First of all, there’s nothing quick about getting rich with real estate.  Seminars that promise to create “x” number of millionaires in the next few months never, or rarely ever, deliver on the promise.  Although real estate has produced more millionaires than any other form of investing this accumulation of wealth happened over time and included some basic principles.  Naturally, these “basic” principles vary greatly….put “real estate investment basics” into Google and see how many different versions are touted from industry “experts”.  Having established that are a variety of principles, I recommend the following, as a starting point…. Get educated…..use the tools that are available to you to do your own homework.  Turn to the internet, books for reputable authors, credible investment groups and university level courses, become your own expert.

John K. Chrisbens P: 303-250-0347

• Learn your market.....a home in one market may give you enough income to cover your principal, interest, taxes, insurance, maintenance and other costs but not appreciate, another may not bring sufficient rent, but may appreciate enough to make up for your carrying costs in the long run.

• Know the numbers.....Cap Rates, Gross Rent Multiplier, Cash on Cash; Debt Ratios, etc. understand what these terms mean and how they determine the long and short term value of an investment property.

• Determine your strategy.....will you buy and hold, fix and flip or buy to rent?  Is a single family home a better fit or a multi-unit apartment building?  The understanding of the rewards of each of these options also includes understanding the risks.

• Budget it…..set it and be constantly aware of it.  Know how much you can spend.  If you’re renovating a home to put it back on the market (fix and flip) understand the cost of materials, labor and time, in addition to all related holding costs.

• Hire a professional….Chances are no matter how long or how hard you study you’ll need some type of professional help to acquire your first investment property.  Take advantage of someone who can assist with “running the numbers”, maintenance costs, property management issues, tenant issues and the like.  Someone who knows the ropes will come in handy when you are on the ropes.

Why Denver?

Denver is uniquely positioned to continue its stature as a desirable place to invest in real estate.  Most recently, the “Today Show” featured a segment in which they pointed to Denver as the number one market in the country. 
http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/30825142#30825142

Fortunately, or unfortunately, depending on your perspective Denver did not see the skyrocketing increases in appreciation that the Las Vegas’, Phoenix’s or Miami’s did in the early 2000’s.  Consequently, Denver’s slide was a manageable 5.5% versus the 35%, on average, that these three cities experienced.  Additionally, Denver is a very desirable place to live as a function of its weather, outdoor activities and young and educated population.  Moreover, having experienced our share of the foreclosure epidemic much earlier than most cities we are now poised to rebound quickly.  Furthermore, Denver is not over-built like many other cities of similar or larger size.  This combination of factors places Denver in one of the elite investment cities in the country.

Why Invest Now?

It’s a combination of four critical areas:  Low interest rates, low real estate prices, government tax credits and a vibrant, desirable city.  Interest rates have not been lower within the last 52 years and this includes investment properties.  You can’t escape the news regarding the plummeting real estate values around the country.  Denver, as mentioned above, has fared much better than most of the country, but nevertheless has seen a noteworthy drop.  If you’re a first time home buyer the $8000 tax credit is not something we are going to see again in our lifetime.  Finally, you can’t ignore Denver as a strong real estate market…..young residents, educated population, nice weather, outdoor activities, slowing foreclosure rate and available land for development.  When combined with low interest rates, low prices and tax credits you would be hard pressed to find a more desirable time to begin investing in real estate.

John Chrisbens: As a Colorado native and co-owner of Metro Brokers Cherry Creek John brings over 15 years of sales and marketing experience, most recently as the Director of Sales and Brand Development at Colorado Ski Country USA.  John brings a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of sales in addition to a thorough understanding of marketing, having created, implemented and managed multi-million dollar marketing campaigns at both of his previous positions.  John has two degrees; business management and psychology, from the University of Missouri.

With over $40 million dollars in sales John is in the top 13% of all Realtors in Colorado.  John's focus is in residential real estate, but he has been involved in several multi-unit commercial properties. 
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Metro Brokers: In business for over 26 years, Metro Brokers is an association of independent real estate brokers who specialize in Colorado residential, commercial and investment properties.  Each Metro Brokers' agent is fully licensed with the Colorado Real Estate Commission and belongs to a local Board of REALTORS® and the Colorado Association of REALTORS®.  In addition, each agent adheres to Metro Brokers' own high standards of professionalism, integrity, knowledge and service.

John’s website is 4saleindenver.com