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Make Agents Your Seller Financing Allies
2012-01-27 14:25:00
It?s  a hurdle most real estate investors run into early in their careers?.  How to find real estate agents that understand the ?unique? offers investors make to seller?s agents. Whether it?s the idea of buying with seller financing or taking an option on a property, most real estate agents have never heard of these transactions ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Make Agents Your Seller Financing Allies
More About: Real Estate

5 List-Building Strategies For Wholesalers
2012-01-26 14:30:00
Many new real estate investors find an entry point into the world of real estate investing through a strategy commonly referred to as ?wholesaling.? Wholesaling is essentially a business model wherein the wholesaler puts in the time and effort to secure a contract on a potential real estate investment. Once the property is secured by ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5 List -Building Strategies For Wholesalers

Mortgage Notes ? A Hard ?Land-ing?
2012-01-25 20:20:00
Yesterday, a guy called me wanting to sell his mortgage on a small piece of land located in a desolate area, far from any population centers.  The parcel had access to water (from a well) but no other improvements.  He purchased the property last summer for $60K and had just sold it for $110K.  Of ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Mortgage Notes ? A Hard ?Land -ing?
More About: Real Estate Investing

America?s Love/Hate Affair with Investors
2012-01-25 14:30:00
When it comes to residential real estate investors, there are clearly two points of view today within the real estate industry and in Washington.  Some applaud investors for plunking down their own dollars to save decaying homes in moribund neighborhoods and reviving local real estate markets.   But investors come under fire by others  for out-competing ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. America ?s Love /Hate Affair with Investors
More About: Economy

Attention Cash Buyers With Cheap, Free ?n Clear Rental Homes
2012-01-24 21:31:00
It’s so enticing to be able to buy a home relatively cheap, for cash, isn’t it? Sometimes, though rarely, it’s even better when they’re young and pretty. If there’s little or no fix-up, the high lasts extra long. You’re in that sweet career spot where you’re above the middle point in your career earnings, say ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Attention Cash Buyers With Cheap, Free ‘n Clear Rental Homes
More About: Real Estate Investing

Pre-Approved Short Sales: Are They Real?
2012-01-24 19:26:00
Rumors, just like viruses, spread like wildfire. One of the biggest topics that goes through the rumor mill seems to be the subject of the pre-approved short sale. Is there some such a thing as a pre-approved short sale? - a short sale whereby the seller calls the bank and the bank agrees to a short ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Pre-Approved Short Sales : Are They Real ?

Five Reasons Why I Keep My Full Time Job while Investing in Real Estate
2012-01-24 16:15:00
I have been asked many great questions by the readers of BiggerPockets, but one caught me off guard and caused me to sit back and think about what we are doing: “Why I are you still working and why haven?t you jumped into investing full time?” I found the question to be very thought provoking, ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Five Reasons Why I Keep My Full Time Job while Investing in Real Estate
More About: Real Estate

4 Ways to Build a Strong Real Estate Investing Financial Education Today
2012-01-23 19:03:00
“If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” – Unknown Your first real estate investment should be a solid financial education If you are like me, you?ve probably made a few mistakes in your investing career. Every successful real estate investor has made plenty of them. However, you can limit your mistakes and increase your odds of ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 4 Ways to Build a Strong Real Estate Investing Financial Education Today
More About: Real Estate , Real Estate Investing

Building the Ideal Real Estate Investor?s Buyer?s List
2012-01-23 14:18:00
I have a lot of different types of buyers on my buyer?s list.  They have come to me from a variety of different sources. Some of my best people I met at my local REIA group. I found a couple of quality rehabbers for my buyer?s list from BiggerPockets. Yet others have come from sources ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Building the Ideal Real Estate Investor’s Buyer ?s List
More About: Real Estate

The Four Money Buckets That Will Lead You to The Good Life
2012-01-22 15:38:00
When I first started out in this business about 10 years ago, I had almost no money. I was desperate for deals and would do almost anything to get a deal. I would run all over the place, I would let seller?s ?beat me down? on price and I didn?t have the confidence to stand ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Four Money Buckets That Will Lead You to The Good Life
More About: Real Estate

Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of January 14 ? January 20
2012-01-21 15:55:00
A quick rundown of the important real estate news from the week of January 14 ? January 20, by the numbers: 5% – Increase in existing home sales in December. The annual rate of 4.61 million unit sales is an 11 month high. 1.7% – Increase in existing home sales in 2011. ‘?The pattern of home ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of January 14 ? January 20
More About: Real Estate

Time to Let Underwater Homeowners Drown
2012-01-20 14:30:00
The house on Carla Vista Drive had never been remodeled.  Nor did the original owner elect to pay for any upgrades when the home was first purchased.  Built in 1992, it had no appeal to a retail buyer.  From the peach-colored mini aluminum blinds, to the blue countertops, to the white-washed kitchen cabinets, this house ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Time to Let Underwater Homeowners Drown

Appreciation or Cash Flow ? Which is Better?
2012-01-19 15:21:00
Yes I know, I am treading into a debate which in all likelihood would cause a real brawl if discussed over a few beers, but that is not my intention. My intention is really simple. Is today’s market a better market to be investing for appreciation or for cashflow? In some markets the answer might be BOTH, ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Appreciation or Cash Flow — Which is Better?

Will SOPA & PIPA Stifle Online Marketing?
2012-01-19 13:44:00
For those of you who conducted a search on Google Wednesday morning, you probably came across a graphic just like this. At first, I chalked this up as being just another creative rendition of their typical colorful logo (like the Martin Luther King one they featured on Monday), but there is much more to this ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Will SOPA & PIPA Stifle Online Marketing ?
More About: Online Marketing

Real Estate Investing is About More Than The ?Doom & Gloom? of the Media He
2012-01-18 20:15:00
Surprisingly Gloomy Headlines Betray the Real Story I’ve always heard that negative news stories, whether on TV or in the paper, always sell better than the happy go lucky story.  That trend seems to be true recently as I have noticed nothing but negative news stories on the state of the real estate industry.  I ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Real Estate Investing is About More Than The ‘Doom & Gloom’ of the Media Headlines
More About: The Media , Real Estate , Real Estate Investing

SFR: Birth of a Category
2012-01-18 16:35:00
In the dorky world of real estate economics, the creation of a new housing category should be a major event, on par with, say, the discovery of a new solar system or the cloning of a pig. Strangely, single family rentals (SFR), even though they are now a multi-million property segment of the nation?s housing ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. SFR: Birth of a Category

What?s the End Game Of Your Investment Plan? Is Your Plan Congruent With It
2012-01-18 14:04:00
Let’s say you have, give or take, $70,000 in your Wall Street investment account, or 401K. This account generates $500/mo in income. You’ve been adding $1,500/mo out of your after tax salary to the account, resulting in a monthly investment of $2,000 — 25% of which doesn’t come out of your family earnings from work. ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What’s the End Game Of Your Investment Plan? Is Your Plan Congruent With It?
More About: Real Estate Investing

Evolving Focus from Simply Profit to People
2012-01-17 17:06:00
Writing for BiggerPockets is a lot of fun.  One of the best parts is interacting with all the readers as they share feedback, criticisms, and thoughtful questions.  The following topic is an example of such a question. Question: How does your work give back or contribute to the community? I found this question extremely insightful ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Evolving Focus from Simply Profit to People

When Your Short Sale Takes a Detour
2012-01-17 14:21:00
If you have ever received a short sale approval letter, you have probably felt quite a strong thrill. All of the drama involved in negotiating a short sale, keeping the buyer and seller content, and finessing the details with the bank make the approval letter feel like a multi-million dollar win on a scratch ticket. Unfortunately, just ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. When Your Short Sale Takes a Detour

Should You Allow Pets in Your Rental Property?
2012-01-16 14:45:00
This has been a subject that has been debated for as long as I can remember; whether or not to allow your tenants to have pets. What I have always found, is that it really doesn?t matter what your policy is. They are probably going to bring them whether or not you actually allow pets. When ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Should You Allow Pets in Your Rental Property ?
More About: Real Estate Investing

Why The Real Estate Guru?s Don?t Want Me Talking
2012-01-15 14:30:00
I was recently contacted by a well-known real estate guru whose name you would instantly recognize. I?d never spoken with him before but apparently he got my phone number from a mutual friend. This guru told me he had a big project in development and wanted me to be part of it. But first, he ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Why The Real Estate Guru?s Don?t Want Me Talking
More About: Real Estate

Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of January 7 ? January 13
2012-01-14 15:46:00
A quick rundown of the important real estate news from the week of January 7 ? January 13, by the numbers: 1.9 Million – Number of homes that entered the foreclosure process in 2011 according to RealtyTrac Inc. It’s the lowest number since 2007. However, a big reason for the drop was legal and documentation delays ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Real Estate News by the Numbers: Week of January 7 ? January 13
More About: Real Estate

A Cliché? Every New Real Estate Investor Should Know
2012-01-13 16:10:00
Writer?s block.  It happens to all bloggers from time to time.  This morning as I sat staring blankly at my computer screen the phone rang.  It was Monty, a BiggerPockets reader.  He?s about to retire after 30 years of military service and wants to get into real estate investing. Now this is a really tired ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. A Cliché? Every New Real Estate Investor Should Know
More About: Real Estate

Property Values and Mortgage Notes
2012-01-13 14:05:00
?Why the heck do you need to do an appraisal if you?re just buying my mortgage note?  You?re not buying the house.?  That was a question from a recent client, and it is not the first time  that I?ve been asked the question.  From the note holder?s perspective, the question is quite reasonable. When considering ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Property Values and Mortgage Notes

What is the Reverse Squeeze Page?
2012-01-12 20:40:00
How can you make your real estate marketing efforts differ from your competition? When considering the traditional mindset behind a typical squeeze page for lead generation, a majority of the time you will find that marketers will offer something of value in exchange for an email or contact information. Now don?t get me wrong, this ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. What is the Reverse Squeeze Page ?

Keys to Getting Started in Multifamily Apartment Investing
2012-01-12 14:15:00
?I want to start investing in apartment complexes. How do I get started?? If that is a question you have asked yourself recently, you are not alone. It?s something I hear on a weekly basis from both new and experienced real estate investors. They all want to know the keys to get started in multifamily investing the ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Keys to Getting Started in Multifamily Apartment Investing

Don?t Get Stuck on Asking Price
2012-01-11 22:01:00
Last week I wrote an article discussing the dynamic that is created when distressed inventory is low in a particular market and demand is high. In these markets, you?ll often see increased competition for REO and HUD properties. For some investors, the thought of offering anything but a lowball offer is completely unheard of.  However, ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Don?t Get Stuck on Asking Price

Can Home Values and Foreclosures Live Happily Ever After?
2012-01-11 19:35:00
Have foreclosures gotten a bad rap? For years, economists and policy makers have believed that foreclosures are inherently toxic for neighboring home values.  Many therefore assume that a housing recovery will be impossible as long as foreclosures remain abundant.  The mere existence of 4 to 6 million properties in the foreclosure pipeline has contributed to ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Can Home Values and Foreclosures Live Happily Ever After ?
More About: Economy

5 Absolute Rules For Being a Great Landlord
2012-01-11 16:32:00
When I started buying real estate in the early 2000?s, I knew absolutely nothing about being a landlord.  I had no idea about local laws or local codes and even less about actually being a good and responsible landlord.  What I had done, and this is where the danger started, was read half of a ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. 5 Absolute Rules For Being a Great Landlord

Retiring At A Far Reduced Income When Retired Is Simply Not Required
2012-01-10 19:41:00
Since the mid-70s when I made the switch from houses to investment real estate, it’s been one of the longest held mantras.“Remember”, they begin, “When you hit retirement you’ll be in a lower tax bracket.” These are the experts who’ve been advising the very same folks who’re the targets of this nugget of wisdom. I wonder ...This Article is Copyright © 2004-2011 BiggerPockets, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Retiring At A Far Reduced Income When Retired Is Simply Not Required