s safe to say we’ve seen just about everything the market can throw at real estate investors, from housing market crashes to global pandemic panic. Good times and tougher ones, too. 

We’ll let you in on a secret, though: your success in real estate investment rarely has to do with market conditions. It has everything to do with the things you can control. As a turnkey investor, you rely on a team to get the job done. Critical to that team is property management. 

And what’s the most essential quality in your property manager? Proactive communication. 

A survey shows that, aside from rent costs, the number one most cited reason for rental residents to forgo lease renewal was an unresponsive and ineffective property manager. 

Further Reading: Crucial Questions New Investors MUST Ask a Property Management Company

Where should you invest in real estate? It’s the age-old question. We can make an excellent case for a few specific markets, but we want to speak more generally here. Real estate investment strategy is often about the slow zoom-in—focusing on general principles that grow in specificity as you move towards your personal pinpoint.

Tariffs are likely to have a ripple effect on the real estate market.

As the Spring buying season kicks off, investors may find themselves with a bit of FOMO, or 'fear of missing out'. After all, property acquisitions are exciting! However, as responsible real estate investors, we understand that scaling one’s portfolio demands a plan.

April 15^th is creeping up on us. Many people procrastinate on tax filing (don’t worry, some of us are guilty, too!), but there’s little room for investors to make the same mistake. Dread and procrastination are holding you back in more ways than one.

A lot of people have outdated assumptions about who rents their homes. In this day and age, renting isn’t something people necessarily do out of necessity. While that may be the case, more and more people are choosing to rent.

We don’t know anyone who hasn’t made a financial mistake at some point. And while we can bounce back from many misjudgments with money, some have lasting, painful consequences. Our investors know that we’re here to see you succeed. We don’t want to see any investor fail. We don’t even want you to make it harder on yourself than it has to be.

Investing in real estate comes with a dizzying number of options. Passive or active? Residential or commercial? Single-family or multifamily? Which market? While many decisions come down to personal preference or investment strategy, some are less subjective.