HOUSTON INDUSTRIAL: FOURTH IN NATION

HOUSTON INDUSTRIAL: FOURTH IN NATION

HOUSTON (Grubb & Ellis) – Grubb & Ellis ranks Houston fourth in the nation for industrial real estate in 2006. According to Ariel Guerrero of Grubb & Ellis, Houston’s industrial vacancy rate is expected to fall to 5.6 percent by the end of 2006, compared with 6.1 percent at the end of 2005.

The Port of Houston is attracting retailers, manufacturers and logistic firms as an entry point for Asian goods, receiving overflow cargo initially intended for the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach. The Port of Houston is expected to experience growth with the 2006 opening of the first phase of the Bayport container terminal. The port has an abundance of available land for new container terminals and necessary extensions of major roads and rail lines, according to Grubb & Ellis.

HOUSTON HOME MARKET KEEPS AGENTS HOPPING

HOUSTON HOME MARKET KEEPS AGENTS HOPPING

HOUSTON (bizjournals.com) – Last month’s home sales set a record for the month of March, according to the Houston Association of Realtors Multiple Listing Service data. Total property sales came to 8,015 or 22.4 percent more than last March. It was the third-highest month for single-family home sales in Houston.

The median single-family home price was $143,310, and the average price was $193,640. With close to 42,000 properties on the market, inventory is down from March 2005.

Invest in Houston Real Estate

The real estate market in and around the Houston Texas area is heating up. The monthly inventory of homes for sale has been trending downward at at rapid pace. In Montgomery County, the number of months of inventory has dropped 24% from last year. A downward trend in inventory is an indicator of a real estate market heating up. Prices for homes in Houston, and Texas in general, are relatively inexpensive compared to other parts of the country. Out of state investors from California, Arizona and Florida are buying in Texas. The word is starting to spread. There are lots of opportunities to be had in Texas. Get in while the pickings are good.

For more information on the Texas market, go to the Texas A&M Real Estate Center.

If you are an investor or would like to begin investing in real estate, give us a call. We are experienced investors who know the details of investing in this market. We understand the out of state investor because we too invest in other states. Our company specializes in Real Estate acquisitions, sales and management. We have the deals that will generate positive cash flows with great Cash on Cash and Internal Rates of Return. Check us out. You'll be happy with the results you receive.

To be successful investing in Real Estate you need to:

1. Education. Get Educated. Take classes. Join a local Investment Club. Read books on Real Estate Investing.

2. Learn from Success. Find a Mentor or Agent that can provide hands on education in Real Estate Investing.

3. Cash Flow is King. Buy properties that make money on the day you close.

4. Make a Business Decision. Leave your emotions out of your decisions. Base your decision on verifiable facts and financial analysis.

5. Network. Meet other investors.

6. Plan. What is your Acquisition Plan? Do you have money to invest or good credit? Do you need partners who have money or credit? What is your exit strategy? Are you investing for cash flow or appreciation or both?

7. Financing. Unless you plan on purchasing your properties cash, you will need some type of financing. Financing can be obtained from many sources. Conventional financing will require down payments from 5 to 25% on investment properties. Private lenders are a great option even if you have good credit. Invest with your friends or family. Pay them for the use of their money or give them an equity stake in your investment. IRA's can be used to purchase and loan money for real estate. Self Directed IRA's provide the freedom to invest in Private companies and Real Estate while maintaining the tax benefits of an IRA.

8. Know your Market. Real Estate moves in a cycle. It is important to know where in the cycle your market is and how to make money in that market.

9. Greed. Do not be greedy. Structure a deal that is fair to both sides. A satisfied seller and buyer are more likely to do deals together in the future than someone who thought they were brought to the cleaners.

10. Have Fun. Making money in real estate, in my opinion, is a bunch of fun. Do not be fooled that it is easy to find the right property. But that does not mean it is not fun. I love structuring creative deals. I also enjoy the checks I receive each month from the properties I own. It is, like anything else, what you make of it. So have fun!