What is the fastest way to lose money on real estate investments? Paying too much for a property? Select bad tenants? Take out adjustable rate mortgages? It is neither of these. But all this guesswork can result from not knowing the fastest way to lose money on real estate investments. Let’s examine the steps a […]

As more and more investors return to the market, they will bid for properties against more experienced investors. This bidding, especially on new REOs (bank owned properties) can get fierce. Once an investor understands the Phantom Offering strategies, they can use them to their advantage like the pros. The term phantom deals likely originated from […]

In How to Sell a Home by Owner, Part 1, we pointed out all the important hand-painted pink fluorescent signs. They work! I have had up to 250 flyers removed from the flyer box in a single weekend. For me, that has been the magic bullet on how to sell a home by owner and […]

Cha-Ching! It’s the first week of the month and it’s time to cash these checks. It’s not always easy, but I love having rentals; especially now when rents are through the roof. The challenge now is to find a property to buy. If you were lucky enough to buy a few properties in recent years, […]

You saw that bandit sign at the intersection that says STOP FORECLOSURE, call Mr. Miracle at 555 BIG SCAM. Here you have a chance. Mr. Miracle, who looks a lot like PT Barnum and Elmer Gantry rolled into one, suggests that you hand over your home to him subject to the mortgage. What does that […]

If you are an impulsive buyer, then it is not recommended that you attend a real estate foreclosure auction to get a deal on a home (either to live in it or to invest in it). Auctions give off a feeling of urgency worse than bladder after drinking a two-quart bottle of cola. If you’re […]

Emergency Shelter Homes Since the January 2010 earthquake in Haiti, there have been many requests for international quotes. Companies are now conducting a great deal of research and product testing to create emergency shelters using shipping containers as the main building blocks. All over the world, there are natural disasters that claim the lives of […]

Too many agents are dealing with buyers with a desperation or scarcity mentality. They use the four-step Desperate Agent Model, applying it over and over again, hoping the odds will miraculously swing in their favor at some point. 1. Talk to the prospect with the goal of creating a report. Too often, we believe that […]

It’s common for tenants to be faced with a myriad of different pricing metrics when searching for an apartment. Landlords, agencies, and sub-charts offer weekly, monthly, biweekly, and sometimes even daily rental prices. This is confused by the fact that rentals can be charged based on different time periods, such as monthly (per calendar month) […]

Cash is king, they say. If you work for yourself or someone else, you need to know the ways to improve cash flow. Budgeting and fundraising are not glamorous, but both are key to running a successful business. Working in a successful business is so much more fun than working for a struggling one! 1. […]