In a hot, competitive seller’s market, cash is very best thing – NEXT best thing is a lightning fast Bridge loan commitment, which can allow you to bid without needing a financing contingency.

There is a long list of possible reasons to obtain a bridge loan ranging from need to close ASAP because a bank is simply taking too long and your time-of-the-essence closing date cannot be moved even by one day, need or desire to buy out a partner, desire to recapture equity (often “trapped” by prepayment penalties on long term fixed rate mortgages on assets like shopping centers, multifamily and office buildings) for a compelling business or buying opportunity, need to settle up with IRS, or need to fund emergency repairs…the list goes on and on.

Special mezzanine loan program for new construction:

In life in general, question often is: “what tool do I need right now to accomplish job at hand?” Within specialized world of high-yield, short-term real estate lenders, W Financial Mortgage Fund sets itself apart by offering multiple tools, and in many cases, a complete capital solution. More often these days, it’s not an either/or proposition (i.e., private money OR bank money). We routinely arrange smoothly integrated mezzanine or subordinate debt packaged with low-rate first mortgage debt. The ideal financing solution can sometimes be a combination of two.

For example, we have a special construction loan program where a first mortgage construction lender will provide from 75% to 80% of development cost, and our Fund will provide another 10% - 15% as a mezzanine loan, requiring that Developer contribute at least 10% of equity. There is an intercreditor agreement already in place between W Financial Mortgage Fund (www.w-fund.com) and various construction lenders, allowing process to proceed seamlessly and to provide higher leverage than would ordinarily be possible.

To conclude, Private Money is one more tool in your toolbox. It may be of strategic benefit to you and your team to learn about current “state of art” of how deploying Bridge or Mezz money at right moment can help your money-making strategy.

Gregg Winter President Winter & Company Commercial Real Estate Finance www.winterandcompany.com

Remember Real Estate cycles tend to be regionally based. Real Estate is always driven by economic principles of supply and demand. Some areas of country, like Seattle, are going gangbusters, and real estate values are going sky high, and other areas like parts of northeast are not increasing by same percentage. However almost all areas are going up in value. Historically, property values increase in a strong job market. Other factors to think about include; program funding, interest rates, population growth, climate, and user-friendly state and local governments, including school system changes. These are critical points to consider when investing in real estate, either as a landlord or for personal use.

The key to successful real estate investing is to understand what drives market. Stay on top of what is going on in your market place. Research internet, read articles, get involved with your community. One other key to staying at top of your game is to get a mentor or coach to help you succeed in your real estate investing career. If coaching is good enough for sports figures like Tiger Woods, why not you?

To sum it up, Real Estate bubbles don't exist, but there is a real estate wave. As any surfer knows, if you want to ride waves, you need to get in water. Watching action can be fun, but will it put any money in your pocket? Invest with intention of providing a service for others, and you can become rich investing in Real Estate.

Roseanne Nepht is excited about Real Estate and is the owner of Everything About Real Estate

She has discovered that you don't have to be Donald Trump to earn a substancial income or even get wealthy in the Real Estate market.