The 3 Most Common Problems Real Estate Investors Face - And How to Overcome Them

After years of doing deals myself and working alongside investors at every level, I’ve learned something important: most real estate investors don’t fail because they lack motivation or intelligence. They stall because they keep running into the same three problems over and over again.

These problems quietly cap growth, drain energy, and turn what should be a business into an exhausting side hustle. The good news is they’re solvable — if you approach real estate like a business instead of a hobby.

Before we break them down, one distinction matters.

Real estate investors are not real estate consumers.

Consumers buy homes to live in or vacation in. Investors are business owners who use real estate as a tool to serve the public and generate income. That includes fix-and-flip rehabbers, buy-and-hold landlords, small multifamily owners, short-term rental operators, developers, builders, mobile home park owners, storage facility owners, and RV park investors. Different niches, same underlying challenges.

No matter the strategy, investors consistently face three roadblocks: deal flow, time, and capital.

Problem #1: Deal Flow

You can’t grow a portfolio without consistent opportunities. Most investors rely too heavily on what they can find themselves — scrolling listings, chasing the same deals everyone else sees, or waiting for something to “pop up.”

That’s not a system. That’s hope.

Real growth comes from structured deal flow, both on-market and off-market, paired with proper underwriting and clean exits. As a licensed real estate broker, I work directly with investors to source opportunities, analyze them realistically, and structure both the acquisition and the exit so the deal actually works.

The goal isn’t more deals. The goal is better deals that fit your strategy, risk tolerance, and timeline.

When deal flow is intentional, investing becomes repeatable instead of stressful.

Problem #2: Time

Time is the silent killer of investor momentum.

Small multifamily and scattered-site portfolios look great on paper, but operationally they chew people up. Driving across town for repairs, dealing with tenant calls, coordinating vendors, showing units, and chasing rent turns investors into full-time operators whether they want that job or not.

When you’re buried in operations, growth stops.

That’s exactly why we built 505 Housing Property Management — to remove day-to-day friction so investors can focus on what actually moves the needle: acquisitions, strategy, and life outside real estate. When operations are handled professionally, portfolios scale faster and stress drops fast.

Real estate should fund your life, not consume it.

Problem #3: Capital

This is the biggest bottleneck for most investors.

Banks are designed to say no. Their job is to protect deposits, not help investors grow. Traditional underwriting often punishes experience, complexity, or creativity — the very things real estate investing requires.

That’s why I’ve partnered with a national network of private money lenders who specialize in low-risk, real estate-backed investments for pension funds and insurance funds. These groups currently have hundreds of billions of dollars allocated specifically for real estate — and not enough quality deals to place it in.

That’s the disconnect.

My role is to bridge that gap. I’m certified to work with these lenders and structure funding for deals that make sense. If the numbers work and the risk is clear, capital is rarely the real problem.

Good deals attract money. Period.

Bringing It All Together

Every deal is different. Every investor’s situation has nuance. Questions are part of the process, not a problem.

If you’re in New Mexico, I can help with acquisition, funding, and management. If you’re outside New Mexico, I can help structure funding for your next deal.

This is about getting deals done — the right way, with the right support, and without burning yourself out.

I’m Joshua Christensen with Christensen Properties, powered by R1 of New Mexico. If you’re serious about your next project, let’s talk about how to get it across the finish line. I’m committed to helping you reach your real estate goals ONE DOOR AT A TIME.