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Buy Low, Sell High

By Stacey Brown

Real Estate Broker/Owner with ILM Realty

December 22, 2008 02:03 PM

Remember the basic fundamental rule that we all learned about investing? Buy low, sell high. Was the rule, "buy at the lowest point, and sell at the highest"? No. Why not, because market timing is pretty darn near impossible. The only was people time the market right is via luck, a crystal ball, or lots of praying. Anyone can time it right once in a while. (Like the saying that even a broken clock is right twice a day). If you get caught up in always trying to time things perfectly, you will never reach your potential because you will be out more often than in.

All that said, everything I am seeing these days tells me now is the time to buy real estate as an investment. I have owned investment real estate since 2001. Not since 2001 have I seen such alignment between rents and prices. with the recent drops in interest rates, all of those infomercials are starting to sound good (where did they all go, anyways?)

Evaluating real estate investments is not for everyone. Sure, you can read a book and learn the fundamentals. It takes experience and expertise to know what you are looking for. My recommendation is to use a professional. Do not try this at home, kids. Seek advice. If you do not have a rich dad to coach you, a REALTOR is a good place to start!

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Bradley Giles

The Heger Company - Los Angeles, CA

Unfortunately, I dont think there are many people thinking that same way right now. The opportunities are out there, but people are worried about the uncertainty. It is interesting seeing how each client evaluates he economy and market in their own way.

That"now is the time" approach may scare off a lot of people. That doesn't make you wrong tho. Best of luck in '09 and Happy Holidays

Dec 22, 2008 03:19 PM

Robert Machado

HomePointe Property Management, CRMC - Sacramento, CA

CPM MPM - Property Manager and Property Management

As long as rents hold up, and I think they will, investing in real estate is a great plan right now. I am doing it and suggesting others to do it as well. I also know others doing it. Now is the time!

Dec 22, 2008 03:42 PM

Don Eichler

Eichler Properties - Granbury, TX

Stacey, Good advice on your post. There are so many different approaches to real estate investing the rule of thumb just don't work for all. I think that now is the time to buy for one reason the dollar is worth more than two times what it was just a few months ago. I have invested in real estate for over thirty years and I know that I have a different view than a lot of people. I do not invest to hold properties for over twelve months so I am not concerned about rent rates. You make your money when you purchase the property and get paid when you sell it.

Dec 25, 2008 12:35 PM

Mary Strang

Viroqua, WI

For anyone who has the funds it is a good time to buy. Here is to 2009 may the market turn around, and then many will be saying what we have heard before. I could have bought that property for $XXX in 2008 but didn't now something like that goes for $xxx more... use to hear similar statements about land acreage prices back around the year 2000 and they are still higher than then.

Dec 26, 2008 12:10 AM

Paul Pival

Coldwell Banker Bain - Tacoma, WA

A Realtor with the soul of a professor.

At the risk of removing all doubt of my simplicity, I am offering the following rant as a result of a comment I overheard at an open house I hosted yesterday: (husband in a low voice to his wife) "I learned in college that the way to make money is to buy low and sell high. Let's keep looking."

When Adam Smith offered this axiom in his Wealth of Nations, he was not writing of the real estate market! It's a simple concept, but simple only if an investor is patient and if the object purchased increases in value over time.

The trouble with any real estate market is that too many buyers and sellers parrot "buy low, sell high" and act accordingly. That means many buyers insist on buying low at the same time many sellers insist on selling high.

Our young buyer needs to understand that this is the time to buy low, but not from a seller who believes he can sell high despite market conditions. The seller needs to understand that unless his selling price is attractive to a buyer who (can you believe it) wants "a good deal," he will not sell at all, let alone sell high.

If the seller has bought low in the past and earned equity in the home, then he can sell high--at least higher than his original purchase price. But that's it.

Buyers need to be aware of market conditions, recognize when a particular property is offered at a relatively low price, and jump on it.

Sorry if this insults your intelligence. But I feel better for having written it. Thanks for reading.

Apr 12, 2010 09:31 AM

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Stacey Brown

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