Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog
Learn to Keep it Legal When Raising Private Money to Fund Your Deals on Oct 27th, 2014 at West Group
Posted on October 22, 2014 by
Come join us at the Atlanta REIA West Group on Monday, October 27th at 6:30PM at Cherokee Cattle Company located at 2710 Canton Rd in Marietta, where Jim Hitt will be showing YOU how to keep yourself out of legal trouble when you are raising private money for your investing. Raising money from strangers is not as simple as you might think, especially when you have to deal with SEC guidelines and a real estate market that has brought about countless negative media headlines. Despite the negative headlines, the real estate market is ripe with incredible deals — deals so good we will be talking about them for decades.
Raising the money necessary to fund these deals is one of the biggest challenges for many investors. Banks are extremely tight and cash is king since sellers want cash! Raising private money isn’t always as simple as asking family, friends and contacts. Sometimes you have to engage strangers and somehow convince them to start writing you checks or wire money all without violating SEC guidelines.
You will learn:
- How To Find Private Lenders
- How To Negotiate For The Best Deal
- The Legal Aspects Of Raising Funds
- How To Not Run Afoul Of The Law
- And much, much more.
Jim is the founder and President of American IRA. He is also a successful investor as well. Come and network with Jim and other fellow investors.
DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA West Meeting (after 9:00 PM), we will be hanging out at the Cherokee Cattle Company for Late Nite Networking also known as the “Meeting After the Meeting”. So please come eat, drink, network and have fun with like-minded investors and real estate professionals as we hang out late into the night!
*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change.
The Atlanta REIA West Monthly Meeting is an Atlanta REIA Subchapter led by Leslie Mathis that is held on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:30 PM at the Cherokee Cattle Company restaurant located at 2710 Canton Road in Marietta, GA. Atlanta REIA Members can attend for FREE and guests for $10.00. Show up at 6:30 PM to eat and network before the meeting officially starts at 7:00 PM. Buying your own meal is optional but highly recommended and greatly appreciated since the Cherokee Cattle Company allows us to use their meeting room. There will be lots of learning and lots of networking. Bring your deals and your haves, wants and needs to the event.
Learn to Keep Your Vacancies Rate to a Minimum at the New Peachtree City Group
Posted on October 22, 2014 by
Come join us at the Atlanta REIA Peachtree City EPIC Group on Tuesday, October 28th at 6:30PM at Green Ginger Asian Fusion Restaurant located at 200 Market Place Connector in Peachtree City, GA, where Chris & Donna Littleton will be showing YOU how to keep vacancies in your properties at an absolute minimum.
If you are a landlord, you probably realize how important it is to keep the cash flow coming in on your properties. If no one is making payments on your property, your investment will have a negative cash flow and you will be pulling money out of your pocket to make the payments.
If you would like to learn new techniques to keep your investment properties cash flowing, please join Chris & Donna Littleton of Solutions Realty Network at this month’s meeting and let them show you different methods of keeping your vacancies to a minimum.
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA EPIC Meeting (after 9:00 PM), we will be hanging out at the Green Ginger Restaurant for Late Nite Networking also known as the “Meeting After the Meeting”. So please come eat, drink, network and have fun with like-minded investors and real estate professionals as we hang out late into the night!
The EPIC Group (which stands for “Education, Properties, Income and Community”) is a Peachtree City Real Estate Investing Group that is all about buy and hold real estate investing, long term income and building your net worth. The meeting takes place at the Green Ginger Asian Fusion Restaurant located at 200 Market Place Connector in Peachtree City, GA. The host for this event is Donna Littleton, Broker & CEO of Solutions Realty Network, and her husband Chris Littleton. There is no charge for Atlanta REIA Members and currently no charge for non-members as well.
Onsite Renovation Group Meets on October 21st at Noon in Atlanta
Posted on October 20, 2014 byMeets Tuesday, October 21st at NOON
576 John Wesley Dobbs Ave, Atlanta, GA 30312
This Month, on Tuesday, October 21st at NOON, the Onsite Renovation Group property located at 576 John Wesley Dobbs Ave NE, Atlanta, GA 30312 where we are doing a new construction. Our client purchased a house that had 3 walls and we have already demolished the structure. The site is being prepped for the new house to be built while we are working through the permitting process with the City of Atlanta. Join us to hear Aaron talk about the unique challenges of demolition and new construction. The project is in the Old Fourth Ward, which is a neighborhood that has suddenly become hot because of the proximity to the Beltline and the Ponce City Market development in the historic Sears building. Don’t miss this meeting that should prove to be very informative on some new topics we haven’t addressed before!
The Onsite Renovation Group, led by Aaron McGinnis of Craftbuilt Properties, is an educational and networking group that focuses on the acquisition, renovation and retail resale (fix and flip) of single family residential homes inside the I-285 perimeter and the in-town neighborhoods. The purpose of this group is to allow both new and experienced rehabbers and investors to meet, network and share knowledge and experience with “hands on” access to real property. The Onsite Renovation Group meets on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at NOON at an active renovation site, build site or rental property which will vary from month to month. There is currently no charge to attend these meeting.
Alisha Spence
Posted on October 14, 2014 by
Alisha Spence is an Associate Broker with Duffy Realty who has been specializing in the valuation, sales, and marketing of investment real estate in the Metro Atlanta suburbs since 2005. Alisha is experienced in many aspects of real estate including residential and commercial property management, managing operations, acquisitions and sales for one of the largest and most productive real estate investment companies in Atlanta – HomeVestors® of America, and traditional client representation for both retail and wholesale transactions. She worked with Private Equity and Commercial Investment Firm – Euram, Inc., and she has an extensive research background which has been extremely beneficial to her clients. She has worked with investors having been a member several Atlanta Real Estate Investor Associations and has taught valuation classes for many groups. She sat on an Ethics committee in 2007 and cares very much about Ethics in Real Estate for her clients.
Learn How to Sell Houses in 3 Days & Build a Huge Buyers List
Posted on October 13, 2014 by& Build a Huge Buyers List
with Greg Cesar on October 13
at Hudson Grille, Sandy Springs, GA
We are very excited to announce that Greg Cesar, a great marketer, successful active coach, mentor and speaker in the area of marketing, will be our special guest speaker at the All Inclusive Marketing (AIM) Group on Monday, October 13th at 7:00 PM at the Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs. It won’t take long before you realize that Greg is an expert marketer and can help your business grow. If you need more laser targeted traffic to your website, then Greg Cesar is your man.
Greg will discuss how to make your phone ring off the hook with hungry buyers and sell any investment property fast without a real estate agent or paying huge commissions.
During this meeting you will learn the 4 part system he uses to go from zero responses to an unstoppable avalanche of leads in only 3 short days. You’ll learn exactly why even his real estate agent begged him to teach her what he did.
Here’s a little of what you will learn at the meeting:
- Why you don’t need an agent and don’t to pay commissions if you don’t have to
- The real reason your agent does an open house and why it doesn’t help you
- How to reach prospects your agent don’t know exist
- How to make your phone start ringing with hungry buyers in just a few days
- Where you should market your property to get sales fast
- How to get out of state buyers with deep pockets calling you
- How to create demand for your property before it’s even listed
- The one thing you can do today that will have leads coming in forever
- The one tool that automatically sends buyers without having to lift a finger
- The one thing you have to ask every prospect that will sell your properties faster than anyone else on the market
- All this and much, much more…
Greg Cesar is an international expert in creative internet marketing strategies. Greg has helped thousands of students to drive more laser targeted traffic to their websites. Greg is a creative thinker and uses out of the box strategies to dominate niche markets. In his courses and training, you will learn how to use MindSet Marketing and find hidden entry points in your mark. You’ll learn the emotional triggers that get more people to click on your ads and buy from you. You’ll even learn how to go after large competitive markets and get your clicks for pennies while others spend dollars.
BONUSES FOR ATTENDING: Rock has some special bonuses for all those who show up early or on time: (1) a Complimentary 90 minute “Find Your Money Direction Now” consulting session with Rock Shukoor ($375 value), (2) a digital copy of his book, “The Dynamic 6!” and (3) a 30 point marketing audit of your business ($250 value). Just ask Rock for your bonuses.
After the conclusion of our All Inclusive Marketing Meeting, we will be hanging out a the Hudson Grill for “Late Nite Networking” to socialize and build stronger bond. So come and join us for the AIM Meeting and be prepared to stay late and network and have fun with like minded real estate investors, marketers and other professionals late into the evening!
The Atlanta REIA All Inclusive Marketing (AIM) Group (formerly known as the “I Love Marketing” group) is a new networking and educational meeting led by Rock Shukoor and Dustin Griffin for like-minded real estate investors and small business owners who enjoy marketing and are interested in taking their business to the next level through creative marketing techniques.
AIM is for people who want to want to get together, learn and discuss marketing challenges, strategies and opportunities. Although many of the examples we cover at the meetings will be geared towards real estate investors, the techniques and strategies learned can easily be applied to any business. AIM meets on the 2nd Monday of each month at 7:00 PM at the Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs.
*Please Note: AIM Meeting agenda is subject to change.
Understanding the Closing and the Hud-1 Settlement Statement at North Meeting
Posted on October 13, 2014 byTaking the Mystery Out of Closing
& Understanding the Hud-1 Settlement Statement
with Attorney Fred Kross on Oct 15th
On Wednesday, October 15th 6:30PM at the the Atlanta REIA North Meeting located at 1960 Skylar Hill Dr, Suite D, Buford, Georgia, Attorney Fred Kross will discuss the typical real estate closing process and will dissect the Hud-1 Settlement Statement and explain how to read this important document used in almost all traditional real estate transactions.
The HUD-1 (closing or settlement statement) is a form used by a settlement or closing agent that itemizes all charges imposed on a borrower and seller in a real estate transaction. This form gives a picture of the closing transaction, and provides each party with a complete list of incoming and outgoing funds. “Buyers” are referred to as “borrowers” on this form even if no loan is involved. The HUD-1 is the road map used to document where the funds in a purchase and sale are applied.
The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) requires the HUD-1 form be used as the standard real estate settlement form in all transactions in the U.S. involving federally related mortgage loans. RESPA states borrowers should be given a copy of the HUD-1 at least one day prior to settlement, although entries may still be coming in a few hours before closing. Although borrowers are supposed to get a copy of the closing statement the day before closing, it is rare that this occurs. Most buyers and sellers study the form on with their real-estate agent and the settlement agent. The more people who review it, the greater the likelihood of detecting any errors.
Attorney Fred Kross is an experienced Real Estate and Bankruptcy Attorney who has closed over 1,000 transactions and has been a practicing Attorney for over 25 years. Prior to becoming an attorney, Fred received a degree in Real Estate and worked as an appraiser. Prior to becoming an attorney, he was a million dollar producer as a real estate agent.
Come join us on Wednesday, October 15th at 6:30PM, as Attorney Kross takes the mystery out of this important topic.
WIN A 4 NIGHT STAY IN CANCUN: All participants who attend the North Meeting will entered into a drawing for a chance to win a *Complimentary 5 Day, 4 Night Stay in Cancun! *You must be present at the meeting to win. Giveaway does not include dining, transportation, transfers, taxes, upgrades, etc.
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA North Meeting (after 9:30 PM), we will be reconvening at the Tannery Row Ale House located at 554 W Main St in historic downtown Buford, GA for the “Meeting after the Meeting”. We may arrive late if the Atlanta REIA North Meeting runs late. So please come eat, drink, network and have fun with us as hang out late into the night!
Learn to Build Great Working Relationships with Realtors at BIG
Posted on October 13, 2014 bywith Alisha Spence
All Members & Guests Must RSVP Online to Attend
Members Attend for FREE and Guests for $15 Online or Pay $20 at the Door.
Guests can join Atlanta REIA for Only $100/year and Attend for FREE!
You may have heard that investors and realtors don’t always work well together. This is true in many cases. The smart realtors are the ones who do work with investors for a mutually beneficial, long lasting working relationship. There are many things to know when it comes to creating a successful working relationship with a realtor as an investor.
Join us at the Beginning Investors Group (BIG) on Monday, October 20th, at 6:00PM at Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs where dynamic, investor-friendly real estate agent, Alisha Spence of Duffy Realty, will show you the insider secrets on making a working relationship with a realtor really work.
You will learn:
- What To Look For In An Investor-Friendly Realtor
- What Language Realtors Speak, (It Isn’t What You Think)
- How To Cultivate A Great Realtor/Investor Relationship
- What Realtors Look For In Investors
- And Much, Much more!
Congratulations Anthony Boston, a new investor, Atlanta REIA Member and frequent BIG attendee, who did his first two deals recently! Anthony will tell us all about how he found a seller with two properties for sale, got them under contract and sold them for a tidy profit. One of them he purchased for $9,000 and re-sold via a double closing for $25,000!
Alisha will also give you a “Sneak Peek” of her upcoming full day Due Diligence Workshop on Saturday, November 1st at the Atlanta REIA Office in Buford, GA with Gordon Catts and Catherine McFarland.
In anticipation of his upcoming new book on his many years in the wholesaling and renovations business, Mike Cherwenka of Goldmine Properties, fondly known as the “Godfather of Wholesaling” will be doing a special short presentation on “Overcoming Fear When Fixing and Flipping” that will be ideally suited for new investors.
We will also have a Creative Deal Structuring interactive session with Russ Hiner and he and Rock Shukoor will be telling you about their upcoming “Ugly House Boot Camp – Part 1: Wholesaling” 3 Day Intensive Training on Nov 21st – 23rd at the Atlanta REIA Office in Buford, GA!
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA BIG Meeting (after 9:00 PM), we will be reconvening hanging out at the Hudson Grill for Late Nite Networking also known as the “Meeting After the Meeting”. So please come eat, drink, network and have fun with like-minded investors and real estate professionals as we hang out late into the night!
*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change.
WIN A 4 NIGHT STAY IN CANCUN: All participants who attend the big Meeting will entered into a drawing for a chance to win a *Complimentary 5 Day, 4 Night Stay in Cancun! *You must be present at the meeting to win. Giveaway does not include dining, transportation, transfers, taxes, upgrades, etc.
If you become an Atlanta REIA member before midnight, October 19th, you may attend this BIG Meeting at no charge as well as other great Atlanta REIA Meetings, plus get great discounts on other Atlanta REIA Workshops.
BIG is an educational and networking special interest group, hosted by Alan McDonald, and Dustin Griffin for new investors who are just getting started in real estate investing as well as “new again” real estate investors who’ve taken a few years off and are looking to start investing again. The entire purpose of this group is to educate and inspire new investors working on their “first deal” and help new again investors get their “next deal”. Please join us on the 3rd Monday of each month at Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs.
Due Diligence Workshop – November 1, 2014
Posted on October 13, 2014 byDue Diligence Workshop
Home Inspection Tour
With the scarcity of listed properties, tight inventory of investor type deals, and the changing market, it’s critical to be able to look at purchase and re-sale prices objectively, know your rehab/repair expenses, and avoid overpaying for a property. With the intensely competitive market, it is imperative that you know how to determine if an opportunity is a “Deal” or “No Deal”, be able to “pull the trigger” quickly and beat your competition.
At our Due Diligence Workshop on Saturday, November 1st at 1960 Skylar Hill Dr, Suite D in Buford, GA, you will learn from three dynamic real estate investor professionals… Professional Investor Gordon Catts, Certified Housing Inspector Catherine McFarland, and Realtor/Investor, Alisha Spence as they show you how to determine accurate property values, repair estimates, property inspection and methods to determine what an investor should pay for the property and much more!
Here are some of the things you’ll learn:
- How to know the differences with a property’s rental income and it’s value
- Reliable sources of “comparable” information
- What an investor should pay for the property
- Identifying the target market for the property
- How to utilize public and near public information
- How to inspect the property
- What is a deal or not a deal
- Pitfalls to avoid
- And much more!
But that’s not all. You will actually go out into the field to inspect and value a real property, hands-on.
You will have THREE real estate professionals teaching you some very critical lessons when it comes to being a successful real estate investor. Take advantage of this rare opportunity and sign up NOW! Seating is limited, so the longer you wait to register, the more likely your space will not be there.
The Profit Newsletter October 2014 Edition
Posted on October 1, 2014 by
The October 2014 Edition of The Profit Newsletter is available for download just in time for our Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on October 6th. The Profit is an digital, interactive newsletter for new and seasoned real estate investors delivered as an Adobe PDF file to read on your PC, Mac, Smart Phone, iPad or other mobile ready devices with a PDF reader. Many of the articles and ads in The Profit contain many hyperlinks you can click or tap to visit websites, watch videos, listen to audios, download content, send emails, comment on articles, share socially and much more! The high res version of The Profit is “print ready” for those who want to print the newsletter on their home or business printer. Also, be sure to Subscribe to The Profit Here so you don’t miss a single monthly issue.
How Land Trusts Can Benefit You
Posted on October 1, 2014 byThe land trust is an agreement that allows real property to be held privately for a beneficiary. That way, the beneficiary, whether it be you or your entity, does not show up on the title in the public records.
Follow me here. Say you have $1 million insurance coverage for liability. You hit an attorney in the cross-walk with your car. Will he settle for the insurance limits or will he sue for more? Or what if your insurance company denies your claim for some reason? How much will the suit be? Well, that usually depends on how deep he thinks your pockets are. If you own property in your own name, the lawyer suing you will easily find your house and any other properties you own in the public records. This could easily become a $3 million suit.
Before you even know you will be sued, the opposing attorney could have the sheriff park in front of your house, knock on your door while you are eating dinner and hand you your lawsuit in front of all your family and the neighbors!
But, if you have your property in a land trust, beneficial ownership is hidden. Your land trust is not filed in the public records. Your ownership stays private. No one knows who the beneficiary is but you. Read More→
Follow Up and Close the Sale of a Lease Option or Owner Financing Deal
Posted on October 1, 2014 byOkay, we’re almost at the end of our series of articles on how to get through the entire process of buying and selling on a lease purchase, ACTS or owner financing deal. The last two steps in our process are to follow up with your buyer to get them to the closing table, and set up the closing so you can actually get it down and collect the final check.
Alright, so let’s assume that to this point you have been out into the market place and attracted prospects to call you and have found one or more that have enough money to get your attention. Now, you’re ready to move forward. In our case, we try to find 2-3 prospects, and, of course, the ones with the most money rise to the top quickly. Unless they get screened out from something we discover about them, they usually win the battle.
Once they are located and they have seen the house, now it’s time to get an oral commitment from them that they want it. Then, it’s time to do your due diligence prior to setting a meeting. When we put a lease option tenant buyer in a house or sell it with owner financing, there are a few things we want to see in the form of a report. That list is a credit report, a Megan’s law report for sex offenders, a background check, a criminal check, a debt-ratio report, and proof of income. Read More→
Self-Directed SEP IRAs – The No-Nonsense Retirement Plan for Real Estate Entrepreneurs
Posted on October 1, 2014 byIf it’s a combination of high contribution limits and downright simplicity and ease of administration you’re looking for, and you have significant cash flow coming from your own business, practice as an independent contractor or other earned income from self-employment, then the SEP IRA, including the Self-Directed SEP IRA may be the way to go.
How it Works
The SEP IRA, or Simplified Employee Pension plan, is an employer-funded, defined contribution pension plan available to businesses of any size, including single-employee corporations, independent contractors and self-employed individuals.
Entrepreneurs in each of these categories initiate a SEP IRA plan to cover all qualified employees. The plan sponsor then funds the plan on an equal basis for each covered employee. You cannot set up a plan to cover yourself alone, if you have other employees. You must contribute to the plan for all qualified employees, equally, across the board. However, this is obviously not much of a concern for independent contractors and for businesses owned and operated by a single employee or a husband and wife team. Read More→
