Tampa Real Estate: Investing in Property Foreclosure
April 30, 2011 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Real Estate Investing
When a person purchases a home, a loan must be taken on a regular basis. The lenders, which are banks in general, keep the title to the home as collateral. When the person is ineffectual in paying the dues in time, the ownership of the home is transferred to the lender. The transfer of ownership is what is called foreclosure.
Buying foreclosure has been compared to playing poker. Considering as an investment, it has its own risks. First the lenders will check out if there are any junior liens. When they find any pending loans, they pay off everything so that they themselves have clear title to the property. Once this is done, the lender adds up all costs to the loan amount to be recovered, and again resells the property so that they can convalesce the expenses together with the loan amount. This is an ideal time for investors to buy such property. Buying a Tampa real estate property that has been foreclosed already presents many gains.
The foremost and well-known benefit is the fact that all Tampa real estate properties bought from lenders will have clear titles as well as ownership rights, thereby saving one the hassles of undertaking any research. In addition, the foreclosure is not meant for profit booking. Hence, when the lenders sell foreclosed property they need their money back, so they are ready to sell the property cheaper than what it could have obtained in open market under normal conditions.
The first step of buying foreclosed Tampa real estate properties is to collect some relevant information. The best thing to do is to create a database that allows one to segregate data on all the properties and markets in clear sets. The next step is to directly get in touch with the owners of the foreclosed Tampa real estate property and start negotiating with them.
First-time buying foreclosed property on your own can be risky. Thus, one must seek the help from real estate agents. One of the risks involved in buying foreclosure, particularly at an auction, is it gives just a week to deposit all the cash. If one fails to do so, all of the money that has already been deposited might be lost at particular instances. However, as one keeps on making investments, valuable experience will be gained regarding bad construction, poor soils, problems with septic systems, and the like.
Background reading of crucial information is very important before one gets into foreclosure investing. Foreclosure laws in Florida, priority of liens, bidding at auctions, title insurance, and bankruptcy are some of the key areas that one should be familiar with. One will be able to make better and safer decisions if equipped with the right knowledge.
Property investment is not an easy game, and must be played only with caution and care. Little concerns for the person whose property is up for foreclosure are necessary for this process. But one can easily cut down the process of foreclosures into three primary stages. The first stage is pre-foreclosure, second stage is foreclosure auction and the third and final stage is bank owned foreclosures.
As the foreclosure process unfolds, the potential for profit will belittle, the later one gets the foreclosure property. For those who are ambitious enough to attempt the full- time task of foreclosure investment, one must learn to have to learn how to find pre-foreclosures since these normally offer the utmost leverage and profitability that is crucial to the most discounted properties that are available from bank-owned properties.
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Earl Juanico http://www.tampa-realestate.biz |
Small Business Ownership and Whole Business Accommodations
April 29, 2011 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.
Real Estate Investing - Three Ways To Make More
April 27, 2011 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Real Estate Investing
Are you considering Real estate investing just to make that extra profit? There are many who believe that investing in real estate is a great source to make money. You can do real estate investing by buying houses and reselling them at a profit. Buying a house is probably the most expensive investment you can make in your life. Thus each sale you make selling your real estate, generates more profit potential for this reason.
Three ways to make money investing in Real Estate
1. Fixing and Flipping Houses:
Fixing and flipping houses is one of the most popular ways to make money in real estate investing. The concept of fixing and flipping houses is simple all you have to do is find a home that needs repair and maintenance. You go in and do all the repairs that are necessary and then put your home on the retail market. Don’t be surprised to make a profit, which is as high as $25,000 just on a single transaction.
2. Fix, hold and sell later:
You can also make money on real estate investing by buying a rundown property and doing all the repairs and maintenance that are necessary to bring the property up to the standard. Once this is done you can rent the home on a lease-option basis.
3. Flipping Houses:
If you do not want to spend on repairs yourself then this type of method will be suitable for you. All you need is some knowledge of home prices and also home up gradation cost. You need to find properties and resell them to other investors on an as-is-basis. Compared to the above two methods this method will not help you to make more profit per transaction as you’ll have to sell at a below- market price to the next investor.
Real Estate investing has been an effective way of making profit for centuries. You can continue to make profit by fixing and reselling homes as long as you are good at bargains and know your market well.
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
Virtual Business Ownership - - Marketing The Best You
April 25, 2011 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
Real Estate Investing - Self-Analysis
April 24, 2011 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Real Estate Investing
Most people just starting out in real estate investing focus on buzz phrases like, ?property analysis? and ?due-diligence?. The relationship between these two is important to any real estate investor, both experienced and inexperienced alike. The other aspect that is equally important, if not more important is self-analysis.
Now I don?t mean psychological self-analysis either. Self-analysis is about taking a good look at your own financial situation, knowledge of investments, resources, strengths and weaknesses, and personal preferences. When we first began our real estate investment company, we agreed that personal guarantees for loans for any project for the company was not in our best interest. This is an example of a personal preference. This obviously has an impact on how we conduct our business.
Many real estate investors face the reality of having to borrow money in order to begin purchasing real estate. A great place to start analysing is your own wallet. Then match that to your personal preferences. For instance, if you were to consider buying a ?fixer upper? and you had $5000 in your bank account. You would have to consider your options based not only on the amount of money in your bank account, but also the implications of borrowing money. This includes your credit, your personal assets, your family situation and the risks involved.
Bullets are always nice, so here are some to help you focus on what should be considering before ?going for broke? (which is what you want to avoid):
Money in bank
Access to more money if needed
Credit
Possible risks to credit
What do these risks mean to you (how much do you care about them)?
Family - how will this effect your family?
Current assets
Current debts
Take these bullets and then match them to the following:
What are the potential problems that may arise?
How well prepared are you to handle these challenges?
How well do you handle pressure?
What experience do you have?
What are some resources you can use that can help you?
What money sources can you access if needed?
Who do you know that can help you?
How can you meet people that can possibly help you?
Do you want to do what it takes to actually start meeting people in the business?
What if you lose all your money?
What if your credit is destroyed?
What if you lose everything you have?
On a scale of 1 - 10 (1 = Absolutely No Risk and 10 = Extremely High Risk), how risky is the investment strategy?
Those ?what if? questions are probably the most scary out of the bunch and they are also the root of what keeps many people from taking the first step toward making that first real estate investment or starting their own business. Regardless of these questions, if you want to start investing in real estate or start your own business, these questions have to be asked honestly.
But look at the entire list also! Part of the power of the ?what if? questions are that they overshadow all the other options. The self-analysis you do is an absolute must. Any person who is considering real estate investing as a viable option for wealth building has to answer these questions on their own. No one can answer them but you.
Self-analysis is important because knowing yourself is the first building block to success. You?ve got to understand yourself and be honest. If you sugarcoat it, you will ultimately fail. There are so many different ways to begin a career or business in real estate, it?s almost unbelievable. But no matter what path you choose, you?ve got to sit down and look at yourself seriously. Where there are strengths, grow them and where there are weaknesses, work on them. Real estate investment success or business success in general, does not happen overnight, neither does self-analysis. Sit down, figure it out. Then go out and make money!
?2007 noobdogs.com
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Noobdogs.com offers a place for fellow new investors in real estate to ask questions and get good, sound information they can understand. Noobdogs.com is owned and operated by AmeriCountry Realty Group LLC. Founded in 2006 by Tom McGiveron, a Behavior Specialist and entrepreneur, noobdogs.com is becoming the premier site for new investors to achieve success in personal development and real estate investment. |
Real Estate Investing: Know Your Stuff
April 22, 2011 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Real Estate Investing
Real estate investing involves purchasing real estate with the intent of making a profit on it. While there is some luck in doing this, most people will fail in this type of venture if they haven?t done their research. Knowing what the market will demand now and in the future plays a large role in successful real estate investing.
One type of real estate investing is called flipping. This involves purchasing a home for a small price and fixing it up. The goal is to sell the home making a sizable profit to cover your time and cost of the repairs. Then you use some of the profits to invest in another home. It is important that you purchase such homes in areas that have an excellent resell value as well as a market for homes. If the remodeled home sits on the market for a year or longer then your investment could put quite a financial strain on you.
Real estate investing in factories or apartment buildings is very common. Generally, you can make some profit on such investments. The key is to try to find property that you can purchase for a very low cost. This is easier to do in under developed areas that are anticipated to boom.
There is a great deal of risk in real estate investing. There is no guarantee your investment will allow you to break even, let alone make a profit. Taking the time to complete some research on market trends in the area will allow you to make better decisions about real estate investing, and hopefully result in your endeavors being a success.
Because of the amount of risk involved in real estate investing, it can be tricky to get financing. There are lends out there that specialize in loans for this type of venture. The internet is a great resource for helping you find the right type of lender. Other real estate investors use their savings or personal income to cover the investment.
Is Business Ownership In Your Future?
April 21, 2011 by Kenny Santos
Filed under Business/Network Marketing
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T he last time we met I told you about the U.S. Department of Labor?s prediction that within the next ten to fifteen years fifty percent of the American workforce will consist of home workers, independent contractors, consultants, telecommuters, freelancers, and of course, entrepreneurs. Think about that for a moment, especially if you are a diehard nine-to-fiver who can?t imagine yourself leaving the comfort of a regular job to try something different. The workplace of the future is either going to be an exciting or dreadful place, and it?s up to you which side of the coin you fall on. You see, what the Labor Department doesn?t say, but I believe to be true, is that those who find themselves earning a living in non-traditional careers will do so for one of two reasons: they either freely chose to throw off the shackles of the traditional nine-to-five or they were forced to do so because they were casualties of the future?s changing work models. Layoffs, downsizing, outsourcing, work force reduction, and position elimination: all very nice politically-correct terms that mean one thing: you had better be open to changing the way you think about work because, my brothers and sisters, the times they are a? changing. The point of our discussion last time focused on those of you who may one day choose the entrepreneurial path. There is a process for going from worker bee to entrepreneur wannabe and it begins with a healthy dose of self-assessment (look inward to determine if you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur) followed by the determination of what kind of business best suits your situation and personality, how you will fund the business, and the writing of a solid business plan. Now let?s talk about the nuts and bolts of the process: finding a location, lining up vendors, hiring and managing employees, dealing with customers, creating a marketing strategy … hmm, this could turn into a very long column. Let me see if I can abbreviate the process in four paragraphs or less. If your business will be a brick and mortar, nothing is as important as location. What might be a great location for a shoe store might be a horrible location for a donut shop. What may appear to be a busy location in the morning might be a ghost town in the afternoon. You should rely on experts for this important piece of the process. Work with a commercial realtor or business broker to find a location that meets your specific needs. Next, if yours will be a product-driven business, your success could hinge on the quality, price, and availability of the products you sell. You must establish strong relationships with reliable vendors who can provide an ample supply of the products your customers demand. Always be cultivating relationships with new vendors. Never rely on a single source for products because sources have a tendency to dry up over time. Next comes the hiring and managing of employees. Like your location and product, employees can make or break your business. Knowledgeable employees who know the value of - and deliver - exceptional customer service are like nuggets of gold. Unfortunately, they are also as hard to find. Don?t hire your wife?s brother or your best friend?s son. It?s easier to find a new best friend than a new customer. Hire based on experience and expertise and train every employee well. Set expectations high and most important of all, lead by example, not by the book. Finally, the big question: if you build it will they come? Afraid not, my new entrepreneur friend. You must have a killer marketing plan that will bring the world - or at least your piece of the world - to your door. You can have the best product in the world, but if you don?t tell anyone about it, you won?t sell a thing. Creating a killer marketing plan really isn?t that hard. Just ask yourself questions like: who is my target customer and what is the best way to reach them? What can I do to stand out from the crowd? What can I do differently? How can I get noticed? And how can I do that without spending an arm and leg on advertising? Two great books on this topic are Purple Cow by Seth Godin and There?s A Customer Born Every Minute: P.T. Barnum?s Secrets To Business Success by Joe Vitale. Of course there?s far more to going from employee to entrepreneur than I can cover here in just a couple of columns, which is why I wrote a book on the topic called Everything I Know About Business I Learned From My Mama. Shameless self-promotion aside, I hope this will help you decide if future entrepreneurship is for you. No matter what path you choose remember this: the workplace is changing. You must be prepared and willing to change with it or you?ll end up a statistic on another government list, this one stamped: Unemployed.
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