What Is A Real Estate Business?
A real estate business is a business entity that deals with the buying, selling, management, or investment of real estate properties. According to The Balance, real estate is defined as “the property, land, buildings, air rights above the land and underground rights below the land.”
Today, many face an unfortunate reality: less than five percent of people who reach age 65 have enough money to retire or are “financially secure enough,” according to the US census bureau. If you want to set yourself up for a stress-free retirement, it may be time to consider starting a real estate investing business to achieve your personal financial goals.
Starting a real estate investment business will not be easy, but it will be well worth the work with the right preparation. Best of all, there are several resources on small business systems that can make the learning process easier and more efficient. Read through our guide below; after all, it is designed to help you succeed.
How To Start A Real Estate Business
Those wondering how to start a real estate business should be cautioned that owning a real estate company is no easy feat. Just like starting a business in any other industry, entrepreneurs should log countless hours conducting research and craft a meticulous business plan before actually jumping into business. Take guidance from the following tips as you open the door to starting a real estate business:
- Think Through Professional Goals
- Conduct In-Depth Research
- Organize Your Finances
- Craft Your Business Strategy
- Form An LLC
- Plan Your Marketing
- Build A Website
- Launch Campaigns
- Stay On Top Of Leads
- Build A Support Network
Set Your Business Goals
Before you hit the ground running, take time to evaluate and prioritize your plans for the future. This means thinking through your personal, professional, and financial goals—as these will influence how you start and build your real estate investing business. Start by asking yourself where you plan to be in five, ten, and fifteen years. Then, strategize more immediate steps to help you get here. The importance of this process cannot be overstated. Goals not only help investors stay focused, but they also help them take action.
One framework I find particularly helpful is SMART goals. This stands for specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound. Essentially, it helps investors balance ambition and action steps as they plan out the future. SMART goals operate in both short-term and long-term frameworks, making them perfect for any starting point. For more information on setting SMART goals, be sure to instruct our guide today.
Conduct In-Depth Research
A successful business plan is always preceded by in-depth industry research, identifying a specific niche, market area, and potential competitors. There are several exit strategies your real estate business could focus on, though some are more geared towards beginners. Many first-time investors will opt for wholesaling, allowing them to learn the ropes before purchasing properties. However, depending on your goals, rehabbing or buy-and-hold strategies may be great options as well.
Your research should then focus on what market area is best suited to your investing niche. “A good understanding of the market is important to close better deals,” says Orefice. “I wish I knew this earlier because I often made random investments that resulted in losses, and it took me considerable time to bounce back to normal. With proper research about the market, one can make informed decisions and close better deals.”
Look at median home values and rental prices, research neighborhood amenities, and most importantly, don’t be afraid to look outside your current location. Online research, networking events, and even getting a mentor can help during this process. Always remember, the more research you complete now, the more prepared you will be to start developing your business plan.
Organize Your Finances
There are several methods to get involved in real estate with no money down; however, that doesn’t mean you should avoid taking stock of your current financial standing. Chances are, when you approach a lender, they will want information on your financial history. It is important to take a look before you are ever approached with questions. Request a copy of your credit report and review any existing accounts or investments you have. I always tell investors that no matter where you start financially, there are ways to get started in real estate investing.
A few financing options may be right for you depending on your investment strategy. Real estate investors can start somewhere traditional, like a financial institution or government loan mortgage. Or, they can opt for nontraditional financing options like private money lenders, business partnerships, and even crowdfunding. You don’t have to settle on one “method” right now, but you should be familiar with a few options. That way, when it’s time to get your business up and running, you know exactly where to go.
Craft Your Business Strategy
Once you have conducted sufficient research, you should already have started formulating ideas in your mind on exactly what will help your business succeed in your market. Write out a business plan that also includes the resources and tools you plan to leverage.
Form A Real Estate LLC
A limited liability company (LLC) refers to a business structure set up to protect business costs from interfering with an investor’s personal finances. The designation allows investors to purchase and own real estate, without involving personal liability. Each state has different fees and regulations associated with establishing an LLC, though the overall process is largely the same:
- Confirm the regulations in your state before getting started
- Choose a unique business name
- File an Article of Organization with your state
- Create an operating agreement for the business
- Publish an intent to file (if required in your state)
- Apply for a tax identification number through the IRS
After you form your LLC, a few other permits may be required before you can officially open for business. Confirm with your state what these are, and you’ll be on your way to securing your first deal.
Plan Your Business Marketing
Having a successful real estate business is synonymous with having a successful marketing strategy. What is your unique value proposition? Answering this question will help you establish a brand for your business and any subsequent marketing campaigns. This is also a great time to settle on a logo, core values, and a mission statement. These components will help inform how you reach out to potential customers and serve as a jumping-off point for your marketing materials.
After creating a foundation for your real estate business, it is time to start your first campaign. Read through the following list of common marketing materials for some inspiration:
- Direct Mail: Believe it or not, direct mail still has a place in this digital age. Real estate investors are constantly using postcards, handwritten letters, and other mailers to reach potential sellers. The most important thing to remember when using direct mail is to remain consistent: more often than not, your response rates will increase on the second or third attempt.
- Email Campaigns: Email is a great way to reach potential leads, as long as you can gather enough contact information. Because email addresses are not as readily available as property information, putting together a strong list may take a while. That being said, in time, this is a highly cost-effective method to reach both buyers and sellers.
- Social Media: Social media is great for beginners because it is an entirely free way to spread the word about your business. Create profiles across Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn, and post updates when you can. In time, you may find paid social media advertising to be helpful as well.
- Networking: Real estate thrives on networking,, in many cases it really is about who you know. Start by attending real estate events in your area, and branch out from there. Not sure where to find events? I recommend searching on Facebook or Meetup.com. Once you start building connections, you can even start organizing networking opportunities yourself.
- Bandit Signs: When newcomers think of real estate, this is often the first thing that comes to mind. Bandit signs are those posters that sit at popular intersections with messages like, “We buy houses!” or “Call us for a cash offer!” Have you ever stopped to think why there are so many? It’s because they work. Bandit signs can be a great way to spread the word about your real estate business. Just make sure they are legal in your area.
Build A Website
In today’s digital age, having a proper web presence is critical. This is especially true in the real estate industry. Most homebuyers report starting their search online before they’ll reach out to their agent. This means that having a solid website will increase your chances of attracting new business. Consider using websites like WordPress, Squarespace, and Wix, which offer beginner-friendly experiences at relatively affordable prices. Your website will often be your first point of contact with a potential client, so be sure to include pages that help relay who you are as a real estate professional, the values you stand for, and the value you can provide to them. Don’t forget to add your website URL to all of your marketing materials and social media pages, which will refer clients back to your site. Last but not least, you can help drive more traffic to your website by publishing relevant, timely, and valuable articles and content.
Launch Campaigns
Make sure to be consistent across all of your marketing channels, whether social media, e-mail, snail mail, or traditional marketing. Be sure to schedule out follow-ups to each of the campaigns that you deliver.
Stay On Top Of Leads
One of the worst things you can do for your business is to launch marketing campaigns without a plan to track and follow up with your leads. Even if someone does not present an immediate opportunity, cultivating a relationship over time may earn you their business down the line. A great way to keep track of your leads is with the help of a Customer Relationship Management system or CRM. This type of software provides a way to manage your marketing campaigns and leads in one place. Programs like Hubspot, AgileCRM, and Apptivo are great places to start your research. Look for free trials or pricing plans based on the number of leads you work with.
While becoming a Realtor is not a necessary step to take in order to start your business, it can offer a great opportunity for discovering new leads. Jasen Edwards from Agent Advice suggests that “When it comes to starting a real estate business, the first thing you need to do is join the National Association of Realtors (NAR). With a NAR membership, you can gain full access to the Multiple Listing Services (MLS) – enabling you to search through all of the listings in the network. After all, knowledge is power. If you’re starting out, you need all the real estate market data you can get your hands on”.
Build A Support Network
As cliche as it sounds, no person is an island when starting a real estate investment business. On the contrary, many leads and deals in real estate will come directly from your personal network. Whether your network consists of clients, colleagues, mentors, or even competitors, make sure to invest ample time in cultivating these key relationships.
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