Investing Trends

So you are going to get your investing portfolio and begin to put in some shares. Here are some stairway to begin you in the right direction.

Get On Line.

Today the best manner to remain in contact with the marketplace is to travel online. Get yourself a computer, preferably a laptop, and an cyberspace connection. A laptop computer is preferable because you can convey it with you when you go around on vacations or just when you travel away from home. Most countries these years have got radio connexions at fast nutrient restaurants. This come ups in convenient for checking terms and moving money into or out of accounts. At place you necessitate to have got a broadband connexion and some charting software. Investigate the assorted types and costs associated with this. Some bundles you can utilize for free during an introduction period. So now your on line, you necessitate to apparatus a brokerage firm account.

Account Setup.

There are many offers given by assorted agents that you can apparatus an business relationship with. Look at the cost of trading fees and read the mulct black and white behind the contracts. Most trading business relationships are linked to a hard cash retention depository financial institution account. Some agents let you to associate to your existent hard cash depository financial institution business relationships while others inquire you to put up and use for new accounts. You will have got to download a series of application forms, mark them and station them back to the broker. This blessing time period can be more than than a week. You will also necessitate to lodge some finances into the business relationship to acquire it started. Most agents will accept minimal amounts of $500 dollars or less.

Company or Sole Trader.

There are taxation considerations when purchasing and merchandising shares. As an investor, buying shares is usually a longer term proposition. As a share traders, your trades could be day-to-day and as a consequence you will be subject to different amounts of collectible tax. Talk to your taxation adviser about this. Apparatus as a company may not be valid at early phases in trading or investing. The amounts traded and the frequence of trading goes the chief issues.

Technical vs. Fundamental

Looking at your trading style you may wish to look into the methods by which you take which shares to purchase and sell. There are two types of analysis you can use, and each is a valid manner to pick your shares. Some investors utilize cardinal analysis, while some bargainers utilize technical analysis. Others utilize both. Learning the difference between the two is of import but out of the range of this article.

Share Types

The types of shares you should begin out purchasing would most likely be in the ASX 100 share listings. It would be prudent to start, by choosing from these shares as they be given not to fluctuate wildly in terms and have got demonstrated consistent additions and dividends over the longer term. When you go more than familiar with the chemical mechanisms of entering and exiting a trade to purchase and sell shares, you tin then look into a trading scheme that lawsuits your hazard tolerance and lifestyle.

Lifestyle Choices.

Be aware that trading shares can go a day-to-day activity and as such as can necktie up all your time. If you bask this style of trading then let for remainder interruptions and exercise. Most bargainers and investors prefer to pass their clip relaxing and not in presence of the trading screens. This makes go a life style choice.

Why make you put in an equity common fund? The chief ground is that you have got neither the clip nor the expertness to put in the stock marketplace directly. Hence you feel, investing in a common fund, which have experts to pull off money, is the manner to go. Carnival enough.

As Toilet C. Bogle composes in the book, Bogle on Mutual Funds - New Perspectives for the Intelligent Investor, "In my view, attempting to construct a life clip investing programme around the choice of a smattering of individual securities is for all but the most exclusion investors, a fool's errand. To be sure, by owning individual equities, some active agents investors will bask dramatic results. But others perforce will lose much of their capital. Earning extraordinary tax returns from the ownership of individual pillory is a high-risk, long-shot bet for most investors. Specific stock stakes should be made, if at all, in little portions, and more than for the exhilaration of the game than for the profit. Serious money belongs elsewhere; it belongs in a widely diversified investing program."

So if not stocks, what is the manner out? "For nearly all investors, common finances are the most efficient method of achieving this diversification", composes Bogle.

However, is this the right manner to near investment? Investing in a common monetary fund would do sense if it bring forths returns, which are greater than the wide market. This is one manner of measurement the public presentation of the monetary monetary fund director who runs that fund. The mark for the monetary fund director is to seek to beat out the tax returns generated by the benchmark index. Through that, one can calculate out whether the common monetary monetary fund is giving tax returns because of the investing abilities of its fund director or good marketplace conditions. A common monetary fund strategy is deemed to have got done well if it beats out the tax returns of this benchmark index and vice-versa.

Hence, investing and staying put option in a common monetary fund do sense if it maintains beating its benchmark and the marketplace charge per unit of return, twelvemonth on year. That is easier said that done. Richard Burton G. Malkiel in his all clip classic, A Random Walk Down Wall Street, explicates that in the US, in the full thirty-year time period from 1973 to 2003 "two-third of the finances proved inferior to the marketplace as a whole".

In India, the state of affairs is very similar. In the last 12 calendar months most common finances have got neither conquered their benchmarks nor the wide market. This have been largely the case, the twelvemonth before that as well. In the last three years, one-half of the common finances have got given lesser tax returns than the wide market.

So what is the manner out? The manner out is to put in index funds. This guarantees that instead of trying to calculate out which the best acting common monetary fund strategy will be in a peculiar year, you at least acquire the marketplace charge per unit of return. Index monetary monetary fund is a common fund, which accumulates money from investors and put money in pillory that do up a stock marketplace index in the same proportionality as their proportionality in the index.

In India, index finances as a conception haven't really picked up. But investment in the stock marketplace through index finances stays one of the safest ways of investing.

There are more than than one grounds for the same. First, it guarantees that the investor at least acquires the marketplace charge per unit of return. Further, the investor is not dependent on the public presentation of the monetary fund manager.

Also investors don't necessitate to maintain path of how well their investings have got been performing. At the clip of investing, investors also don't necessitate to travel through a listing of 200 odd equity finances to calculate out which monetary fund to put in.

Under licence from

I am amazed at how few people take charting seriously. Technical analysis makes not bring forth miracles. It is not an exact science, but it can salvage you from an occasional catastrophe like Bear Stearns (BSC). Let's return a look.

BSC's basics deteriorated for most of 2007 owed to the exposure to subprime mortgages. But analysts still expected it to gain $6.44 in 2008 and $8.98 in 2009, giving the stock as late as March 13 a juicy p/e of 8 and an even juicier forward p/e of 6. (Now, these general agreement net income estimations come up from Yokel Finance as of March 17. Since analysts are notoriously fickle, better do a short letter of these Numbers now as they are likely to be "adjusted" or vanish altogether in visible light of the developments.)

You could have got spent years reading Bear Stearns' news, fourth estate releases, opinions, and recommendations trying to do sense of it all. Or you could have got simply bought what appeared to be a "rock solid" company in impermanent fiscal trouble - in short, a great value play.

But the chart told a different story. There is more than than one manner to construe stock wiggles, but there are some basic rules all technicians hold upon.

A rise stock have a rise 50 twenty-four hours moving norm (DMA) above a rise 200 twenty-four hours moving norm (DMA). By that definition, BSC stopped rising in March 2007, when the 50 DMA turned south. A big cap stock typically lifts in stopping point propinquity to its 50 DMA - sometimes staying above it, sometimes dipping below. When a stock starts shutting below the 50 DMA, it is basing. It often worsens all the manner to the 200 DMA, where it may reverse. It may even dwell below the 200 DMA briefly, like BSC did in September 2006. That is where value investors typically supply support to a sagging stock by going deal hunting. (I can see how value investors were tempted to purchase BSC in March-April of 2007 at deal terms by looking at the September 2006 precedent, when BSC stayed below the 200 DMA for a calendar month and then turned back up, rising from the low of $127.10 to the high of $172.61 in January 2007 - a fine-looking 35% tax return in just 4 calendar months if you were lucky adequate to catch both the low and the high.) BSC did not disappoint: it turned back up in late April 2007. So far so good.

Here's where things got tricky. If a rise stock have a rise 50 DMA above a rise 200 DMA, then the antonym should also be true: a DECLINING stock have a down 50 DMA BELOW a down 200 DMA. So the large warning mark come ups when the 50 DMA traverses the 200 DMA on its manner down. BSC bulls and bears engaged in a drawn-out conflict in April - June 2007 but the bears won when the 50 DMA finally crossed below the 200 DMA, and both moving norms began to decline.

The existent value of charts is that they reflect what people do, not what they say. No substance what execs, pundits, and talking caputs were saying about BSC in June 2007, the stock WAS DECLINING. You don't necessitate to cognize who is selling or why. Oftentimes you never will - until it's too late. All you necessitate to see is the trend.

There is nil incorrect with trying to acquire a bargain. Americans are shoppers and deal huntsmen by nature. The job with pillory is that they have got got the ability to occasionally worsen all the manner to zero, and I would wager anything that if you said that to Bear bulls (no punning intended) back in June 2007 they would have laughed in your face, citing one-half a twelve grounds why BSC was such as a great bargain at those levels.

Many pillory make bend at some point. But for them to make so, their 50 DMA must first make what? Right! Bend up AND cross the 200 DMA that is also turning up. Until then the stock is NOT a buy. You can still do money by going short or trading bouncinesses / short natural covering mass meetings - but it is NOT a buy.

Another cosmopolitan definition of an uptrend is higher highs and higher lows, as opposing to the less highs and less low pressures for a downtrend.

Knowing just the above two things about technical analysis would have got got been enough to forestall you from purchasing BSC as a "good long-term investment at a deal price", and no smart talking caputs or honorable looking CEOs would have been able to rock you, saving you a batch of money and aggravation.

Now people are going to speak about Bear Stearns as the adjacent Enron. Could you have got told from the chart back in June 2007 that it was going to be? No. Didn't necessitate to. You can't foretell the adjacent Enron or the adjacent Bear Stearns but staying away from declining pillory is usually adequate to maintain YOU from the adjacent disaster.

Many fiscal people now believe that we are headed for a major bear market. Part of the ground they believe this is because they believe that we are also headed for a major recession if we are not there already.

As investors, what should we be doing to protect ourselves during these drawn-out downswings in the market? Let's expression at a couple of strategies.

First, if you are an active investor and by active Iodine mean value that you regularly supervise your investments, put active halt loss points, and do buy/sell determinations on a fairly regular basis. If you fall into this category, the first thing you must make to protect your investings is to put proper halt loss points for every investing in your portfolio.

Typically, a 25% halt loss will protect your assets without causing a batch of inordinate purchasing and merchandising owed to minor marketplace fluctuations. A cardinal thing to retrieve is that halt loss points are fluid. That is, you should travel them as your investings addition in value. This procedure locks in some of the paper net income and protects against major down moves. An of import point to retrieve is that your halt loss should only be moved up as your investings addition in value. You should never set them down. This volition only halt up costing you money and lickings the whole intent of the stop loss in the first place.

Many active investors look at the overall marketplace and when the hazard of being invested in the marketplace goes greater than the possible for profit, they travel into hard cash and wait for the marketplaces to settle down down. After a major bear market, like we saw in the late 1960's and early 1970s, investors who were in hard cash were able to pick up investings at wholesale terms and made enormous additions in the ensuing old age as the marketplace began to recover.

If you are not an active investor, then the best manner to protect your investings during a bear marketplace is by proper diversification. Proper variegation makes not intend owning respective stock common funds. It intends investing in assets that have got small or no correlativity to the overall stock market. Investments like energy, cherished metals, natural resources, or reciprocal finances all measure up as suitable investings for a properly diversified portfolio.

Remember, bear marketplaces make not last forever. They eventually turn and go bull marketplaces and when they do, investors who have got preserved their investing working capital will be in a place to net income handsomely.

There are some simple stairway to maintain in head when you put and can do quite a spot of money doing it.

One of the chief things is to begin early. The little you begin to put and larn about the assorted facets of the stock market, the better.

I started investing in the stock marketplace when I was 20. By the clip Iodine was 25 Iodine had made enough money to put full-time and by the clip I was 28 I discontinue my J.O.B. and did travel full-time. I trust to retire by the clip I am 45 (I am currently 37). But I can only accomplish this because I started early. I wish at school I was taught "how to manage/create/build wealth" instead of Algebra 101.

This tin be difficult if you don't have got got any money to set initially so you might desire to begin a nest egg business relationship and put a per centum of your reward in it every month.

After you have some money saved (even $1000 is a good start) put in a low hazard stock that is certain to grow. Leave that money there for a set clip like 3-6 months. You should be able to see a good tax return and if you are very lucky, maybe that company released a new merchandise in that clip and the
stock went up a lot.

When you sell your first stock, usage all of that money to put in more than stock. Keep doing this and you'll be making more than than you recognize in no time. You will go on making money this manner and will necessitate to happen other investing chances as well. Bonds, common funds, and existent estate are great
options once you begin accumulating wealth.

The greatest error you can do is to pass all of your investing money. This haps all the time. People purchase a trade name new car, expensive tickers and clothes, or giant televisions. You can pass some of your money but remember, you are building wealthiness for the future, so don't blow it.

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Vacation Finance's team, and our invitee blog authors have the replies to these inquiries and we are posting them daily on our blog, along with narratives of American's who have establish a manner to have a 2nd place today. How they afford it, and how they have got managed to pass more than clip on vacation.

If you are seeking a narrative about holiday life styles that volition vibrate with one thousands of families, SecondHomes411.com may be a resource for you. "We are excited about the acquisition CondoHotels411.com; Fractional411.com and SecondHomeNews.com and believe the combination of content in one single blog beginning will enrich our readers experience" said British Shilling Waun, chief executive officer of Vacation Finance.

Tech-savvy American's are working from bungalow offices. Financially savvy people are buying fractional existent estate in multiple locations to diversify their investings and lifestyle. The Bungalow life style is larger than ever. All these narratives and more than volition be posted at a incorporate blog.

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To simply set it a existent estate short sale is when the loaner or depository financial institution holds to take a less amount that is owed by the debtor or individual buying a home. This tin be often confused with a existent estate note, but they are not the same thing. When you desire to acquire a short sale you either necessitate to acquire the topographic point to lease or rent, or you desire to acquire what is called a speedy bend of the property, which could be merchandising it to a new place purchaser or another existent estate investor who would likely rent the place out or hole it up and sell it at the retail cost.

In the end, the intent of a short sale is to acquire your net income sooner than later. This volition in a kind of manner do you the bank. You would be making money by receiving payments over clip that volition do you a net income from the short sale.

This tin also be known as a short-sale Oregon a shorted sale. As an example, a place might be up for sale or waiting for the balance to be paid if the place have been seized. If the proprietor of the place (or you as a existent estate investor) holds to pay a hunk sum of money amount to pay off the debt the loaner or depository financial institution must hold to a littler amount. For example, there is a place that have an unpaid balance of $200,000 and you and the depository financial institution hold on a full payment of $180,000 to pay off the balance. By the both of you agreeing to this less amount to pay off the loan, you have got just purchased the place for a less amount and the depository financial institution or loaner will document that the loan have been paid off.

How You Can Make Money With Short Sales

Most of the places you will come up across that tin be made with a short sale are foreclosures, and other places where the depository financial institution or loaner just really desires the loan off of their desk and paid for. This is where you acquire the upper manus on them by offering a discounted terms to pay off the loan in full at a less price, of course. You can then repair up the place to sell it or rent it out. When you sell the place at a higher terms (the current retail price) you will be making a good profit.

What do you do when others try to steer you away from your real estate investing goals? Sometimes even well meaning friends become cold-water bucket brigades. They throw cold water on your dreams and dampen your enthusiasm with their negativity.

They will tell you about their Uncle Harry who lost a lot of money in real estate. They are quick to give you all the reasons not to invest.

If you announce to others that your goal is to become a wealthy real estate investor, I guarantee you some of them with try to discourage you. That's true of any announced goal.

Tell them you're trying to lose weight and they'll offer you a cookie. Tell them you plan to get rich in real estate and they'll tell you why that's a stupid idea.

Some life coaches go so far as to say that you should NOT announce your goals to others. This way they have no way to offer their negative input.

I think you'll have to figure that one out for yourself. Do what works for you.

However, you must be prepared to handle the naysayer. When someone offers you their negative feedback one great response to the negative Nelly is to simply say, "Thanks for sharing!" Then quickly change the subject.

Did you know that your net worth is probably the average of your five closest friends?

Think about the 5 people to whom you are closest. Could it possibly be true? Yes, it is very likely true.

So, if you are serious about increasing your net worth, you may need to think about getting some new friends.

I'm not suggesting that you "fire" you current friends. But, you will probably find that it happens automatically over time. As you develop your new interest and meet new people, you will probably develop some new friends.

Just be sure to pick some rich ones!

BEGIN SETTING UP YOUR BUSINESS - First Step is to generate a name. Choosing a name may sound a bit mundane but there is more to choosing a name than you might think. Hopefully you are going to live with this name for a long time so let's get it right from the start. Changing names (or phone numbers for that matter) can set you back. You lose valuable time and customers every time you change. The whole idea behind a name is to brand that name in your market or business community. Branding a name takes time, persistence, energy and money. None of us have any of those elements to waste.

A good name should say WHO you are, WHAT you do, WHERE to get more information and HOW to contact you. That can be a tall order for one name. Some companies have tried to get the job done with names that represent their phone number along with their products or services. EXAMPLE: a fishing guide might advertise 1-800-Get-Fish. In its time this used to be a pretty good idea but today it falls short. Unless the name of the company is actually "1-800-GET-FISH" the name does not say WHO they are. The example also suggests that you should only call for information during working hours and NOT to call at midnight or on SUNDAY. After all it is a phone number and you wouldn't want to be rude and call in the middle of the night.

Also, newer phones, like the Blackberry for example, stretch their numbers over keys that don't work like the old telephone key pads. Today, on the new progressive phones, some letters are NOT on keys that have numbers associated with them or can't readily be found. I could not call 1-800-GET-FISH on my Blackberry to save my life. Times are a changing!

Today we have the Internet. People know that the Internet is open 24/7… 365 days a year. They also know that they can shop on the Internet any time – day or night - without disturbing a soul. Don't think for a minute that the world isn't shopping for their RE needs at all hours of the day and night. Customers are gathering information at all hours and following up in the morning. It is a fact! Your future customers will be online at 12:00am -1:00am -2:00am and 3:00am in the morning. Your market is a world wide market… if you are on the net. If you are not on the net you are severely handicapping your business. It is NOT up for debate. It only makes sense, these days, to have your name be your website name. I firmly believe that in the world of creative real estate YOUR name should end in .COM, or .NET or .ORG or .BIZ….ANYTHING is better than a name that does not lead your customers to your website.

If you are new in the business and on a budget you simply MUST have a name that is connected to a website. I know, the very thought of technology scares the hell out you. Don't panic. Everything is going to be OK. I'll explain more about WHY I feel that way but for now, let's get on with HOW to find and capture YOUR NAME.

a). Go to GoDaddy.com and buy a "BUY" domain name and a "SELL" domain name... may I suggest something like www.LisaSellsRE.com & www.LisaBuysRE.com or www.LisaBuysHouses.com & www.SellsHouses.com I actually own www.MitchBuysHouses.com and www.MitchSellsHouses.com ...it says WHO I am, WHAT I do and WHERE to find more information. Most Net users understand that the domain name, my website, also leads to HOW to contact me as well. Try to get your Buy and Sell names to match up.

b). Then, make your email address use the same domain name as your website. Example: Lisa@LisaBuysHouses.com. Now even your email will say it all; Who you are, What you do, Where to get more information and How to contact you. EXAMPLE:

Your BUY domain name (Website name) is www.LisaBuysHouses.Com


Your BUY email address is Lisa@LisaBuysHouses.com.

Your SELL domain name (Website name) is www.LisaSellsHouses.Com


Your SELL email address is Lisa@LisaSellsHouses.com.

If you are following along with The Wealth Address Millionaire Challenge, "The Real Estatification of Wesley O'Neill" you will get to see him go through the actual process of Creating, Searching For, Finding, Registering and Pointing his new name(s) on www.GoDaddy.com... Complete with an audio explanation and screen moves.

Right now we are talking about getting the most basic business foundation started… one name that is also your Website's name, and also used in your email address. By choosing a name the represents your website name that is used in your email address you are off to a great start. Your website can say much more than any business card or billboard could ever say. In the future, every advertising medium you ever use will drive your customers to your website. By making the name of your business your website's name you are giving your customers the chance to learn volumes about YOU and your BUSINESS at any time – day or night.

Expect to pay about $8.00 per year for each domain name. The more years you pay for in advance, the cheaper it gets. Remember, the right name tied to the right site can make you hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Personally, I have made about that much, or in one case, MORE than $100,000 in ONE DEAL! I know, it sounds unreal right? I've been in this business for 10 years. This kind of income didn't happen for me until about 7 years in. The gurus out there will tell you that I am a slow learner. Maybe you will have it happen to you sooner. To read those success stories go to www.WealthAddress.com and search SUCCESS STORIES by Author Mitch Stephen or click the links below. Look for these titles:

"OFF THE COAST OF AUSTRALIA"


"CHEAP LOTS – LOTS OF INCOME"

Remember, you can "point" or "forward" email addresses to any account you want. You can point your NEW email address to your old one or you can point your old email address to your new one. That means you can still go to ONE place to get any and all of your emails if you wish. If I've lost you with this techno stuff don't worry about it right now. Some of you may not even have a website yet. Don't worry about websites right now either… it's a piece of cake… I'll tie everything together for you later. The important thing is that you capture your BUY and SELL website names as soon as possible. Then get the matching email addresses. Even if my ideas are not for you, you will still need these names if you intend to stay in the creative RE business.

When it comes to marketing, absolutely NOTHING is faster, cheaper and farther reaching than the Internet. This is the very First Step if you are going to NETWORK at lightening speed. Register your names and get your email addresses!

TAKE ACTION NOW!


VISIT www.WealthAddress.com

Japanese stocks advanced, set for the
largest gain since March. Companies that will report earnings
this week rose after the Nikkei newspaper said profit at Tokyo
Electron Ltd. will climb to a record.

Banks advanced with Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc.,
which fell to a 19-month low on April 27, climbing 3.2 percent as
investors judged recent losses excessive. The Topix Banks index
dropped 4 percent last month.

``Japanese stocks are catching up with rallies in other
markets as investor concern over earnings has eased,'' said
Takeshi Yamaguchi, who looks after $674 million at Sumitomo
Mitsui Asset Management Co. in Tokyo. ``All the bad news on bank
profits has already been discounted by previous declines.''

Exporters such as Canon Inc. and Honda Motor Co. also
advanced on speculation that slowing U.S. jobs growth and wage
increases will prompt the Federal Reserve to cut borrowing costs
in Japan's biggest overseas market.

The Nikkei 225 Stock Average rose 301.43, or 1.7 percent, to
17,696.35. The Topix climbed 30.69, or 1.8 percent, to 1734.91 as
of 2:27 p.m. in Tokyo. Both gauges are headed for the largest
gain since March 8.

The Topix fell for a second straight month in April, losing
0.7 percent while the Dow Jones Industrial Average and South
Korea's Kospi index climbed to records last week.

Tokyo Electron, the world's second-biggest supplier of
chipmaking equipment, advanced 150 yen, or 1.8 percent, to 8,480.
Toyota Motor Corp., Japan's largest automaker, added 60 yen, or
0.8 percent, to 7,290. Mitsubishi Estate Co., the nation's No. 2
property developer, climbed 170 yen, or 4.5 percent, to 3,920.

`Across-the-Board Gain'

All three companies are scheduled to report their earnings
this week.

Tokyo Electron's net income will probably rise 9 percent to
about 93 billion yen ($775 million) in the year ending March 2008,
the Nikkei reported, without saying where it got the information.
Sales will gain 5 percent to 880 billion yen, the report said.

``Japan's market had an across-the-board gain today but
money is flowing especially into companies with strong earnings
outlooks,'' said Yoshihiro Ito, who helps look after $689 million
in assets at Okasan Capital Management Co. in Tokyo.

Mitsubishi UFJ, Japan's biggest lender by assets, rose
40,000 yen, or 3.2 percent, to 1.3 million. Mitsubishi UFJ
dropped to the lowest since September 2005 on April 27 on concern
its profit growth will not improve soon. Mizuho Financial Group
Inc., the nation's second largest, added 19,000 yen, or 2.6
percent, to 749,000.

Japan's major banks are set to report their earnings this
month with Mitsubishi UFJ being scheduled on May 23 and Mizuho on
May 22.

Canon Jumps

Canon, the world's largest digital camera maker, surged 270
yen, or 4 percent, to 7,080, gaining the most since Oct. 5. Honda,
which made 55 percent of its sales in North America in the year
ended March 2006, advanced 80 yen, or 2 percent, to 4,120. Sony
Corp., the world's biggest video-game maker, climbed 140 yen, or
2.2 percent, to 6,550.

The Labor Department said on May 4 the 88,000 increase in
employment last month followed a 177,000 gain in March that was
smaller than previously estimated. The U.S. jobless rate rose to
4.5 percent from 4.4 percent, which matched a five-year low.

The report also showed that average hourly earnings grew at
a 3.7 percent pace in April from a year earlier compared with a 4
percent rate in March.

Mitsui Fudosan, Nippon Steel

``Inflation in the U.S. has cooled down and that's behind
the rally in the country's equity markets,'' said Ryoji Musha,
chief investment officer at the Japanese brokerage unit of
Deutsche Bank AG.

Property developers such as Mitsui Fudosan Co. and
steelmakers such as Nippon Steel Corp. jumped on expectations
that they will have strong earnings for this business year.

Mitsui Fudosan, Japan's biggest property developer, surged
240 yen, or 6.8 percent, to 3,750. Nippon Steel Corp., Asia's No.
1 maker of the alloy, advanced 36 yen, or 4.4 percent, to 848.
Sumitomo Corp., the third-biggest trading house in Japan, rose
110 yen, or 5.1 percent, to 2,260.

``Real estate companies were bought on a trend of rising
asset prices and office rents,'' said Okasan Capital's Ito.
``There's also strong expectation that steelmakers and trading
companies will have a profit expansion over the medium term,
helped by demand in emerging markets.''

Property shares also gained after the Nikkei reported on May
5 that Japan's public pension fund, the world's largest pool of
retirement funds, may start investing in privately placed real
estate funds and mortgage-backed securities to limit risk from
stock and bond markets.

TDK, Fujitsu

``Investment in the real estate industry is a global trend
so related stocks in Japan are likely to gain further,'' said
Sumitomo Mitsui's Yamaguchi.

TDK Corp., Japan's biggest maker of magnetic heads, advanced
190 yen, or 1.9 percent, to 10,240 after saying it will spend 50
billion yen ($416 million) to build an electronics component
factory.

The new factory, located in Yurihonjo, northern Japan, will
increase the company's manufacturing capacity of ceramic
capacitors by 40 percent, Nobuyuki Koike, a spokesman for the
Tokyo-based company, said today, confirming a Nikkei newspaper
report on May 6.

Fujitsu Ltd., Japan's biggest computer-services provider,
rose 14 yen, or 1.9 percent, to 755 after the company said it
plans to buy France's GFI Informatique SA for 419 million euros
($570 million) to add clients and trim its reliance on Japan.

Fujitsu said on May 2 it plans to offer 8.50 euros for each
GFI share and 3.15 euros for each warrant of the Paris-based
computer consultant. The companies have no ``formal agreement,''
it said.

Nikkei futures expiring in June climbed 1.6 percent to
17,720 in Osaka and rose 1.5 percent to 17,715 in Singapore.

To contact the reporter for this story:
Makiko Suzuki in Tokyo at

NORCROSS, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Wells Real Estate Funds Inc. today announced the launch of the Wells
Timberland Real Estate Investment Trust, the first public, nontraded
REIT investing in timberland.

“This new expansion of our product family fits
with our focus on offering the individual investor the opportunity to
invest in quality real estate,” said Leo
Wells, founder and president of Wells Real Estate Funds. “Professionally
managed timberland is a potentially attractive type of commercial real
estate – but historically, it has been almost
entirely for institutional investors. We’re
helping to change that.”

Wells Timberland REIT will seek to generate revenue and income through
the sale of timber harvesting rights, as well as leasing land-use rights
and, in some cases, the eventual sale of land for higher and better use.

Jess Jarratt, a veteran forester and finance executive, has joined Wells
as chief timberland officer and president of Wells Timberland Investment
Management Organization.

“Timberland is a distinct asset class, and as
with our other REITs, we’ll seek to build a
diverse portfolio for our investors – in this
case, by geography, age and timber type,”
Jarratt said. “Another attractive feature
about timber is that it’s an ecologically
sound, renewable resource – after harvesting,
you can plant again and literally grow new resources.”

Jarratt most recently was managing director, structured real estate, for
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey. His previous positions include timberland
investment officer with John Hancock. He holds a B.S. in Forestry from
Texas A&M and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of North Texas.

Wells Timberland REIT is designed to offer portfolio diversification,
current income through the payment of distributions, and potential
capital appreciation upon the ultimate sale of assets. Over its
lifetime, the fund will acquire and invest largely in geographically
diverse timberland properties in U.S. timber-producing regions,
including the Appalachian, Great Lakes, Northeast, Northwest and
Southeast regions. The Timberland REIT also may invest in timber-growing
regions internationally.

The fund will be offered to investors through financial professionals.

Wells Real Estate Funds is a national real estate investment company
based in suburban Atlanta. Since its founding in 1984, Wells has
invested more than $9 billion in real estate for more than 200,000
investors. Wells funds include REITs, mutual funds and other commercial
real estate investment vehicles. For more information, see

For more information, visit Wells online at .

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the
meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, including discussions regarding
Wells’ use of proceeds and certain other
factors that may affect future earnings or financial results. Such
statements involve risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual
results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by the
forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause actual results to
differ materially include changes in general economic conditions,
changes in real estate conditions, construction delays, increases in
interest rates, lease-up risks, lack of availability of financing, and
lack of availability of capital proceeds. This is neither an offer nor a
solicitation to purchase securities. For SEC filings: .

What is the best way to maximize your real estate profit and reach your investment goals?
Real estate is a solid investment that offers both short-term and long-term gains. People have been investing in real estate since land and homes were first bought and sold. If you have interest in becoming a real estate investor, there are several things to consider as you move forward. The main point is to determine why you want to purchase the property—Is it for long-term gain? Is it for short term investment? It may be for both. By clearly thinking your strategy through on before you invest, you will likely maximize your efforts as you proceed. Before you purchase a property, you will have to determine if it is best to flip the property - make improvements and sell it fast - or rent it out. Markets do fluctuate, and even people who are not involved in real estate investing know the terms "buyer's market" and "seller's market." Which decision you make depends on what is happening in the market, how much the property costs, and how your choices fit your overall investment strategy.

How to Know When to Flip a Property


Flipping a house can provide huge profits if you do it right. It has become popular and common over the last several years, and there even a number of television shows dedicated to showing people how it is done. Key factors in making the decision to flip include the initial purchase price, the location and condition of the property, and the prices of similar home sin the area. This last point also includes whether the properties have sold and how quickly they sold. Remember, a price is only truly valid when the property has a buyer willing to pay that price!

Generally speaking, if you plan to purchase a more expensive home, the best idea is to turn it around quickly in order to limit your expenses and gain from the current market. Expensive homes come with big mortgage and property tax payments, which usually mean that renting for the cash flow is out of the question. It can also be difficult to find renters for higher priced homes, and if they miss a rent payment for one or several months, your profits will quickly disappear and you may even start to have a significant loss.

If you find a great property that requires mostly cosmetic changes, you should be able to flip it easily for a meaningful profit. A property with major structural problems can be a "money pit," especially if the price was too high to begin with. Before you commit to any major changes in the property, assess not only your own cash resources (this is very important!), but also your work force resources. Do you have relationships with contractors, landscapers, and other skilled labor professionals? Will those people be reliable in terms of time and price? These are critical questions to answer before you begin.
How to Know When to Rent a Property

Renting your investment property can provide you with monthly positive cash flow while you build equity through your payments and the appreciation of the property price. Renting also allows you to take advantage of tax breaks for any improvements you make to the property as a tax deduction. Again, key factors are the price of the home, if the market has growth potential, and the condition of the property.

A lower-priced home translates to a lower monthly payment, property taxes and insurance. Remember, you don't need to make a big monthly profit. In order to succeed over the long run, the idea here is to own more properties and make your profits over time. When you rent a property out, you are building equity using your tenant's money. Add up the costs related to the property, including a small amount for repairs and any utilities you plan to pay for. This is a safer way to invest in real estate and can net you very high profits. There will always be good tenants to rent good properties!

Another way to determine if you should flip or rent is if the market is growing. Does the area have a lot of new construction? Are there new industries moving in? Is the location near an urban area, with plans for an existing public transportation system to the city? Properties located in these "growth" areas almost always net the largest gains over time. This is especially true in areas where there are new people moving in. They often are moving from areas where they have sold their homes for larger process, and are looking to spend that money on new properties, thus driving up existing prices.
In a growth market, you can make money flipping a house, but you may be able to make considerably more money over a long period of time if you rent it out, build equity, and sell it for an even higher price at the optimum time. Even if you buy yourself a vacation home, you can make money down the road if you hold on to it, and you can rent it out as a vacation home or to tourists when you do not plan to live there.

It's Not Just About the Bottom Line


When deciding whether to flip or rent out a property, assess the market, do the math, and then consider your own interests and abilities. The perfect flip is not so perfect for those who have no construction or renovation experience, and being a landlord may not be a role you wish to take on. In the end, it's about what's best for your pocketbook, what's best for your investment strategy and what's best for you.

Harness the power of real estate and alternative asset investing in an IRA to make tax-free or tax-deferred profits for the rest of your life!

After completing a successful real estate transaction, do you ever wish a chunk of the profits didn't have to go back to the IRS for taxes? Do you ever dream about how many more real estate deals you could do or how many more properties you could buy if profits weren't split with the government because of taxes?

Well dream no more. Realizing tax-free or tax-deferred profits on real estate and alternative asset investing is a reality.

Government sponsored retirement plans such as IRAs and 401(k)s allow you to invest in almost anything (including real estate), not just stocks, bonds and mutual funds. And all the benefits those plans provide, tax-deductions and tax-free profits, apply to whatever investment you choose, including real estate.

The Power of Tax-Deferred and Tax-Free Profits

"The most powerful force on Earth is compounding interest." - Albert Einstein

One of an IRA's greatest features is that it allows Americans to enjoy the true power of tax-deferred compounding interest. Compound interest occurs when interest is earned on a principal sum along with any accumulated interest on that sum. In other words, you are earning interest not only on your original investment sum, but also on the interest earned from the original sum.

Compound interest can occur with any investment you make, but the "true" power of compounding interest is obtained when you make an investment in a tax-deferred environment, like an IRA.

By taking advantage of an IRA's tax-deferred status, you do not have to pay tax immediately on your earnings (like the sale of a property or rent collected). Thus, you are able to enjoy the power of compounding on ALL of your profit, not just what is left after taxes.

Now apply those benefits to your real estate or alternative asset investing. Tax-deferred profits on your real estate transactions allows greater flexibility to make more investments, or to just sit back and watch your real estate investment grow in value, without worrying about taxes.

Is This for Real?

Most investors don't know this opportunity exists because most IRA custodians do not offer truly self-directed IRAs that allow Americans to invest in real estate and other non-traditional investments.

Often, when you ask a custodian/trustee, "Can I invest in real estate with an IRA?" they will say, I've never heard of that" or, "No, you can't do that." What they really mean is that you can't do this at their company because they only offer stocks, mutual funds, bonds, or CD products.

Only a truly self-directed IRA custodian like Equity Trust Company (www.trustetc.com) will allow you to invest in all forms of real estate or any other investments not prohibited by the Internal Revenue Service.

Is This Legal?

It sure is. For more than 33 years and through the management of $2 billion in IRA assets, Equity Trust has assisted clients in increasing their financial wealth by investing in a variety of opportunities from real estate and private placements to stocks and bonds in self-directed IRAs and small business retirement plans.

IRS Publication 590 (dealing with IRAs) states what investments are prohibited; these investments include artwork, stamps, rugs, antiques, and gems. All other investments, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, real estate, mortgages, and private placements, are perfectly acceptable as long as IRS rules governing retirement plans are followed (To view IRS Publication 590, please visit www.trustetc.com/links/irspubs.html).

Getting Started

"Is it hard to do?" is a common question about investing in real estate with a self-directed IRA. It is really simple and is very similar to the way you currently invest in real estate. The following five steps demonstrate how easy it is to invest in real estate, or just about anything else, with a self-directed IRA.

1) Establish an account with a self-directed IRA custodian.
First, you must establish an account with a self-directed IRA custodian and Equity Trust Company is your best option. For more information on why Equity Trust is the right choice for your self-directed IRA needs, visit www.trustetc.com.

Setting up an IRA account with Equity Trust usually takes only minutes to complete by filling out a simple application and sending (or faxing) it to our office.

2) Fund your account.
Next you have to fund the account, and this is just as easy as opening a self-directed IRA account. There are two ways to fund your account.

• Contributions
You can contribute to your account through a check or wire transfer and contribution limits range from $4,000-$50,000 depending on which account you choose.

• Transfer/Rollover

In most cases, if you have an existing retirement plan such as an IRA, 401k, or 403b these funds can be transferred to a self-directed IRA allowing you to make real estate IRA investments.

3) Investment found: You're set to go!
Now that you've got your account established, funded and you've identified a real estate investment, you are ready to make an investment.

Making a real estate investment with your IRA is straightforward if you remember a few simple rules. First, complete a Direction of Investment (DOI) form. A DOI instructs the custodian where and how to remit funds from your self-directed IRA for your real estate purchase.

Information contained on the DOI includes the property address, cost, funding instructions (check/wire) etc. In addition to the DOI, the custodian will need accompanying investment documents to ensure proper titling of the investment.

4) Ensuring proper title: You and your IRA are not the same.
One of the most common mistakes (and cause of delays) in real estate IRA investing is when the property is titled incorrectly. Frequently the IRA owner will incorrectly put their personal name on the title of the property.

Remember you and your IRA are two separate entities, and as such, the property needs to be titled in the name of your IRA and not you personally.

• The correct title for a real estate (or other asset) IRA investment is:

Equity Trust Company custodian FBO (for benefit of) YOUR NAME IRA

5) What happens after your IRA owns the property?
Now that your IRA has purchased the property you need to remember two things:

• Expenses: Any expenses associated with the property (maintenance, improvements, property taxes, condo association, general bills etc.) must come from the IRA.


• Cash Flow/Profits: All net profits must return to the IRA, meaning all income (rent) and profits (selling of property) are deposited back into your IRA account—tax-free!

That is all there is to it, it's as simple as 1-2-3. In no time at all you can be investing in real estate and other alternative assets receiving tax-free or tax-deferred profits for the rest of your life.

Don't delay in opening an account. Every day that passes is one less day your investment can benefit from the Earth's most powerful force (at least according to Einstein), compounding interest.

What is a Short Sale?

A short sale happens when a lender is willing to sell a property for less than the total amount owed by the borrower. The property is worth less than owed therefore, has no equity and the homeowner is seriously behind in payments. In many circumstances more than one lender is involved. Even if the property is worth at or slightly above the amount owed, the owner could still be upside down when other factors are considered such as agent commissions, delinquent taxes, homeowner dues and other standard closing costs. A short sale could offer a workable solution for all parties involved, helping the distressed homeowner avoid foreclosure.

Who are the players?

Let's say you have a motivated seller who absolutely must sell otherwise face foreclosure. They have missed many payments and yet do not want the property to go into foreclosure. The seller consents to the buyer or agent negotiating with the lender to accept a short sale. What needs to take place in order for this to happen? The process can be somewhat complicated however, many say worth the hassle since discounts are often in the tens of thousands of dollars. Intrigued? Read on.

Why are lenders giving away instant equity?

Foreclosures are skyrocketing and most experts agree that this trend will only increase in 2007 and beyond. In fact, The Center for Responsible Lending conducted a study in which predicts that 1 in 5 sub-prime loans issued in the past two years will enter some stage of foreclosure. Since sub-prime loans account for approximately 25% of all mortgages issued, the expected impact is thought to be staggering.

Lenders do not want to be stuck with houses they cannot move. Since lenders are not in the property management business, they figure it is better to accept a discounted amount than to take the property back in foreclosure and risk having to hold it for an indefinite period of time. If they do foreclose, aside from costly legal fees, they also face high carrying costs including tax payments, insurance, homeowner's dues and other maintenance issues. In addition, vacant properties sitting for long periods of time are at risk and more costly to insure.

Additionally, lenders need the cash reserves and bad loans on the books also affect their borrowing power. Adjustable rate loans are resetting and homeowners are not able to meet new monthly payments. Initial low rate terms are coming due and already strapped homeowners are not able to keep up with payments.

Therefore, short sales can be a win/win/win situation for all parties involved. These conditions allow for many bargains to be snapped up by investors who are paying attention and are at the ready to purchase the undervalued properties. The seller is able to avoid foreclosure, which can be a very detrimental mark on their credit and the lender is able to move the property off their books and avoid costly legal fees. There are however, tax implications that the seller needs to be aware of before agreeing to a short sale. All borrowers should consult with tax and legal professionals to understand the tax and/or legal ramifications involved in their situation before agreeing to a short sale.

Show me the money? Let's look at an example.

Let's say a property was purchased for $500,000 with anticipated repairs of $45,000 and after value repairs estimated at $615,000. Now, after 1 year's time and a declining market, the property is worth only $495,000 after the repairs were made, and an offer comes to the table of $435,000 from Mr. Investor. There are two lenders involved and both agree to take a loss just to sell the property and get it off the books. Between the two lenders, over $65,000 is discounted off of original purchase price. This does not account for a significant amount of other closing costs also paid for by the lender. Many opportunities like this exist in short sale investing however, just like any investing tactic, does not work for all situations. Yet, who can resist coming in with $60,000 of instant equity which is why short sale experts believe this is a tactic worth pursuing.

Generally, the buyer/investor gets a property well below market. Not to mention the benefit to the agent(s) in commissions if one is involved. Short sales are a great tool for those investors looking for undervalued properties (isn't every investor) because the lender(s) are willing to take a significant discount so long as the sale adheres to their guidelines. Most investors recognize that their profit is made in the purchase and, when they walk in with instant equity, they have many more options available to turn a profit.

Give this a thought. Whichever house you stumble upon is more than likely to be fine. But a house purchase is like a garage sale; only instead of trading used cd's and clothes, you're buying and selling the garage. You will never find a flawless home, not even a builder home will be without flaw as far as a home inspection is concerned. But, you may certainly find the perfect home for you. For these reasons, it is absolutely important that your purchases are gone over thoroughly by a licensed professional. The purchase of house is at all times negotiable, and a proper intermediary assessment is a tenant of the agreement that you'll desire to always remain tightly on. Place it in writing, and have it signed. Leave no item to the dice.

Here are a small amount of ideas to think about:

If there is lumber present on the house, you may possibly wish a totally separate termite and insect inspection of the home. Common home inspections focus mainly on structural and mechanical aspects. They don't usually check for termites. Here once more is an opportunity to make friends with your inspector. Termites, ants, mice and other bugs may badly deteriorate doors, floors, attics and shelving. They can burrow through cabling and be the cause of electrical troubles.

Skilled inspectors will most likely begin with the settlement, searching for major cracks, unlevel site, and/or proof of water stains (i.e. water marks, bacteria, mildew, and mineral deposits). Some inspectors will also examine for the presence of radon gas in the atmosphere. The residence is examined as a structural whole; angles and joints and frames must come together at appropriate places to make certain a sturdy foundation. Plumbing and electrical mechanisms are reviewed for issues, wear, and to be clear they conform to industry regulations. Pipes are reviewed for holes, corrosion, lead, and other substances. In tandem with this, some inspectors measure flow-rate and water pressure. It is important to have good functioning electrical devices. Be weary of faulty cabling, uncovered outlets or receptacles, faulty grounds, inadequate or malfunctioning circuit breakers, or bad quality GFCI trips (those little red buttons in the center of your outlets which perform as miniature circuit breakers). A.C. and heating units will be inspected for duct leaks, the state of filters, and adequate capacity and flow. It is also imperative to ensure that the thermostat is in proper working order. Attics are inspected for the correct framing and strength, paying attention to any water leaks or clear damage. The roof is checked for rips or holes, wobbly shingle, weaknesses, and to be certain that vent pipes are mounted properly. Appliances (i.e. stove and water heater) must act in accordance with with standards. If there is a propane or wood-burning stove, these are required to be examined for physical integrity and proper performance. Carpets should not show signs of bad deterioration or water damage. All faucets must be examined for drips.

In addition to these important aspects, your inspector might examine a variety of different systems. you will receive a thorough account of his or her inspection, and as the buyer you may use these defective notations as bargaining tools during the negotiation phase. As a seller, this professional inspection may be completed before listing, so that problematic items can be granted consideration before the home gets to the real estate market.

House inspections can be hard o the wallet, but a few hundred dollars may well save you from much more in the long-run, and there is something to be stated about peace-of-mind with your home and knowing it is in acceptable condition.

Most people just starting out in real estate investing focus on buzz phrases like, "property analysis" and "due-diligence". The relationship between these two is important to any real estate investor, both experienced and inexperienced alike. The other aspect that is equally important, if not more important is self-analysis.

Now I don't mean psychological self-analysis either. Self-analysis is about taking a good look at your own financial situation, knowledge of investments, resources, strengths and weaknesses, and personal preferences. When we first began our real estate investment company, we agreed that personal guarantees for loans for any project for the company was not in our best interest. This is an example of a personal preference. This obviously has an impact on how we conduct our business.

Many real estate investors face the reality of having to borrow money in order to begin purchasing real estate. A great place to start analysing is your own wallet. Then match that to your personal preferences. For instance, if you were to consider buying a "fixer upper" and you had $5000 in your bank account. You would have to consider your options based not only on the amount of money in your bank account, but also the implications of borrowing money. This includes your credit, your personal assets, your family situation and the risks involved.

Bullets are always nice, so here are some to help you focus on what should be considering before "going for broke" (which is what you want to avoid):

Money in bank


Access to more money if needed


Credit

Possible risks to credit


What do these risks mean to you (how much do you care about them)?


Family - how will this effect your family?


Current assets


Current debts

Take these bullets and then match them to the following:

What are the potential problems that may arise?


How well prepared are you to handle these challenges?


How well do you handle pressure?


What experience do you have?


What are some resources you can use that can help you?


What money sources can you access if needed?


Who do you know that can help you?


How can you meet people that can possibly help you?


Do you want to do what it takes to actually start meeting people in the business?


What if you lose all your money?


What if your credit is destroyed?


What if you lose everything you have?

On a scale of 1 - 10 (1 = Absolutely No Risk and 10 = Extremely High Risk), how risky is the investment strategy?

Those "what if" questions are probably the most scary out of the bunch and they are also the root of what keeps many people from taking the first step toward making that first real estate investment or starting their own business. Regardless of these questions, if you want to start investing in real estate or start your own business, these questions have to be asked honestly.

But look at the entire list also! Part of the power of the "what if" questions are that they overshadow all the other options. The self-analysis you do is an absolute must. Any person who is considering real estate investing as a viable option for wealth building has to answer these questions on their own. No one can answer them but you.

Self-analysis is important because knowing yourself is the first building block to success. You've got to understand yourself and be honest. If you sugarcoat it, you will ultimately fail. There are so many different ways to begin a career or business in real estate, it's almost unbelievable. But no matter what path you choose, you've got to sit down and look at yourself seriously. Where there are strengths, grow them and where there are weaknesses, work on them. Real estate investment success or business success in general, does not happen overnight, neither does self-analysis. Sit down, figure it out. Then go out and make money!

©2007 noobdogs.com

Office buildings can be very profitable, and long-term leases mean less management than with residential income properties.The downside? Nothing seems to go up and down as much as office rents and office occupancy rates.

Investing in office buildings can be very profitable. A friend of mine bought the office building that his law firm was renting, and rented it to his company. It generated cash flow from the start. Now that the original mortgage is paid off, the net income is a sufficient retirement plan by itself.

There are risks with office buildings. The biggest one is simply that the rental rates can go up and down with the economy. In the worst of times, the same number of people need housing, but there may be a major drop in the number of businesses, or at least the number that are looking for an office to rent. After the dot-com crash, for example the rent for many buildings in the silicon valley area dropped by 30% or more.

A drop of that much means losing the property for many investors. Suddenly having a large negative cash flow for years isn't an easy problem to overcome. But even worse is the fact that during these rough times, many office buildings are empty for a year or two, with no income coming in at all. I have seen office space and even whole buildings sit empty for several years.

You might think that long-term leases reduce this risk. They may to some extent. And the long lease periods that are common are one of the attractions of this kind of investment. However, lease or no lease, if the company in your building goes bankrupt during a recession, they will not be paying the rent. Suing them probably won't help at that point either.

Does this mean you shouldn't invest in office buildings? Not necessarily. If there is a low vacancy rate in the area, and the economy is doing well, you can have good cash flow from office space. However, because of the inherent unpredictability of future vacancy rates and rent levels, you should always plan to have a good chunk of cash set aside to cover the rough times.

You also want to get a higher rate of return than with something like residential rentals. Higher risk doesn't make sense if you don't make more for it. You might do okay breaking even on your rental houses while the renters pay down those mortgages, but you better have a good positive cash flow if you invest in office buildings.

Ideally, you want to buy a building that already has a the tenant or tenants in place, and with leases that have a couple years to run. There is not necessarily a line of tenants waiting to take their place, like there can be with residential rentals. Office buildings, and the tenants in them, are unique, and fitting the two together will almost always take a little time.

If you risk buying an empty building (probably a bad idea), start advertising before you close on the deal. You should also plan on a year without income. You should also be getting the building at a price that assures you of really good cash flow when you do get it rented - to make up for that vacant time period that will be eating up your money.

Talk to other owners of office buildings in the area, to see what their biggest problems are. Find out what the usual arrangements are, like who pays for landscaping, and how much the tenants are allowed to modify a building. Find the buildings most similar to the one you are considering, and see if you can find out what they are renting for. In other words, if you do invest in office buildings, you should do your research.