…how's your market?

From time to time I contribute pieces to publications on investing in real estate.  Recently I wrote an article that appeared in the Houston Business Journal on investing opportunities in the Houston market .  Markets are starting to turn south in some areas of the country, but there are three key points that prudent investors can follow that will help turn up opportunities in some sectors:

• Buy cashflow:  positive cashflow is your best hedge against the risk of falling property prices. 
• Understand the risks:  keep it simple, avoid complex mortgage products that you don’t understand. 
• Run the numbers:  don’t get paralyzed by the analysis, but check your assumptions and know what sort of return you can reasonably expect from your investment.

These can feel like truisms, but the key is considering what they mean to you and your particular market.  See the article for more…