To attain maximum financial benefits from your local Fraser Valley real estate investment with minimal risk and maximum gain, you must clearly define your goals and objectives and plan to achieve them. You can accomplish this in various steps. The process of determining your plan is comprised of several elements. First, Determine your current financial need. Then, assessing your future personal and financial needs brings you into your overall game plan for success.

Your success in real estate investments has a lot to do with the qualities that you bring to the table. Know your strengths and know your weaknesses so that you can focus on your strengths and compensate for you weaknesses. Are you considering group investments? Or a new home construction in Surrey, or Langley? This type of self annalist is crucial for success in this type of situation.

Complete a personal cost of living budget for the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area. Your cost of living may be different if you are located in Richmond, Coquitlam, New West, Burnaby, Maple Ridge, Langley or Surrey. Your cost of living is generally more in those areas. However, it’s generally less expensive in Abbotsford, Mission and Chilliwack. After your living budget, calculate your personal net worth as a statement. Then calculate your gross debt service ratio and total debt service ratio. Keep in mind that these are only guidelines and that there are several creative ways to manage your finances. Talking to a financial money manager is sometimes a good source of structure and advice.

The amount of risk your willing to take should reflect the kind of time commitment your involved in. Be realistic with short, medium and long term goals and objectives. Maybe you want to be financially independent within 10-15 years. Write this down as a “need to be" statement. With that kind of time frame, don’t look at real estate as a “get rich quick" scheme. There are many who have adopted that attitude, this has been their downfall. Avoid the prophets of profit! Some real estate seminars will show you how to become rich through property tax sales in the Fraser Valley. Or foreclosure sales in the lower mainland. Some will show you how to flip property in the Greater Vancouver area but in most cases in Canada the reality of these options are not applicable. If they are, you will be undertaking considerable difficulty and risk when undertaking such investments. The key is to give yourself a realistic time frame to achieve your investment objectives. For example, normal real estate cycles are 5-8 years. Work within that time frame for your success. Be patient and stay positive! You will be successful!