Real estate crowdfunding

What You Need To Know About Real Estate Crowdfunding In America : Things You Didn’t Know You Didn’t Know

What is real estate crowdfunding? The rise of real estate crowdfunding has been nothing short of meteoric. In 2017, nearly $200 million was raised on sites like RealtyShares and AngelList to invest in residential real estate projects. A more in-depth definition of real estate crowdfunding includes offerings like FUNDRISE, REALTYMOGUL, and CROWDSTREET. These sites allow you to invest in residential real estate projects. The difference between real estate crowdfunding and other forms of crowdfunding is that traditional crowdfunding involves the purchase of a physical item, such as a handbag, in exchange. On the other end of the spectrum, real estate crowdfunding involves the purchase of a property for the purpose of development or redevelopment. Real Estate Crowdfunding Definition: Crowdfunding (also known as Social Capital) is defined as “a funding method where small amounts are contributed from many individuals rather than large institutional investors”. The term was first used in the context of real estate investing in 2006. In this case, the phrase “real estate crowdfunding” refers to online platforms that allow people to invest money directly into specific properties without having to visit any physical location. In contrast to traditional methods of investing, crowdfunded real estate allows investors to fund projects that they feel passionate about, often based on their personal connections. This type of investment has become increasingly popular due to its ability to connect people who want to invest with those looking to raise capital. A good example of crowdfunded real estate would be a platform like Fundrise or RealtyMogul. These companies provide investors with pre-screened opportunities to purchase residential properties at a profit. What are the benefits of real estate crowdfunding? As real estate crowdfunding has grown in popularity, so too have the benefits. 1. You can invest in projects you care about While you can invest in projects in many different categories, you can only invest in real estate on sites like RealtyShares, RealtyMogul and AngelList. This allows you to invest in projects that you care about. Real estate crowdfunding gives you the opportunity to invest in projects in a variety of sectors, including multifamily housing, commercial and industrial, farmland, single family, community development, and student housing. 2. The projects are vetted and accredited Before you can invest, you must be pre-screened to make sure you fit the criteria for the property you are investing in. On the other hand, a traditional crowdfunding campaign involves the purchase of a physical item, such as a handbag, in exchange for an investment. While in many cases, the product is of equal value, this is not always the case. This can lead to scams that prey on investors who are unfamiliar with the project or a company they are supporting. 3. You can get diversified returns Traditional crowdfunding is all about making an investment in a single project. You are often investing in a project, which means the returns you receive will be limited. Real estate crowdfunding is different. By investing in multiple projects, you can achieve greater diversification and see a greater return. You will also have the opportunity to invest in different sectors, which will give you a more diverse portfolio. How to use real estate crowdfunding? Unlike traditional crowdfunding sites, real estate crowdfunding is a relatively new concept. To invest, you must meet the following qualifications: You must be a U.S. resident. You must be 18 years or older. You must have a minimum annual income of $100,000. You must have a valid credit score and no felony or history of bankruptcies. Real estate crowdfunding is not for everyone. While real estate crowdfunding is gaining popularity, it’s still a fairly new concept, so it’s not always the best option for everyone. There are a few drawbacks to real estate crowdfunding, which include: You’re putting your money in someone else’s hands. You are risking your own money. You can’t sell your investment. Real estate crowdfunding also isn’t for the faint of heart. You need to be willing to put up your own money and you need to be okay with the fact that you can’t sell your investment. In addition, real estate crowdfunding isn’t always available. Projects that are seeking funding must have a minimum of $1,000. As with all crowdfunding campaigns, you will need to become familiar with the site and the offerings it has to offer before you invest. Real estate crowdfunding has been around since 2013 and there are still many limitations. This is a relatively new area of investing and there are not many options, so if you are looking to invest in real estate, you should expect to do a bit of research. Final thoughts Real estate crowdfunding is a great option for those who want to invest in a project they care about. It can provide you with greater diversification, faster growth and it allows you to invest in projects in a variety of sectors. Final tip: Real estate crowdfunding can be an especially great option for investors who want to invest in single-family homes, community development, and student housing. Who knows, you might just find your next home or apartment in one of these projects! If you’d like to read more articles like this, you can sign up for my newsletter here If you like this article, you can spread the word via social media. Disclaimer: This is a curated post.

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Learn Everything About how to begin investing in real estate

So, what holds people back? Let’s be honest: Investing in real estate is a major responsibility that requires a lot of time and money—it’s serious work! And it’s critical to completely understand how to invest in real estate before you make a plunge. This New Year, Ace The Universe Of Investing In Real Estate Learn how to make money from an industry that will be around as long as people need someplace to reside. The Fundamentals of Real Estate Investing can teach you how to start investing your money in a good property and see immense profits. What Is Real Estate? Real estate is any land parcel with or without a manmade structure, including anything from farmland to an apartment building. Real estate includes anything permanently associated with a piece of land, such as roads or utilities. This additionally consists of the different privileges that accompany a land parcel(including water or mineral rights). Buying real estate is a popular way to invest, and—if you do it right—you can make some really good money! Do you know why? Because the property is valuable. As Mark Twain put it, “Buy land. They’re not making it anymore.” Why Should You Get Started Investing In Real Estate? According to information from Forbes, more extremely rich people made their wealth through real estate investments than any other category by far. People invest in real estate for several reasons, including generating monthly rental income, benefitting from the expected appreciation in the property value over the long term, and reducing taxable net income.   Real estate should be one of the core pillars of your investment portfolio for two crucial reasons:  Real estate has historically generated rates of return comparable to stocks and equities with much lower volatility.  Real estate investment returns are largely not correlated with stocks or bonds. These two points may sound a bit bookish. What it means for you is high rates of return without the roller coaster ride of investing in the stock market. You should consider getting started in real estate investing assuming any (or all) of the following statements resonate with you: “You have a genuine interest in real estate” “You want to accomplish financial independence” “You wish to create wealth for yourself as well as your family” “You are interested in changing or supplementing your profession” “You want a method for securing your financial future” Real estate investments also have a secret advantage that we don’t normally think about illiquidity. Some investment advisors tell you that investing in illiquid assets is bad because you might need that money quickly. Trying to unwind a real estate investment can take a lot of time and incur huge expenses and taxes. The hidden benefit of illiquidity is that it prevents us from becoming our own worst enemies. Extraordinary investing requires staying invested long-term without being swayed by the ups and downs of the stock or real estate markets. By setting up financial barriers that hold you back from making decisions based on fear or greed, real estate investing lets you reap the rewards of the most powerful wealth-building tool ever imagined: compounded annual returns. Inflation Hedging The inflation-hedging capability of real estate comes from the positive connection between GDP growth and demand for real estate. As economies grow, the interest in real estate drives rents higher, and this, in turn, translates into higher capital values. Therefore, real estate tends to maintain the purchasing power of capital, bypassing a portion of the inflationary pressure onto tenants and incorporating some of the inflationary pressure, in the form of capital appreciation. Real estate investing is an effective way to build wealth, either as a profession or as a side hustle. However, it will demand your time and research to be successful.  Learning the rudiments of investing in real estate should focus largely on analyzing markets and deals extensively, so that informed and measured decisions can be made. The most effective method to Make Money Investing in Real Estate You can make money from real estate properties in two distinct ways: the appreciated value of the property over the long run (which adds to your net worth) and income from monthly rental income. Appreciated Value Despite the ups and downs of the real estate market, most properties increase in value over the long term. Truth be told, property values have been going up nonstop consistently for almost a decade. The fancy investing word for an increase in value is called appreciation. The key to buying real estate that appreciates is location, location, location! You want to buy in a part of the city that’s on an upward climb in terms of value. Also, purchase at a low cost and ride out any downturns in the market until your property has appreciated. Rental Income Generating income from rentals is probably the more immediate and exciting reason investors choose to buy a property. Once you’ve secured tenants, owning and leasing property is an incredible method to make extra income without a great deal of effort. Other than requiring cash on hand to cover any repairs or maintenance, your part is pretty hands-off. There’s even less for you to do if you hire a property management company—however, that will cut into your profits. Keep in mind, though, that dealing with renters can be baffling and tedious. Do your homework before you allow someone to lease your property. You need to ensure they’ll keep it in great condition. And always have a written lease. You can postpone paying capital gains tax if you use the profits from the sale of one investment property to purchase another similar property. But hurry up! You just have a short window of time to reinvest the cash in order to defer the tax. Active vs Passive Investors: Real estate investors may be categorized as active or passive investors. An example of an active investor is someone who self-manages a rental property instead of hiring a professional property manager.  Passive property investors are those who

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There is an emerging trend among women: Millennial women prefer property investments to gold and stocks, according to a new survey.

When it comes to the #future, women are buying it.⁣⁣ In a recent survey of over 10,000 women, nearly 70% say they want to buy real estate in the future. When asked for their personal reasons, this was the top answer: Homeownership and financial freedom are markers of success.⁣⁣ Ladies like to invest in real estate assets over gold, value stocks, or luxury fashion, showed a study directed by a well-known tech-based real estate investment platform. They also accept that with the constant rise in property prices, investing in a property is one of the most ideal ways to build wealth. The majority of women who were looking to buy for investment are from Delhi-NCR and Bangalore. Around 94 percent of women were looking to invest in residential housing, while 6 percent in commercial properties. 73% of ladies were hoping to buy a property inside the ticket size of Rs 40-75 lakh. 20% were hoping to purchase a property between Rs 75 lakh to 1 crore and 7% were searching for properties over Rs 1 crore. 63% of them favor ready-to-move-in properties while 37%preferred under development. Godrej Housing Finance in a statement on Monday said that “one in two women strongly agree that over the past year, they have become substantially inclined towards asset building and property purchase for investment purposes”. women are taking control over money matters with 70 percent being involved in making financial decisions. 1 in 5 women started investing for the first time, amidst the pandemic. Real estate is consuming a significant space in the mindset of women investors. Investing in properties might not be as glamorous as gold bracelets or equity shares, but it’s undoubtedly every woman’s priority. The majority of women surveyed said they would rather invest in property than other forms of investment.⁣⁣ Here are a few reasons investing in property is better than investing in other assets: -Predictable and sustainable income from rents(commercial properties) -Capital Appreciation -Funding retirement and children’s education -Indexed for inflation, -producing a return far higher than traditional investments(like bank FD/retirement schemes) Women have played an integral role for the longest time in our country. Women are living their best lives in and out of the home – and not just by talking about ambitions and goals, but by acting on them.⁣

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Discover the true defense against inflation and the steps you can take now to protect your wealth.

Discover the true defense against inflation and the steps you can take now to protect your wealth.

If you are sitting on cash or your cash assets like stocks are performing poorly, this blog post is for you. This is a very unique time for commercial real estate investors. Inflation is soaring, gas and food prices are on the rise and the value of a dollar is steadily declining. How can you protect your wealth in this volatile reality? Rising inflation is affecting the value of US dollars. So as a commercial real estate investor, you have 2 choices: 1. You can jump into this great commercial real estate market OR 2. You can stay on the other side and remain poor(passing on opportunities repeatedly). So if you are sitting on cash, if you have lotta money in savings or you have a lot of stocks sitting around and doing nothing, then let me share this with you. over the last 12 months, GAS prices have gone up 42%. Car rental prices have gone up 43%. When we say gas prices have gone up it does not mean that gas is getting better. It literally means that your cash is just getting worse. So what is the tried and true defense against inflation? It’s COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE. 3 reasons why Commercial Real Estate is a GREAT defense: Reason #1: Demand for apartment buildings will increase because costs go higher when there is rising inflation. When construction costs go higher, they build less. When they build less the supply remains the same but demand continues to increase. Guess what happens the demand for apartments becomes greater. Reason #2: Interest rates. During an inflationary period, interest rates tend to creep up a little higher. When interest rates go higher, borrowers are either going to have to buy smaller homes or not get approval for the home that they saw for purchase. So when they are not buying a home what are they doing? They are renting. The demand for apartments is going to increase and that will lead to an increase in rents and therefore the property value goes up. (When you increase the rents, you increase the NOI-you forced the appreciation on the property) So property values go up. Reason #3: Recurring Income Engine: Recurring income (or cash flow)will outpace inflation. So when demand for commercial real estate will increase, rents are going to go up and you will end up with a recurring cash-flowing engine that outpaces inflation. So that is your defense. 3 Key offensive plays to do now: 1. Acquire commercial real estate that has to do with housing. Eg: Apartment buildings, mobile home parks, Storage 2. Lock in long-term loans with low-interest rates: Because interest rates are going to increase during inflation as they always do. So how would you like to have a cash-flowing asset that’s increasing in demand where the rents are going up but your mortgage/debt stays constant.. That’s a beautiful thing. 3. Don’t watch the news. Because what you feed your mind determines your appetite. The news won’t help you achieve your financial freedom. The fear that is outside right now is that the housing market is going to crash, the real estate market is going to crash. It may or may not, doesn’t matter. Whatever happens, we are going to make adjustments. For example, let’s say the housing market does crash. what happens- people will stop buying homes, they go rent apartments. You will still be fine. So don’t watch the news. in fact, this point is the most important thing. Again the tried and true defense against inflation is commercial real estate. It is mainly buying cash flowing, in-demand commercial real estate assets like apartments, mobile home parks, and stores and lock-in those long-term low-interest rates and zone our everything else. Zone out all the negativity. Become the CEO of your life… Take care of your business. I hope you enjoyed reading this blog post. Also, you can subscribe to our Exclusive Investments Email List to get access to the most sought-after commercial real estate deals in the world.

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Rental Income Real Estate Investments

Understanding Passive Income, Residual Income and Multiple Streams of Income

Passive Income, Residual Income and Multiple Streams of Income Which one of these three do you think that is the most important? All of them! They differ from each other slightly but all of them are important and necessary. We will explain in this article the difference and some examples for you to understand how valuable they are. 1. Passive income: Passive income is to receive money while you are not actively working on the business. There are many ways to do this. The following are just a few examples: 1. To own rental properties. 2. To own vending machines. 3. To set up affiliate marketing websites. 4. To have different passive income investments(stock dividends and interest payments from bank) 5. To receive royalties from art and other intellectual properties. The good thing about receiving passive income is that it frees you up to work on other ventures while you earn the money or to have fun and relax. They all require some maintenance on your part. They are different from a traditional business or job though. You can become financially free and even rich if you get a few good sources of passive income. The catch is that the big effort is in the beginning. You may have to work hard to set up the initial business or venture. Once it starts making money for you and everything is set up, then you can most likely go relax or keep working on other ventures to further boost your income.   2. Residual Income, what is it? Residual income is when you make an effort once and you profit several times, sometimes into the thousands and tens of thousands. For example, you write a book once and you sell 70,000 copies for $25 each. It may take some years to sell that many copies but during that time you could write another book, which leads us to the third topic on this article. So, remember, residual income is to make an effort once and profit several times. You can find examples of how to do this below: 1. You write a book or e-book and sell it many times. 2. You create a music/software/information product and sell thousands of copies. 3. You take 5,000 photographs and sell them as stock photography to receive royalties for many years. 4. You make an investment once and receive gradual payments like with land and real estate. 5. You sell online memberships like those offered by hosting websites and as long as the client stays subscribed you keep receiving monthly payments.   3. Finally, Multiple Streams of Income. Once you find your first stream of passive recurring income you should jump to the next opportunity. Your goal should be to have a handful of projects or businesses generating passive income for you. Diversification is the key to success. You never know what could happen tomorrow. Most wealthy people know this. They try to have different sources of revenue. They invest, trade, start new businesses. They are always looking for new opportunities. You need to think like the rich if you want to become rich. When your first stream of passive income is making money for you, it is a good idea to look for a few other opportunities. Once you have multiple streams of passive income, you can relax and work a few hours per day to make sure that everything is running smoothly. The idea is not to jump from one business to the other without tying up anything well. Work to set up your first stream of passive residual income and once it is making substantial profits for you, then go find another and another and another, until you have several of them. Don’t overdo it either because you may find yourself working too much. The idea is to have diversification so that if one of your ventures fails you will still have the others to generate income. Don’t worry, once you start making money like this your life will change. The rest of the profits will come from your investments. So, you don’t need a thousand streams of income just 5 to 8 could be great. Some people handle as much as 12 and they feel OK with it. Depending on what you choose to do you may realize soon that this is one of the easiest ways to attain financial freedom and to become rich. The rich know this and they do it and you can do it too!

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Rental Income Investment Property

  Many people dream of owning a vacation home. But often concerns about maintaining it, renting it out, or even justifying the expense when it’s only to be used for a couple of weeks in the year keep them from making the dream a reality. Now Serviced Hotel Apartemnt, an innovative type of vacation home ownership, provide a welcome solution to all these problems. Also known as condotels or aparthotels, condo-hotels have been growing in popularity as an approach to owning a luxurious second home. Condo hotel buyers purchase an actual condominium unit in an upscale hotel or resort. The property functions as a full-service hotel, and owners have access to all facilities, amenities and services just like hotel guests. They receive a deed to their unit and can use their vacation home when they want. When not in residence, they can place their unit into the hotel’s rental program and share in the revenue it generates. Like most real estate investments, the owner can also sell his condo hotel unit at any time and may make a profit on its appreciated value. Young professionals, business owners and wealthy investors alike are just beginning to discover the benefits of owning a serviced hotel apartment unit. They appreciate the hassle-free nature of apartment hotels as a second home in which a professional management company handles everything from property maintenance to finding hotel guests to rent the units. They also consider serviced hotel apartments a means to diversify their investments. Condo Hotels Are Not Your Parents Timeshare As hybrid properties, condo hotels differ from timeshares in a number of ways. With timeshares, buyers pay only for the right to use the property for a set amount of time each year, usually a single week. They dont own the title to the property, and they do not receive any rent revenue for the weeks theyre not in residence. Condo hotel owners can use their condos when they want throughout the year, within the guidelines of the individual development. They receive a percentage of any revenue their unit generates when they’re not there and the unit is rented out to hotel guests. Timeshares traditionally diminish in value over time, rather than appreciate. While the history of condo hotel resales is rather limited, they are seen as an appreciating asset. Condo Hotels Offer Luxury Facilities How do condo hotels differ from owning a traditional single family house or condominium? Consumers who purchase a traditional condominium pay property taxes, insurance and maintenance fees, but typically dont have access to hotel-type amenities. Condo hotels, on the other hand, are not your standard second home. They are suites in a hotel-designed condominium. The properties often feature four- or five-star amenities, ranging from full-service spas and fitness centers to fully-equipped business centers and fine-dining restaurants. They also come with exceptional hotel services like concierge, valet and room service. With condo hotels, owners reap the rewards of condo ownership while enjoying the privileges of a full-service hotel. Condo hotel units range from studios and full-size apartments to luxurious penthouses and villas. Prices for these homes range from INR 40 Lakhs to over 5 Crore for top properties. Condo Hotels Generate Revenue to Cover Their Costs What makes the condo hotel concept so appealing? When owners are not using their condo hotel unit, they have the option of placing it into the hotel’s rental program. They receive 60% of the revenue their unit generates with the balance going to the hotel operator. The revenue generated helps offset the costs of owning a holiday home. While many hotel operators dont guarantee the rental of the condo, by capitalizing on the hotel’s brand name, strong sales and marketing capabilities, centralized reservation system and management expertise, owners typically receive a higher level of rental income than they would from a traditional vacation home. More importantly, ownership is 100 percent hassle-free, as the hotel operator takes care of finding hotel guests and maintaining the unit as well as managing the property’s many facilities. Condo Hotel Expenses Are Shared How are the ownership expenses split? As part of the rental agreement, the hotel pays for most operating expenses such as housekeeping, administration, sales and marketing. The condo-hotel owner typically pays for real estate taxes, income tax, and insurance. The rental revenue that owners receive helps defray these expenses and, in some cases, provides additional income. Condo Hotels as Alternative Investment While developers primarily sell their condo hotel units as a lifestyle and vacation home alternative, many buyers see merit in the condo hotel concept as an investment tool. They say it gives them the best of both worlds. They can enjoy all of the benefits of vacationing in a first-class hotel while they own a property that has the potential to appreciate.

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How do you become a wise person and think like a wise person

What does it mean to be wise? Honestly, it has nothing to do with a person’s IQ or degree. A wise person is someone who applies common sense.  Now “common sense” is common after all. It’s about the insights, lessons, and wisdom everyone knows. But the problem is that not everyone applies what they know. In fact, it’s very uncommon to see people applying common sense.   In this article, we will talk about the habits/behaviors of wise people. Once you know what the habits are, you need to apply and practice them every day in your daily living until it become a habit. 1. Rely on facts, not assumptions Most people make assumptions without realizing it. Every time we’re not sure about something, we’re making assumptions. For example: If I send someone an email about a business proposal, and they don’t get back to me in two days, and I think they’re not interested, I’m making an assumption. The belief that someone is not interested because they don’t instantly respond is just an idea that’s not based on facts. As long as we don’t get a response in that scenario, we can’t say whether we have a deal or not. In our daily lives, we make countless of these assumptions. And most of our judgments are based on our personal beliefs. The problem is we can’t trust our beliefs simply because they are so subjective. Instead, rely on facts and avoid interpreting everything based on your ideas, beliefs, and feelings. A quick shortcut you can apply is this: Observe your thoughts and ask yourself, “How do I know what I’m thinking is true?” You often find that you either need to ask more questions, do research, or simply wait until you receive feedback. 2. Think from first principles Some people assume that thinking from first principles means you don’t make assumptions. But for Elon Musk, it means you go even beyond looking at facts.   In an interview, Elon Musk gave an example of how people looked at the cost of batteries: “People would say, ‘Historically it cost $600 per kilowatt-hour, and so it’s not going to be much better than that in the future.’ And you say, No, what are the batteries made of? First-principles means you say: Okay, what are the material constituents of the batteries?” Sometimes the facts of today will limit you. At some point, the cost of batteries was at a certain level, but that doesn’t mean the cost cannot decrease. Thinking from first principles is a way to challenge the status quo. It’s looking at what is, and thinking what could be, keeping the laws of human nature and physics in mind. Wise people constantly ask, “Is there a better way we can do this?” 3. Read a lot and read widely Every wise person we know has a very broad set of knowledge, ranging from history to economics to psychology. We’re all equipped with this fascinating brain that’s the perfect instrument for solving problems. But that instrument needs energy and food to properly function. Feeding your body is easy: You eat. But what about feeding your mind? This is something not a lot of people take seriously. Most people’s days consist of work and leisure. At what moment do you nurture your mind? It’s when you’re intellectually challenged. That doesn’t happen a lot at our work or social interactions. And it sure as hell doesn’t happen when we’re consuming entertaining content. The best way to challenge yourself on an intellectual level is to acquire knowledge. The easiest way to do that is to read a book. You can also listen to a book or take a course. Wise people do something that challenges their minds every day. They read a lot. And they read widely because most mental stimuli come from learning about new things. 4. Take enough time to make decisions In our fast-paced world, many people think that smart people are “quick on their feet.” But making good decisions is not always a product of quickness. In some situations, it pays off to be a quick decision-maker. We often become quick decision-makers by first becoming slow decision-makers. This sounds counterintuitive, but it’s the same process as running a marathon. No one runs a marathon on their first run. Similarly, no good decision-maker can be quick at the beginning of their career. It’s important to take as much time as you can to decide. But no more. Otherwise, we risk procrastinating for no good reason. 5. Listen to other people It’s funny that the most ignorant people have difficulty listening to advice while the smartest people are usually the first to listen to everyone.  When you converse with someone, take the time to listen to what they have to say. And you need to be really curious as well.  Most people just love to listen to their own voice and don’t care about what others have to say. The wise people are the opposite. They love to learn from others and are always open to different ideas. 6. Learn from your mistakes Wise people see mistakes as lessons. Ralph Waldo Emerson said it best: “Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.” We all make bad judgments and mistakes. That’s not what matters. How do you respond after you make a mistake? That’s the key. Do you use it to learn? Or do you become more risk-averse after every mistake you make? The former will help you grow, the latter will advance your decay. As you go through life, it’s important to realize it’s okay to make mistakes. The smartest people in the world don’t necessarily make fewer mistakes. They just don’t let their mistakes go to waste. The wise people make sure they get something positive and useful out of every interaction. Everything they do feeds on top of everything else they do. That’s how you create a positive cycle for yourself. That means your life will only get better.  

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You Become What You Focus On

You Become What You Focus On

I recently read an article on ATTENTION & FOCUS from a famous author who is also known for his down-to-earth perspective on various topics and I wanted to share it with our readers. The following quote is 2000 years old. But it seems like it’s about today’s world: “Most of what passes for legitimate entertainment is inferior or foolish and only caters to or exploits people’s weakness.” -Stoic philosopher Epictetus We allow other people to control us because we’re pretty much defenseless when the media exploits our weaknesses. Now, I’m not against all media. But I do think there’s a lot of manipulation going on. Just look at every single social media platform, news website, streaming site, and every app on your smartphone and you’ll notice that you and I are being exploited. You just have to look at the signs. What do you think will I do when I see a notification from Netflix, saying there’s a new season available for my favorite show? I’m going to pause everything else in my life and watch the WHOLE season in a few days. And when I’m done, I’ll probably go on to the next thing on Prime Video or maybe watch some clips on YouTube. But I don’t do that because I shut myself off from those things. I want to control my attention as much as I can. Why? Because If I don’t, millions of people and organizations are eager to control it for me. And what happens when others control your attention? You become a mindless drone. A few tips to gain more control over what you focus on First, you need to become aware of how important it is to be mindful of what you focus on. So let’s get back to Epictetus. He explained his point further in A Manual For Living: “If you yourself don’t choose what thoughts and images you expose yourself to, someone else will, and their motives may not be the highest.” When I read this for the first time, I started taking this more seriously. I realized that I need to be the one who chooses to expose myself to certain thoughts, images, news, ideas, and messages. Here are a few things I did to make that happen. 1. Turn off all your non-essential notifications You can turn off notifications for every single app that’s on your phone. So you don’t have to put your phone in permanent do not disturb mode. That way, I have more control over what I see on my phone. For example, I want to get calls and text messages from family, friends, my team, or people I do business with. I also have notifications on my calendar and reminders app. The point is that you want to use your phone mindfully. Think about whether you need a certain notification or not. Do you need to know about breaking news? Or that someone liked your post? Probably not. 2. Don’t use social media to obtain information The amount of garbage on social media is unmeasurable. If you want to use social media, use it to connect with people. Not as a replacement for books, articles, or Wikipedia. I’m not against social media because it’s a tool. The problem is that most people aren’t aware that they’re being used. They think they’re in control, but they’re being influenced all the time. That’s why you really want to be mindful of how you use social media. It has a lot of limitations but it’s not all bad. Just use it for the good stuff if you really want to. But you won’t miss anything if you’re not on social media. I just use it to connect with readers who message me. 3. Focus on knowledge over information Information is generally about data, facts, or statements. Knowledge is usually about applying certain information to a specific cause. What’s an example of information? The fact that the average hedge fund underperformed the market over the past decade. If you use that information to create an investing strategy, you have knowledge. Most people acquire a lot of information but not a lot of knowledge. That’s because it’s easy to obtain information. But acquiring knowledge takes time. For example, reading a book or taking a course is a serious time investment that requires an actual decision. You actually think to yourself, “Is this worth my time?” Or at least, that’s something I think everyone needs to ask themselves. But you don’t ask that when you grab your phone to consume random information. You’re thinking, “It’s just a social media post, a short video, an article,” and so forth. But the problem is that you go down a rabbit hole. And you end up consuming a lot of information. But most of it serves no purpose. When you acquire knowledge, you do it with intention and a specific focus. 4. Read a few writers online I read the Wall Street Journal, but I only read everything that Jason Zweig writes. Other than that, I only read WSJ stories that are useful to me. I don’t know the names of the other journalists, and I don’t follow anyone else other than Jason. When it comes to blogs, I’m the same. I like Ben Thompson’s work when it comes to tech, and that’s about it. I don’t have the time and mental energy to read dozens of people online. And I don’t recommend that to other people either. If that means they don’t follow me and prefer to follow another writer, that’s fine. Just follow someone whose work you actually value. You don’t have to agree with that person all the time, but at least you like their style and perspective. Other than that, just consume content that’s relevant to you. And ignore everything else. Will you miss some important information? Probably. Is it a little bit of confirmation bias? Probably. But as long as you are aware of these things you’ll be fine. Your thoughts are influenced by what you focus on

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The Impact of Coronavirus on the Indian Real Estate Sector

Real estate is one of the most globally recognized and prominent sectors. The growth of this sector is mainly because of the growth in demand for residential properties due to the increase in high standards of living amongst the people along with the need for the corporate environment and office space. Real estate has been considered one of the best sources of passive income traditionally due to the generation of regular rental cash flows.  According to the reports, the real estate market in India is expected to reach a market size of US $ 1 trillion by 2030 from US$120 Billion in 2017 and contribute nearly 13% of the country’s GDP by 2025. The impact of the coronavirus was such that it brought property transactions to a near-halt last year when the nation went into a complete lockdown between March and June 2020. Since then, the market has taken several steps towards recovery, and just when it seemed the revival was not far, the country has been struck by a second wave of the coronavirus this time far more fatal. Experts say the recovery of the realty market in India could now prolong until 2022. India will be the biggest beneficiary for big investors and global companies to come to India. Since China has lost its trust from investors due to rumored conspiracies, there are chances that the investors might shift their focus towards India. The second wave of COVID-19 would have little effect on the industry because, after the first lockdown stage in April/May 2020, people realized the value of owning a home for themselves.  The collective experience of the year bygone has taught people the importance of owning a property. Hence, last year, once the restrictions were lifted, people started investing, shedding the hitherto ‘wait-and-watch approach. It’s a really good time for those who are looking for investment options as the rate of returns is maximum in this sector. Also, the banks have reduced the interest rates on home loans to attract customers. We have found that buyer’s enthusiasm to own a property is even higher compared to the last few months. Real estate investing in 2021 is an early bird opportunity since only a few retail investors are aware of the golden opportunities that exist.  Even though Covid has currently slowed other high-return investments, real estate still finds scope in investors’ minds. Thus, it is wise to grab this opportunity and invest now. NRI investment in real estate amid COVID-19 The primary purpose of Non-resident Indians to invest in real estate has been for earning rental income. However, the uncertainties fueled by the pandemic across the world has motivated the NRIs to own a home in India as well. With deposit rates falling in the range of 6-7 percent, and the declining value of the rupee against the US Dollar, the NRIs are actively looking for investment opportunities in the Indian real estate market. NRIs are increasingly investing using the online platforms as the pandemic has fostered the use of virtual visits, hassle-free property bookings and this has enabled the NRI community to browse, select and invest in real estate online. The NRI investment in Indian real estate in FY 2021 stood at $13.3 billion which is expected to reach $15 billion in FY 22. NRIs who have invested in prime cities like Pune, Mumbai, Hyderabad, and Bangalore have preferred to stay invested. In fact, Bangalore has emerged as the most favorite destination for NRI investors. When you begin your investment journey into real estate, make sure you seek the advice of experts in this industry who can guide you in the right direction.  

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What you need to know in business

What you need to know in business From the outside, being a business owner is very glamorous. If you are like the majority of businesses, it’s often very different when you go behind the scenes. And that’s because in reality, you don’t truly know what you are up against when you first start a business. All you “want” is your time under your control, the idea of more time and money freedom, and the ability to serve and make a big impact. But once you get going, there are a lot of obstacles to making those wants become reality. Most people don’t sign up to be the marketing guru, operations wizard, financial planner, or executive assistant. Yet most people tend to “do it all” for most of their career. But there are people who lead their companies to great success. They get through the start-up stages and they mature to growth stages. Those companies have a couple of major components working for them… 1) They have a marketing and sales system – they know how to build an audience and convert that audience into sales. 2) They have created additional income streams within their business, so if one doesn’t perform that month, they aren’t losing their sh*t. 3) They understand being an entrepreneur is a team sport, not a solo mission. Hiring a good team is the best investment you can make. 4) AND they think in repeatable systems. They look at the core components of their business as a system for them to maximize and duplicate WHEN ready. So, where are you lacking? What can you improve? Start from the top and work your way down. It will start to make the vision of your dream business begin to look like a soon-to-be reality. 

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