Single Moms & Home Business Ownership: A Reality Or A Fantasy?

Can a single mother start a home-based business?

Can she make enough money to support her herself and her children?

How difficult is running a home-based business when no spouse is available to help with the childcare or contribute financially?

Women-Owned Home-Based Businesses

After researching and writing about home-based business issues for a while, it seemed that most women-owned home-based businesses involved a husband or significant other in the home. The significant other may help take care of the children after work so that the woman can have a chunk of uninterrupted time to work at her business. In addition, the family is not solely dependent on her business for its survival, since someone in the household has a steady income.

Of course, these women still face—and struggle with—issues facing all home-based business owners, such as financing, marketing, growing their business, customer service problems, as well as personal issues such as isolation and fear. On top of these issues, stay-at-home women with home-based businesses usually must also deal with their “mom” responsibilities, such as laundry, meals, housecleaning, transporting school-age children, baby care, grocery shopping, etc., AND still find time to bathe, sleep, eat, and take care of her business. The amazing fact is that most women home-business owners do all of these things on a daily basis.

The Single Mother

But what about the single mother? Whether divorced, widowed, or never married, she has no one to relieve her of child care for a period of time her so she can sit down and take care of her business. She is the sole source of support for her family. That fact puts her in a “Catch-22″ situation: If she works at her home-based business full-time, it must quickly bring in enough money for food, clothing, and shelter. If she works outside the home to ensure a steady income and runs her business part-time, that leaves little time for her children and for her “mom” responsibilities and an ever-increasing amount of guilt feelings.

I began searching for information about single mother home-based business ownership. My goals were to determine whether or not single mothers could and did own and operate successful home-based businesses. If they did, I wanted information about how they managed to balance children, business, and personal issues by themselves. Furthermore, I wanted to know the WHY—why they took the risk and made the leap to home business ownership.

All Around, But Never There

I expected to readily find information on the Internet about single mothers who own home-based businesses; the particular issues facing them; as well as demographics and other statistics. To my surprise, such information was not readily available.

I found much information and many Websites about work-at-home

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Click Here! TO ENJOY A LUCRATIVE TAX FREE INCOME My mother was a widow and she survived with the help of the earning power of the internet

About the Author

hafiz lecky is an oracle certified associates currently running a home based internet business http://moreinfo247.com/8723322/free , http://webmillionaire.blogspot.com , http://ld.net?lecky

Real Estate Investing - Why I Like Home Inspections!

I asked a friend recently what he thought of having home inspections done on residential investment property. “They suck,” he said rather vehemently. When I asked him why he had such an emotional reaction, he shrugged his shoulders and mumbled something about inspections being a big waste of time and money because they “never find anything wrong anyway.” I suspect my friend either isn’t buying enough houses, or he hired the wrong inspector.

My Home Inspector finds things wrong with every house he inspects, and that’s just the way I want it. Costing between $200 and $450 each, I think home inspections are one of the single best bargains for a real estate investor. In fact, usually the inspection pays for itself, and I’ll tell you why in just a minute. First, let me just say that if my inspector ever tells me a house has no problems, I will send him back to do the job right. Here’s why.

What Should Be Inspected

All my offers on houses (except bank foreclosures- I’ll explain that in a minute, too) are subject to an inspection by a professional Home Inspector. I’ll say it again. ALL my offers. Why? Two reasons.

First, even though I’m a pretty handy guy and I’ve bought and sold a lot of houses, I’m no expert in structures or engineering- not even close. My Home Inspector is. There are a lot of things that could be wrong with any home I purchase, no matter how good it looks or how new it is. Nasty things like cracks where there should be no cracks, leaks or water damage in spots that should be dry, heating systems that throw only cold air, and… well, you get the idea. My inspector, expert that he is, knows how to find these things, and his job is to tell me about them.

Second, because I make so many offers, I just don’t have time to inspect a home like I should. Putting a home inspection clause in my offers is like my safety valve. I don’t have to worry because my inspector will do what I don’t have time to do. As we already discussed, he’s much better qualified anyway.

O.K., I promised I would tell you the reason I don’t put this clause in my offers on bank foreclosures. Here’s why- it would weaken my offer to the bank. Banks give preference to true, non-contingent offers and I want them to know that I’m prepared to close no matter what. Will I have an inspection done on these foreclosure homes? You better believe I will- but I won’t make my offer subject to the inspection. The results of the inspection will be for my own information and edification only.

I have all my residential investments inspected, and I recommend you do the same.

Another Tool In Your Bag

There is one more very important reason to have a home inspection done. When you sign a purchase offer, and it is accepted by the seller, the negotiation process is not over- not by a long shot. In the seller’s mind it might be over, but in my mind it’s really just beginning.

When your inspector finds something wrong- trust me, he will- you have another tool in your bag of negotiating tactics. Now is the time to go back to the seller, explain the findings of the inspector, and ask for one of two things- either repairs of the problem areas, or credit off the selling price. Either one is good, but personally I like the money better. Here’s an example.

Recently, I had a home inspection done on a 1724 square foot ranch in a nice section of town. The home inspection actually turned up very little, but a couple of things my inspector did catch were a faulty damper in the chimney flue and a bad GFI circuit interrupter in one of the bathrooms. Not necessarily major repairs, but I am going to incur some cost to repair them. They also represent a powerful negotiating tool. What did I do?

I phoned my Realtor and explained the inspector’s findings. Then, I instructed my Realtor to ask for $750 credit off the price of the home to cover the repairs. Will I get it? Not bloody likely, but I will get something, and that’s the whole point. Whatever I am able to negotiate, (in this case it wound up being $350) it’s more than I would have gotten if I had decided to forego the inspection. Also, I wouldn’t have found out about the needed repairs until much later- maybe not until I sold the house and my buyer’s home inspection turned them up. Not good.

But, since I did know, I was able to renegotiate for $350, which was $130 more than the inspection cost me. I told you most of them pay for themselves! Very good.

Who To Hire

I have written another article, Building Your Team, about how to find and hire competent professionals to help you in your Real Estate business. I’ll share a few additional comments here on that.

First, look for someone with the right credentials. Members of the American Society of Home Inspectors (ASHI) are certified to conduct home inspections, and licensed engineers are licensed by your state. Either or both of those qualifications are very desirable.

Second, look for experience. If they just hung their shingle last week, they are probably not experienced enough to handle the job. My guy has been inspecting homes for 23 years, and was a contractor before that. In fact many highly qualified inspectors are semi-retired contractors.

Finally, ask other investors and Realtors for referrals. They will know who the trustworthy inspectors are in your town. Once you find someone you trust and enjoy working with, stick with them. The hassle of switching is not worth saving a few bucks, which is all we’re really taking about anyway.

Consider well what I’ve said in this article. I think you’ll agree that getting a home inspection is one of the best things you can spend your money on when investing in residential property.

Now, go make more offers!

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.

Real Estate Investing Acquisition With A Lease Or Purchase Option

Acquiring equipment on a lease or purchase in the real estate industry can be a significant investment decision. Therefore, one must do all the necessary comparative analysis pertaining to costs and various other factors before taking the final step. It is important to know that the purchase or lease decisions are case specific and difficult to generalize. A careful need based study of the company is very important.

Factors To Be Considered It is important for real estate investors to determine the time, for which the equipment that they are planning to lease or purchase, is likely to be used. One must also compare the total rental payments together with the interest component and the net purchase value of the particular equipment. If the cumulative lease amount exceeds the net purchase prices, it makes no sense to lease the equipment.

One must also estimate various costs related to transportation and installation of the equipment. Routine repair and maintenance of such equipment is necessary to keep it in good working condition. Hence, a real estate investor must check with the service provider to see whether the provider has provisions for routine checkups. Most importantly, check whether the lender or seller offers purchase options or an extension of the lease.

Choose The Right Mode Of Acquiring The Equipment There are two ways of acquiring equipment. You can either purchase it or lease it.

Purchasing equipment is wise, only in a scenario where the equipment is to be used over the long-term for a number of real estate developments. The rentals are lower compared with the net purchase value of the equipment.

Leasing equipment is a great option for those who want to gain expertise in specific areas with less time and cost. It eliminates large cash outlays and allows companies to use their funds for other investment purposes. With the perspective that - it is not the ownership of the equipment but its use that generates revenues, leasing seems attractive. Leasing is advisable if the equipment is to be used for the development of a few real estate projects over a small to medium term. One must avoid leasing equipment for a long-term unless the package offers very attractive features. If you are considering a lease, prefer one that has an option of purchase.

Prefer A Lease Agreement With An Option Of Purchase Such a lease agreement specifies that the owner will rent out his equipment to the customer for monthly rental for a stipulated time with a predetermined buy out. The customer is responsible for insurance, maintenance, and all other costs of ownership. At the end of the lease period, the user has the option of purchasing the equipment, re-leasing it, or simply returning it to the owner.

About the Author

David Gass is President of Business Credit Services, Inc. His company publishes a free weekly e-newsletter on Small Business Consulting at their web site http://www.smallbusinessconsulting.com.

How To Benefit From 401 And Real Estate Investing

When people think about their 401K they consider a lump sum of money that has been put away for retirement.

In fact most people completely forget about their 401K until income tax time. Which is a shame because this can be a great source for funding real estate investing.

Creative real estate investors have figured out that 401K and real estate investing have a mutually beneficial relationship. By now you are probably wondering what 401K and real estate investing could possibly have in common. The answer is that the two have several things in common. Each of these should be of interest to you if you are a current real estate investor or you are considering becoming involved with real estate investing.

The easiest way that 401K and real estate investing can work together is through the ability to take out a loan against a 401K. The primary objective with real estate investing is to use little or none of your personal money to fund the investment.

Since you are allowed to borrow against your 401K, you can use this to finance part of your investment into real estate. When the deal closes, you will receive back the amount you borrowed plus more. You can easily pay back the loan without affecting your 401K.

There are some things to note about this method of 401K and real estate investing. First, you should know that there is a cap on the amount you can borrow against your 401K. This amount is usually $50,000. However, it can be less, depending on the amount of money you have in your 401K. Another thing to note about 401K and real estate investing is that the real estate you purchase through this means is not eligible for the mortgage-interest tax deduction. There are no tax benefits when you use 401K and real estate investing together.

Another option for using 401K and real estate investing together is to put the money into an IRA, or individual retirement account. Sometimes this is not allowed, but it if is allowed, you have more flexibility on what you can do with the money. You might receive a penalty for moving your money from 401K. The penalty is usually worth it considering the benefits that are made through real estate investing.

If you are weary of the risks involved with 401K and real estate investing there is a safer way to invest in real estate with your 401K. Some plans offer the option to invest in real estate investment trusts. These trusts consist of companies that buy and sell real estate.

This is less risk way of using 401K and real estate investing. It also requires less work on the part of the investor since the trust companies are the ones actually doing the real estate investing.

Most people are unaware of the possibilities that exist with 401K and real estate investing. It is a creative way for investors to make a profit in real estate without actually using their own money. The good thing about 401K and real estate investing is that there are both safe and risky ways of investing to yield a profit. The decision you make is one entirely of personal preference.

About the Author:

Did you know there are an estimated 8 million plots of unclaimed land and real estate in this country? Download a free ebook, that shows you how to claim your share here: http:Claim Free Land & Property Ebook

Real Estate Investing By The Numbers

Just like most things real estate investing can be broken down into easy to learn step.

Just like most things real estate investing can be broken down into easy to learn step.

Step One - Learn the basics:

Ownership of real estate is evidenced by a valid deed. When you buy property the seller signs a deed that transfers his ownership interest to you. Most states use a Warranty Deed. With that deed the seller warrants that title to the property is as he has described. You would buy title insurance in case some defect in title was discovered after the transfer of ownership. Recording the deed is notice to the world that you are the new owner.

You must know how to correctly fill out such basic documents as purchase offers, deeds, options, leases and rental agreements. Many of those documents have been recorded in your county and you can see many expert examples by viewing your County Recorders files.

If you have borrowed money to buy the property the lender will record a mortgage or trust deed immediately after the Warranty deed has been recorded. This mortgage is a lien on the property and gives the lender power to foreclose if you violate terms of the loan, like stop making payments.

Step Two - Understand how to buy real estate:

Most sellers want to sell their property for full price and all cash. Investors generally want to buy at a discount and delay paying for as long as possible. To do that you must understand the many techniques an investor can use to satisfy the needs of the seller.

You only make good deals if the seller is urgently motivated to sell. Perhaps he has lost a job, been transferred, has a drug problem, is facing divorce, bought more house than he could afford… or a variety of other reasons why he/she must get out from under those mortgage payments.

You can control real estate with leases, options, subject to techniques and a host of other “creative ideas”. To be successful you must understand which technique to use in which situation. You just talk to the seller until you learn what he/she will accept.

Step Three - You must uncover a steady stream of motivated sellers:

They are always plenty of people who must sell their homes and sell them in a hurry. The trick is to find them. Since most people will so “no” to any offer but all cash, you need to be constantly on the search those motivated home owners.

My experience is that most new investors don’t fail at investing… they fail at marketing. Marketing is how you sell you skill as an investor and find enough motivated sellers to keep the cash rolling in.

You can use billboards, flyers, telephone calls, door to door canvassing, bandit signs, newspaper ads, Web sites, direct mail… or any combination. If you don’t use good marketing every week of the year your chances of becoming a successful investors are minimal.

Good marketing is the secret. You can be expert at every creative buying technique in the book. If you can’t locate motivated sellers every week you just won’t be able to buy houses.

Time and again we’ve seen people with just basic knowledge of one or two buying techniques become very successful, because they are unrelenting in their search for motivated sellers. Perseverance and stamina can work wonders.

My choice is to mail postcards, because they are inexpensive to prepare and send. You can read more about my postcard system at http://digbig.com/4cjxp

Step four - Always have an exit strategy before you buy:

Before buying an investment property you must carefully evaluate the potential for profit. One of the keys to your evaluation will be to determine what you will do with the property if you buy it.

Included in the many way to profit are:

1. Place it in your “buy & hold” inventory if it will produce profitable rental income.
2. Place it in your “buy & hold” inventory if it will produce break-even cash flow and you expect it to increase in value by 8% to 15% or more per year.
3. You can assign the purchase contract to another investor for a one time cash payment.
4. You can buy the property and immediately sell it to a retail buyer and cash-out.
5. You can exchange it for a more desirable property.
6. Refinance cash out and use the money for the down payment on another property.
7. Etc…

Finally

Now you can visualize the four basic steps in real estate investing. You’ll never know all there is to know about every step. Just get started and add to your knowledge as you go along. Remember, all it takes to be successful is perseverance and stamina!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Definition of Security: Small Business Ownership

What your key target audiences think about you can take you down in a New York minute!
Yes, that IS security when nobody can downsize you because you OWN that small business of yours! But preserving that special advantage is a never-ending job. In fact, do you know what needs to be preserved more than anything else?

Well, since they hold the future of your business in their hands, I believe that an outside group of people whose behaviors can effect your business survival more than any other, deserves your rapt attention.

What Id like you to conclude from that is, what your key target audiences think about you can take you down in a New York minute!

0 customers displeased with your product or service dont come back 0 prospects who dont know about you dont buy 0 employees who believe you dont care about them lean on their oars 0 when minority folks believe you discrimminate, you have new problems 0 and if community residents believe your business is a lousy place to work, you have hiring and retention problems.

Even though help is on the way, you cant work on everything at once, so prioritize those key audiences. That is, which external audience is of immediate concern?

The good news is that problems like those above just dont happen when you closely and regularly monitor what those key publics think about you. First, you find ways to interact with them.

Then probe what they think about you and the business. In what behaviors are they engaging? What about misunderstandings? Do you see any problems brewing?

When you take the trouble to stay in touch with those folks whose behaviors affect your business the most, youve taken an important first step towards preserving your business.

Theres a real sequence here. Once you gather those facts from monitoring your key, target audience, it becomes obvious what your problem is and, thus, the public relations goal. For example, correct that misconception about your product; or reinforce a budding perception that you deliver superior service; or correct a suspicion that you dont put women in positions of responsibility.

With your goal in-hand, how are you going to achieve it? You need a strategy which, in public relations, only comes in three flavors: create opinion (perception) where none may exist; change existing opinion, or reinforce it.

So, youve set your public relations goal AND a very doable strategy. Now, what must your message have to say to implement that strategy? It must address the fix you decided upon when you set the goal. It must be clear, specific, persuasive and, above all, believable. As you write it, remain sensitive to what you are trying to do: change somebodys perception which almost always leads to the change in behavior you really want. Does your message meet this challenge?

Many would now find themselves with a great goal, a super strategy and a first class message, and nowhere to go.

But not you. Here, you select the beasts of burden you need to carry that message to the eyes and ears of those members of your key, target audience whom you need to reach and move to action.

And that means communications tactics. There are more available to you than we have time or space to list. Among them: community briefings, seminars, special events, news releases, speeches, brochures and personal contacts.

Is your work completed? Nope, because how will you track your progress? The answer is, Round 2 of the monitoring job. Interact with members of your prime outside audience all over again, carefully evaluating what you hear. If the goal was correct a misconception, are you beginning to notice signs of that correction? Do those you talk to show, however little, a better understanding of the facts of the matter as represented in your message?

Whats the bottom line? Behaviors, of course.

When your messages and communications tactics combine to alter a questionable perception held by members of your key, target audience, certain behaviors will soon follow. Among them, favorable mentions in the media and in individual speeches and lectures; increased patronage for your business; corrected perceptions by influential members of that important group of people, and many other similar signs that your message and your communications tactics have, indeed, drawn blood.

Happily, what that adds up to is a successful public relations effort.

end

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

About the Author

Bob Kelly counsels, writes and speaks about the fundamental premise of public relations. He has been DPR, Pepsi-Cola Co.; AGM-PR, Texaco Inc.; VP-PR, Olin Corp.; VP-PR, Newport News Shipbuilding & Drydock Co.; director of communications, U.S. Department of the Interior, and deputy assistant press secretary, The White House. mailto:bobkelly@TNI.net Visit: http://www.prcommentary.com

Real Estate Investing Ebooks

Dear Real Estate Investor,
we have all heard that knowledge is money. This can be very true as far as real estate is concerned.

If you know a property is worth $10,000 more than the asking price, this piece of knowledge can be worth up to $10,000 to you.

Real estate investing ebooks are another hidden source of knowledge. If you can find the right one, just one idea can be worth even more than $10,000 to you.

For a novel way to make great profits from real estate, please see the link for a Free Real Estate Fortunes e-book at the bottom of this page.

The first time you hear about it, you might wonder exactly how it is possible to make money in real estate investing.

Many people have heard success stories about people who have become millionaires by investing in real estate. These success stories are certainly true. For someone who is willing to put in the work, it is definitely possible to make great profits.

The simplest explanation for how to make money in real estate investing is that you purchase a property for a certain price, and then you sell it at a higher price.

The way to make money is not different than the way other kinds of investors make money. If you think about the way the stock market works, you place your money into a stock when it is at a certain price. At some point after the stock has increased in value you sell it for a profit.

People who invest in stock have different strategies for making money. For example, some investors purchase stock for as low possible then sell it at a much higher price later on.

A similar strategy is used to make money from real estate. Investors seek to purchase homes for low price, often well below market value, then resell it at a price that is at least at market value. This process of buying low then selling high is the key strategy that is used.

It may not always be possible to make money through such a low purchase price. In such cases, investors seek only to make a few thousand dollars of profit. After closing literally hundreds, and possibly even thousands, of these deals an investor can easily become a millionaire.

Another strategy used by investors to make money is using a means, other than the traditional, to fund the purchase of real estate. These kinds of strategies are known as creative real estate investing. Anytime an investor is able to make money in real estate investing financing other than a traditional mortgage, it is called creative investing.

As you get deeper into exploring how to make money in real estate investing you will learn more of these creative investing techniques.

An example of how to make money without using your own financing is through using the real estate seller’s existing financing. When you purchase property, the seller already has some sort of financing. You can make arrangements to take over this financing, then repay it once the property has been sold.

The steps to make money are not complex. In fact, these steps have parallels to many other kinds of investing that you are familiar with. Using techniques similar to these, the process to make money in real estate investing is easier to understand and complete.

Please download a new real estate e-book and start making some great profits from real estate right away by clicking on the link below

About the Author

Gerald Mason has has had over 10 years experience in real estate and enjoys helping others to make money from real estate. To download a free real estate investing ebook please visit: http://www.freelandproperty.com/realezine.htm

How To Get Private Money For Real Estate Investing - Step Two

If you spend much time online, you?ve most likely read or heard about the law of attraction. Essentially, this law states that you tend to attract into your life whatever you focus on. I personally think the philosophy that?s risen up surrounding this so-called ?law? is just so much drivel, but there is truth to the central idea. Which brings us to step two for getting private money for real estate investing.

As in most other areas of life, if you don?t know what you?re looking for, neither will anyone else. That?s why it?s important to think carefully about what you?ll be expecting from your lenders once you sign them up. Ask some pertinent questions, write down the answers, and develop a ?Lender Fact Sheet? to give to your prospective private money lenders. Here are some of the questions you should be asking.

1. What size loans will you be looking for? This will be dictated by the type of property you normally buy. If you focus on single family homes in the $75,000 to $150,000 range, then loans up to $150,000 are what you?ll be seeking.

2. What will the terms be? Think carefully about how you will want to pay your loans back. This will, of course, change as you get into the mechanics of each individual loan and each individual property, but your prospective lenders will want to know what your intentions are. Do you plan to use the money for three years, five years, ten years? Will you make interest only payments with a balloon at the end of the term? The terms are limited only by your own creativity, but think about them now, and add them to your outline.

3. What rate will you be paying? A good rate of return compared with what they can earn elsewhere is what will attract your potential private money for real estate investing lenders. The rate you choose is up to you, and will be negotiable based on market conditions, but you should give your prospects a starting figure. Ten percent, eleven percent, twelve percent? Be prepared to make adjustments, but have a place to start.

4. How often? What will be your approximate frequency of use? Lenders want to know that they have a reasonable expectation of return. Don?t sign them up if you can?t use their money, because you?ll just be setting them up for disappointment. Only sign up as many lenders as you can reasonably expect to actually use.

As you think through these questions, others may occur to you. Write them down, along with the answers. Then, use your outline to develop your Lender Fact Sheet. Give this sheet to your prospective private money lenders at your seminars or one-on-one presentations, and be prepared to explain your terms.

If you want more on how to get private money for real estate investing, visit http://www.private-money-real-estate-investing.com for tips, techniques, and strategies.

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.

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