✋🏽Five reasons investors should hire an investment focused Real Estate Professional

[AJ Wong]

For the better part of two decades I've been involved in real estate in some capacity including but not limited to: mortgage & real estate broker, developer, project manager, STR owner/operator/manager, international investor and beyond.

The past five years here in Oregon I've focused almost exclusively on investor related acquisitions and sales of vacation rentals, multi family complexes and commercial real estate. 

Here are the five reasons serious (particularly luxury & commercial) investors should hire an investor focused and friendly real estate broker: 

- Market Insight: Seasoned investors will show you why the little things make a big difference. A local real estate broker might be familiar with a particular property and 'known' issues or problems. Another example would be an off market prospect that meets the investment profile or a neighbor that nobody wants as one. 

- Referrals and resources: Identifying an investment prospect is one thing, the due diligence, lending and team required to successfully close and mange it are another story. A good example of the value of a worthwhile real estate professional are the referrals and references of support services like lender recommendations. A local resource particularly for CRE (commercial real estate) can make the difference in the transaction equating to a quality investment.

- Expertise in local laws and rules: Investing in real estate is hyper localized not only for value and potential but in rules and regulations. For example; 80% of my business is servicing investors seeking vacation rentals where less than 1% of listings can qualify for a vacation rental permit. A professional that can navigate and verify permissions, usages and support due diligence are critical to profitable investments. Imagine closing on a vacation rental that can't secure a permit? Yikes.

- Execution: In current market conditions, of lower inventory and higher demand, timing is essential. Without a diligent and responsive professional, touring, offering and closing on a prime investment property of choice is less likely. There are exceptions to this rule, but there are an abundance of examples that had investors not been prepared to perform might still be shopping..

- Voice of reason: The 'best' real estate professionals are apparently the most honest. When it comes to investment brokers, somebody has to play devil's advocate or tell you no. Very rarely are properties or investments exactly as they initially appear. Due diligence (especially with more complicated transactions) often reveals conditions that are or were not available initially. The general strategy is to: A. Win the offer B. Validate that offer during due diligence When things change.. equivocally so should the terms. A great investor focused real estate professional is committed to the investor, not the investment. 

 Bonus* Time & Money: Investments are borrowed time. In development the shorter the better, and generally in everything else, the longer. In Real Estate terms, time is literally money. The right (or wrong) deal has opportunity cost. Typically a worthwhile real estate broker will save you time through efficiency and add at least equivalent value in actual dollars through effectiveness.