Real Estate Investing Resources

A directory of real estate investing websites and real estate investing tools for real estate investors 

When it comes to real estate investing, it's always good to have a handy set of tools. Sometimes you're looking for software (see the reviews of software on this site), and sometimes you just want some good old real estate investing advice.

As a real estate investor, you want things to be easy. It takes time to gather all the facts and data. This web site is here to make your life easier. We encourage you to make use of this resource list, and to look at some of the articles and reviews we have on the site.

We hope you find this real estate investing resources list helpful.

Determining the Value of a Home

The internet is rapidly changing the landscape of real estate and real estate investing.  Local Realtors are no longer the only source of comparable values.  To find the value of any home, all you need to do today is go online. There are a number of sources that can provide accurate data, simply because it's based on much of the same data that your real estate agent would use.

Finding comps (comparative data, where we determine the value of your home based on the sales prices of homes like and near yours) is as simple as entering information into an online form. Keep in mind, though, that your real estate sales professional will almost always give you more accurate information, so use these as baselines or starting points.

http://www.ElectronicAppraiser.com

http://www.housevalues.com

http://www.homegain.com

http://domania.com

http://www.coldwellbanker.com/real_estate/Home_Value_Estimator

A Slick Online Mortgage Calculator!

Mortgage Calculator
We like this mortgage calculator because it's got a number of slick options and features, including the creation of an amortization schedule. We paid a little extra to place this mortgage calculator on our site, but we think it's worth the extra expense. We hope that you do as well.

FICO Scores and Credit Scores for Real Estate Investors

First, a few of the top websites that have information about FICO scores and credit scores. These are generally considered the top sites. 

http://www.myfico.com (Recommended)
MyFico.com is the place we love the best.  It's got everything you need for credit scores, credit information, and FICO scores.  Make this your first stop!

http://www.bankrate.com
Lots of information here. Get on their "alerts" email list to get the latest news on interest rates and information that will help you to secure a better loan for your real estate investment properties. 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Credit_score
There's always good information to be had at Wikipedia. Check it out.

http://www.experian.com
Experian is one of the three credit reporting agencies. There are others, but we like their site the best of the three.
 

Real Estate Investment Mortgages and Real Estate Investment Loans

Do you need to find a loan for your home or real estate investments? Here is a short list of resource sites that you can use to get the scoop on loans and mortgages for real estate investors. The good news is that the interest rate has dropped again. The bad news is that lenders are tougher than ever. .

http://www.nva-mortgage.com/investor_loans.htm

http://www.bankofamerica.com

http://mycountrywide.com

http://www.pacificsecuritycapital.com (commercial loans)

http://www.steelheadcapital.com (commercial)
 

REO Information for REO Investments

There are dozens of websites with information about REO properties. Most of them are commercial sites, but there are a few that will point you toward properties you can purchase. In today's market, now is a great time to be looking into real estate investments for REO properties.  

http://bankofamerica.reo.com
Yes, go here first. You'll find a couple regional REO banks or resources for REO Banks below, as well as a couple of global resources.

http://www.indymacbank.com
Another useful resource for REO Banks

http://www.ocwen.com 

http://www.buybankhomes.com

http://www.southernreo.com

http://www.lasvegasbankowned.com

http://www.reo.com

Information to Help with Foreclosures and Pre-foreclosures

Are you interested in buying foreclosed properties, or investing in pre-foreclosures.  Many companies will sell you their complete "how to" package, but the only way to be really successful, is to work at it.  Even in this time of massive foreclosures, you'll have to be on your toes.  There are hundreds of hungry real estate investors out there just like you.  But hang in there.  We'll add more resources to this list as we find them.  Please email us if you have others in mind.

http://www.realtytrac.com

http://www.foreclosure.com

Real Estate Investing Software

There are a ton of real estate investing tools - mostly software - that are available.  Here's a quick run down of what we found on the net.  Look for reviews of these software packages on the web site...now and into the future.

Property Analysis Software

Advantage Software - http://www.invest-2win.com/ - Very basic flipping and analysis software. Stand-alone, $97 each.

Intellipoint Pro - http://www.intellipointpro.com/ - Property analysis software, but adds the ability to keep a database of potential buyers. Expensive: $1995

Rental Software - www.rentalsoftware.com - Landlord and Flipper analysis software. $79 each purchase.

Real Estate Profit Pro - www.realestateprofitpro.com - Deal analysis, cost estimator, document creation, "ready to use" marketing materials, "automatic offer" module. $1,995 purchase price.

Advantage Software, LLC - www.invest-2win.com - Property Analysis software. $97 purchase price.

Real Cash Flow - www.realcashflow.com - Property analysis for cash flow. $5.99 per month fee.

REI Wise - http://www.reiwise.com/ - Professional software to analyze and market commercial and residential real estate. $15/month or $269 purchase. No sharing of data.

Commercial Investment Software

Plan Ease - www.planease.com - Investment / Development Analysis Software, geared more toward commercial investments and apartments. Base product is $995. No online, no community.

Property Management Software

Real Estate Critic - http://www.realestatecritic.com/ - Free online property management software

Property Boulevard - www.propertyboulevard.com - Basic property management. $499 for base single user product.

Buildium - http://www.buildium.com - Online property management software. Includes document sharing, online payment for tenants, and all basic accounting functions.

www.propertyware.com - Online property management software. It's comprehensive, sharable, and online. Includes all document management, tenant and cash flow management, maintenance management, marketing (vacancies), and works with multiple owners (portfolio management). Also allows user to create their own customizable web site. Plans "start at $20 per month". Maintenance, marketing, portfolio management are add-ons.

Real Estate Investment Networks

Loop Net - http://www.loopnet.com/ - Commercial real estate online community/network.

Catylist - www.catylist.com - Online community/network for commercial real estate investment. They claim to have 87,000 Professionals market commercial real estate using the Catylist Network.

Bigger Pockets - http://www.biggerpockets.com - A great resource on everything for real estate investing: resource lists, forums, etc.

Multi-Purpose Real Estate Investing Software

Simple Remote - http://www.simpleremote.com/Page.asp - Track all info about a property, with everything linking together. Ability to upload documents and email to others (document sharing). Can track many different kinds of contacts. Purchase price of $499

Profit Tiger Pro - http://www.profittigerpro.com/ - Stand-alone product. Retails for $2997 (Pro version). Can upload documents and email to vendors, agents, etc.

Profit Grabber - http://www.profitgrabber.com/ - Marketing, lead management. Seems to focus on the marketing aspect, Stand-alone. $4997. 

Intuit Quickbase - http://www.quickbase.com/p/home.asp

Real E Flow - http://www.realeflow.com/ - Quite comprehensive, fully online solution.

Real Estate Investing Documents and Forms

You'll find that the information and resources on these sites can be quite valuable, even if you have to pay a few bucks to get them.  But if you're serious about real estate investing, you'll spend the extra money to put a good real estate lawyer on your team.  Best to keep out of trouble... wouldn't you agree? 

http://www.nolo.com (Recommended)

Go to Nolo.com first.  Enough said.  That's where you'll find all the best information about law --- any kind of law, and in language any fool can understand (not that we think you're a fool). They use plain English instead of legal-speak.

http://www.totallyfreerealestateforms.com

http://www.uslegalforms.com

http://www.realestate-paperwork.com

Real Estate Records Search

Sometimes you need to find information about your property. Real estate records searches are common, and are usually available at your county office. But there are a few good sites online that will give you some advance research data on your real estate investment property.

http://publicrecords.netronline.com

http://www.searchsystems.net/

http://www.knowx.com/ (public records background check on people)

http://www.realestate-search.net/

Fix and Flip Investments

OK. Fix and flip is a big topic. We're going to just give you three sites that talk about it, but don't tell you how to do it.  For that, we recommend that you sign up for some good training...and then go out and buy some software that will help you manage the process.  Look on the site for good ideas about software and read some of our articles on fix and flip.  You'll be pleased.

http://homebuying.about.com/od/4closureshortsales/a/shortsalebasics.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_sale

http://www.ehow.com/how_8132_short-sale.html

Good Resources for Landlords

Got a bunch of properties you own?  Are you a landlord in search of good news?  Here are a few of our favorite sites.  Also check out some of the landlord and property management software we noted earlier on this page.

http://www.thelpa.com
The Landlord Protection Agency - Landlord Resources: free rental forms, state landlord tenant law, credit reports, tenant screening, advice. Free landlord tips and information.

http://www.mrlandlord.com
MR LANDLORD is THE INTERNET RESOURCE for do-it yourself landlords, rental owners and managers. Get the information, keys and tools you need

http://www.landlord411.com
The Resource Center has information on every subject related to investing in and managing income real estate, including Landlord Tenant Law, Landlord Maintenance, Section 1031 Exchange, and other real estate topics.

http://www.landlord.com
The core of the site is in the Information Center, Landlord Law, E-Forms Center, Tools and Calculators, Discussion Board, Tip of the Week and Quality Tenant Screening

Real Estate Law

http://www.nolo.com
This is it... go here to get the best information and advice on anything legal. Better yet - go here first and arm yourself with great information on real estate law BEFORE you go to your attorney (you do have an attorney on your real estate investment team, right?)

http://www.real-estate-law.com
A real estate attorney in New York provides a plethora of information about real estate law.