Great post.. Good luck with goals.

 I agree about agents not buying investment properties. Not only do we preach it being a great investment but we have a huge advantage. First access to listings, insider knowledge, and we save 3 % on the purchase of the property ( if listed through an agent ) and we save 3 to 6% on the sale of the home.

A decent investment advisor might note that investing commission moneys into the same industry they come from and that you make a living in might pretty much be the definition of risk concentration and of not diversifying.  That's not to say don't do it, but in any profession, portfolio investing should ideally be something that will provide downside protection if and when the primary business income stream is most in jeopardy.  If someone with a full time real estate brokerage job invests all their money in real estate, no matter how much inside information and knowledge they have, they are rather badly exposed when things go bad.  Instead invest in real estate cautiously, which I think most investment advisors would say should never be more than 10% to 20% of an investment portfolio.  CalPERS (the California Public Employee Retirement System - the world's largest pension fund) just increased it's real estate investment allocation to 10% of it's portfolio, from 8% (and half that is overseas).  That's for people that make money in government, not real estate.

Todd, I think you have some great goals.  I want to get some investment property, especially now when it is a buyers market.  I would like to list 5 homes and sell 30 home. I am still in my first year of real estate and I am afraid to make my goals too big or too small but I think that sounds reasonable to start with.  As far as vacation, I am going to try to take a family vacation to Myrtle Beach in August.  We haven't been to the beach in years.  I hope all our plans and wishes come true in 2008!

Good job Todd!  I also believe in putting my goals in writing for everyone to see so it holds myself more accountable to reaching them too!  This will definitely be the year for the investors to get out there and buy buy buy!

Todd,

Thank you for this and all your other heartfelt posts...and I hope you and your family have a wonder filled Christmas as you set out to achieve your 2008 goals!!! Thanks,   Fran

Todd, You amaze me with all your ideas and now goals for your family. You are a leader among men. You will meet your goals because you take the time to think about them, set them and then actually accomplish them. Good job.

Merry Christmas Todd, best of luck with your goals.

Todd- Those are some good goals....and yes when the family is involved it helps keep you focused and everyone knows why you have to work :)