Being a good investor is all about having a vision for where you want to be, taking a view on the market, and running the numbers. When these three elements don’t line up then smart investors stay on the sidelines.  But when they do line up then it’s time to act.

Having a vision, taking a view, and running the numbers: the three pillars upon which you’ll build your ability to make sustainable decisions which will, over the long run, help you to achieve your financial goals. Well forming the vision is the fun part; we all enjoy thinking about where we want to end up in life. And you’ll have lots of help in taking a view; everyone and there dog is out there making predictions about what’s next for the real estate market – your task is separating the wheat from the chaff.

But what about running the numbers? How many of us get really excited about running economic models? Well in my view looking before you leap is the best way to keep your momentum as an investor, and that means having an idea about what to expect from an investment in terms of rate of return, cashflow and net present value.

But analysis is like aspirin, or fine wine, or just about anything, for that matter. A bit of it can make a big difference – but that doesn’t mean that a massive dose is a good idea. More isn’t necessarily better.

So how do you strike the right balance? Well watch out for two traps – 1) becoming infatuated with the analysis and forgetting about the underlying uncertainties (no analysis is perfect) and 2) becoming infatuated with perfecting the analysis to the extent that you never get a deal done. In other words: don't get paralyzed.

Both of these problems happen, probably more than you’d think.

So - how to avoid these issues? Again, it depends on your goals as an investor and your personality type, but I’d suggest a few rules of thumb:

• Remember: your analysis is based on your assumptions. Unless you have a working crystal ball you’re never going to get it all right. Your analysis will give you your base case. When you get your results ask yourself “is this target a good result? Does the potential reward justify the risks?” if the answer is “yes” then drive on and figure out how to make the deal work – don’t spend too much time fine tuning. 
• Analysis is a process: I worked for a while in strategic planning with a major corporation. We spit out huge, detailed plans. And we never followed them. Is this a bad result? Well, not necessarily, because the planning process in itself is hugely valuable. It forces executives to examine their assumptions, communicate their goals, and crystallize their thinking. The planning process helps organizations to articulate their vision and set their course, even if they don’t follow the resulting plans to the letter. Real estate analysis is similar: running the numbers will force you to consider the big questions around vacancies, rental rates, repairs, and other risks that you might not consider before jumping into the investment. 
• Evaluate the sensitivities: Don’t just look at the final “answer” – look at the sensitivities to understand how much risk you’re taking. Ok, you’re forecasting a 5% appreciation rate...but what if it’s -5%? Or 10%? Most investors who bought in 2006 didn't predict today's market - but there are a handfull who at least evaluated the risk of a downturn.  Investors who consider future risks are investors who are prepared to take action when things don't go right. 
• Be honest with yourself: There are two camps that you want to stay out of – the overly conservative camp that kills every deal that comes along by handicapping them with excess costs, and the rose-colored-glasses camp that tweaks all the variables up until they get the result they want. Nervous Nellies do no deals, and Pollyannas do bad ones. 
• Remember that once you’ve made your bed you’re going to have to lie in it: A single fortuitous event (a new rail line) or misfortune (a mold infestation or a disastrous tenant) will radically impact the performance of your investment. You’re still going to have a lot of uncertainty to manage once you make your investment; the purpose of the analysis is simply to ensure you’re pointed in the right direction before you pull the trigger.