Follow these 7 tips to start investing in real estate today:

1. Look In Your Own Backyard
The grass is always greener in the other neighborhood, and it’s easy to keep looking for the “right” area. The bottom line is that any area is the “right” area. In order to be effective in the steps 2 through 7, you’ve got to get over the idea that real estate deals only exist in other areas. It sounds clich

Most home purchasers do little or no research before they make such a large investment. Doesn’t it make sense to become as completely informed as possible before you buy your first home? This special report is designed to help you avoid 10 common and crucial mistakes.

1. Thing about using a Professional-As a buyer, consider using a Professional Real Estate Agent. It’s free! All of your Agents fees are paid by the seller of the home you buy. You as a buyer, get the experience and knowledge of an expert and don’t have to pay for it. An example of this is, say for example, that you have $150,000 to invest in the stock market; most of us wouldn’t attempt this without the help of a professional. Just as this is most likely the biggest investment you will ever make, don’t go at it alone, the paperwork, the legal aspects, making sure your rights are protected and many more major parts of the purchase should be handled by someone with experience. Especially if it’s FREE!

2. Inspect, Inspect, Inspect-Whether you hire an Inspection Company or you ask a knowledgeable family member or friend to inspect your new home, a small investment in the beginning can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars down the road.

3. Income + Lifestyle = Mortgage Payment-Sit down with your mortgage officer and honestly discuss your income level and living expenses. Take into account future considerations, children, add-ons, amenities, and fix-ups. Your dream home is certainly worth a sacrifice but don’t mortgage your entire future.

4. View Several Homes-See at least 4-6 properties. Don’t move too slowly but don’t move on the first property you see. With your agent’s help you should be able to view enough properties to get a good overall perspective of the home market. When you find the right property all the leg work will be worth it.

5. Utilize Your Team-By aligning yourself with the right real estate professional you will have an entire team at your disposal. Utilize your lender, title rep and agent. Each of them should work hand in hand for your benefit. Explore all the options before you sign.

6. Be Columbo-Check out all costs and expenses before you sign, utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance and home owner dues if applicable. Make sure all utilities (gas, electricity, and water) are on during your walk-through so you can inspect everything in working order. Ask lots of questions and be very detail conscious.

7. Do a Final Walk-Through-Visit the property after all furnishings have been moved out to be sure there are no surprises. Be absolutely positive the property was left exactly as you had agreed upon in the contract. Things that could have been spotted in a final walk-through are often unintentionally overlooked.

8. Plan For Flexibility- Closing dates are not written in stone. Allow for contingencies and have a back-up plan. If you or the sellers need a little more time to conclude the final arrangements, don’t let these delays upset or frustrate you. These types of circumstances are not uncommon in a real estate transaction.

9. If It’s Not in Writing, It Doesn’t Exist- All promises and discussions should be in writing. Don’t make any assumptions or believe any assurances. Even the best intentions can be misinterpreted. Have your professional keep an ongoing log in writing of all discussions and get the seller’s written approval on all agreements.

10. Loyalty Breeds Loyalty-Be open, honest and up front with your team. Hard feelings and disloyalty will cause head aches, delays or may even keep you from getting into the home you worked so hard to locate. Take the time to select the right team in the beginning and your first home purchase will be a pleasing and memorable experience.

The author is a successful Real Estate Investor and a licensed Real Estate Agent.

This article may be freely distributed on the condition that all hyperlinks and anchor text are kept active and not altered in any way (including cloaking links or adding the nofollow tag). Anyone using this article that alters the content or hyperlinks agrees to pay the copyright holder $100 for use.

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For many now this is just wishful thinking and a pipe dream.

Today’s norms:

The harsh reality is: Corporate down-sizing (e.g. Gillette, Ford, and GM). Corporate bankruptcies – Enron, Worldcom). Company’s robbing company pension plans and judges are allowing it to happen just ask people working for the airlines, illegal insider stock trading, age discrimination, companies cannot afford to pay health insurance premiums because they have sky-rocketed and people are living longer.

Other forces: World Instability, unfettered nuclear proliferation, Sept 11th, natural disasters all cooked together.

Yes, the poor performance of the stock market, lower interest rates and the real estate boom have contributed greatly to people looking for alternative investment strategies such as self directed investing of retirement funds in real estate.

The Internet, information proliferation, people’s ability to share information, online financial software, and real time stock quotes.

Benefits of investing with self directed ira funds:

Stimulates the economy It is great for recession proofing an economy. Money from retirement funds keep construction crews working

With the ability to look outside the stock market, you may find alternative investment vehicles that are safer with higher returns which will allow you to make up for lost time.

Permits true retirement diversification and wealth accumulation in tangible assets.

Global investing With your self directed IRA, you can invest in international real estate.

Granted self directing your retirement portfolio is not for everyone. But what are your legitimate alternatives?

Joshua Geary is an avid writer, business strategist and online marketing consultant. For more information on how to turn your Self Directed IRA into a wealth building money magnet visit http://www.MyRealEstateIra.com