Thursday, August 21, 2008

Why Didn T You Get More Calls From Truly Motivated Sellers

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

You get that first magical list that you anticipate as being the answer to finding truly motivated sellers. It seems like the letters are just burning a hole in your hand by the time you get the stamps on them and to the post office.



It doesn t even dawn on you the hours you spend typing up the letters because you re so focused on all the great deals to be made. Next week rolls around and your hopes were just about dashed by the time got that first call from a seller who received one of your letters. It becomes obvious shortly into the conversation they re just fishing around and trying to find just how much you would pay for their property and no they are not in any hurry to sell. Now we re talking! What happened? Everything you heard about direct mail in real estate was that this is the way to go in having a system set up for motivated sellers to find you. Why didn t you get more calls from truly motivated sellers?


After you ve read the above scenario know just two things right now: Many new investors using direct mail without guidance sometimes experience these types of results and get discouraged from using direct mail again. Now, this latter statement is what I hope by the time you finish reading my points will convince you that a well thought out direct mail plan is extremely effective but takes some thought on your part. These individuals will tell you, "oh, I tried mailing out letters and postcards once but I didn t get many( or any) deals" . You need to be more sophisticated than just throwing darts in the dark hoping you hit something. Read on my friend! Sure, the majority of your letters/ postcards won t be responded but did you know that a success rate of substantially less than 1% can still make direct mail very profitable for you in real estate. Now let s get into what you really need to know in starting your direct mail campaign.


You need to know what you re hunting so to speak. Get a organized game- plan together on how you are going to make sure that you get as many motivated sellers calling you as you can handle! Just an" I Buy Houses" message to your market doesn t come close to what you need to do in direct mail. For example if you are targeting pretty house properties that are in pre- foreclosure then included in your message the seller doesn t need to know you take over properties with tenant terrors or that buy junker houses. There are many, many ways to make money in real estate and finding the truly motivated sellers with direct mail means your message should be reflective of the target market you are seeking. They need to be informed that you can possibly take over their payments and know how to find tenant buyers that will help resolve their situation so they can move on with their lives. I ve seen many types of mailing lists that weren t worth the paper they were printed on.


Define your target market because the message you send needs to reflect accordingly. If you re keying into pre- foreclosure properties then make sure the source providing the information is reputable and you can test out on a month or two basis before being tied into a one year contract or paid up front fee. Another example is you may be into finding absentee owners. Later when you find out the information is out- dated and inaccurate then you re stuck. These are a great source of deals if done correctly and basically these are owners of a property where the tax bill is being sent to an address different than the subject property. However, it can be quite frustrating when you find out the information you purchased hasn t been updated for over a year on the property tax records. Ninety nine times out of a hundred that is a prime target for a tired landlord or junker deals to be made.


Ouch! You paid for but didn t receive quality information. Come to find out after doing a little investigating almost half the properties you would have been sending letters/ postcards to changed ownership. Make sure before you buy mailing list or property tax information that you have a chance to do a test basis on some of the material. This is a key principle that many investors seem to never grasp the concept of. Most all reputable companies selling quality information will have no problem sending you a small bit of test data to look over. If you have fulfilled the prior two steps in securing quality mailing list material and you know exactly your target market, then send them multiple mailings.


The text messages will be incremental in nature building up and playing on different angles and ideals trying to prompt them to call me. I have my software system set up where for example any category that I key into will receive letters and postcards from me. Sure, I ll get most responses from the initial mailing but many times it may take a little bit more persistency to get the seller persuaded. On the sixth letter we finally put together a deal and netted me over$ 8, 000 quick cash. I m glad I didn t stop with one seller sending out only five letters. With another seller it was actually over a year of mailings before he came around but the deal got done.


I don t have the time to talk to unmotivated inflexible sellers wanting all cash and retail value for their property. Time is my most important commodity. You don t and won t have the time to waste either with these types of sellers. You are an investor and expect to make a profit and yes you have many creative ways to buy properties. Sure, some will get in under the radar but for the vast majority of the sellers that receive your message they will know a few things very quickly. In fact you can probably even close within 48 hours if you run through your due diligence checklist.


However, if they have some considerable degree of flexibility in either the cash price or terms then to call you as soon as possible. However, the message in your letters/ postcards needs to state that if they need all cash and full retail value not to call you. You need to be seeking quality of sellers and not quantity of sellers fielding fruitless phone conversations. When you put together the cost of postage, envelopes, letters, postcards then you re talking substantial monies dedicated to this marketing medium. Make no mistake it does cost money to initiate and maintain an effective direct mail campaign. In a prudent investor s budgetary considerations these are costs that most like to consider.


Let me try to explain from the sense that just because you don t like to spend gas for your car should mean that you don t ever put gas in it. When you re experiencing success and know how to effectively secure quality mailing lists or generate them yourself then you soon change your mindset that you simply can not spend enough on postage. If you don t realize that fact then you aren t going to be going anywhere fast and you can make the same comparisons if you don t consider direct mail costs as an investment in your real estate business. Your goal is to find truly profitable deals and the means you go about doing this are contingent upon your target market, quality of the mailing contact, multiple messages to same contact, pre- screening ability, and finally your commitment to direct mail and an investment in your real estate business. Direct mail is one of the best ways to find motivated sellers or rather have them find you but take some time and forethought from thought to finish on what you re trying to accomplish. Be organized and focused in your direct mail campaign and soon you too will be finding all the motivated sellers you can handle.

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Tuesday, August 19, 2008

Will The Home You Re Considering Meet Your Needs In The Future

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Buying a home is a major financial investment decision, a decision that can be filled with much worry and sleepless nights.



Buying at the wrong time however, could hurt you financially. Buying the right home, at the right time, and for the right price can strengthen your financial situation significantly. So, the Universal Law of risk and reward proves true yet again. If you are unsure about your future job situation, maybe the company is unstable, or if you are unhappy in your current job this might not be the right time to buy. Before you begin the process of buying your home consider the following: How long do you plan on living in the home you purchase? If you buy now and end up moving before your home has had time to appreciate in value, it could cost you to sell.


The national average is between 3% and 5% per year. Check the appreciate rate in your area by contacting your agent. At this rate, it s a general rule that you should plan on being in your home at least 3 years in order to recoup your investment and cover the selling costs of your home and buying costs of a new home. Pay close attention on the average over time and not to the spikes in the market. The higher the appreciation value in your area, the less time you ll need to be on the positive side buying/ selling process. Will the home you re considering meet your needs in the future? Are you planning on growing your family?


If you re planning on staying in your location for five years, consider what your needs will be for those five years. What will your childrens needs be as far as space in three years. Will you need an office space of your own to have a little privacy? If you have three children and two are sharing a room now at ages 10 and 8, will they still be friends at ages 15 and 13 in five years if they are still sharing a room? Plan for growth! Take some time and get a credit report from a credible reporting agency. What is your credit situation?


The better your credit is, the more options you ll have when choosing a lender. Don t rush into a purchase. If your credit is questionable you will probably still be able to find a lender, but your interest rates may be high and simply get you into more debt. Get credit healthy first.

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Monday, August 18, 2008

Take Time To Scrutinize The Home

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Home buying is always a momentous event, especially for newlyweds or couples who are just starting out. A main reason is falling in love with the first great home for sale they set their sights on.



The only thing is that most people get into big mistakes in their home buying venture. It s true that lots of homes for sale are great, but there will always be that single one that will beat the others in every major aspect and down to the tiniest details. Have a plan and then stick to it. You don t have to be a perfectionist in home buying, but you at least have to be careful and well- informed. If you don t, you may end up searching for a long time and not finding your dream homes for sale in the time- frame you have alloted yourself. A pad and a pen are indispensable. Start with a Sensible Checklist.


Begin writing down all the things you require realistically in your new home. Now, each time you visit homes for sale, take your list with you and tick off all the requirements that fit your needs and wants. Categorize all the needs and wants and make a few copies. Your list of pro s may include proximity to school, privacy and quiet, to your workplace of the neighborhood, price, spaciousness, structural integrity of the house, safety features, good view, etc. That way you won t mismatch and confuse houses for sale with each other at the end of the day. Put the address and description of the street on this page as well. Remember, your pro s list can be revised over and over again during the course of your home buying endeavor.


Many newbies in home buying enlist the services of a real estate agent in finding them appropriate homes for sale that fit your criteria. Be Practical. However, don t rely totally on your agent. Let your fingers do the walking at several online classifieds with free listings of homes for sale. If you want full control of the home buying process, try shopping around yourself. This way, you ll gather some ideas and information on current market values for homes and other real estate properties for sale in the area you wish to live in.


Sign up on the Web. In turn, you will be in a better bargaining position with home owners. Today, home buying has been made considerably easier by websites that lists homes for sale for free. Browse homes for sale preferably with photos so you have a sneak preview of the property. These websites, besides being comprehensive resources for real estate listings, also offer home buying tips. Also, bear in mind your list. This will save you time, and petrol, energy.


This way you can reject the ones you don t want to visit. Of course, follow up any homes that look like what you want in your list. Be pleasant about it and thorough. When visiting homes for sale, don t hesitate to ask the real estate agent plenty of questions. Take time to scrutinize the home. Just be sure to look in all the places you want to so you know if you are going to get a good deal.


Bathrooms, water pressure, floors, lights etc. , but don t be too snoopy. Confirm the Starting Price. Your real estate agent should be an expert at providing these details to assist you with the validation of the seller s asking price. If prices are set, they would be called the selling prices. For this reason, you must compare the starting price of homes for sale to recent sales and auctions in the area. Technically, a home s starting price must be within the range of prices of other homes for sale in the area, of course the, unless particular home you have your eyes on has considerable amenities that tip the scale. Visiting homes for sale on a Sunday at 11: 00am is one story, and quite a different one if you do it during weekdays, between 3: 00pm and 6: 00pm.


Visit during Rush Hour. This is the time when the children are collected from school and work, and traffic is rushing home. This includes traffic jams that might make it more difficult to access the house. If you visit homes for sale in the evening, you ll be able to experience some of the things that you will have to go through when you finally are living in that place. Also you ll be able to find out how noisy the neighbourhood is at the busiest time of day. If you have decided on your prospective home, it s time to find out how long it will take you to get to work in the morning traffic.


How far is it from Work? It may seem unnecessary, but think about how much time you ll spend traveling each day and the expense of fuel used. Your solicitor will find out what plans are in store for the surrounding area. Changes that could Occur. You may find out that the park close by may become a shopping centre or a new road in a few years. Don t expect the vendor s agent to volunteer any information. You won t know unless you do the research.


It s not in their interest to do so.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

Resale Homes

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Thinking about buying a home in the Tempe area? What kind of home are you thinking about?



Tempe, often called" The Valley" , offers some of the most diverse real estate in any area. Do you picture yourself in a neighborhood with tree- lined streets, or would you rather be in a community that requires little maintenance? Looking at the multiple listing services for Tempe, you ll see that most homes fall into one of a few categories: Master Planned Communities. Either way, you ll find it in Tempe. Master planned communities are especially popular throughout Tempe. They are situated to take advantage of the natural views. They are often clustered around a geographic feature, such as in the foothills, on a mountain side, or near the desert.


Several different builders usually develop homes in each neighborhood. Each one uses a similar architectural theme, with a variety of different floor plans. The big advantage to the planned community is that it offers all the amenities within a compact area, parks, schools, community centers, and recreational opportunities such as golf courses and horse riding stables. If you are looking for a brand new home, these communities are a great choice. These areas include a variety of price ranges, especially more affordable homes, and they have a great history of appreciating prices long term. You can select your preferred floor plan and make the upgrades you d like. Resale Homes.


These properties are very distinctive, many in Mediterranean styling, with mature landscaping and large lots. Tempe is a great area for new homes, but you ll also find wonderful older houses. Resale homes are especially appealing for those wanting a well- established neighborhood, with its own unique culture. Condominiums are a popular housing alternative in Tempe, but they don t merely refer to small apartment- like properties. Condominium Communities. Tempe offers luxury condominiums several thousand square feet in size and resembling world- class hotels.


Active- Adult Communities. Of course there are also smaller units perfect for first- time buyers. Tempe is a popular destination for tourists, young professionals relocating for a job, retirees, and of course. These communities offer a variety of amenities to home buyers, including golf courses and clubs, tennis courts and, fitness centers swimming pools. An exciting part of the real estate market is the active- adult community. Homes in these communities are often patio homes, or stand, town homes- alone properties. Whatever your age or style, you ll find a great variety of homes to meet your needs in Tempe.


As the baby boom generation ages, these communities are becoming increasingly popular.

Thursday, August 14, 2008

Let NLP Teach You A Better Way To Do Business

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

If you aren' t closing as many real estate deals as you would like, you need to learn how to speak another language. You need to learn to speak the language of sales if you want your conversations to translate into profits.



I' m not talking about learning Spanish, French or German. Neuro- linguistic programming, might sound like, or NLP something out of a science fiction movie, but it is actually the most efficient way to communicate in sales. NLP is a concept borrowed from behavioral studies and it shows the ways in which verbal and nonverbal communication are interpreted in the brain. It is a big part of the science behind closing deals. If you want to close more deals, it's time to get scientific and learn the ins and outs of NLP. Everybody's mind works differently, but NLP studies have found that they all are usually classified as preferring one of three types of stimulation: visual, auditory or kinesthetic. The conscious mind as well as the subconscious is influenced by everything that a person sees, hears, smells, touches and tastes.


If your client is more visual than auditory, your presentation should cater to that type of person with lots of pictures and graphs. If the person is kinesthetic, he or she will relate information to personal feelings and sensations. If the client is more auditory, you should concentrate on great answers to his or her questions, as he or she will want plenty of conversation and solid verbal answers. It is essential to find out which type of person you are dealing with in order to communicate effectively. Traits that are as simple as the speed of a person's speech or the movement of a person's eyes will reveal what kind of information they prefer. The trick is to watch for key cues in a person's behavior.


With practice and training, it is easy to determine if a person is visual, auditory or kinesthetic. That's exactly what studying NLP will do for you. Can you imagine having the edge in a real estate negotiation before you' ve even said a single word? Even if NLP sounds like a fringe science, your competition is likely using it to their advantage. You will certainly be a believer in NLP once you put it to work in your daily conversations. In a market filled with real estate agents and investors, your training and skills is what will set you apart.


The more you master it, the higher and faster your sales will skyrocket. Effective communicators close more deals. Communication is everything in the world of business. Plain and simple. Let NLP teach you a better way to do business. Avoid communication breakdowns with a client because you presented them information in a way they couldn' t understand. Imagine the benefits you' ll reap after you learn the best way to explain facts and figures to different types of people.


You will understand your clients better and they will be more comfortable with you. You' ll save time and build confidence in your clients from the very beginning. NLP teaches you how to speak the language of sales and clients listen to someone who presents information to them well. Before you know it, you' ll be closing deals as fast as Donald Trump or Brian Buffini. NLP training translates into dollar signs once you learn how to read people more effectively.

Wednesday, August 13, 2008

The Economy Of This City Is Fairly Vibrant

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

Hollywood, Florida might share its name with the famous Hollywood, but it is, California no way less illustrious than its well known cousin. This city is spread over an area of about eighty square kilometers and is home to approximately one hundred and fifty thousand residents.



Tucked away in the Southern tip of Florida, the city of Hollywood is on of the top ten largest cities in the state of Florida. This city, also known as the Diamond of the Gold Coast, has over ten kilometers of pristine Atlantic beaches. The city is relatively young, having being founded in 192However, the decades of 50s and 60s witnessed strong growth rates in economy as well as population. Various fresh water bodies cover about ten square kilometers of inland area. As of the year 2000, the city was home to real estate property valued at more than a massive six billion dollars. A back of the envelop calculation tells us that the population density of this city is touching 2000 per square kilometer. As of the last census, the city population of about one hundred and fifty thousand was spread over approximately thirty five thousand families housed in sixty thousand households.


With about 70, 000 housing units spread over eight square kilometers, the real estate density turns out to be just more than 950 housing units per square kilometer. Other important minority groups in this city include Spanish speaking citizens( a touch more than 20% ) and African Americans( about 12% of the entire population) . The population consists of primarily English speaking whites- about 78 percent of the population are Whites, and for about 67% of the entire population, English is the First language. The city has a vibrant social life, and that perhaps stems from that fact that the city population is relatively young. Hollywood scores fairly high on the infrastructure matrix. As much as 60% of the population is less than 45 years old, and the median age of the population of the city of Hollywood, Florida is 39 years.


The city is served by the 23rd busiest airport in US, the Fort Lauderdale- Hollywood International Airport. All these factors make Hollywood a great city to live in. The city is also home to a large number of public elementary, middle and high schools. The economy of this city is fairly vibrant. The population of this city has grown fairly fast between 2000 and 2005, and this growth is largely attributed to the steady flow of immigrants from other regions. If you have been planning to relocate to Hollywood, you will be in good company. With its salubrious weather, low cost of, vibrant civic life living and a relatively low crime rate.


There are now 4, 000 homes and condos for sale in Hollywood. Hollywood Real Estate is precious and elegant. Median price of a home in this city is about$ 347, 000 dollars and some are priced over$ 3, 000, 000 dollars. The no money down and 1 percent teaser rates deals are gone and so are many of the homes that were financed in this manner. Foreclosed properties are at an all time high as the banks readjust their adjustable rates and end a real estate boom that lasted for about three years. Savvy investors are buying selected properties in Hollywood. The Hollywood real estate market is still thriving and will continue to grow in coming years.

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Pemberton Heights Is Also Located Close To UT And Downtown

Category: Finance, Real Estate.

High upon the bluffs overlooking Pease park, sits one of Austin's exclusive, neighborhood, and somewhat overlooked, Pemberton Heights. As opposed to many older neighborhoods in the central Austin real estate market, most of the original homes built in the 30s and 40s are still standing, with little sign of complete house demolition.



The Austin Development Company created Pemberton Heights in the late 1920s, and lured potential buyers by offering" fancy$ 3500- $4000 cottages" as well as" $150, 000 mansions. " Their brochure touted, "over five miles of paved and shaded streets and sidewalks. " Today, Pemberton Heights is filled with sizable homes that are a wide variety of styles, from mid- sized brick bungalows to revivalist Tudor mansions. It seems these residents enjoy the historic nature of their neighborhood, and the fact that many homes were built with enough square footage deemed" livable" by today's standards, doesn' t hurt. Pemberton Heights is also located close to UT and downtown. Pemberton Heights is also appealing in that the lot sizes are somewhat larger than the lot sizes in most of the central Austin neighborhoods. But unlike west campus which is seemingly overrun by college students during the year Pemberton Heights is conveniently insulated from UT by Pease Park. The Caterall Mills house, at 2524 Harris Boulevard, is an Early American Georgian revival, harking back to the glory days of George Washington's Mount Vernon home. Many homes in Pemberton Heights have Texas Historical markers placed in their front yards, and for good reason.


Its current owners, who bought the home in 1999, took great pride in restoring the home back to its 1937 original condition. Mills and Margaret Catterall Mills, were very prominent Austinites throughout the mid 1900's. The original owners of the home, Gordon E. Mills was general manager of the Austex Chili Company, considered one of the three big companies in Austin during the 30s, alongside the University and the government. Austex Chili also played a prominent role in popularizing Mexican food throughout the rest of the U. Though there are many original homes in the Pemberton Heights neighborhood, one stands out above the rest: The Pemberton Castle. Though it now lives on 1415 Wooldridge Drive, it originally stood on the outskirts of Austin in the late 1800s, as a water cistern for the city's firefighters.


This structure was actually built before the neighborhood began. In 1925, the cistern was turned into a Gothic castle, and was the sales office for the Pemberton Heights subdivision. Gideon salvaged bricks and stained glass windows from the university's original Main Building, and transformed the structure into a livable home. In 1937, the castle was bought by UT professor of architecture, Samuel Gideon. Though in 1935, the castle could not be sold for the eight thousand dollars it was offered at, rumor has it film director Robert Rodriguez purchased the home for 2 million dollars in 200It was also featured in his 2001 movie, Spy Kids. Eighty years after Pemberton Heights original inception, the" shaded streets and sidewalks, " offered up in its original sales brochure, are still as peaceful and inviting now as they were then, and well worth a stroll.