Podcasts > The School of Greatness > Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

By Lewis Howes

In this episode of The School of Greatness, Glenda Baker shares her strategies for building wealth through real estate investments. She delves into how to identify profitable properties, time the market, and leverage tax exemptions to build a portfolio. Baker emphasizes the importance of a long-term mindset, patience, and surrounding oneself with a supportive network.

She also discusses the habits and financial discipline necessary to accumulate generational wealth. Baker candidly opens up about her past financial missteps and relationship challenges, offering advice on protecting assets during divorces. Throughout, she underscores prioritizing financial freedom over short-term gratification and extravagant luxury purchases.

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Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

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Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

1-Page Summary

Real Estate Investing Strategies and Market Insights

Glenda Baker advocates buying investment properties early with minimal down payments. She suggests targeting 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom homes in working-class areas, as they are easy to rent and maintain. Baker recommends leveraging tax exemptions and building a portfolio by selling primary residences. However, she warns of institutional investors outcompeting individual buyers in affordable home markets.

Baker advises timing purchases before presidential elections when the market cools, and emphasizes thoroughly understanding the total costs of property ownership. She sees investing in real estate, even at a loss initially, as contributing to long-term wealth if sold at the right time.

Mindset and Habits for Building Generational Wealth

Glenda emphasizes avoiding ego-driven purchases and short-term gratification. She encourages redirecting spending toward real estate investments. Baker prioritizes financial freedom over impressions, advising against luxury purchases like fancy cars. She prefers investing in properties over condos with fees. Uniquely, Baker proposes buying properties for children as educational investments.

Baker underscores living practically to accrue long-term, generational wealth. She shares her mistake of squandering real estate profits on luxury items. Overall, Baker highlights the virtues of patience, resilience, and surrounding oneself with a supportive network.

Personal Experiences and Lessons Learned

Glenda openly discusses her past financial mistakes, including overspending and tax mismanagement, that shaped her perspectives. She emphasizes clear prenuptial agreements in marriages to protect assets during divorces.

Baker stresses carefully vetting tenants and maintaining good relationships based on her real estate transactions during divorces. She cautions that emotions can complicate financials, leading to expensive legal battles when relationships end.

Finally, Baker credits her children for inspiring her pursuit of fulfilling goals as a major driver of her success.

1-Page Summary

Additional Materials

Clarifications

  • Leveraging tax exemptions in real estate investing typically involves taking advantage of tax laws that allow investors to reduce their taxable income or defer taxes on capital gains by utilizing strategies such as 1031 exchanges, depreciation deductions, and deductions for property expenses. These exemptions can help investors lower their overall tax burden and increase their cash flow from real estate investments. Understanding and effectively utilizing these tax benefits can significantly impact the profitability of real estate ventures. Investors often work closely with tax professionals or accountants to ensure compliance with tax laws and maximize the advantages of these exemptions.
  • In affordable home markets, institutional investors, such as large investment firms or real estate companies, can sometimes have a competitive advantage over individual buyers. These institutional investors often have more resources, capital, and buying power, allowing them to purchase properties in bulk or with more favorable terms. This can make it challenging for individual buyers, who may face difficulties in competing with these entities when trying to purchase properties in the same market. The presence of institutional investors in affordable home markets can impact pricing dynamics and create a more competitive environment for individual buyers.
  • When Glenda Baker mentions building a portfolio by selling primary residences, she is referring to a strategy where individuals sell the homes they live in (primary residences) to free up capital. This capital is then reinvested into purchasing additional properties for rental income or appreciation, thus expanding their real estate investment portfolio. By leveraging the equity gained in their primary residence through its sale, investors can diversify their holdings and potentially increase their overall wealth through strategic real estate investments. This approach allows individuals to transition from owning just their primary home to owning multiple income-generating properties over time.
  • A prenuptial agreement is a legal document created before marriage that outlines how assets will be divided in case of divorce. It helps protect individual assets and can specify financial rights and responsibilities during the marriage and in the event of a divorce. Prenups can cover various aspects like property division, spousal support, and inheritance rights. They are designed to provide clarity and protection for both parties in case the marriage ends.

Counterarguments

  • Buying properties with minimal down payments can lead to higher monthly payments and interest rates, which may not be sustainable for all investors.
  • Targeting 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom homes in working-class areas might not always be the best strategy, as market demand can vary greatly by location and economic conditions.
  • Leveraging tax exemptions is complex and may not apply equally to all investors, depending on their financial situation and tax laws.
  • Timing purchases around presidential elections is speculative and may not reliably predict market behavior.
  • Understanding the total costs of property ownership is crucial, but unexpected expenses can arise, making real estate investment riskier than it may seem.
  • Investing in real estate at a loss initially assumes the market will always go up, which is not guaranteed.
  • Redirecting spending toward real estate investments might not be feasible for individuals with limited income or high debt levels.
  • Prioritizing financial freedom over luxury purchases is prudent, but personal satisfaction and quality of life are also important factors in financial decisions.
  • Investing in properties over condos with fees may not account for the benefits of condos, such as lower maintenance responsibilities and amenities.
  • Buying properties for children as educational investments assumes that the children will have an interest in real estate or that the market will be favorable when they come of age.
  • Living practically to accrue long-term wealth is sound advice, but it may not account for the diverse financial goals and values of individuals.
  • Sharing personal mistakes is valuable, but the lessons learned may not be universally applicable.
  • Emphasizing clear prenuptial agreements is practical, but it may not address the full complexity of marital property laws and the nuances of individual relationships.
  • Carefully vetting tenants and maintaining good relationships is important, but it does not guarantee protection against all tenant-related issues.
  • Crediting children as a major driver of success is personal and may not resonate with individuals who do not have children or who have different motivations.

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Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

Real Estate Investing Strategies and Market Insights

Glenda Baker delves into proven strategies for real estate investing and offers insights into market dynamics. She suggests timing the market around major events like presidential elections and understanding the ongoing costs associated with property ownership.

Buying Real Estate As Early As Possible

Glenda Baker advocates for acquiring property with minimal down payments and stresses the long-term gains yielded through appreciation and rental income. She shares her personal success story of turning a sizeable profit on an investment property, highlighting the missed opportunity for rental income over time. Baker firmly believes in the profitability of real estate, provided the owner has the patience to sell at an optimal time.

Baker further recommends purchasing 2-bedroom, 2-bathroom properties in working-class neighborhoods, as these are the most straightforward to rent and maintain. She advises investing in the least expensive homes that do not financially strain the buyer, citing her preference for these specific types of homes due to their ease of tenancy and upkeep. Additionally, she suggests buying a primary residence to live in for a while, then selling for profit and onboarding more properties, leveraging tax exemptions, and enhancing the real estate portfolio with each sale.

In terms of financing, Baker encourages buyers to put down as little as possible, even considering 100% financing available to veterans. This strategy involves limited risk since the potential loss is confined to the down payment rather than the full property value.

Market Pressures from Institutional Investors

Baker warns of the increasing trend where large institutional investors are taking over the market for affordable homes, many times offering more than the value for properties in cash and making it tougher for individual buyers. She notes that in markets like Atlanta, over 60% of homes valued up to $500,000 suffer from this issue, inhibiting average purchasers from securing properties.

Importance of Timing and Understanding Total Costs

Baker suggests that the best time to buy property ...

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Real Estate Investing Strategies and Market Insights

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • Timing the market around major events like presidential elections may not always be predictable or reliable due to the complex factors that influence real estate markets.
  • Minimal down payments can lead to higher monthly payments and interest costs over the life of a mortgage, which may not be suitable for all investors.
  • Purchasing properties in working-class neighborhoods might not yield the expected returns if the local economy suffers or if there is a downturn in the real estate market.
  • The strategy of buying the least expensive homes may not account for potential higher maintenance costs or difficulties in attracting tenants.
  • The recommendation to buy a primary residence and then sell it for profit assumes consistent market appreciation, which is not guaranteed.
  • 100% financing or very low down payments can be risky if property values decrease, potentially leading to negative equity.
  • The impact of institutional investors might be overstated or vary significantly by region, and there may still be opportunities for individual buyers in different markets or property types.
  • The advice to buy property preceding a presidential election ...

Actionables

  • You can create a calendar reminder for the period between Halloween and New Year's Day to research and reach out to potential sellers, as they might be more inclined to negotiate during this time. Set weekly reminders to check real estate listings, contact real estate agents, and drive through neighborhoods of interest to spot any new opportunities or changes in the market.
  • Develop a simple spreadsheet to calculate the total cost of ownership for any property you're considering, including mortgage, insurance, utilities, maintenance, and potential capital improvements. Use this tool to assess whether the rental income could cover these expenses and to ensure you're not overcommitting financially.
  • Start a savings plan specifically for ...

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Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

Mindset and habits for building generational wealth

Real estate expert Glenda Baker shares insights on the mindset and habits needed to build generational wealth, cautioning against short-term gratification and emphasizing the importance of long-term investment in real estate.

Overcoming Ego-Driven Purchases

Glenda emphasizes the importance of focusing on future goals and building generational wealth rather than falling prey to ego-driven purchases for short-term gratification.

Redirect Spending to Investment Properties

Glenda encourages redirecting spending on cars and luxury items toward down payments on investment properties. She advocates for purchasing the least expensive home in the most expensive neighborhood to maximize equity growth, and criticizes the prevailing urge to own shiny things immediately rather than investing in real estate that can secure a family's future.

Prioritize Financial Freedom over Impressions

She underscores the importance of avoiding impulsive decisions that are influenced by ego, such as purchasing flashy houses or cars to impress others. Instead, Glenda maintains that actions should be focused on advancing towards financial freedom. Savings ought to be channeled toward property investment rather than lavish expenses on luxury goods.

Real Estate over Condos with Financial Liabilities

Glenda advises against distractions, like condos with potential financial disadvantages due to homeowners' association fees. She suggests funneling resources into real estate as a vehicle for securing future generational wealth.

Investing in Children through Real Estate

She proposes a novel strategy for educational savings by investing in real estate for children. This could be a house that acts as an investment property, which children can sell or draw income from when they reach adulthood. Glenda shares that she has bought houses for her own children to provide them with long-term stability and wealth.

Living Practically for Long-Term Wealth

Glenda considers it wise to reside in a house that fits one's needs instead of an overly expensive one, advocating for investing in properties that ca ...

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Mindset and habits for building generational wealth

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • Real estate is not the only path to generational wealth; diversification across different asset classes, such as stocks, bonds, and businesses, can also be effective.
  • The least expensive home in the most expensive neighborhood may not always be the best investment due to potential for higher taxes, maintenance costs, and slower appreciation in some markets.
  • Financial freedom is subjective, and some individuals may find value in experiences or purchases that do not directly contribute to long-term wealth.
  • Real estate investments come with their own set of risks, such as market fluctuations, property damage, and tenant issues, which can impact long-term returns.
  • Condos can be a good investment in certain markets, especially if they are in high-demand areas and the fees are reasonable in comparison to the benefits provided.
  • Investing in real estate for children assumes that the property will appreciate and that the children will want to manage or sell it, which may not align with their future goals or interests.
  • L ...

Actionables

  • You can automate your savings to fund investment goals by setting up a direct deposit from your paycheck into a dedicated investment account. This ensures that a portion of your income is reserved for future investments before you have the chance to spend it on non-essential items. For example, if you're aiming to save for a down payment on a property, determine a percentage of your income that you can comfortably allocate each month and have it transferred automatically.
  • Create a visual roadmap of your financial goals to maintain focus and resist impulsive spending. Start by outlining your long-term wealth objectives, then break them down into smaller, actionable steps. For instance, if your goal is to purchase an investment property in five years, chart out the milestones you need to hit each year, such as saving a certain amount, researching neighborhoods, or learning about property management.
  • Engage in a monthly "financial freedom day" where you review y ...

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Should You Still Be Investing in Real Estate? They Don’t Want You to Know THIS About Buying a House

Personal experiences and lessons learned

Glennda Baker shares valuable insights from personal experiences involving financial mistakes, the importance of clear financial agreements in relationships, and the role her children play in her drive for success.

Glenda shares how her own past mistakes, including overspending and not properly managing taxes, have shaped her perspective on personal finance and investing.

Glennda Baker candidly admits that she has learned from both business and personal mistakes that cost her time and money. These experiences, including the overspending and mishandling of taxes, have deeply influenced her perspective on managing personal finances and making smarter investment decisions.

She emphasizes the importance of having clear financial agreements, like prenups, when entering marriages to protect assets and avoid costly disputes during divorces.

Baker has learned through her own divorce the crucial lesson of having clear financial agreements, which can safeguard assets and avoid expensive disputes. She talks about how gifts, such as Mother's Day gifts and even expensive items like diamond rings received during the marriage, are considered marital property. She stresses the significance of prenuptial agreements to set clear expectations and to avoid any misunderstandings, as they serve as a financial blueprint for the marriage.

Glenda's experiences with real estate transactions during divorces have taught her the importance of carefully vetting potential tenants and maintaining good relationships with them.

From her professional experience, Glennda advises the importance of carefully selecting tenants and nurturing good relationships with them, which is also applicable to managing real assets during divorce proceedings. She has observed firsthand that amicable separations can turn contentious, especially when new partners question financial arrangements.

Baker’s experiences extend to the tension that can arise during the settlement process, where even a simple matter like deciding who gets the basketball goal can turn into a dispute. She noted complications like tax liens arising when one spouse hasn't properly managed taxes, or spiteful behavior from an e ...

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Personal experiences and lessons learned

Additional Materials

Counterarguments

  • While learning from financial mistakes is valuable, it's also important to recognize that not everyone has the opportunity to recover from such mistakes, and some may not have the resources or support to turn their experiences into positive lessons.
  • Prenuptial agreements can be useful, but they may also create a sense of mistrust or pessimism going into a marriage. Additionally, they are not always foolproof and can be contested in court.
  • The importance of vetting tenants and maintaining good relationships is clear, but this can sometimes be at odds with the need to enforce strict policies to protect one's investment, which can strain landlord-tenant relationships.
  • While emotions can complicate financial matters in a divorce, it's also true that sometimes legal battles are necessary to ensure a fair and equitable distribution of assets, especially in cases where there is ...

Actionables

  • You can create a "financial autobiography" to reflect on your past money habits and identify patterns that need changing. Start by writing down significant financial decisions you've made throughout your life and the outcomes they led to. This personal narrative can help you spot mistakes and successes, guiding you to make more informed decisions moving forward.
  • Develop a habit of discussing financial expectations with significant others early in the relationship. Schedule regular "finance dates" where you both review your financial goals, discuss asset protection like prenups if applicable, and ensure you're on the same page to avoid future conflicts.
  • Use a tenant scor ...

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