The Internet is full of people who claim they have found the secret to making the most money in real estate investing. Many say they have the "secret" to making huge profits. These claims are heard in almost every profession. But you can get past the "BS" and to the information that will help you make money!

• Check the credentials of the "investment expert." Have they been successful in closing deals? How many deals have they closed? What is their background?


• What is their website like? Does it direct you to a report or another website where you can get more information? Are the websites well done with no obvious misspellings or grammatical errors? First impressions mean everything---even if it is just from a website.


• Does the information contain tips you can use? If the "expert" is giving outlandish advice, walk away. For example, if you are an American investor looking for a way to invest in your area, investing overseas-even with the power of the Internet-is not good advice for you.

Successful investors will tell you that much of their success is attributed to common sense. Real estate investing is not a new profession and many people have become very wealthy. The steps in any good investment are essentially the same:

1. Line up buyers who have money and a real interest in investing.


2. Find good properties and establish relationships with the owners.


3. Bring the buyers and owner together and close the deal!

The ways of finding buyers and sellers may be different. Most everyone will tell you that advertisements in newspapers and small publications work. You will also hear a lot about networking. But if the advice you have received from an expert is not resulting in any deals, then you should question the validity of that advice and find what works for you.