Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog

I want to discuss some basics for getting started in real estate investing.  Everything I’m about to share, can be applied to helping anyone get started in real estate investing. I am going to give you a few keys to getting started.  Of course, REIAComps is essential to making sound decisions for your real estate business.

Let’s talk about a desire to work in the real estate investing field.  Real estate investing may not be for everyone but real estate investing CAN offer anyone the financial freedom we all crave.  But most important is to always take a valuation first approach to every new deal you see. You must know the best purchase price and After Repair Value (ARV) first. Never let someone tell you the value, use REIAComps to know the value for yourself.

Now the people that make it in real estate investing all have a few things in common.  First, they run their real estate investing business like any other business out there.  Second, you cannot be afraid to fail. Everyone has failed at something but the most successful people out there learn from their failures. The third thing is that you have to put a good team together.  You do not want to be the person doing everything in your business. Doing everything is a recipe for failure. You have to put together good people who you can trust and rely on. The fourth thing is that you need a mentor.  Gaining from the knowledge and experience of others is invaluable.  Read More→

For the last few years I have been giving out advice on how to invest in real estate. On top of that I have been giving out the content for free. However, there are a large number of you who have not or will not take action. At some point you have to take everything you have learned here and everywhere else and take action. Do not be another “paralysis by analysis” type.

The number one thing that you need to do is find a deal. A real deal that anyone would buy, finance and/or want to partner on. In most markets that I am in that magic number is currently 70% LTV minus repairs, sometimes 75% LTV minus repairs. Many would say that these deals do not exist but I am purchasing at least one on these deals each month. You do have to do due diligence on plenty of not so attractive properties but if you look at enough properties you will find a deal. When you find a deal, do not hesitate to write the contract and lock the deal up. Take ACTION! If you write an option contract you have nothing to lose but the option money, which can be as low as $10 but usually $100. This is where your negotiation comes into play. During this option period you will do more extensive due diligence and discover if you really do have a deal.  Read More→

If you plan to process your own payroll using QuickBooks, you need to understand how payroll items work.

Considering processing your own payroll in QuickBooks? Whether you’re moving from a payroll service or getting ready to pay your first employee, you’re taking on a complex set of tasks that requires a great deal of setup and absolute precision. But the reward is complete control over your compensation records and transactions, and constant access to your payroll data.

If you have no experience dealing with paychecks, deductions, and payroll taxes, we strongly recommend that you let us help you get started. QuickBooks simplifies the actual mechanics of setting up and running payroll, but there’s still a lot you need to know.

It goes without saying that accuracy is critical here. You’re responsible for your employees’ livelihoods and for maintaining any benefits they’ll receive. Federal, state, and local taxing agencies will count on you to submit the proper payroll taxes and filings on time; failure to do so can result in stiff penalties and worse.  Read More→

A real estate investor offered to buy me lunch in exchange for information.  He wanted to know how we hold title to our properties; in other words, whose name is on the deed?

When we met, he explained that he’d gone to the deeds room in the courthouse to look up which properties Kim and I own.  After much research, he concluded that we don’t own any houses – and he was right!

But how can I be a real estate investor and not own any real estate?  Easy answer: We don’t own any properties personally!  Having assets in our names can be reckless.  Plus, it can wreak havoc on our estate plan when we die.

(NOTE: I’m not an attorney or a CPA, so what I say is just my opinion.  Seek competent council before you make any big, life-changing decisions.)  Read More→

Costar is a $1 billion, national comprehensive commercial database that provides marketing, statistics, demographics, traffic counts, true ownership, and other information on over 4.5 million commercial properties for national commercial real estate agents.  They have researchers that make over 10,000 calls per day to brokers, agents, and owners to verify or change information making 5.1 million data changes per day.  Recently, Costar purchased Loopnet which is a commercial platform available to the public.

Costar does Market Research Reports for major cities across the US which is what we are using for our comparison.  Costar clients include:  Read More→

A good investor always knows the way out before going in. I don’t like the common real estate adage “You make money in real estate when you buy”. Personally I think this is a terrible statement. You make money in real estate when you cash the check and it clears the bank. If you don’t exit the deal profitably then you didn’t make money when you bought. Ask anyone who has been through a foreclosure if they made money when they bought. You may create value when you buy but you make money when you sell. This is why I don’t like that statement. It minimizes the value of a solid exit strategy. In this article I will discuss how to exit a master lease option (MLO) deal PROFITABLY.

The first step in analyzing a MLO deal (or any deal) is to decide how you will get out of the deal someday in the future. This can be hard when you are new to the business because everyone has told you that closing the deal is all important. While closing is important it’s not as important as the exit. Here are some exit strategies for MLO deals.  Read More→

The number one thing you need to understand about a short sale is that the short sale lender must realize the true market value of a property.  Recently we got a house in Sanford that needs everything and I mean everything redone inside and out.  The house has multiple types of siding, the tile inside the house has been pieced together, various sizes and colors, and is pushing up from the ground due to water damage, the rotted wall from the 3^rd bedroom was removed which makes the house a 2 bedroom, the air conditioner is not working, doors, lights, fixtures are all missing, and the kitchen cabinets have mold all over them.  SPS is the servicer for the Short Sale Lender and they are really easy to work with.  In fact, they normally process a short sale within 30 days, so you need to be ready when you submit the short sale package to the bank and ask them to provide you with a Broker Price Opinion (BPO) or an Appraisal. 

We submitted everything into the bank and were very excited to immediately hear from a BPO Agent (Real Estate Agent) stating that she has been instructed by the Bank to go out and get value.  We scheduled an appointment to meet her out there.  We had everything ready in a BPO/Appraisal Package to provide to her.  We had the following items:  Purchase Agreement, Estimate for Repairs from a Contractor, Comparables and liens from the City for major code violations.  Read More→

“My grandmother had this high-tech security system – a rusty nail she used to lock the door.” ~ Quincy Jones

Once fall comes, we’re thinking about getting the kids back to school and falling into a familiar routine. You’re not the only one thinking about that, other people may be looking forward to quiet days in the neighborhood too. Break-ins usually happen during the day when no one is at home. If your neighbors are on the same grind as you are, you may not discover a robbery until you get home and see your door open.

These thoughts are frightening, but there are things you can do to prevent it. Wired home alarm systems are great, but if you don’t have the budget to pay a monthly service to monitor your property a one-time investment is perfect. There are wifi cameras and apps that you can use from different manufacturers, motion sensor lighting and timers for your interior lamps. But having the peace of mind that there are eyes on your house at all times and having great customer service is a winning combination.  Read More→

This month we are diverting to another subject that is fresh on my mind.  The concept of momentum.

Momentum is something we all know can be very positive but I believe is greatly underestimated.  When I ride my bike I find some striking analogies to business.  Riding a bicycle, whether rode or mountain involves momentum in a major way.  It’s the difference between going up a big hill or walking it.  It’s the difference between clearing a dirt ramp or rolling over it.  It’s the difference between keeping your rhythm going or speeding up and slowing down constantly which is usually much more exhausting.

The same things apply in business.  As a wholesaler, you have heard it said that you must always be marketing.  I can tell you it is much, much easier to keep your marketing going than to allow it to stop and then start back up.  On a bicycle, when I see a hill coming, I tend to attack it fast which makes it much easier to get to the top.  Business is no different, when you see an issue coming up, hit it and hit hard with such determination that you will find solving problems becomes much, much easier.  Your brain is more open.  Ideas flow more freely.  And you are much more likely to succeed in providing superior service to whoever you need to work with!  Read More→