Online Education Has Come of Age!

Online education is becoming increasingly more popular as the quality and quantity of online degree programs expands. A few short years ago the perception of many professionals in the corporate world was that these degree programs were substandard. If that ever were the case, it is definitely no longer.

As the market embraced the expanding need for online education to cater to working adults, the programs achieved higher quality year after year. At this point most degree programs offered online are at least par with traditional programs and in many cases are much preferred by the working public. Online accredited universities can be easily found with a quick online search.

Most colleges now understand the value of having Internet based teaching modules in one way or another. The technology is too valuable and widespread not to take advantage of it. According to the Sloan Consortium’s report of 2007, 5 years after the roll out of online education, there were almost 3.5 million students taking an online course during the fall of 2006. In addition to that there was a growth rate of almost 10% in online enrollments vs. the 1.5% growth of all educational enrollment combined. This in and of itself testifies to the strength and market of online education. I am sure the statistics have even expanded since that last report.

Taking an online course is quite tough. In a traditional setting it is possible to ask friends or classmates questions and get answers very quickly. While this may be an efficient use of time, working online through email or through a newsgroup setting requires the student to research answers to their questions in much more depth than otherwise. My experience is that the person walks away with a much more profound answer to their question, and that answer is now internalized into their knowledge base.

As a person that spent almost 8 years in traditional schooling and then another 2 years in online education, I can speak with experience that they both have their upsides and downsides. However, for the working adult online degree programs are absolutely the way to go. No longer is it a requirement that you need to quit your job, put your spouse to work, and head off to the bookstore. You now have the educational opportunities to advance your career right at your keyboard.

There are obvious degree programs that make sense to receive at a traditional institution. Anything that requires hands on lab work is an example. But even some of these are being addressed by remote and online institutions.

Most everyone understands the need to educate themselves to increase their financial value to the corporate community. For those that are in a situation where they have families and / or need to work online education is most definitely an alternative that will take you far in your chosen career.

Are Free Home Based Businesses Really Free?

Free home based businesses is a highly searched term on search engines every day. One problem you will encounter is determining whether the business is really free or not.

What I have found is that there are business opportunities that do not cost anything to join. SFI is an example of this.

I have also found there are business models that you can develop a home business from the do not cost anything either. Affiliate marketing is probably the most popular one of these.

In my opinion this is the best way for you to get started making money with your own home business if you do not have any money to start with.

As an affiliate marketer you get websites and products to promote. They also give you marketing materials such as banner ads and text ads you can promote with.

Blogging is another example of a free home based business you can start. You can set up a free blog at Blogger.com or WordPress.

To make money you just add Google AdSense ads to your blog and you are ready to get started. You can also add affiliate banners to your blog and make money when people click on those.

There are also many trial offer businesses you can join. Some of these will let you try the business out for $1 for one week.

They are counting on the fact that you will be impressed with what they had to offer and you will be willing to upgrade to a paid membership.

It all comes down to what appeals to you and exactly what your budget is. However, there are definitely free home based businesses on the Internet today.

Best Home Based Business Opportunities – How to Find the Right One

Many people today are looking for a way to survive the economic wows and they are turning to the Internet. There are many places on the Internet were you will find the best home based business opportunities.But how do you know what business opportunity will be right for you? People can give you their opinion, however what may be a good work from home opportunity for them may not be something that you might enjoy. There are some strategies that you can exercise that will help you find the right business opportunity for you.The first step is to ponder what you feel passionate about or what you may have always wanted to learn more about. It is important to find something that you have a connection with because you will feel motivated and enjoy the process much more than if you selected a business that you have no interest in.Next step is to do some research. Make a list of the business opportunities that you have some interest in and check them out in detail. The details that you will want to know more about are, how much will you need to get started, what type of marketing materials will they provide you with, what type of training is offered, and do you feel good about the people that will be helping you get started. It is very important to make that list of what you want so that as you check out the details of the businesses that you are considering, you will be able to make the right choice of the best home based business opportunities.You will find a lot of help when you join a home business forum. As you start reading posts from others you can get a realistic feel for how others are doing in their business opportunity. You may also discover better opportunities that the one’s you are already looking at.These steps are important to do before jumping into a business opportunity. It will save you much disappointment and money by knowing as much as you can before you make your decision.The results of your research will pay off in the end. There are so many really great home based business opportunities out there, and there are some that are not so great or just have not proven themselves yet. Do your homework and ask lots of questions and find something that you will feel good about and that is what makes the best home based business opportunities.

How to Start a Successful Home Based Business the Right Way

If you want to start a successful home based business, earn income working from your home there are so many opportunities available, but there is as much competition as well. Good news is that you can become successful in achieving your financial targets from your home based business by setting it up the right way. Much the same way as starting a traditional business, to start a home based business it will require a business idea, market research and marketing.You should start your home Based business based on an idea with a clear picture in mind of what you want to achieve, and set realistic goals to achieve your targets. First of all you have to find out a commercially viable market and decide what business model you are going to use to venture in to that market easily and how you are going to accomplish it. Consider if you are going to manage your business by your self or hire some one else to do it for you. If you do it your self then decide how much time you are going to devote to your business.Next you are going to set your business, marketing, and financial goals. All these objectives should be well planned in terms of an achievable time or date which should be reasonable and attainable. Your marketing goals should meet your business and financial objectives. Once you have decided how much you want to earn, plan your marketing goals depending on how much time and money you want to spend on your marketing. If you are not sure, you must do a proper market research to find out that in order to set realistic marketing goals.Only after proper market research you will be able to determine who your customers are and how much competition you have. competition is a good sign as it indicates that there is already a buying trend in that market which is the reason why your competitors are spending money in that market. You should focus on strategies that your competitors are using most effectively and find out the cost of marketing you will have to pay to achieve your marketing goals.Having a clear picture of the business idea will allow you to set your business goals easily. Setting realistic achievable goals and doing proper market research not only allow you set the right marketing strategies but also cut down a lot of money and time as you will know what marketing strategies your competitors are already applying successfully. This information will help you to set up a successful home based business to achieve your financial objectives.

Home-Based Business Opportunities – Network Marketing and MLM Business

In recent days, many home based business opportunities were available for people that have enormous earning potential. Network Marketing is one such business opportunity that helps individuals earn a good amount of income at the comfort of their own home. This type of marketing is also referred as Affiliate marketing, Internet Marketing and MLM (multi level marketing).MLM business is the affluent and ever growing online business opportunity in the world of Internet. Internet network marketers promote several products and services all around the world. This business takes many forms such promoting products or services, taking-up market surveys or market research. The profitable and good news about it is that once people establish their business correctly, they get a decent paycheck each and every month.Scope of Home Based Affiliate Marketing:To start a network marketing business, you have to browse the Internet to obtain an ideal option. There are numerous home earning opportunities, and you may come across some that require you to make an initial investment. This initial investment is nothing but the joining fee for collateral purpose.At times, some MLM marketing companies do not ask any joining fee to undertake the business. A few companies offer such home based business opportunities on a commission basis, where the earnings depend on the individuals’ performance.Your earnings in the home based online marketing depend on the chosen online networking company. The bigger and reputed company, the better the compensation will be. Nonetheless, all companies compensate on commission or contract basis. The companies pay out these payments periodically through those options, which are comfortable for the online marketers.Now, the home based online marketing is considered as the high paid-up job in the Internet business world. Several marketers receive thousands of dollars every month by sitting at comfort of their home. Generally, the companies pay more commission than a basic salary.If you are one of those who are bored of their 9-5 job and would love to earn your living sitting at home then Network marketing is one of the best home based business opportunity available.

Can a Home Based Business Make a Difference? How is the Economy Treating You?

How is the economy treating you? It’s easy to think about the acceptance of mediocre earnings or the gloom and doom of unemployment when everyone around you is talking about how bad the economy is.People are losing jobs and companies are going out of business almost over night. Will you be next? Friend, I hope not for your sake. However, will you be next? There are enormous cutbacks taking place and there are some that do not seem to be logical. I would think that suspension and lay-offs of teachers fits into this category. It seems to me that they should be among some of the most important to keep! Why, because they will motivate and educate the minds of our children and young people in order to unlock our fullest human potentials and creativity. It seems that the appropriate and most ideal time to experience the best from ourselves would be at a time when we need it the most! I would think new ways of thinking and learning could help to get us out of the economic recession for years to come. Again friend, will you be next? Maybe, our learning is our own responsibility in the long run.Are you prepared to reinvent yourself today? What if you are next? What is your plan B? Do you have one? Would you like one? There are enormous bailouts that go to save entire industries or does it all go to the rich executives who are already positioned at the top of the corporate pyramid and economic food chain? Friend, I am not really sure anymore. It takes a great deal to actually hold up the corporate pyramid and traditional business structure. Are there more efficient business models and more efficient channels of product distribution that do not involve a multitude of middle men? Yes, most definitely without a doubt!Are there technology platforms that empower an individual to offer worldwide world-class products and services all from the comfort of home? Yes, Yes, and Yes! The old traditional models of doing business are costly and carry huge risks. Is it likely that you have thousands and thousands to spend if you have just lost your job without notice? No, you will probably pull the budget strings tighter. Remember, the corporate structure will try to insure its own survival at all costs. It seems that it always has and that it always will. Those are just the facts. Decisions are made daily to keep it in place. Friend, with that being said it should become clear that all those under the traditional corporate structure are at the immediate risk of becoming nothing more than a number. Will you be next? Profits must be protected at all costs!This structure has placed you at the very bottom on average with limited opportunity. Is it hard for you to pay your bills? Do you resent the enormous bailouts that we have witnessed in financial and manufacturing markets? Do you care that tax dollars are wasted on a regular basis? Do you resent tax dollars going in the coffers of those who are already wealthy? Is it frustrating to know that you are living check to check? Friend, what will you do if you are next? Can you leverage yourself and your efforts so that it does not matter? Yes, you can!Do not allow yourself to be placed in such a position as to be waiting on only one check from one employer. Position yourself for something much, much greater! If you were not worried about such a loss, the thought would not be so terrifying. And, if people had more than one, or two, or three sources and or streams of income, they would not need to rush to the unemployment office to experience all that it has to offer immediately upon losing their jobs. Friend, how is the economy treating you? Are you energized and excited about the possibilities you are presented with? Will you be next? Can a home-based business make a difference? Can you really build a six-figure income from home? Yes, people are doing so every day. Is control of your dream really in your hands where it needs to be and rightfully should be? The answer is, I think not, unless that is, you have your own business and provide value to the world. Are you missing the big picture by not participating in the world around you? Don’t be disappointed if life passes you by because you chose to watch instead of experience and participate. Do not sit around and stagnate in fear. Educate yourself! Take action today and begin to explore the possibilities. There is no recession on the World Wide Web. Plug in and be part of the Internet marketing and home-based business history that is being made while you are reading this article. It is happening! Will you learn to earn or will you be next? It will take effort and minimal dollars because it is a real opportunity for you to elevate yourself to a new level of business operation and mindset. Consider leaving the traditional limited mindset and business models behind. Clear your mind and visualize moving at the speed of thought almost, and doing so around the world. Friend, are you more secure with a single employer with the power of one income source over you or are you safer knowing you offer value to the whole world each and everyday?The rules of commerce and business have changed. Traditional models are almost obsolete. Some have allowed the abuses that have created the need for bail out in the first place. Friend, you must modify your thinking in order to align with what is actually happening in the world around you. You must learn what is working for others and their families. The fact that you may not be aware of or understand everything right away does not mean that such does not exist. You are either unaware or you remain unwilling to embrace new understanding and opportunity if you are not pursuing new ways of earning and business. You must be willing to invest the time and work required that could lead to your transformation and new unlimited potential.There must be a shift in thinking. Do you simply play on the Internet or have you harnessed the power of Internet Marketing in order to build your own business worldwide? If you are still scared to lose one check then fear no more. If you are in the check-to-check mindset you must bust out of it now! As long as you remain you are at great risk of being disappointed and even eliminated. Friend, are you next? You need not be. Adopt a new approach and stretch yourself. Prepare to grow and learn. Get excited!You must embrace your position and take responsibility for your own learning and education. Find your opportunity today. I cherish the words of best-selling author Robert T. Kiyosaki from his book entitled Rich Dad, Poor Dad. He reminds us how important it is to assume responsibility for our destiny and our own learning by stating it the following way. “If you want to be rich, you need to be financially literate.” He also suggests that you should start a home-based business and begin growing it right away. Friend, do you think a home-based business can help? Do you need an extra hundred or two per week? Could you use a few extra thousand per month? Can you benefit from fewer taxes and more tax benefits? Do you think a home business can make a difference? How is the economy treating you? I urge you to leave your comfort zone. I urge you to leave the place of anxiety and fear as well, in order to explore a whole new world of possibility. It has been said that six figures is the magic number. If people come to the understanding that abundance is right at home where the heart is and that real unlimited earnings are possible and realistic, they will immediately break through the fear and get off there butts and go to work. The learning curve must be experienced and new processes navigated, however. The rewards for doing so can be great and life long!There are a lot of people who do a whole lot more than six figures per year in their own home based business. They do it per month! Do you think you could find your place working from home too? Of course you could if you chose to. I can think of one company in particular that is one of my favorites because of the products and unique opportunity that it offers people. It is just over four years old and has already created over fifty business builders that are all earning over a million dollars per year and growing, all from home. This is factual documented income. Keep in mind this is just one example of an opportunity, company, and home based business and network marketing opportunity that is changing lives. Friend, do you think you could learn enough from these people to allow you to get what you need? I think so!Maybe a home-based business is exactly what you need! You must detach all emotion and put your thinking cap on. It is time to work, learn, and earn in that order. Take action and get in motion today. Maybe it is time for you to answer the question, what is your plan B? Think like the business owner and not like the employee. What if you are next? What if you are the next person to achieve massive success in the home business arena and have more fun than you ever imagined? What if you are the next person who is let go from their job? What if you are next? Which one would you rather be? Are you sure? The decision is yours and yours alone. Friend, Will you be next? Your business could be global instead of limited to the time clock that allows you to swap time for money. You could offer high-tech online marketing solutions and services to an entire industry. You could distribute products via automated drop ship around the world as well. You could be doing it all today. Do you want to run with the beautiful strong team of horses that run wild and free or do you prefer the thought of being the neglected race horse locked in the barn trying to catch an elusive ray of sunlight on his or her face. Would you like to grow strong like a great tree with a foundation of strength and deep roots or do you like the thought of being a leaf that will soon wither, die, and blow away? Again, the decision is truly in your hands. I urge you to pursue your dreams and your own financial literacy just as recommended by Robert T. Kiyosaki. Pick up his book today and read it! Become the stimulus that provides your bailout today. A home business can indeed make a difference. That much should be obvious. The question remains as to whether or not you will embrace the idea. Should you? Friend, how is the economy treating you? A home based business can make a difference.

Tips on Choosing a Home Based Business Franchise

Times are tough, and we can all use some extra cash. Maybe you’re thinking about starting a home based business because you’ve been laid off, or your boss is cutting costs by not giving out raises. Maybe you want to work from your own home and spend more time with your children. Perhaps it’s all those things, along with the dream of financial independence. The thought of setting your own hours and working in your pyjamas is certainly an appealing one. But there’s a lot to consider before you dive into an internet based business. Making an informed decision about which one you pick can go a long way with insuring success.First things first – what kind of franchise should you pick? There are several different types, from offering a service, selling a product, doing consulting and many in between. If setting your own hours and having the freedom to work from home is important to you, you’re going to want an internet based business. It really gives you more control over things than other types of franchises. A non-internet based business may involve things like setting up a storefront, renting space and hiring employees to work for you. Those things will drive start-up costs up, and that’s the last thing you want. A home based business franchise, run online, cuts all that out and allows you to hit the ground running. So you’ll concentrate on what’s most important – making yourself successful!Keep these tips in mind when investigation franchise opportunities:1.You want a franchise that offers training, along with support. Will they answer your questions after they have your money?2. Look at everything you’re getting when you buy in. Does the franchise simply offer advice and information on running the business, or do you get actual products to sell?3. Have other people succeeded with the franchise before?4. Do you learn the ins and outs of running your business from professionals? People who’ve already succeeded with their own franchises?There are a lot of franchises out there for people looking to start an internet based business. Carbon Copy Pro offers quit a bit to help you get off the ground. They’ve got books and DVDs explaining the process of personalizing their system to fit your needs. That includes things like getting a plan of action together, mastering the essentials of marketing and keeping motivated while you grow your home based business franchise. Membership of their community also gets you support from coaches who’ve already done what you’re starting out to do, so they know what they’re talking about. All in all Carbon Copy Pro is a pretty good system.However, in order to maximise your potential to succeed, I feel that YourNetBiz is the preferred option. They’re really the ultimate home based business franchise. Starting an online business with their tools will go a long way in insuring you’re successful. They have several options to suit every entrepreneur’s situation. Packages start at under $500. But if you’re serious about a home based business, the platinum package is the best option. Now, at around $3000 you may think it’s a little on the pricey side. But trust me, it’s not. What you’re getting is worth over $45,000. I’m talking about everything you need to start a REAL business. This package provides top class training in everything from marketing and selling, to how millionaires think. You’re getting an education in business from people who’ve already achieved great success, so they’ll keep you from wasting time and ensure you do the crucial tasks to ensure success. This is an education in business that would cost way more and take years to learn in college. But what you’ll learn is just the start. You’re also getting products to sell…and not just a few… Your Net Biz allows access to a huge library of audio, video and e-books, with resale rights FOR LIFE!So, with Your Net Biz you get a tried and true system that meets the five criteria listed above.There is a lot of stuff out there on starting an online business, so you might feel overwhelmed when you start looking into them. Some are good, others fail to deliver. Even if you never took YourNetBiz and exploited its business potential, the education on internet marketing and online business is worth the investment alone.

Christian-Home Based Business: The Deal

How would you like to run a business that is anchored on your religious beliefs? Some people are quite hesitant to start a business that is reflective of their religious practices and beliefs. This might be because they feel uncomfortable getting to earn money from what is supposedly a spiritual facet of their life. Others are hesitant because there might not be a lot of people who would patronize the products or avail of the services that your business would offer.However, there are currently a lot of businesses that run on their beliefs. They do not aim to desensitize the issue of religion. In fact, some of these businesses are started and are being run by actual practicing members of their religion. Their aim is to help co-members to practice their religion in a better way and to enhance the people’s desire to act on their faith.If you are a Christian, you can very well do the same, even from the comforts of your home. But if you do decide to start and run your own Christian home-based business, then you have to always remember to follow some of the recommended ways in running it to help you achieve success in your venture.Here are some of those:1. Offer products and services that focus on enhancing people’s faith and belief. There are Christian home-based businesses that offer supplementary posts and articles that will help people do their devotions with utmost sincerity over and love for their faith. You can put up a blog about devotions, Bible phrases, and stories about faith. Also, you can set a website that sells Christian records and other products relevant to the practice of the religion. Running a Christian home-based business would be more successful if you do this because people would be able to relate well with your products and services. Although, you have to keep in mind that what you are running is a supplementary business and not an entire religion in itself. Therefore, you should not try to make people or impose on them to base their beliefs on what you sell them. Allow them to explore their faith with only the help of your products.2. Be Christian in your business philosophies. How do you make your business philosophies become more Christian? There is never a right and exact answer. But being Christian speaks of all good things. This means that in running a Christian home-based business, you have to ensure that you are doing your best to deliver to your clients just exactly what they need. Be fair and honest in all your transactions not just so your customers will keep coming back but also because it is simply the right thing to do. Also, be accommodating in dealing with other people whether they are suppliers or clients or affiliates. Never forget that you are not running an ordinary business. You are running a Christian home-based business, so the expectations of you are really high. Love your business and all the good things it can do-and watch this love translate to a successful venture.3. Strategize the marketing campaign of your brand. Definitely, home-based businesses have to be marketed well so they can generate more clients and eventually become more successful. With a Christian home-based business, you have to strategize well because your audience is rather more specified. The ones you will be tapping are people who practice the Christian religion. But aside from marketing your product to them, you should also make them feel good enough to recommend your business to other Christians. Marketing your products and services should also be within a defined set of rules set by business leagues.A Christian home-based business should not be that difficult because it is practically like any other type of business. The only difference is that with this kind of business, entrepreneurs will be asked to reserve more judgment in terms of making decisions regarding the clients and their purchases. Make decisions that would be beneficial not only for your business but also for the entire brand or company. This would help the clients know that the company is doing its best to uphold the teachings of the Church.

Would a Real Estate Job Change Force Me to Take a Pay Cut?

What options would you be faced with as you contemplate a real estate job change? Love it or hate it, the Real Estate industry’s continued troubles will force even more once semi-independent and successful professionals, to make the inevitable real estate job change. First it was the residential housing sector which experienced record low declines in values only to be recently and temporally pent-up by government tax credits to try and force some good news from this sector. It will be interesting to see with the continued failed banks and residential housing foreclosures how long this “soft-serge” will last. As many of these government purchase programs will be coming to an end. And with governments continued and predictable slow responses to most financial crisis it will most likely leave a sizable void prior to any stabilized outcome. And, with the next wave of doom-and-gloom i.e. the commercial real estate sector which is just getting started leaving the Feds scrambling trying to force many banks into showing losses earlier rather than later, all or in part to merely skedaddle these losses early in hopes for some sizable gains prior to any primary election year.

Lets first quickly just recap why you chose your real estate career albeit in the residential or commercial sector. You may have known someone or previously worked with someone who prior to, or during the early stages of the “bubble” made a job change into the real estate field who (prior to the last 12-36 months) most likely tasted some relatively easy success. Or, maybe you were fascinated by the tangible control, possibly the tax benefits, or maybe even the investor side of you took over gasping at the ability to leverage your money (or OPM) as well as the banks! And of course the lifestyle you enjoyed or would have enjoyed certainly plays a role (providing you were not a workaholic) in your independent lifestyle of freedom and choice of whom and when you wanted to work with. Needless to say, having a real estate career albeit agent, broker, appraiser, lender or investor has many perks, though I just mentioned a few.

Making a real estate job change can be stressful, just the thought of it, especially if you made a serious career of it. What skills do you have that I may remind you of? Well for beginners, you are a self-starter and a motivator and for that matter a leader as you lead at least one or two parties to a closing, a rather large financial (and sometimes an emotional) agreement. Some of you have ventured into multiple million dollar negotiations/transactions (myself personally negotiating over $400,000,000). And if it wasn’t for you, these deals most likely would not have been closed without you.

Second, you possess some level of organizational & computer skills and are most likely not afraid of understanding procedures within and out of the office. And although “Joe Public” may have voted every year otherwise, you do have a sense of character and ethics and feel a level of “duty” to the community and those you work with to provide and represent yourself as a professional and a good listener and help solve those needs of others.

Now, what on earth would be a realistic and viable alternative job change for a real estate professional as I described above? Well, since you most likely understand the power of leveraging the banks money as most of you watched your buyers and sellers take part of that system, YOU should understand, or would be most open to want to understand the power of leveraging your time. How might one ask does one leverage the power of time?

Well, what if you volunteered to make a real estate job change. What changes would you impose on your new adventure? And could you leverage your time similar to that of a real estate investor who leverages other people’s money but not by 3-5x, but by 10 or even 100 times more. To be open for business 24/7 every day of the year, and have clients in over 100 countries within 90-120 days of start up. By working less not more, by working smarter not harder, and by organizing yourself via automation, not just files and folders could provide such a freedom. Setting up such a system of automation would be an investment into yourself to provide a future and lifestyle you and your family may be deserving, and not just for your boss or co-workers benefit. To have such a business without the overhead of a lease or rental payment, no insurance, no utilities, no travel expenses, no employees nor payroll taxes and to work out of your own home w/a determination that you will never have to return to a politically driven office again. To work from your home, the beach, by working a few hours at night, or maybe in the morning, or to put in a few hours a day when you want and from where you want. To regain your dreams of the lifestyle that merely 1-2% of people can even fathom to experience.

After spending over 18 years of loving my real estate career and the lifestyle it provided me, I found myself traveling more and working extra hours, all while my compensation was dwindling to a low 5 digits per month due to the negative changes that were impacting the real estate industry. Thus, I went searching much like you have, searching for the inevitable real estate job change. And after searching multiple real estate related online programs, paying thousands of dollars w/false promises of support and personal coaches I found myself w/my back against the wall, searching even harder as I was duped again.

What I found may surprise you, but one thing was for certain, I found something that was real! With all the perks that by now, most people have given up on due to all the scams and false programs supporting such a cause. What I found was amazing, giving back to others while reaching my own goals as well (NO, it was not MLM!). What I found gave me back my hope and dreams and put all of my skills that I had learned as a real estate professional into motion w/little downtime in regaining my income levels held during the peak of the last real estate up-cycle.

If a real estate job change is more of a reality than a choice, or maybe you need to see what else is out there in order to give yourself some peace of mind, then you need to seriously consider your own online business. Even Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki have recently stated that if they had to make their millions all over again, they would do it by starting an internet business. These highly successful people have built their fortunes on the power of leveraging other-peoples-money along with the banks and both see that they can leverage TIME and money more effectively than in any other way today by having an online business. And I must say, it’s amazing what I’ve learned over the past year in this field and how easy it is to share my knowledge with others and how to make it in this industry, regaining back your high income levels as well as with little down time providing you have an easy step-by-step online system to follow.

Well, I hope I was able to give you something to think about whether you stay in the real estate field helping others leverage other people’s money, or if you choose to take the next step and learn how to leverage your time and money. So that you can one day soon, regain your dreams that somehow over the years were lost.

Is Out-Of-State Real Estate Investing Right for You?

Have you made up your mind to start investing in real estate, but you’re torn in deciding where to invest?

Are you thinking about making a local investment, but wondering if an out-of-state investment might be better?

This is one of the first of many choices you’ll have to make when you decide to invest in real estate: the simple question of where you should invest your hard-earned dollars. While there are definite benefits to investing in your area, there are also some potentially profit-limiting downsides.

That’s not to say investing in outside areas doesn’t have its own pros and cons. Let’s take a look at both and see why out-of-state real estate investing might be a profitable option you have not yet explored.

Investing Locally

This is the most obvious choice for many real estate investors, but is it really right for you?

If you choose to buy a property local to you, you’ll rest easier about your investment since you know the market. First, you know your competition. You might know the names of professionals you can trust and you’ll have an intimate understanding of what the cost of living is for that area and how to make things more affordable.

Second, if you like to be hands-on, it will be much easier for you since you’re right there. If you want to see the property, it’s just a short drive away. If you want to talk to the property manager face-to-face, you just put it on your calendar for the end of the day.

Drawbacks to Local Investments

On the other hand, investing solely local can narrow your options. Not every market has the inventory of good investment opportunities that you can avail yourself of if you invest out-of-state. The local inventory of available properties may or may not be big enough or well-suited for investment opportunities.

You also run into the problem of whether your local market is the one you want. The recession made a huge impact on housing markets throughout the country and some areas have recovered at different paces than others. You might find yourself out-priced in your current market, but even if you aren’t, you might not be able to see a favorable future where you’re at.

Investing Out-of-State

If you decide to invest out-of-state, you can greatly increase your options. You can literally choose any location, any market and invest in properties there. Whether you want to invest in Florida vacation homes and coastal villas or homes in the suburbs of Detroit, the sky’s the limit. You can make your investment fit your price point and interests.

By investing out-of-state, you can put your money to work in markets with high ROI. You pick and choose which markets you’re interested in, and which ones are rising stars in the real estate investment scene, ignoring your own market’s changes.

Investing out-of-state also allows you to scale based on your needs. For many would-be investors, their local market is priced too extravagantly to make real estate investment prudent. The cost of living in a different state, just a few borders east or west, might be considerably lower. That means you can snatch up excellent properties at a much lower cost than you might in your own market.

Even better, you can snag those investment deals on excellent properties that would go for three to four times as much, if not more, in your own local market. Your purchasing power becomes much stronger in other markets, because everything’s relative.

Challenges of Out-of-State Investments

There are still some challenges to these remote investments. First of all, you have to learn who you can trust and maintain the peace of mind that comes from having easy local access to your investment. You also have to be able to trust that the property you’re investing in is what it’s advertised as.

The property is also more difficult to visit if you like to be hands on. You might have to fly out to visit the property, which some people enjoy but others are seriously bothered by. If you are the type of investor who prefers the more passive turn-key approach, this is an excellent opportunity.

Finally, the market won’t be what you’re used to. Nothing will be quite the same as being there and immersing yourself in the market, but you can learn and study. You just have to rely on someone else to have knowledge of the nuances of the market.

Doing Out-of-State Right

There is a solution to all of the challenges of real estate investing outside your state. When you find a reputable, proven company to handle your turn-key real estate transaction, you have someone you can count on to know the market you’re investing in. Here are the main reasons you should find a partner to work with you on your out-of-state investments.

They can keep a more educated eye on the market, since they know all of the nuances of that area.
They’ll serve as your presence near your investment, keeping everything on track, so you don’t have to make numerous trips to the property.
If the turn-key real estate investment firm is reputable, they want you to succeed. This means they’ll do anything they can to make sure you do succeed.
The question becomes, whom can you trust? You want to make sure you engage in a partnership with a firm who is reputable, knowledgeable and engaged in your market. Referrals from other investors are key, so be on the lookout for like-minded people who have been there and done that.

You should also investigate what the turn-key operation offers you, and what their fee or cut of your profit is. Ideally, you’ll want a partner who can help you throughout your investment lifecycle, from acquiring the property to managing it.

Getting Started

We’ve gone over the benefits and drawbacks of out-of-state investing, so now the decision is yours to make. Do you still want to invest locally or have you realized that the time is ripe to diversify your portfolio and invest in out-of-state properties? The benefits of out-of-state real estate investment are huge and the drawbacks can easily be mitigated by partnering with someone in the area in which you’re investing.