Posts Tagged ‘secrets’

The Basics of Commercial Foreclosure Investing

Monday, March 22nd, 2010

Success in commercial foreclosure investing is measured by the number of deals you are able to successfully negotiate; not the amount of money made off one deal. In real estate investing, this success begins with knowledge. There are basic principles that every commercial foreclosure investor should know and these principles must be mastered in order to reach your investment dreams and goals.

1) Learn from Others

As an investor, you’re not expected to know how to do everything and in fact, if you’re a serious investor of commercial properties, you should utilize the experience of a team of experts who can help navigate you through a deal. There are also training tools and mentors available who can provide real life support when obstacles arise.

2) Have a Consistent Effort

Finding a deal takes work, but consistency and persistency pay off big in this business. Investors must understand the value of submitting quality offers continuously. Real estate is a numbers game. The more offers you have on the table, the more likely you will be to have an offer accepted.

3) Learn How to Analyze Properly

In commercial property analysis, there are many things that can be overlooked. As an investor, you must learn and develop your system for analyzing properly accurately so that you can present a valid offer to the lender. You must also learn how to ascertain a property’s true value.

4) Fund Your Deal

One thing that will stop an investor dead in his tracks is the inability to fund his deal. Know which banks will be willing to work with you. Find angel investors who are willing to support your deal. Take care of your income and your credit history because it opens other avenues of funding that aren’t available to people who have poor credit history.

5) Rehab Your Property

Commercial foreclosure investors should be able to assess which repairs are necessary and then obtain cost estimates. There should also be a team of people who are able to do minor cosmetic repairs like painting and changing fixtures. You should know who to contact if major cleaning and landscaping was necessary for your commercial property.

6) Market Effectively

Investors should also be aware of how to market their property effectively. If necessary, consult a professional who will be able to make recommendations to help get your property sold.

7) Find a Property Manager

Even if you were to do the property management yourself (which is not really recommended for a large commercial property), you should be aware of what your property needs in order to keep it maintained and attractive to current and future tenants.

8) Prepare Deals that will be Accepted

There is a misconception among many “would-be” investors that you can offer the lender or property owner whatever you want. That couldn’t be further from the truth. In reality, you must structure your commercial foreclosure deal so that it has the highest possible chance of being accepted.

9) Have a Passion for What You Do

Real estate investing success doesn’t come without its challenges. As a commercial foreclosure investor, you must have a deep passion for what you do. You must know your investment goals and go after deals as if they were your life line. You’ll be sifting through lots of properties. You’ll spend countless hours reviewing numbers, but in the end, one property is all it takes to get you started as an investor.

The basics of commercial foreclosure investing are simple – be willing to learn, willing to analyze, willing to rely on a team, and willing to go after your goals with passion. Keep working on refining your analytical process and people skills. Anyone willing to go and do this will ultimately achieve success.

Visit http://www.creativesuccessalliance.com for more information on Foreclosure investing and other Real Estate education needs.

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Short Sales Success: How to Build a Pool of Buyers

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Short sale opportunities abound in the real estate industry. There are literally tons of deals out there just waiting to be made. Unfortunately, if you’re not prepared, you could still come up short because you don’t already have a buyer in place for your deal. You must have buyers waiting to take part in your next short sale deal.

Many beginning investors believe that they need a whole list of people on their buyers list. That’s not the case. You just need a few people who are ready to buy. These people have the credit and cash and just waiting for you to find them a good deal. But where do you find them?

Family, Friends, and Your Circle of Influence

You already have a large list of potential prospects with your family, friends, co-workers, and people you see everyday. Write their names down even if you think you’ll never sell to them. In fact, this brings me to another point – don’t prejudge anyone. You never know what situation your prospect may be in. Just write their names on the list so you can qualify them as a lead later. One of the added benefits of this group of potential prospects is that you already have a relationship with them. Real estate is a people business and whether you want to believe it or not, relationships matter.

Local Real Estate Investment Clubs

Local REI Clubs either has a potential buyer or knows of potential buyers that you can access. Give them a call and find out when their next meeting is. Ask to see if it’s possible if you can promote the deal you’re working on at some point during the meeting and make it a point to answer any questions that potential prospects may have.

Social Networks

Social networks are the staple of the internet for most consumers who are online. Fortune 500 companies have already flocked to the internet in the hopes of gaining the trust and loyalty of their consumers. You can do the same. Interact with other investors on business social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Active Rain. These networks are among the top sites for lead generation and working with other investors.

Once you’ve built up your list of potential prospects, it’s time to qualify them to see how ready they are to buy a real estate investment. Start by calling all your potential prospects. Let them know you’ve just started a real estate business and find out if they have any plans to purchase real estate in the future. Ask your prospects what type of property are they looking for.

Once you have that information, classify your prospect in to three different categories: hot, warm, and cold. Hot prospects know what they want and they have the capability to enter a deal within the next two to four weeks. Warm prospects have some idea of what they want but need some time to prepare for the purchase. Cold prospects aren’t sure what they want to buy. They may say they’re ready, but they aren’t really.

Once you’ve got a few hot buyers, it’s time to start looking for short sale opportunities. Make phone calls and place ads that let others know you can help them with their short sale. You might even consider putting out signs and posting flyers in residential areas to gain some attention. Then start working your short sale deal – analyze your property and present a valid offer.

Short sales success depends upon you having a ready pool of buyers that are able to purchase when you find your next deal. Investors can create their own pool by making contact with their friends, family, and people within their circle of influence. They can also find leads from their local REI Club or their favorite social network.

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Seizing Opportunity in Government-Seized Properties

Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010

Most real estate investors are aware of the potential profit from buying government-seized properties — homes and other types of property the government has acquired from tax cheats, drug dealers and other criminals. Because the government isn’t in the business of renting or flipping properties, they want to unload them as quickly as possible. While this is unfortunate for the previous owner, it creates opportunity for investors who act fast and know what to do. Following are some tips.

- Educate yourself — Read as much as you can about finding and buying government-seized properties and find a mentor if possible. Many metropolitan areas also have investment groups.
- Consult a professional — When it comes to buying government-seized properties, a knowledgeable real estate agent or attorney may be worth the commission. Find an expert who has done this before so they can anticipate any problems and plan for a stress-free transaction.
- Finding the right home — You will probably find a good selection of homes on various government websites. Join their mailing list so you’ll be notified of new properties or auctions. If this doesn’t produce what you want, check the local newspapers or visit the county courthouse. Drive through the neighborhoods you have targeted and look for signs of vacant property. If you can discover a government seized property before it hits the market, you’ll have an advantage. Keep your eyes open for government auctions too.
- Inspect the home yourself — Unlike most home sellers, the government does not have to disclose anything about the condition of the property. Plus, they don’t do repairs, or warrant anything. It would be wise to hire a professional property inspector or general contractor to thoroughly inspect the home.
- Research the property — After you’ve set your sights on a property, do your homework. Start with searching the tax assessor files at your county office — either online or in-person. If possible, get into the property and perform an evaluation. Talk to the neighbors and get their opinion about the neighborhood and home values. And if there’s an expert in the area that you trust, get their opinion. You want to know the approximate value of the home and whether or not it’s a community you should be investing in.
- Make your offer or bid — Depending on whether or not you are making a traditional offer, or bidding at an auction, you’ve done your research and now have a pretty good idea of the value. Make your offer accordingly and stick to where you need to be in able to make a profit. Be sure to read all the rules and regulations associated with buying the property because they vary greatly — from bidding over the internet to having to submit your offer through an authorized agent.
- Stick to the terms — Once again, terms vary from county to county, so know what they are and adhere to them. Some agencies require a 20 percent down payment and the balance due in 30 days, while other may require full cash payment. Some accept certified check, while others only accept cash or credit cards. Understand the terms before you submit your offer.

The market for government-seized property is hot right now. Month after month thousands of properties are being seized by various government agencies, and if you know how to buy them, you could be purchasing them at a fraction of their fair market value.

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Use Commercial Foreclosures Leverage to Attain Property

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

The goal is to secure that splendid 25,000 square foot ex-paper bag manufacturing site on the corner. The same one that has been tantalizingly begging to be turned into an indoor/outdoor child’s petting establishment! The time to make the move is now to secure that dream! What has prompted this renewed interest in the commercial property? The ‘For Sale or Lease’ signs on the building and the little phrase on the bottom of those advertisements, ‘Pre-Foreclosure Special Financing Accepted’. Let the games begin.

Financial Dealings Involve Tact and Professionalism

The key to assessing the viability of purchasing a commercial property, especially one that includes amounts that could finance third world nation’s annual expenditures, is how best to finance the deal. Hands-down, commercial property, especially distressed unoccupied for years sites, are worth licking the old chops as there are many reasons for the benefits of attaining these gems. The pre-foreclosure advertisements are normally written in locations that appease the lending institutions yet are not without prideful reconnaissance by the soon to be ex-owners of said business. For reasons best left unseen and not spoken of for this review, the business went under and the business owner must now salvage the bare essentials from the failed endeavor and begin again or not. This is the time when professionalism and tact will pay off and in a big way. If the dream of owning that piece of property, for the next ‘great idea’ is in mind and the backing is already nailed down, then there are methods in which to obtain that prize. Trust this guy on that. This is not the first ride in the turnip truck.

Early Smart Bird

The world of commercial foreclosures can best be summed up in one brief and concise phrase, ‘the early smart bird gets the pre-foreclosure worm’. This is one of the best methods for obtaining a commercial piece of foreclosed upon or about to be foreclosed upon properties and it can be done relatively expeditiously. Start by researching both the owner and the lender of the property in the sights. This will answer any and all of the most immediate questions regarding price, size, geographic amenities, demographics, age of building(s), and all the good stuff. There is no need to speak to anyone at this juncture of the game and believe this man; it is a bit of a game with numbers replacing pieces on the game board. This is not to say that the seriousness of the foreclosure should be ignored or worse accentuated, heavens no, that would be is terribly uncompassionate and goes against every fiber of a real business venture. Celebrate when the first 100,000 widgets are packed and ready to ship to Indonesia, then hoot and holler and high-five, even virtually.

Timing of the Call to the Owner or Lender

After all the pertinent Internet research work has been completed, now decision to give the owner or the banker, depending upon the age of the foreclosure, a call, can be made. If it is the owner then the leverage that can be used is monumentally exponential. If it is the bank then that is another topic but just as lucrative. The amount that is in foreclosure can be the entire mortgage plus interest to obtain the property yet in a few select cases the take-over and save my business option exists. It is these prizes, these diamonds in the rough that have proved to be just the right amount of buying leverage to close the deal. Ask Pepsi how the firs plant opened in Michigan and the research will tell you that it was through a failed independent bottler who just so happened to float the down stroke of the property.

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Foreclosure Secrets Event!

Friday, November 13th, 2009

Jam packed event filled with information you can use to make money now! Learn about recession proof investing and attracting all the money you need to finance your deals!

Discover:
* How 2 Struggling employees with no opportunity for advancement used their proven system to do over 160 deals in the last few years.
* How banks proceed with foreclosures and what you can do to take advantage of the holes in their process.
* How to make money in real estate even if you have a job that takes up your entire day.
* Learn one Foreclosure Secret so powerful, not knowing will almost guarantee your failure.
* Instead of being a victim of the crippled economy, we will show you how to profit from it.
* Let us teach you how to build your credibility in the real estate investment market. Soon your name will equal dollar signs!
* Need Money for Real Estate Deals? Craig and Don will show you how this will never be a problem again!

This special event is happening on Wednesday, November 18th at 7:00pm EST (registration starts at 6:30pm EST) at the Braintree Sheraton Hotel.

The complete address:
Braintree Sheraton Hotel
37 Forbes Road
Braintree, MA 02184

Visit http://www.refortunemakers.com/event or call 800-556-0626 to reserve your seat now!

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When To Buy In The Foreclosure Process

Thursday, November 12th, 2009

The process of foreclosure can be intimidating at times, but, done correctly, will bestow you with immediate equity. The anticipated speedy counteroffer may be difficult, but slow and accurate decisions offer desired rewards of foreclosure. Keeping track of foreclosure auctions and searching through local newspaper and country records office are the best as they specialize in foreclosure properties.

When to buy in the foreclosure process is a thoughtful query. With the record of low interest rates and declining stock market, it is risky for small investors, and hence many are investing their money in real estate. This is a best time to invest in foreclosures and also to negotiate residential real estate. The present market conditions prove to be the ideal time for investors to purchase foreclosure properties for private residence, resale or rental. The economic downturn has increased the upscale homes to go for foreclosure and the concept that foreclosure properties are obtainable in felony areas is incorrect. Homes in well heeled areas and beachfront make ideal foreclosure properties. The foreclosure process is worth investing as it is as cheap as 30 to 40% below the market. Yet, the savings is twice if the property held in mortgage is in default when it is acquired from the lender.

Appropriate investment time is when the foreclosure process is navigated. Effort and time spend on foreclosure process yields desired savings. However, consumers find the foreclosure process daunting. One thing is certain that good buys are obtainable, provided adequate research is done with persistence and patience. The foreclosure process begins when mortgage payments of a property owner lags behind. These owners struggle financially for over a year and then try to give up, and hence the house definitely needs general maintenance on the whole in association with minor repairs such as roof leaks or missing bulbs, dirty walls, carpets or broken yards o appliances.

The safest deals are the properties owned by the banks. They are ideal to invest for inexperienced foreclosure buyers. This entails no risk, no liens, no taxes and no eviction of tenants. The lender here may willingly offer attractive financial terms and accept down payment lesser than the market rate. The risk of title insurance is also eliminated in such foreclosure process. Similarly, buying foreclosure properties is simple with good credit record, as banks offer the full price or more. In case the purchased property is meant for rental, then banks demand only 10% down payment. Individuals also having good amount of equity are facilitated with credit to purchase a foreclosure. Definitely, foreclosure homes located in good areas when purchased at below market values are a sound investment strategy that is certain to appreciate. The appreciation is tax-free, if it is a primary residence.

All the foreclosures are not earlier owned homes as some homes are also new. Such homes can be identified easily. The slow economy has left the upscale and mid-scale home builders perplexed to find buyers. In such circumstances, the banks that sanctioned construction loans attempt selling it by taking possession of the homes. They hire real-estate agents to handle such deals. Daring investors can locate homes that are in the process of default and in such cases the homeowner is ready to accept a value that is between the market value and the equity also makes a good bargain. Conversely, foreclosure buys bestow bargains, but claim persistence and is a rewarding proposition with risk.

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Riding the Foreclosure Wave to a Better Life

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Are you thinking about climbing aboard the wave and riding the foreclosure wave to a better life? 2009 has seen the home mortgage industry be turned over onto its head and the casualties that are seen on a daily basis anywhere in America are disastrous at best. From the small Middle America towns to the hustling bustling big metropolitan areas the scene has been repeated since the start of the recession. There exists a movement to uncover these failed mortgages and busted dreams then profit from their mistakes. There are many names for this type of opportunistic business person and regardless of the meaning and feeling behind those titles there is one undeniable fact. There is a very good chance to recover from debt by purchasing one or a few of these homes in a foreclosure sale and buy.

The first step in searching for these foreclosed homes is to research the neighborhood. Now the knee-jerk reaction for some buyers will be to scan the Internet for a list that shows the listed and sometimes unlisted bank takeovers and then go after those regardless of the location. When you first start out you should consider buying local. The reasoning behind this “think globally, act locally” is that there are enough foreclosures in the town called home…and it saves on travel expenses. The percentages do not tell a lie and the truth is that the severity of the foreclosure problem is located in every town and city in the United States.

While searching for these prize homes that have been sitting on the block and not moving since 2008, one should brush up on the state’s foreclosure laws. This is the very important legal research that sounds intimidating, but has to be completed as the consequences can be extreme.

If done correctly and as efficiently as possible, the foreclosure industry can turn a battered life into a bettered life in one sale. The numbers are on the side of the intelligent buyer of foreclosed homes as this person has the deed to the home and can wholesale, sell, remodel, then sell, or move right in! To say that the win-win is a reality is to be exactly right on target. If the life that you are currently leading is less than desirable then belly up to the foreclosure buffet and get ready to dive in!

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How to Whittle Down the Foreclosed Home Price

Friday, October 30th, 2009

Any shrewd real estate investor always is on the look out for a price break a discount a point or two. This is the nature of the real estate market and especially the essence of the foreclosure deal. There are so many ways to chip away at the foreclosure deal for the intelligent investor it is hard not to get a discount. Any foreclosure hawk that walks into a bank and starts to immediately ask for the keys and pulls out the business checking notebook has to learn to take a deep breathe and slow it down. The house is not going anywhere and if it is then there are 1.5 million right behind it almost exactly like it in every way shape and form. The odds are in the favor of the one with the money to purchase that upside down and severely upside piece of real estate and this must be kept in mind at all times.

The bankers do not want to be bothered with touching a single piece of paper in regards to the property they just sold now have back. It is akin to the used car lot that has to repossess the 1985 Chevrolet cutlass supreme, they would rather the owner, the client, pay something anything as long as that vehicle is not returned by involuntary actions. The foreclosure market is even worse for the banks as they are 100% wrapped up in that sinking home and would go to great lengths not to have to see even a picture of their failure. Banks lose whenever a home is foreclosed upon and lose big all the time. There is no silver lining for the lending institutions’ that have to eat a business deal.

This is where the new and excited yet controlled real estate investor, (IE you), steps up and saves the day. Now of course the banker will pretend to be in full control with a very nice and expensive Italian suit and a stoic and frozen face. This is the game for the bank as the role they are playing is the salesman once again and you are the buyer. It seems like déjà vu, just like before, except instead of the wide-eyed fresh couple with the Bed Bath and Beyond credit card burning a hole in the wallet, it is a savvy entrepreneur that is about to receive a huge discount on the sinking property that sits patiently across the same table. Is this starting to formulate in the head? Are the wheels starting to turn and the dollar signs starting to be envisioned yet? They will as soon as the banker leers and says, “125,000 and it is yours!”

The deal is now on the table and although it is way high for a 3/2 with a broken window and a non-operational fireplace you sit there smiling, thinking, and plotting. The banker has seen it all before every poker faced foreclosure expert sitting across from them waiting to crush that first offer. The next step is to pull out a chart that list every single house on the same street as the foreclosed upon house in question and you then slip that piece of paper to the now not leering banker. Gone are all the re-moves that the banker was going to use to throw you off, it is over and the price that you are going to pay for that sinking house the bank despises is written in dark black ink on the bottom. 57,000 is the final offer and as you strut out of the bank a smile comes across the face, or is it a leer?

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A Guide to Locating the Best Foreclosure Properties

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

Are you searching and searching for the best deals in the real estate market but keep coming up empty-handed? Then lean in real close and the secrets for locating the hidden gems in the sand will be bestowed upon you. The real estate market is like a teeter-totter swing like the ones that used to give hours of enjoyment to you so many moons ago. The market is up then the next year the market is down, up and down, every year. The down side of the teeter-totter is where the world economy is right now in 2009 and it looks like it will be until the middle of next year before the upwards movement occurs. This is great news for the foreclosure hunters as there are plenty of homes up for grabs. How is it that only the lucky few seem to land the fattest-prizes in the real estate foreclosure market each and every year? The answer will surprise even the smartest real estate investors.

With the fluctuations of an up side down economy wreaking the hopes and dreams of millions of homeowners this year the timing for a manual on how to beat the real estate market seems like a solid plan. It could not be a better time to gather in some really fantastic deals from the foreclosure market since there are so many out there. The odds of finding a decent upside down home or commercial property could not be any better and this is the surprising factor most seemingly have no clue about.

The least favored method for finding the big lucrative foreclosure homes that the real estate market is dishing out is to sit down and really think. Too many times an otherwise intelligent real estate savvy person will leap before the look and get into a few bad deals and be cooked. There are countless foreclosure properties right now that, if you only showed a little bit of interest, the banks that are holding would just throw them at you. Why is this? Most banks are not equipped to handle all the properties they are currently holding. Try this on for size, look at your local newspaper and flip to the classifieds section. Some local banks use the paper to market foreclosures and will serve the smart investor well. Now go out there and find the foreclosures, then show a little interest to the bank that holds the note and the profits will start rolling in.

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Understanding How to Make Money in Foreclosures

Thursday, October 22nd, 2009

The rule of thumb for the real savvy ones all started with understanding how to make money in foreclosures. After that the money started to come in and the game was on. There in lies the essence of wheeling and dealing in the market called foreclosures. Is it that difficult to win in this game of relative chance and speculation? Not really, as long as you thoroughly understand and comply with the standards set forth by the regulatory bodies of the state that will be your hunting grounds. Let the foreclosure market be your guide to a fantastic array of monetary transactions.

The basic reaction for those that have just learned they could be losing their home is a depressing one indeed. There is nothing good about a foreclosed home for any of the parties involved…except for maybe one, you. As being in the venerable cat-bird seat the world can be your oyster if you follow a few golden rules of the game. First, there is a list that all banks keep tucked away in a locked drawer in one of their colorful offices that is comprised of every single foreclosed upon home that needs to be moved (and like yesterday). This is the ‘Holy Grail’ of the foreclosure realm and if you just happen to get your mitts on this little bugger “Oh the places you will go”.

After securing the golden list it is now time to put planning and theory into practice and recourse. The goal is to find the most distressed homes on the list and offer the offending lending institution the lowest amount possible. If you have ever seen a starving dog engulf a red-boned steak then you get the visual representation of the offer of ownership on the foreclosed property of the bank. Yummy.

The bank will take your offer as they will have no real other choice in the matter and you will be off to a great and very lucrative start in the real estate market. Could you have made this opportunity without the assistance of that golden list from the bank? Sure, as long as you had a string of homes on Belair Drive and a bank account with about seven zeroes on it. This is one of the best methods for going from zero to six-hundred and is not the only way to make it just one of the fastest and most exciting. Of course you can sit down at your Dell and type in search for foreclosed properties in Maine and undoubtedly you will be rewarded with an army of listings from every nook and cranny in the Black Bear State. This will then be followed up with days if not weeks of sifting through the good ones and the very awful ones that are so weaved into each other that you would think that they were all duplexes. Take some real solid advice and try to get a black list from a bank.

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