If you are earning more than the average Realtor than you certainly know something that the rest are failing to grasp the question is do you have “enough” additional value add that it would significantly improve the quality of lives of the Realtors you coach and the level of value that they provide their clients? Although you may feel as if this question is unique to you, trust me every good “coach” has asked themselves this at least once. To answer the questions lets take a look at your career as a Realtor.

Is your Realtor income substantially more than the average Realtor?

This is the most obvious question because if you can’t make a solid Realtor income yourself how can you be expected to teach other Realtors how, right? But there are other reasons why it is important too. (more…)

Do you treat your business like a business or do you play the “service role”? Although it might not seem like a very big difference this small change in perspective can influence some major decisions and be the difference between earning a decent living to an extraordinary one.

I have the privilege of working with many professionals at the top of their game. They all share this common trait. In particular I built a coaching company with one financial professional who decisions to always view the “service” that he provided as an independent professional as a business allowed him to take the necessary steps to building a highly automated coaching program with me, that kicked off an excess of $50,000 per MONTH in less than 4 years time. The best part was that due to the ability to make “big picture” decisions the operating costs were almost non-existent. (more…)

The core secret that large corporations, advertising agencies and successful real estate investors know and always use is this:

People buy on emotion, and justify their purchases with logic.

This simple fact is used every single day in TV, newspaper, Internet and other advertisements by companies like Coca-Cola, Dell, Remax, Ford, and virtually any large corporation you can think of. (more…)

As with most business and capital ventures, there are operating costs which are associated with owning your own home. These constitute the recurrent expenses that need be serviced every so often in order to ensure that you retain your home and as such get to enjoy it and use it as you see fit. Operating costs, though necessary, may prove to be challenging tasks that will stretch your commitment to seeing the project through, to the fullest. This fact should, however, not dissuade you from pressing on since with careful planning and organisation, all can be taken care of.

* Mortgage Payments

Top on the list of operating costs are mortgage payments. These constitute loan repayments to financiers of your home loan and are calculated by agreed rates. These costs need to be paid in regular intervals at a consistent a rate as possible. The main reason for this is they add up to your equity share of the home and so hasten the loan repayment to ensure you can finally live in a debt free home. Failure to pay mortgage fees will incur adverse consequences the worst of which is having your loan financier fore close on the mortgage and you lose your home and all equity invested thus far. (more…)

How much thought do you really put into the creation of your business cards? I’ll admit when I first started in this business I didn’t know diddly squat about marketing and I created boring business cards like everyone else. I had my company name, phone, address, email and website–that was it.

Luckily I hung around some pretty smart fellows and quickly learned the correct way to use business cards. First, I recommend having two different types of business cards. The first one is going to be a very professional card that you can hand out to sellers. This card is going to be the closest thing you have to a “boring” business card but there are still a few ways you’re going to make it stand out.

On the front of the card put some type of catchy slogan so that sellers know that you’re a real estate investor. Such as “we provide real estate solutions” or “we will buy your house in 30 days or less”. And then on the back of the card I would give the sellers a reason to pick up the phone and call you. (more…)

If you are considering investing in REO properties you need to stop thinking about it and just do it! REO stands for Real Estate Owned. These are properties that the bank foreclosed on from delinquent buyers for not paying their mortgage for at least two months.

The bank then tries to sell these properties at a foreclosure sale or at the local county courthouse. If no one buys these properties at the courthouse or the foreclosure sale the bank buys them back. The bank then hires a real estate agent to sell the property for them. The properties are then discounted tremendously by the banks because the banks have too many foreclosed properties on their books and they are trying to get rid of as many of these properties as possible. When I say too many properties on their books, that means that the bank has to many non-performing assets and they can’t loan out as much money. (more…)

Every realtor investor wants to do well with their business. Highlands Ranch realtors are no exception. If you have the tools and experience you will be able to solve the problems that other people can’t and you will notice that your clients will refer you new clients. Once people start coming to you first you will have less of a problem with competition. Competition is every realtor’s problem. However you have to beat the competition to become successful. Knowing how to market will give you an edge on your competition.

Marketing is very important for Highlands Ranch realtors. The Denver area has a growing real estate market all around it and Highlands Ranch realtors have to not only compete with other realtors in the area but other realtors in other cities as well. For Highlands Ranch realtors they can market using various ways, however one of the most effective may be through their local businesses. The Park Meadows Mall offers a perfect opportunity for realtors to get their name out. There is also over 100 different specialty shops in the area that a realtor can go to. (more…)

You might be interested to know that a few people don’t really care for every topic I write about, and as a result feel the need to complain about it. Did I lose sleep over it? No, in fact it is actually good and bad. It is good because, I don’t want complainers on my list and as a result, these people have been removed from my subscriber database. It is bad because no longer will these subscribers be able to learn from someone who is kicking butt as a real estate investor. If you don’t know by now, I give a lot more than I ask for.

OK, so what does this have to do with today’s lesson called, “Don’t be afraid to annoy people?” As a real estate investor, you will undoubtedly annoy people on occasion as a result of your marketing. When you mail letters and postcards, and put up signs, etc not everyone is going to like your message and be happy that you contacted them. Some will asked to be removed from your list, some will not like your street signs, etc. The key is, not to let the negative haters and easily annoyed keep you from doing what you do. The fact is, some will, some won’t, so what, someone’s waiting! (more…)

We all need support systems in our lives; a set of people who understand our position and can relate to us and advise us based on their own experiences. A smart vacation rental owner utilizes several different B2B marketing strategies as a way to grow a customer referral base and a support system of other professionals in the field.

Public speaking

Offering your expertise as a vacation rental owner through public speaking and seminars is an excellent way to meet other owners in the area. Do not think of these people as your competition. Your property (or product) does not offer the same “personality” as another owner’s properties. Still, building relationships with owners who share your business ideals and practices will provide a new avenue of customers to both owners when one or the other is fully booked. (more…)

In 1997 the Hospital Corporation of America won a tax case that created opportunities for all business and investment property owners.

They prevailed in getting the courts to agree that there were personal components to a residential income or commercial property that should be amortized over a shorter period of time than 27.5 or 39 years for residential and commercial properties respectively. The Tax court agreed and stipulated that a 3115 change of tax form backed by an appropriate engineering study would be accepted by the IRs. The engineering study is called “Cost Segregation”. It breaks the components of a property into structural and personal property. Past component depreciation was disallowed in 1986, but Cost Segregation is allowed. The affect is that the personal property is reduced to 5,7, and 15 year depreciation schedules. This usually affects 15% to 40% of a property’s value. (more…)