Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog
Even the Banks Can’t Believe What the Banks Are Doing
Posted on January 1, 2015 byThe banks are turning on each other! Over the past few years, Americans have become aware of the financial fraud that was committed against the country by the major banks. The more the public hears about the Federal Reserve spending $60-70 billion dollars every month to buy garbage loans back from the banks that created them at 100 cents on the dollar, the more upset they get. Well it looks like the banks are starting to get upset with each other, too. Bank of New York Mellon (BONY) has sued JP Morgan Chase for misrepresenting the value of a pool of loans that was sold to BONY for nearly $1 billion. You would think that BONY would expect this sort of thing from Chase. After all, it has been common knowledge for years that the banks have been lying about the values of their loans and mortgage backed securities since the beginning of the housing boom. In fact, we now have the first person testimony of a person who tried to stop the fraud at Chase.
According to Chase whistleblower Alayne Fleischmann, Chase knowingly bundled up garbage loans with good ones, slapped a good rating on them, and sold them off to investors. These garbage loans were referred to as “scratch and dent” in the industry because they were a lot like dinged up cars – worth nowhere near the same amount as cars in good condition. This isn’t just an accusation though. Chase has admitted to selling hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of these loans to investors by lying about their quality. Not only do they admit to doing this, they also admit that they were warned by people like Fleischmann that they were committing fraud by knowingly selling these mortgage backed securities. Read More→
Getting the Most Out of Attending a Seminar or Conventions (Part II of II)
Posted on January 1, 2015 byIn the previous article (if you missed it, see Part I), I mentioned about all the things you’ll need to do before and during attending a seminar to maximize the investment of your time and resources.
However, that’s not enough. If you really want to capitalize (and I’m assuming you do, otherwise you’d not be reading this), you MUST implement these post seminar suggestions. Actually, these are more than just “suggestions” they are requirements to truly maximize the experience of being there.
1. What To Do With The Business Cards
I hope you collected tons of business cards (or exchanged contact information electronically) to expand your contacts and sphere of influence. Now what do you do with them? Stack them in some corner of your work desk at your office or home perhaps with the rubber band? No, that’ll not do. I hope you’ve some kind of contact management software (I use Infusionsoft.com). Type them (preferably your assistant) into your contact manager or you can use a business card reader to make it faster. I give my stack of business cards (with notes on back) to my assistant and they go into my CRM (Customer Relationship Management) software for follow up actions. On the back of the card, I write down where and when we met and anything that stands out about that person in the notes section of the contact. Read More→
Who Values the House More?
Posted on January 1, 2015 byInvestors and homeowners alike are almost intuitively inclined to have a higher opinion of their existing or potential properties than other parties. This would include potential buyers, lenders, brokers and even appraisers. However, this wasn’t always the case during the bubble years of the last decade. We know inflated real estate appraisals contributed to the excesses. The data within REIAComps has consistently shown investors how to determine both solid acquisition value and after repair value for residential real estate.
For those of you already connected to REIAComps, the control and feeling of confidence you have over your deals is priceless. Having valuation data at the ready adds power and knowledge to your tool belt. Use REIAComps to investigate the changing values of dwellings no matter what market area you are in.
When we look at the half-dozen years after the financial crisis, everything got turned upside down. We know Appraisers became in most cases overly conservative. Every one saw Appraisal values were consistently lower than homeowner value opinions from 2007 to 2013. We could even say this factor was a drag on the U.S. housing-market recovery. Read More→
Should Investors Have a Real Estate License?
Posted on January 1, 2015 byI have been asked by new and veteran investors if they should consider getting a real estate license. My response is usually, “Sure, why not?” I do not want to push them into it nor do I want to convince them not to do it. I simply want them to consider for themselves their own pros and cons of having a license. Personally, I like having my license and could not imagine being an investor without one.
Are there cons to having a license? Yes, but the cons are insignificant or temporary. The one con that most investors and real estate agents alike share is the cost of having a license. Just getting licensed is an investment. You need to take some classes and make a minimum score before given permission to take the actual exam to get licensed, which cost a few hundred dollars. Once you are licensed and depending in what state you are in you must pay a National Realtor Association fee, local Realtor fee, MLS fee and brokerage fees. In order to keep the license you must also pay to take continuing education courses. However, if you close enough properties they will more than pay for these fees. Another con you may have as an investor is having to work for a brokerage. Read More→
What’s New in QuickBooks 2015?
Posted on January 1, 2015 byIt is the goal of this column to answer questions about QuickBooks® and how it is used in the REI arena. Know how to record transactions in the proper way and have your set of books in good shape when it comes time for taxes. It is our intention to do this by you the members submitting questions to Karen@smallbusinessadvisor.biz, and getting answers here in this column.
QuickBooks Pro 2015
If you have QuickBooks 2013 or 2014 and are thinking about purchasing 2015 version – there are a few changes to this update. I will point out just a couple here but there are many more.
The same as 2014, QuickBooks Pro 2015 has a “What’s New”yellow bar on the side of many of the windows that have new features. When you click on the bar an overlay feature will pop up to indicate where the new features are. Most of these are in your shortcut windows. Once you have viewed them and are comfortable that you know the features you can turn off the yellow bar under the “Help” drop down list. You can always turn it back on if you need to refresh your memory about a feature. Read More→
Atlanta REIA Meets on January 5, 2015
Posted on December 27, 2014 by& Vendor Trade Show
Past, Present & Future
Atlanta REIA Members Can Attend at No Charge. This month,
Guests Can RSVP Online Now for $20 or Pay $25 at the Door.
At Atlanta REIA on Monday, January 5th, we are very excited to have Rhonda Duffy, Dyches Boddiford and Bill Cook, three very well respected real estate professionals sharing their insights on the Atlanta Real Estate Market. They will discuss what they’ve witnessed in 2014 and previous years, what is likely to occur in 2015 and beyond, and what it means to investors, buyers and sellers going forward in the New Year.
Each guest speaker is actively involved in their real estate niche and is well respected by their peers. This is an opportunity to hear from folks who truly have valuable first-hand insights into the Atlanta Real Estate Market. You do not want to miss this meeting as we kick off the New Year with valuable information you need to know.
With Rhonda Duffy
Rhonda Duffy is the founder, owner and broker of Duffy Realty of Atlanta and she presently ranks as the #1 Agent in Georgia, 11 years in a row, according to the MLS and FMLS and also the #1 Retail Agent in the entire USA for SOLD properties. Considered as a credible real estate expert and consumer advocate, Rhonda has been interviewed and published in hundreds of articles. She has been in the Wall Street Journal at least 20 times, on CNN, CNBC, on 4 major news channels, on Clark Howard’s Prime Time Real Estate special, quoted on MarketWatch and many, many publications. She is also an industry consultant, radio host and licensed auctioneer.
At our Meeting, Rhonda will be discussing:
- An Overview of the Real Estate Market in 2014 (Closing out the year and what we have seen)
- The Real Estate Market Projections for 2015 for Buyers and Sellers (What to expect from retail buyers and sellers and investors)
- Projections/Overview of What Might Be Profitable for Investors in 2015
With Dyches Boddiford
Dyches Boddiford is a full time investor who speaks from year of experience in a variety of real estate areas too numerous to mention here. His seminars and conferences are intended for the serious real estate investor. In fact, every January a number of serious advanced real estate investors fly into Atlanta to spend a weekend networking, sharing information and listening to Dyches teach his Advanced Strategies Conference. One of the highlights of the conference is Dyches’ “State of the Market” presentation where he reviews the highlights of the current market and gives his insights and projections of the coming year.
At our Meeting, Dyches will give us a preview of his State of the Market address as he helps us view the Real Estate Market from a much broader perspective such as:
- What is happening in the Capital Markets?
- What effect will Washington have on the financial world we operate in?
- What impact will Wall Street have on the Real Estate Market?
- Are there significant tax changes that will affect real estate?
- How will the political and economic climate affect the everyday real estate investor?
See more info on Dyches’s Advanced Strategies Conference >>
With Bill Cook
Bill Cook and his wife Kim have been investing in real estate since 1995. Their investment portfolio includes single-family homes, mobile homes, and a small mobile home park. When it comes to creative deal structuring and funding, Bill is among the best, most experienced investors in the country. Bill firmly believes that the key to being a successful real estate investor is to own a number of PAID-FOR investment properties than bring in mailbox money each and every month. Bill and Kim have been teaching others how to successfully invest in real estate since 1997 and have written a syndicated real estate investing news column since 2003 that is published in a number of Georgia newspapers as well as the Atlanta REIA Profit Newsletter.
At the Meeting, Bill will teach you about the three stages of real estate investing: Starters, Estate Builders and Enders. Do you know which category you’re in? Do you know how to profit from the two categories that you’re not in? Are you aware that everything you need to do a deal is contained within these three groups of real estate investors: The deal, the money, the paperwork, the management, and the know-how? Did you know that you can find each category of investor at the Atlanta REIA meetings?
At our Meeting, you will learn:
- What is a Starter, Estate Builder and Ender?
- What benefits do each group of investors bring to the deal-making table?
- Where will you find the best, fastest and safest source of money to fund your next deal?
- What’s the difference between being a bird-dog and a wholesaler…and is either one an Estate Builder?
- What is the primary paperwork used by each category of investor?
- Is it possible for flippers and wholesalers to retire wealthy?
- What are the two things that make you money while you sleep? (This is why every real estate investor’s goal should be to become an Ender!)
Come join us at the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on Monday, January 5th and learn all you can about the Atlanta Real Estate Market from 3 highly successful, local real estate experts!
Atlanta REIA Members Can Attend at No Charge. This month,
Guests Can RSVP Online Now for $20 or Pay $25 at the Door.
Will 2015 be the year you exceed your own expectations in real estate investing? Have you already set your goals and expectations for 2015 and know what success will look like for you? Whether you have or not, be sure to start the New Year off right with Rock and Russ on January 5th at the Meeting-before-the-Meeting at 5:00PM.
In this one hour meeting Rock and Russ will teach you how start your new year the right way by creating a step-by-step plan of action, creating a system to become successful in your real estate niche or how to move your real estate business to the next level. Rock and Russ are two active and highly successful investors who will help you create a simple and yet powerful action plan for 2015.
At the Meeting, Rock & Russ will teach you:
- Goal Setting for Success
- Plan for Sharpening Your Ax
- Getting Control of Your Busy Life
- Getting Control of Your Cash Flow
- Easy to Follow Systems for Success
- And Much, Much More!
This is a no nonsense opportunity for you to start the New Year with a bang. The goal of this powerful training session is to have you walk out with plan of action for you future as a highly successful real estate investor.
*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change.
At 5:00 PM in the Main Lobby, we have a Vendor Trade Show that lasts throughout the meeting where you can come out and meet many of our participating Business Members and Vendor Guests who help sponsor our meeting. See a full list of our vendors and sponsors below as they are added.
Vendor tables are limited, so any vendors wanting to reserve a table for the meeting can RSVP for a Vendor Table here. Vendor tables are reserved and setup on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Starting at 6:15 PM, Dustin Griffin kicks off the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting with updates and announcements. Dustin covers what’s happening at Atlanta REIA in the upcoming weeks and months such as upcoming workshops, webcasts, special events, members benefits and much more! Be sure to be in the main meeting room at 6:15 PM for your chance to be one of the first to receive a printed copy of The Profit Newsletter while supplies last.
At approximately 6:30 PM, Joe Thompson will be hosting the Haves & Wants Speed Marketing Session which gives our members the opportunity to quickly market deals they HAVE and to find deals they WANT. We also give our business members the opportunity to get up and say a few words about their businesses. Members who want to participate in the Haves & Wants Marketing Session must bring your flyers and get to the meeting early to get on Joe’s list of participants.
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting, we will be reconvening at Three Dollar Cafe located at 6050 Peachtree Pkwy #100 in Norcross, GA at 9:30 PM for the Late Nite Networking and the “Meeting-After-The-Meeting”!
- Do you love hanging out with other fun loving, like-minded real estate investors who love to talk about real estate investing and doing deals?
- Do you want to work with fun, energetic people who are consistently doing deals?
- Are you always looking for new contacts and resources to build your real estate dream team?
- Do you ever have trouble putting together profitable deals and need help?
- Are you constantly looking for new leads sources as well as home buyers and sellers?
If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then you belong at Late Nite Networking! Whether you are brand new to real estate investing or have years of experienced, everyone benefits from Late Nite Networking. Come eat, drink, connect, and have fun with like-minded real estate entrepreneurs as we network late into the night!
There is no charge for Atlanta REIA Members or guests to attend Late Nite Networking at the Three Dollar Cafe, so bring a friend and head on down to Late Nite Networking! Just be sure you order food and beverages from the cafe and please tip their wait staff generously.
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>>
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>>
Goldmine Properties, Inc. – As Atlanta’s first full service real estate wholesaler, we offer wholesale property at 65% loan to value, with financing available. Purchase price and repairs are 65% of certified after repaired appraisal. Read More>>
Advanta IRA Administration – With the help of your local Advanta IRA staff, use your IRA to invest in assets you know, understand and control, such as real estate, notes & mortgages, private placements, and much more! Read More>>
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>>
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>>
Craftbuilt, Inc. – We are a Metro Atlanta design-build construction firm specializing in whole-structure renovations, restorations, and new construction. No matter what the situation, we are up to the challenge! Read More>>
CRS Data – We offer comps from the MLS & FSBO’s, custom searches, property tax records, interactive maps, sales & mortgage info, real estate valuations, mailing lists & more. Read More>>
DirectBuy of Atlanta – We are a private members-only buying club that gives you huge buying power by eliminating mark-up and the middleman, saving you thousands of dollars and up to 50% or more over retail and online sales prices. Read More>>
Century 21 Results Realty Service (Scott Swanson) – Century 21 Results Realty Services is like no other real estate company and that is our promise to clients and customers. Our associates are the experts in the Atlanta area.
Air Conditioning Experts, Inc. – For all your air conditioning services throughout Atlanta, contact Air Conditioning Experts. We have all the training and experience necessary to ensure the success of your home cooling system.
Island REIA Winter Retreat – Dave Biddison from Dream Trips will be at the Meeting to tell you about our first annual Island REIA Winter Retreat that will take place on January 18th – 24th at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, an All-Inclusive Resort, in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. 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>>
- GA Home Deals
Rhonda Duffy
Posted on December 27, 2014 byRhonda Duffy is the founder, owner and broker of Duffy Realty of Atlanta and she presently ranks as the #1 Agent in Georgia, 11 years in a row, according to the MLS and FMLS and also the #1 Retail Agent in the entire USA for SOLD properties.Considered as a credible real estate expert and consumer advocate, Rhonda has been interviewed and published in hundreds of articles. She has been in the Wall Street Journal at least 20 times, on CNN, CNBC, on 4 major news channels, on Clark Howard’s Prime Time Real Estate special, quoted on MarketWatch and many, many publications. Read More→
Merry Christmas 2014 & Happy Holidays!
Posted on December 24, 2014 byfrom Atlanta REIA
All of us at Atlanta REIA want to thank you so much for being a part of our organization this year and want to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas and a Very Happy, Healthy and Wealthy New Year! We look forward to another great year in 2015… More deals, more networking opportunities, more affordable training workshops & boot camps and much more fun! We’ll see you on next year! Thanks again and God Bless!
Your Invited to the Atlanta REIA BIG Christmas Party 2014!
Posted on December 9, 2014 byMon, Dec 15th at the Hudson Grille Sandy Springs
with Special Guest Speakers & Sponsors
*Food & Non-Alcoholic Beverages Included!
Atlanta REIA wants to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays! On Monday, December 15th at 6:30PM, we’re having a very special Atlanta REIA BIG Meeting & Christmas Party at the Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd NE in Sandy Springs, GA. Atlanta REIA Gold Members can attend for $10, Silver Members for $15 and Guests for $30. RSVP Now & Save Your Seats!
*PLEASE NOTE: Food and non-alcoholic Beverages will be provided for those who register and show up on time. Attendees can also order off the Hudson Grille menu and/or purchase adult beverages at the cash bar at their own expense as if they wish.
We also have a very exciting line up of guest speakers whom all happen to be Atlanta REIA subgroup leaders. We also have ten vendor sponsors who will be in attendance as well. There will be lots of food, fun, networking, education and a cash bar as well. Come and celebrate the Christmas season with your fellow real estate investors and get ready for an exciting New Year full of new opportunities and exciting possibilities. RSVP Now!
Don DeRosa – Apps For Organizing and Planning To Ensure Success In 2015
Russ Hiner – Special Creative Deal Structuring Exercises
Joe Thompson – Taking Advantage of Haves And Wants
Rateb Rock Shukoor – The Real Estate Investors Marketing Mindset for 2015
This Christmas Party will sell out fast, so please RSVP Now to reserve your seats so you can come celebrate the holiday season with us! Again Atlanta REIA Gold Members are $10 per person, Silver Members are $15 and Non Members $30. The small fee is to help cover the food and room rental. RSVP Now and we’ll save you a seat. We hope to see you there!
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>>
American IRA – The American IRA mission is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry.
Read More>>
Goldmine Properties, Inc. – As Atlanta’s first full service real estate wholesaler, we offer wholesale property at 65% loan to value, with financing available. Purchase price and repairs are 65% of certified after repaired appraisal. 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>>
Advanta IRA Administration, LLC. – With the help of your local Advanta IRA staff, use your IRA to invest in assets you know, understand and control, such as real estate, notes & mortgages, private placements, and much more! Read More>>
DirectBuy of Atlanta – We are a private members-only buying club that gives you huge buying power by eliminating mark-up and the middleman, saving you thousands of dollars and up to 50% or more over retail and online sales prices. 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>>
RenterUp – RenterUp is an online platform that simplifies rental management for busy property managers by helping them collect rent, manage maintenance issues, and manage their rental applications.
Century 21 Results Realty Service (Scott Swanson) – Centruy 21 Results Realty Services is like no other real estate company and that is our promise to clients and customers. Our associates are the experts in the Atlanta area from Buckhead to Lake Lanier.
Comcast Xfinity (Dylon Ross) – Comcast Xfinity provides the fastest In-Home Wifi, home phone service, and a total home security and control solution that simplifies your life.
Advertise in The Profit Newsletter for One Full Year for as Little as $495 per Year!
Posted on December 5, 2014 byThe Atlanta REIA Profit Newsletter
For as Little as $495/year?
The Profit Newsletter Advertising Special for 2015: Also, we have a great New Year Special running on One Full Page Ad in The Profit Newsletter for Atlanta REIA Business Members. Gold Members can get One Full Page Ad for One Full Year for Only $495! Silver Members for Only $695! Any of our current advertisers can take advantage of this special as well. We will simply add an additional year to any remaining ads you have with us. If you sign up now, your Ad(s) will run from January 2015 through December 2015.
We are limiting this special to the 1st 10 Vendors who commit, so click here to Sign Up Now for As Little as $495/Year! Offer expires soon!
Joe Thompson at Atlanta REIA South on Goal Setting
Posted on December 3, 2014 byFail To Plan, Plan To Fail
with Special Guest, Joe Thompson
at Club E in College Park
We are pleased to announce that Joe Thompson will be our special guest speaker this month at the Atlanta REIA South Group on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:00 PM at Club E located at 3707 Main Street in College Park on the topic of Goal Setting.
Would you ever build your own house without a detailed set of plans? Why then would you try to build your business without a great plan? Do you know that only 7% of Americans retire financially secure or wealthy? Their secret? Planning! Would you like to be part of that 7%? Joe Thompson will show you a step-by-step process to shift your strategies and create a 2015 Action Plan that will create massive RESULTS in your business. Take control, get organized and learn proven profit strategies that will guarantee that 2015 will be the best year you have ever had.
What You Will Learn:
- The first place you should start when it comes to planning
- The 3 shifts that separate the top 5% of business owners
- How to implement your goals and plans
- How to ensure your motivation continues all year long
- And much, much more!
Joe is going to educate you about the very most important things you can do that will make the difference between your success and failure, literally. The information he is going to give us is so powerful that it doesn’t matter whether or not you spend a gazillion dollars on going to trainings to learn real estate, then give it everything you’ve got–if you miss these key things, you might as well just give it up now! So, do not only plan to be at this event, BE THERE no matter what! Read More→
Learn to Create a Goldmine in No Time at CDS
Posted on December 3, 2014 bywith Regina Sitterley
At Hudson Grille in Sandy Springs
Come join us at Creative Deal Structuring on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30PM at Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs where Regina Sitterley will be presenting how a full-time mother of 3 daughters, with a W-2 job, can succeed in real estate investing using very simple techniques that anyone can learn and implement.
Most of us would consider ourselves busy people. Obligations and responsibilities can seem to take up so much of our day. We all have the same 24 hours though, right? You may have wanted success in real estate investing, but just do not know where that could fit into your busy schedule. Regina is someone who has discovered how to juggle her busy life and make her real estate investing a success. Come join us on Wednesday, December 3rd at 6:30PM at Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs and let Regina Sitterley show you how she has made her investing a great success. If you haven’t had the success you want in real estate and think you just don’t have enough time, this is one event NOT TO MISS!
You will learn:
- Do You Have A Deal Or A Dud?
- What Types Of Offers To Make
- What Tools Are Available To Manage Your Time?
- How To Minimize Your Risks
- And Much, Much More…
Before our main presentation, bring us your deals and let’s see how we can make several creative structures for maximum profit! Led By Russ Hiner.
Regina bought her first investment property right out of college in 2002. She has bought and sold real estate in upstate NY as well as the Atlanta area. In the past 2 years she has wholesaled 20+ deals and is involved with other projects as well. She has three lovely daughters ages 16, 10 and 3, and a day-job as an occupational therapist. Her goal is to continue wholesaling and rehabbing with long term plans to buy and hold. She enjoys teaching other new investors how to be successful with wholesaling
Atlanta REIA Members can attend at No Charge! Non-Members pay $20 per person. Seating is limited! Get there early & network!
*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change. Read More→