FOR BOOK SCOUTS AND ONLINE BOOKSELLERS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS IS PARAMOUNT TO EXRAORDINARY SUCCESS
© by M. Mitch Freeland All good businesses are built on relationships. It is who you get to know that will propel your growth. Relationships are built on trust; and the easiest and fastest way to build trust is to make yourself seen and heard regularly, and to do what you say every time. Trust is also built by being consistent with your words and actions. There are many different types of relationships you want to build. You want to build relationships with the following people—here is your quick hit list:
All relationships are built on being liked first. Before anybody agrees to help you, they first have to like you. People like people who are honest, pleasant, happy, sensible, professional, well groomed, respectful and fair. If you want to receive favors be more likable and then ask for the favor. Many times you will not have to ask at all. People like to do favors for people they like and respect. Integrity in everything you do shows—so, make yourself seen. Be out and about and show the world what you are doing and what you are all about. It is the only way people will take notice of you. Ask questions, take mental notes and remember names. All great businesses grow by building strong, honest relationships with customers and vendors. To learn more about successful book scouting and online book selling get your copy of How I Make $4,000 a Month Part-Time Selling Used Books Online and for book scouting, How to Make $1,000 a Month Online as a Part-Time Book Scout. Available on Amazon
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THE TOP 5 STUPID BETS AT THE CRAP TABLE © by M. Mitch Freeland I actually list eight stupid bets because stupid bet four thru eight tie with a casino edge of 11.11% against the player. Bet Casino Payoff True Odds Casino Edge 1. Any Seven 4 to 1 5 to 1 16.67% 2. 2 or 12 30 to 1 35 to 1 13.89% 3. Hop (hardways) 30 to 1 35 to 1 13.89% 4. Hop 15 to 1 17 to 1 11.11% 5. 3 or 11 15 to 1 17 to 1 11.11% Any Craps 7 to 1 8 to 1 11.11% Hard 4 & Hard 10 7 to 1 8 to 1 11.11% C&E 13 to 3 15 to 3 11.11% This chart explains the casino's edge over the player. The casino makes its money by not paying true odds on bets. Most people know this, but you may not know how great of an edge the casino has on specific bets. If you bet on any of the Proposition bets, hardways, and Field you are doomed to lose. Stay away from these bets. To learn more about how to bet and how to play winning craps, get your copy of Winning Craps: How I Beat the Craps out of the Casino for 30 Years. Available on Amazon. TOO MUCH PERSONAL PRIDE IN REAL ESTATE SALES
© by M. Mitch Freeland It’s not what you do sometimes that doesn’t make you a success in real estate sales; it is what you refuse to do because of personal pride. I’m not talking about having pride in your work or taking pride in your appearance, I’m talking about pride by believing you are “above this” or “above that” when it comes to work—that is, work that is necessary to grow your business, expand your venture or make you a better you. Let me demonstrate what I mean here so we’re all on the same page. For our example, let’s say you are a real estate agent—a very mediocre one at that. You closed four transactions last year and made a whopping $24,000. If all you are making is $24,000 and you say you are a full time agent, then why are you in this business, you’re a fraud—you’re pretending to be something you’re not. A professional, full-time agent should be making $100,000 per year. You are completely independent to work as hard and as intelligently as you possibly can and your income will be evidenced by how much effort you put out. To boost your income, you’ve got to meet more people, market yourself (promote), and simply hustle to get the business. Many people do not succeed because they are unwilling to due activities that might make them look average, foolish or beneath their dignity. If the activity or task is not immoral or unethical, and if it does not offend God, then our activity is perfectly all right. For example: Have you ever seen a car with magnet signs all over it advertising the services of a real estate agent and said to yourself “How tacky—I could never do that.” Have you ever walked up and down streets, knocking on doors and meeting homeowners, introducing yourself and asking if they are in the market for selling or buying another house or investment property? Have you ever seriously farmed an area heavily for two years, getting to know many of the resident home owners, and getting to know them on a first name bases? Some agents would rather go broke than work an area on foot. Smart agents know that you have to get in front of customers to get listings. They also know that people do business with people they know, people they like and people they respect. When you are out there hustling, meeting people, and working hard, you will earn the business because you will earn the respect of customers who witness to your efforts. Don't let personal pride stand in the way of your success. Get out there and meet lots of people in your neighborhood. For every homeowner, real estate investor, flipper, and real estate agent, get your copy of How to Make Real Estate More Valuable and learn how to sell real estate for more. Available on Amazon. FREE ON AMAZON FOR A LIMITED TIME
"HOW TO RENT YOUR HOUSE, DUPLEX, TRIPLEX & OTHER MULTI-FAMILY PROPERTY FAST!: The Concise Authoritative Owner's Manual for Rental Property: Special Chapter on Airbnb Rentals" © by M. Mitch Freeland From the Back Cover In How to Rent Your House…., M. Mitch Freeland reveals 129 simple ways that landlords can fill vacancies fast. and substantially increase cash flow. A special section is also included with money generating ideas for Airbnb rentals. Owning and managing over 100 units for many years, Mitch has discovered that rental houses and multi-family rentals deserve a hands-on, proactive approach from landlords who want to get the most out of their investment. Passivity is not the way to riches—let service ring the bells to prosperity, and let Mitch Freeland show you how. Mitch has managed hundreds of units in all classes: single-family homes, duplexes, triplexes, larger multi-family properties, and commercial retail. In this book you will learn: • How to create the best signs and the best strategies used to attract renters • Proven sales techniques that few if any landlords use to secure good renters • How to attract the best tenants that stay for years • Why you can’t get your property rented • How to increase cash flow with ancillary income opportunities that few landlords understand • The simple, yet effective, way to secure solid tenants • Creative copy writing using the best descriptive words and phrases to attract tenants • How to advertise and where to advertise for free and 68 other ways to attract renters • The 60 websites that you can use for advertising your rentals, including more than 10 sites that are Free and 20 websites specifically for vacation and short-term rentals like Airbnb, HomeAway, VRBO and others • How to get started and make more with airbnb rentals • How to answer the 12 most common renter objections with ease LEARN IT ALL NOW AND GET IT FOR FREE. Do Hot or Lucky Streaks Really Exist at the Crap Table?
© by M. Mitch Freeland Anyone who says that lucky streaks do not exist does not gamble. Recently I was in Las Vegas, playing blackjack. Seated beside me was my brother. The first hand I played I won. I won the second and the third as well. I won seven hands in a row. This was a lucky little streak. I increased my betting as I won ended up winning six times my buy-in. I bought in for $100 and started betting $10 a hand. After twelve hands I walked away with $620. The California Casino in Downtown Las Vegas has a wall of plaques of shooters who held the dice for over an hour. All of these people had hot rolls at the California Casino. In craps I have shot seven sevens in a row on the come out. I have also made point after point—ten, eleven and twelve times in a row. I have been at tables with twenty people packed in and as the dice go from one shooter to the next, every player hits three or more points and lots of numbers in between. Yes, I believe in lucky streaks. And anyone who has been around gambling long enough will agree that lucky streaks occur every day somewhere in Las Vegas, around the world and in any city or town with a crap table. In fact, the world record for the most passes at craps was from a lady who only played craps once before. It was in Atlantic City at Borgata, 2009. Patricia Demauro rolled 154 numbers before she sevened-out. In Las Vegas, January 2008, a professional advantage player “dice setter” Jerry ‘Stickman rolled 77 numbers before rolling a seven. The best advice I can give you is to recognize a lucky streak and jump in. If you are at the right time and place you could be fortunate enough to make a small fortune. Most people freeze and watch and do not get into the action when a streak is occurring. Don’t let this be you. Don’t be a bystander—get your chips on the felt. Take action! To learn more about playing winning craps get your copy of Winning Craps: How I Beat the Craps Out of The Casinos for 30 Years. Available at Amazon Winning Craps: How to Play & Win Like a Pro. Learn How I Beat the Craps out of the Casinos for 30 Years (CRAPS STRATEGY FOR BEGINNERS AND SEASONED PLAYERS) (Gamblers Express Series Book 1) by M. Mitch Freeland Link: https://amzn.com/B01ATRMK2E DOES RENT CONTROL DESTROY PROPERTY VALUE?
© by M. Mitch Freeland Free market supply and demand dictating prices of rents are completely side tracked when city governments place price caps on rental rates. This practice will typically cause prices of rental properties to drop over the long-term or cause slow growth to make it unappealing to investors and future development. Rent control is nothing more than a socialist act. It restricts the owner of a building to charge what the market demands. Most liberal cities have areas of rent control. In fact, it is a way of social service; local governments adoption in support of renters. This is in direct responds to the so called “defiant rich” and once powerful landlord. Rent control has several effects on property values. Most economist agree that it is not a constructive measure, and that it has the opposite effect of rents in surrounding areas and only benefits those who are “sitting tenants” in the controlled area. Rental rates rise in the uncontrolled areas and around the controlled area. This is because of short supply of rentable units caused by controlled area tenants remaining for very long periods of time. Rent control also has a way of creating pressure on investors to invest in communities far outside of controlled areas. At the same time, new investment in multi-family housing in controlled areas is diverted to other areas. Investors do not want to be stifled by building in rent controlled neighborhoods. A study has also shown that current controlled buildings are not maintained by landlords because there is little need to attract new tenants; there are typically tenant waiting lists for controlled units. In fact, nearly a third of controlled properties are in a state of severe disrepair. On the opposite side, only 8 percent of non-controlled properties are deteriorated. (Walter Block, “Rent Control,” The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, The Library of Economics and Liberty) There are a number of obstacles investors must overcome in rent controlled areas. The problem to increase cash flow is one of the most important concerns. A landlord cannot raise rents even during times of high inflation or when demand warrants it. Because of this, and many other growth options, property values have had a tendency to not appreciate as well as property in uncontrolled areas. Naturally, there are simply fewer investors interested in buying in a rent controlled area. Whenever government places controls on rents, it has proven to be a loosing proposition for investors. Even in areas were there is a perception that rent control may be instigated in the future has caused investors to stay away. Therefore, investors should stay clear of rent controlled areas. As noted by even a socialist economist, Assar Lindbeck: “In many cases rent control appears to be the most efficient technique presently known to destroy a city—except for bombing.” (Walter Block, “Rent Control,” The Concise Encyclopedia of Economics, The Library of Economics and Liberty) This article was derived from the book The Real Estate Hustle by M. Mitch Freeland and John Freeland. To learn how to make money in real estate by taking advantage of government initiatives get your copy of The Real Estate Hustle, available at Amazon. THE TOP 5 THINGS I LEARNED FROM NICK THE GREEK ON PLAYING WINNING CRAPS
Over his lifetime, gambler, "Nick the Greek," Nicholas Andrea Dandolos, won over $500,000,000, or about $15 billion in today's dollars. Nick believed in luck. He also believed in strict money management at the table and riding out lucky streaks that were common in all forms of gambling. He also adhered to a thorough understanding of the odds in any game of chance. Here are the top 5 things I learned from Nick the Greek when I was young and starting out playing craps:
MASTERING THE ART OF SOURCING FOR ONLINE BOOKSELLERS & COLLECTORS (240 PAGES OF UP TO DATE SOURCING RESOURCES) SALE IS FOR A LIMITED TIME FOR ONLY 99 CENTS. REGULAR PRICE $5.99 (SAVE $5)
IF YOU SELL BOOKS ONLINE THIS IS YOUR CHANCE TO GET The most comprehensive book on sourcing for booksellers available today! SALE RUNS FOR ONLY 3 DAYS--SO SECURE YOUR COPY TODAY! HOW ONLINE BOOKSELLERS CAN GET MORE BOOKS FOR GREAT PRICES AT MOM AND POP THRIFT STORES
Generally, book pricing is standard to Goodwill and other large thrift store chains. But, Mom and Pops still need to stay competitive when these other, often more larger, stores are within driving distance of their store. But in many cases, books at independent thriftstores are priced from $.50 to $2. Sometimes larger books (art, photography, or current bestselling novels) will be priced higher. A lot here has to do with managements, or the owners interest in books. Books are usually a low ticket item. Clothing and furniture are the mainstay with most thrifts. As with all retail sources you should ask the proprietor, or employees, if the owner is more often an absentee owner, when books are added to the shelves. Write the days and times down and make it a plan to be there at that time. Many thrift store operators will have more than one location. Here are the most important points and strategies when dealing with mom and pop thrift store operators:
To learn more about buying books from thrift stores and sourcing more productively, get your copy of MASTERING THE ART OF SOURCING FOR ONLINE BOOKSELLERS & COLLECTORS. The most comprehensive book on sourcing for booksellers available today! On sale now at Amazon. How Online Booksellers, DVD and CD Sellers Use Postage thru Amazon for Greater Efficiency, Speed and Profit
Amazon offers postage for your sales items. The current charge is $.07 per item. The very good thing is, is that you get commercial rate shipping charges. This is a big discount and it is yours free by purchasing your shipping thru Amazon. For instance, if you have a customer who chooses “Expedited” shipping you would package your DVD into a Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope. If you went to the post office it would cost you $5.60. When you buy your postage thru Amazon it cost you $5.05 plus $.07 fee to Amazon. You total cost is $5.12. Remember that Amazon gives you a credit of $6.99 for “Expedited” shipping. So, here you will make a profit of $1.87 on shipping. (Note: U.S. Postal Service raises prices about every two years. The posted rate have increased--but you still save by not paying retail rates when you get your postage from Amazon.) When you purchase your postage thru Amazon your label can be printed thru your printer on regular copy paper. The label will be about 4” x 6”. Simply fold the label and tape it to your envelope. This is fast and easy and you do not have to use scissors to make several cuts. I strongly recommend you use Amazon for your postage needs, because it is quick, easy and cost effective. You save money, don’t have to wait in lines at the post office and it is simple to use. If you print your labels on regular copy paper, you won’t have the added expense of purchasing thermal labels or a label maker. This could save you several hundred dollars and when starting out, it is a good money saving option. It will take a a few seconds longer to apply the label to your envelope and you will go thru more packaging tape. Amazon Postage Procedure Starting on the “Orders” page
For more information on shipping thru Amazon and how to make money selling used books online get your copy of "How I Make $4,000 a Month Selling Used Books Online" available on Amazon. THE TOP 5 CHEAPEST PLACES IN LAS VEGAS TO PLAY CRAPS
As of this writing, there are only a few places I know of in Las Vegas that offer low minimum bets of $2 and $3 on craps. 1) On the Strip, there is a little place tucked between Harrah’s and the Venetian called Casino Royale. It is right across the street from The Mirage. The minimum bet is $3 on the Line and up to 100x odds. Not bad, but usually it is very crowded. 2) The Eastside Cannery on Boulder Highway offers $3 Line bets on weekdays with 100x odds. 3) The one table, Jokers Wild with $2 minimum Line bets with up to 10x odds. 4) The Fremont, downtown offers a $3 minimum Pass Line bet on at least one table. 5) El Cortez, downtown is worth a visit. It occasionally offers a $3 minimum table during the day. Also, ask about the commission on "Buy" bets. On the 4 and 10 they started accepting 2% jigs instead of the customer 5%. A $50 "Buy" was $1 on the 4 an 10. All of these places are worth checking out when you are in Las Vegas and you do not want to begin betting $10 on the line, which most Strip casinos now list as their minimum bet. To learn more about playing craps and winning, get your copy of Winning Craps: How I Beat the Craps Out of the Casinos for 30 Years. GOING TO LAS VEGAS THIS WEEKEND? LEARN TO PLAY WINNING CRAPS! FOR A LIMITED TIME, WINNING CRAPS, IS ON SALE FOR 99 CENTS. WHY WAIT? GET YOUR COPY TODAY ON AMAZON.
HOW TO PLAY CRAPS AND BET THE ODDS
ODDS Bets ARE FOR WINNERS The odd’s bet is the only free bet you get offered in a casino; it costs you nothing and the house has no edge over you on this type of bet. As you review Diagram 1.1, you’ll notice that the more odds you take on your flat bet, the lower the overall casino’s edge. Although, the difference from taking single odds compared to 100x odds does not appear that significant (0.83% difference, 0.85% to .02%), over the long term this difference equals 8.3 cents for every ten dollars wagered. Over a lifetime of playing craps this number will equal thousands of dollars assuming you plan to play a few times a year and begin betting more as you mature with the game and you become an expert. Diagram 1.1 ODDS BET CASINO ADVANTAGE 1X 0.85% 2X 0.61% 3X 0.47% 5X 0.33% 10X 0.18% 20X 0.10% 100X 0.02% (Your best bet) I recommend that you take all the odds you can get. If you are short on a bankroll, you can start out by playing only a couple of numbers. The odds bet, with money management, and taking advantage of winning streaks, and becoming proficient influencing the dice, will allow you to get the best of it. Remember, a 7 is supposed to show up one in six rolls. When you are at a table and a shooter has now rolled fourteen times without a 7, the odds of the player to keep hitting numbers are reduced. Every time you visit a casino, watch the play at the crap table. Count the number of rolls between 7s. You will see an uncanny occurrence. The dice are choppy, and the shooter is making one or two points and a few numbers and then a 7 shows and all bets are lost. You should realize that you can still make money on choppy rolls by taking your odds bets down or by not making any more Come bets. As your numbers are hit, take the money and run. The idea is to make money, not leave it out on the table and watch a 7 take most of it on short rolls. The question remains: How do you know the roll will be short? You don’t, not really—but patterns occur so pay attention. THIS ARTICLE IS FROM MY BOOK WINNING CRAPS, AVAILABLE ON AMAZON. Love to play craps but hate to lose? Visit www.MitchFreeland.com, home of the #1 Amazon Best Selling books How to Play Craps and Win! and How to Count Cards at Blackjack (NEW Release May 5, 2016) by M. Mitch Freeland, one of America's leading experts on playing winning Poker, Craps, and Blackjack. How to Bid Correctly at an Auction: Your Top 5 Ways to Bid and Not Over Pay
“Auctions are full of manipulators. The only way to get your price is to determine in advance the highest bid you will make and never go above it--ever.” Have you ever been intimidated, confused, anxious, or boondoggled at a real estate auction? Sooner or later, if you are serious about making money in real estate, you’ll get excited about the auction process and the deals or steals available will wet your appetite. After you’ve located a property that fits your criteria, you’ll attend the auction and try to purchase the property with the highest bid—your bid. Here are five ways to bid correctly at an auction and not over pay. (1) Know your market well. Knowing your market well is critically important. The number one reason people overpay at auctions it that they do not truly know their target market thoroughly enough to access an accurate price on the property being bid for. If the property you want to bid on is a three bedroom, two bath house, you better know what a three bedroom two bath house is going for in your neighborhood. If it’s a four bedroom—know what a four bedroom goes for. (2) Liens and other encumbrances. Courthouse auctioned properties do not come with a clean title. You’ve got to check the recorders records of liens, taxes and judgments attached to the property. Sometimes it is hard to locate these encumbrances. We (Brother John and I) purchased a property several years ago at a courthouse auction for $52,000. We paid cash, same day as required. We did our normal searches and found the property unencumbered. To our shock, about a week later we received a letter from the city saying we owed $320,000 on a code enforcement fine that had been running for over two years. The previous owner had a tough time with local code enforcement. We were either going to get this reduced to zero, zilch, or we were going to loose $52,000. The property was a fixer-upper and was not worth more than $100,000 as it stood. After explaining our case and how we planned to fix up and beautify the property, the lien was dismissed. But if it hadn’t been, I would have never bought another property at a courthouse auction and I would have ended up suing the city for fraud or something, since the code enforcement lien was hidden from public record, so we thought. Eventually, the property was fixed, rented and flipped a year and a half later for somewhere in the neighborhood or $190,000. Fix-up costs was about $10,000, showing us a healthy profit in the end. (3) Set a price. Again, knowing your market well will give you the knowledge to set a firm price you’ll want to pay for the property. After you’ve figured out the fix-up costs and recording fees, auctioneer’s premium, and other fees, you’ll have to know the “after repair value” of the property. After you know the post-rehab value, then you can set a price for what you’ll pay for the property. For example, many times a house that may need some rehab will sell for about a third of its fixed up value. Here’s the rundown: You find a house at the auction you like. Fully rehabbed homes in the area are selling for $150,000. You estimate a fix up costs at $20,000. A third of $150,000 is $50,000. With $20,000 allocated to fix up, you’ll be in for $70,000 after everything is said and done. This gives you plenty of room to work with. Remember, most of the properties you bid on at the courthouse, the ones the banks do not want, are junked properties and some may need serious fix up to them. (4) Know the premiums. Before you make a bid, you should know all the premiums you’ll be paying. A 10% premium is standard in many private auctions; for example, if you are the willing bidder on a house for $50,000, an additional 10 percent or $5,000 is added to the price. The $5,000 is the auctioneer’s fee. Recording and stamp fees could also add up to 1% to 1.5% on average, and there may also be other fees and premiums involved. (5) Watch the action first. Never be the first one to bid at an auction. Watch the action first and always wait for the last moment to raise your paddle or call out the number of your offer. Sometimes property gets bid up quickly by uninformed and inexperienced investors. And sometimes in certain local courthouse auctions, a handful of speculators who regularly attend and bid on property raise prices by bidding up properties, and then dropping out, leaving the inexperienced buyer with a property that had been overbid, and is now overvalued. This is done so the new investor is dismayed at the whole process and never attends another auction. Not all properties offered at an auction are worth your while. It’s important to set your objectives and stick to them. Never forget the reason why you are buying—you are an investor and buying property correctly takes intelligent, dedicated work. And it is a process few investors master. But it is away of acquiring investment property for good prices and it can be mastered with intelligent effort and a clear objective. Follow the steps outlined above and you’ll find yourself on the better end to profits. Do your homework and know the market for the type of property you will be bidding on; know your market well, the fix-up costs and the eventual resale price. Auctions are but one way to find bargain properties. I am working on a new book titled How to Buy Real Estate for 25% Below Market. Release date is mid summer. To learn more on flipping houses get your copy of The Millionaire Real Estate Flippers. Visit www.FlippingBrothers.com HIGH ENGAGEMENT LANDLORDING IS NOW AVAILABLE!
5 Ways to Getting and Retaining Good Tenants A good tenant is really worth his or her weight in gold. That might seem like a common compliment, however, it is very true—ask any landlord. Better yet, ask any landlord who has had bad tenants. I have managed hundreds of tenants over many years, and have learned a few things about attracting and retaining good tenants. Here is a quick list to check and find good and qualified tenants:
The Top 5 Places to Find Bargain Real Estate
“A bargain is not simply buying a cheap piece of property. A bargain is holding the property cheaply.” This is the debut essay of the “Top 5” weekly article series. For some time now I’ve been thinking: “Why does everyone have a “Top 10” list when a “Top 5” can do the trick with the most essential and effective information per the particular topic?” Items 6 through 10 are usually filler and not of much importance compared to the essential “Top 5.” There is a website I recall called “Top7business.com.” Here you will find articles with headings using the words, “Top 7 Ways and Top 7 Things and Top 7 Reasons, 7 this and 7 that” and so on. Why seven? The number seven is considered to be a lucky number and most people seem to like the number seven—looks good, sounds good, feels good, feels right. But other than that, I think a “Top 5” list cuts through a lot of the unnecessary reading and time spent thinking about items 6 through 10. The important thing is getting through the article quickly and getting down to business with the right information to propel you in the right direction for fast results. So, each week part of our new blog of the Flipping Brothers Newsletter (The Flipping Gazette) format (FlippingBrothers.com), we will present a new series of writings covering the “Top 5 ….” They will be concise—to the point and readable in less than three minutes. This will arm you with the information you need quickly. If you are interested in a particular “Top 5,” email us and let us know. We will design a “Top 5” list for you. Don’t get us wrong, we will still offer lengthier articles that get a bit more in-depth. We know there is just so much that can be said in a “Top 5” list. The idea is to present information to you quickly, concisely and effectively, and let you get on your way. Now, as the article states, let’s move to the Top 5 Places to Find Bargain Real Estate. * * * As you may know, bargain real estate is everywhere you look—you just have to look for it, keep your eyes open and be observant of what’s around you. Here is our Top 5 Places to Find Bargain Real Estate: (1) Online. Begin with the MSL (Multiple Listing Service). If you do not currently have access to the MLS go to Realtor.com or Loopnet.com for multifamily and commercial property. For single-family homes, you would search the MLS and Realtor.com. You can also go to eBay and look for property in your target area or in areas that fit your criteria. As you mature as an investor, you may want to expand your search area. If you are planning to “flip” properties, you can buy anywhere, provided you are buying at a low enough prices to insure a reasonable profit. These three primary websites (MLS, Realtor.com, and Loopnet.com), will allow you to access information quickly and you can obtain preliminary info for selected properties without leaving your house—that is, if you have an internet connection at home; during this day and age it is essential. You must know your target market to make your visit to these sites worthwhile. If you start at Realtor.com, these are the steps you take to begin your search: (1) Enter the zip code of your target area. You can also enter the city and state if you do not know the zip code; (2) while searching for single-family homes, enter your price range in the spaces indicated. You are looking for cheap property, so enter amounts like $20,000 to $100,000. You will have to know a little about the price ranges in your target area, but starting low will present some excellent property choices that pop-up on your screen; (3) next, enter number of bedrooms (make it three) and number baths (make it one); (4) on the left side of the screen, check the single-family home spot and delete all the others. You are not interested in land or condos—only singe-family homes; (5) look for homes that are at least 1,000 square feet in size; and finally (6) press enter and check out what pops up. Start from the lowest priced houses and move your way up. When searching for properties on eBay, pay close attention to houses and property for sale with “no reserve” price. You can do a lot of research right on the internet if you are not familiar with a particular area. (2) Drive the area. Once you’ve decided on a particular area (target market), drive up and down the streets slowly and look for signs, such as “For Sale by Owner,” or “Foreclosure,” or other signs indicating a possible distress sale. Get to know the area. Call on signs of houses that are unkempt, rundown. These types of properties could be good investments with motivated sellers. Motivated sellers sell at bargain prices with good terms. Remember this, fair terms and a low price equals bargain. 3) Other landlords and investors. One of the best places to locate bargain property is from other landlords and investors who are overextended or retiring from the business. Joining a local real estate investment club could start you in the right direction to meet other investor or obtain referrals. Many of the bargains my brother John and I have purchased came from other investors. This is also a good way of acquiring a bundled package of properties at a good price. 4) Neighbors and acquaintances. Let your neighbors and acquaintances know you are a real estate investor and open to investing in all types of property. You want them coming to you and dropping you referrals. Someone always knows someone who wants (needs) to sell and is looking for a quick and painless closing. 5) Auctions. The two most popular auctions are held at your county court house, or auctioned by U.S. Home Auction. Nearly all the homes are foreclosed properties. Some good deals can be had at auctions, but bad ones can be had too. It takes time and research on your target property if you plan to bid at an auction. Property at courthouse auctions may have city leans and other encumbrances attached to them; hence, you should do enough research to ease your mind before biding. And again, you will need to know your target market very well, not to over bid. Post-foreclosed properties that are owned by the lender can typically be purchased at a discount. You will usually need to make a cash offer (your cash or someone else’s) to get the deal accepted. Always estimate how much you will be investing in fix-up dollars before you bid on or buy any property. Stick with a 50% to 60% percent per return goal on property and fix-up costs. With a reasonable margin, you’ll be able to sell in an emergency at a good price and still secure a worthwhile profit. For more information on where to find real estate at bargain prices and how to flip houses like a pro, get your copy of The Millionaire Real Estate Flippers (a comprehensive book to give you the confidence you need to jump into the lucrative world of flipping fixer-uppers). If you would like to participate in flipping houses with us, visit www.FlippingBrothers.com or email me at Mitch@MitchFreeland.com FREE BOOKS ON REAL ESTATE INVESTING COMING SOON. SIGN UP NOW! GET ON THE LIST!
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How to Become a Real Estate Entrepreneur by Creating Value (From: How to Make Real Estate More Valuable)
While this may appear to be a broad study consisting of personality, risk taking threshold, and having an IQ of 180, it is, however, a basic endeavor anyone can aspire to. But at the same time, it may appear naïve that anybody could be an entrepreneur. To become an entrepreneur you simply have to think. That’s it--think. You have to learn to use your brain. Now, I know what you are thinking: “Gee, if this is the best advice you have on becoming an entrepreneur, then why read the rest of this lesson?” Do you know how to think? I mean really think? Do you know how to organize your thoughts? Can you focus your thoughts on one subject at a time? How badly do you desire to do something? To be something? Having an overwhelming desire to achieve something—anything can lead you to become a real estate entrepreneur—a professional flipper or long-term investor in rental property Have you ever devised a way to do something better? If you have, then you know how to think. You would be surprised at how many people do not know the first thing about thinking. I would guess that 90% of the U.S population does not really know how to think: thinking of ways to make more money; thinking of ways to live better, healthier; thinking of ways to help family and friends in crises; thinking of ways to enjoy living; thinking of ways to do better and more productive business; thinking in all sorts of ways—but thinking nonetheless. Think, create, execute, and manage, this is how you become an entrepreneur. How do you become an entrepreneur? The first step is to think. The second step is to create. The third step is to take action. The fourth step is to manage. The fifth step is to think again, and the process starts allover. Now let’s visit each step a little more closely. Think. Thinking is elementary. All of us are capable of it, but many do not attempt it often enough. If you believe you were meant to go out on your own, not to be tied to a job that stifles your energy and creativity, and you have an idea that can set you free to create your own life and the way you deserve to live, and then think about becoming the entrepreneur you were meant to be. James Allen, in As a Man Thinketh wrote, “Good thoughts and actions can never produce bad results; bad thoughts and actions can never produce good results.” Entrepreneurs think then create—and then take action. Entrepreneurs need to think “good thoughts.” Create. An entrepreneur must have the energy and commitment to create. An entrepreneur must have an overwhelming desire to achieve success and must possess the motivation to overcome setbacks. The vision of the enterprise must be indelible; long work days without pay for months or years are acceptable from a true entrepreneur whose belief in an idea possesses his whole being. There is a fire in a true entrepreneur which is impossible to burn out. The creation or birth of an idea is within everyone, but very few act on it; an entrepreneur must act on it—he is compelled to act because it is what he believes in. Execute. Effective execution is a rare thing. Not many entrepreneurs can do this. Many lack managerial skills, many lack people skills, and many lack the ability to acquire the right people for the right jobs. Good managers are hard to find, so the entrepreneur will need to spend the time learning every part of the business starting out. Devising a strategy is easy, but executing the strategy for real, positive results is difficult. The lack of execution is typically the ruination of many entrepreneurial ventures. Manage. As noted, finding good managers is hard. The entrepreneur who has the ability to manage people effectively and who is able to lead them to superior performance is the entrepreneur who will accelerate growth in the enterprise from day one. Very rarely does the true entrepreneur step down from a managing standpoint; he may hire others to do the job, but he will also be close by monitoring performance. Real estate entrepreneurship is all about creating value and increasing value of property. A sharp entrepreneur studies his market thoroughly and makes changes to his property(s) that give the greatest gift of all--greater profits. Becoming an entrepreneur is within you if you are able to think clearly, create with overwhelming desire and commitment, execute your idea, and manage yourself and others effectively, leading to superior performance. A strong vision, motivation and a burning desire to implement your ideas is also a necessary requisite. To increase value, you must think and take action as an entrepreneur--a person who is willing to create and think, manage and execute projects differently and with style. Real estate entrepreneurs find ways to increase value--and so must you. YOUR ANSWER IS IN MINI-GOALS
"MINI GOALS" IS THE FIRST BOOK OF IT'S KIND TO EXPLORE THE HIGH FREQUENCY ACHIEVEMENTS OF "MINI GOALS" IN RELATION TO LARGE (LONG-TERM) GOALS. In Mini Goals Huge Results, you will discover how to: • Set mini goals related to family, career, health and fitness, financial, religious and spirituality goals, and personal and physical wants goals. • Create mini goals that lead to the achievement of large goals • Visualize the process toward successful goal achievement • Create specific affirmations that are tested to produce results • Motivate yourself and articulate your vision and why having goals, written down, work toward life-long happiness • Set Mini-Goals to combat non-clinical depression • Create positive, long-lasting change • Transform your life with Mini Goals using an easy 7 Step Process Identify your Mini Goals, achieve success, and defeat the fear of failure! When you download Mini Goals Huge Results today, you’ll get an easy to follow 7 STEP PLAN to draft, craft, and achieve your mini goals. Download today. Admission is less than the cost of an ice cream cone or cup of coffee. Mini Goals Huge Results is priced to please. Get your Copy of Mini Goals Huge Results Today! 0 Comments AN AMERICAN PATRIOT
"Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me,... give me liberty or give me death!" --Patrick Henry. The colonies were never the same, because Patrick Henry exclaimed fighting words for the cause of liberty. Stand up for what you believe in and make your voice heard. This is a big election year. America is the greatest country the world have ever seen. We are the pacesetters in every field. Support the conservative cause--the alternative will be disastrous. People forget that Abraham Lincoln was a Republican. And he fought the moral fight and won. All of the great empires of the world crumbled due to liberal thinking. History does not lie. Where are the great civilizations of the past today? Liberal thinking, liberal policies, and immorality destroyed them. Isn't it time we harness our intelligence and stop pandering to the rest of the world. We are a Republic. We don't start fights--but we finish them. Let's not forget this. We are the greatest humanitarian country since the world began, and we are only 240 years new. God Blessed American with our Founding Fathers--and Patrick Henry for saying it like it is. Are you going to Las Vegas? Don't forget your copy of Winning Craps or How to Play Craps and Win!
Download Now and have it with you always. NEWS FLASH MARCH 3, 2016: Mini Goals Huge Results will be FREE on Amazon Starting March 4, 2016 for a limited time. Don't WaitLife is filled with problems. If you are in business, then you have your basket full of problems, big and small. Problems seem to jump out quickly causing us to stop for a moment, solve it, then proceed to solve the next one. Problems come at us every day. Many daily problems are so small that we don't even consider them problems anymore. We have been conditioned to accept them and then move on. We've gotten use to them because they come around so often. With experience we solve problems better, faster and more effectively.
Some positive thinkers like to call problems challenges. The word challenges sounds nicer, but when you get right down to the root to the challenge, it doesn't seem to fit. But when you get down to the root of the problem--now you're talking. A challenge sounds like a competition. A problem sounds like a problem. We solve problems by reacting. If we feel that the problem is minor, then solving it can wait--then we wait. If we feel the problem is serious, we act immediately. Or, do we? Sometimes we set problems aside, we ignore them, hoping perhaps that it will disappear. Sometimes they do, most times you will have to address the problem. So, how do you address problem calmly, logically and solve it? There is one easy way. Get out a sheet of paper and on the very top write "I solved this problem (write out your problem) by.... Now write down a list of the solutions to your problem. If you can list ten ways to solve your problem, great. If you could write five ways, that's good too. Your answer to solving your problem will be on the paper, right in front of you. Be calm, relaxed and think. This may only take a few minutes. Be assured that the solution to your problem will be revealed. Now take action. Solving problems takes practice. The more problems you solve, the better you get at it. Some problems cannot be solved with you alone. Start by asking for Gods help. He might deliver the answer sooner than you think. |