When applied to the world of real estate, the definition of investing tends to differ to a fairly substantial degree. There are certainly those who refer to making an investment in real estate in the same way they would a particular stock portfolio, but many others will use the term investment a bit differently. According to Dr. Sid Solomon, the connotation of the term is a critical one for all parties to understand in order to ensure that a simple miscommunication or misunderstanding does not complicate what is already a sizable purchase.
Without clarity in what the term “investment” means to the homebuyer, a real estate agent may unintentionally guide the buyer to make a purchase that doesn’t quite deliver the outcome the buyer is seeking. For example, a homebuyer may indicate that they wish to make a long-term investment in real estate, but they are not necessarily referring to the kind of investment measured solely on the financial return it ultimately yields. Instead, the buyer may be using the term “investment” to indicate a wiliness to spend slightly more than they have budgeted if it means access to exceptional schools, a safe neighborhood or an area in which there is a strong and pervasive sense of community and support.
If the real estate agent believes the homebuyer is seeking an investment based on potential financial return, then it is very unlikely there will be any overlap in the qualities the buyer is seeking in the properties the agent believes offer the best possibility for a financial return. Since it only takes a few moments to clarify, both the homebuyer and the real estate agent should make sure they discuss precisely what is meant by the term “investment.”