Investor Quarterly™ Issue 1 - May 2015 | Page 7

7 7 Leverage is a very common term in real estate investing, but like an iceberg, 90% of what leverage means is below the surface. Once I realized that there were many different types of leverage, I saw the true power of how I could change the real estate investing industry for the better and make my life more fulfilling in the process. I’ve set out to change real estate investing for the masses and won’t stop until I’ve changed lives for the better. Most commonly, those using the term, ‘Leverage,’ are referring to, ‘Financial Leverage’. True, real estate would not be nearly the opportunity it is without the ability to use debt. If real estate investors couldn’t borrow money to do deals, very few investors would exist. Even those that refer to themselves as, “Cash Buyers” are generally borrowing the money from somewhere (i.e. using Leverage). Financial leverage is critical for real estate investors, but to be successful as a real estate investor, it’s crucial that you use many other forms of Leverage. Before we go much further, let’s look at a common meaning of ‘Leverage’.