We think it’s a GREAT idea for real estate and mortgage professionals to talk to their clients about the profit possibilities associated with investing in income properties in different areas of the country. As you know, this is the way to diversify your real estate portfolio, since rarely, if ever, does the entire country go through a property crash at the same time.

The issue with many investors new to the idea of buying real estate in an area they’re not familiar with is just that – they’re not familiar with it and leery about becoming a long distance landlord, sight unseen. There’s a real simple way around this little roadblock. Tell them to go look at the property! In fact, you might even take it upon yourself to organize a little property viewing junket to a hot market – Dallas is good right now – and invite your clients along.

What better way to take a tax deductible trip? With recent news of Aussie real estate agents organizing trips to Florida for potential buyers, this seems to be the idea du jour. It’s amazing that it hasn’t been done on a large scale before. Of course, everyone buys their own tickets, though you might be able to swing a lodging discount on the other end with volume.

And here’s a factoid we don’t want you to spread around too much. Our affiliate, Platinum Properties Investor Network (PPIN), has a regional manager in Dallas who mentioned to us in passing that he might be willing to reimburse investors for the price of their airfare if they ended up buying one of his properties after looking at it.

This makes a good real estate deal even better. To find out the current status of this Dallas junket airfare deal, call the PPIN office and ask any of the investment counselors if Dallas is still a “go.” They’ll know what you’re talking about. Meanwhile, consider that putting your clients boots on the ground in Dallas, or elsewhere, with property numbers and rate of return in hand, might be the best way to impress upon them the real possibilities of lifting their eyes to the horizon and thinking outside the box of home town investing.

The AIPIS Team

Flickr / Wonderdawg777