Everybody seems to have a different set of opinions on what makes up a good list of where to look for investment real estate. Do you look for the highest return rates, where the most 
bang for your buck is on flips, or where the quality of life is great and people really might want to raise a family there? With Millennials starting to think about where they can actually afford to buy a home and still have a career, I have come up with some thoughts that combine a several factors and places you might not think of that investment radar probably should be on, but aren’t. Let’s go explore some of those best cities less known for potential real estate investment.
Some factors to look at for off top-20 real estate investment radar
Naturally one of the first factors most investors look at is the uptick of property values over the past few years in any area they are considering dropping investment bucks. It is unwise to look just at property values, though, as they can change very quickly and get you stuck with property that you end up eating months of lost income while you try and sell or rent it. Rental income tends to be strong where housing prices are increasing, yes, especially for those who cannot qualify easily for a mortgage in that particular market. There are other factors that you need to examine, though.
A good overview of the economy and factors pushing growth in an area is warranted in all locations you are looking for a potential fit for your investment dollars. What is the employment situation in the area and does it show promise of growing over the next several years? Consistent growth, companies moving in or planning on moving in that will increase jobs availability, and the local wage structure all are important factors to the age demographic of your target audience. The local jobs market needs to be stable and growing to help keep housing prices or average median rental prices increasing. Along with that, who is your target audience for your investment property? A working renter, family, or retiree? Makes a difference. What income level do they need to be at? How much risk are you willing to assume for unpaid rent? Looking for a commercial roofing Chicago contractor? Check them out
Is the area increasing or decreasing in population? There are a couple different sides to this thought. Some investment groups (in particular) look for areas undergoing loss of population as a way to scoop up chunks of city blocks and neighborhoods thinking that it may be the urban revitalization of the future. While this can be a big win for long-term strategy, it is a risky one. You need careful analysis of why people are leaving, and who are the people leaving.
Some big towns like Chicago and Baltimore are having population decreases due to the baby boomers moving out. While there is some international business moving in, and some areas in Chicago’s upscale neighborhoods are steadily increasing, you need to buy where the new population wants to live, not where the old population is leaving and has a reason, often due to decay and crime. Knowing the neighborhoods and what is being done to increase job growth and location desirability by local government need to be looked at carefully so you do end up where you cannot get it sold or rented.
If you are interested in long term rental, you need to consider the increase in home values over a period of time, and the increase in rental yield – how much return you get in rent compared to what it will cost you to buy a place. For example, Honolulu has had massive housing cost increases steadily for over a decade. Compared to rental prices, while they are very high, the cost ratio to the rate of return often does not provide a good enough return on investment to make it worthwhile to tie up the large amount of money it takes to buy a top location property there.
Am I looking for rental property or houses to flip?
Roughly 2/3 of the major metropolitan areas in the U.S. are seeing home prices increase, steadily in most cases over the last few years. While that makes it harder on homebuyers, it is better for home investors, especially if you are looking to buy a place to turn into rental income. Most of the time when prices are going up, rental availability goes down, and average rental prices raise due to decreased availability. This is especially true in places where Millennials are flocking to get jobs, more so if straight out of college and they cannot qualify for a mortgage yet. Look to cities that have manufacturing, technology cyber security, and functions relating to supply chain for investing to attract them. Want to know more about types of roofs? Click here.
Another rental push is in areas seeing high growth from the influx of baby boomers starting to transition to retirement. Places with good weather, a lower (or rumored to be, as it is no longer always true) cost of living, lower fuel and utility costs, good medical care including home health services, recreational activities, and lower overall property maintenance expense are on the cross-hairs for many boomers. The places seeing a lot of growth are Florida, New Mexico, and Arizona. There are secondary markets in North Carolina, Washington, and places closer to where they are leaving, such as suburban or rural towns in the Midwest but out of metropolitan areas.
What are some of the more known best cities to invest in real estate?
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n some of my other articles I have discussed the obvious locations like Atlanta and Houston that are growing, especially in manufacturing and technology segments, and that growth is making the possibility of investing for Millennial renters or buyers more realistic. Again, though, caution is especially advised in a place like Houston (Or Oklahoma City, Austin, Mobile and elsewhere) that are so heavily dependent on the oil and gas industries. The national economy has a lot of influence on how the local employment situation is, and when something shuts down – such as happened to the fracking fields in North and South Dakota, Colorado, Nebraska, Wyoming and elsewhere, many people in very high paying jobs were suddenly unable to pay those exorbitant rental prices to people who scarfed up anything that looked like it could be rented, often at many times the realistic value of the property.
Among the cities that have held their own, I would have to include Denver, CO, Durham, N.C., Seattle, WA, and Jacksonville, FL. Denver has regularly beaten the S&P 500 for increases in property values over what you would make on the stock market. Colorado also is posting record tax revenue from their aggressive medical marijuana industry, which has eased the tax burden on a lot of the rest of the state. Services are readily available there, and Denver consistently ranks high on quality of living scores in nearly all surveys, as well as many other locations in Colorado. The downside is Denver is not cheap, and neither is Colorado Springs and other locations. If you look in the suburbs, though, you can still buy property, especially for rentals, that can make a tidy margin.
Seattle is kind of obvious due to the influx of technology and large players like Boeing being there and Apple moving to town. Decent weather, progressive health care and social values, and availability of tremendous outdoors recreation are big drawing cards. Seattle, as has most of the Puget Sound region, has seen double digit housing valuation median increases for several years, with no major slowing down in sight. Be prepared, though, cost of living is high, very high, in Seattle. For someone with career aspirations, Seattle has some of the best job growth in the nation as well as some of the highest rates of population increase, especially for their location far out of the Sun Belt.
Less known places for good real estate investing
The two sleepers are Durham and Jacksonville. Durham NC (and not too far away Charlotte) have seen some of the highest average property value increases in the nation for the last several years running, as well as healthy jobs increases. One of the reasons is multi-national companies moving to the areas, finding favorable tax base for manufacturing and engineering-technology ventures. North Carolina has been aggressive to invite players to down, and Charlotte now has one of the busiest airports in the U.S., a big surprise for what most people consider a nice small Southern Blue Ridge gem.
Jacksonville, FL has undergone massive revitalization of many areas of town in the past two decades, and its efforts have been rewarded. With a growing upscale business and financial hub, Jacksonville is ideally suited for supply chain and import/export due to their strategic location on the Atlantic with one of the largest and busiest ports in the nation. They also sit at the crossroads of I-95 and I-10, controlling passage of goods and services to burgeoning Florida, points west, and all points northeast along the eastern seaboard. Manufacturing and warehousing are big in Jacksonville, which means that rental property does well due to the pay level of those employed in those industries. Add to that five major military installations and a younger population than much of the rest of Florida, and Jacksonville is growing.
When I think of investing in real estate, I like to know I have the money to do it without a strain, sweating the mortgage on the rental property every month. I do it with my lead gen business, which has literally blown up the last few years. I make 80-90% returns on my digital properties, which is way better than the average of 10-12% of even the top returns on real estate investments. If you want to see how I do it, check out this link https://www.bestrealestatedirectory.com/lead-gen/
So what if I want to avoid the bidding wars in the “logical” investments places?
You can. There are some great up and coming, trending places to look at investment property that are off the radar for the most part – or you have never heard of, period.
One of the first places that comes to mind is Arlington, Texas. Jammed between Ft. Worth and Dallas, most people do not even know Arlington is there, but its central location makes it ideal for commuting to either city. The local economy is good, and job increases are above decent. The best thing, though, is the median house value runs around $240,000, well below either DFW side and well within the budget of most first time home buyers or people needing to expand due to a growing family. Rentals are hot there, and with the strong rental market you could actually pay off a house investment in 13 years.
One of the things you need to check too is local wages. Wages vary more than most people realize across the nation, and how much somebody takes home is completely relevant to your rental rate and your down time between renters, which must be figured into your overall costs of owning property. That is a challenge in many areas of Texas and Florida, as wages are disproportionately low for the population, technology, and educational facilities in the states.
Another town on the radar is Tucker, GA. Situated just outside Atlanta, Tucker is not way up in the life quality rankings but is slightly above average. From a price standpoint, though, Tucker has some of the best median home prices around Atlanta. Atlanta is growing and strong when it 
comes to job growth and the local economy. This makes Tucker a good place for both housing flips and rental property investment. Wondering for more?
So where are the boomers headed off to?
Florida, New Mexico, and Arizona are all high on the list for boomer relocation. Places like St. Petersburg, Naples (some neighborhoods are growing by 40% a year!) and Orlando are all growing very strong. Most of that growth is retirees, though, and places like The Crossings, while not cheap to buy into, has one of the highest livability scores in the nation at 82 out of 100. They are geared at 55 up, though, so a Millennial, unless going in with an at home business like my lead generation business, or with a landed company and certain of a good salary, might not want to look there. If you want to live in sunny Florida and make your own money, check out this link to see how I did it https://www.bestrealestatedirectory.com/lead-gen/
Of those states, New Mexico has the most advantage. Albuquerque, in particular, is seeing growth. Strategically located on cross country interstates, Albuquerque has been a sleepy town for decades that is now seeing expansion as retirees who do not want to deal with urban sprawl or water rights issues. You can still buy a home to remodel and rent in Albuquerque for a decent price and the rental market is healthy.
Other places that the boomers are headed you might not think about, though, are near where they are coming from. For example, people leaving Chicago that really are not thrilled with retiring to the traffic of Florida or Phoenix are looking around the Great Lakes 
and Midwest for other options. In particular, Kenosha WI, Schererville, IN and Minooka, IL are all seeing very healthy home markets, have above average to good livability scores, and houses are much less – sometimes well below $200,000 median – to buy. Retirees that want to stay in decent driving distance to grandkids are relocating to smaller Midwest towns that have the same values and culture as where they spent their lives, with far less traffic, lower costs of living, four seasons, and family.
How do I find out where I want to look for investment property?
As we joke in my lead gen industry, you get unlimited free Google searches with your subscription. Research is the name of the game when you decide where you want to look for investment. What draws you? You have to have a like for something about an area to really do good, fair research. You also need to control your enthusiasm with good solid business sense. Make yourself a list of what you are looking for – is it residual income? Is it a chunk in one swoop? Is it to buy one, fix it up, get income, and go on to the next one to stack your investments? How much are you willing to risk and what to you is an acceptable return on your investment?
I know when I started to look at investing in real estate, I was clueless and I had to do a lot of reading, some note taking, and be willing to say “Yup, that is possible” or “Uhhh, nope…” and cross a location off the list. I also had to take an honest, realistic, transparent look at my finances and what I was willing to risk, how much I could afford to float on a monthly basis if every property was not rented out, and how much stress and DIY labor I wanted to put in. Most people looking to invest do not look seriously and honestly at what they can afford to risk without endangering their primary residence or credit. You have to assume the worst case, and hope it never happens, especially when things like the national and local economies, natural disasters, and other issues are completely out of your control. You have to have a fall back position.
That is why I truly love my lead generation business. Let me tell you a little about why I only go for solid, high returns on investment. Honestly, I do not get tying up the money it takes to get a decent real estate parcel and making only 3-5% back if you are lucky after repairs and taxes. It just is not worth it to me when I am making 80, 90% consistently on every digital real estate parcel I rent out.
Digital real estate is the real estate investment of the future – now
Let me explain what I am talking about. I own websites that get referrals for businesses that need more customers. And who doesn’t want more customers? There are 46 million new businesses every year, and trust me, few of them know how to leverage the internet. Over 70% of all searches for goods and services are done on a mobile device. Whoever is up there to be found is whom they are going to click on and book the service call. That is where my lead gens come in. I rent out the results of my site, the referrals, to businesses. I am making well into six digits a month after five years in business. And yes, I am serious. I’ll take a minute to tell you how I got into this and what it looks like.
When I graduated from college I got a job making about $35K a year, and thought it was the bomb. Well, I really fast figured out I could barely eek by on that living in the big city I was in. I knew I had to make more just to put back for an emergency, and to heck with even thinking about a vacation. I started looking for a side business, as my job did not allow me to take a second job due to schedule. I settled on multi-level marketing at first. Little did I know how little money was to be made at my level, let alone the time, cost of classes and memberships, and worst, how much I would irritate my family and friends with it. I quickly figured out that was not going to work.
After some more looking I knew the internet was the new shopping channel, so to speak, so I looked into drop shipping. I made a little money, got some of my friends back, but my apartment was stacked absolutely every where in stuff! I was also working crazy hours to keep up with it. I made a little, but not a lot, and still not enough to invest, travel or do the things I really wanted. I kept looking and trying to find something more promising. I knew it would take work, but I also knew by then that being in business for myself was how I wanted to do it.
One night I was surfing business blogs and ran into an article talking about a young guy not much older than me that was killing it in getting referrals for businesses. He had written training to teach others how to do it. I knew there were massive amounts of opportunity with businesses and few of them knew anything about how to do internet marketing 
right. I read the article with interest and did some research, and found out the guy, Dan, had a good reputation and seemed to have a good product in his training, so I found the article again and clicked on this link https://www.bestrealestatedirectory.com/lead-gen/ to schedule a call to ask some questions.
When the time for the call came, Dan shot straight from the hip. He told me it was not free money, you had to put in the effort to set up the sites, take care of the business owners, and do the work. I had no problem with that, I knew any business that was honest and ethical would take work, but it would be mine. That was important to me. We chatted, and his training was reasonable, so I signed up and started to learn. The first website, I built in six hours (even though I did not know website design it was really pretty simple) is this one
which I still own to this day. I found a business that was really happy to get the referrals and offered to pay me $750/mo for them. I still have this same site and same customer, five years later. He has paid me well over $38,000 in profit in the last five years. I hardly ever have to do anything on the site, either.
Wow, that was exciting and I was hooked. I continued to build sites, working my regular job still, and growing my new business. In five months I turned in my resignation to the corporate position, as I was now able to pay all my bills and reinvest in my business. That was really fulfilling for me, and I was making a go of it. Yes, it was some work. That was ok, as the profits went into my pocket instead of someone else’s.
I just turned 30 a few months ago, and I have owned my business right at 5 years. I will make well into seven digits this year. My business keeps growing by leaps and bounds, and it all started with the training I got in Dan’s program and putting in some elbow grease. I travel now, in fact I just got back from a long trip to visit the land of my ancestors, something I have wanted to do for many years. It felt so great that I did not have to sweat spending the money to do it. I own a nice car and live in a super nice home on the side of the hill. Some days I work long hours, but it is because I want to. Others I go recreate, party, or do what I want, when I want, how I want, and I do not have to worry if I have enough to cover all the mortgages, because I do.
If you are tired of making someone else a lot of money and little to none ends up in your pocket, have some respect for your own abilities and drive and click this link https://www.bestrealestatedirectory.com/lead-gen/
It will give you some information about the huge opportunity in lead generation websites and how to get training for your own business. Yes, it takes a little work, but so is sweating repairing a rental house.
Do something good for yourself, your future, and your sanity. There is no obligation. You will not get on some spam phone call list. You will not be pressured. It is just my way of passing forward the opportunity I got to make myself wealthy, sane, and very happy.
Click here now to set up a call to get more information and find out what you are missing and how easy it is to get into your own legitimate business that totally rocks the future >>>>
I am so grateful I trusted my gut and did. Trust yours.
Some places are easier to be from, than live in. Sadly, New Jersey has gotten that rap for a long time. In the 1970’s parts of New Jersey had serious crime problems and suffered with riots, with many deteriorated areas of towns growing worse. We all stood by and were stunned at the tremendous damage done during Hurricane Sandy in 2012 to much of the state. New Jersey is resilient, though, and has fought a good battle to clean up, come back, and is up and recovering well. Let’s talk about investing in real estate in New Jersey’s rebirth.
New Jersey, with more even mixes in many areas and a more tolerant attitude. A pivotal location during the Revolutionary War, General George Washington’s Continental Army spent several winters in New Jersey, and the famous painting of Washington Crossing the Delaware is from – you got it, New Jersey. New Jersey was also the first state to ratify the Bill of Rights, and the first to give property rights to women and blacks.
and had good harbors and river access. It continues to be a mix of industry, suburbs, and agriculture/maritime industry. No Civil War battles were fought in NJ, but it is interesting to note that after sweat- shops became manufacturing norm, New Jersey refused to ratify the abolition of slavery. The first research center in the US was thought to be Thomas Edison’s Menlo Park facility. A major shipbuilding location, New Jersey built a massive amount of the armaments provided to US and Allied troops during WWII.
agricultural, seafood and dairy producer helping feed the eastern seaboard. Blueberries, cranberries, asparagus, and many vegetable crops grow in the fertile soil. New Jersey also utilizes a great deal of nuclear energy for power, lowering their use of fossil fuels and the resulting carbon footprint.
With a subtropical humid climate, New Jersey still has some winter, but is more temperate due to proximity to ocean and all the bogs, marshes, and peats formed during its early days of glaciation. With its position on the Atlantic seaboard, though, New Jersey has seen increased hurricane events, such as the devastation of Floyd in 1999 and more so, Sandy in 2012.
thanks to two of the busiest international airports in the nation, the third busiest port in the country, and over 1000 miles of freight rail line to move goods and services. The very diverse population supplies cross cultural talent, language ability, and understanding making international finance, technology, pharmaceutical companies and other multi-national concerns at home here.
New Jersey has worked hard to fix its woes
As one of the most heavily populated states with one of the smallest footprints, Jersey (as the locals tend to call it) has the second highest per capita income in the nation. Due to income disparity, high valuations, and other issues, taxes take a bite out of budgets. Cumulative taxes in New Jersey are the highest in the nation. Even so, retail centers and malls are an increasing draw from New York especially, due to a substantially lower sales tax rate.
needs to be taken in to account when you consider investing in real estate, especially rental property or flips, in New Jersey.
The international trade zones, numbering five, is another push on valuations. With a surge in international trade, values go up, and infrastructure needs are increased. Often those zones come with long-term reduction in corporate taxation to encourage companies to move to New Jersey. While great for revitalization, it places additional burden on the tax structures. The move of companies to locate to New Jersey, though, has increased employment and unemployment is now at a low 4.8%.
And there are a lot more renters now, both from economic issues during the recession years and those displaced by Sandy near the shores. Even seven 
years later, many people are not settled or repaired due to the massive backlog of insurance issues, and insurance companies often force sales of damaged properties without repairing due to the high cost of doing so. The displaced, as well as the influx, have pushed the average rent in New Jersey to $1,900 a month for an average 2-bedroom flat, a figure many cannot afford.
Residential real estate is expected to grow about 5% this year in New Jersey. This is an ok figure, but the new property tax assessment may off set a lot of it, since the average valuation is $327,500. Note that the median sale price is slightly over $274,000 – meaning homes do not sell for near listing price. Employment and business growth has tapered off a little which may let real estate settle some. The luxury housing market in most New Jersey boroughs appears to be satiated, so investors will be looking to derelict properties to renovate and flip for rentals. Overall, investing can work out as long as the economy holds. Foreclosures may offer the most opportunity, with the highest rates around Atlantic City.
Overall, it is worth watching the property tax reassessment. 
Can you make money doing short-term rentals?
I used to have the corporate 50 hr/wk job for $35/k a year, which I got right out of college. I thought I was doing great, until I realized fast that it would not pay all the bills being on my own in a big city. I realized I had to find a second income, so I got into MLM’s. I had heard of them, they looked easy enough, and thought I could make something. Hah. I learned I had not heard the truth, they were not easy, and the only guys that make anything were those way above me. I spent a lot on memberships, classes, inventory, and made squat. So I kept looking, and decided drop shipping would be great. I made a little money, and was doing ok, but was working stupid hours, had no life, and had a ton of money tied up in inventory and supplies. I still was not making enough to really make any investments or save.
One thing I learned was to continue to read, study, and get more information. It was one of those nights of research I ran into an article online about a guy named Dan who had figured out how to build lead generation sites on the internet to help businesses get more clients and grow. Now that was interesting, as I knew most business owners were not very well versed in how to market their services. I did some digging and found out that the Dan guy seemed legitimate and had a good reputation, so I clicked on this link 
Yeah, it was a little scary at first, but so is Newark at night. And it took some work. But the thrill of seeing my bank account grow, and becoming my own boss in charge of my own schedule, seeing my work pay off for me was absolutely great.
One of the nicest things I learned is I can run this business from anywhere. I have customers all over the world, and my office is my laptop bag. That and a carry on and I am set for Cabo for a week, or two…or more.
Maryland is one of the most densely populated states in the US, much of it due to the proximity to Washington DC and the vast number of government institutions, military, and defense operations within its boundaries and nearby. Over 460,000 people work for the government in the state of Maryland, and probably that many more commute out of state to work in others, elsewhere. Let’s see how all those government workers affect the real estate investment market in Maryland.
Maryland has always been historically significant to governance and business
the Northeast and South on the eastern seaboard, Maryland is a good transportation hub. For over 200 years a series of canals provided connections between major rivers heading west, some still in use. They also have a good centralized public transport system that makes it easier to get around to work and school. Some very predominant educational institutions are in Maryland, including Annapolis and John Hopkins University, as well as the John Hopkins Medical Center, Walter Reed Hospital, and the National Military Medical Center, or Bethesda as it is known.
draw. The state also has over 4,000 miles of shoreline, much of it around the Chesapeake Bay estuary, and most of it high-ticket real estate. A peculiarity for the state, though, is no natural lakes. Since Maryland was not a glaciated area, there are none. Being on the eastern side of the Appalachian watershed, however, there are multiple rivers and creeks, and Maryland is known for many beautiful waterfalls.
high yields, and those agriculture and aquaculture crops help feed the eastern seaboard. The varied terrain and climatic conditions are furthered by the north-south transverse of both the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains in the state’s western areas. Maryland is often referred to as “America in the Miniature” due to having nearly every U.S. weather and topography represented within its boundaries, and you can see everything from subtropical palm trees growing in the southeast to New England cooler climate hardwood forests in the mountainous west.
Is It Worth the Traffic and Commute to Move to Maryland?
Rental real estate is probably the safest bet for investing in Maryland, especially in the suburbs. One reason is people who work for the government never truly think they have a job for life, and do not assume they are “safe” in their position. Therefore, many do not buy a permanent home that they might get saddled with. This is coupled with the fact that residential property in Maryland is expensive, period with the average home value at $282,500 and median listing at $320,000. The high cost of buying a place, along with the high property taxes, keeps many people from being able to afford a place of their own. About 30% of the people in Maryland rent for those reasons alone.
It can be very challenging, though, to locate good buys on rental property in Maryland, particularly in or near major cities. Part of the reason is you truly need to be local and there to even get wind of a good buy. Maryland real estate bargains are hovered over like vultures hunting food by the real estate investment associations, and more so, the direct investors. With rent averages around $1750 a month, it is a big bite out of a lot of people’s budgets. Rental law and regulation has been pretty much non-existent throughout most of Maryland history, and eviction was easily enforced. Just in the last year “anti-landlord” laws have started to be passed to provide some arbitration, lead time, and fairness to tenets regarding landlord access to rental units and eviction processes. Because of the history of shady landlord practices, there tends to be mutual protection among them and agents that support the system.
Neighborhoods, or developments turned into high end, self-contained mini-towns are very common in the areas surrounding the major cities, and on the waterfront. Prices tend to be high, and checking regulations and association fees is tantamount if you are buying a place that needs remodeled. It is very important to see if you can even rent the property in the location, and note that Maryland municipalities are passing ordinances blocking additional licensing for short term rentals as we speak. This will especially affect markets around medical, educational, and federal facilities where workers, patients, or students often come for limited time periods and need a place to stay.
It just seems so much simpler to me to earn my money first so I know I can afford to do what I want to in investing, rather than chancing it with properties that I have a lot out on, and then have to put more into, to get a little back. While I know there is a return on most real estate at some point, there is also a lot of volatility depending on the economic situation. No one mentions what happened during the government shut-down. How many renters did not pay their rent in those areas that rely on the government as a primary employer, often to everyone in the household?
That is why I like my lead gen business so much. It is straight forward. I create websites for businesses to bring them in more customers who are already trying to find their services or products. It is simple as that. Warm leads. It is amazing how well things work when you are offering what people already are hunting and need. My returns for the entire time I have been in this business have averaged 80-90% return on investment, an extremely high rate of return. Let me explain how I got here to start with.
After a lot of research I decided that drop shipping looked good, and I set it all up, and invested a lot into inventory. I admit, I did make a little, better than the MLM’s, and my friends and family were speaking to me again. But – I had zero time to spend with them. Every minute after the 40+ grind I was boxing, shipping, handling orders, returns, you name it. My apartment became packed with stuff. I was exhausted, not very far ahead, and living in a warehouse. That was not how I wanted to live, even if I was making a little money. I needed to keep looking.
to get more info about Dan and the training program he had put together to help people learn how to do what he was doing. He had also created kind of a support work group and tech help, which I thought was pretty cool. The idea of being my own boss and having people who were like-minded around me instead of feeding off me was really appealing. I decided to click the link and made an appointment for a call to ask questions. There were some videos and training information on the link, too, that made me even more curious.
Well, I was hooked, so I worked and built and worked and studied and called customers. I was still at the 40+ hrs/wk corporate job, which by now I knew was never going to be the future I wanted. In five months I was able to turn in my resignation and walk out the last time.
Captain John Smith first mapped the region in 1608. Originally settled by English settlers, by 1659 two different cities of Baltimore had started to grow. The town was named after Cecil Calvert, the Irish second Earl of Baltimore, who was given the land grant after he found his first in rural Newfoundland to be too cold, barren, and inhospitable.
people do not realize that Baltimore Harbor is where Ft. McHenry is located, the bombardment of which was observed by Francis Scott Key during the War of 1812, leading to his penning our national anthem, “The Star Spangled Banner”. Irish influence was important, as Baltimore became the location of the first Roman Catholic diocese in the United States in 1789.
climates, less winter, lower crime rates, and simply a change.
Baltimore actually is going down in population, and more than they are admitting. Last year they were down -0.89%, which does not sound like a lot, but the rest of the US went up 0.7%. That means Baltimore lost 1.59% of their population comparatively just last year. Real estate investment groups are praying the younger crowds come to Baltimore to rent, not buy. Baltimore, you see, traditionally has been one of those places where more people rent than own homes, due to wage levels. The REIA groups are banking on that trend continuing, as rent profitability and increases far outstrip real estate valuation increases in the city.
Can you make money flipping houses in Baltimore?
priced” houses are tend to be row house areas in tougher or rougher neighborhoods, or those with big diverse mixes. While diverse is a good thing, rough is not. You really have to know what you are getting into to even have an inkling if the place will be desirous to rent out to someone, and get them to stay.
regulations, which extends the time for an eviction to take place and mandatory arbitration. Cities that traditionally have those issues have a problem with blue color neighborhoods being strong-armed. Do you really want to go up against that as an absentee owner?
While Baltimore is hoping to gear up for people exactly my age needing rentals because most of them (thankfully, not me) cannot afford to buy a home and must rent, what Baltimore is really experiencing is a population decline. Sources will say they are flat-lined, and that is just not true. They were flat lined for a number of years post recession and have been going down the last several. The US grew by +0.7% last year. Baltimore was at a -.86%. That means compared to the rest of the country, Baltimore lost 1.56% in population. The reason is people are moving away.
There is most likely a rental shortage because the people who are there cannot afford to buy. Baltimore is one of the top metropolitan areas in the US where more people rent than own homes. Fact.
marketing, from common ones to more esoteric varieties. They were expensive, buying in was expensive, and I made a lot of people mad pushing them to try and get them involved. It also was not a great match for my personality, but I pushed through it until I found drop shipping.
I did some digging around about this Dan guy and found out that he was for real, and had started from scratch. He was making good money and was making a lot of headway helping small businesses especially grow, hiring people, adding locations, buying more trucks to put on the road. I could get into that. I am a big believer in owning your own business as a way to succeed, and making money helping others do it was even better, because everyone wins! There was a link, this one 
Five years later I just turned 30. I will clear well over seven figures this year off my lead gen business. I am my own boss, and I write my own schedule. Yes, it was work at first, but it sure was worth it! I travel when I want, work as long or as little as I want, and am investing in a comfortable future for myself.
So you want to move to Canada, eh? Beautiful and lotsa wild, Canada has everything from rugged coastline to 
forested bays, wide waves of golden grain as far as the eye can see and mega-metropolitan modern cities. Hockey rules, cultures converge, and Canada reaches clear to the North Pole 
– really. With a thriving economy and land to expand, it seems like a great real estate investment opportunity. I looked and learned our neighbors to the north have a whole lot going for them, and they plan to keep it that way.
Moving to Canada is a lot harder than you might think. First, Canada is it’s own country, not an extension of the US like a lot of people seem to think. They make their own regulations and they are protective of their land and citizens. It is far easier for a British Commonwealth citizen, someone from a country the Crown has under their umbrella, to move to Canada and work than anyone from the US.
Lots of people move to Canada for quality of life 
and pretty comfortable about it, and have something for just about everyone from skiing to the arts to great cities. It is just nicer to live in most places in Canada, and they look out more for their citizens. It does come with a cost, though.
housing and food costs. Canadians walk and bike more than you might expect given the weather, and public transport is a hot topic for increasing availability in major metro areas. Utilities are nationalized, so the price is about the same but much more stable than US prices.
One of the big challenges for cost of anything in Canada is the strength of the US dollar and exchange rate. A lot of Canada’s trade is based on agriculture and raw fuel materials. That means their economy is heavily tied in some ways to what is going on in the U.S. When the US economy/dollar is strong, Canadians suffer with their dollar dipping. When the US has an economic downturn, Canadians win as their dollar is worth more than ours.
Building codes are extensive and strict in Canada. Far more is regulated than in the US, including everything from how deep your insulation is required to be to efficient, high output heating systems so winters don’t freeze ya’. Skilled construction labor does not come cheap, as much as $50/hr, and materials are not either mostly due to transportation. The building code compliance is monitored closely by lenders and insurers to make sure rules are met and requirements as well, or you will not be able to pass a house appraisal, insurance inspection, or assessment.
where it came from for at least 90 days back. They also will require it be on deposit in a Canadian bank for at least 30 days. And, all Canadian banks require you to be in person to open an account.
While Canada has no federal law restricting a foreign investor to a maximum number of properties, there are limits on the number of mortgages some lenders will allow per foreign investor.
allowing you up to 2 years of stay, and is easier to obtain if you have a child or grandchild in the country. It is possible to apply for a work visa, which is hard to obtain, or a Skilled Work Permit for high need areas.
There is some really grey area in Canadian immigration policy, though, if you are operating a business, i.e. real estate investments for rental income, and not a Canadian citizen. A variety of special permits can be applied for as an entrepreneur, but nearly all assume you intend to live in the country, and if not, will hire at least one Canadian full time and/or lease a business location for at least one year.
Toronto is deemed worth it to some when they can sell a suburb house, move to Brantford or another area of the “Golden Horseshoe”, and buy for 60 cents on the loonie (slang for Canadian dollars). A bargain house is considered $420,000. Wow. That’s loonie, all right! The 11 year ROI on a Brantford house is 4.1%. I regularly make 80-90% ROI on my lead gen sites. Here’s some info 
Capital gains tax apply to gains you make on property purchased for rental income, and many investors underestimate these and maintenance costs. It is important to realize property taxes throughout Canada are based on the market value of a parcel, not the assessed value as in most of the US. This means your property taxes can be substantially higher there, and you are not entitled to discounts as a non-resident.
Canadian Revenue Authority showing all the taxes and withholding was paid. If the seller does not, the buyer is allowed to withhold part of the purchase price in case they have to cover any of the outstanding taxes. If you have moved to Canada, and then leave, you are liable for “deemed disposition” costs. Those costs also apply to heirs for non-resident owners.
In nearly every city of any size at all, rental rates are going up – substantially – across Canada, regardless of province. Rental rates as well as increase in property valuations steadily see anywhere from 8 – 22% annual increases. This is one reason the cost of living is so high in Canada, because housing is wicked expensive.
If you are an outdoors type, you might think a resort is a great option to combine a hobby and investment. Appreciation is usually far slower on resort properties than on homes, especially away from any urban area. Canadians tend to live very concentrated, large populations around major cities. Due to the increase in metropolitan populations, issues that plague any large city are prevalent, from street crime to infrastructure issues like sewerage and other utilities. Traffic is a serious problem in some larger areas like Montreal and Toronto, as Canada is trying to catch up but has not made it yet for full public transportation.
This is all way too much work with way too little return. When I looked into Canadian real estate investment property, I learned the average ROI for a non-resident is 4.5-6%. That does not even begin to interest me when I regularly make 80-90% on my lead generation websites. Since they are digital real estate, I don’t have all these fees, taxes, and mumbo-jumbo to go through. Let me quickly explain what I mean.
Viva Las Vegas! The City That Never Sleeps, Sin City, Lost Wages. It is too bad that Las Vegas only seems to be known by most people as a place to party and try and parlay – and loose – your fortune. Vegas, as it is called by nearly everybody living there, is a thriving, fast growing metropolitan all grown up town that is becoming a haven for people moving away from bad weather, income tax, and nothing to do. Even though a lot of boomers are heading there, it is a young crowd due to the work force. The city has worked hard on redevelopment and cleaned up a lot. I happen to like to party there, as there is lots to do, and thankfully due to my successful lead gen digital real estate, I can.
Bernardino Mountains, the City of Neon is way out in the desert and pretty much in the middle of nowhere. It was a wide spot in the road after crossing the Mojave on Hwy. 66 for decades. Legalized gambling, wedding chapels, and brothels changed that, but Las Vegas still did not really start to grow up until the last 20 years. Over 320 days of sunshine annually, along with no state income tax and a strong job scene after the Great Recession set up Las Vegas as a good place to get a start, raise a family, and invest – especially in real estate.
looked like one of the many ghost towns dotting rural Nevada, reminiscent of another rush for wealth 150 years ago. But, in Las Vegas, one thing is certain – everything is a gamble. You either make it or break it in Vegas, and many a fortune has been won or lost – mostly lost – on the Strip and elsewhere in Glitter Gulch.
sufficient potable water. Water is still a very important and trying issue in this dry, arid region, especially now with the greater Las Vegas area population approaching 2 million, an increase of over a million in less than 20 years.
Real estate in Las Vegas might seem to go on forever with miles to grow into. Nothing could be further from the truth. Actually Las Vegas is running out of space to build, as it is nearly surrounded by federal lands, with a few state properties sprinkled in. In fact, right at 85% of Nevada is owned by the feds. Clark County and the State of Nevada have requested permitting to develop 27,000 additional acres from Bureau of Land Management properties around the greater Las Vegas area, but the request has gone no where.
Sources differ considerably about what the average price for a home is in Las Vegas, ranging from $198,000 to near $275,000. Zillow reports that the median host price is currently $273,500, Trulia $275,000, realtor sites $226-$246K. What we do know is real estate in Las Vegas does not stay on the market long, an average of 44 days, with 2 offers by then. Las Vegas was the top real estate market in the nation the last two years in a row.
registrations, just about anything to prove you are there and why you are there and why you have money there. It goes back to the transient nature of Nevada due to the gaming industry, and the high number of people that have financial issues in the state due to their gambling habits. Writing a mortgage is a reach and requires a lot more proof of income and stability than nearly any other place in the U.S. That goes for investment property and second homes used for rentals, also. Cash purchases for homes, once the standard for the region, are no longer, and banks intend to not be taken by surprise due to the number of borrowers increasingly under water due to inflating prices.
There are a few things the investment blogs and prognosticators are not telling you about the Las Vegas real estate market. The valuation increase for homes is that high because the increase has been driven the past several years by high-end luxury homes – those over half a million. Lower priced single-family homes in Las Vegas simply have not gone up nearly as quickly.
What is going on with real estate investment opportunities in Vegas?
Las Vegas had nearly 43 million – yes, 43 million – tourists in 2017. Year-to-year increase runs around 16-17%. They gotta’ put them somewhere. While you can stay cheap Monday-Thursday in Las Vegas, weekend prices on accommodations anywhere in the city are no longer anywhere close to a bargain. It is no longer cheap to eat out in Las Vegas, and show prices sure have caught up. Las Vegas no long just makes a buck off you in the casino. They get you before, 
during, and after the roulette table. One of the largest number of units in the nation for online rental is greater Las Vegas now.
terrible hit. Homes that had not had a lot of TLC for years got none. Many of the homes that were abandoned had very little maintenance for long periods of time.
Some Las Vegas real estate investment firms will try and tell you property increased 46% last year – a figure I could not substantiate anywhere. However, all the responsible economists, due to the economy slowing nationally and real estate leveling out in most places out west (or heading down) – all of them are stating the property values will go into deceleration in Las Vegas after third quarter 2021.
One thing that really bothered me when I started to look into investing in real estate in Las Vegas was the lack of independent information. All, and I mean ALL, the information is from investment firms. Not even the realtors have hardly anything up. No one is talking, except those who are trying to dig into your pocket. I guess what happens in Las Vegas, stays in Las Vegas.
go out and put my hard earned money down some rabbit hole of an investment group based out of country who wants to tie up my money long term for a not so bright outlook return. Here is how I learned to do what I do to make the money I do 
A couple of years at not winning sent me hunting again. I started drop shipping and made a little money, but still not enough to really invest in anything. I was also working stupid hours, had no life, and my apartment was stacked full of boxes and packing materials and stuff. I had no life. That was not what I wanted for myself, either, so back to the hunt I went.
I was pretty impressed. I kept studying, working, and building sites. Yeah, it was work at first, I had to hustle as I still had the 9-5. But in five months I got to walk out of the 9-5 – permanently.
not have to hit the alarm in the morning. I can fly anywhere in the world I want and my office is in my laptop. I work when I want, how hard I want, party when I want. And the businesses I work with are thrilled to get the help.
Ladies and Gentlemen, we have a lift-off. Houston is alive and well.
You cannot think of Texas without thinking of oil, gas, and other energy production. Houston is the heart of everything oil and gas from production to planning to marketing to research. Because fuel is less expensive this close to production, nearly 6,500 manufacturing plants are located in the greater Houston area and a multitude of warehousing and transportation hubs as well. All this industry and research in so many segments adds up to a very large skilled worker base, and a reason to think about investing in Houston real estate.
area. It is logical that Houston has one of the most diverse populations by origin of any city in the United States and it makes Houston a good place to raise a family.
After the massive devastation from Hurricane Harvey in 2017, it would seem logical there ought to be a lot of houses sitting vacant ready for flipping. Nothing could be further from the truth in Houston. In fact, it has been hard to find a house to flip in Houston since right after the storm. While the typical post-hurricane insurance issues are still grinding slowly after nearly 18 months, the truth is many damaged houses in Houston where people decided not to stay for record flood #4 put them up for sale and sold them nearly immediately after the storm to investors. That is why when you hunt for property to invest in, you come up with bunches of real estate investor groups in Houston and not neighborhoods, property listings, or independent investment opportunities.
Houston has a lot of investment property still up for sale, but it is a combination of commercial, residential and bare land. Houston, unlike some large cities, still has area to grow into, but there is also considerable real estate downtown that is abandoned or vacant that need bulldozed and started new.
Location, location, location – and water
When you look at the job growth in Houston, it does not seem the flooding has influenced the influx of people coming to Houston to look for work in this diverse and international city. But, even for all the flood damage, Houston is not a cheap place to live.
The average home is around $187,000 in Houston now, but Houston varies tremendously by neighborhood, perhaps more than any major city. The market is considered neutral at this point. With the 20% fluctuation that can occur monthly, repeatedly and with no warning, investing in Houston real estate is a true game of nerves and timing. You hit a high and you may immediately loose substantial money. You hit a low and you can be ok, make some money – until the next high crashes.
Bare land values have not taken much of a hit around the area, and in 2018 residential real estate enjoyed a 4.8% across the board increase. In typical Texas fashion, some of the strongest increases were on the devastated peninsulas and barrier islands. Go figure.
A lot of historically architecturally significant homes were lost in Harvey and other recent flooding in Houston. Houston led the nation in modern home-style building after California, both locations for the space program. The rambling ranches of Texas fame also took a lot of damage, and with so many homes taking sewage (yes, sewage) and refinery contamination for extended periods of time, tearing down and rebuilding may be the only sane option.
either.
The flood maps were redone by FEMA several weeks into adjusting after Harvey, and it was done based on claims submitted and GPS coordinates taken at the front of the property. A lot of places did not flood at the road because roads tend to be built up in that part of Texas because of the flooding. The new flood maps also did not take into account areas flooded subsequently due to rivers backing up and floodwater standing over long periods of time, often containing significant chemical waste and biologics.
Then I got into drop shipping on Amazon. That worked better, but I was working stupid hours, had a ton of money in inventory, and had no life. I was making a little extra cash, but it was still not enough to really make a dent in my goals. I was working the regular job, working the side gig, and still searching for the golden arrow business that would hit my target.
I was really pleased and realized the builds were not hard, even though I had never done one before. I kept building. I put in some work, and I knew it would take that as any business and anything worth having takes work. I stayed focused, and in five months I was able to resign and leave the J-O-B. It was not too long after I got all the inventory out of my place for the drop shipping, too. It took more time than it was making me, my time was more valuable writing sites and selling the leads to businesses. I found out it was a lot easier than I thought, as business owners really truly needed more customers, and had no idea how to gain them digitally.
Aloha! Welcome to the Place of the Gods – Hawai’i 
What do Spam®, poke, pineapple, and Pele, all have in common? Not soccer. They are all near and dear to hearts, stomachs, or both, of Hawaiians. Food, faith, and fire surround the intricate 
web of cultures and history making up the land in one of the hottest real estate markets in the U.S. And we’re not talking scalding lava from Kilauea here, baby.
Hawaii’s real estate forecast is good
Our 50thstate may be known for tropical drinks and world championship surfing, but living in the middle of the Pacific Ocean has its challenges. Did you know that the most expensive place in the world to buy toilet paper is Hawaii? It is also the most expensive place for electricity and gasoline in the U.S. The reason is importation. Nearly everything you need in Hawaii has to come in by plane or ship. And the cost of that 2,500 miles from the mainland adds up quick.
planes when it became the 50thstate in 1959. It was, and still is, a key strategic U.S. military location. A waypoint to the Far East, Pacific, Asia, and Middle East for carriers, cruisers, and flights, the Joint Base Pearl Harbor – Hickam headquarters the US Pacific Fleet, and Hickam “Field” as it is still called, the Pacific Air Force 
Command, on Oahu. This large military facility is adjacent to Pearl Harbor and is a strong economic force in Hawaii after the #1 tourism trade.
either, having been dedicated to appeasing Pele, the goddess of fire, and ruler of the volcanoes.
A volcanic wonder, Hawaii has eight main islands and 126 more small islands, atolls, shoals, reefs, banks and seamounts stretching 1,500 miles in its archipelago. This includes the famous Midway Island of WWII, all while sitting atop one of the most active seamounts, or volcanic seafloor tectonic areas, in the world. After the most recent Kilauea eruptions that wiped large parts of towns and significant structures and roads out of Volcano National Park, Hawaii has done what is has always done, whether it is eruption, tsunami, or typhoon. They immediately 
started to rebuild, and bounce back. Lava was still sending up steam tendrils when moveable B’n’B and tiny homes began to pop up on the 100’ deep new lava fields. And Hawaii gained some valuable real estate in the process.
It is not like you are miles and miles away anywhere on Hawaii
Hawaii is unique in that there are ocean views from a lot of each island, not just beachfront or oceanfront. Often better views with far less traffic can be found further inland, up the mountain, or in smaller neighborhoods. There is also a better probability of finding a home in need of TLC in those areas. Homes in Hawaii do depreciate faster though, than on the mainland, due to weather and temperatures.
Hawaii is no longer just Honolulu, Diamond Head, and Waikiki Beach
Single-family homes bring the highest rent, but if considering rental property, it needs to be near busy areas and accessible. Small houses are the most reasonable homes for Hawaiian residential real estate investments, but any SFH is difficult to find for a decent buy. Townhouses and condos including studios are more readily available, but often in areas specific to rentals having zoning restrictions. Those restrictions include if you may rent at night and rules for long term stays.
Vacation rental property in Hawaii is more likely to need additional maintenance, and who is going to handle it while you are away? If you are not a local, Hawaii requires you to hire a local company to do maintenance on the property and take care of guest issues. This is not optional. Property taxes have remained low in Hawaii, and one reason is quality of property care. Hawaii is a nice place and they intend to keep it that way, and keep their worldwide tourist base happy during their stays.
There are more and higher costs than normal to hold rentals in Hawaii
Hawaii, especially for investment. Nothing could be further from the truth, for the most part. Hawaii has both fee simple property, meaning you can own the improvements and the land, and leasehold and Department of Hawaiian Homelands property. For either of those categories, you must be a certain percentage of direct Hawaiian heritage. There are a few more regulations for non-residents, too.
While there may be conditions dictating where a single family home would be purchased, especially if you plan to move to Hawaii as many now are, there really are few “bad” places to look for the best place to buy real estate in Hawaii. Know, though, it is all going to be high. There are no bargains to speak of in Hawaii. If you do snag a total repair job, remember – everything pretty much comes from the mainland. You need to be very realistic about the repair and remodeling costs, as they will be far, far more than they would be in the upper 48.
When you do find a place that has been used for a rental, ask to see their books and maintenance logs. Any reputable owner will be happy to share them with you, as they know it will increase their chance at a sale near the price they are asking. If they have been responsible, it will provide you a good idea of earnings potential and expenses, as well as turnover rate, taxes, utilities, and other costs you need a clear handle on before signing on the dotted line.
Then I got into drop shipping. I made a little, but I had an apartment full of stuff, was working stupid hours on top of the job, and had no, zero, life. I could pay all the bills easier, but I still could not really save. So I kept reading, browsing, asking questions, looking at other business models. That was when late one night I ran into a blog talking about a guy named Dan who was into lead generation websites, and had written a training program based on exactly what he was doing every single day. He was making good money. And he had a life.
pretty much no where) I decided to give it a try, as I did not have a lot to loose and had not seen another business model that looked anywhere close to this solid. I also knew the massive potential for businesses needing help getting customers. I paid my tuition and dug in.
If you want a cliff hanging view of the Pacific over Diamond Head, do it the old fashioned way. Earn it. It is a whole lot better than sweating a $10,000 or more a month mortgage payment when the house is empty. The lead gen model is efficient and the future of business. There are millions of businesses that have to get customers, all competing. And the internet is the future of marketing, hands down. Some of the money going out to attract customers may as well be in your pocket.
anything you want, and we will tell you right up front if you do not seem like a good fit. We want people to learn and become part of a supportive group that want, to be their own boss, leave a legacy for their family, and have some time to do the important things in life. Yes you will have to put in some work. You will learn some skills. And you will gain so much more than skills and work ethic. You will recover your soul and hope, to really make a difference for yourself.
Wilkommen zu Deutschland! 
but for cleanliness, safety pretty much everywhere in the country, a strong economy, and open arms to diversity. Couple that with cutting edge quality, precision, and technical skills, and you have a business environ that is healthy and stable compared to many other places in Europe.
Germany has long been known for quality manufacturing and practical application of materials and workmanship to make things that work, run, and last. From tools to electronics to autos, Germany sets a high mark. Even the Autobahn is a work of practicality – you can go as fast as you want. You are, however, personally responsible for any damage you cause. However, getting a driver’s license in Germany is like many other things there, a lot more challenging than what we are used to in the U.S.
Buying an East German castle ever been your dream? It won’t be East German, because it does not exist any more, but yes, castles can be bought in Germany. A farm in Schleswig-Holstein? (You really didn’t think the cow was named after someone, did you?) Ditto. Homes, apartments, flats, even just buy a room can be a real estate investment in Germany, a concept that might seem a bit odd in the West. Germany in general is stable in their real estate market and happy to take the money of foreigners, and was pretty much unaffected by the recession while the rest of the EU suffered.
It is fairly easy for foreigners to buy property in Germany
Since buying a home or castle in Germany is kind of a permanent thing, at least in terms of how the Germans look at it, getting a mortgage is more restrictive, especially if they think you are a short-timer. Another factor is commission rates and fees are much higher than you are used to. The average home sale price is $345,00 USD, so they make a bunch of Euros off the 
average home sale. German real estate agents act as house headhunters due to lower supply, German incentives for nationals, and local real estate investors (who hold the lion’s share of all German real estate), as finding what you want can be very challenging. You pretty much have to use a German real estate broker if you don’t have personal insider info just to find out something is for sale, as no real estate for sale signs appear in German yards.
That fairytale castle is not so cheap now, huh?
A big challenge is Germany underwrites their own on mortgages. If you are pensioned through the statutory program or are buying a “used” home, the government gives incentives or provides subsidies for German nationals to buy property. It might be easier to just get acquainted with a real estate investment firms in the area you are hunting, or look into the German Real Estate Association. Their directories, besides brokers, list accountants, real estate attorneys, appraiser, surveying companies, notary of the public, and others that you may need to find in the future.
Yes. No. Depends. Rental rates vary widely, much wider than in the US. Some areas like Leipzig you can rent an apartment for around 330 EU a month, or about $375 USD. That does not leave a lot of meat on the bone for ROI. Rents, as well as house prices, have seen substantial increases in popular places like Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, and Bavarian Alps, so much so there have been public protests and unrest over it. In contrast, mortgage rates are at all time lows due to the situations the EU facing in international politics and trade, Brexit, and otherwise.
Short answer, it is an EU challenge, it can cause economic issues and fluctuate the Euro a lot, and it affects every member of the EU, of which Germany is one. Since Germany is on the Euro, and the Euro is used all over Europe, everyone gains or suffers by Britain’s leaving the Union. It also affects things like trade agreements, tariffs, fuel prices, fees at borders/ports/terminals, and many other things. Things ripple out, and Germany is one of the biggest frogs in the pond to get jostled around by major issues within the EU, political or economic.
The future of business starts with www
Thinking about investing in Atlanta real estate? Not much beats a vibrant, exciting, younger mind-set big city with anything you can imagine to do. When mixed with cutting edge technology and business, as well as some well steeped history and four distinct seasons, nothing compares. That is why you should look at the Atlanta real estate market when you are thinking of investing money in real estate.
Atlanta, the capital of Georgia, is a key business hub for the southeast. Historically significant from the Civil War to the Civil Rights Movement, Atlanta is a vibrant, growing, progressive modern city with a diverse population. Home to the 1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta has embraced a broad spectrum of culture and diversity to move into the 21stcentury. The Atlanta Development Authority created 
some prime incentive programs to draw real estate investment to the city with heritage zones, dream down payment assistance, homebuyer incentives, and what they call opportunity zones, areas they are seeking urban and suburban revitalization. Atlanta has been aggressive in getting people to buy their way out of recession.
including I-75, one of the heaviest traveled in the U.S. All this makes accessible Atlanta a primary location for business and growth.
One of the top ten fastest growing cities in the U.S., Atlanta boasts a younger average age population than most large cities. The greater Atlanta metro area has about 5.8 million in it, expected to gradually grow to 7 million by 2030. The unemployment rate is a decent 3.4%, and average income sits around $54K, well above the national average of $40K. It is also more evenly ethnically and racially diverse than most cities its size. This gives Atlanta an edge for up-and-coming technology, medical development, and business innovation and incubators, and corporate relocation. All those things need skilled labor to push them into the future.
Atlanta does have some safety and crime issues, especially in some downtown neighborhoods. If you are in the suburbs, though, you generally are ok. Buckhead, Marietta, Decatur, Alpharetta, Johns Creek, or lovely man-made Lake Lanier are all really nice (read: luxury for the most part) neighborhoods. In fact, several Atlanta suburbs were voted as one of the top places in the US to raise a family last year, if you can afford to live there.
The fact that a lot of the better neighborhoods have had bidding wars going on over listed property, and that the price advertised versus sale is still in the single digit range, tells you that Atlanta property is still hot. It makes a tough and not cheap investment market, though. You have to really hunt, or be willing to be creative or take some risk in a less healthy or more remote area to really be able to buy a property you can make investment dollars on, though.
Another fact they do not advertise is last year Atlanta had one of the largest major market mark-downs on real estate in the nation due to it sitting and not selling. Atlanta was averaging about a 9% drop in prices between listing time and sales previously. Last year the figure went up to 27.9%. Yikes. That means that Atlanta real estate is stalling and falling. Is it really safe to buy an investment property in Atlanta? It sure would make me pause hard.
Access to public transportation and major business zones is a key factor in those hunts, too. People simply do not want to have to deal with the brutal Atlanta traffic. Due to this, being on-site to view and immediately make an offer on a property helps a lot if you are determined to buy property now in Atlanta. Otherwise you should consider a trusted, vetted real estate investment group with a lot of Atlanta area experience to put equity money into. And remember, people in Atlanta do not like to commute from far outlying areas, so know where the location is and proximity to things before you invest.
A challenge to this, though, is the strong potential for a rising prime interest rate. Real estate market experts are saying they expect the average mortgage interest to reach 5% in 2019-2020. That means a tougher approval process and harder to save down payment for Generation Z and X, Millennials, and other first time home buyers. Many federal programs are also in jeopardy of being gone. Many of these buyers will seek a rental until they can afford to try and buy their own place.
While browsing around I ran across an article about lead generation, and how businesses needed vast amounts of help getting hooked up with their customers who were already hunting the internet for their goods and services. Now that was something I could relate to because I knew it was totally true from my corporate job. The article mentioned a guy named Dan who was killing it with lead generation websites, and he had written a training program to show how it was done. He was working the business himself, day in and day out. I liked that idea, as it told me he probably was pretty legit or he would not be doing it himself. I did some serious research and found out that yeah, this Dan guy was for real and was making serious money at what he was doing in lead gen.