Chicago Real Estate Investing Blog

By Mark Ainley

Are Real Estate Investments The Best Kind Of Alternative Investments?

Are you an executive who just retired after being in corporate practice for several years?Or an entrepreneur who just sold a business? Perhaps you are a new graduate who received an inheritance unexpectedly? Or, you may be the lucky one who won the biggest jackpot in ...

By Mark Ainley

Are You Ready To Invest In Real Estate?

Real estate investing requires a lot of hard work and proper planning. It can be a phenomenal wealth-building strategy, but without the proper set of expectations and goals, it may not be the best fit for you. I often hear people talk about real estate as this sure-thing money ma...

By Mark Ainley

How Tom Turned His 200K into Millions

The Tom I mention here is my great podcast co-host, Tom Shallcross—a lifelong northwest sider. Tom was born and raised in Dunning, and today, he still resides there with his wife and 4 children. He's a few minutes away from where he grew up, but thanks to his real estat...

By Mark Ainley

BRRRR Chicago Strategy

BRRRR is an acronym that stands for: Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat. This strategy of real estate investing has become popular among investors who may not have the 20-25% down payment to invest in a long term deal or for seasoned investors who want to do more dea...

By Mark Ainley

Three Of The Best Methods Of Real Estate Investment For Beginners

I get asked this question frequently: “What would you do if you were starting over?” I answer: It depends. It depends on the circumstances in my life. It depends on how much money I have at the time. It depends on how much time I would have.What I’m going to do ...

By Mark Ainley

Five tips for getting the most out of your REO property investments

Investors looking to purchase foreclosed properties may not be aware of the wealth of opportunities available through bank-owned homes. Savvy investors who take the time to learn about the REO process can uncover a huge opportunity for themselves in the form of great bargains. &n...

By Mark Ainley

6 Ways To Avoid (Most Of) The Risks In Turnkey Investing

Real estate investing is not for everyone. Patience, consistency, and persistence are required to be successful in this business. Before you make the leap, it's important to understand the challenges you'll face.A lot of new investors are interested in investing in turnke...

By Mark Ainley

What You Need to Know About IRAs

There are two main types of IRAs: traditional and Roth. Each has its own pros and cons, which makes choosing one over the other more difficult than it seems at first glance. This article will discuss the differences between them and help you to choose which one is right for you b...

By Mark Ainley

How To Screen For A Bad Chicago General Contractor

Hiring a bad contractor to lead your Chicago rehab can be a costly learning curve. Below are a few tips on what you need to know to avoid some of the pitfalls when hiring a general contractor to complete a rehab for you in Chicago.Hire a contractor that has a general contra...

By Mark Ainley

Best Areas To Invest In Chicago Real Estate

The Chicago metro area is made up of 77 wards inside the city limits and surrounded by over 130 suburbs across 6 counties. That means for people starting their search here with no knowledge of the100s of pockets to buy in, it can become overwhelming fast!Chicago has a lot t...