It’s that time of year again, when all the property tax bills are mailed out, we receive and open them, and are absolutely shocked to find that the “values” the tax appraiser has on them are way, way higher than what we know we can sell the properties for.  Then we look at the amount owed for the year for property taxes and groan, knowing we need to check to see if our rental rates will cover that amount for the year.  At the very least we know its money out of our pockets and into the government’s, when we did all the work to buy and rehab the property, then locate a (hopefully) decent tenant who will pay the rent payment on time.  It doesn’t seem quite fair to be overtaxed on property that the assessor values too high for today’s market, does it?  What can we do about this though?  I believe we all want to keep as much of our hard-earned money on our property investments as we possibly can, without the government getting more than their fare share, right?

We’ve all heard “You can’t fight City Hall”.  Well, this isn’t exactly all true.  Please join us Monday, April 23rd at 6:30 PM at the Cherokee Cattle Company at 2710 Canton Road, Marietta, GA (map), where we are pleased to host our very special guest speaker, LaGaylia Appleby of Real Estate Works 4 U!  LaGaylia works diligently to lower property taxes for both homeowners and real estate investors across Atlanta.  She’s got many tips and techniques to share with us on how we can go about lowering our property taxes legally, ethically, and honestly.  By working within the laws and guidelines of our government agencies, she’s been able to save me well over $1,000 on just two properties!  I think I’ll go to the beach with that money (I can already hear the waves)!  What will you do with the money you save by joining us Monday evening at the West Meeting of Atlanta REIA?  Read More→

Are you running your business or it is running you?  Are you doing everything you can to build a brand, leveraging technology, network effectively and save money? On Monday, May 7th at the Main Atlanta REIA Meeting for May 2012, Ben Rao, President of the Community Buying Group, will be discussing many of the new Member Benefits available to Atlanta REIA Members through our new relationship with the Community Buying Group. Don’t miss this opportunity to pick up new ideas on doing business better and how to save money on products and services you may already be using.

There are no programs to buy since these benefits are already included in your paid Atlanta REIA Membership. Join Ben at the meeting and learn…

• See how other Real Estate Investors and Landlords are putting more money in to their deals by saving money on materials, services and products they use everyday
• Tools and Tips to expand your sphere of influence and network more effectively with other RE Investors locally and nationwide
• Showcase your business or services to other RE investors in your Community
• Learn how to use technology to do business better
• Learn the importance of building your brand and see tools to build your own brand.

Come hear about these incredible benefits that are now included in your Atlanta REIA Membership.  You now have access to more tools to help you save you both time and money.  We also will show you how you can get bigger discounts at Lowe’s, Sun Belt Tool Rentals, Sherwin Williams, Sears Commercial, Sprint /Nextel, Rent Fast, Build a Sign and another dozen suppliers.

Imagine taking any sales lead you get and creating 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. That used to be just a dream. But not anymore.

Join Don DeRosa at the Creative Deal Structuring Group meeting on May 2nd at 7PM at the Whitehall Tavern (formerly the Cheyenne Grill) located at 2391 Peachtree Rd NE in Atlanta, GA as he shares with you his Real Estate Insider Secrets and the state-of-the-art tools he uses to evaluate deals and make them work – for him and for the seller.

As Don unveils his Insider Secrets, he’ll share with you the buying and selling strategies that are working for him right now, in 2012. Yes, he’ll show you the secret tools he uses to create profitable deals, even when there appears to be nothing there to work with. You’ll have abundance of deals to choose from! Plus he’ll show you how he gets the information to evaluate a deal, wherever is he, so you’ll never waste time with leads you shouldn’t spend time on and beat other investors to the most profitable deals.

Don will walk through real world examples, actual deals, to demonstrate step-by-step how to apply these “secrets” and tools. In fact, bring your deals, and he’ll show you exactly how to evaluate the lead, determine your exit strategy, structure the deal, negotiate with the seller, and get the paperwork done almost instantly and without any of the hard work you normally do to get your deals done.

By the end of the presentation, you’ll know… Read More→

You’re a new investor. You may have started yesterday or perhaps it’s been almost a year and you still haven’t completed your first deal. Maybe you are waiting for the perfect time or you may even be a bit freaked out. Hey, you aren’t the first one that’s ever been there. Is there someone that has been there just recently? There is! She will be speaking at BIG this April 25th.

23 year old Georgia Tech grad, Dorsie Boddiford started investing in June 2011. She bought her first property in August 2011. A couple of days ago in April, she bought her 8th property! Dorsie is going to be telling us her story at the Beginning Investors Group (BIG) on April 25th at 6:30 PM about of her first 3 months of investing all the way through her first deal. Sharing her insights, fears, and feelings in those first days. Dorsie will be analyzing some of those deals for you. She will also be taking questions and giving answers. This will be an event you DO NOT want to MISS! To register for BIG on April 25, 2012 just click on this button…

You will be sent an email from eventbrite that will contain a ticket. Print out the ticket, bring it with you to the BIG event and get a free gift! Read More→

Atlanta REIA is excited to team up with Kristin Mack and Aislee Jackson to start the Savannah Real Estate Investors Alliance (Savannah REIA) down in Savannah, Georgia. Savannah REIA will be meeting on the 4th Monday of each month at 6:00 PM at Barnes Restaurant located at 5320 Waters Avenue in Savannah, GA. Savannah REIA’s next meeting is on Monday, April 23rd at 6:00 PM.

Join the Savannah REIA Email List
If you are interested in being a part of Savannah Real Estate Investors Alliance, investing in Savannah or just want more information on our new REIA, be sure to Join Savannah REIA’s Email List so you can stay informed on any upcoming meetings and events as they develop.

Like Savannah REIA on Facebook
Also, be sure to Like Savannah REIA on Facebook where we will also be posting any upcoming meetings, events and other useful information. You can also interact with our Facebook page and post your have’s and wants as well.

Atlanta REIA Members,

You are invited to this month’s North Georgia REIA Meeting at NO CHARGE! Just present your valid Atlanta REIA Membership Card at the door and get in for FREE! Get ready for our BEST North Georgia REIA Meeting EVER! Pete Fortunato and Dyches Boddiford will be our very special guest speakers!

MEETING TOPIC: 8 Benefits of a Deal

GUEST SPEAKERS:

NEW MEETING LOCATION: Our new home is the beautiful Hilton Garden Inn in Cartersville, Georgia, at Exit #288 (Main Street) off I-75. (See Map)

ALSO, A SATURDAY SEMINAR: Pete, Dyches and I will be doing a full-day seminar called “What Box?” on Saturday, April 14^th from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., in Cartersville GA. Only 80 seats are available. First 40 people who register get an invite to a one-of-a-kind cookout lunch along with Pete and Dyches to be held on Friday, April 13^th from 11 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. around the camp fire at our horse ranch in Adairsville, GA! Read More→

WHEN: Thursday, April 12, 2012, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.

WHERE: Hilton Garden Inn, Cartersville Georgia (map), Exit 288 off I-75

COST: Atlanta REIA Members can attend for FREE with valid membership card

MEETING TOPIC: How to Use Pete Fortunato’s 8 Transactional Benefits to Structure a Deal!

GUEST SPEAKERS: Pete Fortunato and Dyches Boddiford

“Pete Fortunato and Dyches Boddiford are our two favorite real estate investing teachers on earth. They have been our teachers since the late 1990’s. No one else has the know-how or experience to construct creative win-win deals like Pete and Dyches! At our first Pete seminar in 1999, he flashed a diagram of a house up on the screen. The reason this house was different was that each room represented one of the eight transactional benefits of a real estate investing deal. The eight benefits are: Growth, Income, Amortization, Profits, Management, Security, Tax Benefits and Use. Hope to see you there!” Bill & Kim Cook

Please join us as we host the “1031 Guy”, John Mangham at our “Meeting-Before-The-Meeting” on April 2nd 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. John is a CPA and a real estate broker but most importantly he’s been an active investor for over 3 decades. During the past 3 years, John and his partners have bought over 120 houses!

On Monday, John will take us through Essential Elements of a 1031 Exchange transaction and walk through the steps of a successful exchange transaction. In addition, John will help you evaluate what kind of investor you are and provide suggestions to maximize your investing efforts. 1031 topics include: Financial Benefit of an Exchange, Balancing an Exchange, Opportunities with Like Kind Property, Timing in an Exchange, and Your Role in a Successful Exchange. He’ll also share several scenarios to illustrate how to structure your own deals for maximum tax deferral!

At 5:00 PM, Total Wine & More will be offering a complimentary wine tasting to all those who attend our meeting and wish to participate. There is NO CHARGE to attend this meeting or the wine tasting for Atlanta REIA Members and guests. Thanks Total Wine & More!

Have you ever gone to a class reunion where the “least likely to succeed” showed up in the fanciest car, wearing the most expensive suit, flashing the latest Rolex, and wondered, “How come that idiot’s rich and I’m not?” Bestselling author, wealth expert, and multimillionaire real estate investor, Robert Shemin, became that “Rich Idiot”. Robert is an active investor who has been involved in more than 1,000 deals. He became a millionaire by investing in real estate by the age of 32. He has a law degree and an MBA from Emory University.

On Monday, April 2nd, Robert is going to teach our members and guests how they too can become “Rich Idiots” by turning their thinking upside down, unlearning the things that keep them from making money, and instituting a three-part, wealth building plan based on buying real estate, investing in stocks and bonds, and starting a business. Robert is going to show you what will make you a fortune in today’s market If you really want to make more money in your real estate business than you ever have before, don’t miss this value-packed meeting.

Come hear Robert speak and he will cover:

• What Makes a Successful investor!
• The 7 Best Ways to find a Motivated Seller in Today’s Market.
• How to Analyze Any Deal in 20 Minutes or Less.
• Discover How to Analyze Which is the Best Profit Process for You!
• Learn the 3 Best Ways TO Get Money in Today’s Market.
• How to Locate and obtain Multiple Sources of Money.
• How to Vertically Integrate Your Profits.

TWO FREE BONUSES FOR ATTENDING:

As a special bonus gift, Robert has generously agreed to give everyone attending Atlanta REIA’s Main Meeting on Monday, April 2nd a digital copy of his book “The Little Book of Questions” as well as his brand new book entitled “Living the Significant Life: 12 Principles for Making a Difference”. Thanks Robert!!!

Robert will also be teaching a Full-Day “7 Keys to Making a Fortune in Real Estate!” Wealth Training Workshop on Saturday, April 7th. The first 20 people to register for this Wealth Training Workshop will receive a hard copy of his Wall Street Journal Best-Selling book “How Come That Idiot’s Rich and I’m Not?” The next 20 people who register will receive a paperback copy of the same book. The early registration price is $10 for Gold Members, $20 for Silver Members and $30 for guests. This price is good for 2 people. Register now while seats and supplies last! Read More→

JUST ANNOUNCED: You may recall that Robert Shemin dropped by one of our Atlanta REIA Meetings last fall while he was in town. The good news is that Robert is coming back to our Atlanta REIA Main Meeting on April 2nd as our main guest speaker for the month! For those of you who don’t know Robert, he is a best selling author of 16 books, a wealth expert, and a multimillionaire real estate expert. Robert will also be back in Atlanta on April 7th for a full day workshop with Atlanta REIA. More details will be posted soon!

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→

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→

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→