Finally, when you get tired of the run-around you discover you have paid in the past year alone over half the real value of the time share. This is not smart investing. And you have not enjoyed the use of your unit because you believed it would sell. You paid all this money for nothing.  Yes, there are always people buying timeshares but unfortunately with the current economy the market seems to be flooded so let’s look at an alternative.

Donate Your Timeshare

Why not donate the time share to any non-profit corporation? Sell my timeshare news listed donating your timeshare as one of the top tax deductions over the last several years.  You get a write-off of the full value. You can feel good about it.  How do you do this? It is easy. First find a company that accepts donations. Look on the internet. The many search engines will bring up many companies that can help. Then email or call them. Tell them what you want to do. Ask if they do this. If they do not, they may be able to recommend someone.

Once you reach the right company, give them the information about your time share. The company will need to check it out, to see if the market value is high enough to fit their requirements. The company will also check to see if the unit can be sold. Sometimes there are liens against the units that the owners will not pay off. After only a day or two, the company says yes. Then you sign the paperwork, send the deed, and wait a couple of weeks for the time share to sell. Once it is sold, you get a tax deduction, the non-profit organization gets money, and everyone is happy.

Real estate shouldered some of the blame for the recent financial crisis, but it was in actuality manipulation of the mortgage market which was the real culprit. Real estate is a timeless investment that my loose short term value but will continue to climb in the long term. People will always need a place to live. Here are some important points to consider when evaluating investment strategies.

Approach real estate investment with a long term strategy and an attitude that you will make money when you buy. You may not see them money for awhile but if you find good enough deals that should not be a problem.

Assess the tax strategy that you plan utilize with your holdings. Are you planning to buy and hold and write off depreciation or are you going to trade up and take advantage of your 1031 exchange options. Each option requires the expertise of different professionals. Building on a solid foundation will set you up for substantially more profit long term. Get your cards right in the beginning and avoid playing catchup.

Look at the market and pick a niche, don’t attempt to be a jack of all trades. Don’t ever forget the three simple rules of real estate location, location and location. Keep these rules in mind and you will guarantee a good return on your initial investment.

Take the time to build contacts in your area of expertise and assemble a team of people that you can call on for answers, advice, deals, money, and mentorship. Do not ever underestimate the power of the people with which you surround yourself.

Building a successful real estate business is about leverage. To keep it simple this means, buying the maximum amount of real estate with the least amount of money out of pocket. Real estate is about solving problems and leaving the deal with everyone happy. Operate with a win win attitude and you are certain to have a successful career.

There is never a better time to get into real estate investing than right now. Take action a move forward with bold determination. You will make mistake and you will learn lessons along the road but if you stick with it you are certain to have a profitable rewarding investing career.