Real Estate is local. Real estate Investing is NOT. Don't be confined to your little neck of the woods when choosing a market and real estate to invest in. Finding and investing in rental property or rehab deals outside of your town, or state, is not as difficult as it may appear. The fear is in perception, not fact.

Fear #1 - "I Have No Control"

Well, if you feel that way, then try to find just one thing in your life that you have complete control over. Go ahead; I'll wait. But don't forget to come back and read the rest of this article after you've given up.

Okay, now that you know the only thing you can control in this world is your own thoughts (which is a topic for another day), we can go on dispelling fear Numero Uno: Lack of Control.

In all reality, things are going to go wrong no matter if you're watching over them like a hawk, or you're hibernating in Siberia. The only way to mitigate problems in your real estate investing business is to prepare and prevent; Whether you're an out of town landlord or renting out the other half of the duplex that you live in, you need to have the right people in place to be a successful investor. These people include:

1 Property manager- they will watch over your property better than you would do

2 Insurance agent - in case something does go wrong, you're covered

3 Inspector - they will find most problems, if any, even the ones you wouldn't be able to see

4 Contractor/handyman - even if you are local, You want to be an investor, right?; And not a tradesman?

A true investor is the brains behind the operation, not the brawn; so change your mindset and you will be in complete control.

Fear #2 - "I don't know the Market"

Well, what's keeping you from learning? There are certain factors that affect real estate; affordability and availability. If you're interested in investing in rental property find out what someone will pay in rent and make sure that there aren't more rentals houses available than there are renters. If you're looking to rehab and flip a property, find out if people are buying and for how much and how many other homes are for sale.

How do you find this information? Talk to a property management company, an investor who already works in the area, or a realtor who knows the market. Remember, this is an investment. If you're investing in the stock market, you either take the time to learn the ropes, or you hire someone to do it for you. The best part is that you can get all kinds of free information by just asking!

This is the Information Age, you can find out anything that you want to know.

Fear #3 - "We're in a recession and the Economy Sucks"

Well, I must say, those are some strong words. I'm sorry you feel that way. I say - Go ahead and stay on the sidelines. Less competition means more wholesale deals and more profit for me and my investors.

I don't mind buying real estate in Florida or Montgomery, Alabama, as long as it makes investment sense. Florida was a ‘bubble' state that is inundated with foreclosures and the Alabama real estate market hasn't even seen any real investor activity, which is exactly why it has some of the most profit potential in the entire country.

Don't get caught up in the media or the hype. All successful people deviate from the herd mentality, and they reap the rewards. If you want to make money investing in real estate, whether it is buying and selling, or buying and renting, make up your mind and go out and make it happen

Overcome your fears of going outside of your own back yard and venture into the world of real estate investing success!