We target residential income properties in Southern California (Los Angeles and Orange Counties), with a special emphasis on "1-to-4s", including Single Family Residences, Condos, Duplexes, Triplexes and Fourplexes.  We also help you plan a path to larger multi-family dwellings to increase your financial leverage.

Among 2-4s, duplexes are by far the most popular, normally comprising about half of the purchase market. And Single Family Residences (SFRs) are about 75% of the total residential income property space (CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, 2017 California Investor Survey). SFRs are often more difficult to have positive cash flow, but can be a great source of income. Think about it.

Larger residential income properties (5+) generally have different loan and management requirements. See below for more on 5+ units.

Investors of all experience levels can find our system to be invaluable.  We help first time investors through every step of the process, from learning the terminology, through to close of escrow and possession.

Experienced investors benefit from our knowledge of the marketplace, plus our SMART Opportunity Analysis Reports help identify the best investment properties and where they fit in the marketplace.

There are two general strategies for residential real estate investing:

1. Buy and Hold
2. Flipping

We concentrate on Buy and Hold strategies, usually in the 5-10 year range.  This centers attention on the power of our SMART Residential Income Property Search Engine©, SMART Return on Investment Analyzer© and SMART Return on Equity Analyzer© tools.

A word about "flipping": Flipping (also known as "rehab investing") is a fine strategy, and can be very profitable when done right.  But it takes a specialized knowledge of construction and short-term market conditions (generally 2-5 months timeframe).  When done properly, Buy and Hold is safer, more predictable and less subject to short-term market variations.  It can also reap long-lasting rewards that can continue through retirement and estate planning.

At SMART Real Estate Investing System, we generally concentrate on the 1-4 market, including Single Family and Condos.  That's primarily because:

1. They are easy to get into
2. The cash flow and financing calculations are pretty much the same for those types of units
3. The "commercial" space of 5 and more units requires an additional degree of experience, resources and ability to absorb risk.

However, we welcome the chance to help you with apartment buildings and other larger residential real estate investments. Our team will work with you to determine your investment goals and get you started on your search.