Ok 2010 is only 22 days away and I have (1) question to ask…. Did you get your goals written for the new year???? if you are like most of the other Americans who do write their goals out you probably have not completed or better yet started them. You see most people who write their goals out do it between Christmas and the New Year. That is when they will have more “free time” to write their goals out so they think. What always happens (I know from experience) is that you would plan on writing your goals between the Holidays but something would come up, then something else and before you know it you are standing there sipping champagne and the calendar has turned. Don’t let that happen this year, If possible start writing them after reading this post. They don’t have to be fancy or elaborate they just need to be written out. I have included a video below by Brian Tracy who is an industry expert at goal setting. Watch it and hit the ground running in 2010
Just thought I would pass on a little FYI if you are investing out there in the forclosure market. Make sure that when you are putting your numbers together your plan for the unexpected that 99% of the time always occurs. For example, the furnace which you could not tell was not working due to the gas being shut off or ………(this means see the video)
Plato had Socrates. Tom Peters had Peter Drucker. Luke Skywalker had Obi-Wan. Robin had Batman and on and on about how the path of an individual to greatness is almost always paved by a mentor (ok maybe Robin was a stretch). It is no different in the Real Estate world. Mentors aren’t your parents, friends, or even your more generous investors. They are business veterans whose only role is to tell you what you really need to hear about your company. Mentors do plenty of cheer leading, of course, but their real value is in the objective, unvarnished advice they can provide. Having been there and done that, mentors can save you from falling into common traps and point out things you may be too busy to notice. I guess what I am trying to point out here is to choose a mentor but choose wisely, just because someone is successful does not mean he/she will be a good mentor. There is usually a cost involved of having someone mentor you but that is minimal compared to the success that a mentor-ship will bring you. So, if you are looking at getting into Real Estate or any other business under the sun, find a mentor who will guide you to success
There has been a ton of debate out there on if the great FHA is going to extend the first time home buyer tax credit or not. It is due to expire on the December first of this year. Basically if you due not close buy that magic date you do not get the credit from the government on the real estate as a first time home buyer. What does this mean to the investors who are purchasing foreclosures? Well it depends on what type of real estate you are purchasing and who will be your end client. If you are purchasing high end investment properties say above $300,000 retail, there will be no effect since FHA has its limits. But if you are purchasing investment properties that fall within the FHA limit you need to slow down and purchase wisely, knowing that the program may not be extended. The first time buyer credit has definitely caused a much needed surge in our housing market just like what the cash for clunkers did for the auto industry. But, signs are out there that the Fed may just turn the lights out. Read this article recently posted in the Wall Street Journal, it sheds a lot of light on this program and the pitfalls behind it. So if you are investing in real estate, be it foreclosures, short sales etc.. slow down and purchase wisely until we know what our friends at the Fed are going to do.
Yes it is Christmas in July!!! My friend JP has just forwarded me a link to 567 powerful real estate investing resources. I thought no way too good to be true, what is the catch? Well I tried it out and I did find out that you have to give your email up to get this information, so you will be put on a list but you can just select to be removed from the email list and keep all of the 567 links provided. Now let me warn you some of these links will take you to affiliate product pages where you are asked to purchase Real Estate training things but my sampling of these links found them to be few and far between. I feel these links can be used by the seasoned investor or those just starting out and that is why I am sharing the resource with you. Get it Here
I am sure that you all have heard of the saying “don’t judge a book by its cover” or “looks can be deceiving” cmon we all learned that from mom, dad, sister or brother as we grew up, Right! Well let me share a quick little tidbit that I stumbled across that definitely reinforces what good old Mom and Dad taught me. I was given a lead to a property last week that was priced at a discount. Typically these properties are bank owned with some water damage or cosmetic defects. I pull up and it is a great brick home in a great neighborhood – outside is exquisite – ok not too bad. Well, I enter the lock box code, open the door, and all i can say is oh my!!!!!Do you remember the book you might have had when you were younger of “Harold and the crayon” well I think this is where Harold grew up. Every wall and cabinet the home had crayon pencil or marker on it at the height of an 8yr old in addition to candy, chocolate and burns embedded in the carpets throughout the home. Now when I say you cant judge a book by the cover you are thinking about the shape of the home from the outside, right? well this one was a double whammy. On my tour of the interior I came across the diary that had the exterior covered with pictures of a nice looking “All American Family”. When I opened up and read some passages I was blown away – The author (wife) was actually documenting the hatred she had for the bank, and the destruction that little Johnny and Mary were allowed to inflict on the home…… Wow, I wonder how those kids are gonna turn out. Click Here for the video.
I just wanted to share with you a few interesting on the job finds that occured last week. I was having a hard time trying to understand why the bank was dicounting these properties at more than 50% until I reviewd them click the video to see why!!
Whoa!!!!!! that water is a powerful thing both when frozen and standing stagnant. Just a friendly reminder to those of you with pools… winterize them properly!!!!!
Ok i must apologize to all of those who have been emailing me looking for updates and posts from me. i can say that I have been really busy but that is no excuse, we are all bust right. So what i had to do is get an accountability partner to keep me on track with my goals and tasks (Thanks Jeff!!) Ok so its Monday (most will get this Tuesday) so here are my goals for the week in no particular order
1.Offers, offers and more offers
2.Close our deal with our Califonrnia connection provided that they were not injured in all the celebrating yesterday – and we thought the “D” was bad
3.Put the finishing touches on the expansion into a new area
So that is what I have set this week hopefully you set some goals to… lets hear em
Quick note on the current state of the Real Estate market and economy that we are all dealing with. The NAR (Natiponal Association of Realtors) announced the the current housing inventory has fallen to 10 months of supply down from 11 in April. This is good news because the “experts” tell us that in a good economy we should be see a 6 month inventory. Check it out at www.realtor.org
This is a market and an economy that is changing daily we just need to adapt to it as the bounces left and right getting back on track.
I saw a great quote today i wish I took a picture of it. it said “A problem is just an opportunity in disguise”
Well its Friday and boy did the week seem quick, of course it was only 4 days long, now its time to turn our attention to relaxing and enjoying the downtime watching TV and doing nothing (well maybe some yard work) right???? Well for most people that statemnet is true but I suggest that you switch from working at our place of work (be it self employed or an employee) and work on yourself.
The phrase “work on yourself” spans a wide variety of things from reading to just getting out and doing something active heart pumping exercise – yes EXERCISE!!!! it is good for mind and body - walk, run, ridae a bike. 30 minutes is really all you need – Try it you might like it
Take time to read a book and make sure the book is of substance (no not the Twilight series) one which improves or challengs you to get out of your comfort zone. Here are some of my suggestions:
4 hour work week
Buyology
How to win friends and influence others (really anything by Dale Carnegie)
Again 30 minutes is a great habbit to get into – usually first thing in the morning that is when your brain actually works the best
Ok its Friday and memorial day is upon us the unofficial start of the summer. So many times here in the enchanted mitten we wait for it to get here and then guess what it is gone. let me be the first to tell you don’t let that happen, slow down and enjoy it.
I was going to write my inspirational piece today but a business contact of mine wrote what I call a master piece of a blog that is just too good not to share with all of you. Basically it is about the steps to success not just in business but anything you do
March 11 1819 Sir Henry Tate 1885 Sir Malcolm Campbell 1952 Douglas Adams 1923 Louise Brough 1923 Terence Alexander 1932 Lord Nigel Lawson 1947 Alan Yentob
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ates. Tom Peters had Peter Drucker. Luke Skywalker had Obi-Wan. Robin had Batman and on and on about how the path of an individual to greatness is almost always paved by a mentor (ok maybe Robin was a stretch). It is no different in the Real Estate world. 
efects. I pull up and it is a great brick home in a great neighborhood – outside is exquisite – ok not too bad. Well, I enter the lock box code, open the door, and all i can say is oh my!!!!!Do you remember the book you might have had when you were younger of “Harold and the crayon” well I think this is where Harold grew up. Every wall and cabinet the home had crayon pencil or marker on it at the height of an 8yr old in addition to candy, chocolate and burns embedded in the carpets throughout the home. Now when I say you cant judge a book by the cover you are thinking about the shape of the home from the outside, right? well this one was a double whammy. On my tour of the interior I came across the diary that had the exterior covered with pictures of a nice looking “All American Family”. When I opened up and read some passages I was blown away – The author (wife) was actually documenting the hatred she had for the bank, and the destruction that little Johnny and Mary were allowed to inflict on the home…… Wow, I wonder how those kids are gonna turn out. Click 
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