Would you pass up the opportunity to have an expert help you with a big decision if that expert cost you nothing?  If an interior decorator offered to help you redecorate your house for free, would you jump at the chance?  Would you be excited if a career counselor approached you and agreed to work with you for months or years to see your career goals and aspirations met, all for no money out of your pocket?  If you answered yes to the items above, why would you not find an experience real estate agent and have him/her teach you the ropes of investment property?

Remember:  Real Estate agents are typically paid, at the closing, by receiving a part of the commission charged to the seller.  In short, the seller of that property paid for your education!

I had always wanted to own investment property, but could never figure out how to get started.  Only after I met an experienced real estate agent who sold and OWNED investment property, did I jump in. 

He helped me find and analyze properties.  He wrote the offers and held my hand at closing.  Now, both of the things most real estate agents can do, but where he was most invaluable was after the sale.  Owning your first investment property can be a daunting process.  He was always there to answer questions about tenants, leases, rents, repairs, etc.  Even after all these years, I still use some of the same forms and contacts that he gave me with the first property.  And all of this advice (even months after the sale) was paid for by the sellers of those properties!

If you are new investor or maybe you own one investment property and want to acquire more, find an experience real estate agent that both specializes in investment property and owns investment property.  Their experience will be a invaluable guide as you build your investment property portfolio.