Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog
Why MERS Cannot Be Legal Owner of a Note
Posted on June 6, 2012 by
The Mortgage Electronic Registration System is just that—an electronic registration system. MERS came into being after the GSEs produced a white paper in 1993 stating the case for an electronic registration system to track mortgage assignments. It was officially launched in 1997.
From the point of view of the mortgage industry MERS made it possible to transfer mortgages or merge lender acquisitions efficiently without triggering local transfer taxes and other recording fees. It changes what has always been a public documentation process to a private one. The industry claims the MERS system allows the industry to have a central repository for mortgage assignment information in order to keep a more accurate picture of ownership.
Courts have not been unanimous about the legitimacy of MERS and many courts have ruled that MERS muddies the waters in the recorded chain of title and cheats counties out of much needed revenue. In fact, county recorders in several states have sued the MERS system for loss of documentation fees. On the other hand, the MERS website lists cases it has won in at least 22 states since the beginning of 2011. There is clearly a window of opportunity to fight MERS’ legitimacy as an owner of record in many foreclosure cases. Read More→
Advertise Your Business in The Profit Newsletter for Real Estate Investors & Entrepreneurs
Posted on June 6, 2012 byYour Business in The Profit
For Real Estate Investors & Entrepreneurs
The Profit is Atlanta REIA’s brand new, digital newsletter. The purpose of The Profit is to help keep our members, guests, friends and followers updated on all the ups and downs of the real estate market; changing laws, rules and regulations; the latest real estate investing techniques, strategies and so much more!
The Profit is also designed to all of our subscribers updated and informed of all the events and happenings going on at Atlanta REIA each month as well as exposing them to a wide variety of businesses, vendors and suppliers (such as yours) serving the real estate industry.
If you’re looking to reach the Real Estate Industry here in the Greater Atlanta Metro Area and/or throughout Georgia, you can’t do better than The Profit. Your ad will reach more than 10,000 each month with your message. Our production teams are among some of the best designers in the country. We will make your business look GOOD!
We can help you create an ad that will get your business noticed! And because our digital newsletter is “interactive”, readers can click on the links in your ad to visit your website, squeeze pages, interactive forms, Facebook and Twitter pages, etc. This will result in more visitors to your website(s), better lead conversion and even more customers for your business!
Check out our special introductory advertising rates below for our Gold and Silver Business Members and when you’re ready to start advertising in The Profit, call Christine Griffin at 678-701-7160 or Contact Us Online. For a limited time only, we will design your ad for you at no charge. You can also Download Our Advertising Order Form and get started now!
Option Agreements: An Investor’s Best Friend – Part 2
Posted on June 6, 2012 byIn last week’s column, we described what an option is and the advantages of using them. This week, let’s look at a couple of different types of options in action. (If you missed last week’s column, you’ll find it here.)
Let’s begin with the type of option that most folks are familiar with – lease options. Lease options are best structured using two documents – a lease contract and an option contract. The lease outlines the agreement between the landlord and tenant regarding property rental. The option outlines the agreement between the property owner (usually the landlord) and the tenant regarding the tenant’s right to buy the property.
There is a big difference between a lease purchase and a lease option. With a lease purchase, the tenant is saying he WILL buy the property. With a lease option, the tenant is saying he MAY buy the property. A lease option locks the property owner into selling the property according to the agreed-to terms and conditions outlined in the option agreement. On the other hand, the tenant can exercise his option and buy the property or he can simply walk away. For most buyers, if their goal is to buy the property in the future, a lease option is a better, safer way to go. Read More→
Option Agreements: An Investor’s Best Friend – Part 1
Posted on June 6, 2012 byKim and I have been investing in real estate since 1995. Long ago, we learned that options are – BY FAR – the most powerful tool in real estate. If you are not using options as one of your primary real estate investing tools, then you’re leaving a lot of money and opportunity on the table.
When most folks hear the word “option,” they automatically think lease options. While lease options are very popular, they are just the tip of the option iceberg.
Options allow you to control a property – a little or a lot depending on how the option is written – without the risks that come with property ownership. You can control one or all of the benefits that come with ownership: income, profit, amortization, growth, use, management, and tax benefits.
One of the best things about options is that you can control hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of real estate for less than $100 – and control it for a bunch of years. No other document in real estate is this powerful! Read More→
Full Day Workshop with Larry Harbolt on June 9, 2012
Posted on June 6, 2012 byBusiness Success Workshop
A Full Day Workshop & Strategy Session
with Larry Harbolt on June 9th, 2012
Right now is the best time in modern history to buy real estate. Join Larry Harbolt on Saturday, June 4, 2012, and he will share with you his secrets on how to make money in today’s real estate market. Larry will show you what you really need to know to buy real estate profitably with only $10 down, even if you have bad credit or are bankrupt!
At this workshop, you will learn:
- Buy real estate profitably in any market or economic cycle.
- Learn how to buy real estate when you have No money.
- Buy real estate when you have No good credit.
- Learn how to create the terms to make cash today.
- Learn how to overcome seller objections like a pro.
- Learn the right questions that will create Golden Deals.
- How to create extra profit out of thin air on most of your deals.
- Never have to beg for or apply for a loan again.
- How to buy and sell all the property you want and never use a bank.
- How to structure offers with no payments or interest and get the seller to gladly accept. This will drive your cash flow through the roof.
- Why you can buy millions of dollars in real estate and never have a debt show on your credit report or be personally liable for a penny.
- Build your income stream, like the banks have, acquire free assets, without investing a dime.
- How to change the terms of the loan months or years after the closing and make the seller ecstatic to do so.
- Build an empire from monthly cash flow and cure negative cash flow – The secret only a handful of people know how to do.
- Big profits from the “deal after the deal”. All seller-financed deals have back end profit centers if structured properly, and will cost you a fortune not knowing them.
- How a few carefully chosen words you can easily master in minutes can potentially earn you big paydays when you’re ready to cash out your seller.
Come and join Larry on Saturday, June 9th, 2012 for The Ultimate Fast Track to Your Business Success Workshop. Bring a new pad and a couple sharp pencils because Larry promises you will leave with New Methods, Processes and Systems that are Efficient, Effective and WHEN YOU WILL Learn them can be measured by the NEW CASH in YOUR bank account.
The First Edition of The Profit, Atlanta REIA’s Official Interactive Newsletter
Posted on June 4, 2012 byThe Profit, Atlanta REIA’s brand new, interactive, digital newsletter has now been released for June 2012! The purpose of The Profit is to help keep you and our members, guests, friends and followers updated on all the ups and downs of the real estate market; changing laws, rules and regulations; the latest real estate investing techniques, strategies and so much more! The Profit is also designed to keep you and other subscribers updated and informed of all the events and happenings going on at Atlanta REIA each month as well as exposing you to a wide variety of vendors and suppliers serving the real estate industry. Read More→
Mark Mackie Saves Big This Week Using Atlanta REIA & Community Buying Group Discounts!
Posted on June 2, 2012 by
Below is a testimonial from Mark Mackie, an Atlanta REIA Member who just saved $700 this week, the very first time he used our new Atlanta REIA Community Buying Group Member Discounts at Sherwin Williams and Lowes. Mark saved enough money to pay for his Atlanta REIA Membership for 7 Years! Congratulations Mark, we hope you keep saving big!
To William (CBG Account Representative),
THANK YOU for your help today getting me hooked up on short notice! With your help and key info, I walked into my Sherwin Williams store, placed my order for 40 gallons of Superpaint needed for my latest rehab, and walked out with a paint bill at least $500 LESS than what I would have paid without your help!
To make it even better, I am now hooked up at Lowe’s with the commercial account, so I expect to save at least $200 this weekend on a tub and vanity for this rehab. That’s $700 this week I have saved with the Community Buying Group program!
It’s official! You and CBG have won “Investor Support Group of the Month”!
Mark Mackie, Investor and Member of Atlanta REIA
Below is another Atlanta REIA Member testimonial…
CBG’s Customer Service is outstanding, they went out of their way to make sure I had my new Lowe’s Account set up in less than 24 hours for purchases I needed next day. I saved $100 my first week at Lowe’s. Best of all it didn’t cost me anything to join Community Buying Group; it was included in my Atlanta REIA Membership.
Paula – Real Estate Investor & Atlanta REIA Member – Atlanta, GA
ATTENTION Atlanta REIA Members: If you too would like to take advantage of the big savings offered to Atlanta REIA Members, please Login to the Member Only Area of AtlantaREIA.com and then visit the Member Benefits & Discounts Page to watch the Community Buying Group Video and download the necessary forms to get signed up and start saving!
What’s Happening at Atlanta REIA – Week of June 4, 2012
Posted on May 31, 2012 by
The Profit, Atlanta REIA’s new interactive newsletter, has arrived! The Atlanta REIA Main Meeting is on Monday with Larry Harbolt on Buying and Selling Creative Owner Financing. The Meeting-Before-the-Meeting is on Foreclosures & Short Sales with Bob Massey. There will also be Late Nite Networking at the Meeting-After-the-Meeting at the Tilted Kilt. On Tuesday, there is a Super Smart Technology Webcast and a Mountain REIA Meeting with Jim Hitt of American IRA. Wednesday is the Creative Deal Structuring Group with Steve Brown on Master Lease Options. Thursday is the weekly Haves & Wants meeting. On Saturday, Larry Harbolt is back for a full day workshop on Creative Owner Financing. Read More→
Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on June 4, 2012
Posted on May 31, 2012 byAnd Buy All the Houses You Will Ever Need to Become Independently Wealthy!
with Special Guest, Larry Harbolt
Are You A New Investor Who Doesn’t Know Where To Start? Or, An Old Salt Who Can’t Find Deals – Or You Can’t Find Cheap Enough Money to Buy Properties?
The Truth is many investors only know one way to buy property… with Cash. And now that banks are not lending to just anyone, where do investors turn? The investor today is likely dead in the water unless they know how to Buy with Creative Owner Financing and learn how to Sell with Creative Owner Financing. Larry Harbolt has over 30-plus years of experience doing just that. That is why he has been called the Master at teaching how to buy houses with No Money and No Credit using Creative Owner Financing.
Larry will be with us at our Atlanta REIA Main Monthly Meeting on June 4th and again for a full-day Saturday Training Workshop on June 9th for what could prove to be a career changing and life altering event for you, your family and your business.
How would you like to be able to buy 3 to 6 properties a month without using your own credit or any real money? What would that do for your lifestyle if you could churn out 5, 10 to 25 houses a year making money – helping others get started? All it takes is the proper training and the dedication to get the job done. That is exactly what Larry will do for you. Larry is going to show you how to:
- Learn How to Wholesale at Lightning Speed = Pay off Debts & Stable Cash Flow!
- Learn How to Buy Properties Without Banks! = No Credit and No Money
- Learn How to Become Wealthy Owning Properties That Are Paid Off in 8.3 Years!
- Learn How to Create Non Recourse Financing and Never Gamble Again!
- Learn How to Sell at Lightning Speed! Don’t Be a Puppet to a Bankers Whim!
- Learn How to Become Wealthy and Be Done in 3-5 Years!
“New Member Orientation” is a mini-session hosted by Karen Bershad that is designed to introduce our new members (and guests interested in become a member) to our organization and show them multiple ways they can get involved, get connected and get educated. Come learn more about our website, meetings, networking events, workshops, webcasts, replays and more!
“What’s Happening at Atlanta REIA” is a mini-session hosted by Atlanta REIA Executive Director, Dustin Griffin, to update our members and guests on many of the exciting new things that are going on at Atlanta REIA in the upcoming weeks and months such as upcoming workshops, webcasts, special events, member’s benefits and more!
“There’s an App for That” is a fun new mini-session dedicated to updating you on some of the latest and greatest applications or “apps” for your iPad, iphone or Droid smartphones and tablets for both business and personal use. We want to help you become a high-tech, mobile real estate entrepreneur and this month, Don DeRosa is going to help you do just that!
“Have’s & Wants Speed Marketing” is 30 minute marketing session hosted by Joe Thompson that is held to help facilitate deals by giving our members the opportunity to quickly market things they HAVE and no longer want and to find things they WANT but don’t yet have. Be sure to get to the meeting early and get on the speed marketing list if you want to participate.
The Short Sale & Foreclosure Group (SSF), hosted by Bob Massey, will have it’s quarterly meeting on Monday, June 4th at 3 PM in a private meeting room at Total Wine & More located at 124 Perimeter Center W (see map). The Short Sale & Foreclosure Group is a educational and networking group that meets once per quarter to discuss how to invest in houses that are behind on payments, in foreclosure, are going to auction soon or have already been foreclosed upon. Atlanta REIA Members and first time guests can attend this meeting at NO Charge. Read more→
After the conclusion of the Main Meeting, we will be reconvening at the Tilted Kilt Perimeter located at 1155-B Mount Vernon Highway in Atlanta for the “Meeting after the Meeting”. The Tilted Kilt will be offering half price appetizers as well as food and drink specials for our members and guests. Come eat, drink, network and have fun with us as hang out late into the night!
*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change.
Each and every month, for the duration of our meeting, we have a Vendor Tradeshow in which you can come out and meet many of our participating business members who help sponsor our meeting. It’s not to late to sponsor this meeting. Thanks again sponsors!
Lima One Capital, LLC – A fully capitalized, direct lender for residential real estate investors and homebuilders. We are fully capitalized and our team prides itself on closing loans quickly for our clients. Read More→
Networth Realty of Atlanta, LLC – A licensed, full-service residential wholesale brokerage that specializes in finding quality wholesale properties and making them available to you. Read More→
American IRA – The American IRA mission is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry. Read More→
The Small Business Advisor – A full service small business consulting firm specializing in QuickBooks with a wide variety of specialized services, trainings and products for small businesses. Read More→
Solutions Realty Network – Providing expert property management and investment services since 2003. You invest and we take care of the rest! We’re the solution to all your real estate needs. Read More→
Atlanta Private Lending – Atlanta’s premier private real estate lending company. We provide private, hard money loans to professional real estate investors for renovation and investment purposes. Read More→
Halperin Lyman, LLC – A transactional real property law firm devoted to providing the full spectrum of non-litigation related real estate legal and consulting services to its clientele. Read More→
Atlanta Carpet Services, Inc. – Providing carpet, wood, vinyl, and tile, ACS is dedicated to every aspect of your floor covering needs from initial consultation to the sale and follow-up services. Read More→
Fuller Center for Housing of Greater Atlanta – A faith-driven, Christ-centered, non-profit organization dedicated to providing adequate shelter for people in need in the Greater Atlanta area. Read More→
Scott Bowen’s Specialized Services
C. Brown Property Management & Investments LLC
Angel Oak Funding
Goldmine Properties, Inc.
Also, special thanks to all of our volunteers that help make our meetings and networking events possible!
Webcast Replay: Hot New Atlanta REIA Member Benefits
Posted on May 25, 2012 by
If you missed Ben Rao, President of the Community Buying Group, at the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting for May, he joined us on a What’s Hot in Real Estate Investing Webcast where he updated us on all of the hot new Member Benefits available to Atlanta REIA Members through our new relationship with the Community Buying Group. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up new ideas on doing business better and how to save money on products and services you may already be using from suppliers such as Lowe’s, Sun Belt Tool Rentals, Sherwin Williams, Sears Commercial, Sprint /Nextel, Rent Fast, Build a Sign and many others. There are no programs to buy since these benefits are already included in your paid Atlanta REIA Membership. Watch this webcast replay and Ben will show you how to get started so you can save BIG! Read More→
What’s Happening at Atlanta REIA – Week of May 28, 2012
Posted on May 25, 2012 byHappy Memorial Day Weekend! Savannah REIA is meeting on Memorial Day, Monday, May 28th at 6 PM at Barnes Restaurant in Savannah. Haves & Wants with Joe Thompson will be meeting on Thursday, May 31st at 1:30 PM at 5 Seasons Brewing in Sandy Springs. And don’t forget, the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting is coming up on Monday, June 4th with Larry Harbolt on Buying and Selling Creative Owner Financing! Read More→
The #1 Killer of Success
Posted on May 25, 2012 by
These days, with so much negative information out there pummeling us every day, it’s critical that we counterbalance all the doom and gloom news with twice as much positive information and stories.
For example, Kim and I spent this past week in Florida. One morning we went yard selling. This particular day, we came across a guy who was selling almost everything he owned. Turned out he was losing his home to foreclosure and had to be moved out in a couple of days.
The guy was so negative we had to stand a few extra steps back to ensure we didn’t catch his negative funk. He blamed his situation on the government, the banks, rich folks, the economy, BP Oil, Presidents Obama and Bush, etc. Never once did he take any responsibility for getting himself into his financial mess. Read More→
