In the early 1990's, a newlywed couple bought a new house in Thousand Oaks, to start their lives together. At the time, most people thought that the drive 40 miles north of Los Angeles was too far. Who would have thought that the "boonies" would develop into one of the fastest growing areas in Southern California?

If the couple held onto their real estate when they left the state in the mid 1990's, they would have definitely been on the road to riches. Hindsight is always 20/20, but the compelling factor that drove the sale of the house was the carrying cost.

When reflecting about any propsperous area such as the Silicon Valley or Orange County, what is the common thread? These are both within a 60 mile radius of San Francisco or Los Angeles, major cities that are the hubs of significant economic growth. Think back 30 years, when these areas were nothing more than farmland with a few pockets of development. Would you have been willing to invest at that time? Most skeptics would not, but given what you know now... would you have hesitated?

So now, in the present day, if you were to consider an undeveloped area that is within a 60 mile radius of Los Angeles, what do you think the real estate would be worth in 10... 20... or 30 years?

How do we determine a given area is in the path for growth? There are typically 10 key factors:

0. Master plan for community (streets, roads, sewer, electric, and gas)
0. Existing commercial and residential development
0. Authoritative population projections and studies
0. Existing and planned industry and commerce
0. Proximity to large population: metropolis
0. Educational system: primary through college
0. Adequate utilities for massive growth
0. Accessibility by freeway, train, air
0. Abundant, available water supply
0. Level, usable land

Certainly, you would do your due diligence and research the area properly. Suppose you came across an opportunity that parallels the historical development of a typical prosperous area... are you ready now?

The concept of investing in the path of growth is an insightful one, that intuitively makes sense. Let us help guide you.