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July 2007 Real Estate Market Indicators - Market Research
2007-07-20 08:36:00
Hi all, Sorry I didn’t get this to you earlier.  Here is the July 2007 real estate market indicators and health of the overall market as reported by John Burns Real Estate Consulting. Enjoy… ===================   The Truly Bearish Case Isn’t Playing Out The real bears in this market believe housing will lead the economy into recession. Thus far, these bears are wrong. The housing market peaked in June 2005 and, two years into the downturn, economic growth is still positive. Unemployment remains very low, at only 4.5%, and consumers have started ramping up their credit card debt again. The rate of increase in credit card debt slowed substantially from 2001 through 2006, as many consumers used mortgage refinancing dollars to fund their spending needs. Today, credit card spending is glowing at an 8% annual rate while retail sales are growing 5%. With personal income up 6%, the retail spending doesn’t seem completely out of line with what you would consider to...
More About: Research , Real Estate , Real Estate Market , Market

How to start a real estate investing company - part 2
2007-07-17 16:46:00
You may remember a couple months back, we wrote part 1 on “How to start a real estate investing company“… well, part 2 is ready. In part 1 we go over creating your business name and deciding on which business entity is right for your company. If you haven’t yet read part one, click below to ...
More About: How To , A Real Estate , Estate , Real Estate , Real Estate Investing

How to start a real estate investing company - part 2
2007-07-17 16:46:00
You may remember a couple months back, we wrote part 1 on “How to start a real estate investing company“… well, part 2 is ready. In part 1 we go over creating your business name and deciding on which business entity is right for your company. If you haven’t yet read part one, click below to head over to that post first, then come back to part 2 to get caught up. Part 1: How to start a real estate investing company —————- Part 2: How to start a real estate investing company - Filing the paperwork with the state —————- In part 2 you will learn exactly what you need to do to file the paperwork to get your company “legal” in the state(s) that you do business in. I know, this stuff sounds boring… but these steps are very important to making sure your business foundation is set up correctly. Even if you are paying another company to do this stuff for you, you should know the process. I ...
More About: A Real Estate , Estate , Real Estate , Real Estate Investing , Company

A lesson (or two) to learn from the Casey Serin mess…
2007-07-16 18:17:00
>> DISCLAIMER I don’t usually like to get involved in writing posts like this, on subjects that don’t help our readers actually move forward to their real estate and life goals.  However, there’s just a bit I want to say and show you what to learn from the whole Casey Serin fiasco. ================ Hi all… I actually debated on whether or not to make this post.  We like to provide our readers with high quality content to help you reach your real estate, business, and life success goals. Anyhow, the whole Casey Serin mess can teach you a ton of lessons in life, real estate, and business.  So, I’ll tie them all in for you. First, let me update you on the Casey Serin saga as it is today in a quick shot of bullet points: All of Casey’s properties have been foreclosed on as of a month or two ago and he is stuck with a few hundred thousand in debt to repay.  Casey announced his book deal that will (or would have) layed all of his mistakes o...
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Take a look at our REI Brain logo… in MOSAIC!
2007-07-16 08:50:00
Hey all, This has nothing to do with real estate or business success… But might as well mix a bit of fun in here! Anyhow, I came across a cool little software program that turns any picture into a mosaic. It’s pretty cool and only takes a few minutes. I know, this might be somewhat of a waste of time, against what we teach over here at theREIbrain.com , but it’s kind of fun and everyone needs to have a bit of fun. With this software I converted our logo into a mosaic. Check it out. If you think its cool, download the free software program youself. Kind of cool huh? Well… now that I wasted a couple minutes of your time… we’ll get to work on getting you some more solid real estate and business building content. Talk to you later! If you liked this post be sure to subscribe to our RSS feed. Digg this - Post to del.icio.us - Post to Furl Related Posts:
More About: Mosaic , Brain , Look

Best real estate investing blogs - Review: Real Life Real Estate Blog
2007-07-14 15:45:00
This is a quick “mini-series” that we will do over the next month or two that will give you a quick World Tour of the best real estate investing blogs around. Quick disclaimer… The internet is full of billions of websites and a ton of blogs. Don’t get your feelings hurt if your real estate investing blog is pretty darn good and not included. Either we don’t know about it yet (let us know about your blog so we can review it)… or it just doesn’t muster up to the others according to our “scientific” formula for rating the blogs. Anyhow, here is our first review on the real estate investing blogs. The first blog, Real Life Real Estate Blog, written by a young investor named Josh Houghton is a great resource that covers a variety of issues. This blog has actually been around for a while, but was originally at www. joshhoughton.blogspot.com/. So… if you are a Google PageRank nerd like I am and like to see the page ra...
More About: Real Estate , Real Estate Investing , Review

Purchasing real estate subject-to: Real estate investing technique
2007-07-12 14:27:00
One of the best ways to acquire real estate is to purchase subject to the existing financing. This allows you to acquire the property without having to go to the bank and beg for money. Also, motivated sellers are more likely to allow you to take over the existing financing because they just want out of the property. Of course, purchasing subject-to is not the cure all for all deals. Not every seller will want to allow you to take over their loan, nor will purchasing subject-to be the best way to go about it on every deal. However, knowing how to purchase subject-to is a valuable strategy to have in your toolbox when the right transaction does come along. I get all kinds of newsletters and email everyday on real estate investing. Most are the same ol’ rehashed garbage, some are pretty darn good. Anyhow, I signed up for a newsletter from a real investor (turned guru… of course… don’t they all) named David Neese. I have now received all of his &ld...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Real Estate Investing , Technique , Investing

Using the right formulas to find a deal - Wholesale real estate formula
2007-07-09 20:05:00
From my experience (my own is no exception), one of the most difficult parts of investing in real estate successfully is determining if it is a deal or not. I mean really… it may seem like a good deal… but how do you break it down to a science to give you a definite answer whether it is a deal or not? Even better… how would you like to create a process that you follow each and every time that ensures you a nice profit. Well, this is easier than you think. When I first started out in real estate I would agonize over each property I looked at. I would look at the numbers, say “Well, this looks decent and if I can sell it for $X… I’ll make some money”. I can tell you from experience that this is the wrong way to go about buying real estate. You don’t want to go into a real estate deal on emotion or a “feeling” that it will be profitable… … you want to KNOW that it will be profitable… … and...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Formula , Find , Deal

Saving capital gains tax is as easy as?
2007-06-14 20:13:00
I know… I know… It’s been a few weeks since the last time I updated the blog, but it’s been for good reason. NO, I’m not stopping the blog or throwing it by the wayside… I’m just getting some big projects I have been working on out of the way before I begin posting daily ...
More About: Easy , Saving , Capital , Capital Gains , Ving

Let?s clear a few things up on the ?How to read a mortgage rate sheet? vide
2007-05-24 18:17:00
I know its been a little while since our last post here… IT’S BEEN CRAZY AROUND HERE WITH THE LAUNCH OF 3 NEW PRODUCTS IN MY OTHER COMPANY! Anyhow… that’s no excuse… so as soon as these products are off the ground, I’ll be back to devoting a bunch of time into giving you the best and ...
More About: Mortgage , Read , Sheet , Things , Clear

How to read a mortgage rate sheet - Be on the lookout?
2007-05-08 05:03:00
Hey! I know its been a little while since my last post here… its for a good reason. The company that I am VP for (Settlement Professionals Inc.), is launching several big programs and products in the next 30 days and I am busting my a$$ trying to get this stuff done. ...
More About: Mortgage , Read , Sheet , Gage , Look

The low-down on inspecting before you buy - that good ol? checklist
2007-04-26 18:07:00
There are three essential stages to a real estate investment… and flubbing any of the three could mean problems and lost profits. Of course, everyone has their own way of doing things and their own process flow… but every successful real estate investor will incorporate the three in their plan somewhere. I’m not going to go ...
More About: Down , Good , That , Fore , Inspect

Starting your real estate investing company - quick step by step
2007-04-24 07:23:00
I’ve been getting questions lately from readers to this blog and visitors to our main site about how to start their real estate investing company. It’s great getting these questions… it shows that people are taking action and getting something done rather than sitting on their a$$ hoping success will just come to them. ...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Real Estate Investing , Company , Investing

San Fransisco median home prices up? sales down? what gives??
2007-04-20 14:56:00
So, the median home prices in San Fran sisco are up lately… but the sales are down? Doesn’t this kind of buck the age old economic principle of supply and demand? When there’s less demand aren’t prices supposed to go down as well? That’s what I learned in Economics 101 way back in ...
More About: Sales , Home , Price , Down

A bit of motivation for a better you in 2007?
2007-04-20 06:08:00
THIS IS SOMETHING YOU HAVE TO SEE! It’s a pretty cool progression. As you know, theREIbrain promotes personal growth and development… afterall… without a better YOU, your real estate investing company won’t be as successful as it potentially could be. So, for all of us who could spend a bit more time in ...
More About: Motivation , Better , Bett , Motiva

Schumer wants government bail out for those in foreclosure? WHAT?!!
2007-04-17 22:21:00
I know this is old news, but I just had to put in my 2 cents. Ol’ Mr. Schumer in New York is trying to bring out the proverbial life raft for borrowers in foreclosure and the subprime banks who are the “victims” of the recent rash of defaults (like the nifty graphic I whipped ...
More About: Government , What , Foreclosure , Hat , Over

So? it?s tax day. How did the tax man treat you this year?
2007-04-17 16:19:00
In case your head has been buried in the sand somewhere in the Middle East… today is tax day! If you haven’t already done your taxes… you best be filing that extension or getting them done today. Well… for all of us who have already done our taxes… how’d the tax man treat you this year?  What ...
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You are programmed to NOT make mistakes? why it?s bad for your success
2007-04-16 17:18:00
You heard me right… we are all programmed NOT to make mistakes… and this is TERRIBLE for your success!  It’s not bad for your success… it’s a SUCCESS KILLER! Think about it for a minute here.  In almost every aspect of our lives we are taught to do things perfectly and to not make mistakes.  We are ...
More About: Success , Take , Your , Prog , Make

The virtual roller coaster of real estate prices
2007-04-15 22:46:00
As you know, real estate prices have gone up and down over the past 100 years… and in recent years have busted through the roof!  I stumbled upon this cool “virtual roller coaster of real estate prices” video that gives you a unique look at the journey real estate prices have taken to get where ...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Rice , Roll , Price

News pieces througout the process of the ?real estate bubble?, interesting
2007-04-15 19:19:00
I came across this video made by a guy named Paulie Sabol that is a mis-mash of news pieces from the past couple years on the state of real estate. The video isn’t made that great (and I’m not sure what he is trying to sell at the end), but it is an interesting and quick look ...
More About: News , Interesting , Estate , Real Estate , Inter

Do you own a company or a job? - The quandry of a real estate investor
2007-04-13 19:02:00
So… think about it… do you own a company or a job?  Your first instinct is to say, “well, of course I own a company”.  Sure, that is what you intended when you first got all jazzed up about real estate. But… do you truly own a company or did you simply create yourself another job? For the ...
More About: A Real Estate , Estate , Real Estate , Company , Comp

Determine real estate rental rates quickly and easily - rentometer.com
2007-04-12 23:32:00
I came across a website called http://www.rentometer.com/ that is designed to give you the “going” rental rate for a specific type of rental property anywhere in the U.S.  When I first visited the site back in February I was seriously disappointed at its performance.  I typed in a couple addresses of places… and NOTHING CAME UP!  ...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Rental , Quick , State

Quick way to make a bit of lunch money for you real estate bloggers?
2007-04-12 05:14:00
I know this blog is mainly about real estate investing and life success… but I also like to create multiple streams of income for myself that make me money when I sleep… as I’m sure you do.  You’re on the net right now… so why not get paid for the web surfing you do.  You may have ...
More About: Blogger , Estate , Money , Real Estate , Lunch

The unspoken word: Real estate commission vs. mortgage broker commission
2007-04-11 06:38:00
I’ve actually thought about this topic for a long time… but just didn’t really know how to phrase my opinion.  I’m friends with many real estate brokers and can understand their side… On the other hand, I was once in the lending industry and know it first hand from that side of the coin as well.  ...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Word , Mortgage , Miss

Why 95% of real estate investors fail miserably
2007-04-10 08:40:00
As you probably know, the overwhelming majority of “real estate investors” will NEVER do even one deal, will quit after only a few months, and wonder why real estate investing is so damn difficult for them.  Are you one of these people… odds are that you are… so listen up. There are many reasons why most people have ...
More About: Estate , Real Estate , Investor , Vest , State

3 buyer types to stay away from
2007-04-10 07:55:00
When selling your home or investment property, some buyers you come across may become a big pain in the a$$ later on.  I was reading an article on the WSJ Real Estate section that clues sellers in on the 3 buyer types to stay away from.  These 3 buyer types can sap up your time ...
More About: Buyer , Type , Types , Away , Stay

Cool time and cost saver for landlords - Quick change locks
2007-04-08 10:42:00
I was browsing some fellow real estate blogs and came across thelandlordblog.com written by Anesia Springborn.  She wrote a nice post about a cool lock system that makes changing out locks a whole lot easier and cheaper.  I thought this lock system was so cool that I decided to write up my own little posting to ...
More About: Change , Time , Cool , Cost , Quick

Pardon the theme changes on the blog?
2007-04-07 08:38:00
Hey… If you’ve checked back here in the last day or two you probably have seen the site bouncing back and forth between different looks.  I apologize.  I’m having problems with the phpcode in my main Wordpress theme (for all of you aren’t too technically inclined… MY DESIGN IS MESSED UP!). You may see the theme change ...
More About: Change , Blog , Theme , Them , The The

How to calculate real estate rehab costs - What real estate pros use
2007-04-06 18:46:00
One huge question newbie real estate investors ask quite a bit is… “how do I estimate the cost for my rehabs?”  There are many ways to do this… some easier and cheaper than others.  Heres a quick post that goes over ways to accurately estimate rehab costs on a piece of investment real estate.  This ...
More About: Rehab , How To , Estate , Real Estate , What

Who?s at fault for the foreclosures? Lenders vs. Homeowners?
2007-04-05 19:10:00
Unless you have had your head buried in the sand in the deserts of Egypt you know what’s going on in the mortgage and real estate world right now.  A so called bubble is looming (or has it already popped? or is there even a bubble at all?) and real estate prices are going up ...
More About: Foreclosures , Home , Foreclosure , Owner , Closure