Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog
Aislee Jackson
Posted on March 23, 2012 by
Aislee Jackson was one of six children born and raised in Savannah, Georgia. He graduated from HV Jenkins High School and attended Georgia Tech. Aislee joined the Georgia Air National Guard in 1995 where he served as an Computer and Telephone Maintenance technician until 2001. Aislee continued his formal education majoring in Business and is scheduled to graduate in fall of 2012 with a BS in Business with a concentration in Small business & Entrepreneurship from the University of Phoenix. Read More→
Who Do You Trust with Your Trusts? Are Your Assets Protected?
Posted on March 19, 2012 by
This month on Monday, March 26 at 6:30 PM, at the Atlanta REIA West Subgroup*, we have an incredible opportunity for you to learn the basics of asset protection from one of the country’s foremost experts on the subject! We are very proud to host Atlanta’s own Attorney Doug Shaddix, founder of Wealth Preservation Solutions, LLC. which specializes in helping clients avoid probate, minimize their tax burden, and maximize their privacy by utilizing trusts and entities that assist you in your asset protection. Attorney Shaddix will be sharing his knowledge and expertise on this very timely and important subject. Why is this so important? Here’s why…
If you have significant assets of any type, you are a target for a lawsuit. You need to know more about legally protecting your assets. Enjoy greater privacy, limits on your personal liability, as well as tax benefits through the use of entities such as LLC’s, corporations and trusts.
In today’s litigious society, you need only one person unhappy with your business, one injured tenant, one disgruntled individual to ruin all that you have worked for by going to a plaintiff’s lawyer to see how they can get to everything you own. If you are sued, you could lose your business, its equipment and vehicles, your personal automobiles, your home, your rental properties . . . anything that you own in your own name.
Sounds pretty scary, right? Read More→
What’s Happening at Atlanta REIA – Week of March 19, 2012
Posted on March 18, 2012 by
We have another great week of education, networking and fun at Atlanta REIA. Monday is Movers & Shakers with Robert Locke. Tuesday is the Short Sale and Foreclosure Group with Bob Massey as well as the “Fish Club” with Russ Hiner on Negotiations. Thursday is the Cash Cow Commercial Group with Steve Brown and the Haves & Wants Meeting with Joe Thompson. Read More→
March Movers & Shakers Lunch Meeting with Robert Locke
Posted on March 18, 2012 by
We hear about all these foreign buying groups, hedge funds, big investor groups, etc. coming into Atlanta and purchasing big portfolios of properties. What’s the real story? Rumors are flying about large packages being sold off by government agencies. Who is going to purchase them, and who is going to manage them? What are they going to do with them once they purchase them? Will the “small” investor have a chance to participate or will they be locked out?
We are very pleased to have Robert Locke, Broker Owner of Crown Realty and Management as our Speaker for the Movers & Shakers Meeting on Monday, March 19th at 11:00 AM who will be addressing these topics and more. Robert speaks to these folks on a regular basis and has some interesting insights to share on these trends and more.
Robert got his real estate license in 1973 and has practiced real estate sales, investing, leasing and property management ever since. He and his wife Betty started buying houses in 1978 in Atlanta and have bought over 150 houses for their own account. Robert has also sold over 500 houses to investor clients. Read More→
What’s Happening at Atlanta REIA – Week of March 12, 2012
Posted on March 13, 2012 byWe have another great week of education, networking and fun… all included in your Atlanta REIA Membership! Monday is not only our Main Atlanta REIA Meeting, but we are also having a “Meeting-Before-The-Meeting” and a “Meeting-After-The-Meeting”! Wednesday is the Spanish Investors Networking Group Meetings in Lawrenceville and the I Love Marketing Meeting in Vinings. Haves & Wants is on Thursday as always! Read More→
How to Negotiate Win-Win Deals
Posted on March 8, 2012 by
Most folks mistakenly think negotiating is a beat-the-other-side-over-the-head-until-they-quit thing. This couldn’t be further from the truth! Over the years, we’ve sat down with thousands of buyers, sellers and tenants and successfully negotiated hundreds of Win-Win deals.
What’s a Win-Win deal? It’s when both parties leave the negotiating table feeling like they ended up in a better place than where they started. They may not be in the exact place they wanted to be, but they are in a better place!
Here’s a nugget I learned from Pete Fortunato: No one is gonna say yes to a deal that puts them in a worse place than where they started. Given a choice between a worse place and the same place, folks will take the same place about every time – in other words, no deal! Read More→
Will Your Title Insurance Policy Cover You When You Need it Most?
Posted on March 7, 2012 by
Are you certain your title insurance policy will cover you in the event you need it? Do you know what has been excepted from coverage on your last title insurance policy? Did you know that you might not be using the correct documents in order to ensure continued title insurance coverage on your properties? Learn how to properly read a title insurance policy and how title rates are calculated in Georgia.
Join me, Attorney Jonathan F. Lyman and my partner Attorney Craig M. Halperin, of the law firm, Halperin Lyman, LLC, at the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on Monday, March 12th at 5:30 PM. The information we will be presenting will not only help beginning investors to learn the legal side of the transactions they are conducting but is guaranteed to teach seasoned investors a new lesson or two as well. This is a definite “Do Not Miss” educational event for anyone involved in real estate investments.
You may believe you have done what you need to do to protect your investment property by purchasing an owner’s policy but come learn the ins and outs of title insurance coverage and find out whether you actually have a policy in place that truly protects your interests! Read More→
Webcast Replay: Turbo Charging Your Buying & Selling Machine
Posted on March 7, 2012 by
On March 1st, our good friend and Atlanta REIA Business Member, Kathy Kennebrook joined us for a very special Training Opportunity Webcast on Direct Mail Marketing and other real estate investing strategies. Kathy explained how to buy and sell houses quickly in any market and as well as exactly how she runs her real estate business.
Some of the topics she covered were: Read More→
Everyone Wants to Know, Who is “Mr. X”?
Posted on March 7, 2012 by
UPDATE: Since publishing an article this week on a famous Atlanta real estate guru, who is currently undergoing a state and federal criminal investigation for tax evasion and possibly fraud and other charges, we have been inundated with calls and emails wanting to know “Who is Mr. X?” To protect the presumed innocent, we had not planned on releasing Mr. X’s identity until formal charges were made against him. However, to enable the many hundreds and thousands of Georgians who use Mr X’s legal paperwork and training to properly prepare and protect themselves from any legal and tax implications this investigation may have on their lives and businesses, we have decided to reveal the identity of Mr. X at our Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on Monday, March 12th at 5:30 PM so they can consult with professional legal and tax advisers as needed. Meanwhile, we will tell you who Mr. X is NOT… he is no one who has never attended or spoke at any Atlanta REIA meetings or events.
Atlanta REIA Main Meeting is on March 12, 2012
Posted on March 5, 2012 byPLEASE NOTE: The date of the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting for March has been changed to Monday, March 12th at 5:30 PM at Atlanta Perimeter Hotel & Suites located at 111 Perimeter Center W in Atlanta due to a scheduling conflict with the hotel. The location is the same. Only the date has changed.
(with FREE WINE TASTING!)
Atlanta REIA is pleased to announce that we are having our first “Meeting-Before-The-Meeting” on March 12th at 3:00 PM in a private meeting room at Total Wine & More located at 124 Perimeter Center W (see map), just across down the street from where we meet for the Main Atlanta Meeting. This will be a great opportunity for those who want to get to the meeting early to mix, mingle, learn something new and avoid rush hour traffic.
Gordon Catts will be hosting our first meeting and will be talking about all the new changes the Georgia Superior Court Clerk Cooperative (GSCCCA) has made to their website. Now it is possible to sort by deed type (Looking for private lenders?), view a map of sales at street level (Pulling comps?), sort transactions by date (Want to get a snapshot of the market on a county level?), look up sales information by address (What did the seller pay for the property?) and view a history of the property transactions linked by date (Want to know the sales history?). All this and more is available on the new Superior Search Option of GSCCCA. Come learn about all this at the “Meeting-Before-The-Meeting”.
At 5:00 PM, Total Wines & More will be offering a complimentary wine tasting to all those who wish to participate. There is NO CHARGE to attend this meeting or the wine tasting for Atlanta REIA Members and guests.
Guests Can RSVP Online for $10 or pay $20 at the Door
Atlanta REIA is excited to announce that Attorney Craig M. Halperin and Attorney Jonathan F. Lyman, Managing Partners of Halperin Lyman, LLC, will be our main speakers at the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on March 12th at 5:30 PM at the Atlanta Perimeter Hotel & Suites, located at 111 Perimeter Center West in Atlanta, where they will discuss “Title Insurance and Recording for Real Estate Investors”.
Craig and Jonathan will also attempt to address many of the relevant questions and concerns you may have regarding the validity of the paperwork that you may be using from a very well-known Atlanta guru and national speaker that is currently the subject of a federal criminal investigation for allegedly using a complicated series of trusts, LLCs and non-profit organizations to commit fraud and tax evasion.
This is a definitely a “Do Not Miss” educational opportunity for anyone involved in real estate investing. The information provided will not only help new investors to learn to setup their business and legal transactions the right way from the very beginning, but is also guaranteed to teach seasoned investors a few new lessons as well.
Did you know that if you prepare your own paperwork to hold your properties in trust, that your title may have serious flaws, your trust may not be valid and your assets may be at risk if challenged? Did you know that even if you close your properties through a competent closing attorney, that your attorney might not be using the right documents needed to ensure your continued title insurance coverage on all your properties. Join Craig and Jonathan to learn more about the closing process, how all of your title and recording fees are calculated and how to insure that all your closings are compliant, legal and insurable.
“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!
“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!
“Real Estate Investing 101” is an new educational mini-session designed to give new real estate investors an exciting glimpse into the highly profitable world of real estate investing. This month’s special guest speaker is local and long time real estate investor, Gordon Catts who will be giving you an overview of the different ways you can profit by investing in real estate.
“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!
“Short Sales, Foreclosures & Saving Homes” – You can save your family, friends and neighbors from losing their homes to foreclosure and Bob will show you how. Foreclosure continues to dominate the real estate market. He’s going to teach you what you need to know to monetize pre-foreclosures in a big way.
“How to Invest in Real Estate with Your IRA (Part 2)” – Mr. IRA, Jim Hitt of American IRA, LLC is back this month to talk about some of the intermediate to advanced IRA investing strategies that he will be teaching on a special webcast on Thursday, March 15th.
“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.
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”. We will have some complimentary appetizers available. Also, 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!
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→
American IRA – The American IRA mission is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry. 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→
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→
Commercial Realty Experts – Our Team utilizes the latest information technologies, market research, and business strategies to move real estate quickly, or satisfy your particular buying 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→
Simply Amazing Staging Atlanta – We have a proven record of converting those “For Sale” signs into “Sold” signs. We use 5 proven and time tested steps to sell your home in record time.
Angel Oak Funding
Scott Bowen’s Specialized Services
Springboard Real Estate (with Don DeRosa)
Vacant Investment Protection
Also, special thanks to all of our volunteers that help make our meetings and networking events possible!
Warning: Are You Using the Correct Legal Paperwork to Protect Your Assets?
Posted on March 5, 2012 by
A very well-known real estate guru and national speaker from Atlanta (whom we will refer to as “Mr. X” since he is presumed innocent until proven guilty) is undergoing an intense and lengthy criminal investigation by the Federal Department of the Treasury, in association with the Georgia Attorney General’s office, for tax evasion and possibly fraud and other charges.
This federal and state criminal investigation was recently confirmed by two Special Agents from the Internal Revenue Service, Criminal Investigation Division, located in Decatur, GA as well as many other REIA groups and real estate promoters from across the country who have allowed Mr. X to teach and sell his paperwork and training to their members and students.
(PLEASE NOTE: The Special Agents contact information can be provided if you feel you have been defrauded by Mr. X or have any information that will assist them in their investigation.)
Mr. X allegedly uses a complicated series of land trusts, personal property trusts, LLCs, charitable foundations and non-profit organizations with layer upon layer of these legal entities to hide his assets, avoid lawsuits, thwart investigation and evade paying income taxes.
Because of the growing controversy this federal investigation is causing within our industry, the validity of Mr. X’s training and paperwork, which he is very famous for, is being called into question and facing increasing legal scrutiny. Within the past week, rumors are quickly spreading that the validity of Mr. X’s land trust paperwork was recently challenged in court twice and lost both times. It has also been widely rumored for years that much of his paperwork fails to stand up in court when challenged. Many attorneys have ridiculed the paperwork that he authors, sells and promotes as a safe and easy way to buy and sell real estate since the results could be quite the opposite. Read More→
Enhanced Owner’s Title Insurance Policies: What Are They Good For?
Posted on March 5, 2012 by
People often ask me at continuing education classes or networking events what an enhanced owner’s title insurance policy is, when it is allowed to be used, and what additional coverage it offers to its purchasers. It must first be mentioned that each title insurance underwriter has different guidelines, coverages, and exceptions, so there is never an across the board answer to this question that will encompass every title underwriters’ policies. With that said, the example I am about to expound upon is adopted by six of the major ten underwriters here in Georgia, so if it is not an exact list based on who your closing attorney is writing your policy with, it will at least give you a good idea of some general benefits.
An enhanced policy provides additional title insurance coverage to a purchaser of residential real property. The enhanced coverage includes title matters that are not within the scope of a standard owner’s policy. The enhanced coverage for the owner creates a greater risk to a title underwriter so accordingly, a 20% increase in the premium over existing title insurance rates is charged for this policy, but the policy amount coverage increases by 10% per year for the first five years, so financially they make sense to purchase. Read More→
