Arizona always has been very popular for the real estate investor. Canadian investors are having a tremendous impact on our current market. The influx of distressed properties, including short sales and REO’s, are attracting investors by the thousands. There are some precautions every investor should heed to prior to investing in any real estate venture.

Do not go it alone. Educating yourself as much as possible is always encouraged. Each State has different laws and every market is different than another. Hiring a real estate professional who works in the market full-time is a real plus. You should consider hiring a real estate attorney and CPA for concerns outside the boundaries of a real estate agent. Investing with the help of these consultants could save your thousands of dollars in your investment strategy.

Patience is your best virtue, especially in today’s market. It can take months to get an accepted contract from the seller or bank. If you make an offer on a property that appears to be a great bargain, plan on waiting it out. Impatience could cause you to lose that great investment.

Be sure to work with an exclusive buyer’s agent. One of their fiduciary duties is to make sure you get the best possible price. We never want to overpay for property. On the flip side of the coin, if we get greedy and make too low an offer, we could lose a potentially great investment, even at a higher price. Another factor to consider is the fix-up or repair cost. If you underestimate these costs it could eliminate your equity rather quickly.

A fair warning to investors is “do not believe everything you hear”. There are no get rich quick schemes. Investing in real estate costs money and requires patience. If these decisions were quick and easy, everyone would be rich and the economy would be booming.

Once you have located some good investments, there will be some homework on your part. First you will need to determine an offer price. The condition of the property will also play a part in determining the price you are willing to offer. Miscalculating repair costs could easily eat into any profits. If you plan on turning around quickly and re-selling the property, be sure the home falls within all the guidelines with the current laws and the Landlord Tenant Act. An unexpected delay could cost you more out of pocket expense.

The oxygen tube to survival in real estate investing is cash flow. Successful investing requires a steady flow of money, purchasing below market properties, and lots of stamina. Be sure you have several resources available at your immediate disposal. This will allow you to make ongoing offers while waiting for responses on prior offers. If you end up short of funds, you will end up at the short end of the “deal”.

These precautions do not require a rocket scientist. Explore all your options with careful diligence and patience and you will come out a winner nearly every time.