Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog
Creating Reports in QuickBooks – Part 1
Posted on November 7, 2016 byQuickBooks comes with dozens of report templates that can be run as is. This month and next, we’ll show you ways to make them “fit” your company.
Reports are your reward for all that hard work you put in entering records and transactions in QuickBooks. Sure, you can always find individual invoices, sales receipts, and customers by using the software’s search tools, but in order to make smart business decisions, you need to be able to see related subsets of the information you so carefully entered in neat rows and columns.
You’ve probably created at least some basic reports in QuickBooks. You may have, for example, wanted to see who’s late paying you, or whether you have unpaid bills. You might need to know your stock levels, or which purchase orders are still unfilled. You certainly want to keep a close eye on whether you’re making or losing money. Read More→
How to Watch Your Fees with a Self-Directed IRA
Posted on November 7, 2016 byMaximizing the return you get out of your retirement investments is a question that’s on most peoples’ minds. So how can a Self-Directed IRA help?
One word: fees. Fees are important for any investor to pay attention to—keeping them at a minimum will allow you to have more cumulative growth over the years, and avoiding major fees will ensure that you cut your direct expenses as much as possible.
In the world of real estate investing, fees can be very difficult to deal with. Here are some steps to ensure that you can maximize the value of your account no matter how much money you currently invest with: Read More→
Using Real Estate Comps to Your Benefit
Posted on November 7, 2016 byOk guys, I want to show you how to maximize your investment. Here are some ways to figure out what price you should offer on your properties to get a deal, or to give someone else a deal.
Comps are of course, basically the true value of a house. You can look at the price of houses for sale, but that doesn’t tell you the true value of a house. The true value of a house in an area is based on how much houses are SELLING for based on comps information from REIA Comps, not how much the houses are listed for.
So, if you look in a neighborhood, you may find houses listed at high prices. They don’t sell at those high prices. They may get offers, they also come down before they sell. It’s the selling price of the house you want to go by to make a decision on how much you want to get for your house, or how much you want to offer on your house. It’s also known as ARV (Average Retail Value or After Repair Value). Working with REIA comps lets you figure out what the ARV is easily. Read More→
How Can One Deal Lead to More Deals?
Posted on November 7, 2016 byMost folks think real estate investing consists of finding a deal, taking it down, getting it rehabbed and sold, and then going out to find the next deal. But what if you structured the deal in such a way that one deal leads to more deals? Let’s look at two real-world examples of this.
A few years ago, our good friends Joe and Ashley English, found an investment property they wanted to buy. Only one problem: they didn’t have the money to buy the home. Joe sent an email to several investors explaining that he was seeking funding.
Within minutes, Joe’s phone rang. It was Pete Fortunato – the best creative deal structurer we’ve ever met. Pete was on Joe’s email list.
After a short conversation, Pete agreed to fund Joe’s deal with these terms: Joe would pay Pete one-half of the $400 net monthly rent. In addition, if Joe sold the property, he and Pete would split the net profit 50-50. This is known as a performance loan. The purchase money would come from Pete’s Roth. Read More→
The Rental Returns for Georgia are Better than Most of the US
Posted on November 7, 2016 byThere are many reasons why Atlanta and Georgia have better rental returns than other areas of the country. Let’s analyze some of the reasons for our good fortune.
Employment
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the total nonfarm employment for the Atlanta Metropolitan Statistical Area stood at 2,667,800 in August 2016, an increase of 71,000 or 2.7 percent, from a year ago. Regional Commissioner Janet S. Rankin noted that the Atlanta area had year over year employment gains of over 50,000 each month since July 2013. Nationally, nonfarm employment increased 1.7 percent from August 2015 to August 2016. The study had a few interesting observations or predictions. First they expect the fed to increase interest rates but fortunately by only .25-.5 points. Read More→
Learn to Find, Fund, Fix, & Flip Your Way to Financial Freedom at Atlanta REIA on November 7, 2016
Posted on October 28, 2016 by& Vendor Trade Show
Atlanta REIA Members Can Attend at No Charge. This month,
Guests Can RSVP Online Now for $20 or Pay $25 at the Door.
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
The real estate market is on fire right now. There are so many money making opportunities right around every corner. Do you know this but don’t know where to get started to claim your profits? Have you already gotten started but need an extra bump to kick things into higher gear? Don’t sit back and watch all your friends get rich flipping houses. Get in on the action and get your house flipping business making the money that you deserve.
Don’t miss the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on Thursday, November 7th at 6PM, where our special guest speaker, Don DeRosa, will be teaching all about rehabbing houses for massive profits. The meeting will take place at the Doubletree Hotel Roswell located at 1075 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA.
During his presentation, Don will teach you all about…
- Where to get started
- How to get the biggest “bang for your buck”
- How to evaluate deals based on repair costs
- How to find and manage good contractors
- How to protect yourself from being taken advantage of
- How much rehab you should do to a house
- How to evaluate what repairs to be done
- And much, much, more!
About Don DeRosa
Don is a seasoned investor who has completed many of his own profitable rehabs. Don is also a mentor and has taught many other investor how to successfully complete their own. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to get your house flipping business up and going quickly. You will learn a great deal of information about the entire rehab process.
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
All this is happening at the Atlanta REIA main meeting on Monday, November 7th at 5PM at the Doubletree Hotel Roswell located at 1075 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA.
As always, Atlanta REIA Members can attend the event at no charge and Non-Members can Register Online for $20 or pay $25.00 at the door. Be sure to bring your business cards and flyers and join us for an evening of real estate deals, vendors, networking, education and fun! See you there!
*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change.
WIN A 4 NIGHT STAY IN CANCUN: All participants who attend the Atlanta REIA 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.
with Don DeRosa
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
Are you spending money on marketing and not getting any deals? Are you able to take any lead and make a deal out of it? Do you know how to make multiple offers that actually get accepted? Are you using technology to your advantage? If the answer is “NO” to these questions then you MUST attend this subgroup meeting.
Would you like to learn how to structure deals so you can buy houses with little or none of your own cash and none of your own credit? 15 hours a week… That’s all you need! Imagine… taking any seller lead and being able to create a winning deal out of it… Making thousands of dollars where you thought there were none. No more wasted marketing dollars. No more wasted phone calls. No more wasted time.
Join Don DeRosa at the High Tech Home Buying Creative Deal Structuring Subgroup on Monday, November 7th from 5PM to 6PM at the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting at the Doubletree where he will be teaching about a wide variety of topics each month. Don will teach you about the state-of-the-art tools and techniques you’ll use to evaluate deals and figure out how to make them work – so you can work less and spend more time where you want, when you want and with whom you want.
Some topics Don will be teaching about include:
- Using Apps on your iPad or other mobile device to evaluate deals on the go
- Creative Techniques such as Wrap Around Mortgages, Sandwich Lease Options, Subject-To, Seller Financing, and more
- How to be a transaction engineer.
- How to be a problem solver.
- And so much more…
Bring your deals and Don will walk through them step-by-step and he’ll show you how to easily evaluate the lead, determine your exit strategy, structure the deal, negotiate with the seller, and get the paperwork done in a snap.
Its an amazing time to be a real estate investor. Don’t look back 5 years from now and wish you had acted. Learn how to buy right… Learn to Make More and Work Less, Right Now!
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.
OTP Tap & Grill on Holcomb Bridge Rd
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting, we will be reconvening at 9:30 PM at OTP Tap & Grill Roswell located at 1475 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA for the Late Nite Networking and the “Meeting-After-The-Meeting”! There is no charge for Atlanta REIA Members or guests to attend Late Nite Networking, so bring a friend and head on down to Late Nite Networking and have a cold brew with us! Just be sure you order food and beverages from the restaurant and please tip their wait staff generously. When you get there, be sure to look for Joe Thompson who will be leading our Late Nite Networking.
American IRA – The American IRA mission is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry.
Read More>>
Secured Investment Lending – A licensed direct mortgage lender specializing in non-traditional hard money loans for non-owner occupied buy/fix sell properties or rental properties throughout the GA and FL. 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>>
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>>
Auction.com – The nation’s leading online real estate marketplace, having sold over $34 billion in real estate assets. Auction.com’s mission is to provide the most trusted online real estate marketplace, making transactions easier and more transparent. 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>>
Equitable Consulting – Investors, wether you have a short term or long term plan, “fix & flip” or “buy & hold”, individual units or entire portfolios, Equitable Consulting is your resource at every step. 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>>
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>>
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>>
Financial Solutions Trust
Frank Iglesias – Working with Houses and VAs
Lending One
Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage
Legal Shield
BIGO Webinar Replay: 6 Seasoned Investors Secrets with Larry Harbolt
Posted on October 28, 2016 by6 Secrets Seasoned Investors Use to Maximize Profits On Every Deal
Watch the “BIG O” Webinar Replay
with Larry Harbolt
Have you ever wondered how successful investors are continually finding and doing profitable deal after deal? Did you ever ask yourself what seasoned investors look for and what they think about before they ever make an offer on any property? Have you ever thought about what makes a good deal and what is missing from the deals that you don’t want?
If you would like to get the answers to these questions and more, join us on the webinar we recorded live with Larry Harbolt on July 27, 2016 and he will teach you 6 secrets of how successful investors think through every deal they do and how they structure offers in multiple ways to buy any property. He will also show you why “CASH” isn’t always the best solution for every seller and why they may not want All CASH for their property.
You will learn:
- The Key Components of Every Successful Real Estate Transaction
- What Types of Properties Generate the Most Profit
- What Key Questions You MUST Ask Every Seller
- How to Overcome Your Fear of Talking to Sellers
- And Much, Much More!
New Investors, if you want to learn how to become a transaction engineer, be sure to watch this Beginning Investors Group Online Webinar Replay with Larry and learn how to structure deals like a real pro! Watch the Webinar Replay Now! Read More→
Generating Motivated Buyer and Seller Leads at BIG Online on October 26, 2016
Posted on October 24, 2016 byGenerating Buyer & Seller Leads with Low Tech Guerilla Marketing Strategies & Techniques
A Live Webinar with Dustin Griffin
Oct 26th @ 7PM on GoToWebinar.com
No Charge to Attend Online for Members or Guests!
Register @ bigonline.atlantareia.com
As a new or “new again” investor, are you generating enough motivated buyer and seller leads each month to survive and thrive in today’s competitive real estate market? Are you generating at least 20-40 leads per month from your marketing efforts? If you’re not generating this many leads or more, you should join us for our next BIG Meeting to learn how to generate all the motivated buyer and seller leads you can handle.
Dustin Griffin will be speaking at BIG Online on Wednesday, October 26th at 7PM ET on many of the Guerilla Marketing Strategies and Techniques that he and other successful real estate investors use to generate a steady flow of leads for their real estate investing businesses. You will learn:
- What is Marketing vs Guerilla Marketing?
- How can one dominate their local market online and offline on a budget?
- Marketing in 7 Easy Steps
- Multiple ways to consistently market your business
- 5 Rules for Marketing
- And much more…
New Investors, DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT if you want to learn how to generate motivated buyer and seller leads! Join us and learn how you can generate all the leads you can handle with a little time, effort, creativity and a relatively low budget. Register now and join us on Wednesday, October 26th at 7:00 PM ET.
No Charge to Attend ONLINE for Members or Guests!
Cash Cows Commercial Group Meets on October 27, 2016
Posted on October 24, 2016 byAtlanta REIA Members Attend for NO CHARGE and Guests for Only $5 at the Door.
Guests can join Atlanta REIA for Only $100/year and Attend for NO CHARGE!
Join us this month on Thursday, October 27th at 11:30AM at the 5 Seasons Brewing located at 5600 Roswell Rd, hosted by Steve Brown and Bill Ham.
Join us at the 5 Seasons Prado, 5600 Roswell Road Sandy Springs, GA 30342 on October 27th at 11:30am. Our group meets every month on the 4th Thursday at this location and time. At the end of each meeting Steve Brown and Bill Ham will tell about one big mistake they have made in their real estate carriers. We call this the “Gotcha” minute. Lear from our mistakes (and get some laughs too).
The Atlanta REIA Commercial & Multi-Family Real Estate Group is an educational, networking and call to action subgroup, led by Steve Brown and Bill Ham that is designed to help real estate investors take their investments to the next level by successfully investing in commercial real estate. You will meet the experts and the behind the scenes players in the game of commercial real estate investing. Come join us and learn to invest in commercial real estate for fun and extreme profits.
The group meets on the 4th Thursday of each month from 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM at the 5 Seasons Brewing located at 5600 Roswell Rd (map). Please note that the Commercial & Multi-Family Real Estate Group meets just prior to the Have’s and Wants Meeting which is from 1:30 PM until 3:30 PM. So please come enjoy both of these back to back meetings and get the most out of your day!
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
Learn to Make Your Closings Go Smoothly at BIG on Oct 17, 2016
Posted on October 14, 2016 bywith Attorney Fred Kross
The Beginning Investors Group (BIG) is an educational and networking group 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 get back in the game.
Each month we bring in local and national real estate experts to teach new investors how to survive and thrive in our ever changing economy and real estate market. The entire purpose of this group is to help new investors get their first deal and help new again investors get their next deal.
This month, Attorney Fred Kross will be our special guest and expert speaker on Monday, October 17th at 6:30PM at the Hudson Grille located at 6317 Roswell Rd in Sandy Springs, GA. At this meeting, Fred is going to take the mystery out of real estate closings and teach you have to have a smooth closing from start to finish whether you are buying or selling real estate!
Fred will cover:
- The closing process
- Contracts and paperwork
- Closing using Trusts
- Title searches
- Seasoning issues
- Settlement statements
- Dry closings
- Assignments and Double Closings
- Subject-To and other creative transactions
- Liens and other title issues
- And much more…
If you want to learn more about the closing process and how to make your closings go as smoothly as possible on all your deals, be to RSVP NOW and DO NOT MISS THIS EVENT!
Just so you know, over the years, Fred Kross has been a real estate
appraiser, a real estate agent and finally an attorney since 1998, so he really knows his stuff. In 2006, he opened his own firm and has been concentrating on real estate closings (residential and commercial, short sales, reo sales, investor transactions, owner financing), foreclosures, contracts, probate, and consumer bankruptcy (Chapter 7 and Chapter 13). Come join us at the meeting, get to know Fred better and consider adding him to your real estate investing dream team.
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
RSVP NOW!
This is the one event you can’t afford to miss. Seating is limited!
After the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA BIG Meeting (after 9:00PM), we will
be hanging out at the Hudson Grille for Late Nite Networking also known
as the “Meeting After the Meeting”. Stick around, have some dessert, a
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.
BIG is an educational and networking special interest group, hosted by 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.
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
Onsite Renovation Group Meets in Snellville on October 18, 2016
Posted on October 14, 2016 byHands-On Learning “Onsite” at Real Renovation Projects
Tuesday, October 18th at NOON
4250 Antelope Lane, Snellville, GA
Please join us on Tuesday, October 18th at NOON for the Atlanta REIA Onsite Renovation Group (ORG) to learn all about finding, funding, fixing, and flipping houses for big profits. This month’s meeting will be held at Don DeRosa’s property located at 4250 Antelope Lane, Snellville, GA. Come join us onsite and learn how Don will turn this house into a profitable deal! Rick Girgis, from Equitable Consulting, will also be there talking about different funding options for a project such as this.
The Atlanta REIA Onsite Renovation Group (ORG), hosted by Don DeRosa and Dustin Griffin, is an educational and networking group that focuses on the acquisition, renovation and retail resale (fix and flip) of single family residential homes. The purpose of the 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 each month at NOON at an active renovation site, build site or rental property which will vary from month to month. As always, there is no charge for Atlanta REIA members to attend. Guests pay only $20 at the door.
Atlanta REIA Members & Guests, Please RSVP on Meetup.com
EPIC Group Meets on October 19, 2016 in Peachtree City
Posted on October 14, 2016 byEPIC Group!
with Chris & Donna Littleton
October 18th, 6PM, Flat Creek Country Club
100 Flat Creek Rd, Peachtree City, GA 30290
Come Join Us for COMPLIMENTARY Appetizers!
The mission of the EPIC group is to provide a platform for success in Real Estate Investing through Education, Properties, Income, and a Community of like-minded investors. To be a place to Network and Learn the pathway to success in real estate investing through different monthly topics presented by experts inside the real estate industry.
The meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 18th at 6PM at the Flat Creek Country Club located at 100 Flat Creek Rd, Peachtree City, GA. This will be a great opportunity for you to network with other like-minded investors and to learn about getting your foot in the door to big money with multifamily units.
You are sure to meet some great individuals and make lasting connections that will help propel your business in the right direction. We look forward to seeing you there!.
Meeting Agenda*
- 6:00PM: Networking, Haves and Wants & Introductions
- 7:00PM: Information, Upcoming Events & Market Update (Chris & Donna)
- 7:20PM: Main Presentation with Special Guest Speaker
- 8:30PM: Closing Comments & Last Minute Networking
Come Out on Tuesday, October 18th and every 3rd Tuesday of Each Month. You are sure to meet some great individuals and make lasting connections that will help propel your business in the right direction. We look forward to seeing you there!
Atlanta REIA Members & Guests, Please RSVP on Meetup.com
