Pay Off Debt Consolidation

How come anytime you walk in to a book store and find your way to the business or financial books all the views that are expressed in the titles are very similar??? In one way or another they all call out for a monetary version of bloodshed. I mean think about the titles: “How you can crush the other guy”or “it’s not personal its business”, “How to come out on top” etc etc. When I got into the real estate investment game I spent hours trying to find the one book that would teach me how to become that REAL ESTATE INVESTING GOD I knew I could become. After reading most of the popular books at the time I actually would feel beat up over the content. I mean did I have to be a “take no prisoners” type of investor? Did I have to prey on some one else’s misfortune?? The answer was no. So I set out to build a list of my own investment rules. I think we each should have our own set of investment rules. Doc’s Rules for investing:

1) Set up some personal guidelines: Define and follow these guidelines. This is the most important rule I have. . Things to include, but not limit you to, are: Top dollar amount and lowest dollar amount. Type of investment you want to deal with. Period of term for investment.. Etc etc. (You can even have a guideline about the amount of time you will work per-day)

2) Remember a family is behind the deal you’re working on. Simply put,whoever you are dealing with has mouths to feed. Just because you can get a great deal on a house because the current owner is in a facing some sort of adversity that is causing them to sell below market value, DOES NOT give you license to kick them when they are down. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. If the price they are offering still falls within the personal investing guidelines you have set for yourself ,don’t use your position to abuse the seller. If you?re getting the house for .40 cents on the dollar,don’t be a jerk and push for .20 cents. Always remember…it could be you in the sellers postion. (This rule DOES NOT come in to play when dealing with a bank owned property)

3) Always ask for what you want. Where does it say you can’t ask for something in an investment deal you like? I.E. if you’re looking at a piece of real estate, ask the seller if they would be willing to throw in new carpet to the sale. I knew a investor who was looking at a house that had been on the market for more than 6 months, when he went to talk to the seller he happen to see a 1954 Merc Coupe in the garage,so he asked if it was included in the deal. The deal eventually closed for the house AND the car. 4) Offer everyone the chance to make money as a bird dog for you. I always give several of my business cards to anyone I do business with and offer them a portion of any profit I make from any investments they help me locate. You would be amazed at how many people are willing to help you make money when they get a small part of it for doing very little work. (And if you follow rule #2 you will be amazed at how many of those bird dogs will sing your praises from the highest mountains)

These are just some ideas of things to keep in mind when you’re working on your investment mindset. These rules have worked well for me over the years,and in more cases then not, have gotten me more return and repeat networking opportunities then I can count.

Doc Schmyz has invested all over the US. His free website shares Real estate investing information for all over the US. Find real estate information by state

Bank of America sent out nearly 100,000 solicitations to distressed homeowners to offer them a chance at a deed-in-lieu transaction. “Deed-in-lieu” refers to returning the deed to your home to a lender in order to avoid the foreclosure process. You get to walk away from your home, and the lender declares the debt resolved because you returned the home, your collateral. Many lenders have said that they will offer a variety of incentives for this type of transaction because it saves them a great deal of resorces in processing costs even though they may take a hit when they try to resell the home in today’s difficult market.

Some short sale investors are viewing this new trend with concern, particularly since some lenders have stated that they find deed-in-lieu transactions preferable to short sales since short sales take a long time. Additionally, homeowners who are going to lose their homes no matter what may find this to be an acceptable alternative since it is being portrayed as a route to 100% resolving the debt rather than stressing about being followed up with later for the difference just when you have gotten back on your feet.

As a short sale investor, you should not stress about this. There are several homes that will still go through the short sale process, and not all circumstances are going to qualify for a deed-in-lieu transaction. You can point out to homeowners who may be backing out of a short sale that unless the wording in their deed-in-lieu agreement specifies that the debt is considered entirely resolved by the return of the property, as this may not be the case.

Furthermore, while both deed-in-lieu and a short sale do go on your credit history and negatively impact your credit score, a deed-in-lieu remains on your history for a full 7 years, and you may have to request that it be removed. According to new legislation, short sales may be removed as soon as 3 years in some cases.

In fact, some homeowners may opt for a deed-in-lieu transaction in place of a short sale transaction with you. Nevertheless, the current deed-in-lieu “push” could actually be good, since it may put a notch in homes that lenders were unwilling to short sell anyway. Just be willing to answer questions about this sort of transaction, then keep doing your short sales and helping individuals in trouble resolve their housing scenarios.

If you haven’t checked out www.FreeShortSaleCourse.com you are really missing out.

As a short sale investor, you may find that there are times when you find a good short sale deal with the help of a real estate agent. Many times, the agent in question will bill him or herself as a “short sale expert,” which may be a title that helps attract listings and implies a familiarity with the short sale process.

As short sales take over more and more of the market, increasing numbers of agents are labeling themselves in this way. But does this actually mean anything? And is the title worth the commission that the individual in question is going to charge someone – probably you?In some cases, working with an agent who specializes in short sales can really smooth the way through the transaction.

If the agent has a contact with the lender who has the lien on the property or has done a good deal of the legwork necessary to set up the property for a short sale, then their commission may be a small price to pay for the time, effort and money you will save getting the deal under way. In cases where the agent actually has standing relationships with lenders or has already set up the property to be short-sale ready, it will likely be worth it to work with them.

But, other “specialists” may have far more limited use. Some agents simply add this description to their list of titles to indicate that they will work with short sales or know the basics about what one is. In this kind of scenario, they may be little help and you may end up spending a lot of time explaining what you are doing or trying to work around them rather than being able to utilize them as part of your team. If the real estate agent in question cannot contribute to the process in a positive manner, then their specialization will probably not be something that makes them an attractive temporary member of your deal-making team.

Of course, if you find the property with the help of an agent who is a short sale experts, then regardless of whether or not that billing is accurate, you will likely have to work with them. However, if you have a choice in the matter, look for agents who have the relationships and experience to actually back up their claims before you sign them on.

For more great Short Sale Tips visit www.FreeShortSaleCourse.com

There is definitely no shortage of potential short sale transactions in the current housing market. Actually, according to some estimates, about 1 in every 4 homes for sale is up for short sale. That’s 25 percent of the market! But, with the advent of government programs designed to help homeowners get short sales done in a smooth and efficient manner by working closely with their banks, the short sale process is, for many investors who relied on creativity to get their deals done and sold off to other buyers, becoming more complicated rather than less so.

Luckily, not all of the properties are qualified for these programs, and these properties are far more likely to be distressed than your average primary residence. That is right! I’m talking about vacation homes. Around the country, second homes are hitting the market in record numbers.

In Minnesota, “the Land of 10,000 Lakes,” lakefront properties are succumbing to foreclosure in record numbers as owners struggle to negotiate short sales, while analysts predict a serious foreclosure run on Florida beachfront luxury properties as vacation-home owners in that area try to get out before the oil hits the coast or simply opt to walk away.

Second homes are not qualified for federal assistance or short sale programs of any kind in nearly all cases, making them prime candidates for more traditional short sale negotiations. It’s not that the lenders do not want to make a deal, it’s simply that with the huge emphasis on HAMP and HAFA, most people don’t know that they have any other short sale options available.

As a short sale investor, you can help people whose finances and livelihoods are jeopardized by second homes that they cannot afford and that they are unable to sell in a traditional fashion. These properties are a great source of leads for you for short sales, and often they sell at higher values because they may be viewed as “luxury properties.” Make sure that you do not neglect this great potential source of deals when you are investigating short sale leads.

For more short sale tips check out www.FreeShortSaleCourse.com

As a short sale investor, you will often deal with landlords who may be facing foreclosure on rental properties. These short sale deals can be very attractive to traditional short sale negotiators who may have been “locked out” of many deals because of homeowner participation – voluntary and mandatory – in federal short sale programs. However, there are some complications that can occur with rental properties that may not be an issue with first or even second homes that are owned and inhabited by the property owner.

One of the biggest concerns for landlord-sellers bargaining short sales is that even in states that do not assess an income tax on conventional short sales in which a homeowner transacts a short sale on the home that he or she lives in, the short sale of a rental property often will result in the issuance of a 10-99 that will be viewed by the state as income. There are ways to deal with this and one is to appeal it, but when dealing with landlords you must remember that these individuals are subject to a different set of tax laws if they are short selling rental properties.

Also, landlords may find themselves in a distressed situation thanks to insurance issues. Particularly if they have made a claim recently, the insurance company may have hiked their rates or even canceled their policies. Due to plummeting equity in many properties and a number of natural disasters in recent months, finding new insurance for rental properties has been for the most part difficult.

While this may not impact your end buyer, it can effect you or another investor who is purchasing the property to hold or season. Make sure that the property is insured and insurable by you even if you do not plan to hold onto it.

As the rules and regulations on short sales change nearly day-to-day, investors much keep abreast of the changes. Only in this manner can you truly help distressed property owners who need a short sale in order to salvage their savings and exit a property.

PS if you haven’t checked out my Free Short Sale Course you are really missing outwww.FreeShortSaleCourse.com

As short sale professionals, we know that meeting with a homeowner who is in default on their mortgage for the first time is crucial to successfully closing the sale. The results of that first conversation will set the tone for the results of your last one.

If you’re going to be in sales, the first rule is to find out specifically what their issues and concerns really are before you try to sell them anything. When you understand their situation, you’re in a better position to help everyone get what they want. Every experienced salesperson does that.

In the short sale niche, our clients are homeowners in distress. Generally speaking, their problems are obvious, right? They’re losing their house, and they’re drowning financially. Specifically, though, not everyone has exactly the same mindset about their needs during financial troubles. If you want to work with these homeowners, you need to hit home about what is really bugging each of them personally about their situation.

Once you get to the emotional root of the problem, you can focus on creating the solution that will help them the most. As you’re listening to them talk about their problem, you need to be looking for that win-win somewhere in that awful situation. There is usually a win-win there for both you and the homeowner. Your job is to find it, and then help them see it.

You’ve been listening to them for a while, and you now know their story. (If you’re smart, you’ve been letting them do most of the talking.) When they’re done – and only when they’re done – you need to talk about how working with you is the right solution to their problem. That’s where the Positive Results Conversation comes in.

The Positive Results Conversation gives you the chance to repeat their concerns back to them and explain what you can do to help them with each one. This is also the time to explain foreclosure options and how each option may affect their future.

After a good discussion of their options and alternatives to foreclosure, you and the homeowner should discuss the short sale process. Any short sale investor should be able to talk about how this works and why this can be their best option, but you should also be prepared to answer objections from people who don’t trust the system. Together, you can set realistic expectations for the outcome.

Expectations are everything when you are working with homeowners who are in foreclosure. If they know what can and can’t happen, they’re less likely to be suspicious of anything during the process. Managing expectations is the real key to making the Positive Results Conversation work for you. You’ll have more trouble than you know what to do with if you leave this part out of the conversation and then have to explain something crazy that happened later.

That’s also why you shouldn’t stop the Positive Results Conversation until you’re done explaining everything. The homeowner needs to know about everything in your presentation, or they won’t be able to make a fully informed decision about whether to work with you. If you leave an unfinished conversation, the homeowner won’t realize why your proposal can add value to their financial lives, and it may be easier for them to give up too soon.

Bring your own personality to the table, but stick to the script and keep the conversation under 90 minutes. By the end of your presentation, the homeowner should be able to see some positive results already: there is a knowledgeable professional in front of them who is willing and able to help, and there is a solution to their problem besides running away from it and watching what’s left of their credit rating go down in flames.

If you want to learn more, you can read about the whole Positive Results Conversation in the Short Sale Manifesto, which is a special report that can be found on our website (see the link below). There are a lot of talking points, but go over each one with the homeowner. We have done this for years, with positive results for homeowners and for us. Before you know it, you’ll be collecting all the documentation for the short sale package and moving forward.

Always remember that we put this presentation together from our own experience in dealing with homeowners in trouble. Everything on the list has a purpose; everything on that list is there because it will help you succeed as a short sale consultant. You will begin to see your own positive results when people in your own neighborhood start calling you “the problem property expert” and sending referrals your way!

Need to learn more about helping homeowners in pre-foreclosure? Check out the Strategic Real Estate Coach resource page for the best short sale success strategies!

You don’t have to be Donald Trump to realize that Redlands foreclosures often represent some of the best deals in real estate. The banking business is all about making loans to property owners and collecting mortgage payments, not owning property. So when a bank does have to repossess a property for non-payment of the mortgage, they try to sell it again as soon as possible. The means that this is a good time to keep an eye on the foreclosure activity around you to see what comes up.

In the past, only big time real estate investors were interested in Redlands foreclosures. That stands to reason because most of the foreclosed property was pretty beat up in inner city areas with all the problems that come with gang violence and high crime rates. But thanks to the persistent downward spiral of property prices in Redlands, we are seeing many more foreclosures in prime areas like, Redlands, Palm Springs, Redlands and Laguna. These foreclosed homes give investors the opportunity to buy homes in great neighborhoods that they never would have considered before. It’s no wonder, then, that more and more people are shopping for foreclosed homes these days.

So, how do you find these foreclosed properties for sale? Many people waste a lot of time because they think they can do it without a real estate agent — at least at first. They think that is the way to find a great deal. Since there are so many free websites that provide foreclosure listings, that is where they start. You can browse homes by price, size (square footage), or location, and grab the necessary contact details if you want to tender an offer.

Auctions are becoming very popular, both locally and on-line. Some people get tremendous bargains when the are the successful bidder at an auction. Several big advantages are that you can bid on multiple properties and you can limit your bid price to something you can afford. If you bid is accepted, then you stand to come away with the best possible deal. However, there are several drawbacks to buying on the courthouse steps. You don’t get to see inside the property before you buy it. On top of that, you might wind up with a beat up house that has some angry occupants still in it.

And finally, the government always maintains a list of foreclosure properties for sale on the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) website. While most of the listings are for modest single-family homes, you’ll occasionally come across exotic mansions that are being offered for pennies on the dollar. These places have likely been seized in drug raids or from white-collar criminals and are now being sold in order to pay off fines, which means bargain prices for buyers.

The foreclosure crisis has created great hardship for homeowners, but it does mean that there are more affordable homes out there today. If you’re in the market for a new place, it would be smart to check out foreclosure properties for sale instead of hunting for a house through regular channels.

Looking for more information on Foreclosures in Redlands? Get the ultimate low down instantly in our Redlands Foreclosures overview.

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Rent to Own is actually a pretty interesting strategy. While it may not seem like it is worth it from a landlord point of view it, considering you risk having to sell the property and all, it actually can be well worth it.

First for everyone that doesn’t know what a rent to own contract is or how it works let’s go over some of the basics. It is basically an agreement between a tenet and landlord which allows the renter to eventually buy the house at a given price at some point in the future.

For example if the house is worth $100,000 now you might agree to sell it to the renter for $120,000 in 5 years. For this privilege you make some money up front and the renter pays you rent each month. When the 5 years comes up they can decide whether they would like to buy it from you or not. If they chose to buy it from you they will have to pay you $120,000 and you will have to give up the deed to the house.

There are some nice benefits of doing this.

1. The Rent Money is More Secure

If you get a dead beat renter you will have to go through the process of kicking them out and finding a new renter. All the renter loses is a roof over his head for 1 night; they will just go somewhere else and become a dead beat over there. However with a rent to owner in the property you can write it into the agreement that if they stop paying they lose the property and because they are actually working to own the property it will affect them more if they get kicked out of it.

3. Take Good Care Of It

One other advantage is that a rent to owner will actually keep the house in good condition. Someone who rents a property will not care about a property as someone who sees it as their house and is working to pay it down.

3. The Demand is There

There is also a lot of demand when it comes to rent to own contracts. More demand means you will be able to fill it faster and it also means that you will be able to charge more money each month, which is also a bonus.

Renting a house out can be great, but renting to own it can be fantastic.

For more on the rent to own agreement or for more on real estate visit Shaun’s buying rental properties page. Click here to get your own unique version of this article with free reprint rights.