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Is Bank Of America Actually Offering Mortgage Principal Reductions | CA Bay Area Financing

March 25, 2010 By 1 Comment

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Bank of America Claims to be Offering Mortgage Principal Reductions. Have You Heard of ANY Success Stories?

Bank Of America to Reduce Principal for Distress Home Owners

Bank of America, the nation’s largest mortgage lender, on Wednesday announced a program to offer homeowners who owe significantly more than their homes are worth the opportunity to have their loan balances reduced.


 
 

I’ve done some personal research on this program and from what I heard on the news today it’s a very interesting. If a homeowner owes more than 120% of the value of their home but wants to keep it, B of A essentially forgives interest temporarily. (Another way to look at it is they set the interest rate at -0-.)

Then they set a payment they think the homeowner can afford, and 100% of the payment goes to principal reduction until…

The balance of the loan drops down to the then-current value of the home. Then interest kicks in again, presumably at the original terms, although I don’t know that for sure.

Note that B of A doesn’t give up any principal, but rather gives up interest — but only for a fairly short time.

Financing Trends

Here we are wrapping up Friday 3/25/2010. Mortgage rates are still extremely low. Some of the niche programs for first time buyers and tax credits are still available.

You can look at weekly rate trends Here | Popular Funding Programs

If you have financing questions, or want to learn more about what we are doing as Real Estate Investors? Or if you are looking for new income or lending sources… Don’t hesitate to get in touch with me anytime! Right now we have access to over 300 non traditional lenders looking to give you money for your real estate deal.

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Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler 925-285-2172

Filed Under: Mortgage Tips, Real Estate Investing Tips, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Building Your Business and Real Estate Portfolio Locally and Nationwide

March 7, 2010 By 5 Comments

Article by Jason Wheeler | Read our Feed | 925-285-217

Our mission is to provide clients and investors with exceptional services through the intelligent application of real estate investing strategies and the latest mortgage financing options available today. We are dedicated to helping you build a profitable business and real estate portfolio.

Through many of our strategic partners we can help provide the following.

Call or Email Us now for a Quick Approval and Personalized Quote 925-285-2172


 
 

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  • Financing for Your Real Estate – If there is a loan product in the conventional market that you qualify for we will get it for you. We have no allegiance to any one bank and always work for you. We can also provide private transactional funding for your short term Real Estate investments.
  • Transactional Funds for Real Estate Investors as low as 2.25%
  • Real Estate Investment Education – Have you thought of creating an income through Real Estate Investment strategies? If so you can benefit from one of our FREE Events. Learn our unique model in real estate investments and create a long term source of wealth and security.
  • Foreclosure Relief – If you are in a hardship or cannot make your current payments you need to speak with us. Did you know that there are several ways you can avoid going through a foreclosure and often times save your home.

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Call or Email Us now for a Quick Approval and Personalized Quote 925-285-2172

REI Capital Solutions Group was founded by Jason Wheeler. Jason has been practicing in Real Estate Finance and Investments since 2003. His main passion is to help the average consumer create success through building a successful business foundation and real estate portfolio. Jason served his community in Pleasant Hill, CA in the East Bay Area as the Vice President of Government Affairs for the Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors from 2006 to 2009..

Jason’s key to success is always finding a mutually beneficial transaction for everyone involved in his real estate transactions and investments. Jason will help you get the knowledge you need to create a significant income in real estate investments and connect you with a network of thousands of investors nationwide that want to help you succeed in Real Estate Investing.

EDUCATION: Education is the key to having success in just about any endeavor or skill we believe that in order to be successful in Real Estate Investment endeavors you must understand the various strategies that you can implement including. We can introduce you to top notch trainers that specialize in strategies like Creative Financing, Buying without using you own money or credit, finding wholesale real estate deals and much much more. You will learn from successful practitioners in the real estate investment field that bring up to date start to money systems for you to implement.

CASH FLOW PROPERTIES: If you are interested in diversifying your investments to include income-producing properties, we can introduce you to a complete turn-key solution: a national network of real estate acquisition and management professionals who can deliver cash-flow-positive, instant-equity properties in great rental markets around the country with as little as 10% down. You can literally shop for great rental properties online. Key services include property acquisition, property management, tenanting services, incorporation and tax services, and much more .You will have direct access to full comps or appraisals, mortgage documents, photos of the property and full financial’s. Contact us for a free online tour of currently available properties.

INCOME: Do you have a strong sales and marketing background? Are you highly ethical, strongly money-motivated, and interested in learning investing? Contact us to find out how you can join our outstanding team. We do not put a cap on your up-side potential. We pay for results.

COMMUNITY: Do you believe that investing is a team sport? We do! We can introduce to you a network of over 12,000 investors, brokers, lenders, lawyers, accountants, agents, property managers, deal locators and instructors so that you always have someone to consult to provide support, mentoring, advice and assistance with your next deal.

Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler 925-285-2172 | Come to a FREE Event |

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Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler 925-285-2172

Leave a Comment or Question Below we Answer Each One!Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler 925-285-2172 |
 

Filed Under: Mortgage Tips, Real Estate Investing Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

CA Bay Area Contra Costa Mortgage Credit Certificates | Bay Area Tax Credits for Buying Real Estate

February 28, 2010 By 5 Comments

Public Finance

MCC funds now are available.

Program Summary

The Mortgage Credit Certificate Program, authorized by Congress in the Tax Reform Act of 1984, provides financial assistance to "First time homebuyers" for the purchase of new or existing single-family home. In 1985, the State adopted legislation authorizing local agencies, such as Contra Costa County, to make Mortgage Credit Certificates (MCCs) available in California. Contra Costa County MCC authority can be used in all cities as well as the unincorporated areas of the County. The Contra Costa County Community Development Department will administer the program.

What is an MCC?

The MCC Program is a homebuyer assistance program. The MCC provides qualified first time homebuyers with a federal income tax credit. Income tax credits reduce an individual’s tax payment(s) by an amount equal to the credit. Under the MCC program, the maximum tax credit available is equal to 20 percent of the annual interest paid on the borrower’s mortgage. By reducing the borrower’s federal tax liability, the tax credit essentially provides additional income which can be used for mortgage payments.

How does the MCC reduce your taxes?

In the example given in Table 1, a borrower with a 7.5 percent fixed rate 30-year mortgage of $150,000 would make $11,203 in interest payments during the first year of the mortgage.1 Under normal circumstances, the borrower deducts 80 percent of that interest ($8,962 in our example)-along with other allowable deductions-from his total gross income in order to figure the "adjusted gross income" used to calculate his/her total tax liability. After the borrower has calculated the total tax liability, under the MCC program the remaining 20 percent of the interest ($2,241 in our example) is also deducted from his/her total tax liability. If this subtraction results in a negative number-in other words, if the borrower is unable to use the entire MCC tax credit in this particular tax year-the credit may be carried forward and used, up to three calendar years in the future. The borrower may consider adjusting his/her federal income tax withholding (W-4) so as to benefit on a monthly basis for the MCC. By taking this action, the borrower will have more disposable income to make mortgage payments.

Table 1: Effect of a Mortgage Credit Certificate – Example
1.
First Mortgage Amount
$200,000
2.
Mortgage Rate Interest
7.5%
3.
Annual Interest Payment
$15,000
4.
Mortgage Credit Certificate Rate
20%
5.
Annual MCC Amount (Line 3 x Line 4)
$3,000
6.
Monthly Credit Amount (Line 5 ÷ 12)
$250

Note that the MCC program applies only to the borrower’s federal tax liability. State taxes are not affected.

What are the purchase price and income limitations for MCC Participation?

Mortgage Credit Certificates are available to first-time homebuyers in Contra Costa County. Table 2 shows the purchase price and income limitations for MCC Program participants.

Table 2: MCC Program Purchase Price and Income Limitations
Purchase Price Non-Target Areas Target Areas
New (never occupied) units $629,005 $768,784
Existing (resale) units $619,381 $757,021
 
Income
1 and 2 person households $100,560 $120,672
3+ person households $117,320 $140,784

How does a borrower obtain an MCC?

To obtain an MCC, a purchaser of a new or existing single-family home works with any mortgage lender participating in the MCC program and applies for an MCC and a mortgage loan at the same time. Lenders process the underlying mortgage using standard procedures, with adjustments to those procedures as needed to satisfy the MCC requirements. The lender is responsible for underwriting and execution of required State and federal certifications and affidavits. The County reviews executed certifications and affidavits from the lender in order to determine qualification and eligibility of the MCC applicant.

May an MCC be used with a re-financed loan or to assume an existing mortgage?

An MCC cannot be issued to a homeowner who is refinancing an existing mortgage or to an applicant desiring to assume an existing mortgage unless (1) the mortgage is held by a current MCC holder and (2) the sales price of the house being sold falls under the sales price maximum for the program. In all other cases, only new, first mortgages are eligible for MCC participation.

Loans with an MCC attached to them can be refinanced once and the MCC can be reissued. If the refinance loan is then refinanced, the homeowner loses the MCC. The RMCC can be done directly with the homeowner without involving the lender. There are no restrictions regarding the amount that can be refinanced. The fee for an RMCC is non-refundable $200. RMCC Letter, RMCC Application, RMCC Certifications, RMCC Application Checklist

How many MCCs will be available under the program?

The number of MCCs available depends on the amount of issuing authority for which the jurisdiction applies.

Potential for recapture of portion of the tax credit if home is sold within the first nine years after purchase.

In order to discourage individuals from buying a home primarily to benefit from the tax credit and short term appreciation potential, the federal government has initiated a recapture of a portion of the tax credit if a home is sold within the first nine years after purchase. Certain conditions must exist for the recapture to take effect. The County MCC staff and your lender can outline the specifics of this recapture program at the time of your application.

APPLICATION AND ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR MCC PROGRAM

The Contra Costa County MCC Program eligibility requirements are as follows:

  • MCCs will be available only to "first-time homebuyers", (i.e. not owning a home within the past three years).
  • As first-time homebuyers complete their normal loan application process with a participating lending institution, their mortgage lenders will prepare MCC applications and forward them to the County. The County will then issue MCCs on a first-come, first-served basis according to when the initial application is received by the County. County staff requires 5-7 days for application review and processing.
  • Applicants may buy a residence only for their own occupancy, not for rental or reinvestment. Occupancy as "principal residence" must be within 60 days of the close of escrow.
  • Applicants must pay a non-refundable application fee of $200 at the time the lender applies to the County on their behalf.
  • The MCC can be used when buying a new home with a maximum purchase price of $629,005, ($768,784 in Target Areas) or an existing home with a purchase price that does not exceed $619,381 ($757,021 in Target Areas).
  • MCCs can only be transferred in cases where the home is being sold to another eligible MCC applicant. In such a case, all MCC requirements must be met and the mortgage must be assumed for the transfer to occur.

Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler 866-833-7413 | Come to a FREE Bay Are Seminar |

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Filed Under: Articles, Mortgage Tips, Real Estate Investing Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,

Making Money In Real Estate Investing | Getting Started Full Time or Part Time | Five Tips for Getting Started

February 12, 2010 By 12 Comments

 

 

Posted by Jason Wheeler | Subscribe

When I talk to people about how I got started in real estate investing they often assume they don’t have enough time or money…

The fact is that when I got started I was waiting tables 6 nights a week in the restaurant business, and my mortgage business was not doing very well.

The people that find success in real estate often start part time while they work a full time job. The important thing is to get started somewhere. The key is to build a base, learn everything you can and create some contacts and mentors. By no means do you need this to be a full time endeavor at first. All of these are the reason why you should attend one of our free events. You will have an opportunity to meet others experienced and novice that want to help you succeed. You will also gain knowledge that will empower you to take action on those first deals. Finally we can show hundreds of resources to create capital for your projects.

One of the biggest misconceptions is having the money to get started.

Right now I can introduce you to over 300 non traditional lenders that want to lend you money for your real estate deals! If you really have the drive to get started investing nationwide or just locally you must start somewhere.

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Here are a Few Things to Do to Get Started Part Time


  		1.

    Find a Mentor To Guide You: This is the first thing that you should do. Many mentors will help you but often not for free. That does not mean that you have to pay them a lot of money or get involved in an expensive coaching program. Often you can serve a mentor by offering your time, service in exchange to learn and ride his/her coat tails. So where can you find mentors like this?

  2. Attend Local Networking Events: Get online and search for your local Real Estate Investment Clubs or local events and Investor Forums where you can learn about opportunities and better yet network and meet people. You should not limit your networking to just real estate investment clubs. Check out groups like your local Chamber of Commerce, Rotary and BNI are also a great places to meet professionals that may refer you business and offer connections. A common misconception is that these groups don’t offer much to real estate investors. The fact is that they offer tons. Everyone is in real estate in one way or another. You either own or rent it and many are looking for ways to leverage it to get ahead and make money.
  3. Get Social Media Savvy: Start to utilize sites like Facebook, BiggerPockets and other social media to meet investors nationwide. Actually make these people into connections. Schedule phone meetings, ask questions and offer yourself to serve. You will be surprised who you meet. Most important you MUST create a website or blog. There are many ways to get this set up however if you want to be effective in your online marketing you must work with experts. Building a blog will create more business than you might imagine. You can get a site just like this one and customized to your business and style from the guys at Free Blog Factory. I’ve found if you look all over the internet you will not find better value in launching your social media endeavors.
  4. Be Consistent: Make a business plan. Treat it like a business and it will pay you. If you are starting part time you need to schedule some time each day, even if it is only two hours and dedicate that time to learning growing, meeting investors and business partners and prospecting for property.
  5. Find Property and Make Offers: The fact is you must take action. Once you’ve spent time learning and you have a solid mentor working with you, start finding property and making offers on real estate. Many area afraid to do so because they feel they can’t back out. This is not the case as you have inspection times and contract contingencies to get you out of the deal if it is not what you are looking for. Even if your first few offers fail the experience will boost your confidence and you will get better as you go.

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Patrick Esposito from Real Estate Pro Articles

Real Estate Investing: part time or full time?

When one gets the real estate bug, then it is logical to take this business to the highest level possible, as fast as possible. If you work full time at something, you will make more than if you worked part time. Right? All things being equal, probably. The standard rule of thumb is to start part time, and go full time when your part time income equals your current full time income. Most people who invest in real estate full time for a living have probably been doing this for a while, and have a reasonable income coming in. One of the great benefits of investing in real estate is that you could work at this part time, and still become wealthy over time.

When the time is right, you will know it. Don’t go at it full time, hoping to have a great year and make “good” money. People get involved in real estate to produce cash flow, yet if they quit their job to focus only on real estate, they are stopping their cash flow. Whether buying for long term rentals, or flipping for quick profits, you can make a substantial amount of money working part time. As you gain experience, you will develop skills to help you save time, and accomplish more. For example, you will know the right qualifying questions to ask. You will also be familiar with different areas, and will know which properties to follow up on, and which ones to pass on. You will be able to determine all of this without ever leaving your home.

Working full time can tend to put pressure on you to consistently do deals. Because of this, you may purchase properties that may be better to pass on. You become anxious to do that next deal, and even the mediocre ones start to look ok. They all have potential. You must know what you are doing. After all, you do this full time. Right? If you decide to invest in real estate full time, do not do it just to massage your ego. There are many ways to do that.

Build your base first. Your base consists of your experience, your knowledge, your motivation, your credit, your asset base, and your cash flow. All successful endeavors start with a plan, and short and long term goals. You may start part time, and have a goal to go full time after a certain amount of time. Build a strong foundation, which takes time, and your success is sure to follow. Remember to always be an informed investor. www.TheInformedRealEstateInvestor.com

Connect with Jason Online!

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Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler

 

 

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3 Day Wealth Workshop Jan 28th – 30th Concord Holiday Inn

January 20, 2010 By 2 Comments

Wealth Summit 

If you are dreaming of time and financial freedom, what are you doing right now to make it happen? Start taking control of your future—be your own boss—and make your money work for you! Obtain your VIP status (Valuable Investor Potential) at the Wealth Summit!

NORTHERN CALIFORNIA WEALTH SUMMIT
Holiday Inn Concord
1050 Burnett Ave.
Concord, CA 94520
Jan 28-30, 2010
Time: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

The Wealth Summit is not your typical “guru”, get-rich-quick, real estate investing seminar. This content-rich, 3-day workshop teaches you not only the concepts of solid real estate investing strategies, but how to apply the information learned. Gain knowledge on everything from basic real estate investing principles to more advanced topics including:

* How to capitalize on money-making opportunities in Real Estate today.
* How to identify the hot deals and how to reach them before the competition.
* How to find people with money to fund your deals.
* How to prescreen sellers, buyers and tenants so that you only spend time with the serious and not the curious.
* When to get in and when to get out.
* And so much more!

Plus, you will receive additional benefits furthering your success such as:

– Association with Local Real Estate Community Members
– Exclusive Access to Community Benefit Companies
– Weekly Mastermind Coaching Calls
– Bi-Weekly Mortgage Calls
– Bi-Weekly Real Market Experts® Webinars

Don’t miss out on your opportunity to build a prosperous future!

Meet the Wealth Summit Trainers!

View upcoming Wealth Summit dates, times, and locations

Contact us for details on how to get your Wealth Summit VIP Pass!

Jason Wheeler | 925-285-2172

Filed Under: Events, Real Estate Investing Tips

The Seven Best Ways on How to Get Real Estate Investing Deals

December 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

If you are new to real estate investing, you are probably wondering “where am I going to find my first real estate deal”? There are actually a number of very effective methods you can use. Below I will touch on 7 different methods to find deals. They are a pre-foreclosure listing service, major newspapers, post cards & fliers, bandit signs, MLS, a realtor, and a wholesaler.

Method one is to purchase a list of pre-foreclosure homes from a listing service. Here are just four such services: Foreclosure.com, RealtyTrac, Default Research, and ForclosureS.com. However, one of the drawbacks to a listing service is the cost. Also, be aware that some services have more recent information than others.

Another method would be to look into the classified ads section of major Newspapers. Their classified sections are on the web. You want to search the ads to find words such as “divorce”, “desperate”, “must sell” or “estate sale” to name just a few examples of keywords that indicate the seller is desperate. Think of some on your own and have fun with it.

Another method would be to send Postcards and fliers to targeted homes. However, it is highly advisable that you find someone who can do what is called good copywriting. Good copywriting is combining words, fonts, phrases, pictures, a call-to-action, etc. that will compel your potential home buyers to call your number. Make sure you do this type of marketing correctly otherwise you will be wasting your hard earned money.

Method number four is the use of bandit signs. A bandit sign is a small sign that is posted near major streets with a simple phrase to let home owners know that you buy houses quickly. Don’t forget to have your phone number listed in large letters, so distressed owners know who to call. Just be aware that in many places bandit signs are not allowed.

Another method that is more obvious is to look for a real estate investing deal is the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), however, you must be a licensed real estate agent in order to gain access to the MLS database. A word about the MLS, I know some real estate investors who swear by it and I know others who say it’s not worth your time. Who’s correct? Well, believe it or not, both are right. If you are a licensed agent who can jump on a property that is a good deal when it is put on MLS, you have a good chance to finds deals, otherwise, it will be more difficult.

Method six is to enlist the help of a realtor. If you don’t know anyone who is a realtor, you can find those who work with real estate investors, just by going to realtor.com. You will need to find a realtor who is willing to work with you and to email you a listing with your criteria. What sort of criteria do you use to search for a property? Again look for words like “divorce”, “desperate”, “must sell”, “condemned”, “gutted”, “mold” and any other word that would be undesirable for regular buyers, but a potential deal for a real estate investor.

Finally, there is another method that is simple, yet very effective. Get your deal through what is called a wholesaler. A wholesaler is one who controls or purchases a property at a deep discount and passes the savings on to you, the real estate investor. They typically send the deal right to your email box where you can read about the deal, do your due diligence and then make an offer.

So, as you can see there are various methods that you can use to find your deals. You may be wondering how may deals does it take before an offer is accepted? Well, I know many who say there is a 100-10-1 rule. It says it takes looking at 100 deals to make 10 offers to get one accepted. Choose a method or better yet, a set of methods that works for you and your budget.

About The Author

James O’Bannon is a real estate investor who is committed to finding the best real estate training for investors. You can learn more about his free training offers, as well as receive a free report on real estate investing secrets by visiting www.GreatDeals4Buyers.com. Author grants full reprintrights to this article. You may reprint and electronically distribute this article so long as its contents remain unchanged and the author’s byline remains in place.

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Real Estate Investing Via Web 2.0

December 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Post bubble recessionary real estate investing in a networked world pretty much nails this discussion, grab your web surf board and enjoy the ride.

In this article, I show you what is working in real estate today and how to use the web and automation to create stimulus you can immediately use to ride the crest of real estate investing opportunities today. You’ll be shown how to find, fund and market hot properties while generating large buyer and seller lists using the internet to do some of the critical heavy lifting for you.

There are a variety of reasons why the following types of property are hot, just know that single family homes (SFH), condo’s & town homes, apartment houses (Multi-Units), mobile homes & parks and vacation homes in many markets are on sale now. A few methods of finding and controlling these assets are: wholesaling, rehab & retail, buy, hold & rent, lease w/options to buy, assumption of existing mortgages, taking subject to existing mortgages and working the probates, auctions, foreclosure’s and short sales. (Buying bankruptcy, foreclosure, probate, tax lien, eviction and divorce lists works well too)

Granted it takes education, knowledge, research, follow through, strategy, funding sources and various alternatives to control these assets but these are all easy pieces of the puzzle when a guy like me is willing to help. Researching, locating, analyzing, negotiating, buying, selling or holding techniques can all be taught and their not that difficult to understand, it’s just a matter of getting good information and actually using it to do the deals.

Everyone knows that getting a mortgage is funding method number one for most but what about using 2nd & 3rd position notes, rehab loans, lines of credit, government stimulus programs, grants, private money, fellow investors, partners and owner/seller financing or maybe just using options to control without using any money for starters, this can all be taught so fear not weary credit crunched investor, I’m here to help!

Let’s not get ahead of ourselves here, it’s nice to have funding alternatives in place but you still need to find the deals and most often you had better find them at no more than 65% of value or .65 cents on the dollar if you hope to be successful in selling them to the next buyer for more.

These days you have a serious and very versatile tool at your disposal and that is the internet, the net allows you to market globally, capture and track leads 24/7, drive virtual traffic through your online front door, pre-qualify leads, post property, reports, whitepapers, articles, video’s and so much more. Getting a website up and running is easier than ever and creating an opt in box for the name and e mail capture of your visitors is a snap too, just know that these aren’t obstacles to your progress, it can all be outsourced very inexpensively, again using the web to do it.

Once you have a simple website with squeeze page (lead capture) set up then you can direct all your lead generating activities for buyers and sellers to it by putting your web address (URL) on your bandit signs, classified ads, flyers & newspaper inserts, direct mail letters, business cards, answering machines, for sale signs and so forth. I actually have a friend who will give you 10 websites a month for $27! Websites are easy. Get one or many!

Now that you have that virtual real estate property in place (your website) you should sign up at a few of the better known and highly trafficked social websites like: Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, LinkedIn along with a few real estate networking forums, these allow you to spread the word regarding what you do. Backpage, Craiglist, Kijiji, and other free classifieds posting sites let you tell people what you have; there are thousands of places on the web to post your message once you have a place to bring them back too.

Extra credit: Always carry a small pocket video recorder with you to capture, property, people, places and events, the Sony DSC-T700 is perfect for creating short videos to post on your website, Youtube, Facebook and property listing sites, people do business with people they know, like and trust, let them see you on film to help build those relationships over the web.

The internet allows you to set up systems and outsource just about everything that needs to be done allowing you to focus on the core money making aspects of finding great deals and selling those deals to others for a little bit more than you paid, even dead leads are worth $450-$500 each when you know where to sell them.

I briefly mentioned the reasons for having a website above now let’s get into the nuts & bolts of technology to lighten your load while your leads explode. First off I’ll ask you to take some type of action once you’ve finished reading, doing it now will create momentum and stop procrastination and fear dead in it’s tracks.

Let’s look at what a well planned out website can do for today’s busy real estate investor.

First off technology is great at automating routine tasks and initial follow up, web forms can automate distribution, marketing, contact management and customer service for starters, allowing you to use your website to explain, tell and sell 24/7.

By setting up informative articles banks, email auto-responders, frequently asked questions banks (FAQ’s) you can answer a lot of routine questions on autopilot. Now you have more free time to network with other investors, market deals, mentor new team members while you personally maintain contact with your bird-dogs and other support people.

When considering a website you should begin by asking yourself some questions:

• What is the purpose or desired outcome that I want from my website?
• What will visitors be looking for when they arrive?
• What type of pages will you want to have on your site?
• What will be some of the major features of your site?

Are you trying to attract buyers, sellers, distressed owners, other investors, trainees, bird-dogs? Consider the following as a basic outline from which to begin thinking about:

• Home page
• About us page
• Contact us page
• Available properties page(s)
• Articles page
• Newsletter & product sales pages etc…

Features may be:

• Seller information forms
• An online forum or bulletin board
• A live chat room and member area

This next tip will save you a lot of time, trial and error: Go look at other existing websites that are currently ranking high for the specific search terms of what you want your website to do! This is competitive analysis and it will show you the best of what is currently working now! Save those URL’s so you can show your future webmaster examples of how you want YOUR website to look like and do.

Here are few ideas on what you may consider outsourcing to other specialists who can assist you in the tech sector:

• Website development and updating
• Contact management and auto-responders
• Social book-marking, adding friends and videos
• SEO using articles, blogs and videos
• Database management, adding products and information
• Building landing pages and squeeze pages
• Graphic design and copywriting

It’s best to start with outsourcing the things that you do not know how to do, then begin outsourcing things that you do not like to do. If you want quality people you can trust at very good rates touch base with me and I’ll put you in touch with the people I use.

Hopefully you’ve picked up a few nuggets from the “Be A Real Estate Heavy Weight” series, feel free to Google that phrase to get all the in-depth answers you could ever want regarding what we’ve briefly discussed here today. Take action and you’ll succeed.

About The Author

Please visit www.bearealestateheavyweight.com for further information and resources from your buddy Dan.

Filed Under: Real Estate Investing Tips Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Thinking of Investing in Residential Real Estate: It's Still Location, Location, Location

December 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Thinking of Investing in Residential Real Estate: It’s Still Location, Location, Location

Remember this: land is the element of real estate that appreciates. Man-made structures begin depreciating from the day they are constructed.

Think schools first.

Schools are often the first consideration for first time home buyers and renters – at least 80% to 90% of the time in my experience. These folks are most likely your biggest target market in your exit strategy for the investment properties you acquire.

Contact the main office of the district(s) serving the neighborhoods you’re interested in. Check the standardized test scores for the district. Obviously, the higher the better as an indicator of how well the district is perceived to be doing. You may be able to find the scores on line too.

Study kindergarten – sixth grade enrollment statistics (also available from the school district). Try to go back as far as ten years. You’re looking for growth in elementary school enrollment. Lots of growth equals desirable neighborhood.

Stay close to home.

Many books and courses advise you to purchase investment property located within a thirty mile radius of your personal residence. I say that’s still too far. Shoot for twenty miles, preferably fifteen.

Here’s what happens with too much distance between you and your investment. It will suffer from your neglect. An extra fifteen miles and minutes is enough to keep you away when an on site visit might really help.

Analyze the neighborhood.

Profitable neighborhoods have a common characteristic; people who can qualify for bank financing (now or in the near future) want to live there.

Ideally you’re looking for entry level to lower mid-range housing, 15 – 50 years old. It’s OK if the area is a little blighted as long as things are on the upturn. Look for visible signs of redevelopment.

Get acquainted with a competent real estate agent that does a lot of business in the neighborhood you’re investigating. Have him or her search the local Multiple Listing Service database and pull up “active listings, pending sales, and sold comps” for the area. If you plan to flip you want an active market – one, it makes it easier to estimate a final retail value for the properties you’re considering buying and two it shows that there are active buyers in the market now. Even if you plan to rent you still want to own in a location that is in demand.

Here are some things your real estate agent can help you sniff out.

  • Look for closed sales transactions. There should be a healthy number. A lot of active listings and few closed sales is not a good omen for you.
  • At least 70% – 80% of the closed sales should be to owner occupants – not investors buying rental units.
  • The majority of buyers are purchasing with conventional bank financing, not various forms of owner financing and other creative methods.

At any rate, stay away from “war zones” with large tracts of run down, vacant houses, high crime rates, etc. These areas can be tempting because people do live there (generally renting) and the ratio of rental income to property values provides the landlord with a much nicer “spread” than is achievable in nicer areas. Some investors literally make a fortune in these neighborhoods. However, it’s probably the toughest segment of the business to operate in. And, alas, 90% of us cannot pull it off.

And now a few last thoughts about the layout and placement of the lot. If any of the following are present, I suggest you pass and move on to the next candidate. These kinds of functional negatives are either impossible or just too hard to overcome and in anything less than a red hot market they will significantly lengthen or kill your exit strategies for the property.

  • The lot sits on a hill of any kind.
  • The driveway or yard slopes toward the house.
  • The lot is located in a flood plain, a valley or sits lower than the properties around it.
  • The lot is close to a large stream or drainage ditch.
  • The lot is on or backs to a busy or noisy high traffic, street.
  • The lot adjoins commercial property or is in a commercial area where traffic, noise, lights, etc. might interfere with quiet enjoyment of a residential property.
  • Any land that you know has formerly housed a manufacturer, dry cleaner, gas station or landfill.

Good hunting and choose your location carefully – a bad one can make your investing life miserable.

About The Author

Jim Howard is happy to share his love of real estate with you at realestateshelf.com. Jim’s experience with real estate spans 24 years, during which he achieved the Certified Property Manager designation through the Institute of Real Estate Management while throwing in an MBA along the way. His range of real estate experience includes managing and leasing industrial, retail and office properties as well as managing is own portfolio of residential investment properties. Jim is a licensed real estate broker in the state of Missouri.  http://www.realestateshelf.com

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The Art Of Real Estate Investing Is About People

December 19, 2009 By Leave a Comment

Real estate investing is a wide area of learning as well as practical application of techniques in the market. You might be an experienced real estate investor but every time you realize the fact that there is still something to learn further and further. Then after a commitment of a small mistake, we repent on the fact that why somebody had not taught me about this. Hence we move on to the same topic that real estate investing scenario is a big field that cannot be mastered within one day. But there are a number of webinars, seminars and online options that are available these days and it is upto us how we select them. This article will provide you with some of the basics that should help you in not regretting on the fact “why didn’t I keep myself updated on this”:

We all think that real estate is about properties, deals, financing; but as such we need to understand that no business merely exists with the things that are required for its mere functioning. What it involves is more than all these specified things are people.

Real estate investing cannot be learnt by merely our own actions, but we also need to understand from the actions of our competitors also. Like a child learns from his own mistakes, but for real estate investing you surely need to learn lessons from your mistake as well as be alert about what is happening with the competitors also. Learn from their mistakes also, so that you can have an overview about the mistakes that have to be avoided.

For instance let’s consider, a real estate investor made the first deal of his house. The house owner was an old woman whose husband had passed away recently and she wanted to move from state urgently to live along with her daughter and grand children. Her property was more than $15000, but she just directly stated that she merely wanted the balance of the property loan amount and $1000 to move out of the state by the end of the month. There were hundreds of real estate deals which had to be provided the right direction by the real estate investor, but the woman in this deal was just expecting speed in her transaction.

The woman made the real estate investor realize that real estate is not merely about properties, finance but it was about people. People do not necessarily want what the investor’s thinks they want. Hence, it is important that we ask them what are there expectations rather than just making assumptions on our own. The woman’s house was in a very good shape, she could have vacated the house after selling it for full value within two months. But what the woman was not motivated by money but what she wanted a very fast transactions. She just wanted to back the property behind her and move to someone dearer to her. We know that people are quite funny but we need to understand the fact that rather than simply making own assumptions, it would be beneficial to know what they want rather than our own assumptions. Then mutual consent could be reached after negotiations.

About The Author

Sharon Samraj is an expert author, who is presently working on the site Jeff Adams. He has written many articles in various topics like real estate investing.  For more information contact jeff adam, real estate millionaire.  http://www.realestatemillionairecode.com/

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10 Essential Tips to Buy a Home in the California San Francisco Bay Area

December 19, 2009 By 10 Comments

Article by Jason Wheeler | Subscribe RSS Feed |

When you are ready to make the dream of owning your own home a reality there are a few things you should know. The process is not always easy and securing a loan from a bank or broker is much more difficult than it was in years past. Below is a list of the steps you need to take in order to really find your dream home and make the process happen. You need to put together a power team and take the necessary action in order to close in today’s market.

  1. 1. First, get a copy of your credit report and work on improving it. Your credit report is an important tool used in getting a loan from the bank. Usually a loan officer can get a good copy for you for a small fee of about $15. Never pull a credit report from places like freecreditreport.com If you want a snapshot of your credit without paying a fee you are allowed one free copy every year at http://AnnualCreditReport.com
  2. Second, Talk to a Loan Officer or Mortgage Broker about purchasing a house. They will have you fill out an application and a Pre-Qual Letter. Never pay an application fee to a loan officer bank or broker. You should be able to get this part of the process done for free. A good Loan Officer should be able to show your your options and find a good affordable price range for you and your family.
  3. Third, find a Realtor. When you look for a Realtor you should ask someone you know and trust who has been through the


     

    process for a referral to a good local Professional. Realtors can help you find the best piece of real estate to fit your needs.They are also beneficial because they know what is available on the market and have friends within the industry. The seller pays the commission to your Realtor, so it costs you nothing to have one.

    In theory, a Realtor should help you get the best price. Keep in mind that the more you pay for the house, the more the Realtor makes in commission. Choose one wisely and ask opinions from friends and family before settling on one because you want one that you can trust.

  4. Fourth, determine the major features you are looking for in a home. This would include what part of town you want to live in, what style of house you want, and how much the bank is willing to loan you. Then, you or your Realtor should compile a list of houses that match your criteria.After you compile the list you need to go through the homes. Take the time to visit each home and have a walk-through with the owner. Ask any questions you have.
  5. Fifth, when you settle on a house get the disclosure from the seller. The disclosure is a list of any problems the house has that the seller is aware of. If after seeing the disclosure you still are interested in the house, you need to determine how much money you are willing to offer on the home.Get a list of comparable homes that have sold recently in the same area so you can get an idea of how much the house is really worth. Keep in mind that it is rare to accept the original price given by the seller usually you’ll offer slightly less than they are asking.
  6. Sixth, have the house professionally inspected. You generally have to pay for this and it will cost $350 or so.If the inspection reveals problems not listed on the disclosure you can try to get the seller to lower the price or fix the problems before the sale. If it is not worth it to you, walk away from the deal if your contract allows.
  7. Seventh, make an offer on the home. Making an offer is not just an exchange of words, it means signing a contract. If the seller accepts the offer then they will be willing to sign too.At this point you’re generally obligated to buy the house and the seller is generally obligated to sell, though depending on the wording of the contract you and the seller have the right to walk away from the deal under certain circumstances.
  8. Eighth, the bank will have the house appraised. This process will ensure that the property is worth what you’re paying for it.
  9. Ninth, get homeowners insurance. It is highly recommended that you price shop, in other words get quotes from several different businesses. The cost of the insurance will be added to your closing costs.
  10. Tenth, close on the home. Meet with the title company or an attorney and officially sign the paperwork.There are many cities that have rapidly been selling real estate. One of these is Park City, Utah.

    This quaint mountain city is famous for its charming and often astounding houses, great shopping, snow and great resorts, and other mountain recreational activities. It even features some of the event sites for the Olympic world games that were hosted by Salt Lake City in 2002.

    As you follow these basic steps you can make the process of buying a home easy and buy the home of your dreams.

Connect with Jason Online!

Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn |

Until Next time Here is to your success! Jason Wheeler

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2010 – The Perfect Storm for Real Estate Investors

December 18, 2009 By 1 Comment

 
 

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Guest Post By Chris Record

Foreclosures have been booming around the country, and with the limited ability to get funding we have seen a surge in creative real estate investing. We have also seen the average investor lay low because of the difficulty of today’s real estate market which has presented even more deals and opportunities for sophisticated investors who know how to negotiate and move properties.

Here is a summary of reasons why I feel that 2010 will be the year that sophisticated real estate investors create a tremendous amount of wealth…

SUPPLY AND DEMAND

As the population goes up, the demand always goes up as well. Many amateur investors are focused on where the market is today, rather than looking at the past to recognize trends for the future. Supply and Demand always rules but only savvy investors allow logic to lead over emotion. Remember these three words: “Numbers Never Lie”.

Currently the population in the United States is soaring and according to an article in USA Today, we are projected to reach over 400,000,000 people by 2042. According to the US Census Bureau we are gaining a new person every 11 seconds (one birth every 7 seconds, one death every 13 seconds, and one international migrant every 31 seconds). We are also seeing record numbers of births as more babies were born in the United States in 2007 than any year in the nation’s history, topping the peak during the baby boom 50 years earlier!

Click on the picture to enlarge

Soaring Population in the United States

In order to become a more sophisticated investor, it is important to understand population trends related to your local market that you are investing in as well. Use this tool to compare population growth of the states you are investing in to get an idea of whether your market is growing or not. Here is an example of the DC Metro population growth comparing Virginia, DC & Maryland.

Population Growth in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia

Population Growth in Washington DC, Maryland & Virginia from 1979 to 2000

So as you can see from this graph, DC has maintained it’s population while Maryland and Virginia have shown tremendous growth. Also take into consideration that this date is only up to the year 2000.

Understanding supply and demand truly helps separate the sophisticated investor from the average investor. When we take a look at the rolling 12 month single-family permit activity across the nation, it become pretty evident that we are ready for a rebound in permit activity in 2010 and many educated investors believe that we will start to see this turnaround in 2010 for a variety of reasons.

Rolling 12-month single-family permit activity from 1960-2009

Rolling 12-month single-family permit activity from 1960-2009

REAL ESTATE IS ON SALE

When we look at the cost of housing compared to family incomes we can see that today’s down real estate market is completely different from the real estate market of the 1980′s when the ratios reached as high as 60%! From this chart we can easily identify that real estate is on sale and is very affordable for the average family. We are currently seeing a 25% affordability ratio on homes nationwide which allows investors to move properties much faster as their are more able buyers out there.

National Housing Cost/Income Ratio 1971-2009

National Housing Cost/Income Ratio 1971-2009

MONEY IS ON SALE

Next we take a look at the 30-year FRM rates vs. Prime Rates from 1971-2009. I remember back in 2004 when every loan officer and mortgage broker was urging everyone to refinance and lock in low rates before they catapulted back up to over 10%. Of course we all believed the could not possibly stay that low so record numbers of refinances started happening and people were happy they locked in such a low interest rate. However, here we are several years later and interest rates are still unbelievably low! In a traditional real estate bubble you would expect rates to jump up as high as 15-20% but we are in a fortunate situation where rates have stayed low and money is still on sale!

30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates 1971-2009

30 Year Fixed Rate Mortgage Rates 1971-2009

When you take into consideration that money is on sale and real estate is on sale it starts to really become clear why NOW is such an ideal time to become an investor. I.D.E.A.L. is actually a great acronym for real estate investors because real estate can provide:

  • Income
  • Deductions
  • Equity
  • Appreciation
  • Leverage

FORECLOSURE BOOM

According to My Budget 360 the foreclosure filings nationwide have risen from 100 million to 300 million in the past few years alone!

Foreclosure Filings Nationwide

Foreclosure Filings Nationwide

There are countless reasons as to why our country got itself in this mess, and it is incredibly sad for many people that are facing foreclosure, faced with losing their homes, their dignity, their equity and their credit. On the other hand if you are someone that is looking to purchase a home, the opportunity has never been better!

in 2001 only 1% of all mortgage loans originated were interest-only or neg-am loans. By 2006 that number had reached nearly 30%! The first graph below shows the Option ARM (adjustable rate mortgages) reset schedule, totaling hundreds of billions of dollars in the next two years. The next graph is the interest only and negative amortization share of total mortgage purchase origination’s for 2000-2006. Keep in mind that “73 percent of homeowners with ARM’s don’t even know how much their monthly payment will increase the next time the rate goes up.”

Option Arm Reset Schedule 2008-2012

Option Arm Reset Schedule 2008-2012

Interest Only and Negative Amortization Share of Originations from 2000-2006

Interest Only and Negative Amortization Share of Originations from 2000-2006

My reason for sharing these graphs with you is to help you understand that we are getting ready to see another wave of foreclosures come in as a result of the ARM’s resetting and people not being able to afford their new payments. When I really started diving deep into these statistics it became clear to me that 2010 would be a great year of investing, but that it would require becoming a sophisticated investor to take advantage of it.

  • I believe that we will start to see a turnaround in the single family permit activity in 2010. Most of my professional contacts in the construction industry share this opinion with me as well.
  • I also believe that we will continue to see a steady flow of foreclosures that won’t stop anytime soon. This provides a great opportunity to pick up properties at deep discounts either directly from homeowners in the pre-foreclosure phase, or from auctions and banks after they have been foreclosed.
  • Due to the difficulty in getting traditional financing, the majority of these properties are going to be picked up by sophisticated real estate investors using creative acquisition strategies.
  • Since real estate and money are both on sale, now is the time to take advantage of these trends and opportunities.

Bank REO's and Foreclosures Still on the Rise

So in summary, I would encourage any would-be real estate investor to start studying pre-foreclosure investing as well as auctions and REO’s. There are opportunities in today’s market to pick up properties for 50% of the appraised value when you know what you’re doing and there is an influx in hard money lenders and private investors out there that are looking for better returns than they have been getting in the stock market lately.

The key to becoming a sophisticated investor to take advantage of this perfect storm in 2010 is to first get educated. Learn about Subject-To as a technique to pick up properties with no money and no credit. Learn about Wholesaling as a way to move these properties quickly to other investors who will fix them up and retail them. Learn about Hard Money Lending and how to raise private capital by helping people self-direct their retirement plans. And most importantly get connected with other local sophisticated investors in your area that you can do deals with and partner with to help ease your learning curve.

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