by Lolita Sheriow

Real estate investing is about more than numbers. It flows from a state of mind. The most successful real estate investors often become so because of an ability to maintain balance. They maintain it not just in their bank accounts, but in life in general.

Part of achieving that balance comes from goal setting. Goal setting is critical not just in business, but in everyday life. Life coaches regularly advise followers to set financial, physical, personal development, family and spiritual goals. Those goals become a person’s motivation for everything they do in life.

Goal setting brings meaning and order to day-to-day living. Now apply this idea to real estate investing. Real estate investment goal setting gives an investor a clear picture of what he or she wants. It also provides the investor the vehicle with which to achieve those goals.

One key aspect of goal setting is writing those goals. Goals are more likely to be achieved when written down. Writing goals provides a tangible, visual and interactive reminder of what is important to a person and why. The same thing applies to real estate investing goals. Real estate investors should start by determining the motive for buying real estate.

Ultimately of course, the goal is to make money. However, an investor should decide why he or she has chosen to use real estate as a vehicle for making money. Some examples of motives for real estate investing may be:

* To garner a livable income in order to quit a current job

* To earn extra money (for a dream vacation, to purchase a better home to live in, to save for a child’s college education, etc.)

* To improve economic status

* To capitalize on an interest in home improvement

* To be one’s own boss

Identifying the true reason for pursuing real estate investing as a means to profit will keep investors motivated. Writing it down will solidify their resolve and become a guiding reference point.

Investors should then apply this goal to the following points:

* Cash: How much cash can I get out in the refinance?

* Cash flow: What will the cash flow be?

* Equity: How much will my net worth increase after I purchase the property?

Investors should run the numbers to add up these three items for every property they are considering. In other words, an investor may have ,000 equity in a property. The cash flow is break even. This means that the return on the equity is zero.

A property in a case like this should be sold. The equity should instead be invested somewhere else to get a return on the money.

Real estate goal setting is a powerful tool for keeping investors on track. real estate investing efforts are sometimes fruitless and even produce loss due to the emotion involved. Goal setting can help offset this variable. It offers an objective perspective when comparing the bottom line with the emotions surrounding an investment.

It also helps ensure that an investor’s work isn’t for naught. No investor wants to work at climbing the
ladder only to realize it’s leaning against the wrong tree.

Lolita Sheriow is a Real Estate Investor and Network Marketer who works from home and helps people nationwide expand their real estate investing strategies and techniques. Find out how and get a FREE report at http://www.buybigprofithomes.com/

Article Source: ArticleSpan

In the following article,”Mortgage Interest Rate Predictions For the Rest of 2009“, author Michael Petrone feels that mortgage rates will drop in October 2009. He makes a sensible argument, feeling that the banks raised interest rates some time ago by .5% in order to service the influx of refinances resulting from President Obamas “Making Home Affordable” plan, and again will lower their rates once they get caught up. It primarily speaks of home mortgages, but seems likely that it will also apply to commercial mortgages, and if so, would be welcome news for real estate investors and agents who work with rental income properties. Let’s hope so.

Here’s the article:

Here are my mortgage rate predictions for 2009. By refinancing or getting a home loan modification when rates are lowest, you are ensuring that you get the lowest possible payments. A few percentage points on a home loan can easily add up to thousands of dollars, so getting the lowest interest rate possible is important. So, here are my mortgage rate predictions for the rest of 2009.

Right now 5.19% is the average rate for a 30 year, fixed rate, home mortgage. However that is not the lowest rate it has been, or will be. Not too long ago, mortgage rates were increased by .5%, from 4.69% so that, as I predicted in earlier posts, that mortgage lenders and banks could catch up on the massive influx of refinancing and mortgage modification applications they were receiving due to the low rates, and President Obamas “Making Home Affordable” plan. The lenders and banks needed a chance to get the applications that were pending reviewed, and approved, and increasing the rates slightly was the perfect answer for them. The small increase warded off homeowners simply looking to save money, from the homeowners who truly needed help and in risk of losing their home.

This is where my prediction starts for the remainder of 2009 and early 2010. I think that around the middle of October 2009, mortgage lenders and banks will have completed nearly all received applications, and will be in need and hungry for a new round of mortgage modifications and refinancing. This means that I predict mortgage rates will drop by .5% to their prior lows of 4.69% in order to stimulate the housing market, and help homeowners lower their monthly mortgages into affordable amounts. I think that this rate will hold strong until around April of 2010. So basically, the lowest interest rates of the year, I predict, will be around the middle of October, and last through April 2010 or so.

Predicting mortgage rates can be tricky to do, and dangerous to rely on. There are no guarantees but I am pretty confident in my mortgage interest rate predictions. Homeowners looking to refinance or get a home loan modification should consider taking advantage of the low rates and attempt to hold off until the drop kicks in around October. However, if you are at risk of losing your home, or are facing tough financial hardships that need attention now, take action and do not wait any longer.

At my site I will teach you how to properly refinance or modify a home mortgage saving you thousands of dollars, or even your home. A lot of Greedy Mortgage Lenders will try to suck you dry if you let them. Learn the right way to refinance or modify your home loan at my site: http://www.refinancingcondo.com