Florida Real Estate Investing ? Three Reasons To Invest There

Florida has always been the holidaymaker?s paradise. This state in the southwestern US has miles and miles of white sand beaches to which the rich and well heeled flock to every year. Tourism and hospitality industries are highly developed. You can strike gold with investing in real estate in Florida.

The beaches of Florida are like no other anywhere in the world. The warm, sunny weather and mild winter make it an attractive destination round the year. As the tourism boom caught on, associated industries like hospitality and family entertainment have seen consistent innovations to attract more customers. Luxury hotels, beachside resorts, golf courses, movie theaters, family amusement parks and museums keep Florida humming with tourist traffic. Therefore, owning real estate either as residential or commercial purpose can bring returns that are extremely profitable.

Condos, apartments and houses are the most common form of residential property in Florida. The main reasons to Florida real estate investing are:

? It has a sustainable economy because of its consistent top ranking as preferred choice for family holidays and business meetings.

? While it might seem that the beachfront is saturated with high-priced properties, the truth is much land is still available for development. This means affordable properties at lower rates can be bought if only one took the effort to scout out.

? Florida has well developed infrastructure. It also boasts of good educational facilities.

? The state has nil income tax and low tax on real estate. The returns from real estate therefore translate as higher balance with the bank.

? Home mortgage rates are the lowest in the country hovering around 6% for a 30-year loan.

There are just a couple of things you should watch out for. Pick up properties in areas with good growth potential. Move away from the herd approach of sticking only to glamorous localities. Local law in Florida prohibits passive investing. So, choose a property option that would bring good rentals as well as make you comfortable living there.

Copyright ? 2006 Joel Teo. All rights reserved.

About the Author:

Joel Teo writes on arizona estate goodyear investment real . Learn more about Property Investment by signing up for his free Property Investment Ezine.

Independent Distributor Business Ownership

Independent distributors should own the business. Well not in the usual sense, at least initially,but if you are told,as a worker,to do this or do that…then if things work really depends on your attitude. For example,if you are given a recommendation to ring someone up, and maybe welcome them for their sign up,then this is when psychologically owning the business will help. How are you going say your welcome?Is it a chore,are you just feeling that it has to be done? Is it going to sound or even feel heartfelt?

Never could work out why some staff just never could talk to people in a bubbly open way? But as an independent distributor I have often done the moves we were advised to,and just felt a bit used. There is the fear of insincerity.Maybe it is how I feel.This would not be the case if it were my own business. Where does the Self come from in doing the service?

Kung Fu,TaiChi,Yoga,and Aikido deal in energies.This can exist or not whether you are two or twenty two. The more people who did these for the energies the better.They are for a higher Self defence.When you have been practising, even normally grating people seem to be relating to you better, and your job is truly just a part of the universe. At the highest level physical or psychic attack may even seem like a lot of fun.

None of these will work if done even as you do your business in a down way.Even as you find out none of the moves of a porn or romantic star will impress anyone either, unless you bring to any of these some higher self.

Ownership may may just be the awakening of or activation of, the second chakra,just below the belly button.See the belly dancer trying to teach you something.However, the Heart chakra or Compassionately objective feelings for the person spoken to may also be useful.Quite possibly, when ringing,with a voice that is insincere,you probably have a zombie voodoo hollow tone.

Maybe they have no idea of your hang ups,and are just wondering why you are not open to their situation…are they busy?did they just say something that your pre-prepared script had no place for?

Therefore,even if you have joined any business, it might be because the cost of entry seems so low ,and/or it is so throw away,that you don’t really care to do something with it.

Luckily I am an independent distributor of a range of products that can do with being used more widely, otherwise experience of just doing the moves has just about seen me quit.With my type of energy they probably could say,’ about time!’

Real Estate Investing - How to Coach Yourself

Real Estate Investing - How to Coach Yourself Author: D. S. Peter

Some people are not in a position to work with a coach right now. Some are stretched financially, while some are still using the “lone ranger” method. Other people might be uncertain about trying something new. So here is a brief, simple process you can apply to your own situation i.e. “coach” yourself!

1. Clarify your goal Some of us are not moving forward simply because we have not set a goal that inspires us! Make it specific e.g. I will by one property by December 10. And you can stretch yourself, but keep it realistic. If you’re blocked, schedule creative time to play with ideas. Ask someone who is where you want to be for advice.

2. Plan What overall strategy(s) will you use? For example, to buy residential properties will your strategy be area specific, fixer uppers, foreclosures, price range, or a combination? To increase profit will you increase your knowledge (to learn more on real estate investing http://www.buying-investment-property.info and http://www.realestate-investinginfo.com ), switch your real estate investing area or even state, network, or improve performance. For this stage you will also set your milestones to achieve along the way, with deadlines attached (say every 2-4 months). Also list the tasks to achieve along the way in between milestones.

3. Action Once you have the overall plan in place, it’s time to get down to specific action. You might like to list the action steps you will take in the next week, or the next 30 days. When you have completed these actions, it’s time to evaluate, and write the next list of action steps.

4. Self check Having an idea, or desire is one thing. But many of these do not get achieved. This is probably one reason you are reading this article - because there is something in your life you would like to achieve or change, but it hasn’t happened yet. Change rarely occurs without “action”. If you want to be a real estate investor, surround yourself with real estate investors. Talk a friend into doing your goal with you. Set constant diary reminders for the next month, and/or encouraging visual displays on the wall. Announcing your commitment to the world (all your friends) is also a great method to achieve your goal. And if you’re really serious about your goal, it’s hard to find anything more motivating than doing one successful deal. Learning is a lifetime journey.

Good luck! Copyright ? D. S. Peter This article can be published by anyone as long as the reference box remains intact and all links are kept live.

About the Author

Copyright ? D. S. Peter is a successful real estate investor for over 14 years.

Small Business Ownership and Whole Business Accommodations

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.

5 Killer Tips to Successful Real Estate Investing

1. Always do comparisons on property values and rents.

Do not rely solely on statistics. The best way to gauge a property’s market value is to check the sales prices of similar properties in the vicinity.

The same goes for the value of rents in the area. If the price is low, you can justify it with a decent rental value as tenants who can afford to pay high rent may well opt to purchase the property themselves.

Thus be reasonable on the rental prices.

2. Stay alert as tax laws may change

Don’t bet on current tax laws for your tax investment. The tax code is always evolving and regardless of the tax code, a great investment will remain just that; a great investment.

As a real estate investor, you should look for the right property with the right financing.

3. Be a specialist

Begin in a market segment you are familiar with. You can focus on one of the following:- Fix-uppers, foreclosures, low down-payment homes, starter properties, small apartment buildings, condominiums, etc.

By being a specialist in one of the market segments of real estate investing, you’ll surely benefit from the experience.

This is important for a successful real estate investing.

4. Find out all the costs involved

You must know the financial statements very well for example, operating expenses, loan payments, vacancy costs, taxes, etc.

Do not forget the cash flow statement. You must do this before taking the plunge and investing.

5. Find out where your tenants come from and their plans for the future.

Your tenants may consider moving if you increase your rent recently. If your tenants are renting for a short-term, it could be that they are staying there to attract unsuspecting buyers.

Do not forget to collect at least 2 months deposit as a security measure.

In summary, taking action is key to a successful real estate investing…

Virtual Business Ownership - - Marketing The Best You

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

Private Money For Real Estate Investing - Why You Should Never Forget This Clause

When you use private money for real estate investing there are several clauses your lending agreements should never be without. One of those clauses is the ?No Pre-Payment Penalty? clause. Here?s how it works.

When you borrow private money for real estate investing, you?re accomplishing a great deal. You?re protecting your credit, and maximizing your borrowing potential, as well as gaining access to a ready and flexible source of money.

It would be a shame to go through all of that and leave yourself open to harm in one critical area? what if you?re stuck with a repayment term that?s too long?

The sure way to avoid this issue is to put a ?No Pre-Payment Penalty? clause in every private money for real estate investing agreement you make. That way, when you?re ready to pay the loan off and free up those funds for a new investment, you?re not stuck paying a hefty penalty.

Here?s how the clause should be worded.

?”The Borrower reserves the right to prepay this Note (in whole or in part) prior to the due date with no prepayment penalty”

Without this clause, you would be obligated to pay the lender the full interest due on the loan for the entire term, no matter how long it is. That?s not the kind of flexibility you want in a loan of this type, and flexibility is one of the main reasons to use private money for real estate investing.

Protect yourself and your borrowing capacity when you’re accessing private money for real estate investing by including the above clause in every one of your private notes and contracts. You?ll be glad you did.

Real Estate Investing: Always Have a Back-up

Over the last two weeks, events have unfolded that have reminded me of an important truism in real estate investing.

“Always have a back-up!”

This was played out in dramatic form with a deal I’m closing tomorrow. A wholesaler friend of mine brought me this great little three bedroom one bath home tucked away on a dead end street where pride in ownership is alive and well. The electric and plumbing is already upgraded and this rehab is cosmetic with the exception of adding a bath.

I’m buying it for $52,500 and the as-repaired appraisal came in at $86,000. Not a bad spread. This is the kind of deal I like!

When I called my hard money broker, she was delighted and we moved quickly toward closing. I was only waiting on the closing time…

That’s when the wheels fell off.

It seems my broker’s money source decided he was only going to invest in property valued at $250,000 or more. Yikes!

So, I went to back-up hard money broker number 1.

The broker took his time…about 5 days…to finally tell me that he only wanted to loan about 60% of the as-repair value. No way. Not when I can do better (70%) with back-up hard money broker number 2.

Back-up broker number 2 is probably who I should have went with in the first place. I’ve borrowed from this source before. It took one phone call, and the money is there and I close in a couple of days. Wham-bam, the deal is arranged.

It looks like it’s time to shift around the players in my core team a bit. Back-up number 2 is now my starter. Back-up number 1 (foot-dragger, doesn’t-loan-the-70%-he-said-he-would) is benched.

I tell this story to illustrate that it’s absolutely CENTRAL to your business to have back-up plans in all aspects of the business.

I strongly recommend having two or three:

- Hard money brokers - Appraisers for quick value assessments - Rehab crew leaders - Plumbers - Electricians - Roofers - HVAC techs - Realtors

In fact, have two or three of any trade or profession lined up, ready to spring into action as a moment’s notice. Sure, I have my favorites in each of these areas, but I am striving to have 3-deep hot back-ups in each. Thing happen. Life happens! Be prepared for it.

Don’t stop there. Have back-ups when you rent or sell a property. A property isn’t rented until the rent and deposit (or lease/option fee) is paid and the keys are in the hands of the new tenant. So, encourage back-ups until the money is in your hands (in cash).

I’ve had appointments set up to sign leases, and the potential tenants never show up, no call, and they quit answering their phone. This is despite being hot for the house an hour earlier! If you are in this business long, you will learn that people will disappoint you and they will fool you. So, establish policies and make one of them “it ain’t rented until it’s paid for!”

Encourage back-up offers to purchase. Deals fall through all the time! Take as many back-up offers as you can.

Having back-ups is a mental frame of mind that fits within being a big-picture thinker portion of the Mind of the Real Estate Investor. In addition, rearranging your core team is thinking big and long term. It’s a constant process of improvement and adjustment. This approach is crucial to your business! Apply this principle and profit!

About the Author

———- Bruce W. Ford publishes the “Nothing Held Back” newsletter, a free service of Rehab Real Estate Central (http://www.Rehab-Real-Estate.com). Get a free copy of his mini-course entitled “The Mind of the Real Estate Investor by clicking here!.”

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

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.

Real Estate Investing: Flipping Properties

A lot of people these days are preaching about the buying and holding method of gaining wealth with real estate. There indeed may come a time in your life or business when you?ll want to hang on to a piece of property, although you?ll only be interested in keeping certain types of property. If you?re just starting out, flipping a house may be an ideal way to get started.

Basically, there are three ways that you can flip a house, although each one has its own terms, motivation, and type of property. The first method is known as retailing. What this means, is that you buy a house in bad shape, do the repairs to fix it up, then turn around and sell it. There are a variety of houses in need of repairs out there, and several ways that you can quickly flip a house to net profit. All you need to know are the techniques that will get you the most money in the least amount of time.

The second way you can flip a house is though wholesaling. Wholesaling involves finding a home for sale then flipping it to an investor for a fast, yet small profit. To do this, you?ll need to know the real estate investors in your area, the types of homes that flip the best, and how to fund your property so you can flip it to them. If you live in a big area or a city, you?ll find that using the wholesaling method of flipping houses is actually easier to accomplish.

The third way to flip a house is by assigning the purchase. Using this method, you?ll commit to buy the house. Instead of closing the deal yourself, you?ll assign it to a real estate investor - of course for a small fee. The investor will take the contract over and close the purchase themselves - flipping the house. This can be very profitable, especially if you invest in the right home. You don?t need to have your contract worded any special way to be legal, although you will need to determine the assignment fee.

If you?re looking to break into the real estate market and make big bucks, you?ll need to learn all about flipping houses. Flipping houses is very profitable, especially once you have learned the basics. The first and third methods are the best, although they will both take quite a bit of work on your part. Restoring homes isn?t easy, and you?ll need to have a team qualified to handle any repairs. Assigning the purchase may be difficult when you first start out, although it will get easier with time. If you stay at it and do your best to make a profit - you?ll be an expert at flipping homes in no time at all.

About the Author:

Mark Estates writes for multiple real estate and foreclosure investing porgrams such as SharkBaitSoftware.com.

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