Monday, January 07, 2008

It's January 7th - Merry Christmas!!!

Yes, today is CHRISTMAS DAY (birth of Jesus, not a holiday with some red-suited fat guy and a bunch of compost-producing equine off-shoots...)

According to the Russian calendar anyway (and several others, btw...), this is the day of the birth, NOT the 25th of December!!!

Now, I'm not a specialist in how it all works, but it has a lot to do with the use of the different calendar systems - both of which were started at the same time, but have, over the last several hundred years, drifted apart by a few bits every day.

As I understand it (and remember it - I invite you to do the research on the Internet yourself - there must be tons of it out there... I'm just going from my memory and my day-to-day life here!), it was Julius Caesar that made the old calendar 'illegal' - and it 'stuck'. From that time, the old system of counting days, hours and weeks went away and everyone, all over the world, adopted the one we use now (at least, in the 'modern world' - the Chinese still have their own, and I think the Muslims and Jewish folks have their own, too???? - maybe Caesar's power wasn't all that powerful after all... ;)

Nope, I'm not a calendar expert, I just wanted to give you a bit of the background on this as my wife and her mother are preparing to go to church (Russian Orthodox) and celebrate the birth of the baby Jesus...

... for the third time in two days....

Yup, they went yesterday morning for a couple hours (that was a 'Sunday service' though), then last night, another FOUR HOURS with a priest that came in from San Francisco, and again today, another couple hours.

Well, it gives them some time out of the house, and quiet time for me - works all around....

And, the celebration here at home won't revolve around an iconic, commercially-manufactured day of excessive spending (that comes on New Year - NEXT WEEK! ;)

Learn, Apply, Lower taxes, Your wealth will grow!

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
http://thelazyinvestor.com/
702-568-7194 ext. 854

Friday, July 06, 2007

What do you DO all day?

A great question came in to http://askstevemajors.com/


"Steve, I know you are a L.A.Z.Y. guy, so just what do you DO all day, anyway?"



Well, this morning, I was out picking plumbs!



Steve picking plumbs!

Yeah, that's the waterfall that feeds the 30-ft long koi pond I spend a lot of time at....



Steve gets his reward!



Actually, I got a nearly full 5-gallon bucket of plums this morning - before breakfast! (Tommorrow, I'll be having some plum jam on my toast!)



Now, recall, this picture was taken on a Friday morning, about 10 AM. I'd been out picking nearly 30 minutes before the picture was taken.

(one reason it took me awhile to complete is that I did some 'work' on a deal in Oklahoma while I was on the ladder....)



Just what did YOU do at that time? Where were you - working for someone else, or enjoying your home, your family, your yard?



Real Estate Investing provides the option for you to do what you want, when you want. And, the methods I teach focus directly on

you getting the Lifestyle you enjoy, doing the Activities you love, taking your stress to Zero (who can be stressed when you are picking plums?)

all while making sure You are in charge of it all (and most importantly, your life!)



I encourage you to utilize the 'comment' section below - let me know what you think!



Happy Investing,



Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor

Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Top 10 Real Estate Investing Tips for Maximum Profits

Ten hot tips to increase your real estate investing profits.
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TIP #1

There are several tried and true methods to uncover sellers who will literally beg you to take their house. They all boil down to finding a seller whose situation has changed.

For various reasons (such as divorce, death or job conditions), they need to get out from under their home fast. You can often buy these homes for pennies on the dollar, then turn around and sell the property at a much higher market value. That translates into BIG real estate profits for you, and jump-starts your real estate investing!

The 'trick' is in finding these sellers. Be patient and keep looking - they are out there and the rewards are well worth it!


TIP #2

Your rehab project may suffer delays and lost profits due to simple things like a rise in gasoline prices, which adds to the cost of materials delivered by truck to your local lumberyard or home improvement store. A few cents per gallon at the gas pump can be enough to erase your potential profits while you work to rehab and "flip" a property.

Take care to calculate into your rehab cost a 'fudge factor' to include funds for such 'emergencies'. A good rule of thumb is to multiply your estimated rehab costs by .2 (20%) and add that to the estimated cost when you are analyzing a potential project.

If this small addition kills the deal for you, it is probably best to move on to another deal.


TIP #3

If you fear Realtors will view you as competition, enlist their help. You can easily have Realtors all over your area working to help you find more and better real estate investment deals.

As they get a commission for each sale, they are eager to find you deals. Be sure and be ready to take those they bring you as you want to work with them in the future too!


TIP #4

Delays in a real estate investment project leaves real estate investors open to vulnerability from shifting economic factors. If the housing market cools off and interest rates spike before you get your house on the market and sold, you could be left with expenses like mortgage payments, insurance premiums, and property tax added to your balance sheet.

Add an additional 10 percent to your initial calculations for these holding costs when analyzing any real estate investment.


Real estate investing is an altogether different kind of business. People just like you and me buy and sell properties and earn tens of thousands of dollars, often within just a few days of getting into the business. ,A good investor knows that a real estate investment property selected with care can be very rewarding. It can render above 100 percent ROI per year, along with good value increase over time. That is why real estate has become the most preferred form of investment by seasoned investors.


TIP #5

An alternative to real estate is paper investment, where an active real estate investor can supplement your portfolio or even make a full-time business in lieu of actual physical ownership of properties.

This offers the real estate investor a way to invest in real estate without the day-to-day logistical headaches of more traditional investing.


TIP #6

You can sell your property on your own and cut out expensive brokerage fees by following these three easy steps.

Step 1. Calculate the asking price for the property

Hire a professional appraiser to price the home or check the sales prices of comparable homes in the same area of your real estate investment. You can visit your local court house and compare similar recent real estate sale prices within a few miles of your property. Many court records are now available on the Internet.

Always take into consideration the current real estate market. If the market is a buyer's market, you may have to lower your price. If it is a seller's market, you might be able to ask more than the market value for the property.

Step 2. Market the property

Advertise the property and show it to perspective buyers. Make sure you have the necessary purchase contract forms. The purchase contract will need to be signed by you and the buyer once you have negotiated the deal.

Step 3. Close the deal.

You will need a closing agent to perform the closing, which may be an escrow company, a title company or real estate attorney, depending on your area. There is a lot of paperwork needed here as you need to provide the buyer with disclosure statements and he will need to provide you with a loan commitment letter.

Inspections are also performed during this time and a title search will be completed by your closing agent. To complete the closing, you will need to meet with the closing agent and buyer to sign the paperwork. pay any closing fees, pay off the mortgage and pay or put aside any taxes owed. Your closing agent will help you with all these details.

The closing phase is the busiest (and most exciting) time of selling your first property in real estate. The closing table is where all of your hard work pays off and you get to walk away with your real estate profits.


TIP #7

Mortgage note investors can earn substantial yields when the real estate market is challenged by steadily rising interest rates.

Those with prior experience as real estate investors can utilize their knowledge of property to choose sound, secure, credit-worthy investments. When the building that serves as collateral on the note has true value, the associated debt carries less risk.

Those investors who are accustomed to doing rehab on a property usually have an eye for what constitutes solid and problem-free construction and can provide a reasonably accurate estimate on any repair costs.

Utilize a team approach to maximize your profits as you learn more and contribute to your own bottom line.


TIP #8

To earn maximum profits from your real estate investing business you simply find owners who are highly motivated to sell (due to a change in their situation like divorce, death or job conditions), buy their property (preferably with other people's money), then sell at a higher price and keep the change. Often that change is $10,000, $20,000, $30,000...and more!


TIP #9

Many real estate investors have incomes that are erratic and difficult to document. There are many legitimate reasons for this, but traditional banks generally do not care. Very few lending institutions will provide real estate investment loans without complete income verification.

An alternative used by some non-traditional lending sources is to use the "Stated Income" approach, which utilizes statements directly from the borrower as to how much money they make. These loans are great for real estate investors because they are simpler to get when you find someone that will do them, however, you must still be certain that the real estate deal will make the expected return or you can get in trouble quickly.

Look for a lender who uses the Stated Income approach and does not require income verification for real estate transactions that really work.


TIP #10

Let's face it, selling or buying your first investment property is probably one of the biggest, most daunting projects you will ever take on in your life. It's a monumental event that could impact the next few years of your life, and it's for that reason that a lot of real estate investors looking to buy or sell homes will turn to a real estate agent or Realtor for help.

Be sure to work with a real investor-friendly Realtor. Not every Realtor understands what investors need. Most of them are trained in buying and selling property to homeowners, not investors, so be sure you interview them before they start sending you property listings or you will wind up wasting a lot of your valuable time.

A good question to ask any prospective Realtor that wants to provide you with real estate listings is "how many investment properties do you have?" This question is a double-edged-sword as it will give you an indication of if the Realtor understands what a good real estate investment deal is, as well as let you know if they tend to keep the best deals for themselves!


Above all, don't be afraid to get into real estate. Thousands of every day people succeed admirably in this industry every year.

Gather the information you need, then get started making money through your real estate investing!

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and DEALS from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE real estate training course~ http://TheLazyInvestor.com

Monday, December 11, 2006

Real Estate Investing Article: Real Estate Investing Key To Wealth

This real estate investing article holds the key to real estate investment fortunes in your real estate investing, heed it, or simply continue to struggle aimlessly...
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"98% of the millionaires in this country make their fortunes through Real Estate Investing".

These words inspire millions to get involved in real estate investing, yet lack that special 'secret ingredient' - the one thing that explains HOW to make those millions in real estate investing...

This real estate investing article holds the key to how you will make fortunes in real estate investing, or simply continue to struggle aimlessly...

The key to real estate investing riches is not in the latest technique, method or system. The key to real estate investing is in patience and research, monitoring the marketplace for a special 'event'...

Something 'big' in the marketplace that triggers rapid growth in the real estate investing market.

Such big indicators as;
- new major employment moving into the area
- a new factory (manufacturing)
- sales center (like a large outlet mall)
- entertainment (like a casino)

All trigger worthy examination as 'events' in real estate investing.

Other events that affect your real estate investing include sporting arenas, theme parks, even a new airport on the 'outskirts' of town...

All merit further investigation because they trigger fluctuation in the real estate investing marketplace.

When such events occur, there is a sudden rise in the demand for affordable housing in the area, rapidly affecting the real estate investing market.

Not only will the workers at the 'event' location need homes, there is also a need for housing from others - 'customers' that simply want to be near this new location.

Also, these workers will need support for their needs; car dealers, grocery stores, gas stations, clothing stores, etc.

As the 'support' base grows for this 'event', the need for additional housing grows as well.

You see, the 'support base' also needs support - from food stores to shopping centers to car dealers and utility companies - the whole thing just grows and grows!

By now you understand that such 'events' hold extreme value in the real estate investing cycle.

In fact, following such 'events' is the primary key to the number of millionaires that have made their fortunes through real estate investing.

When you monitor these events and take advantage of them early, you grow your wealth very quickly.

This is the simple, secret key to real estate investing wealth.

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and DEALS from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE real estate training course~ http://TheLazyInvestor.com

Monday, July 31, 2006

Real Estate Investing in Cabo San Lucas and even Cerritos Beach is Easier and Safer than you think

Real Estate Investing in Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding area, like Cerritos Beach and Todos Santos is now easy and safe. Get the 'inside track' on why it is now legal, safe and financially rewarding to do your real estate investing in this HOT area.
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Several myths surround real estate ownership in the Cabo San Lucas area, beach property in places like Cerritos Beach and real estate investing in Mexico in general.

One of the biggest myths about owning property in Mexico is that it is impossible for foreigners to own land within 50km of the sea coast or 100km from the border.

Owning land in Cabo San Lucas and the surrounding area is easier than one might think and below is one example of how this is possible.

It is a great article by Carol Billups, that describes how Americans or any foreigner for that matter can (and do), own land and property within the Mexican states and the Baja Sur, Cabo San Lucas area.

Real Estate: Trust is Everthing Foreign Investment in Mexican Real Estate with the Fideicomiso of Mexican Bank Trust

"In Los Cabos, foreigners (US and Canadian citizens as well as all others) can buy property as long as they own it in a trust known as a Fideicomiso.

This trust, similar to a living trust, exists to hold title to one piece of property.

If your property is located within 50 Km from a sea coast or 100 Km from an international border this is the only way in which you can take title.

In Los Cabos that pretty much defines all of our real estate. But we're not complaining because not only is the Fideicomiso system safe it offers tax and estate planning advantages.

What you need to know are the terms of the trust." http://www.loscabosguide.com/realestate/fideicomiso.htm

It explains some of the rules as well as benefits of owning property in this manner. Although a great article on the Fideicomiso, (Mexican Bank Trust) it fails to show that owning land in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico and beautiful beach access property like that in Cerritos Beach is also possible through a Mexican corporation; not unlike the U.S.

Own property in the Cabo San Lucas area and do your real estate investing in an area that is growing in leaps and bounds. Cerritos Beach property now available!
Visit http://TheLazyInvestor.com/cm/Cabo-San-Lucas.php

keywords: Cabo San Lucas, real estate investing, Cerritos Beach

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://TheLazyInvestor.com

Monday, July 03, 2006

The Key to Real Estate Investing Wealth

Discover the key piece of knowledge that all real estate investing millionaires possess, yet few reveal.
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"98% of the millionaires in this country made it through Real Estate Investing", words that inpire millions to get involved in real estate investing, yet lack that special 'secret ingredient'...

The one thing that explains HOW to make those millions in real estate investing...

So, just what is it that the millionaires of real estate investing know that you don't?

Here is the key to making fortunes in real estate investing, or simply continuing to struggle aimlessly...

The key to real estate investing riches is not in the latest technique, method or system. The key to real estate investing is in patience and research, monitoring the marketplace for a special 'event'...

Something 'big' in the marketplace that triggers rapid growth in the real estate investing market.

Such big indicators as;
- new major employment moving into the area
- a new factory (manufacturing)
- sales center (like a large outlet mall)
- entertainment (like a casino)

All trigger worthy examination as 'events' in real estate investing.

Other events that affect your real estate investing include sporting arenas, theme parks, even a new airport on the 'outskirts' of town...

All merit further investigation because they trigger fluctuation in the real estate investing marketplace.

When such events occur, there is a sudden rise in the demand for affordable housing in the area, rapidly affecting the real estate investing market.

Not only will the workers at the 'event' location need homes, there is also a need for housing from others - 'customers' that simply want to be near this new location.

As the 'support' base grows for this 'event', the need for additional housing grows as well.

You see, the 'base' also needs support - from food stores to shopping centers to car dealers and utility companies - the whole thing just grows and grows!

By now you understand that such 'events' hold extreme value in the real estate investing cycle.

In fact, following such 'events' is the primary key to the number of millionaires that have made their fortunes through real estate investing.

When you monitor these events and take advantage of them early, you grow your wealth very quickly.

This is the simple, secret key to real estate investing wealth.

keywords; real estate investing

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate investing course~ http://TheLazyInvestor.com

Wednesday, June 14, 2006

7 Top Real Estate Investing Jobs

Ready for maximum wealth in your Real Estate investing? It's easier than you think once you understand the 7 Top Real Estate Investing Jobs. This article provides a 'how-its-done' look to maximize your results.

Real Estate investing has long been proven to make tons of CA$H for the active investor and many of the real estate investing methods and techniques used to make some of the biggest (and quickest) CA$H only require a little time and a bit of knowledge (i.e., NO MONEY and NO CREDIT!) to rapidly bring home a really big check!

That’s the appeal of Real Estate investing courses to most people – to do deals that require little/no money or credit yet pay back huge rewards for the time and knowledge you get from following their systems.

Yet, the "investing" gets a bit lost in most of the world of "Real Estate Investing" - there is no "investing" other than a bit of time - there is no ROI (Return On Investment) other than the time-for-money factor.

Thats why I call these activities Real Estate Investing Jobs -they stop bringing income as soon as you stop working them.

Real Estate Investing through these jobs, while they make you CA$H, will never give you financial freedom as they only generate quick money and not long-term, passive income.

This article will look at some of the more popular methods of Real Estate Investing jobs.

One of the biggest challenges to overcome is the fact that, when discussing the money made through Real Estate Investing, the numbers of dollars are much more than your common corporate job, and many people simply are not ready to handle such discussions.

You see, when you were very young, you were programmed to think that $X was a large amount and often this amount was only a few hundred, or perhaps, a few thousand, dollars.

Yet, when discussing Real estate investing deals, there are often multiple thousands of dollars at stake.

Most people simply are not used to discussing such numbers, and wind up not making the money they could. They simply have not learned the language of Real Estate Investing.

One of the first lessons I teach my students is how to get past the fear of discussing hundreds of thousands of dollars and changing the programming you were given as a child to form open ideas about money and investing to make even more money.

One quick step you can do to begin this journey is to look deep inside yourself and ask yourself how you feel about money. Can you comfortably discuss figures in the hundreds of thousands of dollars?

Most people learn quite quickly - with just a little bit of practice.

With that in mind, it is time to look at these Real Estate Investing Jobs more closely.

These 'jobs' bring you various levels of income, depending on your area, so instead of discussing them in dollar values, we will look at them from a percentage standpoint.

Of course, with these examples, the amount of work, time and knowledge you put into it will certainly pay off more (or less);

1. Property Profiling (birddogging) - this popular way to get started in real estate investing provides a real estate investing job with a decent income - something along the lines of what a factory worker would make in the area.

2. Lease Purchase - this powerful tool can be utilized to buy and sell property with no money out of your pocket (a Real Estate Investing sandwich), while keeping a nice pocketful of money for your time (can you tell this is one of my favorites?) An active person can make about 1.5 - 3 times more than the Property Profiler, on average.

3. Subject To - with a bit of training, you can make this method of real estate investing really pay off big. Once you know how to negotiate these deals, your real estate investing income will reach that of corporate executives - with much less of a time requirement.

4. Foreclosures - while highly lucrative and one of the top income producing methods of real estate investing, the time and knowledge required to actively pursue such deals is becoming more difficult all the time.

The payoff to those that can perform these deals is huge - about 10 times that of the Property Profilers, however, finding deals is much more difficult due to the number of people looking for them.

5. Tax Lien certificates - this is a true form of Real Estate Investing - actually putting your money into something that produces a return - one of the safest investments around with returns that beat any other form of passive investing. If you have money to invest, this is a great area to get into with 15%+ return with almost no down side.

This is still a real estate investing 'job' as tax lien certificates are short term, quick turn profit generators, not sustained over time, plus they take skill and talent to make the maximum profits.

6. Short Sales - this form of Real Estate Investing is another job, as your knowledge level and timing are extremely important. A lot of money can be made with this type of Real Estate Investing job - as much or more than any other form - once you know how.

7. Secondary notes/Purchasing Equity positions - a 'higher level' of real estate investing, where more knowledge is needed to limit the risk, however, the returns on equity position purchases can be extremely high - from 6%-10% for fully passive results and 'sky's the limit' for purchasing equity positions.

Yes, once you get past the internal false programming - the LIES you have been taught all your life about money, you can begin a successful career in Real Estate Investing - through a variety of Real Estate Investing Jobs and then onto true, full, watch-your-money-grow Real Estate Investing.

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://TheLazyInvestor.com

Wednesday, April 05, 2006

The Lazy Investor

The Lazy Investor

You busy Thursday?

http://TheLazyInvestor.com/webinarsignup.html

Texas is HOT - and San Antonio and Austin are SMOKIN'!

Learn about this exciting and lucrative market.

You are always looking for the hot ones...

You want to be on this call!

Thursday night, I'll be chatting with one of the most savvy
investor/Realtors in the area - Angelique Naylor (also known
as "The Slab Queen" for her work on rehab units with broken/
cracked flooring).

We'll discuss this solid real estate investment market and
how you, too, can benefit from her research and expertise!

Be sure to tune in and get your share!

Thursday, April 6 Starting at 6pm/pst - 9pm/est

WEBINAR ACCESS - http://TheLazyInvestor.com/webinarsignup.html

US Access Number (limited lines) 605-990-0200 Cnf# 854351

There will be a number of people on the line, so please make sure to mute your phone by pressing *6.

We look forward to you joining us on the call this Thursday, April 6, so don't disappoint us...

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Lon Hooker, REIA
InvestInAmerica.US

P.S. Put this conference call info on your calendar NOW! 6 PM Pacific, 9 PM Eastern 4/6/2006 THURSDAY WEBINAR ACCESS - http://TheLazyInvestor.com/webinarsignup.html
US Access Number (limited lines) 605-990-0200 Cnf# 854351

Thursday, March 30, 2006

It is coming.....

The Lazy Investor

Very soon....

You will be pleased...

I am quite excited...

Just what is it?

One of the HOTTEST things I've seen on the internet!

Are you tired of SPAM and JUNK in your Inbox?

Wish there was a way to TOTALLY block out any/everyone from blasting into your computer so you could ONLY receive info from those you truly want to hear from?

A way to do BUSINESS online - without all the garbage sent by those without integrity - someone that STOLE your email address from somewhere and now they fill your day with stress, brought on by deleting messages you really needed.

And, what about all those FILTERS - those things that were SUPPOSSED to help us?

Well, with nearly every word in the English language now being utilized in some way or other by these SPAMMERS, it is nearly impossible to get an email through the filter systems of most ISP and large services (where, most likely, you either have an email there yourself, or your customers are there!)

Unless you have been living under a rock somewhere, you know of these issues - lost email, overly-active filters and even now, the 'big boys' are talking about CHARGING for email to get your message delivered to your subscribers and friends!

ENOUGH ALREADY!!!

IT IS TIME TO FIGHT BACK!

Or, at least, take the next step in communication - the 'leading edge' of technology - to BYPASS EMAIL as a business tool and REGAIN CONTROL of our vital communications!

And, I, for one, am doing something about it!

I've just been introduced to a FANTASTIC new software - one that allows us to keep in touch INSTANTLY so you can grab all the latest news, articles and DEALS as they become available!

You may have heard of 'rss', 'xml', 'blogs' or even 'podcasting' - well, this software OUTDOES THEM ALL!

By combining not only 'blog', 'podcasts', 'news' and 'instant messaging', but also useful tools like a scheduler and 'channel' guide to keep track of all your subscriptions.

Not only that, you can log into my webinar room with just a couple clicks!

Talk about INSTANT contact!

Now, let's look at how we are going to use this super tool for building your real estate investing business.

1. DEAL Alerts

This will prove to be the FASTEST way for you to know about deals as they come across my desk. If you are subscribed to this 'channel', you will receive a notification ON YOUR DESKTOP within seconds of it being posted!

No waiting for email to get through the 'ether' (sometimes it has taken up to 5 HOURS for my messages to get through!) and certianly no missing out on any HOT deals because of some over-zealous spam filter - from someone that knows nothing about the real estate business!

2. Training sessions

With this technology, we will be able to connect together often, to open up more training events and sessions for you - a way to keep in touch and get all the training directly from me - but without having to travel or sit in a conference room all day!

Not that we won't still have live conferences and training sessions - they have a tremendous value for networking and face-to-face that nothing else provides....

However, we will be able to do MORE training at a LOWER PRICE, which keeps your budget in check and leverages your time as well!

3. New Articles and training tid-bits

Of course, I won't stop sending out these FREE tips, tricks and techniques, too - NO WAY!

As a subscriber of The Lazy Investor's Basic Training channel, you will receive all the tips and 'musings' - the 'goings-on' that you have come to know around here...

So, just how can you get involved in this great technology?

Just what will it take for you to get started receiving all this valuable info INSTANTLY?

Just hang loose, right here.

I am finalizing the testing of this software (still in development - this is really 'cutting edge' stuff!) and it will all be released very soon.

So, as they say ' Stay Tuned ' it is coming!

Happy Investing,

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor

Webinar Tonight!

Webinar tonight!

That's right, we have another webinar scheduled and this one is to talk DEALS!

We have identified several great investment opportunities all over the country and we are talking about one of them LIVE tonight....

6 PM Pacific/9 Eastern - March 30, 2006

Go to http://TheLazyInvestor.com/webinarsignup.html for info on how you can get in on this webinar/teleconference simulcast!

See you there!"

Sunday, March 05, 2006

NO income, NO Credit, NO Transport & IRS problems...

Real Estate Investing with No Money, No Credit and even IRS problems? Discover tips and a step-by-step simple plan to get started right away.
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Is Real Estate Investing really possible with NO income, NO established credit, NO transportation, and IRS problems?

YES!

The other part of that - the 'What do I do about it?' part - well, that one is simple, too...

In fact, it is similar to the situation I was once in when I was starting out in real estate investing.
Let's go through it, step-by-step...

If you have 'no' money, the first thing to say is - if that is true, how do you eat?

You see, that is one of the most important things you must do to get started - be honest with yourself and take a serious look at your current situation.

If you are serious about real estate investing, you must understand that the world will not give you a living, nobody will be your 'daddy' and the government isn't going to make it happen for you.

Now, I know, this is a bit harsh, but you have to face reality - there ain't no free lunch anywhere and until you look that truth in the face, you will never be successful in anything - certainly not real estate investing.

By now, you are ready to begin your real estate investing journey with strength and truth, have stopped reading or looking for a link to get off my list.

You make a choice, which ever way...

For those that are still with me, know that there is no 'sugar coating' in this message! (to paraphrase a movie - "There ain't no crying in real estate investing!")

So, here's the step-by-step plan to move from a situation where you have little income, no credit established, no car and IRS problems into a world of successful real estate investing...

1. You already conquered the toughest one - facing the truth that you are the one responsible for your own actions.

Congratulate yourself for this (yes, go to the mirror, right now and tell yourself "Congratulations! You understand that you are the one responsible for your actions! You have taken the first step in real estate investing!")

2. Start profiling properties for other investors. You have taken the toughest step (you did #1 completely, didn't you? If not, DO IT NOW!)

You aren't quite ready to take on a deal by yourself - yet.

So, begin your real estate investing journey by finding deals for others. The Lazy Investor's Guide to Property Profiling is perfect for that - in fact, it is exactly what it is designed for!

3. As you begin to make money profiling real estate investing properties for others, don't spend it! (hey, you were living without income before - stick with that, for awhile - it will pay off soon!)

Put that cash away in a safe place (a bank account would be good - put it in a debit card with a major credit card logo - that will establish credit FAST!

To skyrocket your credit, take the steps detailed in The Lazy Investor's Guide to Raise Capital, Build Credit and Wipe Out Debt.

4. Look for real estate investing deals for others, but now that you have a bit of cash, look for other real estate investing deals for yourself. One of my favorite things to do with a bit of cash is to work Lease Purchase real estate investing deals.

Now, they don't always require it, but you will find a lot more real estate investing deals to work if you put a small amount down (I'm talking $10 or $100 most of the time - which is the legal minimum in most states).

Depending on the deal, you might put $1000 on it.

See my website for more on how to make tons of cash from this powerful real estate investing tool (yeah, it is my absolute favorite real estate investing method!).

5. Now, you are on your way! Make all the deals you can for yourself and sell off those you can't to other investors, you make plenty of income to begin to take on even bigger real estate investing deals.

The Lazy Investor's Guide to Real Estate Investing is the right thing for you. With this, you start to make more creative real estate investing deals, with more cash staying in your pocket.

That is what you want, isn't it?

That's it for now on this question - oh, as for the 'no car' and 'IRS troubles' part...

After you make some cash, buy a bicycle, then a scooter or something, then a car - to really start, you may have to actually WALK around to find real estate investing deals at first...

If you don't like that answer, re-read #1...

IRS problems - you got yourself into them, do what it takes to get out of them! Use some of that cash you are making from real estate investing to pay off the bill and get on with your life!

You can often negotiate with the IRS to either get a payment plan or drop the total bill. You might want to check out The Lazy Investor's Guide to Sales, Marketing and Negotiation if you need skills in this area.

Do this, or choose to live in fear and hiding the rest of your life...

If you don't like that answer, re-read #1...

OK, I'm done on this one - more later....

Happy Real Estate Investing,

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor

P.S. Do you have a friend that needs to hear this for themselves? Pass this message along! Send the link where you saw this to everyone you know!

P.P.S. This isn't all I have to say about this real estate investing topic (or many others you have asked about at http://AskSteveMajors.com, so stay tuned... In the meantime, why not check out all the tools you need to make real estate investing happen in your life...


Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://SteveMajors.com

Thursday, February 09, 2006

A 'LAZY' Review of 'Zumanity' (a Las Vegas show)...

The Lazy Investor

A 'LAZY' Review of 'Zumanity' (a Las Vegas show)...

Many people want me to give more 'personal' info - kind of a 'how do you spend your time' log of my life, so, here is a bit of that...

Note that I'm not one to ramble on and on about nothing - something I see a lot of on blogs in general - boy, are there some chatterboxes out there!

This post is for those folks that like to read the goings-on, so if that isn't you, stop here!

OK, disclaimer over - let's get to the review!

A couple days ago, my family and I went to the Las Vegas show called "Zumanity" at the New York, New York casino.

The whole thing was planned as a 'surprise' by my son's girlfriend, who lives with us (longer story than you'll likely hear on this blog.....;) as a Valentine's Day gift...

The biggest part of the surprise, to me, was that it was for Valentine's Day, as it is was well over a week away!

Anyhow, that was what she called it and she got some FANTASTIC seats - right off the stage (amazing what deals you can find when you don't follow the 'standard' dates and flow of crowds - that, in itself is a L.A.Z.Y. method of living!)

So, on to the show - once we knew where we were going (I was driving the Hummer so I had to be told a bit in advance where the destination was...), we headed down to the Strip and went to the valet parking (a Las Vegas tip - 99% of the time, use the valet in Vegas. They don't charge for parking and the entrance is usually close to just about everything. Give them a buck when you leave it and one when you pick it up - they are always thrilled...)

But, one more tip - don't take your Hummer (H2 anyway) to the valet at New York, New York - their parking garage can't handle them! That was certainly a surprise to us, but, in typical L.A.Z.Y. style, we kindly remarked to the attendant that we had a 75 year old grandma in a wheelchair with us and that it is hard to get her up/down, etc, etc (it really doesn't matter WHY, most of the time when you ask for special treatment and give some sort of reason, people will let you have it - another L.A.Z.Y. tip...)

Not only did the attendant take the truck, they parked it on the main curb - right in front of the hotel! When we came back after the show, it was already sitting right there!

Back to the review (or, have I even ever gotten there?)...

Surprise number 2 was that this is a VERY ADULT show! No, it isn't a 'striptease' or anything too bad, but it is quite an adult theme and a provocative, sexy thing, with lots of 'upper body flesh' showing - and not just on the guys....

You wouldn't want to take your 1st date there, I'd think.....

And, certainly not if you are sitting in the first couple rows, or on the isles (oh, another 'tip' about Vegas shows - many of them are 'audience participation' themes and if you are on the aisles or in the front row (i.e., 'close enough to grab'), you just might get picked for some 'participation'.....)

The show itself was quite good, the actors all playing their parts well.

Lots of athletic stuff going on, too - some, pretty erotic! (personally, I liked the girl in the swimming pool the most - interesting flexibility!) There was one other 'stand-out' performer, in my opinion (although, again, I would say they were all good) - that he was only seen a few minutes before the performance and then 'in the shadows' throughout the show was a shame (another one of those 'tips' for Vegas shows - they tend to have things going on all over the place - look for performers in the rafters as well as on stage...). This was the 'spider-guy' - I don't recall his name or anything, but his talent for movement was really great.

Now, he was not a contortionist - they had one of those! This guy was amazing - touching his toes together by bending his legs BACKWARD! That is quite a feat (or, is that 'feet'...?)!

I would recommend the Zumanity show if you are adult enough to handle it (be warned, there is a lot of nudity in it - tastefully done, and often comically done as well). Where we were sitting, we only got 'participated' from confetti and once, where the guy was naked and strutting through the seats right above us.....

Well, you'll have to go to the show to find out more on that one!!!

Hope you enjoy this 'review'. You can write to me and let me know if you want more of this stuff (or not)... I'm always open to whatever works for both sides!

Happy Investing,

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor

Friday, February 03, 2006

Put a little mayonnaise in your rice...

The Lazy Investor
Put a little mayonnaise in your rice...

You read that right...

Put a little mayonnaise in your rice!

You know, I'm not one to change my diet much - oh, I'm no
'health nut' - far from it, but there are a few things I
like to eat pretty much every day...

For breakfast, I like toast - hot and buttered.

Now, on occasion, I do add some jam (watch out if there is
grape jelly though... ;) and on rare occasions I have been
known to 'experiment'...

On one such 'binge', I wanted to try something different
and put a sliced banana on my toast, then poured a bit of
honey over the top - Y.U.M.M.Y.!

That has proven to be my #1 favorite breakfast, but I don't
have it everyday - that would ruin the treat!

For lunch (and most dinners), I'm one of those 'heat it up,
roll it in a burrito bread and I'm done' kind of folks.
Pretty much any leftovers make it a meal that satisfies my
'pangs'.

Well, recently, I was fixing one of these 'dinners' for
myself and my wife (she often shares in my concoctions -
without the burrito bread...)

Even her 74-year old mother got in on this one - some rice,
veggies and stuff...

But...

She (grandma) told me to put some mayonnaise in her rice.

Now, I thought she'd gone totally nuts (after all, she has
had some lapses in memory and such lately and with her
other health problems, it wouldn't be a surprise...)

However, I fixed it as per her request - after all, it
wasn't me that had to eat it!

But, then, something amazing happened...

As I was cleaning up from fixing her meal, I grabbed the
spoon I'd used to mix her concoction with and stuck it in my
mouth...

One of those things you do - right?

And, to my total amazement, it was GOOD!

YUMMY in fact!

So good that I made my 'burrito' with the same mixture!

So good in fact that I made TWO of them!

So good that I will, from this day forward, be putting
mayonnaise in my rice - often...

What does any of this have to do with real estate
investing?

Actually, a lot!

You see, oftentimes, you get stuck on just how to do your
next deal - just what to do to make your next one go
through quickly so you get paid.

Many times, it is because you only know one technique - or
one version of it...

Sometimes you simply get stuck in a 'rut' and only want to
do things one way...

Yes, even with something as simple as Lease Purchase (or
Lease Option - however you like to call it...), there are
different methods to get to the end result - which, in my
opinion, is to get you PAID!

The technique I teach in The Lazy Investor's Guide to Lease
Purchase
has the most powerful marketing and 'powers of pursuasion'
systems in it I have ever seen - and GET you PAID - BIG!

What do you think?

I mean, if you have a system that allows you to consistently
bring a seller down on their price while taking buyers from

"A couple thousand down" to

"$20,000 non-refundable option money" -

would that be something you want to use for yourself, right
where you live?

It's just like putting mayonnaise in your rice...

Put things together just a little differently - and the
results are YUMMY!

You just have to be willing to taste it for yourself...

But, watch out - you may just find how much you LIKE it!

Pick up your copy of
The Lazy Investor's Guide to Lease Purchase,
stop what you are doing and go, right now,
http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html#LP

Happy Investing,

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor

P.S. Check out all the 'mayonnaise' at http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html

P.P.S. Put a little different flavor in your life, and do things a little differently - for more results. http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html#LP

Monday, January 02, 2006

A Simple Plan for Starting a Business of Real Estate Investing

Follow this simple step-by-step process to change your life, increase your income and have a successful business in Real Estate Investing. This article provides a 'how-its-done' look to maximize your results.
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Starting a business of real estate investing - whether you work out of an office or a 'home based business' you run out of a corner of your bedroom, you can drastically change your life, and your income in as little as 10 hours per week - all through a very simple plan of real estate investing.

It is possible to become successful in real estate investing in a short time and, even when starting a business of real estate investing, you can find the time without crimping your current lifestyle!

Starting a business of real estate investing with a simple plan.

1. Groundwork of your simple plan is crucial when starting a business of real estate investing.

I know, it is easy to say - and the truth is, it is easy to do! Most people get stopped when starting a business of real estate investing because they simply FAIL to plan. That's right, it isn't because their plan didn't work, it was because they did not implement even a very simple plan!

To be successful in real estate investing, first find someone else that is successful in real estate investing, watch them, interview them, find out everything you can about what they did when starting a business - and write up a simple plan of what they have done to be successful in their real estate investing - something that you can follow each day.

In order to have what they have, you need to do what they do, so find out what percentage of their day is spent on the telephone, for instance.

Find out how much of that time is spent on making calls, receiving calls and the type of calls they are (Customer Service, making deals, etc.)

That gives you a good idea of what your total time should look like, when you are starting a business of real estate investing of your own.

2. The next step in developing your simple plan as you are starting a business of real estate investing is to divide your total time (10 hours per week is a great start) just like your successful mentor does.

Even if they put in a hundred hours per week, they still divide their time, just like you will, once you begin working your simple plan.

The 'secret to success' isn't in the hours - it is how you spend them!

Follow the simple plan outlined here to make the most of your hours and get the most out of everything as you are starting a business of real estate investing with a plan of success.

If your mentor spends 1/10th of their time making outgoing phone calls to find new business, then you need to spend 1/10th of the time you dedicate to your real estate investing business doing the same thing, a pretty simple plan, huh?

3. Set your Goals.

A clear destination is something you always do when starting out on vacation, isn't it?

Then have the same thing in mind when you are starting a business of real estate investing.

Every successful person says to have a goal in mind so you know where you are going, and our simple plan gives you the steps to get there!

A goal is crucial in anything, and certainly when starting a business of real estate investing.

Without a destination (a specific income amount, a personal item like a car or boat, or simply an amount set aside in savings), how will you know if you ever arrived?

4. Track your progress.

You have your goal in mind, and a simple plan to begin. It is time to get into your 10 hours per week program and 'backtrack' to create a clear and simple plan to follow.

Take your goal (a clear date of completion and 'destination'), divide it out and chart the required progress each day, week, month and/or year to quickly know what is required to reach your destination.

Follow your progress each day to know quickly if you are sticking to your original goal destination, or if you are ahead or behind schedule.

As you are starting a business of real estate investing, you will likely come across some detours, that's OK (and where many people get lost... Do not!)

When driving, if you find a road that is blocked or a path that seems impassible, you simply find another way around, right?

The same is true when starting a business of real estate investing, just find another way.

Include in your simple plan a few hours here/there just for such 'emergencies'.

If you have no emergencies, do something else that will get you closer to your destination, or just relax and enjoy where you are.

5. Spend time ON your business, not only IN your business.

In your simple plan for starting a business of real estate investing, you must set aside part of your working time to plan, set goals, promote and advertise your business, not simply work along in your business, doing the things you do.

In today's world, when starting a business of real estate investing, you will most likely have a website. You need to spend a certain portion of your time (even 10 hours per week total) on getting more visitors to that website. The more people that see what you have to offer, the quicker your business will grow.

You could spend time driving from house to house, telling everyone about your website (not a very simple plan for your time!), or you can maximize your time by writing articles about your business and post them online where many people will see them (many online services promote articles).

This is often overlooked by people as they are starting a business of real estate investing, and one of the reasons they fail to make their simple plan.

As your business grows over time, you will do less of this (but never stop!) and begin to work your simple plan toward the 'IN your business' phase.

6. Give excellent Customer Service.

It never pays to make your customers angry. An upset customer will kill more business than you can imagine. Find a way to work with them, or simply give them their money back.

Losing customers is something you cannot afford when you are starting a business of real estate investing!

Many people simply don't make the time to provide quality service to their customers. Do not let that happen to you!

A little up front planning and goal setting, then follow-through each week, then simply repeat the process.

You will change your business from flat to cash in a short amount of time!

Follow the steps above and it can be done in as much or as little time as you have.

When starting a business of real estate investing, if you follow the simple plan I have outlined here, you are already a success!

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://SteveMajors.com

Monday, December 19, 2005

NO income, NO credit, NO transport & IRS problems...

Thanks for your questions at
http://AskSteveMajors.com- I read every one.

I answer as many as possible individually, however, as
several have a similar 'theme', I'm going to, on occasion,
answer them through this newsletter - it saves us both time,
and utilizes one of the most powerful tools in the universe
- LEVERAGE! (That's why it is the first letter in L.A.Z.Y.!)

Ok, here's the question for today...

Is it really possible to be successful in real estate
investing with NO income, NO established credit, NO
transportation, and IRS problems?

YES!

Thanks for the question....

Oh, the other part of that - the 'What do I do about it?'
part.... ;)

Well, that one is simple, too...

In fact, it is similar to the situation I was once in when I
was starting out in real estate investing.

So, I'll go through it for you, step-by-step, just like I
did for myself...

If you have 'no' money, the first thing to say about
that is - if that is true, how do you eat?

You see, that is one of the most important
things you can do to get started - be honest with yourself
and take a serious look at your current situation.

If you are serious about real estate investing, you simply
must understand that the world will not give you a living,
nobody will be your 'daddy' and certainly the government
isn't going to make it happen for you.

Now, I know, this is a bit harsh, but that's the reality you
have to face - there ain't no free lunch anywhere and until
you look that truth in the face, you will never be
successful in anything - certainly not real estate
investing.

By now, you are ready to begin the journey with strength and
truth, have stopped reading or found the link at the bottom
of this email to get off my list.

You have made a choice, which ever way...

For those that are still with me, know that there is no
'sugar coating' in this message! (to take a phrase
from a movie - "There ain't no crying in real estate
investing!")

So, here's the step-by-step plan to move from a situation
where you have little income, no credit established, no car
and IRS problems...

1. You've already conquered the toughest one - facing the
truth that you are the one responsible for your own actions.

Congratulate yourself for this (yes, go to the mirror, right
now and tell yourself "Congratulations! You understand that
you are the one responsible for your actions!")

2. Start profiling properties for other investors.
You have taken the toughest step (you did #1 completely,
didn't you? If not, DO IT NOW!)

You aren't quite ready to take on a deal by yourself - yet.

So, begin your journey by finding deals for others.
The Lazy Investor's Guide to Property Profiling
http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html#PPS is perfect
for that - in fact, it is exactly what it is designed for!

3. As you begin to make money profiling for others, don't
spend it! (hey, you were living without income before -
stick with that, for awhile - it will pay off soon!)

Put that cash away in a safe place (a bank account would be
good - put it in a debit card with a major credit card logo
- that sureh does establish credit FAST!

To skyrocket your credit, take the steps detailed in
The Lazy Investor's Guide to Raise Capital,
Build Credit and Wipe Out Debt
http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html#Credit

4. Continue to look for deals for others, but now that you
have a bit of cash, you can also look for other deals for
yourself. One of my favorite things to do with a bit of cash
is to work Lease Purchase deals.

Now, they don't always require it, but you will find a lot
more to work if you put a small amount down (I'm talking $10
or $100 most of the time - which is the legal minimum in
most states).

Depending on the deal, you might put $1000 on it.

Go to http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html#LP for more
on how to make tons of cash from this powerful tool (yeah,
it is my absolute favorite!).

5. Now, you are on your way! Making all the deals you can
for yourself and selling off those you can't to other
investors, you are making plenty of income to begin taking
on even bigger deals.

The Lazy Investor's Guide to Real Estate Investing
http://TheLazyInvestor.com/products.html#RE is the right
thing for you. You will begin making more creative deals,
with more cash staying in your pocket.

That is what you want, isn't it?

That's it for now on this question - oh, as for the 'no car'
and 'IRS troubles' part...

After you make some cash, buy a bicycle, then a scooter or
something, then a car - to really start, you may have to
actually WALK around to find deals at first...

If you don't like that answer, re-read #1...

IRS problems - you got yourself into them, do what it takes
to get out of them! Use some of that cash you are making to
pay off the bill and get on with your life!

You can often negotiate with the IRS to either get a
payment plan or drop the total bill. You might want to
check out The Lazy Investor's Guide to Sales, Marketing and
Negotiation
if you need skills in this area.

Do this, or choose to live in fear and hiding the rest of
your life...

If you don't like that answer, re-read #1...

OK, I'm done on this one - more later....

Happy Investing,

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor

P.S. Do you have a friend that needs to hear this for
themselves? Pass this message along!

P.P.S. This isn't all I have to say about this subject (or
many others you have asked about), so stay tuned... In the
meantime, why not check out all the tools you need to
make real estate investing happen in your life...

Friday, December 02, 2005

A Simple Plan for Starting a Business

Follow this simple step-by-step process to change your life, increase your income and create a wildly successful business. This article provides a 'how-its-done' look to maximize your results.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
A Simple Plan for Starting a Business
(by Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor)

-------------------------------------------------------------

Starting a business, whether it is a 'small business' where you work out of an office or a 'home based business' you run out of a corner of your bedroom, you can drastically change your life through a very simple plan.

Starting a business is not something you jump into. When you are working a simple plan, starting a business is something you GROW into.

How do you make a simple plan for growth when starting a business?

1. Groundwork of your simple plan is crucial when starting a business.

Find someone that was successful in starting a business in your industry, watch them, interview them, find out everything you can about what they did when they were starting a business. Then, write a simple plan outlining what they do all day.

In order to have what they have, you must do what they do, so find out what percentage of their day is spent, for instance, on the telephone making calls, receiving calls and the type of calls.

2. Divide your time.

The next step in your simple plan as you are starting a business is to divide your time like your mentor. Use the same percentage of the total hours, as you will not work the same hours they do.

The 'secret to success' is not in the hours, it is how you spend them! By following the simple plan outlined here, you make the most of your hours, and get the most out of everything as you are starting a business with a simple plan of success.

3. Set your Goals.

A vital piece of success when starting a business is that you have a goal in mind and work your simple plan to get there.

Without a destination (a specific income amount, a personal item like a car or boat, or simply an amount set aside in savings), how will you know you arrived?

4. Track your progress.

Divide your goal into days, weeks, months and/or years to quickly know what is required to reach your destination.

Check your progress often. You will know quickly if you are sticking to your original goal or if you are ahead or behind schedule.

Just like a road trip, as you are starting a business, you will likely come across some detours, that's OK. On vacation, just as in starting a business, if you find a road blocked or a path impassible, you simply find another way.

And, just as on vacation, include in your simple plan a few hours here/there for such 'emergencies'. If you find you have no emergencies, simply choose something else that will get you closer to your destination, or just relax and enjoy where you are.

5. Work ON your business, not only IN your business.

In starting a business, you must set aside part of your time to plan, set goals, promote and advertise your business, not simply work along in your business, doing the things you do.

When starting a business, a simple form of advertising is a website. The more people that see what you have to offer, the quicker your business will grow.

You could go door-to-door, telling everyone about your website (not a simple plan!), or maximize your time by posting articles online where many people see them.

This is overlooked by many as they are starting a business, and one of the reasons they fail...

As your business grows, you will do less advertising and begin to work your simple plan toward the 'IN your business' phase.

6. Give excellent Customer Service.

Upset customers kill more business than you can imagine. Find a way to work with them, or simply give them their money back. Losing customers is something you cannot afford when you are just starting a business!

So many people simply do not make the time to provide quality service to their customers. Do not let that happen to you!

With a little planning and goal setting, follow through each week and simply repeating the process, you can change your business from flat to cash in a short amount of time.

When starting a business, if you follow the simple plan we have outlined here, you are already a success!

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from business related articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://SteveMajors.com

Thursday, November 03, 2005

Real Estate Investing LIES Unveiled

Real Estate Investing is not about doing flips, No Money Down or even 'buy and hold'. So many people have been LIED to about Real Estate investments, and I, for one, think it's time to 'get real' about your Real Estate Investing.

This article describes just what these lies are, where they come from and how you can stop them before they stop you - and your successful real estate investing career!
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Let's get REAL about something - and quelch the LIES you have been told about Real Estate Investing…

What I am going to reveal to you are some basic truths about Real Estate investing - truths that may totally affect the Real Estate investments you have now - and certainly I intend to modify the way you do Real Estate investing in the future.

Let's get right to it - and into the heart of the real estate investing issue…

You have been programmed all your life to become what you are today - from school, friends, relatives and, yes, your parents.

Recent studies show that you are who you are now, more from what you learned prior to age 8 than in anything else you have learned since.

Now, that may surprise you, but it is true that what you learned at the earliest ages affects the way you make Real Estate investments today, and the type of Real Estate investing success you will have going forward!

Yes, that's a bit shocking…

You see, if you grew up in an environment where you heard things like “We can't afford it”, “Be sure you have saved enough and have the cash to buy it (i.e., never use credit)” or numerous other phrases that you now hear yourself saying (you know what I'm talking about - those times you catch yourself "becoming your parents"…), it is because of your early programming (from 0-8 years) and what you were told about money, success and life in general.

That is controlling your current income - and your success - or lack of it...

The things you were told at that early, most influential age, are now creeping out and affecting how successful you are in business, in life and yes, in your Real Estate investing.

THERE IS GOOD NEWS

The greatest thing about this fact - as horrible as it seems - is that you can change the 'programming' - you have the power to do it!

You can reprogram yourself in any way you want - have anything you want - do anything you want…

All it takes is simply to 'reinstall' the right kind of thinking.

And, it is easier than you might think!

One of the best ways to do that is to get a CD audio set from someone you like to listen to - someone that thinks positively and speaks of the life you want to live. Many home study courses are available (yes, including mine) that are designed to inspire and motivate you, while they teach you the methods and secrets of real estate investing.

Purchase one - listen to it, over and over - until you hear yourself speaking that way, too.

You see, we are all simply creatures of habit and environment - if we allow junk to get into our heads, all we will ever say is junk coming out.

If all you listen to is the bad stuff in life (like the TV news, most 'talk radio' shows, those TV 'real life' shows that end up in fights - you know the ones…, and even violent movies where the language is nothing you'd ever expect to hear from your own lips…), that is exactly what you will wind up sounding like!

It is true - 'you are what you eat' - and that counts just as much for what you put in your ears as it does for what you put in your mouth!

If you spend your time around 'bar people', you'll speak and act like them. Not that there's anything wrong with that, as long as you made a conscious thought that it is what you want, but I think you'd be much more successful at Real Estate investing if you were listening to a successful person teaching you about Real Estate Investing!

Now, let's get right to the point about the various methods and concepts you have learned about Real Estate Investing…

You may call yourself a 'real estate investing expert', but if you have to get up every morning and wonder where your next check is coming from, you aren't making real estate investments, you are being employed in a Real Estate Investing JOB!

Yes, that's a hard-hitting statement.

You see, I want you to 'get real' with yourself and simply admit it - Real Estate investing is when you put money into a Real Estate investment and then get some money out - 'real estate investing' defined…

Yet, it seems that most people I meet want to attend my real estate training or purchase my real estate courses that have to do with 'No Money Down' (NMD) “real estate investing”…

Now, that kind of talk just proves the point - you can reprogram yourself to speak a different language - even if it doesn't make sense!

A bunch of 'gurus' have told you over and over again that 'No Money Down' is real estate investing - even though you learned at an early age that 'invest' means to put money into something and get money out (see http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=invest for other definitions - none of them say 'No Money Down'...)

Now, it's not that 'NMD Real Estate investing' is all bad - heck, my students and I make several thousand dollars from these types of 'Real Estate investing' transactions every year, too.

Just don't lie to yourself and say they are 'real estate investments', we know very clearly that these are simply 'earned income' from one portion of your real estate investing business - the real estate 'job' portion - earned while in transition from your 'corporate job' to your 'real estate investing job' and on the road to true Real Estate Investing.

In other real estate investing articles, I cover some of the methods and techniques you, too, can explore while moving from your 'corporate job' to your 'real estate investing job' and you'll learn some insider secrets for taking that leap quickly.

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://SteveMajors.com

Tuesday, October 11, 2005

Real Estate Investing Financing Truths - Part 2

Simple Real Estate Investing formulas to make the most of your real estate investments in today's market. Take an inside look at 'traditional' and 'creative' real estate investing methods (Part 2 of 2)
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(p31 - The Lazy Investor's Guide to Real Estate)

Real Estate Investing Financing Truths - Part 2 of 2

No Money Down and other 'Creative' Real Estate Investment Methods

For many years, investors have seen the traditional real estate investment methods described in Part 1 of this article as a lot less than desirable!

They began looking at the prices of houses and finding methods of bringing the price more in line with making more money in a faster way.

These savvy investors developed ways to get loans on properties that allowed them to pull money out whenever they buy a real estate investment (cash back at closing) and lower their payments to build up their cash flow ('creative' investing).

They even developed methods of determining a Sellers motivation for selling - and bought the property at a discount price.

These creative investors also saw that some Sellers were not able (for whatever reason) to sell the property at a discount price, however, they still needed to get rid of the property, as they didnt know how to manage it as a landlord, or make money from it - not that it couldnt be done, they simply lacked the knowledge of how to do it.

The Seller just never learned how to profit from a real estate investment.

These investors understood how to make money from such properties, and did.

They bought the property on discount terms, and made money from the spread by selling it at retail price and/or terms (certainly one of my favorite methods of real estate investing).

Buy Every Real Estate Investment via Discount Price or Discount Terms.

Several years ago (actually, it really took off in the 1980s), Real Estate Investment Experts began seeing the potential for making money in bringing this treasured knowledge to the public in the form of home-study courses, seminars and Boot Camps.

They found that it wouldn't create competition for themselves, as many people, even though they purchase real estate courses and attend seminars and Boot Camps, will not actually take the information and utilize it to make the hundreds and even thousands of dollars possible for anyone serious about Real Estate Investing.

These Real Estate Investment Experts (being dubbed 'guru') found that this side of the business was lucrative often making more income from teaching about real estate investing than the actual real estate investments themselves.

It is important to understand that these real estate investment gurus learned early that they can only teach others what to do, not be responsible for the other persons success.

Providing the information to those that choose not to use it is very similar to the old adage "You can lead a horse to water, but you cant make it drink".

Yes, these real estate investment gurus got wealthy from selling this information, but their theories, principles and techniques taught thousands of others (those that take action on what they learn) how to realize their dreams utilizing their tried and true methods of real estate investing.

From home-study courses and seminars, to boot camps and one-on-one training, these methods have been proven to be not only interesting to millions of people, but capable of bringing massive wealth to those that take action on what is taught - those that go on and actually make real estate investments themselves.

Knowledge changes things...

This knowledge of no money down real estate investing techniques being known by thousands of Sellers has made changes in the industry.

By bringing the Seller into the knowledgeable realm of Real Estate investing, Sellers now know many of the methods that the gurus teach.

This is both a blessing and a curse.

To the talented investor, these knowledgeable people are more likely to work to create a WIN-WIN situation.

Investors that avoid the tricks and stick to the basic real estate investment techniques and terms that have been proven to work over and over again, have proven these powerful real estate investment strategies work even with these informed Sellers.

Oh, yes, many of these real estate investment techniques work today, as they have for many years. So much so that it is almost possible to say they have become principles; things that work, over and over, the same way no matter what happens - like gravity.

However, sadly, they are not really principles, as several of the real estate investment methods and techniques that worked in the 1980s and even through the 1990s are today not as powerful, nor do they work as often as they did before (although some 'gurus' are still teaching the same methods - even after 20 years...).

Some of this decline is due to a more educated society (due to the flood of real estate investment information available via books, tapes, home-study courses and the Internet), while some of it is due to simple changes in policies and laws.

It seems like a wave started late in 2003, the FHA announced that flips (transactions where investors buy houses cheaply and sell them at or near market rates) are "illegal". (Note that illegal in this context is not a legal term, but one that has been adopted from "you are not allowed to do that and do business with us".)

The FHAs announcement started a wave of concern (if not panic) throughout the Real Estate investing community.

Title and Mortgage companies began to tighten up their reigns. Many of these companies, in lieu of direct information, began simply not completing any transactions that did not follow the traditional real estate investment system. This made it hard for investors to complete transactions that involved simple buy-then-resell agreements (as they are not really real estate investments, but a rather nice way to make some fast CA$H!).

In rapid appreciation areas (California and Nevada, for example), the ability to flip a property all but stopped (became 'illegal'). All the 'traditional' creative real estate investing methods were virtually put on hold.

Ingenuity to the rescue, other methods of real estate investing always seem to pop up. After all, "Necessity is the Mother of Invention", and "Where there is a Will, there is a Way" are absolute principles.

Investors have to make a way to get things done - a way to keep their real estate investments profitable, and even more creative real estate investing methods were developed - to keep real estate investors, and the love of real estate investment, alive forever.

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://SteveMajors.com

Sunday, September 25, 2005

Real Estate Investing Financing Truths - Part 1 of 2

Take an inside look at 'traditional' and 'creative' real estate investing methods and discover simple formulas to make the most of your real estate investments in today's marketplace. (Part 1 of 2)
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(p28 - The Lazy Investor's Guide to Real Estate)

Real Estate Investing Financing Truths - Part 1 of 2

Traditional Methods of Real Estate Investing

Through years and years of transactions, the traditional method of buying and selling Real Estate investments has evolved into a market of its own and has grown into a Real Estate ‘machine’ that circulates massive amounts of money through Real Estate Agents, Real Estate appraisals, Title & Escrow Companies, Banks, and Mortgage Companies.

These once-simple real estate investments have grown from a modest fee for a professional to keep the Buyer’s or Seller’s best interest in mind during negotiations, to now, traditionally, 6% (or more) of the total sales price being paid to Real Estate Agents (via Brokers who often take the majority of the money), another 3 – 5% being paid to Title, Mortgage and Escrow Companies for various fees, and then even more is taken for a real estate appraisal.

As if that weren't enough, then a huge amount of money is absorbed by the Bank, through the form of interest payments – usually over 15 – 30 years and totaling 2 – 3 times the original purchase price of the initial Real Estate investment!

Down Payments go to pay a variety of fees.

Now, don’t get me wrong, it certainly is possible to make money through these methods, but the ‘traditional real estate investment system’ is designed to simply ‘break even’ for the home owner in purchasing a home (the first, and perhaps, only real estate investment they will ever make) in this manner. It is really not designed for the investor, who, of course, wants every real estate investment to make money.

Traditional funding only allows the Home Owner to break even.

Example – Home Owner Financing:
(the numbers represented here reflect the methods, not necessarily the price structures of any given real estate investment market.)

List price on property (with Real Estate Agent)
$200,000

Bank loan available (owner-occupied, 100% @ 7% interest)
$200,000

Monthly payments (over 30 years)
~ $1350

Taxes, Insurance, etc. (per month)
~ $250

(This example is for an ‘average’ home in an ‘average’ neighborhood, for the ‘average American’ using an ‘average’ interest rate of 7% – of course, these figures do not apply everywhere.)

Therefore, the payment for this property is approximately $1600 per month for 30 years, to be paid by the home owner living in the property.

Now, the ‘traditional real estate investment system’ allows for this home owner to have a change in their lives and decide to purchase another (usually larger) home. They have the right, and often do, ‘rent out’ the first house and move into the new one with their family.

The owner will be responsible for any additional expenses (repairs, Home Owner's Association fees, etc.) as well as their desire to make a small cash flow from this endeavor.

Their previous home now becomes a true real estate investment where they increase their 'homeonwer's' monthly payment to the ‘renter’ by an additional $200 per month, for a total price to the renter of $1800 per month.

Reasonable enough – until/unless there are repairs to be made – or, the renter leaves and the new ‘landlord’ has to make payments on this vacant house. Then, this $200 positive cash flow per month real estate investment doesn’t look so good….

But, the “rent” has been established for that house – and the ‘comparable rent for the area’ can easily be calculated using this method;

STANDARD RENT CALCULATION - (Simple Method)

Total payment for the property (includes Principle, Interest, Taxes and Insurance – known as PITI at 100% loan at 7% interest)

+ cash flow for the ‘investor’ (usually $200 per month)

= ‘Rent’

Note: With several homes in the area of similar size and style, plus the fact that most homeowners in the area have similar loan structuring, we can estimate that whatever the average loan percentage is will create a ‘standard rental rate for X model real estate investment’ – in this case, $1800.

A simple (and LAZY) way to remember it is;

PITI + $200 = STANDARD RENT

If an ‘investor’ (one that seriously wants to make money from buying/selling Real Estate investments) wishes to purchase the same house in the same area and for the same amount of money, the ‘traditional real estate investment system’ doesn’t allow the investor to really make any money from the transaction.

Example – Investor Financing:

List price on property (with Real Estate Agent)
$200,000

Bank loan available (investor loan, 80% @ 8.4%)
$160,000

Monthly payments (over 30 years)
~ $1250

Taxes, Insurance, etc. (per month)
~ $250

(This example is for an ‘average’ home in an ‘average’ neighborhood, for the ‘average American’ with an ‘average’ investor interest rate of 8.4% – of course, these figures do not apply everywhere, but the formula is very similar.)

Therefore, the monthly payment for this investor-owned real estate investment is approximately $1500.

At first glance, seems very good, as the investor will have a ‘cash flow’ of $300 per month – more cash flow per month than the homeowner-turned-investor.

However, the difference is that the 'Investor’ (the one serious about making a profit from this real estate investment) has brought in cash (out of pocket) of $40,000 – UP FRONT!

Plus, the investor has to pay a higher interest rate (in this example, I have included 1.4%, while a bank may charge several percent for investor loans – those identified as being purchased solely for the purpose of being a real estate investment - check with your lending institution on their policies prior to finalizing your loans)!

Now, I don’t know about you, but I don’t know too many people with that kind of money for 1 property – not to mention the fact that this person expects to make several real estate investments, repeating ‘what works’ several times.

Not only does the investor have to come up with $40,000 up front (every time they decide to make a real estate investment), but how long will it take (at $300 per month) to make enough to purchase a second investment property at this rate?

10 YEARS!! (presuming there are never any repairs, the investor never takes out a penny of the cash flow for their own use, etc)!

Investors and Homeowners get different rates.

Not what I call a ‘wealth path’, not what I teach – and certainly not any way to run a business.

END Part 1 of 2

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor
Profit from Real Estate Investment articles, real estate investing information and news from one of the most creative investors on the planet ~FREE MEMBERSHIP & real estate training course~ http://SteveMajors.com

Tuesday, September 20, 2005

The Lazy Investor is back on his feet - well, almost....

GREAT NEWS!

I have now been going to the thearapist (yesterday and today) and he has 'ok'd' me to begin actually STANDING on my foot!

YEAH!

Yes, he pushed, tugged and twisted, and now feels like my foot has healed enough to begin putting some pressure on it ('toe-tap' only...)

But, it is a step (pun intended...)

Now, this guy, I like - he's a 'get it done' kind of guy and believes in making it happen as soon as possible (although he firmly believes in proper precautions and not pushing into something that you aren't ready for - heck, he thinks a lot like me and real estate investing!)

So, I've taken a few steps and actually have been 'walking' around the house as much as possible (walker-assisted, of course...)

I've even been out doing some investing work (one of my mentoring students wanted me to lock in a property for them as part of their one-on-one time) and we be going to a local Real Estate Investing Club tonight (be sure to support yours, too...), so I'm getting around pretty well.

My shoulders are a bit sore, but that will pass soon enough (and, hey, I'll be 'buff' for the Boot Camp.... ;)

The therapist is working on my foot, as well as the left shoulder (it got fractured in the fall as well as my left heel, but I couldn't handle two surgeries on the same side at once.....)

Be sure and get your seat reserved at the Boot Camp - you may never get another chance to see me so trim (and sexy... ;)

Happy Investing

Steve Majors - The Lazy Investor