http://www.realestateinvestor.comRealEstateInvestor http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7925-Entrepreneurs-Have-No-Idea-How-To-Use-Email/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7925-Entrepreneurs-Have-No-Idea-How-To-Use-Email/ -Part 1- Consider this before you send another email – the greater majority of small business people and/or entrepreneurs have no idea how to use email marketing in an effective manner!! Because of not being able to use email effectively, we are losing millions if not billions of dollars in revenue because of the lack of savvy in email marketing. Being an entrepreneur myself, I can say that! As a real estate investor, father, and business owner, I've always been an entrepreneur at heart, and have successfully started and sold several businesses over the years. I have even started some businesses that have failed; so I know both ends of the spectrum! As small business owners (myself included), we’re always looking for ways to close more sales and to grow our business(es). I’m sure by now you’ve either adopted some form of email marketing, but if you haven’t, I’m sure you will shortly. In any case, email marketing is... Mon, 6 Sep 2010 14:09:28 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7924-100-Financing-for-Commercial-Real-Estate/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7924-100-Financing-for-Commercial-Real-Estate/ Lending for Commercial Real Estate There are a number of ways to effect 100% financing of your income producing commercial property. They are creative financing alternatives that provide buyers with an opportunity to purchase apartment buildings, office buildings and mixed use buildings with little or no down payment. These alternative financing methods include: Asset Backed Lending Self Directed IRAs Down Payment Assistance Programs Asset Backed Lending If you have securities like stocks or bonds there are lenders that would lend up to 90% of the value of these securities. This can serve as the full loan or the down payment. In either case you will still own your securities, they will just be the collateral on a loan. Self Directed IRAs If you have substantial assets in a IRA, 401k or 403b those assets can be placed into a custodial account that will allow you to purchase commercial real estate where the owner would be the Self Directed IRA. If you do not have enough to... Mon, 6 Sep 2010 10:09:34 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7923-Down-Payment-Assistance-For-Investors/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7923-Down-Payment-Assistance-For-Investors/ Finance Commercial Properties Most real estate investors know the the requirements to finance commercial real estate and income producing properties include the down payment, a borrowers credit, the type of property and the income that the property generates to pay for the loan. There are other requirements but these are the most important and are generally universal from one lender to another. Based on these underwriting guidelines the the greatest barrier to most investors is having the substantial finances necessary to meet the required financial investment, net worth and reserves necessary to purchase income producing commercial real estate. The little known and even less used down payment assistance program for commercial income producing real estate is just what is needed to bridge this gap. Down Payment Assistance In residential real estate sales there are many down payment assistance (DPA) programs. Most are for first time home buyers and or low to moderate... Mon, 6 Sep 2010 09:09:19 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7922-HAPPY-LABOR-DAY/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7922-HAPPY-LABOR-DAY/ We celebrate Labor Day on the first Monday on September every year, we travel and gather to visit, celebrate, and enjoy Labor Day Weekend with family and friends. I want to wish to all my friends and to all members at Real Estate Investor community a happy and safe Labor Day Weekend. Mon, 6 Sep 2010 01:09:58 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7921-Home-Inspection-Certification-Program-Planned/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7921-Home-Inspection-Certification-Program-Planned/ A home inspection certification program focusing on health and safety and a Crime Free Housing initiative are being planned in Collinsville, Illinois. An ordinance has been proposed that will lead to the establishment of these two programs and the city is seeking feedback from its residents with regards to the two programs. According to the city council, they intend to get the opinion of residents first before authoring an official draft that will be voted on. The initial draft for the planned Health and Safety Occupancy Code is to be released in a few days at the city's Web site and at the City Clerk's office. The Code is actually a legislation that has two main provisions. The first is a guideline that will require tenants and owners of commercial, rental and residential properties to first get a Health and Safety Permit prior to moving in to their premises. They will also be required to get a home inspection certification by passing an ocular examination that will decide whether... Fri, 3 Sep 2010 15:09:15 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7920-Thousands-Attended-Bank-and-Federal-Home/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7920-Thousands-Attended-Bank-and-Federal-Home/ Over one thousand homeowners flocked to the Palm Beach Convention Center in Florida to see if they can have their mortgages modified and avoid bank and federal home foreclosures. The event was sponsored by the nonprofit organization, Neighborhood Assistance Corp. of America (NACA). The state is one of the areas hardest hit by the housing market crisis, with foreclosed homes in Dade, FL and in other cities recording numbers that are way higher than other regions of the country. It is not surprising then that the nonprofit has chosen Palm Beach as the third stop for its NACA mortgage modification marathon. The event, which lasts for several days, is aimed at preventing homeowners from losing their properties to Florida foreclosure homes for sale by providing them with a chance to have a talk with foreclosure counselors and maybe have their mortgages modified. The nonprofit is currently on its second year of offering help to people facing home foreclosures through its Save the Dream... Fri, 3 Sep 2010 14:09:59 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7919-Homeowners-Foreclosed-Triplex-Homes-for-Sale-/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7919-Homeowners-Foreclosed-Triplex-Homes-for-Sale-/ A number of homeowners have filed a lawsuit against the appraisal district of Fort Bend County, Texas for alleged violation of the state law which specifies that foreclosures, including foreclosed triplex homes for sale and other types of dwellings, should be considered in assessing property taxes. The legislation was supported by a number of lawmakers who believe that most appraisers are ignoring house foreclosures in various areas of the state to allegedly protect government entities' tax base. Legislators also stated that there is a lot of money involved in appraisals, particularly with foreclosure rates continuing to climb. Real estate market observers have revealed that majority of foreclosure homes in Texas are accounted for by the counties of Harris, Montgomery and Fort Bend, with the three areas recording a 25% rise in foreclosure rates during the January-August 2010 period compared with the same 2009 period. Total foreclosures in the state rose from 1,764 to 8,898 during the... Thu, 2 Sep 2010 14:09:22 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7918-Commercial-Lenders-Brought-New-Management-for/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7918-Commercial-Lenders-Brought-New-Management-for/ Tuscan Creek, the foreclosed apartment building in Ypsilanti Township, Michigan, is under new management. Capmark, the commercial lenders for the foreclosed property, have brought in McKinley Inc. to manage the 300-unit complex after it was foreclosed on July 2010. The apartment building is just one of the many properties that have gone under foreclosure in various areas of the state. Wayne foreclosed homes, distressed properties in various cities of Michigan and a host of other foreclosed buildings in the area have all contributed to the housing market problem of the state. Just like other Michigan foreclosed homes that have undergone management changes, Tuscan will also undergo various renovations, including the demolition of one of the complex's buildings that was damaged by a 2009 fire. The new management also plans to upgrade certain units and to evict tenants who fail to satisfy leasing standards. The property ended up as one of the many foreclosed homes for sale in the state... Thu, 2 Sep 2010 13:09:57 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7917-Tips-to-Keep-Your-Books-Updated/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7917-Tips-to-Keep-Your-Books-Updated/ Why Book keeping? Without proper Business book keeping practices, your business is susceptible to cash flow issues and potential legal problems. Book keeping is one of the most important of your business records since it includes all your business transactions. Book keeping enables the IRS to evaluate your business operations and helps manage your business better. Here is a Guide to Understanding the Basics of Book Keeping: 1. Maintaining Employee Records Employers are responsible for maintaining records on withholding, employer matching, unemployment, worker’s compensation and employee forms such as the W-4 (Withholding Allowance Certification) and the I-9 (Employment Eligibility Verification). 2. Tracking Revenues and Expenses Revenue and Expense records can be maintained through a journal or a ledger. Journal is a popular method that details receipts and expenses. Ledger is a method that records transactions as credits and debits. Recording revenues and expenses... Wed, 1 Sep 2010 16:09:20 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7916-How-Long-Can-I-Stay-in-My-Home-After-Foreclos/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7916-How-Long-Can-I-Stay-in-My-Home-After-Foreclos/ Generally, homeowners facing foreclosure are allowed to stay in their home up until the day of the foreclosure sale itself if they choose. After the original loan default, the homeowner is entitled to a certain period of time before a sale can occur. During this time, they have a chance to raise the money to pay off their default debt and thereby retain ownership of their home. The homeowner is allowed to remain in residence at the property during this period. One of the best ways to get more time to stay in your home after foreclosure, as well as pay off your debt, is to declare bankruptcy. While it may not be the right decision for everyone, a bankruptcy claim puts an automatic stay on all creditors, including your mortgage lender. This means that your foreclosure proceedings will be put on hold for an unspecififed amount of time. If you file for Chapter 13 bankruptcy, you'll also get the opportunity to work out a payment plan with your lender to pay off your debt over the next 3 to... Wed, 1 Sep 2010 15:09:06 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7915-Broker-Targets-Owners-of-Home-and-Townhouse/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7915-Broker-Targets-Owners-of-Home-and-Townhouse/ The high number of residential foreclosures and townhouse foreclosures for sale in Arizona has spawned a number of fraudulent activities among a handful of mortgage brokers. Recently, a broker from Phoenix was convicted for reportedly making homeowners file fake foreclosure paperwork. The high number of properties under listings of foreclosed homes is a major problem in the area and prosecutors were relieved to report that Edward L. Carpenter has been found guilty on several charges of fraud by a jury following a trial that lasted for six days. Carpenter's sentence will be handed out on October 7. According to court reports, the broker told owners of Arizona foreclosure homes that he owns a business that can provide a legal way for homeowners to get their names removed from mortgages and give them free and legal ownership of the residential properties. Carpenter reportedly required an upfront fee of at least $1,000. Authorities stated that Carpenter then convinces owners of foreclosed... Wed, 1 Sep 2010 14:09:42 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7914-Time-Management/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7914-Time-Management/ Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE The world’s most precious resource is not oil, gold, or the almighty dollar; it is time.Since it is a finite resource and no one knows how much time they are guaranteed, it is important to maximize efficiency in all of your business ventures. /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New... Wed, 1 Sep 2010 12:09:17 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7913-Burden-of-Foreclosed-Real-Estate-Home-Listing/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7913-Burden-of-Foreclosed-Real-Estate-Home-Listing/ In terms of properties under real estate home listings, Texas is considered to be in relatively better situation than other states such as Florida, California and even New Jersey. However, the quarter also saw the Lone Star state recording increased number of borrowers who are late in their loan payments. Houston home foreclosures and foreclosed property numbers all around the state were pegged at 2.04% during the April-June 2010 period. The figure is considerably lower than the 4.77% rate in California and the New Jersey rate of 6.25%. In Florida, 14% of properties are under foreclosure for the quarter. When compared with national averages, 0.7% of mortgage loans account for home foreclosures in Texas compared with the national average of 1.11% for the second quarter. However, the number of homeowners in the state who are late in their mortgage payments surged to 9.28% for the second quarter compared with the 8.77% recorded in the 2010 first quarter. The total number of home... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 13:08:50 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7912-Prices-of-Wachovia-Home-Foreclosures-and-Othe/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7912-Prices-of-Wachovia-Home-Foreclosures-and-Othe/ Prices of residential properties in Santa Cruz County, California continue to decline. These include all types of residences, even Wachovia home foreclosures and other types of foreclosed dwellings. However, buyers are still reluctant to make any purchase, even with mortgage rates at record lows. According to most real estate market analysts, Stockton foreclosed homes and almost all types of Santa Cruz dwellings are not selling despite these perks, primarily because most buyers are scared of the current condition of the housing market. Others just do not have the means to offer a down payment due to job losses, while others find it difficult to get a loan with tighter lending rules in place. Although prices of newly built dwellings and foreclosed homes in California have declined considerably, Santa Cruz residences remain some of the most expensive all around the country. Prices of houses in the county have declined, but they are still relatively more expensive than other markets.... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:08:10 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7911-3-billion-more-down-the-drain/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7911-3-billion-more-down-the-drain/ $3 billion more down the drain President Obama’s Emergency Homeowner Loan Program is about to shovel $3 billion more at foreclosures. One part of the plan, announced Wednesday, includes a new $1 billion program that will offer loans to unemployed borrowers at risk of losing their homes. The loans, which will be dispersed through nonprofit and housing agencies, will carry 0% interest and be good for a maximum of $50,000 for up to two years. The administration also added $2 billion in support for its program that helps struggling homeowners in the states with highest unemployment rates. The government previously announced $2.1 billion for 10 of the hardest hit states. States were required to put together proposals on how they would use the money, and the Treasury finished approving those plans earlier this month. The additional $2 billion announced Wednesday will expand the program to a total of 17 states, and the nation’s capital, all of... Tue, 31 Aug 2010 03:08:50 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7910-Indy-Cashflow-Expert-Dawg-Meat/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7910-Indy-Cashflow-Expert-Dawg-Meat/ Every once in a while we tend to have a run in with dogs. OK about once a week. The Rot whos chain reaches into you property or the Pit who was left in the house and thinks you are a milk bone. But I have personally not had any run ins with a Chow. I have seen plenty of them but never really had any run ins. So my partner and I are walking behind a house we just picked up and heard that oh so fun sound. Roof,Roof,Roof, naturally we jump and get into our sprint postions (or our OH S**T positions. and do the glance over to see what I might be getting eaten by. Ahh a fence, haa haa stupdi chow. Now did you know that chows can leap fences in a single bound. I did not know that either, and they are fast for a big furry ball. I really have to say that I so glad I am faster than my partner. whoo that was a close one. J.B. www.indycashflowexpert.com Mon, 30 Aug 2010 13:08:55 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7909-Dealing-with-and-Preventing-Bad-Neighbors/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7909-Dealing-with-and-Preventing-Bad-Neighbors/ Dealing with bad tenants can be tricky enough—though such scenarios are not ideal, at least you have a contract on your side to dictate certain rules and behaviors that ensure the comfort of all your tenants. But what happens in a case involving bad neighbors, when you don’t have the benefit of a pre-existing agreement on your side? Depending on the set-up of your property, a bad neighbor can potentially be just as disruptive (or perhaps even more so) than uncourteous tenants in your own property. Following are some suggestions to help mitigate this sort of scenario. Consider neighbors when property hunting. Time and time again in this blog, we’ve highlighted the importance of doing extremely thorough research when seeking out an investment property. And guess what? We’re about to dole that same information out once again. With so many other factors to take into consideration when selecting a property, evaluating potential neighbors is one of... Mon, 30 Aug 2010 11:08:46 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7908-What-Happens-During-a-Foreclosure/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7908-What-Happens-During-a-Foreclosure/ A foreclosure generally starts when a homeowner can no longer make payments on their mortgage loan. As a result, the bank or government lender in charge of the loan will seek to collect the remaining unpaid debt by repossessing the property under mortgage and selling it off to the public. During a foreclosure, the homeowner will have the chance to pay off their default debt and stop the foreclosure process before their home is sold. However, there is usually only a small window of time during which this is an option. Depending on the local state customs, this period can range from 30 days up to a year. This is usually the best chance a homeowner has for retaining control of their property. Once this period expires, the lender will go ahead with scheduling a date for the foreclosure sale of the property. Again depending on the local law as well as the terms of a mortgage, they may be required to obtain the consent of a court before scheduling and pursuing a sale. This process is known... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:08:31 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7907-Problems-of-Foreclosure-and-Repo-Homes-Listin/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7907-Problems-of-Foreclosure-and-Repo-Homes-Listin/ As the number of dwellings ending up in foreclosure lists and repo homes listings continues to rise in Charlotte, North Carolina, commercial properties are also facing a battle of their own. The latest building facing foreclosure-related trouble is the EpiCentre entertainment complex in the uptown area of the city. Most Charlotte foreclosed homes ended as such due to the inability of their owners to meet monthly mortgage obligations. In the case of EpiCentre, it is not just a problem of its lender starting foreclosure proceedings, it is also about being questioned for the way its finances were handled and how its financial records were kept and maintained. Owners of the complex are feeling the heat after the bank has accused them of failing to pay a loan worth $90 million last December 2009. As with owners of foreclosed homes in North Carolina, the people behind the complex are facing the challenge of making their loan current or coming up with an alternative agreement to... Fri, 27 Aug 2010 10:08:58 -0400 http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7906-Avoiding-Foreclosure-Follies-Turning-Garbage-/ http://www.realestateinvestor.com/media/blogs/7906-Avoiding-Foreclosure-Follies-Turning-Garbage-/ So you’re ready to take the leap into real estate investing but not quite sure where to start. Maybe you do know and just enjoy staying fresh in this game. Some of the best deals out there can be found in bank Reo properties and emerging foreclosures Houston and other large metro areas can easily provide you. So how do you start? What are some of the pitfalls you have the power to protect yourself from through wisdom and awareness of the local and national markets? Though this industry can guarantee you an ongoing necessity for educating yourself, those that arm themselves have the opportunity to surpass not only their predecessors, but even their strongest and most current competition. Draw your budget in fresh concrete. First and foremost, always predetermine your budget. Plans and ideas are nothing but jumbled words that go right out the window when our eyes are bigger than our stomachs. If you do not put your plans and budget down on paper you are already starting out on... Thu, 26 Aug 2010 21:08:13 -0400