Although most schools are back in session there are still people who are seeking out rental properties, while others are looking for a home to purchase. As a real estate investor, you should certainly be aware of the importance of the end of summer real estate opportunities. Just keep in mind that as Labor Day approaches, you need the flexibility and knowledge to act with purpose at just the right moment. Whether you're a fix and flip investor, or you prefer to fix and hold, there are three ways to take advantage now.

Whether you are a real estate investor who prefers to fix and flip houses, or a landlord who prefers to use rental properties for long-term passive income, working with contractors is simply a part of doing business. In the real estate investment world, however, horror stories abound about contractors who have turned potentially lucrative property deals into complete disasters. As a real estate investor, it is important to know how to avoid these situations altogether. Here are 4 ways to avoid having contractor horror stories of your own.

While it may seem, to the inexperienced, that hard money lenders operate in a "no man's land," the reality is, the top Hard Money Lenders have certain key characteristics in common. If you do decide to retain the services of a hard money lender, here are some of their best practices that you should be on the lookout for:

You’ve found the perfect distressed property to fix and flip. You’ve done your due diligence. The price is right. The rehab is doable and can be done on a timely basis. The profit is just waiting for you.

Anyone who has not been keeping a close eye on their portfolio and their property inventory in this economy is not in the Real Estate Investing business. Part of the problem is that it isn't just your business you have to take into account. Suppliers, labor, and buyers for the flip market all play into the situation.

Fix and flip investing is part art form and part business venture. As a real estate investor, you know the importance of doing your homework when choosing a fix and flip property. You have built relationships with realtors,  property inspectors, contractors, and others in related industries to maximize your chances of success. You understand the proper way to figure appropriate ARVs for each property you consider. And you have a real eye for finding those diamond in the rough properties that others overlook when it comes to property searching.

For real estate investors, pre-foreclosure or short sale listings are a potential gold mine. The owners of these homes are often in serious default and they desperately need to sell fast. Homes that fit this category are plentiful and a savvy investor can score some incredible deals. Here are some tips for investors on how to find and navigate a short sale.

A California hard money lender has a slightly different approach to issuing loans than other sources of debt capital. Understanding what a typical private lender wants can help you to not only send the right deals their way, but also to better package what assets you send to them.

Hard money lenders ask different questions from traditional lenders. You can't approach one simply expecting that a high credit score will be enough to get a loan. Instead, they look at you, your proposed purchase, and your equity to answer one basic question: Are you motivated to repay the loan? To this end, here are five of the most common questions that you can expect to be asked:

Many might suspect that hard money lenders may be difficult financing sources; that they have rather strict terms and can be quite complicated to do business with. What is the truth? The truth is that many experienced and reliable hard money lenders are actually very easy to transact with. How do you get a good deal out of them? Here are some simple tips.