by Theresa Bradley-Banta
I’ll bet if you talked to ten people, nine of them would say, “I’d love to invest in real estate if only…”
Take a minute to remember why you decided to invest in real estate. Why the idea keeps you up at night. Why you’ve invested time, money and energy pursuing your dream.
If only you had the funds to really get started.
It might be easier that you think…
You Already Have the Right Attitude
You know you’re committed. You have time. You have the desire to succeed. And you have the right amount of education to assure success.
Think about those people who would love to invest in real estate (some of whom you don’t even know yet!):
- Write down what they’re dreaming of
- Make a list of the reasons that might be holding them back
- Consider how you can help them realize their dreams
This list will help you get clear on the benefits you can offer your investing partners.
Network With Everyone You Know
Let your personality shine through. Your excitement and belief in what you’re doing is contagious.
Your potential real estate partners need you. They need your area of expertise. And they’ll respond to your ideas.
It’s human nature.
People love being around other people who are enthusiastic with life and have plans to make their dreams a reality.
Put the Right Real Estate Investing Team in Place
If you’re light on experience, you’re probably afraid to sit down with friends and family and admit you haven’t actually done a real estate deal.
Well… how do you think other investors got started? Not everyone has a rich uncle who’s ready to dole out a million dollars. Many investors start from scratch.
Show your partners how smart you are.
Build a team who knows the real estate investing industry. Have your team ready to step in when you close the real estate deal.
For example, your partners will love to know that you’ve interviewed and found the premier property manager in town. And that you’ve hired the leading rental property renovation specialists. So will your bank or lender. Some lenders require that you hire a professional manager for the first year of ownership.
Let your potential partners know that you have the right team members and they’re ready to go.
Know What Makes a Great Real Estate Deal
Real estate investing offers amazing benefits to you and your partners…
- Cash flow from rental units
- Market appreciation
- Tax benefits and deductions
- Pay down of loan principal over time (build equity)
- Forced appreciation (the value you bring to the property through improvements both financially and operationally)
Your partners might not be able to list the advantages above but they’ve been hearing for years that real estate is a great investment.
You can show them why.
With current interest rates at an all time low, there are a lot of people with funds just sitting on the sidelines. They’d love an opportunity to see higher returns on their money. Ivanka Trump said it perfectly…
“I made a tremendous amount of money on real estate. I’ll take real estate rather than go to Wall Street and get 2.8 percent. Forget about it.”
Find the Perfect Real Estate Deal
A great mentor once told me, “When you find a good investment opportunity, raising money for your real estate deals is the easy part.”
And he was right.
How many people do you know who are able to invest the time looking for great real estate opportunities? Pretty short list, right? It’s why most people don’t invest in real estate.
Join investing clubs. Network with rental property owners. Meet and visit with local property managers. Talk to vendors and suppliers who offer services to rental property owners.
Network. Network. Network. You’ll be surprised at how many opportunities start appearing.
And the funny part? You’ll find real estate deals that aren’t getting done because the person who sourced the deal can’t raise the money to do the deal.
For you? Money is no object!
If you’re new to investing, enlist the help of a mentor.
A mentor or seasoned real estate investor can help you
- Analyze the investment numbers (income and expenses)
- Obtain lender financing
- Make a plan for what you’ll do the day you close
- Structure a deal that will entice investment partners
- Put solid exit strategies in place (some day you’ll sell or refinance)
Plan Your Pitch
Once you’ve outlined your plan, talking with potential partners is simple.
Open the conversation by asking, “Have you ever thought about investing in real estate?”
If the answer is “Yes,” take some time to explore why. Learn about your potential partner. Listen. Engage. Ask questions. The more the other person talks, the more likely they are to invest.
Briefly describe your investing plan…
- Your team
- The benefits of real estate investing
- Your plan for acquiring a property
I think you’ll find that raising money for your real estate deals is easy. Talk to everyone you know—your friends, family and acquaintances. Share your dreams and enthusiasm for the future.
And if their answer is “No?”
You can bet they know someone who would be interested in hearing more.
Notes:
As always, I recommend that you consult with an attorney, CPA or other professional with experience in real estate investments before making any investment decisions.
Read this excellent post by attorney Kymn Harp over on HARP – On This . . . Raising Capital for Real Estate Investment. It’s a great article and I think you’ll like his site.
To download a Sample Real Estate Investor Resume (Statement of Experience) and other free real estate investing documents visit: Free Multifamily Investing Resources
Related Articles:
Top 5 Things Your Real Estate Investment Partners Love to Hear
30 Ways to Invest in Real Estate Without Using Your Own Money
The Best Way to Build Your Multifamily Real Estate Investing Team
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By partners, do you mean investors? I’ve been told by other sources that you don’t want others making management decisions for you. Investors would be given a promissory note rather than a partnership. Your thoughts?
Great question Nevada Tex! In my opinion it all depends on how you lead and on how you choose to structure your deal as the issuer (deal sponsor).
On the question of a prom note (debt partners) versus a partnership (equity partners), it’s entirely up to you. I like deals where my investors/partners can be excited about, and share in, the value we create in a property. It’s a personal choice.
An Operating Agreement (OA) for the entity that owns and operates the property will outline the specific duties and responsibilities of all parties involved (Managers and Members in the case of an LLC).
You can be as specific as you choose you to be.
It’s your agreement.
I agree with your sources, you definitely do not want too many cooks in the kitchen—particularly partners who are inexperienced in the business of managing and operating residential real estate. We hold an annual partners meeting (usually a lunch) and send quarterly updates to our equity partners. Aside from the lunch and any questions our partners have, they are silent in all management decisions.
Thanks for your questions and for reading!
~Theresa