Introduction

Real estate investing is one of the oldest forms of investing, and it still remains one of the safest. There are many ways to invest in real estate, but most people choose to do so indirectly through REITs or property syndicates. However, if you want to get started with your first investment property as quickly as possible without having to worry about how long it's going to take before you start seeing returns from your investments then read on!

Real estate is one of the oldest and most reliable forms of investment.

Real estate is one of the oldest and most reliable forms of investment. It's a tangible asset, with a guaranteed return. You can rent out your property and get an income stream that will last for years, if not decades.

Real estate isn't as liquid as stocks or bonds—you'll have to hold onto it until you sell it—but it does provide a steady cashflow that can help you build wealth over time. If you live in an apartment building and own only one unit (or two), then yes: Your home is an investment! But if you own multiple units at different times throughout your life cycle (and all at different stages), then no: Your primary residence isn't likely going up in value over time because there are already so many apartments being built everywhere else in Botswana today...

There are two ways to invest in real estate, directly and indirectly.

There are two ways to invest in real estate, directly and indirectly. Directly means you own the property yourself, while indirectly involves owning it through a corporation or trust. Both have their pros and cons:

• Directly owning real estate involves paying more upfront in taxes (even if you earn enough profit to pay off your loan), but it also means having full ownership rights over your investment property. You can sell it when you want to move or even rent out that big second bedroom when you're not using it!

• Indirectly investing through a corporation or trust allows for greater flexibility than direct ownership does—you don't have to worry about paying any taxes on these properties because they're handled by professionals instead of yourself; however, there's an additional fee attached which may make this option less appealing depending on how much money you're looking forward toward putting into this venture each year.*

The majority of investors own property indirectly through REITs, property syndicates, crowdfunding or real estate mutual funds.

The majority of investors own property indirectly through REITs, property syndicates, crowdfunding or real estate mutual funds.

REITs are real estate investments that trade on the stock market and in Botswana we have Property Loan Stocks which deliver the same benefits as international REITs. Property syndicates are a group of people who pool their money to buy a piece of real estate, Fields Mall is one of the latest examples but this has been happening for many years with Riverwalk being one such example where it was backed by a few investors who contributed to the project which now houses over 50 units! Another example would be Rail Park which was funded by a combination of corporates, pension funds and individuals. So basically anything except infrastructure projects such as roads/bridges because they require large budgets that may not be feasible at this stage. Crowdfunding also allows individuals with no experience whatsoever in business management tools like Microsoft excel spreadsheet templates so don’t let yourself get bogged down thinking “I can’t do this myself because I don't understand finance terms such as net present value calculation".

Mortgage interest is still deductible in some cases, but there are restrictions.

The mortgage interest you pay on your home is deductible, but there are restrictions. You can only deduct the amount of interest that exceeds 2% of your Adjusted Gross Income (AGI). If this makes sense to you, then keep reading!

But what if it doesn't? That's where we come in. We'll explain how to calculate the amount of interest you can deduct, as well as what happens if you don't.

Investment properties are not subject to the same rules as primary residences and vacation homes.

• You can deduct interest on investment property.

• You can deduct property taxes on investment property.

• You can deduct depreciation on investment property. (Depreciation is a way of accounting for the cost of using up capital by writing off parts of it each year.)

• You can deduct repairs and maintenance on investment property, as well as any other expenses associated with keeping your home in good repair and ready for occupancy by buyers. This is important because it helps you keep track of what needs to be done so that when you sell the house, there will be no surprises down the line with repairs or replacement costs.* If it's your primary residence—that's where most people live most often—then you're likely eligible for tax breaks like mortgage interest deductions and charitable donations; however if you're buying something else entirely like an investment property (like an apartment building) then those same rules don't apply!

With careful planning, it's possible to incorporate real estate into your investment plan effectively.

Real estate can be purchased in a number of ways: directly (buying properties), through partnerships or limited liability companies , or by using pooled funds. Whichever way you go about it, there are some important things to consider before jumping into this market:

Make sure you are making decisions based on real market data

The first step to making a real estate investment is understanding the market. Sites such as Gosmartvalue are great at offering a guideline to where the market sits in your area of interest.

When researching potential investments, it's important not only to understand how much income you can expect from your rental property but also how much money will be coming in from other sources such as rents, mortgage payments and taxes. You should also look at any external factors that may affect how quickly or slowly an investment makes money (for example: competition). Researching these micro economic factors that may affect the rate of success of your investment will help ensure that when you purchase properties they are likely going up in value over time rather than just staying stagnant while waiting for someone else's boom period (or bust).

Conclusion

We hope that you are convinced to take the leap into investing in real estate. It's a great way to build wealth, and there are many ways to get started. With careful planning and some elbow grease, you can incorporate real estate into your investment plan effectively.