Investing in Real Estate

Course Description

Real estate can be a good investment vehicle, but what are the advantages and disadvantages of investing in this form of asset? What are the different types of real estate and how can the average investor become involved? What should you look for in a real estate investment? This course starts with the basics of owning your own home and the nature of viewing it as an asset. It moves on to owning your first rental property, multi-family units, and more complex strategies such as REITs, limited partnership projects, undivided interest purchases, commercial development trusts, land banking syndications and other real estate-backed investments.

Participant Outcomes

Upon successful completion of this course, you will be familiar with:

Common types of investments and asset classes in a balanced portfolio
Ways to invest in real estate and how this can be a viable investment vehicle
Debt instruments, their attributes and value
The difference between residential and commercial real estate including the opportunities, costs and risks associated with both various manufactured real estate investment products including REITs, mutual funds, limited partnerships, mutual fund trusts, private equity funds and mortgage investment corporations
How to apply due diligence in all investment ventures

Course Content

Basic Financial Planning Components

The basics of investing as a component of a financial plan
Why real estate may be a viable investment vehicle
Your own home as a real estate asset
Basic financing vehicles
Basic rental property including:

a. How to assess and acquire

b. How to calculate Rate of Return

c. How to Calculate Cash Flow

d. The Rental Process

e. The Basics of being a Landlord

f. Risk and tax issues

Investing in Companies that Invest in Real Estate

Risks and benefits
Factors that affect the success of commercial real estate
development
The importance of due diligence in the investment process
Conclusions and final question period