Real Estate Investor's Friend

September 30, 2005 issue

2005-09-30T12:39:00.000-07:00

Realtor Commissions: 5 Powerful Ways To Explode Your Business
By Matt O'Riley

As a realtor in today's ultra-competitive real estate market,
it takes drive, determination, a positive mental attitude, and
a solid business plan in order to become successful. If you
want to truly become a major success, it is absolutely vital
that you gain an edge on your competition.

Here are 5 powerful things that you can do today to skyrocket
your real estate sales commissions and generate an avalanche of
new business:

1. Focus on An Aspect of the Real Estate Business that you
Enjoy

To boost your chances of success, you should concentrate your
efforts on some aspect of real estate that you enjoy. To start
out, simply make a list of everything about your realtor
business that you find interesting. Then, create a second
column and write down the skills that you have in relation to
each of those ideas. Doing this will help you narrow your
choices down based on real estate interest and skill. Step 1
will get you started in the right direction for success.

2. Circumstances: Make Some Changes

You have a choice in regards to your current success as a
realtor and you can choose to accept your situation or improve
it. If you choose to plug along in life hoping that something
will change your business for the better, you won't get very
far. Always remember that when it comes to changing your
business, you can. You have complete control over your
financial destiny.

3. Lay out your Plan

You should put together a complete plan for growing your real
estate business. In this plan, include things such as goals,
milestones, deliverables and contracts, as well as
accomplishments you plan to achieve. This will give you a very
powerful visual as to what you are working towards, what
milestones you have successfully met as of rith now, and what
you need to do improve.

4. Accepting Responsibility

It is important that you accept responsibility for any bad
decisions or you risk falling behind in your plan. Let's say
that you have set some firm goals that need to be accomplished
in order for you to bump your business to the next level.
However, you got burned out by the hard work and took some time
off to play (keep in mind, this is fine as long as it does not
affect your goals). Months have now passed and you're way
behind schedule. Due to your decisions, your business is not as
successful as it should be and you need to realize that fact is
due to your decisions.

5. Be Happy: Warning, this is Contagious!

A positive mental attitude and a happy overall mindset will
help you succeed. It's been proven time and time again in
countless studies that someone living in a happy state
generally becomes more successful in everything they set out to
accomplish. Why is that? Attitude. Just as a bad attitude will
pull you down, a good attitude will help you meet your goals
and objectives.

About the Author: Visit
http://www.california-real-estate-liscense.com/ for real estate
agent and broker information, as well as details on taking the
California real estate liscense.

Source: http://www.isnare.com

September 24, 2005 issue

2005-09-24T19:03:00.000-07:00

Real Estate Investor’s Friend
Vol 1 Issue 3
September 24, 2005

Notes From the Editor:
I know you’re wondering why I am including an article about finding
a realtor in a newsletter for investors.  A good realtor is an essential
part of your investing team.  A good realtor knows the market and can
help you find good deals.  Enjoy this week’s article.

How To Find A Good Realtor To Help You Through The Home Buying
Process!
By Kris Bickell

This will be one of the most important decisions you make in
the house buying process. It’s almost as important as selecting
the right house. The right realtor can make buying a house seem
simple. The wrong realtor...well, take my word, and find the
right realtor.

You’ll be making LOTS of contacts and spending lots of time
with your realtors, so find someone who is right for you.

What makes a “good” realtor?

• Knowledgeable...about real estate, about the area you want to
look in, and about your specific needs.

• Accessible...responds to your phone calls or emails, is
willing to work around your schedule.

• Ready to help YOU first, make the sale second...sure,
realtors make their living on commissions from the sale of
houses, but if they help you get what YOU want, they will then
get what THEY want.

On the other hand, a poor realtor will bring you to houses that
DON’T fit the criteria on your list. WON’T work around your
schedule. WON’T return your phone calls promptly. And WON’T put
your best interests at the very top of the list!

So don’t think that ALL realtors are alike. Unfortunately, we
learned the hard way.

If it takes awhile to find your perfect house, you’ll spend a
lot of time with your realtor, and you want someone who is
willing to work with you until you are comfortably moved in to
your new house!

Where can you find a good realtor?

The first step is to ask people you know who have bought or
sold a house recently about the realtors they used. You can
also look in your local newspaper, phonebook, or on the
Internet.

Make sure to ask lots of questions before hiring any realtor to
represent you. There are a lot of details that go into buying a
house. Once you get started, remembering all of those details
will get harder and harder. A good realtor will be organized,
and help you remember what you can’t remember when the house
buying process gets complicated.

Then, ask for references of former customers – if you have the
time, contact a few of them to find out first-hand about the
realtors you are considering before you enter into an
agreement.

There is no “exact science” to hiring a good realtor. But it’s
not a decision to take lightly.

And, if you end up making the wrong choice, feel free to walk
away and find another realtor – its your choice!

About the Author: Kris Bickell is the owner of
HouseBuying-Tips.com, a site that helps first time home buyers
avoid the costly mistakes that many new homebuyers make. For
tips on buying a house, sign up for the free “How To Avoid
These 10 Costly Mistakes When Buying Your First Home” email
course at: http://www.HouseBuying-Tips.com/course.html

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Quoteable Quote:
What's money? A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and goes
to bed at night and in between does what he wants to do.

Bob Dylan (1941 - )

DeAnna SpencerDividend America MortgageThe Right Mortgage Can Pay You Dividends5901-C Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, NESuite 400Atlanta, Georgia 30328Phone: 770-350-7370www.dividendamerica.comwww.deannaspencer.com

September 16, 2005 issue

2005-09-16T06:35:00.000-07:00

Real Estate Investor’s Friend
Vol 1. Issue 2
September 16, 2005

Note from the editor:

Okay I’ve made some changes to the schedule.
You will still get your newsletter on a weekly basis.
It will come either on Thursday or Friday.
This week’s article explains basic home loan terms.
It might be kind of elementary for you veterans out there,
but I know someone has just been dying to ask what the heck
all of these terms mean, but were too embarrassed to ask.
So read this article, then you’ll be able to talk shop with the
rest of your real estate buddies. Enjoy.

Basic Home Loan Terms Explained
By Max Hunter

The wonderful world of home buying can sometimes overwhelm the first time homebuyer. They are inundated with information riddled with terms of art. ARMS, points, interest rates, good faith estimates, pay-downs, lock-in dates, so on and so forth.
Though some or all of these terms may seem somewhat foreign to you, do not get overwhelmed, there are simple explanations for each and every one of them.

Let us start with the different types of loans there are.
Typically all home loans fall into two basic categories:
mortgages and home equity loans. Mortgages are simply a loan against property that is secured with a "mortgage". This
"mortgage" is basically a lien against the property until such
time that loan is satisfied. So a mortgage is a loan against
property that is secured with a lien against it.

A home equity loan is a loan that is also secured with a lien
against the property. The home equity loan lien is secondary to the first mortgage on the home. This type of loan is based on the amount of equity in the house. Equity is the difference in dollars between the value of the home and the amount owed on it. Equity can be a positive number (the house is worth more than what is owed) or can be a negative number (negative equity) which means that there is more owed on the house than the house is worth.

A lien is simply a legal term that indicates that someone other
than the homeowner has a legal right and interest in the
property. So, if the property is ever sold, all liens need to
be satisfied - any money owed to anyone with a lien must be
paid, otherwise the new owner may become obligated to pay the amount owed. A lien is against property, not a person.
Typically in all real estate transactions there will be a title
search that will reveal any liens against the property. This
title search is basically an examination over anyone and
anything that may have some legal interest, obligation or right
to the property.

If there are multiple home loans on a property the order they
are paid in is the oldest to the newest. This is only a factor
if the property is being sold for below what is owed. This is
either through a "short sale" where the house is being sold by
the homeowner for below the amount that is owed in the house.
They will need approval from all lien holders in order to do
this. This is also an issue if a house falls into foreclosure.

Within these two types of loans you will want to know the
difference between a fixed-rate mortgage and a variable rate
mortgage. A variable or adjustable rate mortgage is an ARM.
Fixed-rate mortgages have the same interest rate from the first day of the loan to the last day of the loan unless it is
refinanced. A fixed rate or variable rate loan will generally
start off for a period of time at a specified rate and then
after that period ends, if the loan has not been paid off or
refinanced then the rate becomes adjustable based on specific
conditions set forth in advance - typically tied to the federal
interest rate. An ARM loan will have typically a 3 or 5 year
period during which the rate is lower than the going rate. This
is used to entice would-be borrowers or help borrowers have
lower payments for the initial period.

"Points" are often discussed in connection with loan packages
and interest rates. You can "pay down" an interest rate by
paying points for example. What this means is you can pay for a lower interest rate if you pay a specified number of points.
Points are simply one percent of the loan amount. So a $100,000 loan equates to $1000 for every point.

Another term you will often here is PMI, private mortgage
insurance. PMI is insurance for your lender when the amount you borrow is more than 80% of the value of the property. In these cases the borrower needs to pay for this insurance policy. The calculation for your monthly PMI payment is 0.5% of your loan amount divided by twelve.

Tied to the calculation of PMI, as well as many other factors
of the loan is an appraisal. An appraisal is a determination by
a real estate professional of what the value of the property is.
They will evaluate the property and similar properties in the
area. They will consider market trends, recent sales and other
factors to give an estimate on what the property is worth and
would sell for.

Another potential add-on to your monthly payments is escrow
payments. Escrow is money that is being held typically to pay
taxes. Your lender will collect 1/12 of your yearly taxes every
month in order to be assured that your taxes are paid. Your
lender then makes your required tax payments. Typically your
lender will have a cushion in the escrow account of 2 - 3
months in case you fall behind in your payments.

Though there are many more terms you may encounter these are the most often used, misunderstood terms. During the home loan process, however, you should never feel embarrassed or ashamed to ask what a term means. The more you know the better off you will be.

About the Author: Max Hunter is the author of many credit
related articles. If you are looking for help with Home Loans
or any type of credit issue please visit us at
http://www.homeloanave.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Free advertising available at:
http://p105.ezboard.com/brealestatemarketingandinvestingnetwork

Quoteable Quote:
Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any one thing. Abraham Lincoln (1809-1865)

DeAnna Spencer
Dividend America Mortgage
The Right Mortgage Can Pay You Dividends
5901-C Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, NE
Suite 400Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Phone: 770-350-7370
www.dividendamerica.com
www.deannaspencer.com

September 8, 2005 issue

2005-09-08T15:33:00.000-07:00

Notes From The Editor:
I got a little distracted last week due to the hurricane happenings.
That won’t happen again. You will get a weekly real estate investing
article to help you make informed decisions when you invest.
Remember, the right mortgage can earn you dividends.

The Truth About Real Estate Investing… Is It Right For You?
By Dr. Scott Brown, Ph.D.

You have probably been hearing, seeing and reading that real
estate investing is the best thing since sliced bread. There
are many late night cable television infomercials spewing out
sales pitches for courses that teach you how to buy residential
real estate no money down or for next to nothing. Furthermore,
polished pitch men on the advertisement emphasize that it is so
easy that anybody can do it. They smugly show you that it is
simple as they pencil out on the back of a napkin how you will
supposedly make a fortune in real estate. Then these real
estate investment course promoters show “actual” interviews of
people who have reportedly made gobs of money with the course
system.

Although it is true that fortunes can be made in real estate it
is actually more likely that it will be the guru owner of the
real estate course than you! The reason is that real estate
investing is a lot harder than most people realize. When you
buy, rent, and sell real estate as opposed to stocks you are
dealing directly with people and there is not organized
exchange to keep things standardized. Don’t forget that courts
see it as their duty to protect the shelter of families even if
they are non paying renters who are total deadbeats. Another
problem is that many contractors who do odd fix up jobs for
real estate rehabbers are drifters with as many personal and
financial problems as bad tenants. They damage houses and are
down the street as soon as they get a little cash out of the
hapless real estate investor.

It also takes many years to learn how to properly assess value
in a town or neighborhood and get the required experience in
real estate closings to not have the big profits you initially
think you see in a deal leak out. The key point of this edition
of the “Wallet Doctor” is that real estate investing is a
business. Like any other business it requires constant
dedication and education. If you work full time it means losing
your free time to your rentals and rehabs. If a property doesn’t
sell or if the tenant doesn’t pay you will have to lose part of
your salary to cover the mortgage. You should enjoy your
regular full time job because you selected it. If you prefer
cookouts and trips to the beach over collecting rent and
repairing your residential real estate investment then the
stock market is a better place for you.

Ps. If you are interested in real estate investing I have a
list of reliable real estate investing courses as well on my
website!

About the Author: Dr. Scott Brown, Ph.D., the Wallet Doctor, is
a successful investor. Dr. Brown holds a Ph.D. in finance. The
Wallet Doctor is sought after for investment advice and
coaching. For more information visit Dr. Brown’s site at
http://www.BonanzaBase.com or sign up for his investment tips
at http://www.WalletDoctor.com

Source: http://www.isnare.com

Quoteable Quote: Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going.
Jim Ryun

I’d love to hear your real estate related questions.
Send them to deanna dot spencer at gmail dot com

Real Estate Networking Groups:

Real Estate Marketing and Investing Network on ryze.com
http://realestatemarketing-network.ryze.com/

Play Cash Flow 101 for free
http://finance.groups.yahoo.com/group/freecashflow101/

If you know of any other Real Estate Networking Groups, please email them to deanna dot spencer at gmail dot com

I’m available for complimentary workshops for groups of 10 investors or more in the metro Atlanta area. Just send me an email when your group is ready for a workshop.

DeAnna Spencer
Dividend America Mortgage
The Right Mortgage Can Pay You Dividends
5901-C Peachtree Dunwoody Rd, NE
Suite 400
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Phone: 770-350-7370
www.dividendamerica.com
www.deannaspencer.com

Refinance Your House By Carrie Reader

2005-07-18T18:06:00.000-07:00

Refinance Your House
By Carrie Reeder

If you have seen all the advertisements regarding refinancing
your house you may be wondering if refinancing can actually
save you money. The answer is yes! Interest rates are at the
lowest levels in decades and there has never been a better time
to refinance your home. Before choosing a lender to refinance
your current mortgage, consider a few key factors and analyze
your options. Your current interest rate, the length of time
you plan to stay in your home, your credit rating, and the
value of your home are all important issues to consider when
looking to refinance your house.

Refinancing your house can save you thousands of dollars over
the length of your mortgage. Depending on your current interest
rate, your monthly house payment could drop by a substantial
amount. Even if you have adverse credit, lenders are waiting to
give you a quote on refinancing your house. There is no need to
apply to many lenders to get the lowest rate possible. Online
mortgage companies can often give you quotes from multiple
lenders, eliminating concerns about multiple inquiries on your
credit report.

Refinancing your house can allow you to shorten the term of
your mortgage without drastically increasing the amount of your
monthly mortgage payments. If your current interest rate is
substantially higher than the present prime rate, you could
refinance for a shorter term and with the potential decrease in
the amount of interest you pay, your house payments could stay
the same or increase only slightly. Mortgage brokers are
available to give you an accurate analysis of your financial
situation. You can receive quotes from multiple lenders, get
expert advice on refinancing your mortgage, and save money each
and every month.

Now is the perfect time to refinance your house. Interest rates
have never been lower and the availability of multiple quotes
from different lenders will ensure you of getting the lowest
rate possible. If your credit is less than perfect, you can
still refinance your home. Sub-prime lenders can help you lower
your interest rate, even with adverse credit. If you are
considering refinancing your house, get multiple quotes today
and you could be on your way to saving money each and every
month. Interest rates have never been lower, and even if you
have adverse credit, you can still refinance your home and save
thousands of dollars over the length of your mortgage.

About the Author: To see a list of recommended mortgage
refinance loan companies online, visit this page:
http://www.abcloanguide.com/refinance.shtml - Carrie Reeder is
the owner of ABC Loan Guide, an informational website with
articles and more about various types of loans.

Source: http://www.isnare.com