It seems that the financial world is starting to wake up to the idea of equity management. In fact, the Fed recently did a study (which you can download from our website here) that states, among other things, that people shouldn't be paying extra on their mortgages. Instead, they should take those extra savings each month and invest them in tax-deferred accounts.

Here at January Financial we would recommend that you put those funds into owning rental real estate instead. Not only are there numerous tax advantages to owning real estate, but you can also take advantage of appreciation in the property while someone else pays your mortgage. If you'd like to know more about this or hear about exciting properties we have available in Colorado and Texas, send us an email!

Our old space was beginning to get very, very cozy so we decided to move to a bigger office. That moved happened yesterday and today, and it's a GREAT feeling to have it complete. Still a few odds and ends, as far as all the other things that still need to happen, but everything heavy has been moved and we're ready to get back to it again. Our old office was around 180 square feet and was a great short-term solution, but now we've got 1,800 square feet and are able to keep building our support staff so our clients always get fast, professional service!

One of the great things about a new space is that it's an opportunity for a fresh start. We're going to be putting a lot more work into the presentations we do, including updating and upgrading our PowerPoint slides and including some exciting new information. We're also going to continue partnering with builders and top real estate agents across the country, especially in areas we think have potential for strong appreciation. One heads up - be ready for an exciting announcement in the next couple weeks regarding some brand-new properties in Colorado that will cash flow roughly $4-500/mo. with 5% down, with a potential for up to $1,000/mo. in cash flow. We'll be sending out an email on that soon so keep your eyes peeled...

One of the main things that stops people from investing is fear - fear of the unknown, fear of loss, fear of failure. This is completely normal, and the key isn't to get rid of your fear but to learn how to manage it. The best way I've found to lessen and manage my fear is through education. Education has allowed me to not only realize how much I know, but how much I don't know, and is integral in the investing process. By knowing what you do and don't know about a potential investment, as well as whether you can find out what you need to know, can be the difference between going forward and staying on the sidelines.

At January Financial we've found an excellent real estate investment education group that is providing a world of difference for us and our clients. Not only do they provide at-home classes going over the many different facets and styles of investing in real estate, but they also provide live classes every 3-4 months where you can learn from experts in the field and pick their brains. Some of the instructors even go so far as to provide mentoring programs for students that want to follow in their footsteps! If you'd like to know more about this, send us an email or give us a call.

Also, we've started to provide investment opportunities for our clients as well. We've been working with builders across the country, looking to find win-win opportunities where we can leverage our client base to help them out of a jam and give our investors an opportunity to invest below market values and provide positive cash flow. If you'd like to be added to our list of investment opportunities (no pressure, just let us know if you're interested) let us know!