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March 05, 2012 04:48 PM

The real estate market and the financial market have one thing in common: They both go up and down. When you’re a smart and judicious real estate investor, the down times in our market are what set you apart from other investors who may do well just by being lucky.

If there’s a key to being a truly successful real estate investor, it’s this: Have a strategy that’s flexible. That way, whether the market goes up or down, your strategy will work for you over the long haul.

According to online magazine Bigger Pockets, a perfect strategy for ANY market will do the following things:

Provide you with an income every month, not just when you sell the property;

Have enough flexibility so that you can hold the property as long as you want, no matter what’s happening to the real estate market, and

Protect the value of the property during downward market cycles.

If you invest in real estate that produces cash flow, you can achieve these objectives. When you invest for cash flow, you’re just about guaranteeing that you make money no matter which way the economy shifts. The monthly checks you receive allow you to hold the property for as long as you need or want to do so and why would you want to sell it if it’s making money for you? You can coast through downward turns in the market, choosing the best time to sell (when the market rebounds).

We used to believe that the value of real estate would always increase, but we’ve learned that’s not always the case. You’re better off relying on the idea of preparing for the worst, but anticipating (and arranging your investments to act accordingly) the best. By utilizing a sound real estate investment strategy, you’ll always come out a winner!

The EMA Real Estate Group are your local experts when it comes to investing in real estate. We ensure exceptional service, including both personal consultation (offering vast experience and knowledge on which you can count) and financial advice, particularly about interest and tax benefits for real estate investors.

Emcee Arah — the REALTOR with Architectural Dimension is a Certified Investor Agent Specialist (CIAS). He is uniquely equipped to assist you in navigating today’s residential real estate market. Contact us online or by phone at (301) 452-5252. And leave your comments below we’d like to hear from you.