Real Estate Investment Startup: What You Need To Know

There is no excuse for real estate investors to be in the dark as there is so much information available on internet websites including YouTube.  Information is also freely shared on social network sites like Linkedin and Twitter. So many experts are available and will freely tell you what, when and how to invest and the processes that need to be followed.  All this information can be accessed.  In a short time after you have closed a few deals and assuming you have been following the right advice you too can become an expert in the housing wholesale market.

Flipping houses is usually the first rung of the ladder that most housing wholesalers have climbed.  This is a way to make a commission without spending a dime on your real estate business and the only investment needed is your time, commitment and determination to succeed.  By acting as a go between and connecting someone who wants to buy with someone who wants to sell you can make money while learning your trade and honing your skill-sets.

Reasons That Hold Would-Be Real Estate Investors Back

Some would-be real estate investors think they need a pile of cash to put on the table to make deals, when in fact there are various ways to leverage an investment deal without using your own cash or borrowing from the bank.  Although it is more difficult to do this than was once the case it is still possible.

Find a real estate broker to partner with you to provide “wet funding” as double closings are difficult without some money shown on the table.  Remember that nothing ventured is nothing gained.  Some types of double closing have become illegal but a good real estate broker that knows the ropes and loopholes will find ways around this and help you stay legal and respectable in your transactions.
Failure to invest in some real estate formal training is a pitfall that you should avoid.  You can get some good accredited real estate training online and a certificate to prove your credentials.  This will give you added confidence and you will be perceived as the professional that you have become and has earned respect and recognition that you deserve.

Training and practical experience will be a great foundation on which to build your real estate investment business and remember the expression: “Mighty oaks from little acorns grow”.  It will take time to build trust and build your real estate business but you will have a great sense of fulfillment and achievement on the journey.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Modern Real Estate Apply Technology And Utilize KPI’s To Measure Targets

Technology plays a key part in the modern Investors toolbox, gone are the days of “Real Estate Listing Ledgers” that were updated biweekly and were always out of date.  Now we have Multiple Listing Services like FreedomSoft, Listingbook, etc. to give us up to the minute information about new listings, withdrawn ones and expired listings.  This is all done at the touch of a button; we can walk down the street, look at the condition of properties and do “comps” from our desk while talking to buyers and sellers.

Of course nothing beats the personal touch and all the above is geared to getting appointments to win listings and get contracts signed by next step of getting your foot in the door.  After measuring up with a digital laser and complimenting the seller on their new granite kitchen worktops it’s time to make a marketing presentation to show how well the local market is understood and by listing the real estate seller will get top dollar for their house.  To keep real estate seller grounded about price expectation it may be necessary to do a “Market Absorption Analysis” comparing current situation with previous 12 months for current homes on the market, current days on the market, current average listed price, number of homes sold, average sold days on the market and current average sold price.

The modern owner or manager needs to apply the Key Performance Indicators not just to Real Estate Buyers and Sellers stats but to the motivation and performance of all employed in the business.  This includes following but is not an exhaustive list of the KPI’s:

-No of houses business lists in a year
-No of houses business sells in a year
-Average percentage of asking price achieved in a year
-Amount business invests in Marketing
-No of days it takes for average listing to sell
-Marketing Plan
-Regular verbal follow up and feedback program
-Have own in-house mortgage company
-No of days a week office is open
-Designations held by Owner and employed agents. Example ABR, SFR, RSPS, E-PRO
-Huddles held between owner, agents and all staff to involve team in overall objectives and individual goals

Technology plays a part in the process of the buyers and sellers and 90% (below age 44 years it’s 96%) start the process with searches on the internet or by contact with an agent through websites and or e-mails.  Buyers and sellers can find each other without the aid of estate agents.  Although this is true there are many good reasons to list with an agent, rather than be a For Sale By Owner (FSBO):

-On Average FSBO’s get 18% less for their house than an good agent will get
-FSBO’s think they will save money, typically it’s less than $400.00 to advertise compared to 6% with an agent
-Buyers expect a lot more leverage on price when a seller is an FSBO than is the case with an agent
-Not so many buyers are going to find a seller on just one FSBO site, whereas agents have a whole bunch of marketing strategies, including local newspaper advertising, radio advertising, listing on the MSL and even get the millionaires houses shown on TV programs
-Savvy agents arrange pre-inspections that resolve issues and avoid buyers using defects as leverage to reduce the price
-Priced correctly good agents typically get 97% of asking prices so paying 6% commission can make sense
-Modern agents are skilled and knowledgeable about the lending process and often have contacts who can get buyers loans that they otherwise would find very hard to raise.  This is very relevant as in 2012 87% of homebuyers relied on finance

In short, by using an agent you are more likely to get top dollar and the most money for your home and guide you through the daunting processes from contract to closing and to de-stress the whole process. Without the right agent fighting your corner, the processes will very likely fall through due to technical difficulties.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Smart Tips To Refurbish Your Bathroom

Having a smart and fresh bathroom enhances the quality of your life and you should not put up with tired fixtures and fittings or stains on the sink, toilet or bath.  Tiles should be secure and have clean grout in-between.   We all start our day in the bathroom so we want this to be a pleasant experience to get our day going on the right note.

Depending on your budget and skills, you may opt for DIY or engage the services of a bathroom fitter and if you go for the latter option be sure to ask for recommendations before committing to employing anyone.

If you do it yourself then be sure to have everything in hand before you start work as you don’t want to be using your bathroom while it’s like a war zone casualty.  Items like special vanity top mirrors and some specialist design tiles may take several weeks to arrive.  So make sure you have a check list for new fixtures like mirrors, plumbing fixtures, new lighting and tiles.  Having everything on hang will help you to figure out if you need to move the plumbing lines for the sink, bath or shower.  Also additional wiring or replacement is necessary for the lighting.
If you have a second bathroom this point is not so important but keep all this in mind before you start ripping everything out.

TIPS FOR WORKING ON YOUR NEW BATHROOM

• Shop around for your vanity as home stores have a limited choice.  Delivery may be quicker from local independent suppliers who may do you a deal on price and delivery and even have choices including marble edgings for your new bathroom.
• Upgrade to making a recess in the bathroom shower for shampoo and soap.
• Removing vinyl flooring can be easier if you cut it into sections before removing as just ripping it out may leave stubborn pieces stuck down hard to the bathroom floor.
• Use accent tiles sparingly as they still make an impact if you put thought into how to make the most of them in your new bathroom.
• Curved shower rods for your bathroom look smart and will save space compared to square rods.
• If you are replacing a vinyl you will likely need a “spacer” to put under the toilet so that the toilet and bathroom floor are flush.
• Update the bathroom lighting as you want the entire look to be new and no outdated lighting.
• If you get out of your depth in the middle of a bathroom plumbing or wiring job don’t be too proud to call in a professional to sort part of the job out.
• Although a new bathroom is a big expense splash out on a couple of the features you really want.

As with any home improvement it’s important to consider your budget however never compromise the quality of your work as well as comfort, usefulness and the style that you set your mind into.  Remember to plan this project thoughtfully and consider the smart tips mentioned.  You and your family will enjoy this feature and you will enhance the value of your home

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Shhh… You Know Who’s The Seller?

If you are a serious qualified buyer and you can’t find a seller or what you’re looking for posted on the internet, or in the local real estate agents window then you need to ask around about any “pocket listing” in your preferred neighborhood.

“Pocket Listings” are not included on the multiple listing services, where realtors can tap into other agent’s buyers and these properties are not openly advertised.  Instead it is marketed directly by the agent or broker – “it is in that person’s pocket”.  The seller keeps control about who knows the home is for sale, who may view it and ultimately who may buy it.
 

REASONS WHY A HOME MAY BE A POCKET LISTING: 
          

·         Seller may be a high profile person who does not want nosey tire kickers wasting their time.

·         Seller may want privacy due to divorce proceedings.

·         Seller may have previously listed the property and it didn’t sell.  They feel that listing at the present time is a hassle and they just can’t cope with the rigmarole of listing, open houses and disappointments

·         Seller feels that agents will charge at the end of the listing term regardless of whether the property sells.  With a pocket listing the agent or broker will have to work and get the place sold and earn their guaranteed broker percentage.

·         Seller bought the property for top dollar before the 2006 – 2008 property bubble burst and has come to realize that to get the place sold a realistic selling price may be less than he paid.

·         Seller may be embarrassed selling at a loss.

·         Seller wants to avoid a posse of neighbors who may accuse him / her for selling too cheap and for driving down prices.

·         Sellers who are not high profile people, like movie stars, who go down this route are generally not so motivated to sell and may want to seek a “make me move” offer at a good price without the expenses and risks associated with listing on the MLS.

 

A pocket listing can heighten interest by giving an illusion of exclusivity that may stimulate some buyers to start bidding higher than asking prices.  This kind of arrangement is not new for luxury houses costing millions of dollars but now even $200,000 house sellers may be enticed by a 3% – 4% broker commission to get their place sold.  FSBO’s (for sale by owners) often fall back onto a broker deal as 80% of FSBO’s fail to sell at a desired price.  It is more likely that folks selling in this lower price range will have been courted by agents and brokers rather than being the instigator of the arrangement.
 

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

 

To Renovate Or To Buy A Renovated House

This guest post is by Malhar Bhagat

So you hear the real estate market is coming back.  Great!  Your neighbors, friends and Grandma (well, maybe not Grandma just yet–when Grandma is ready to start flipping houses, you better sell ;) are all talking about it.  All the major media sources are saying real estate is roaring back  and you can sell your home fast.  Awesome! You’ve been meaning to get involved after your stocks took a nosedive in the last several years and you’ve barely made it back to what you initially had… 5 years ago.  You’re thinking diversity.  Maybe you have a friend that owns some rental real estate and talks about 10% or more returns on investment (just on cash flow).  Maybe you saw some statistics somewhere about the advantages to owning rental real estate.  Wherever you heard it or saw it, real estate is an excellent method to long term wealth building.  As I continue to build my income stream, I rely less and less on my day job (flipping properties) and more and more on continuing to build my passive income portfolio.  A $3-5K return per year per property isn’t much, but when you multiply that by 10, 20, or even 30 properties, you don’t have to work too much longer now, do you?  So now what?  How do you get into your first rental property?

You could get in touch with a real estate agent and find a “good deal”.  Now, this is not a knock at all realtors (so if you are one, please don’t mind the next comment), but realtors get paid on commission, i.e. they make money when you buy.  There are some GREAT realtors out there, but as an investor, I’ve come across more realtors that have told me what a “good deal” is, and, frankly, it wasn’t.  Just because it’s a smidge under market value doesn’t necessarily make it a good deal.  Alternatively, you could do all the marketing for motivated sellers, take the calls, do the analyses and then negotiate with the motivated seller inorder to sell your home fast.  Sounds easy, but wait until you start doing it.  It is a lot more entailed than the one previous sentence.

There are many things you have to look at.  To name a few:

1. Look at the comparables, both rental and resale
2.  Survey the neighborhood (what’s going on there?)
3. What’s your demographic?
4. What type of renovation, if any, is needed to sell your home fast?
5. Which elements will increase the value of your home?  Which will give you the most bang for your buck?

And that, is just the tip of the iceberg.  Now, as most experienced investors know, you pay for education in the real estate investment arena one way or another.  You either pay upfront, by educating yourself or you pay with experience.  So, if you decide to do the latter, here’s some quick things of how the process should work:

1. Locate a real estate property that is a “good deal”.  I can’t necessarily get into that, because a book can be written on that one topic alone.
2. Determine the comparables, both resale and rental to sell your home fast.
3. Determine a scope of work by visiting real estate properties in the neighborhood to ensure you’re not under or over rehabbing the property.
4. Interview at least 3 contractors for every trade.  Check their references, insurance, and license.
5. Hire a contractor for each trade and create a contract with each.
6. Manage the renovation so as to finish in the most time efficient manner while still staying at or under budget.  You did have a small “oops” contingency right?
7. Make sure to pass all required permitting inspections.  You did pull permits right?  You’d hate to have, say, an electrical fire in the house because your uncle Bill said he knew how to ground all the outlets because you’re going to be dealing with the consequences, not uncle Bill.
8. Ensure the renovation work has been done properly–wait, you didn’t go through a contracting course/code course?  Well, you can hire someone for this.
9. If the renovation work is not done properly, get the contractors back out to fix it… wait, you paid them already?  Well, that wasn’t the smartest thing to do huh?
10.  Now, if you made it through all of this successfully, great!  You’re 50% there.  Now you got to rent or sell it.  And what about price?

The list goes on and on, which, FINALLY brings me to my point.  You could just purchase a renovated real estate  property from an investment company that has a proven track record and raving fans.  There is a HUGE value that companies like this bring to the real estate investing arena.  First of all, they identify a property with good value.  They run all of the numbers and negotiate the best deal possible.  Thereafter, they manage the renovations.  Most have done this 10s, if not, 100s of times over and have relationships with contractors, agents, mortgage brokers/bankers, property management firms, inspectors, etc.; you name it, they likely have a contact for it.  If they don’t, they know who to go to for a solid referral.  Finally, some of them can even put you in touch with a property management firm that can bring you a tenant to rent the property  or to sell your house fast.   Some may even have done this for you already.  Although you’re paying for the service, the headaches of learning a brand new business are minimized.  You can continue on with your life and collect checks on a monthly basis.  So, you could do all of the stuff (and that’s only a small subset of the stuff you need to do) outlined in the 4-5 paragraphs above, or just what was written in this paragraph and still end up with a similar product.  Yes, it will cost a little more, but the time and headaches that are saved are well worth it, depending on your interests and time commitment.  If you like spending your Saturdays and Sundays chasing contractors, great!  I prefer to spend my time with my friends and family!  Shoot, if you learn it, maybe I’ll give you some of my business! ;)

Malhar Bhagat has been a full time real estate investor for 5 years now. He got involved with his first rehab property using a credit card and a hard money loan. Today, he has completed over 75 renovation projects and continues to expand his market area involved in several markets throughout the USA. Feel free to connect with his company on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/M2REST.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Dream Home Mortgage Calculator: A boon for the nascent home buyers!

Are you planning to buy your dream home for the first time?  If so, then you may be a little nervous to find out the amount of mortgage you can afford to buy that dream home.  Most people may not be aware that their monthly mortgage payment is not only the loan amount but it is inclusive of the annual property taxes, homeowners insurance along with mortgage insurance.

Therefore, your mortgage payment is determined on the basis of all the above factors, plus principal and interest.  But keeping all the above factors in mind, it can be really difficult to calculate your monthly payment.  So a mortgage calculator can be beneficial for you to calculate the total amount you need to pay in a month. You can find a mortgage calculator on the Internet and it can help you determine your mortgage payment with ease.  A good calculator can help you compare the rates, so that you can get the best deal for your dream home.

Here are some of the points that can help you understand why a mortgage calculator is beneficial in buying your dream home.

Mortgage Calculator – It can help you understand what you can afford:
You can effortlessly understand what you can afford to take out, so you can avoid getting into the trap of debt.  If you submit the required details like the price of that dream home, the interest that you can afford to pay, annual property taxes along with mortgage insurance, then you can estimate the amount you can afford.  Your home mortgage calculator can help you estimate your total monthly payment.  As a result, you can estimate the amount you can afford to take out to avoid financial set back in future.

It helps you compare the mortgage rates:
Recently, consumers are really smart as they’re equipped with modern technology that helps them to get the best deal.  Modern technologies like Internet and smart phones can help you calculating your monthly mortgage. The young home buyers are constantly using the on-line mortgage calculator from their smart phones or Internet to get the best deal from their loan providers. These people are constantly comparing the rates with other loan providers. When they compare the rates, they get the best deal from the loan providers. So, these calculators have become popular from time immemorial.  But still, only a few young people are making the right use of this gadget.  Therefore, a calculator can help you get the best deal between adjustable rate mortgage and fixed rate mortgage.

Helps you understand whether it is beneficial to pay off the loan early or put a large down payment upfront:

A good mortgage calculator can help you calculate how much you can save over the life of the loan for your dream home, should you put some extra down payment, make bi-weekly payments instead of monthly payments or pay more towards the principal balance each month.  Therefore, you can make your own choice in how you want to pay off the mortgage.  A good mortgage calculator can help you illustrate the break ups.  It can also help you understand the benefit of minor changes while you pay off the loan.

Therefore, you’ll want to increase the use of a mortgage calculator to buy a new home, refinance your current dream home loan or if you’re planning for a reverse mortgage.  If you’re well aware of the rates, then you can effortlessly choose the best deal for yourself.

Different types of calculators available on-line:
Here are some different types of home mortgage calculators available for your requirements:      
Cost Calculator:  The cost calculator can help you calculate the entire cost related to your dream home.

Monthly payment calculator:  A monthly payment calculator can be beneficial for you to estimate your payment that you need to make to pay off your dream home loan. Therefore, you can be well aware of the amount you can manage to pay in advance.  In fact, it can help you understand whether you can afford to take out the loan.

Repayment Calculator: You can estimate your dream home monthly repayment balance with the help of a repayment calculator.

Adjustable rate mortgage calculator: You can effortlessly know the amount you need to pay towards an adjustable rate mortgage of your dream home.  In adjustable rate mortgages, the interest rate starts from a low percentage and increases in due course of time.  Therefore, the calculator can help you estimate your monthly payment in relation to fluctuating rate.

Amortization schedule calculator:  You can understand how your monthly payment reduces your loan over the course of the loan term. You can get an explicit break up of your payments toward the principal and interest.  Therefore, you can increase your monthly payments with the help of this calculator if you wish.  You can pay off your loan faster if you increase your monthly payment on your dream home loan.

In conclusion, the above calculators can help you provide a better picture of how much mortgage you can afford among other things.  If you’re aware of the different types of calculators and their use, then you can get the best deal out of your dream home according to your needs today.

This article has been contributed by Sam Stokdale, a financial writer specializing in mortgage. Immersing himself with the financial sector, he has covered topics including real estate investment, mortgage refinancing, lending and borrowing, managing finances and credit advice.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

In A Housing Recovery, Why Some People Can’t Sell Their Home?

Although Atlanta, GA House Prices Increased 10% in 2012, Prices Are Still Catching Up to 1999 Levels

After the dip in 2007 house prices rose in 2012 by 10% according to S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Index for December 2012.  This measurement demonstrates just how far prices had fallen and nationally prices increased by 7.3% on average. Out of 20 states monitored, both Atlanta and Detroit have prices still below 2000 levels.  The survey showed that prices in Atlanta in December 2012 were at mid 1999 levels.

We should not lose optimism as there is a recovery of sorts.   It’s just not gone back to the heady days when supposed equity from every rising house prices provided a cash-cow for all other consumer spending from buying new cars to 50” flat screen TV’s.  Banks and other lenders want to cover their loan risks and make sure that borrowers are qualified and insured against loss of income.

It’s a fact that more than 50% of homes listed with real estate agents don’t sell on the first listing.  So if you are one of the guys who have been trying to sell for the last 6 months – 12 months, hearing talk about a housing recovery and hype about shortages of housing inventory does not relate to personal experience of many disillusioned sellers.  Many sellers site cases of similar properties on the same street selling fast in short sales at prices way below those still for sale at a “fair” market price.  To get a place sold you have to work with the right agent who knows how to market and price property in your area and can demonstrate evidence that they have a track record of selling in your neighborhood.
For your part you have to put your best foot forward for presentation outside and inside the house.  If the first photo promoting your house shows it’s covered in overgrown vegetation and trees not pruned back then don’t be surprised if nobody even comes to take a look inside.

The broader US economy will benefit from a genuine housing recovery leading to banks and lender confidence backed up with other equity loans to boost consumer spending which in turn helps the economy.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Real Estate Investor and A Realtor

Some people imagine that Real Estate Investors and Realtors do not rub along together harmoniously and while the two groups may not always see eye to eye, the idea that they are inevitably enemies is just an urban myth.  The truth is that investors and real estate agents have a more harmonious relationship than many imagine or suppose that they might.  Collaboration rather than confrontation is more likely in most cases, most of the time although all human relationships are subject to ups and downs just like the soap operas on TV but that’s just “Life Buoy”.

Investors Could Enjoy Advantages of Being a Licensed Realtor

Access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) could help investors to be the first one in a queue to snap up a genuine not to missed bargain.

Commissions are available to licensed agents on all successful transactions that an investor makes in addition to the profit made when selling.

Agents can collect a 3% – 5% co-op or commission even when another agent has the listing as opposed to some investors.

Realtors are great at networking and getting the inside information that makes a difference so partnerships and collaboration between realtors and investors is desirable if not mandatory.  Realtor groups can provide useful courses and guidance to become proficient in real estate processes leading to your improved efficiency and standing in the community as a respected professional in the field.
So, if you are an investor and you qualify as a real estate agent, you can enjoy the best of both worlds.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

The K.I.S.S. Theory In Real Estate

The KISS theory, we all have heard of it.  Keep It Simple…(you can choose your own last word).  A very powerful theory and concept to keep in mind with all things real estate.
Real Estate has the potential to be as complicated as we want to make it.  And there is no shortage of people out there that will make it complicated if given the opportunity.  Your goal as a professional in serving your clients in particular is to keep things simple every chance possible.  There is a rarely a reason to overcomplicate a real estate transaction whether buying or selling.

Today, I’m going to focus on three specific areas that should be common to most if not all real estate professionals where the KISS theory proves very effective in any real estate transaction.
The Marketing – whether you are an investor selling a property or you’re a listing agent listing a property, simplicity here is bliss.  Shoot for effectiveness.  Pick modes of marketing that have been proven to be effective, time and time again and do them well.  Very, very well.  There’s a lot of niche type marketing out there that you can try.  And lots of suggestion out there that for a small fee you can figure out how to do a hundred things under the sun that may or may not work.

Many of these things sometimes are guaranteed, sometimes are not, and sometimes are just free tips on Youtube.  Again, evaluate well.  Choose wisely but keep it simple.  The reality is that keeping up a bunch of marketing does take work and tracking it takes additional work.  So consider picking and choosing your spots that have proven to be the most effective time and time again and systemize it to the point of complete simplicity.  It works very well.

Communications – A wise friend of mine several years ago told me a phrase that I will never forget.  We had just sat down through an all day meeting in my past life of IT.  The seminar at our office was all about communication tips and ideas on how to work as a team.  This gentleman was in his 50s and at the conclusion of the event looked at me and he said, “Frank, I heard this exact same seminar about 25 years ago.  Most issues are almost always a communication problem.”  That phrase has stuck with me since.  Every time there is a problem, sure enough it is usually due to some kind of communication issue.  Or, most specifically miscommunication, or in some cases a lack of communication.  Reality is, we live very busy lives.  And it is an extraordinary easy to not prioritize communication to the level that It needs to be kept at.  Many times it’s because people fear that there going to be bothering someone.  And while that may be true, I have found repeatedly that it’s better to over communicate than under communicate.  I have never seen someone get upset for over communication beyond just being told, “Oh my, you’re talking quite a bit here.”  But for under communication we’ve seen problems from one end of creation to the other and the results can get pretty ugly in some cases.  So again keep it simple.  Communicate well, communicate effectively and never leave anything to assumption.  Always ensure and if possible document every pertinent communication that even has a slightest chance of impacting anything.  Trust me, when something goes astray, and you can point your finger back on something it does wonders for quelling, any potential fires that could brew and flare up from a situation.  Keep it simple and just communicate!

Paperwork – paperwork is one of those things where at least in our state, it does not have to be complicated to be effective to close a deal.  An example we run into sometimes is where people feel like everything needs to be on a state contract.  We have no problem with a state contract and we will gladly use it.  But, there is certainly no requirement to use it.  And we have found that Sellers in particular and Buyers really appreciate contracts that are much shorter and written in plain English rather than legal speak.  Attorneys have no problem with these contracts in our state which is a wonderful thing.  We also encourage Buyers and Sellers to, if they are concerned about their contract being too “simple” or too “short” that by all means they can review it with their attorney.  What we have found without exception is that they don’t have any problem with it with the only changes coming usually being specific concerns regarding a specific item on the contract or a special thing that the Buyers/Sellers would want us to notate.  An example of this would be just taking a statement ‘As-Is’, and highlighting it with something to the effect of ‘Seller selling the house As-Is and will not repair anything’ to which we say that’s fine, let’s plug it in.  We’ll both initial it and it’s all good.  We find that many people really do appreciate the simplicity of paperwork that is effective.  Have solid paperwork but again keep it simple as everyone loves to read in plain English.  And some people don’t even like to read so they really appreciate it!

There are many more factors we can talk about with regards to the K.I.S.S. theory in Real Estate these are just some common one to practically any Real Estate transaction.  Simplicity will allow your transaction to go so much more smoothly whether you are buying or selling a piece of property or working with someone to buy and sell it for you.  No matter what the case keep it simple use plain English and all parties have a higher likelihood of coming out satisfied in the end with the results.  Best wishes to your simplicity!

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Find Your Real Estate Formula For Success

A lot of people are asking me why our houses sell fast.  What is my real estate formula?
Strategies and ways are all written in real estate motivational books.  We also hear stories from other investors that we come across with in the real estate industry.  Sure what they claimed works for them but does it really work for you?  Or are they just preaching to the converted? And are we just jumping on to a bandwagon in the hope that it’s a gravy train?  However, as the saying goes the proof of the pudding is in the eating.  After a few months and it’s not making money so there must be something wrong with your strategy.

Let’s say others don’t have the experience in the real estate or training, but if you have the flair and the talent there’s still a chance to be successful in this business.  So, it’s a question of dipping your toe in the water and taking a limited risk to find out that you’re on the right track.
Why not list down your key competences that you used to be successful in other jobs that you’ve done in the past and apply these in your real estate business?
If you worked in the department store where you’re in charge of direct sales then you already understand clients and how to approach and handle them.  So then, you’ve got a people skill which is very important in real estate!

If you have good computer skills and have worked as an administrator, this will help you to develop your website and e-marketing in your real estate business.

Or maybe mom and dad own a store and you observed the wheeling, dealing and trading wholesale goods then you know the concept of real estate wholesaling.

Or perhaps you’re one of those people who is a fanatical D.I.Y.-er.  Then, this is the right time for you in real estate business to apply your skills in rehabbing houses.

After listing down your key competences and finding out as to how passionate are you in real estate business, get a mentor to guide you along the way.   And mentors will ultimately help you  reach your goals faster.

So, who said there’s a secret formula?  The formula is not secret at all the main thing here is to utilize your own skills and channel them into your real estate business.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Good Reputation Is A Must In Real Estate Investing

If you are just starting out in Real Estate investing then consider this.  Are you in the business for a long term career that can bring you fulfillment and respectability in the real estate community or do you just want to make a fast buck before you cut and run?  There have been plenty of news articles recently about lenders breaking rules by giving loans to unqualified borrowers and overcharging loan arrangement fees.  This triggered lots of new rules and regulations to protect borrowers in the future but many unscrupulous lenders just walked away without punishment.  The thing is by ripping off people they damaged their reputations by showing such a lack of integrity.  Even without the additional consumer protection and new legislation to curb loan sharks from cheating unsuspecting borrowers, they would not find it so easy to continue cheating people once they heard about their sharp practices.

The same principles apply to real estate investing that you soon acquire a reputation based on your actions.  If you bilk subcontractors or vendors then word will soon spread that you are someone who cannot be trusted.  If you do rehabs using cheap materials and slapdash workmanship then your reputation will be as poor as the workmanship and you get poor results by cutting corners.  By trying to make maximum profits by unscrupulous cheating you may at worst end up being sued, in jail and out of business.  At best, you may carry on with no repeat business and a reputation as a shoddy profiteer who is not to be trusted.

It’s better to do business honestly, pay your dues and taxes and make sure your rehabs are of a quality that you would be happy to live with if you were buying that particular home.  Don’t cheat subcontractors, buyers or sellers and you can still make a decent living and hold your head up high with a clear conscience.  Many real estate buyers and real estate investors in wholesaling become repeat customers especially when they know they are dealing with someone with a good reputation for value and quality.   You know this makes sense so don’t go down the wrong road. Who knows you will probably make some good lifetime friends and future allies instead of making enemies on a mission to bring about your downfall.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Real Estate Mentoring VS Real Estate Courses

So, if you’re even remotely interested in Real Estate today, undoubtedly you have probably looked online for education and seen a myriad of courses. Whether you are seeking to be an agent, a better marketer, a better investor or just get mentoring, the number of options available to you today is dizzying at times.  In some ways this is good because it encourages healthy competition.  At the same time it can be a problem.   Why because many people have been labeled “gurus” and the term “guru” has definitely developed a bit of a negative stigma with a lot of people where a lot has been promised yet little delivery occurs.  This part of the equation actually works both ways as there are several gurus out there who do charge a pretty penny but if you really maximize what they tell you, you really should see some if not a lot of success.  At the same time, there are materials out in the internet that are questionable at best relying on outdated methods.  The question is how do you know who is who?
 

These are the challenges you’ll have to go through as you decide on your real estate education.  While nothing beats firsthand experience, firsthand experience in Real Estate can be very expensive.  So, it’s usually best to avoid it whenever possible when you’re dealing transactions that have multiple zeroes at the end. We recommend a couple of things.  One, decide on what it is specifically you want to do.  The focus theory applies.  Focus is an acronym for Follow One Course Until Successful.  Let that sink in for a moment because this is usually the first place people go astray.  Focus = follow one course until successful.  How does this apply to real estate?  It’s very simple.  You pick one avenue in real estate and get really, really good at it.  The moment you start trying to do multiple things is usually when the problems begin.  You want to get to a point where you are very good at one thing.  So, if you’re going to be a real estate agent, a marketer, a wholesaler, a rehabber, a landlord, whatever the case, pick that method and get really good at it.  Once you’ve made that commitment now you are at the point where you have to make a decision.  Do I just want to leverage online education?  Do I want to do a home study courses?  Do I want to get a mentor or do I want a combination?  There is no right and wrong answer here.
 

Getting a mentor usually will cost you the most but will probably get you to your success the quickest as they will help you along the way.  However, you are paying for time and knowledge so there is usually a bigger cost to get in as people’s time is valuable.  And one must always respect that.  Do not fall into the trap of trying to determine what someone’s time should be worth.  That is not a decision that we can make for anyone and everyone is welcome to decide what their time is worth to them.  It simply up to you to decide if you are willing to pay for a particular persons help.  That being said, if you don’t want to put in the bucks for a mentor, you can just do a home study course.  There’s a ton of good home study courses out there.  It is often said that if your home study course gets you just one deal that more than pays for the course, it was probably well worth it.  For the most part there’s a lot of truth to that.  As always there are exceptions.  But usually most home study courses provide a few golden nuggets that can get you to get a deal to where you’ll make more than you paid for the course.  With home study courses now going for anywhere from 30 to 1000 dollars, this is not unreasonable as most real estate transactions will make you well plenty more.  (If they don’t, then that’s a separate discussion on itself).
 

Of course if you don’t do a home study course, you can always go with free content online.  When you go this route you’re basically depending on blogs, facebook groups, websites and YouTube primarily.  While there’s a ton of value to learning how to do stuff on these sites, what I have found is usually you don’t get the complete picture.  This is because you’re getting things in a snippets. Sometimes you get enough to put the entire deal together but sometimes you don’t.  I have seen people get burned going this route so caution is advised since they did not have the big picture for their transaction.  So, again you just have to decide how hard you want to work at it.  The beauty of a home study course is if it’s a good one it will bridge those gaps for you.  The amount you pay is more than worth the time you’ll save to trying to scour the internet for every little post.  The phrase “don’t jump over dollars to save a few penny” definitely applies here.
 

Eventually you will want a mentor.  With every successful person, there’s usually a mentor behind them.  We need the coaching and guidance of people that have paved the path before us and the time saved is huge.   So whatever path you choose, do plan on allocating some of the money you’re going to make for mentoring to continue growing yourself, not only as a person but for your business.  They ultimately help you reach your ultimate goals faster.
 

With the internet we have tons of options available today so evaluate your choices well.  And remember, Real Estate is not a get rich quick business.  Work hard and passionately and we look forward to seeing you on the other side.

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Inman Park in Atlanta, Georgia

Inman Park is the first historic neighborhood, located on the east side of Atlanta.  It’s one of the city’s most beautiful communities with elegant Victorian homes, classic craftsman bungalows, wide shady streets and the convenience of an in-town living.  It’s one of my favorite towns in Atlanta.
Visitors and home seekers will be captivated by their unique and styled homes which attracted me so much!  And also the gorgeous people behind this community.

I travel here sometimes just to look at the homes and feel absolutely enchanted in the area.  I find it beautiful and such a wonderful community with attractive homes and parks.  There are so many shops and restaurants within walking distance.  There are plenty of places to eat and drink.  I can tell that it’s really joy to live here as I love to go in the shops and market to buy food!
As I walked along the corners, I really feel wonderful and relaxed.  Beautiful homes, landscape gardens and large trees make Inman Park very special.  Good place to walk and bike in a very nice neighborhood.  The new homes are nice as well, as the older ones.  If you’re planning and looking for home tours, this is the great place to be!

Homes are filled by the professionals who appreciate the charm of urban living, so no wonder; it is one of the peaceful communities in town.  It is full of character of hundred year old houses, windy streets and hidden parks as I’d love to see it.  The parks are very well maintained green spaces and organized. When we visit the park also, it’s really great for running and playing catch games because the area is very spacious.

As I watched the homes together with other people who made the tour also, I noticed how homeowners are very friendly, they invite us and talk about their place and give us information.  Of course, one of my goal when I travel and visit new places, is the festivals and events.  This is the one reason why I liked to visit here during the festival. It’s really enjoyable, unique and excellent performances; I was totally crazy by thousands of people on the street and roads are being closed off. The parade is one awaited part in the festival; you will see many people dancing in the street with costumes and you will see how happy they are. I highly recommend Inman Park Street Festival! 
Coffee shops here are also a perfect place to meet up and hang out with friends and for some business matters - as they have free access to internet connection.

This older neighborhood is surrounded by commercial establishments, very close to downtown Atlanta.  It’s great for the people who love to explore, hang- out and shop!   As an observer and traveler, I really like a place or town home like this, because it’s very convenient for us to go and shop in the malls and buy groceries.

Great location, interesting people, wonderful place, amazing houses are the best words I can describe this historic district.  Everything is in here!  What more could you want?   Do See for you yourself!

Sell Your Atlanta House Fast for Cash Today! We Buy PRETTY and UGLY Houses! We Pay Cash for Homes and We will Buy Your House Fast! We are Atlanta Real Estate Investors. We look forward to hearing from you today with your Atlanta Real Estate needs! Visit - http://workingwithhouses.com and http://atlantabuynow.com

Academy Park, Atlanta, Georgia

A Gated Club Neighborhood!

This gorgeous gated community and luxurious town home are located on Academy Street in Alpharetta, Georgia.  They have a beautiful gate made of bricks and landscape garden and a bunch of colorful flowers in the entrance of this enchanting neighborhood. 

It’s fascinating to see the tree- lined streets, clean and green Bermuda grass, walking trail, sidewalks, clubhouse, multiple tennis court and a resort style of swimming pool. This is a nature preserve town home. It’s nice to spend some of your precious time to explore the community and make friends with neighbors.  “Elegant” is the word that best describe for this town home.  Most of the homes are made of bricks, larger homes, 2-storey, 3 or more bedrooms, and hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances, relaxing balcony area, window glass and unique designs.

Most of the houses here have balconies and one of those that I had the pleasure to visit and checked around.  It was great just to see and observed the place.  It was also an experience watching people driving and passing by. 

I did some inquiries and was informed that the average sale price for a home in Academy Park is $420,955.00 for a 3 bedroom, 3 and 1 half bathroom town home. There are also lower prices that are worth for the amount.

Most friendly faces in the area enjoy the fabulous swimming pool, and relaxing while watching the game in the tennis court.  The area is very spacious.  A throng of health conscious joggers are enjoying their morning jog and feeling the fresh air.  You can see for yourself as to how well the place is maintained.  It’s got very clean and neat surroundings.  Some kids are enjoying a bike with their parents and siblings. Others are enjoying a walk with their dogs.  Activities as such happen during the afternoon and early in the morning.  You can tell that people here are simply contented with their usual chores of the day and enjoying the wonderful ambiance of the place which is very conducive for fun and relaxation.

I would say that this place is called “Nature Preserve” – If you want to go to a little heaven, this is the perfect place to go.  It is peaceful, relaxing and it has some easy hikes that even small children can do.  Abundance of NATURE!

Living here is just easy and just minutes away from all Alpharetta and Atlanta have to offer.  The schools, shopping malls, bars, restaurants, coffee shops and all other individual business shops are just in the nearest distance ready to serve the residents in Academy Park.
I will recommend this place to those who wants to relax, forget all their problems, stay away from stressful life and to those who wants to change their lives, unwind and feel the comfort of this beautiful and amazing town place.

This is truly a relaxing place to live or even just to spend time on vacation.  Be a good observer and experience the beautiful scenery of this place. See it for yourself!