California Real Estate Investing ? How To Approach It

July 29, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

California, aptly termed as the Golden State, is located on the Pacific coast of USA. The most populous state in the country, California has created many a millionaires. Therefore, California real estate investing is a superlative way to cash in on the opportunities offered by the state - more so since the real estate trends in California have often acted as a harbinger for the rest of the nation. This is why veteran investors always keep an eye on the California real estate market.

California, with its sun-kissed beaches, the Hollywood studios and the Silicon Valley, entices many alike who wish to relocate there. The state also boasts of excellent educational facilities, thriving businesses, sporting and recreational arenas, and cultural avenues ? an attractive amalgam that holds something for everyone. California real estate investing is the ideal way to benefit from this buzzing environment.

It?s true that California is well known for its affluent and well-healed along with their rather ostentatious villas and mansions. But this should not put off a small investor in any way at all ? there are scads of opportunities for small investors. And here are a few tips on how to approach California real estate investing.

? First and foremost, make yourself familiar with the state rules governing real estate transactions and then abide by them.

? In California, each real estate agent must be licensed to buy or sell real estate. Thus every agent should possess a salespeople or broker?s license. Novice investors are often all at sea in the beginning of their investment career. It?s best to avail the services of an experienced real estate agent who can provide you updated property listings.

? A helpful caveat is not to go overboard. Get grip of your budget and your purpose of attaining a property. Then look for a property that meets your criteria.

? Though returns can be huge, California real estate investing does involve comprehensive research. It is advised that you scout for properties that have a significant growth potential. Such assets are affordable and have higher potential gains.

? Follow a diversified investment regime, investing in both residential and commercial properties. Look for single-family homes, apartments and condos, or business properties in a growing locality. It is crucial to examine the property in person, accompanied by a property inspector, prior to purchase.

In a gist, if you approach it in a meticulous fashion, California real estate investing could be your ticket to success and riches.

Copyright ? 2007 Joel Teo. All rights reserved. (You may publish this article in its entirety with the following author’s information with live links only.)

About the Author:

Joel Teo writes on various financial topics including Investment Properties in Las Vegas. Learn more about Investment Properties in Las Vegas

Small Business Ownership and Whole Business Accommodations

July 29, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Business/Network Marketing

Self-employment is never easy, and there are increased challenges when the business owner has disabilities. Business owners with disabilities need to find ways to operate their businesses successful in a competitive environment.
Small Business Ownership and Whole Business Accommodations; By Alice Weiss Doyel; BOLD Consulting Group, LLC

This article contains excerpts from No More Job Interviews! Self-Employment Strategies for People with Disabilities, by Alice Weiss Doyel (2000). Used with permission of the publisher, Training Resource Network, Inc.

Even when the economy was strong, three-fourths of the people with moderate to severe disabilities remained unemployed. Not surprisingly, many people with disabilities see small business ownership as their chance for economic self-sufficiency.

Self-employment is never easy, and there are increased challenges when the business owner has disabilities. Business owners with disabilities need to find ways to operate their businesses successful in a competitive environment. A few years ago I saw my own disabilities become more severe. I knew that I needed to find ways to run my company more effectively. My years of experience as a small business consultant helped me develop the concept of Whole Business Accommodations. I realized that as business owners with disabilities, we must create workplace accommodations which take into consideration the success of our entire business.

Whole Business Accommodations permeate the full scope of the business.

* Operations planning should include accommodations for the owner’s disabilities. These accommodations are not just for the physical attributes of the office, e.g., access, furniture, equipment. These accommodations should take into consideration the people who will be part of the business, or closely associated with it. Whether they are business partners, associates, employees, vendors, family members or support providers, these people are an integral part of making the business work. Their roles in supporting the business owner with disabilities must be integrated into their business functions through the business planning process.

* Marketing capabilities are often affected by the owners disabilities. Determining potentially effective marketing approaches during business planning will allow the company to test and determine the best ways to reach and sell to customers. Some people with disabilities believe that an Internet website is the answer to their marketing challenges. However, the Internet should almost always be used as a secondary marketing approach. There must be direct marketing either by the owner with disabilities, by other company owners or employees, or by sales representatives in order to create a successful marketing effort. * Financial planning is a challenge for business owners with disabilities. Many people with disabilities have few assets of value to help secure a business loan. They may have lived for years in poverty, unable to establish a sound credit record. They may have poor credit due to an unexpected health emergency or accident that created large medical expenses at the same time that they were no longer able to work. Micro-loan programs are a resource for small business owners with disabilities who have viable business plans for start up or existing businesses. These programs will take into consideration disability-related financial limitations and credit problems. Some Whole Business Accommodations are free while others may be quite expensive. All accommodations must meet the same financial test as any other business expense: 1. Can the Whole Business Accommodation be paid for? 2. Is this an effective use of limited company funds? The following are specific examples of Whole Business Accommodations which are consistent with best business practices:

* Creating an accessible office. Many accessibility methods are free or inexpensive, e.g., arranging office furniture and equipment for the greatest ease of use, telephones with easy to read displays and/or large keys, speakerphones or head sets, open storage shelving for easy access, keyboard and mouse that fits the owners physical needs, free Microsoft accessibility utilities, and tables and desks with comfortable wheelchair access. Good office design saves time and energy that the business owner can put into the business. * Including alternative means of transportation in the business plan, e.g., hiring a part-time driver, finding volunteer drivers such as family members or friends, determining effective methods for using public transportation and/or taxi services, and teleconferencing instead of in-person meetings. Business owners with disabilities can host meetings in their own offices, minimizing the need for transportation.

* Using company business policies that protect business owners with disabilities from working in a manner adverse to their health. Developing these policies requires the owner to evaluate and determine the most effective means of running the business. This analysis leads to more effective and profitable management of the entire company.

* Creating a positive, supportive work culture for the business. This includes a culture that values everyones abilities and supports the concept that disabilities do not decrease a persons humanity or value . . . that for many people, the challenges from their disabilities are a means for personal growth. This work culture will be a positive environment for all employees who share these values.

* Hiring a full-time or part-time employee who does work that is difficult or not possible for the business owner. This is a common practice in all businesses; however, here the focus is on assisting in the area of the business owners disabilities. The same employee can serve other functions for the business, bringing more capabilities to the company.

* Partners are often used to create a company where the owners have complementary business or technical skills. Business owners with disabilities can find partners with the skills, time, or energy to compensate for their disability needs.

* Creating alliances with other companies is often an excellent strategy for business owners with disabilities. It allows them to provide a variety of services or products through their alliance partners, while limiting the size of their business and the number of employees they manage. In summary, business owners with disabilities report a wide range of positive experiences when they use Whole Business Accommodations to run their companies more effectively. Whole Business Accommodations are powerful tools for success in business and for success in living a complete and satisfying life.

About the Author

Alice Doyel is the founder of BOLD Consulting Group: where she heads the consulting practice specializing in operations management for small businesses. Also, she is a national speaker, consultant, and advocate on self-employment for people with disabilities. Alice wrote the book, No More Job Interviews! Self-Employment Strategies for People with Disabilities.

Finding Private Money for Real Estate Investing - Expanded Circle

July 27, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

The first step to finding private money for real estate investing is to look at your own funds, like retirement and savings. Next, you want to find out if anyone in your family has funds they could loan you. I?ve already written articles on those two sources. Today, I want you to consider expanding your search radius.

A primary source of private money for real estate investing in my own experience has been friends, professional relationships, and casual contacts. These are the people you rub shoulders with day in and day out, and these are the people you should be prepared to talk to about real estate investing.

How can you prepare? Glad you asked.

These folks are the ones you will need to share your elevator speech with. What?s an elevator speech, you ask? I?ve have written another article entitled ?Private Money For Real Estate Investing ? Your Elevator Speech? that goes into great detail. You can find it elsewhere on this site? just look on my author page.

To recap, an elevator speech is a short, pithy explanation of your investing activities, as well as how and why you use private money for real estate investing. It?s not designed to tell them everything, only to give them a quick overview, and whet their appetite for more.

That?s why you also want to be prepared to close them on a follow-up appointment to share more information. Either a one-on-one, like a lunch, or a seminar setting will work. Either way, if possible you want to share your elevator speech, get them interested, and close the deal with an appointment to tell them more.

Who should you be looking for? Anyone and everyone you know and have regular contact with. Don?t pre-judge just because you think they have no money, or don?t believe they would be interested in loaning you private money for real estate investing.

Professionals like doctors, attorneys, and accountants often have money to loan, or know others who do. Ask for referrals. Don?t limit yourself to only professionals? your friends can be a good source of private money for real estate investing. People you see daily at the stores and businesses you frequent are also possibilities. In short, anyone you know and who knows you.

Starting the conversation is best accomplished with a question. ?You know Mike, I was wondering,? you say, ?have you ever considered getting involved in real estate investing?? This opens the door, now all you need to do is walk through it!

These are just a few ideas on finding private money for real estate investing. For much more try http://www.private-money-real-estate-investing.com.

Need a quick jumpstart for Beginning Real Estate Investing? Tom Dunn writes “DealFiles - Real Estate Investor Stories”… stories of real investors just like you and their real deals. Why not check it out right now? It’s FREE! You are welcome to share this report, unedited and in it’s entirety, with anyone you like. This text, and all live text links, must remain intact. ? 2007 by Tom Dunn.

Business Management Case Study; Franchising Industry After 9/11 and Issues of Outlet Ownership

July 26, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Business/Network Marketing

Executive business management teams of franchising organizations had to change the way they did things after 9/11. This is because it is very important who owns your franchises and to their partners, investors and associates are. For instance in Dallas there was a franchised outlet owned by folks who were funneling money to Al Qaeda. The match in what the Franchisor thought when they were contacted by the FBI?

Unfortunately this situation is not rare, as many people who have come to the United States from other nations by franchises because in their old countries they were self-employed. Some of these people still have ties to people in their former country who are not such good apples. It is this is problematic although there are ways to protect the franchising company from this happening.

It also depends on how the UFOC of the franchisor is structured and it behooves the Franchisor to require that all partners of so much interest to be listed in the franchising agreement when it is signed. If it were a limited partnership, perhaps this might not be the case in some of the older documents, but now Franchisor’s need to pay more attention to this. It depends on their partnership agreement and the franchisors policy.

In our franchising company after 9-11 we modified our franchise agreements because we wanted to know exactly who was involved in every one of our outlets. And franchising companies must remember that not all UFOCs are equal and certainly not all those who prepare them know what they are doing. Many franchise attorneys or UFOC preparers are not equally yoked or genetically equal? So, please consider this a 2006.

Lance Winslow, a retired entrepreneur, adventurer, modern day philosopher and perpetual tourist.

How Real Estate Investing Full Time Can Reap Huge Earnings

July 25, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

How real estate investing full time refers to how to make real estate investing a full time career for you. When we talk of this topic, an old and popular phrase comes to our minds and that says, “Time is money.” It is difficult to believe that someone has not heard about it. However, when we think of this phrase in this perspective we need to ask ourselves that why and how we should invest our time in the real estate business.

Consider The Profitability Factor Carefully Before Venturing

There are several steps involved in the process of analyzing how real estate investing full time. First, you need to consider the profitability of the real estate business. We have to make sure that the money we invest should provide a good return to you. You have to be careful enough to avoid any possibility of wasting your resources. As there are so many hands on opportunities many people make the mistake of looking at what others are doing in this field. You must forego this kind of mentality and learn the art of minding your own business.

When you analyze the topic how real estate investing full time in depth you will realize the importance of respecting and honoring the time factor. There are many points that you need to consider if you wish to achieve good growth in the real estate business. You should begin with concentrating on the marketing system of your business. A well-framed marketing system is crucial for the growth of this kind of venture.

Direct Response Strategies For Marketing Campaign

If, in the beginning you have low budget for the marketing campaign then you should focus on direct response strategies so that you get a constant flow of customers every month interested in selling their properties. Once, you successfully complete few deals you can use this profit to make your marketing efforts more powerful and effective.

How real estate investing full time can be your successful career if you master the art of negotiations with the motivated sellers. For this purpose, you have to learn how to build the relationship with the person who is interested in selling his property. It is an established fact that you can clinch a better deal if the other party involved in the negotiations finds it comfortable to talk to you. If you know each other well then first you can start talking on a point of his interest before coming to main point of your concern.

Finally, you should also learn the exit strategies. In fact, it is your ability to sell the property at the right time that earns you a great amount of money. Many people make the mistake of focusing more on acquiring the properties rather than selling.

James Klobasa, once broke with no job and $20,000 in debt made a choice that changed his life forever. That choice was investing in Real Estate. With the founder of, The Little Building Co. you too, can learn at Real-Real Estate Investing

Wholesaling Real Estate: Getting Started in Real Estate Investing-Try Wholesaling

July 23, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

“How should I get started with real estate investing?” The question varies slightly, but the core of it is always the same. And, for a new real estate investor, I think it is an important question to ask.

Years ago, when I began speaking at our local real estate group, I used sit down with each person, usually over lunch, and try to determine their knowledge level of real estate markets, financing techniques, sales skills and other critical knowledge areas before recommending how they should get started investing in real estate.

After doing a dozen of these meetings, it occurred to me that the answer I gave was the same regardless of their experiences, skills and knowledge.

Without fail, I encouraged them to start out wholesaling.

What is wholesaling?

Wholesaling, is finding great real estate deals. Then putting the house under contract and finding another investor or retail buyer to buy the contract to buy the house from you for a profit above what you agreed to pay the seller.

For example, you by at a big discount and sell that discount to someone else for a fee.

Why wholesaling?

I recommend wholesaling to starting real estate investors for several reasons.

First, it is a very low risk way of getting involved in real estate investing. When you put a house under contract, you are putting up as little as $10 and ideally no more than $100. Beyond your time and some marketing expenses, that is all you should have invested in your business when starting out.

Second, it is an exceptionally excellent way to learn your market. As a new investor, you might think that $10,000 below a refinance appraisal value is a good deal on a house. Your market will likely teach you otherwise and better to learn that lesson from trying to pass of this type of deal with only $10 invested in a binder deposit rather than try to sell this house while you are making mortgage, utility, taxes and insurance payments on a house you actually bought.

Third, you will get to know other investors and can learn from them. As a wholesaler, you should be finding what other investors want and are looking for in deals. Some will be helpful and will want to share information and time with you. Many will not; do not take it personally. There are good and bad folks in this industry just like there are good and bad lawyers, doctors and accountants.

Fourth, you can generate quick cash. A challenge common with many real estate investors is cash flow. Learning wholesaling is learning how to generate quick cash. Master the ability to generate quick cash and you have solved a lot of problems.

And finally, you can find great buy and hold deals for your portfolio. Inevitably, as you look for wholesale deals you will find exceptionally good long term buy, rent and hold properties for your own portfolio. I strongly suggest that you do half a dozen or more wholesale deals before you consider buying a long term rental. By then, you should have a much better idea of what a really good deal is than you did on your first day as a real estate investor.

James Orr is a professional real estate investor and marketing expert.

You can subscribe to his real estate e-newsletter and access audio downloads, articles, marketing materials and educational real estate videos at his Real Estate Investing blog.

Opening A Dollar Store - Rewards of Business Ownership

July 23, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Business/Network Marketing

There are many potential rewards associated with opening a dollar store. However, with those rewards come many risks as well. It is important that the entrepreneur who is opening a dollar store carefully determine what those rewards are in their case and then compare the rewards to the many risks that will also be faced.

So what are some of the rewards associated with opening a dollar store? The rewards can include the potential for monetary profits. There is also the freedom associated with working for yourself, and the pride associated with owning your own business. Among the biggest rewards for many is getting rid of the 9-to-5 J-O-B and the boss that comes with that J-O-B.

All of these rewards and more are attainable if you are opening a dollar store. Well run dollar stores can be profitable. Owning and operating your own business does offer a degree of independence. You can definitely determine what you do and when you will do it. (However, never lose sight of the fact that mistakes can affect business performance.) There is nothing to compare to the pride as you stand in your finished and ready to open for the first time store. Say goodbye to your boss; you are now your own boss.

All of these rewards are well worth seeking. They are all very achievable when opening a dollar store. However never allow those rewards to blind you to the risks associated with business ownership. Recognize the rewards. Recognize the risks. Together they define your potential business success. It is absolutely no fun to see a business fail because the risks existed, yet they were not recognized or properly addressed because of the potential rewards.

To Your Dollar Store Success!

Do you want to own your own Dollar Store? Visit http://www.openingadollarstore.com for more information.

http://www.onlineauctionsmadesimple.net

Real Estate Investing : Daily Aberration Investors Make

July 20, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing


 

Real Estate Investing : Daily Aberration Investors Make

Submitted By: Tom Beaty iSnare Expert Author
 
 

In real estate investing, a common question is which came first, the deal or the plan. A common aberration that people make is not knowing what to do with a great property after they buy it. This is where the struggle begins. They are stuck in a corner because they approached this from the wrong direction. First, you are supposed to make a method. Then you must find an applicable home that fits into that situation.

Planning things is human nature. Future matters such as retirement and college education are all planned. Real estate deals should be planned as well. A rookie investor may jump ahead of the game and forget to concoct a plan. It is up to you to figure out what you will do in the real estate market. What houses will you buy and how do you plan on selling them? Having a method is in your best interest.

Unfortunately, there is no way to get rich quick in real estate. We all tend to fantasize about the big million dollar deals, however, real estate investing is a gradual process. Proceeding slow and steady, will keep you in the right direction to reach your goals. Becoming a millionaire from your first deal is not a realistic goal, but you will probably make some good money.

A good investor will usually make about sixty to one hundred thousand per year with decent investments. This income takes into account that not everything will go according to plan, but assumes that your progress will be steady. You must have rational real estate goals.

No single person can do everything. There are imperative roles that must be filled by some key people if you plan on succeeding at real estate investing. The adept investor always has a team of specialists assisting him. Your real estate agent must be honorable and able to help you analyze the properties. You will need an appraiser and a contractor or an inspector in order to make sure that the house is worth the investment. If you don’t want any hidden surprises surfacing through the course of the deal, you unconditionally must hire an attorney.

You will encounter many situations in the real estate business, and there is no single strategy that encompasses everything. You must have several strategies at your disposal. Investors often find themselves reselling a house urgently after buying it. If you simply don’t have time to get your investment ready for a profit, renting is another valid option. However, there are time periods where the rental market can become ineffective or stall. If you are in this circumstance and absolutely must get rid of the property. you still have the option to offer a land contract or lease option. You may have to sell to cut your losses and sell to another investor if all else fails. A adept investor acts quickly when it’s time to bail.

A rookie investor can refrain from making these mistakes by doing some research and planning. Until you understand the business, you shouldn’t figure out what real estate to invest in. Research one of the books containing the strategies used by the pros. Attend free seminars that will inform you on the best way to invest. Making adept decisions in your real estate investing will certainly help you avoid these common miscalculations.

Article Tags: investor, make, real

iSnare Articles Trademark Balls

Virtual Business Ownership - - Marketing The Best You

July 19, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Business/Network Marketing

When you think of the word “marketing”, most people automatically associate the term with a business, however, in this article it will be associated with you, the virtual business owner.

Now picture this, Zipgirl is attending a network gathering and someone walks up to her and says “Hi there, my name is ABC and I represent XYZ company” Zipgirl responds, pleased to meet you, my name is Zipgirl and I work from home. Well, ABC simply nodded and walked away. Would you have done the same as ABC? Did Zipgirl say enough to attract your attention or enough to make you want to stay and listen? I think we both agree in a resounding NO.

To often times when we are asked who we are and what we do, we short change ourselves by not marketing the best in ourselves. How can I do it better you ask? Below are some questions that will help you to identify your marketing strengths as well as your challenges:

- Can you describe your personality in just five words?
- Are you totally committed as well as passionate about what you do?
- Are you always optimistic about what you do in spite of the challenges you face?
- Are you happy doing what you do?
- What’s unique about your service or product?
- What type of energy do you release when you talk about your business? Do you leave people fascinated and wanting to learn more or bored and uninterested?
- When out promoting your business, what does your outward appearance say about you? Do you walk with your head down? Do stay cooped in the corner of the room or are you out in the crowd taking charge, meeting people with a smile, standing tall and bringing out the best in those you meet?

Next, I’ll share with you some tips on how to market the best in you:

- Always present a pleasant smile, whether on the telephone, in person, in email or even in a fax (SMILE)
- Do what you love (you’ll be more fulfilled)
- Dont try to be the jack-of-all-trades (you do everything and anything) rather, specialize (promote the one thing or area you do best)
- Be unique (original)
- Always be professional
- Always be yourself
- Always express a sense of passion in what it is you do
- Always explore ways to enhance yourself (personally, professionally, and/or spiritually)

As you can see, marketing the best you is more than just selling or promoting your business and it’s products or services. As a business owner, you are in most cases the business (when people meet you, they are immediately exposed to the quality of your service or product). In the virtual world however, people won’t necessarily meet you face-to-face but they too are exposed to the quality of your service or product. How? Through your website, telephone conversation, and/or via email responses.

In closing, remember this, first impressions are everlasting, so when given the opportunity always remember to market the best in You…

To learn more about the Virtual Business Owners Initiative go to: www.vsscyberoffice.com.

Now picture this, Zipgirl is attending a network gathering and someone walks up to her and says “Hi there, my name is ABC and I represent XYZ company” Zipgirl responds, pleased to meet you, my name is Zipgirl and I work from home. Well, ABC simply nodded and walked away. Would you have done the same as ABC? Did Zipgirl say enough to attract your attention or enough to make you want to stay and listen? I think we both agree in a resounding NO.

To often times when we are asked who we are and what we do, we short change ourselves by not marketing the best in ourselves. How can I do it better you ask? Below are some questions that will help you to identify your marketing strengths as well as your challenges:

- Can you describe your personality in just five words?
- Are you totally committed as well as passionate about what you do?
- Are you always optimistic about what you do in spite of the challenges you face?
- Are you happy doing what you do?
- What’s unique about your service or product?
- What type of energy do you release when you talk about your business? Do you leave people fascinated and wanting to learn more or bored and uninterested?
- When out promoting your business, what does your outward appearance say about you? Do you walk with your head down? Do stay cooped in the corner of the room or are you out in the crowd taking charge, meeting people with a smile, standing tall and bringing out the best in those you meet?

Next, I’ll share with you some tips on how to market the best in you:

- Always present a pleasant smile, whether on the telephone, in person, in email or even in a fax (SMILE)
- Do what you love (you’ll be more fulfilled)
- Dont try to be the jack-of-all-trades (you do everything and anything) rather, specialize (promote the one thing or area you do best)
- Be unique (original)
- Always be professional
- Always be yourself
- Always express a sense of passion in what it is you do
- Always explore ways to enhance yourself (personally, professionally, and/or spiritually)

As you can see, marketing the best you is more than just selling or promoting your business and it’s products or services. As a business owner, you are in most cases the business (when people meet you, they are immediately exposed to the quality of your service or product). In the virtual world however, people won’t necessarily meet you face-to-face but they too are exposed to the quality of your service or product. How? Through your website, telephone conversation, and/or via email responses.

In closing, remember this, first impressions are everlasting, so when given the opportunity always remember to market the best in You…

To learn more about the Virtual Business Owners Initiative go to: www.vsscyberoffice.com.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Victoria Parham is the president and chief technology officer for VSSCyberOffice.com, a forerunner in the virtual support services industry, an advocate of portable careers for trailing military spouses and family members. Its web-based Virtual Business Owners Training Program(tm), the first Virtual Careers program for Department of Defense ID Cardholders, is available and accessible at military bases around the world.

Beginning Real Estate Investing - Understanding Market Values

July 18, 2010 by Kenny Santos  
Filed under Real Estate Investing

Another in a series of articles on beginning real estate investing. A crucial step to becoming a wise real estate investor is getting to know your local market, and learning to put a value on the properties within your target neighborhoods.

Beginning real estate investing involves learning a new set of skills, one of the most important of which is valuing property. For the limited scope of this article, we?ll limit our discussion to residential single-family and duplex homes.

When you are just beginning real estate investing, it?s helpful to set a goal for yourself to become the market value expert in one or two select neighborhoods. When choosing these neighborhoods, look for locations close to your home with a good selection of homes in the lower-middle to middle price range for your market. This is where you?ll find the best combination of working-class homeowners and what I call ?aspirational? renters- those renters who aspire to homeownership. These will become your best customers.

Once you?ve found one or two of these neighborhoods, start driving through at least twice a week, looking for all real estate activity, including listed sales, For Sale By Owner, auctions, estate sales, vacant property, even moving van activity. As someone who is beginning real estate investing you should get tuned in to the pulse of the neighborhood.

Look for and get to know the local Realtors. Stop in to the Realty offices and introduce yourself. Find out who the most active listing agents are, who sells the most houses, who deals with the most foreclosures, and who works with the investors. These are the best Realtors to work with as you are beginning real estate investing.

Also, beginning real estate investing means getting to know local service people, especially contractors. Talk to as many of these as you can, and find the ones that do a lot of work in your target neighborhood, especially plumbers. Ask them what kinds of recurring problems they see. They will provide you a wealth of information.

Give yourself a timetable to learn property values in your target neighborhood. Three to six months is probably realistic. When you are just beginning real estate investing you will need to work closely with a Realtor. Ask for all the listings in your target neighborhood, and try to see them all. Ask also for the listings of comparable sales (Comps) so you can see what similar properties have sold for recently.

Build a spreadsheet, database, or even just a handwritten notebook so you can refer back to it from time to time. This will become a valuable resource for you as you progress beyond beginning real estate investing. Slowly but surely you will become an expert on property values in your target neighborhoods. You will be able to look at most any property and know, within a few hundred dollars, exactly what it?s market value is. This knowledge will serve you very well as you progress in your real estate investing activities.

For more in-depth information, visit my website and read more about beginning real estate investing.

Now, go make more offers!

Crush The Biggest Obstacle to Your Success in Real Estate… or Anything Else! Download my FREE report HERE!

Tom Dunn is a successful real estate investor and author of the popular DealFiles Real Estate Investor Stories free newsletter. You are welcome to share this report, unedited and in it’s entirety, with anyone you like. You may not remove this text.? 2007 by Tom Dunn. Website: DealFiles.com e-mail: tom@dealfiles.com

Next Page »