Finding Private Money for Real Estate Investing - Expanded Circle

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.

Tip of the Day by Stephen Oommen

U.S 1% Rich 99% Poor
This is your choice.
Please take a moment to watch this ABC News report. This is something I have been saying for years that the gap between the rich and the poor is growing.

ABC News Report

But here is something to think about because there are a few points I want you realize. There are always two ways to look at the same thing. Regardless, this gap is going to continue to grow and we will all have made our choice.

One point is that the couple, the meteorologist and school volunteer, say that they are at no fault because they did everything they were supposed to. This is a common statement I hear in which people want to blame someone else. But really think about how that makes no sense. If someone did EVERYTHING they were supposed to, then obviously they wouldn’t be worried and they would be set for retirement. So they apparently didn’t educate themselves on the right way to handle their finances based on the way the economy was going.

Point two, the news consultant says that the people are upset because they feel the rich are playing by an entirely different set of rules. Well this is 100% true. What he didn’t say is that EVERYONE has the ability to play by these same rules. Unfortunately barely anyone takes the time to LEARN the rules.

This is the major reason I am in business today: to make sure EVERYONE has the opportunity to learn these rules.

Today to be part of the 1% club you actually only have to earn 180k a year. Not unrealistic for those thinking you have to be in the millions of dollars club.

I do not agree with how some of the rich have earned their money immorally, illegally and unethically. That is flat wrong and there are too many ways to do it the right way, to risk doing it the wrong way. The news likes the paint a one sided picture of the rich, but yet I haven’t found even one person that can say they wouldn’t be a happy with a little bit more financial security.

Everyone is allowed the freedom to choose. You can be part of the 1% or the 99%. If you do nothing, then you choose the 99%. But it is everyone’s free choice.

Which is your choice?

God Bless!

–

Stephen Oommen
Real Estate Investor & CEO - Ovestments Inc.
www.OvestmentsInc.com

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.

Private Money for Real Estate Investing - Step One

If you want to create a pathway to an unlimited supply of private money for real estate investing, you need to build a foundation of trust with your prospective lenders. One of the very best ways to impress them, and show them you know where you?re going, is if you really DO know where you?re going.

As a lender, before I loan one penny of my hard earned private money for real estate investing, I ask to see one very important document? the investor’s business plan. If they have one, that?s a good sign; if I can read it, that?s a better sign; and if it clearly shows they know where they?re going, well? that?s a great sign.

What am I looking for? Well I?m NOT looking for flash or glitz. In fact, a business plan doesn?t need to be fancy, or even long for that matter. It does have to be clear, concise and simple enough for an eighth grader to read. Yes, I read at a higher level than an eighth grader, but some people looking to loan private money for real estate investing may not, so keep it simple.

How should you write your business plan? First, think about the kind of investing you have already been successful with. Ask yourself how you achieved the success, and what steps you took that are repeatable. List the steps, and create an outline. Do that and you have the perfect outline for your private money for real estate investing business plan.

There?s lots of material on the internet for creating winning business plans. I don?t need to repeat that here. The purpose of this article is to get you thinking about how you can and should create a business plan that appeals to potential lenders of private money for real estate investing.

That kind of business plan reveals in plain, simple language how you propose to make money with your investing, the kinds and sizes of the loans you will need, and most especially, how the LENDER will benefit? in other words, how much will they make, how will it be repaid, and how will their investment be secured?

That?s the kind of business plan that will appeal to those who might lend you private money for real estate investing. When you write that kind of business plan, it shows you have thought it through, and you know where you?re going and how to get there. It also show you know how to take your lender along for the ride.

That?s what a potential lender will be asking themselves as they read through your plan? ?What?s in it for me?? Remember that as you write, and write with them in mind, stressing benefits, benefits, benefits. Create a feeling of confidence in your prospective lenders as they read, so they feel confident loaning you private money for real estate investing.

Step one in your quest for private money for real estate investing? Develop a business plan.

4 Tips on How To Choose the Real Estate Investing Course That’s Right For You

If you are interested in discovering all the insider secrets of real estate investing, the good news is that there is likely a real estate investing course that can teach you all the ins and outs of real estate simply, and in minimum time. To find the right real estate investing course for you, look for something that offers:

1) A knowledgeable expert.
The person teaching the real estate investing course should be a respected expert with years of real estate investing experience.

2) A focus that relates to your interests.
Whether you are interested in foreclosures, commercial real estate, or “fixing and flipping” houses, make sure the real estate investing course you choose offers step-by-step specific information that shows how to quickly generate cash, and also build long-term wealth without taking up too much of your time.

3) An easy to learn format and price.
Truth is, people don?t value free information. And as Ben Franklin is famous for saying, ?if you think education is expensive, then try ignorance.? That said, make sure that the real estate investing course you choose doesn?t cost more than $500.00 A great real estate investing course should give you reading materials, monthly case studies, and ? as a bonus - access to live calls. You can learn about real estate investing by attending workshops, online classes and other methods from the comfort of home. Bottom line, choose a real estate investing course that offers a learning environment that you’re comfortable with.

4) A good track record with others.
Ensure there are testimonials and endorsements about the real estate investing course you’re interested in. Then, invest in a program whose students are having fun, and are profiting.

Now that you know how to choose the right course, it?s time to take action!:-) Yours for Massive Profits & a Rewarding Life!

Cheers,
Mary Wozny
“Helping 100,000 Women & Families Achieve Financial Freedom!”

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.

Ten Real Estate Investing Tips

Real estate investing tips tend to be a bit vague, like “invest in the right location,” or “make sure the numbers work.” Actually, tips like these are important principles to remember. However, since they have been well represented in other articles, I want to share a few more specific tips with you.

1. Listen to the market. The cabinet guy looked to me for a decision. I realized that I knew nothing at all about which cabinets people like, so I asked him which ones others were choosing, and he pointed to one that three quarters of his last forty customers had chosen. That’s the one I want, I told him. Why argue with the market you are trying to sell to?

2. Do your own research. The real estate agent might show you only the comparable sales that make the property look more valuable. Do your own research. Some counties have made it easy now, with sales prices online. You can also search any number of sites with MLS listings, just to get an idea about the asking prices of other nearby properties.

3. Partner carefully. When you do a deal with partners, be the money or the management, but not both. Group decisions tend not to work well in real estate, and will cause you much stress. Once you decide on and agree to a plan, step back if you are investing the capital, and let your partner do his thing. Of course, step up and take control if you are managing the project.

4. Negotiate openly. Just ask a seller outright, “What do you want to get out of this?” It is rare that someone is offended by this simple question, and it saves you from wasting valuable time talking about things that don’t interest him or her. Once you get a clear answer, you can decide if you can give them what they want, and still get what you need.

5. Invest safely. Investing isn’t gambling. There is always risk, but the difference is that the odds are in your favor. If not, you are gambling. This why you shouldn’t invest based on continued price increases. There is no guarantee that prices will continue up at any particular rate. Do deals that work even if prices go nowhere, and if values go up, you’re that much better off.

6. Run the numbers. It is about the numbers, and if it is income property, it’s about one number in particular: cash flow. Whatever the local formulas are, whether gross rent multipliers or capitalization rates or whatever, just be sure that after every last expense you’ll have cash flow from the very first month.

Rules, formulas and real estate tips are really just guidelines. Even the rule above about cash flow can be broken if you know that rents can be raised soon, for example. You have to use common sense and learn from experience, and you can’t replace good analysis with rules, formulas and real estate tips.

About the Author

Steve Gillman has invested in real estate for years. To learn more, get a free real estate investing course, and see a photo of a beautiful house he and his wife bought for $17,500, visit http://www.HousesUnderFiftyThousand.com

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!’

The First Steps In Real Estate Investing

With all the stories of people making tremendous amounts of money in real estate it’s no wonder why so many are looking at real estate as an investment vehicle. It offers more security than the stock market, provides great potential returns, offers tax benefits and let’s not forget; it sounds cool to be ‘in real estate’. Everybody can buy and sell stocks from their phone or computer these days. But real estate, now that’s something else.

One of the challenges that many are faced with is putting up the money to acquire a piece of property. Although in reality this is usually not the biggest obstacle. You might say “Hey, what do you mean, not an obstacle. I would love to invest in real estate, but I just can’t afford to!” The point is that hardly anyone who buys a piece of real estate has enough money in their account to pay for it. That’s where your banker comes in. Let’s face it. Do you know anyone that owns their own home? I mean truly own it? Probably not. Sure, you know a lot of people that have a house to their name, but wait until they get behind on their monthly mortgage payments and you will soon find out who really owns their house. That’s right, the bank. So if these people can use the bank’s money to buy a house, why can’t you?

Now ‘owning’ your own home may sound like a somewhat obvious way to get started in real estate, but it is also a very good way to do so. You might say “Duh…” But apparently this little step is overlooked by a lot of people. Just take a look at how many people are still renting a property instead of buying one. Now of course the relation between rent and housing prices varies from country to country and even from area to area. But wherever you go you will still find people renting, because in their mind “they don’t have enough money to buy a house.” In reality it would be much cheaper for them to buy!

When you rent, you are pretty much flushing your money down the toilet. Of course you are getting the pleasure of living, but the point is you’re not building anything long term. Every dollar you spend on rent is a dollar you will never see again. Whereas if you own your own home, instead of paying rent you would be paying for your mortgage. Even though there is a lot of variety in mortgages these days, the basics of practically all mortgages are more or less the same. Every month you make a payment which consists of two parts: interest and principle. The interest part can be compared to rent. Those dollars are gone with the wind and you will never hear from them again. However, the part of the payment that goes to the principle is money you keep. Every dollar that is used to pay off the principal is a dollar you put in your own pocket.

So if you’re thinking about getting started in real estate and you don’t ‘own’ your own house yet… Change it, and get some experience. It’s a great first step towards building your capital and in many cases, it just makes more sense financially. It can also supply a range of opportunities for accelerating the process of building your net worth. When real estate prices go up, so does the value of your property. Whereas the money you owe the bank, your mortgage, remains the same. In other words this helps you build your net worth. Compare this to people that are paying rent… Their net worth does nothing. However their landlord’s net worth is doing very nicely in this scenario and he or she will probably love you for it. So if you get a warm fuzzy feeling about making somebody else rich at your own expense… Keep renting. If you would rather build your own capital instead… Buy your own house!

Many home owners have accumulated more money through appreciation of their property than by working a full time job for many years. Now before you go out and buy the first property you lay eyes on, don’t forget that some security measures are in order here. As you may or may not know, real estate prices do not always go up, and certainly not in a straight line. Yep, this can be shocker to some people, as well as an ugly reminder for those who overlooked this minor detail in the past. If for some reason you would have to sell your home in a down market, it can be a costly adventure. You wouldn’t be the first to end up with a house worth considerably less than the mortgage resting on it. So make sure to keep some slack. In the long run real estate prices have always been on the rise, but in any cycle there are down periods. By keeping some slack and being patient you will be able to sit through these times and profit from the long term up-trend.

About the Author

Jim Mack is an expert on business, health and well being. He regularly contributes articles on these subjects. The Best Investing Tips

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.

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