Atlanta Real Estate Investors Alliance Blog

If you are going to meet a seller you will inevitably hear objections to the first price you offer. You can be as little as $1,000.00 off the seller’s asking price and the seller will still look to get you to the asking price. It is in our human nature to try to look out for our best interest so do not get upset. All you simply have to do is prepare for the most common objections and get the seller to agree with you.

Here are the objections I run into the most and how I have been able to successfully overcome them.

  1. Your offer is too low. Usually before I make an offer I try to have them tell me their asking price. Once in a blue moon their asking price is what you can pay. Usually, however, the price is higher. Naturally, when I make the offer the seller’s response is that my offer is too low. If they have not given me a price I ask for it again. From this point you have to be good at math or pull out a calculator and explain the offer to the seller. Show the seller the closing cost, carrying cost, renovation expense, possible unknowns specific to their home, closing cost on the back end, agent commissions, marketing expenses, etc. I actually show sellers what I plan to make on their home and what it breaks down to in months and weeks. In most cases, they see I’m not trying to get rich off one house and realize my offer is a fair offer.  Read More→

The number one thing that makes an Investor successful is finding, buying and selling properties from a Motivated Seller.  As I have stated in previous articles, the only thing that makes Investors money is a Motivated Seller.  So … how do you find motivated Sellers when it’s a Seller’s market?  There are several ways to become successful and as an Investor the key to your success is having a marketing machine running all the time.  A Seller’s market means that when a property is listed on the Multiple Listing Service, the Sellers receive multiple offers from Investors, homeowners and landlords.  Obviously a homeowner is willing to pay list price or more for the house since they are going to live in the property and there is a personal attachment.  Landlords will pay up to 75% to 80% of the market value and Investors pay 60% to 65% of market value.  Yes, the repairs come into consideration for the Landlord and the Investor, however, the homeowner is more accepting of repairs needed to the home, as they are planning on making changes anyway.  Therefore, submitting offers on the Multiple Listing Service is very time consuming for an Investor and the rate of acceptance is much lower than for a homeowner.  Read More→

You’ll be visiting QuickBooks Online’s Settings screen regularly, so it’s good to know what’s there.

You can get into a rental car and just start driving to your destination. But you soon realize that you need to know where the temperature controls and the radio tuner are. If it starts raining, you must know where the wiper controls are. And when it gets dark, you’d better know how to turn on the headlights.

The same goes for QuickBooks Online. You can create bills and start paying them or begin to invoice customers or record expenses as soon as you set up an account (though you’ll be adding a lot of data on the fly). But you’ll soon discover that those tasks would be easier if you had established all of your Settings first.

If you have multiple employees using QuickBooks Online, for example, it has probably occurred to you that not everyone needs to have access to everything in your company file. You’ll want to connect the site to your financial accounts, build a budget, and specify payment terms and types.  Read More→

This article was not easy to write. In fact, it was one of the more challenging articles I’ve written in a while. Why? Because it deals with something that’s not easy for us to talk about: The reason why most people don’t take the action they know they should so that they can have the success they say they want to have.

The only place where success comes before work is in the dictionary. It’s an old-school, classic, tried-and-true principle: If you want to have success, you’ve got to work hard to make it happen.  And hard work means taking action.

Why do you think most people don’t take the action that needs to be taken?  I believe it comes down to two things: 1. Lack of Knowledge, or 2. Abundance of Fear.  Read More→

Did you ever wonder why some people are really wealthy and some people barely live paycheck to paycheck? Did you ever think “Why can’t I be wealthy like them?” What do the wealthy people know that I don’t? “How did they get rich? These are all valid questions, but I would say, the reason why you are or aren’t a wealthy person is entirely between your ears. So what exactly do I mean by that?

It’s simply this. Wealth is based on a state of mind, not on how much education you have, how many hours you work, or who you know. A wealthy mindset is created by believing in who you are, who you want to be and where you want to go. It is said that our thought processes control the person we are and the person we become, and this is so true. I know a lot of people, many of whom are real estate entrepreneurs, who have become extremely wealthy and yet came from backgrounds of poverty and little or no education.  Read More→

When we think of the Fourth of July we think about fireworks, grilling, and being with friends and family in celebration. I am a very big pyrotechnics fan, I always have a supply of fireworks for any occasion. If there is any excuse to launch a mortar or rockets, then I am very excited. Yes, I have gotten my share of injuries. I still have my eyes and fingers. The injuries healed. This is just like getting involved in real estate. You must know the risk and rewards when you buy and sell real property.

When I am picking out the right explosives to use in a celebration I have certain criteria. The mortars have to have color and reports. I also have rules in real estate. I have certain types of houses which I will buy and others I will pass on. I will pass on certain areas. I need to know what is the profit/reward ratio. The process I use has four simple rules. The first rule is to know what you are buying. Are you buying a house, commercial property, apartments, or storage units? How big? Get it inspected so you know what you are getting yourself into.  Read More→

Sage Advice From an Old Investor

Posted on August 1, 2016 by

After closing the doors of North Georgia REIA forever, we have been reminiscing about the best lessons we’ve shared with our group.

With this in mind, here’s some sage advice from an old investor.

How do I know whether a deal is good or not?  How do I know what I’m looking at?  And if I decide to take the deal down, how do I get it funded fast without going to a bank?

When Kim and I began our investing careers in 1995, we thought all houses were pretty much the same.  But over time and with experience, we’ve learned what types of houses make the best investments.  Read More→

This is an article I wrote a few years ago. Again I am hearing the rumblings of some of my students who believe they can buy 100 houses or more every year and it scares me to death. I believe what this article says is so important for every investor to know. That is why I decided to have this article republished.

Recently I was talking to several of my students who each said they wanted to buy 100 houses this year. These students had listened to one of the guru’s who had bought and sold over one hundred houses in one year and are now teaching people how to duplicate what they had done. I listened closely to these bright eyed inexperienced students tell me they wanted to do the same as the guru and it frightened me to death. Later over dinner, I mentioned what I had just heard to my wife. She encouraged me to tell my tale of woe about the years of agony we experienced because I got too big for my britches and against my wife’s better judgment I had tried to do the same thing myself.  Read More→

Atlanta, Georgia is one of the strongest real estate markets in the US and has favored Sellers rather than Buyers since spring of 2013. According to Realtor.com, the median list price in Atlanta has gone from just over $200,000 in 2014 to over $300,000 in 2016 and is currently leveling off. A $100,000 median price gain in two years is nothing short of fantastic. See Figure 1.

Figure 1

Figure 1

For the purposes of this article, we are talking about single family detached in these areas. See Figure 2. Read More→

Thu, July 28th @ 11:30 AM in Sandy Springs, GA
Commercial & Multi-Family Group
Learn How to Analyze Market Cycles
With Steve Brown & Bill Ham

Atlanta 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!

Bill Ham & Steve Brown This month on Thursday, July 28th at 11:30AM at the 5 Seasons Brewing located at 5600 Roswell Rd, Steve Brown and Bill Ham will be talking about how to analyze market cycles in real estate. Join us on Thursday, July 28th at 11:30AM!

Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com

Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com

Do you know what market cycle real estate is in right now? Do you know what investment strategies to use in this market cycle to get the best cash flow? Buy? Sell? Hold and operate? This month Bill Ham will be showing us how to use market cycles to maximize our cash flow strategies.

As a special event Steve Brown and Corky Nesbit will show you how to protect yourself without a Pistol using household items such as Pepper, Rolled up Newspapers, Magazines and the best weapon for the bedroom or auto–Wasp & Hornet Spray.

Join us at the 5 Seasons Prado, 5600 Roswell Road Sandy Springs, GA 30342 on July 28th 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).

Commercial & Multi-Family Real Estate GroupThe 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

Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com

Mon, August 1st at 5PM @ Doubletree Hotel in Roswell
Atlanta REIA Main Meeting
& Vendor Trade Show
Aug 1st @ Doubletree Hotel, Roswell, GA
Learn How to Put $20,000 Cash in the Bank Each Month!
with the “Rehab Queen”, Robyn Thompson

Atlanta REIA Members Can Attend at No Charge. This month,
Guests Can RSVP Online Now for $20 or Pay $25 at the Door.

Robyn ThompsonAn exciting opportunity is coming your way in August at the Atlanta REIA. Join us Monday, August 1st at 5PM at the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting at the Doubletree Hotel Roswell located at 1075 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA where our special guest speaker will be Robyn Thompson who will be teaching you all about renovations and how to make massive profits!

Robyn has shared her knowledge with thousands of students across our nation and is now coming to Atlanta to explain her perfected system and how it will work for you. This is not a “blue sky” program but a reality and each and every one of you can place, as she does, Ca$h in the Bank.

Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com

RSVP Now!

Robyn Thompson has fully rehabbed over 390 homes in her years of investing. She is widely acclaimed as the premier teacher on rehabbing properties for profit in the country. Extremely successful in her own investing, her process, techniques and systems will work for you, too. Robyn is an excellent teacher and communicator. Robyn will cover:

  • 10 Criteria to Ensure High Profit Deals
  • Finding Properties to Retail
  • Marketing and Sales Methods to Attract “A” Cred Buyers
  • Handling Marketing Response
  • Handling & Negotiating Purchase Offers
  • The Rehab Timeline & Guidelines
  • Things to do prior to Closing and things to do the day of Closing
  • Rehab: Week One, Week Two, Week Three
  • Knowing Your Target Market
  • And much, much more!

As you can see this will be a knowledge packed evening full of excitement and education. Make a list of your questions and have them ready for her at her table following the end of the meeting. Robyn will remain near her table answering all questions possible for each and every one of you. All this is happening at the Atlanta REIA main meeting on Monday, August 1st at 5PM at the Doubletree Hotel Roswell located at 1075 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA.

TAKE ACTION and RSVP for this Meeting Now! Come join us to learn how to renovate properties for massive profits!

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!

Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com

RSVP Now!

*Meeting Day Agenda
5:00 pm: Meeting-Before-the-Meeting with Don DeRosa
5:00 pm: Vendor Trade Show & Networking
6:15 pm: Updates & Announcements
6:30 pm: Haves & Wants Speed Marketing Session
7:00 pm: Networking Break
7:20 pm: Vendor Door Prizes & Giveaways
7:30 pm: Main Presentation with Robyn Thompson
9:30 pm: Late Nite Networking at Miller’s Ale House

*Please Note: Meeting agenda is subject to change.

5 Days & 4 Nights in CancunWIN 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.

5:00 PM in Main Meeting Room
The High Tech Home Buyers Creative Deal Makers Subgroup

August 1st Meeting Before the Meeting
with Don DeRosa

Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com
Atlanta REIA Members Please RSVP on Meetup.com

Don DeRosaAre 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, August 1st 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!

5:00 PM in the Main Lobby
Monthly Vendor Trade Show

Dylon Ross with XfinityAt 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.

6:15 PM in the Main Meeting Room
What’s Happening at Atlanta REIA

Dustin GriffinStarting 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.

6:30 PM in the Main Meeting Room
Haves & Wants Marketing Session

Joe ThompsonAt 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.

9:30 PM @ Miller’s Ale House Alpharetta
Late Nite Networking After Meeting

Miller's Ale House AlpharettaAfter the conclusion of the Atlanta REIA Main Meeting, we will be reconvening at 9:30 PM at Miller’s Ale House located at 10750 Davis Dr in Alpharetta, 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.

Participating Meeting Vendors & Sponsors
Meeting Vendors & Sponsors
Reserve a Vendor Table Here

American IRAAmerican IRA – The American IRA mission is to provide the highest level of customer service in the self-directed retirement industry.
Read More>>

Advanta IRA AdministrationAdvanta 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, LLCNetworth 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.comAuction.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 AdvisorThe 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>>

Secured Investment Lending CorporationSecured 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>>

Equitable ConsultingEquitable 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 >>

Goldmine Properties, Inc.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>>

Commercial Realty ExpertsCommercial 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>>

Halperin Lyman, LLCHalperin 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>>

Lima One Capital, LLCLima 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 DataCRS 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>>

Atlanta Carpet ServicesAtlanta 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 AtlantaFuller 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>>

Legal Shield (Charlie Fowler)

LendingOne

PeachTree EPIC Group (Chris & Donna Littleton)

Financial Solutions Trust (Ronald Copelan)

See Atlanta REIA Events Calendar for More Events!
Sat, August 6th at 9AM – Roswell, GA
Atlanta REIA Presents:
How to Quick Turn Houses That Need Renovations into Fast Cash in Today’s Fast Paced Market!
A Full Day Workshop with the “Rehab Queen” Robyn Thompson
Saturday, August 6th from 9AM – 5PM
At the Doubletree Hotel
1075 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA

Robyn ThompsonAre you tired of living paycheck to paycheck?

Are you looking for financial independence?

Are you ready to start a business that will generate huge chunks of cash?

If you answered YES to any of these questions, you need to join us on Saturday, August 6th at 9AM at the Doubletree Hotel Roswell located at 1075 Holcomb Bridge Rd, Roswell, GA for a full day workshop with Robyn Thompson where she will teach you how to turn ugly houses into large paydays!

Robyn has taught thousands of students how to achieve financial independence by investing in distressed properties. Robyn has made retailing homes a science and she knows every technique imaginable to locate profitable deals, renovate distressed properties at lightning speed, minimize holding costs, and qualify good credit buyers and expedite closings so you can collect a big check.

At the workshop Robyn will teach you about:

  • Request for Credit Review
  • Financing Programs Available
  • Qualifying Buyers
  • Income/Debt Calculations
  • Guidelines for Low Down Payment Programs
  • Finding Down Payment Funds
  • Understanding Credit Reports and “A” Credit Guidelines
  • Where to Obtain Credit References
  • Options When a Buyer Just Can’t Afford a House
  • Prescreening Contractors
  • And much, much more!

This is a must attend event to learn about Rehabbing Houses for MASSIVE PROFITS from one of the best. Robyn is highly regarded as the “Rehab Queen” in the real estate investing industry. She has a wide range of knowledge and experience that she loves to share with others.

As a bonus, Robyn will…

  • Give examples & practice problems for finding, rehabbing, marketing & closing the deal!
  • Provide tips on problems to avoid!
  • Answer individual questions applying to your business. Robyn will personally answer as many of your questions as time permits.

We look forward to seeing you at this amazing event! Register Now!

Register Now!
See Atlanta REIA Events Calendar for More Events!