Women in Real Estate — Build the Lifestyle of Your Dreams with Real Estate Investing

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By Laura Alamery

In 1987, at the young age of 23, I had my first glimpse of a future as a real estate investor. It all started with my love of visiting open houses, which led me to obtain my real estate license to learn the industry. At the time, I lived in Hawaii where I found inspiration from the successful women real estate agents around me. After a move to the Midwest in the early 1990s, I quickly learned that the commissions and energy around real estate weren’t as inspiring. For me, this led to the transition from real estate agent to real estate investor. Over the next few years, I launched into real estate investing while managing a young family and career. After a divorce, I realized I needed to leave my corporate job and fully dedicate myself to establishing a reliable income and building long-term wealth through real estate investment.

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Along the way, I made mistakes, learned many valuable lessons and ultimately built a lasting and successful real estate investing business. Today, I use that knowledge and experience to help other women launch and grow their real estate investment businesses at Real Estate Investing Women, a resource for training, live events and networking in a community of likeminded women.

Lessons for New Real Estate Investors

Looking back at how I built my real estate investing business, I now have the wisdom to see the ways I would change my strategies to avoid mistakes and build wealth with fewer risks. One of the big lessons I like to share with new female investors is to trust your instincts. The ability to tap into our gut feelings to make decisions is a benefit that makes women a natural fit for real estate investing.
Another piece of advice is to use money from your real estate investments to buy more real estate, instead of putting all your personal money into investments. The challenge is finding the money to start out. The mistake I made was purchasing too many buy and hold properties too quickly. This led to unnecessary risk and eventual burnout. I now tell new investors to start with one buy and hold property and grow slowly.
However, unlike my path into real estate investing where I dabbled in fix and flip, moved on to buy and hold and then finally figured out how to work wholesale deals, I suggest new investors start with wholesale deals. Wholesale isn’t easy and requires work. Yet, wholesale real estate investing has lower risks than other investment strategies. real estate womenWith wholesale investing, you learn while making money. In fact, wholesale investment is a great way to delve into the details of real estate investing without taking possession of properties. Set aside the money you make money through wholesaling to build the financial foundation of your real estate investment business. Not only does wholesaling produce quick profits, it also establishes a portfolio that you can use to attract private money. Creative financing with private money gives more control over your real estate investing business. Private money safeguards against the volatility of the market.
As your business grows, you then have the money, knowledge and reputation to tackle larger-scale investments with bigger risks. Ultimately, this is how you build a viable business and path to long-term wealth and the lifestyle of your dreams.

Three Keys to Success in Real Estate Investment

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While real estate investment offers many different strategies and paths to wealth, the keys to success come from your determination to make it. When I finally became serious about real estate investment as my career, I was newly divorced with three small children. I gave myself six months to build a business that allowed me to walk away from my corporate job.
Looking back, the three keys to my success were focus, consistency and time management. These areas were critical to get me out of my comfort zone and take real estate investing from a hobby to a true business.
women in real estateOften when I talk to women interested in real estate investing, the barrier they struggle with most is the confidence to take the first steps. Men historical dominate the real estate investing industry, which makes trusting your abilities as a female investor even more intimidating. However, with these keys to success and the support of other successful female investors you too can create a prosperous business. Focus – A serious approach to real estate investment requires focus. This means you create actual goals for your business. For me, my goal was to quit my corporate job within six months. This meant I needed to close at least one deal per month, which required willpower fueled by my excitement and inspiration. My eyes stayed on the prize. Consistency – You cannot build anything without consist dedication. To exceed my goal of closing one deal per month, I had to work daily toward that goal. Remember, I was a working, single mom, yet I put in time daily to find, connect and close deals. It was this consistent effort that led to achieving and surpassing my goal. Time Management – Life is busy. This is true of almost everyone I meet. The difference in the people who grow a sustainable business that produces wealth and those that don’t is good time management. During my six-month transition, I realized that a little sacrifice could change my life. Good time management means you don’t waste your time. Instead, you find those pockets of time to dedicate to your goal. For me, this meant working on weekends and evenings until I had the money to quit my corporate job.

Identify Your Dreams and Go After Them

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Over the course of my life, my dreams have changed. Yet, the basic dream has remained. I desired to have financial freedom and independence. I achieved that dream through focus, consistency and time management. I continue to use these tools today in my new ventures.
For me, my dreams included taking care of my family, a flexible schedule, world travel and helping others. One of my passions is helping other women identify and go after their dreams by building successful real estate investing businesses. You don’t have to let a lack of confidence stifle your dreams. Instead, tap into your natural instincts to create a path to your dreams.
women powerWomen benefit by helping other women. In real estate, I’ve never feared scarcity. There are more than enough deals for everyone. My dream now is to leave a legacy by empowering other women. My work at Real Estate Investing for Women is one way I work toward this goal. Through mentoring, community building, live events and online resources, like podcast, articles, eBooks and more, women have access to unprecedented knowledge and encouragement. As I look back over my more than 30-year career in real estate investing, I see a story of hard work and determination. I also see the gift of my dream lifestyle that real estate investment empowered. You too can find the lifestyle of your dreams through a focused, consistent and well-managed real estate investment business.

Laura and Elizabeth

To Learn More about Real Estate Investing for Women:

Laura Alamery and Liz Klingseisen are a mother and daughter team, who are real estate investors and mentors to other women. Their goal is to empower and help women, who want to learn about real estate investing through a supportive and experienced community of women investors. We offer training and live events nationwide. You can learn more at www.realestateinvestingwomen.com

Work Smart……Play Hard – Kathy Kennebrook’s Real Estate Investing Mantra

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By Kathy Kennebrook, The Marketing Magic Lady

I got into the real estate investing business to have more free time for myself and my family and to have the financial freedom to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. I wanted my life to be more worry free. I have spent a great deal of time accomplishing that goal and I want to share some of my insights with you as a real estate entrepreneur.
When you decide to become a Real Estate Investor, make sure you structure your business in such a way that it doesn’t become overwhelming, even more so than a full time job could be. It’s very easy to fall into that trap, especially if you work from home. You can also fall into the trap of trying to do everything yourself, and long-term, this just won’t work. Believe me when I tell you that most tasks in your business need to be delegated to others starting with your marketing, your bookkeeping and day to day management.
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Image by Joshua Miranda from Pixabay

In my particular case I like to work from home and most of the functions of our business are handled off sight and by Independent Contractors. One of the ways I solved the problem of getting overwhelmed with work was to determine what hours per day would be dedicated to my real estate investing business. At the end of the day the door to the office gets closed and the phones go to an answering service. Your family will appreciate you for this as well.
The other rule we abide by is that when the office door gets closed, conversations about our real estate business cease as well. You have to make a conscious effort to separate your business and your personal life, especially if you are working the business with your spouse or partner. Since real estate is an incredibly fun way to make a living, sometimes this is hard to do.
As you begin to attain success in your business and things become more automated for you, you will begin to have a lot more free time to do the things you enjoy doing. My husband and I like to kayak. We especially like white water kayaking and take several trips each year to enjoy the sport. I also enjoy traveling to places I have never seen before with my husband Jay. Our business at this point in time pretty much runs on auto-pilot. We have developed a dream team of key people we put in place who take care of the important tasks that make our business successful and run on auto-pilot even when we are away from the office.
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Image by Joshua Miranda from Pixabay

The marketing for our business is outsourced along with many of the other tasks associated with our business including getting our rehabs completed, property management, bookkeeping, closings, etc. Since a lot of the marketing we do for our business is targeted direct mail, this is all outsourced to a company who does all of that work for us. We provide them with the letters and the lists and they do everything else.
My husband and I still continue to work our business primarily from home and our key people are independent contractors who work from their homes or offices. Since Covid 19 happened, this has become even more important to the ongoing success of our business. Personally I still like making deals with sellers even before I get out of my pajamas in the morning. I also like having lots of time to spend with my cats and my grandchildren.
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Image by Pexels from Pixabay

Once your real estate investing business is running like a well oiled machine, take the time to pursue the things you love to do, after all, that’s why you got involved in the business in the first place, isn’t it? Make sure you spend time with your spouse and your family doing the things you love to do together. This is the best time to begin making good memories for your children if they are still young. Remember that you must continuously pay attention to the balance between your business life and your personal life. Otherwise, it can become easy to short change one or the other.
Putting good team players in place to take care of the details of your business will be important to building the ultimate financial freedom you are striving for so you have even more time for the things you love to do. So just remember to work smart….and play hard!!!

For more information on automating your real estate investing business and locating all the sellers and deals you could possibly need, be sure and visit Kathy Kennebrook’s website at www.marketingmagiclady.com While you are there be sure and sign up for our FREE monthly newsletter.

3 Pieces of Advice to Overcome Limiting Beliefs in Business

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By Victoria Kennedy

Business is like yin-yang, says Rohan Attravanam, the CEO of Phodun Real Estate. The secret to more closings is to stop focusing on closings. You tend to be emotional but have to be rational and pragmatic business owner in order to succeed. Which beliefs influence success or failure in business?

Running a business is not a full-time job, it’s a lifestyle. Business owners face loads of challenges and obstacles that test not only their professional skills but also their character.
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Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay

Being nimble and flexible is essential for a business to stay on top of the game, and ahead of the competition. However, constantly shifting from one idea to another and changing strategies can be counterproductive. This means entrepreneurs have to also be persistent with their initial ideas and stay in a single lane longer than they might like.
Combining these two opposites might seem like an impossible task, but it isn’t. That fine line between the two is where all the successful businessmen and moguls are. Flexible, but never straying from their core principles and ideas. A fine example of how to harmonize these two is the story of Rohan Attravanam, CEO of Phodun Real Estate.

Rohan’s Story

As an young entrepreneur, Rohan started his journey by getting a high-quality education. He enrolled in one of the most prestigious universities in India – BITS Pilani, and has an MBA degree from one of the best marketing colleges in the US – Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.
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Image by Kranich17 from Pixabay

Packed with knowledge, he dived into the world of business, working with A-listers like Samsung, Whirlpool, and Walmart. Rohan acquired 13 years of experience in marketing, with the last five in real estate. In January 2020, he left behind a plum job in the Bay Area, CA and started Phodun Real Estate from scratch – a company that provides quality leads to realtors, helping them find prospective homebuyers that fit their customer profile. So, here are the three pieces of advice Rohan Attravanam can give to all business owners based on his experience as a successful business owner:

Quality Leads are found, when searched in quantity

We all want better leads and better prospects. We frantically try various marketing tactics and try to optimize one over the other. But the reality is no matter which channel or medium you choose, you need to focus on generating a lot of leads.

Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

The first step in achieving a flow of quality leads is to achieve a flow of quantity of leads. You need to generate a lot of leads and vet each of the leads against constraints as defined by your definition of quality. The more leads you have, the better the chances are that you’ll find a good quality lead. In any random 100 leads – you tend to find about 10 quality leads. When you go searching only for quality leads, they are hard to come by.
Its basic economics – Quality leads are not easy to come by and so they are expensive. Everyone knows it’s a numbers game, but rarely do we step back to evaluate what numbers are needed to get to our objectives.

You start closing more when you stop focusing on closings

We as a society are hyper result oriented, goal oriented and it’s good to strive for those results. What’s lost in translation is the process that is needed to achieve those results and urge to take shortcuts to get there.
You’ve heard this a thousand times – “It’s all about the journey and not the destination”. Think about how you want your career to pan out. You can easily retire on the beach – watching sunsets with your family, but the journey to get there need not be obsessed over closings. Instead obsess over process.
When you obsess over the process, you are controlling the inputs – which you can. When you obsess over closings, you try to control the output – which is rarely in your hands. Obsess over client experience, understanding their problems, and earning their trust. The issues your clients face can all be documented and addressed the same way over and over again.
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

This helps you gain control over your process and the confidence rubs off to your clients – who’ll enjoy working with you and you’ll have more closings eventually!

People who get most approval care about it the least

Think about all the people in your life that you consider successful, wealthy and see in a place you potentially want to be one day. They have your approval. The thing is – They are not seeking your approval. They are grateful for it, but they don’t care for it.
When you start needing money, fame, approval for your life to be meaningful, you are blinded by what’s possible. The minute you stop needing them and instead start providing approval to people around you is when you will see that your self esteem starts to build up. Building other’s confidence, caring about their insecurities and giving them strength gives you a new way of living life that brings you abundance and joy.
Helping others live the lives of their dreams is THE FASTEST WAY to get rich, achieve fame and receive the highest approval.
Rohan Attravanam is the CEO of Phodun Real Estate, an agency that is helping realtors by giving them more and better leads with their new, special program”10-15 Live Transfers Guaranteed”. Click here to learn more: https://phodundigital.com/
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Victoria Kennedy [email protected] atmanrealestate.com

Nominated as a 2020 Brand Ambassador for Inman, Victoria Kennedy is a well-respected authority in Real Estate marketing and branding. She is the CEO of Atman Real Estate, a marketing & branding agency that is committed to helping top producing Real Estate professionals become the #1 Agents in their area. She is a highly in demand speaker on all things digital marketing, and has helped many clients boost their visibility and revenue. Because of her expertise in real estate, she has been a trusted speaker and contributor to such organizations as the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inman News, and Yahoo Finance. In addition to running a successful marketing agency, she also has given talks, workshops, and has worked as a trusted consultant for Realties, Title Companies, Investors, and top producing agents. She has been featured in over 175 publications and podcasts both nationally and internationally. In addition to her marketing expertise, Victoria is a #1 selling classical-crossover singer and has sung with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, as well as toured all over Europe with her music. She is excited to share with you the power of her Closing Maximization Method and how it can exponentially grow your business. Find out more here: atmanrealestate.com

A Behind-the-Scenes Look at How to Grow a 7-Figure Real Estate Business

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By Victoria Kennedy

When you’re a successful business owner, one question comes up in nearly every conversation: “How do you do it?” If you’re killing it and seeing revenues topping 7 figures, everyone wants to know your secret.

When Aaron Ace Harris launched Key Marketing Interventions, which offers end-to-end real estate marketing and lead generation solutions, he was starting from scratch. Three years ago, he had no online presence, very few connections, and not much more than a deep desire to serve others. But, today, the tides have turned dramatically and Aaron is on a mission to share not only how he did it, but to pull the curtain back and give a behind-the-scenes look into what goes into running a 7-figure business daily.
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Image by Pete Linforth from Pixabay

5 Steps to Building a 7-Figure Business from Scratch

Of course, every entrepreneur’s journey looks a little different, but what follows are the 5 steps that Aaron swears by.

Step 1: Go all-in on ONE idea.

Every business starts in the same way—as an idea. Clearly then, the first thing you need to build a business from scratch is a big idea. Now, if you’re like most entrepreneurs, you’re thinking, “great, I’ve got tons of ideas.” But the key is finding that ONE big idea that you can go all-in on.
“I always shake my head when I meet an entrepreneur who brags about running 6 businesses at once,” says Aaron. “What this tells me is that this person isn’t all-in on any one business. They’re spread too thin and trying to hedge their bets.”
To get to 7 figures, you need consistency, focus, and patience. This means choosing one idea and going all-in.

Step 2: Do your research.

Once you’ve found your big idea, the real work begins. It’s time to do your homework so you can figure out how to turn that idea into the revenue-generating machine of your dreams.
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Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

But before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s break this step down. Here’s what to research:
  • Study your competition
  • Find the gap in the market
  • Figure out who your ideal client is
  • Identify the pain points of your ideal client
“When I started my real estate lead generation company, I had already learned a lot about what my ideal clients’ pain points were. I had been doing the agency thing for a few years. So I knew exactly what real estate agents needed most,” says Aaron.

Step 3: Create your way forward.

Now that you have your idea and you’re confident there are clients out there just waiting for your product or service to hit the market, it’s time to create.
This phase is full of experimentation, rejection, and even what might feel like failure. But remember, according to professor and motivational speaker, Steven Redhead, “the difference between success and failure is not giving up.”
If something you create doesn’t work out, take what you can learn from it and move on.

Step 4: Shout your idea to the world.

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Image by Yvette W from Pixabay

You have created something you know has value and now it’s time to share your idea with the world. Sharing this big idea can come in many forms:
  • On social media (choose 1-2 channels where you know your ideal client hangs out)
  • In online communities
  • As a guest on podcasts
  • As a guest blogger
  • With joint ventures
  • By participating in virtual summits
  • By hosting webinars
  • Through paid advertising (Facebook, Google, YouTube, Instagram)
Not all of these platforms will work for you, so keep testing and tweaking your process until you figure out what pays off.

Step 5: Work your systems.

Finally, the key to really building up to that 7-figure goal is not taking your foot off the gas. One of the ways to stay on top of your business and make sure you’re doing the small things that will lead to serious growth, is to build systems everywhere. When you have strong systems, you will work most efficiently. This will free you up to develop multiple revenue streams within your business, which is critical for taking your business to the next level.
There’s no secret to building a 7-figure business, but these 5 steps will take you from zero to 7 figures in less time than you might think. And as Aaron Ace Harris will tell you, it takes hard work and dedication, a lot of heart, and a little luck.
Aaron Ace Harris is the CEO of Key Marketing Real Estate and is a devoted husband and father. He was able to grow his real estate marketing business to 7-figures during the pandemic. Click here to find out about his 3 Closings Guaranteed System: https://www.keymarketingint.com/optin28970799
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Victoria Kennedy [email protected] atmanrealestate.com

Nominated as a 2020 Brand Ambassador for Inman, Victoria Kennedy is a well-respected authority in Real Estate marketing and branding. She is the CEO of Atman Real Estate, a marketing & branding agency that is committed to helping top producing Real Estate professionals become the #1 Agents in their area. She is a highly in demand speaker on all things digital marketing, and has helped many clients boost their visibility and revenue. Because of her expertise in real estate, she has been a trusted speaker and contributor to such organizations as the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inman News, and Yahoo Finance. In addition to running a successful marketing agency, she also has given talks, workshops, and has worked as a trusted consultant for Realties, Title Companies, Investors, and top producing agents. She has been featured in over 175 publications and podcasts both nationally and internationally. In addition to her marketing expertise, Victoria is a #1 selling classical-crossover singer and has sung with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, as well as toured all over Europe with her music. She is excited to share with you the power of her Closing Maximization Method and how it can exponentially grow your business. Find out more here: atmanrealestate.com

Pro-Tips For Working Together in a Business as a Family

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By Gene Guarino

Here’s some lessons I’ve learned to help you to grow closer as a family when you’re working together in business.

Each family member is unique…embrace it.

Utilizing a “personality profile” can be a great objective tool to help identify each person’s unique skills and talents. We use the Predictive Index tool for hiring and to make sure everyone is in the right seat on the bus.

Communication is critical to your family’s health

We use the EOS system to help us with business organization and communication. It’s been an invaluable system us as we’ve grown by over 400% over the past 7 years.
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Image by Anita Oosting from Pixabay

The Family that Plays Together Stays Together

I’ve been asked “what’s the best investment you’ve ever made?” My answer is always the same, Family Vacations. Investing the time and money was one of the best investments I’ve ever made. Those “18 summers” go fast when you’re an entrepreneur. You can make an impact far beyond that if you invest the time and attention along the way.

FFF – Forced Family Fun

Do you remember when you responded “because I said so” when the kids were impatiently asking you that? Or those times when you were providing a great experience for your kids but they weren’t appreciating it as much as you thought they would or should? Well, I Do!

We created a term for that, FFF. Forced Family Fun.

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Image by michellerey17 from Pixabay

Today, we enjoy our FFF even more because everyone gets to pick an activity. Between Christmas and News Years, we make a list of “fun” activities that we can do together as a family. Each member gets to “pick” an activity and we do them as a family. In the past we’ve done a lot of fun things like, group massages, yoga, game night, bowling, wine and art, movies, kickball, pickleball, driving range, reflexology, salt baths, cryotherapy, frisbee golf, snowmobiling, skiing, sledding, ice skating, scooter races and contests of every kind. Passing on the traditions from one generation to the next. Try it this year and see what kind of fun things you come up with for your own FFF.
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Gene Guarino Founder/CEO Residential Assisted Living Academy™

Gene is the President, CEO & Founder of RALAcademy.com. Gene has over 30 years experience in real estate investing and business. Today, Gene is focused on just one thing… investing in the mega-trend of senior assisted housing. He has trained thousands of investors/entrepreneurs throughout the United States how to invest in and operate residential assisted living homes. For over 25 years he has been educating people on the strategies of successful investing, business and self-employment. He now specializes in helping others take advantage of this mega-trend opportunity.

3 Ways Automation Tools Are Helping Real Estate Investors(REI) Become Successful

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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

By Victoria Kennedy

Real estate investment is a good business for multiple reasons. As a smart investor, not only can you leverage on real estate to build your wealth, you can also enjoy amazing tax advantages and live the American dream. But it takes a lot of serious dedication and hard work to make money from it.

While most real estate investors feel the lingering need to handle every part of their business, it isn’t advisable as this is an easy way of getting worn out especially when you are trying to juggle multiple deals at the same time.
Thanks to technology, there are automation tools primarily designed to make work much easier for real estate investors and wholesalers. In fact, automation tools have become the very key to attaining success in the real estate business today — from making enormous profits to sealing deals. Hence, there is a need to utilize automation tools.
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

What is Real Estate Automation Tools?

These Automation tools are software basically designed for accomplishing real estate tasks and solving laborious problems investors encounter consistently and repetitively. As a success-driven real estate investor, here are basic reasons why you need to implement real estate automation tools:
  • They provide quick results
  • They save time
  • They reduce errors
  • They promote business operations
There are several automation tools in existence but the following are a few out of the many which can help you in boosting work productivity in the long term and take your real estate business to higher levels — in other words, handling all steps from finding properties to selling them off at reasonable prices. Such tools are:
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Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

1. Deal Machine: Used For Researching Properties to Buy High competitive bidding of a rental property among investors typically shoots the price higher compared to a property with low bidding. Imagine buying a property where your competitor has little or no idea about it. This is where implementing Deal Machine becomes highly advantageous. It’s one of the best tools to use if you’re looking for properties that are off the market and could still be a great deal to buy. Accuracy is a crucial factor to consider in this business and Deal Machine is one of the best tools that can provide you with accurate data. For instance, when you use the app to take a picture of a rental property, it will automatically know who to contact almost immediately. Additionally, DealMachine searches public records and plus 3rd party data to give you the property owner’s name, mailing address, mortgage information, and more.
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Image by Goumbik from Pixabay

2. PropStream: Lead generation A data provider that assists real estate investors and wholesalers by pulling up market statistics based on the demographics that is being entered in the software. It is dynamically updated with an easy filtering process. For distressed property search, users can narrow down their specific targets such as foreclosure, pre-foreclosure, bankruptcy, divorces, and so on. Real estate investors are always on the lookout for what is happening in the market and this tool can be an option. Essentially, it allows the user to see what is thriving well on their list and with the data they provide, investors can easily compose their marketing pitch for their targets.
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Image by Markus Winkler from Pixabay

3. REI Reply: Used For Automated Sequential Marketing This is another crucial tool every success-driven real estate investor must-have. REI Reply is an automated tool that enables both experienced and newbie real estate investors, effectively communicate, monitor leads, and close deals faster and easier. Top lead generation experts, like Esteban Andrade, the CEO of Hesel Media, have tested and recommended REI reply to be a reliable tool. “I have all my investors using REI Reply because it’s the only tool that has everything an investor really needs,” he says.
Its easy and accessible system employs sequential automation to provide you with a full-time team that ensures that your business keeps running. Its sequential automation replaces use of Lead Sherpa, Podio, Call Rail, Pipe Drive, MailChimp, and Sly broadcast; all of which are responsible for qualifying leads, tracking and analyzing phone calls, ensuring that real estate investors have a premium text messaging service, and a ringless voicemail marketing tool for their business. They also have a deal going on for only $49/mo which makes this tool affordable and reliable.
In summary, automation is a great way for real estate investors to grow their business; and with the right application, success is always around the corner.
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Victoria Kennedy [email protected] atmanrealestate.com

Nominated as a 2020 Brand Ambassador for Inman, Victoria Kennedy is a well-respected authority in Real Estate marketing and branding. She is the CEO of Atman Real Estate, a marketing & branding agency that is committed to helping top producing Real Estate professionals become the #1 Agents in their area. She is a highly in demand speaker on all things digital marketing, and has helped many clients boost their visibility and revenue. Because of her expertise in real estate, she has been a trusted speaker and contributor to such organizations as the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inman News, and Yahoo Finance. In addition to running a successful marketing agency, she also has given talks, workshops, and has worked as a trusted consultant for Realties, Title Companies, Investors, and top producing agents. She has been featured in over 175 publications and podcasts both nationally and internationally. In addition to her marketing expertise, Victoria is a #1 selling classical-crossover singer and has sung with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, as well as toured all over Europe with her music. She is excited to share with you the power of her Closing Maximization Method and how it can exponentially grow your business. Find out more here: atmanrealestate.com

What Working with Doctors Without Borders Taught Me About Building a Relationship-Based Business

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By Victoria Kennedy

Any leader worth their salt understands how important it is to build relationships with those you want to lead. I learned this lesson firsthand while on assignment working with Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). Working side-by-side in some of the most intense scenarios you can imagine, I came to truly appreciate what it means to lead with the heart.

Now, as I forge ahead building the future of my Real Estate lead generation agency, even during a global health pandemic, those earlier lessons about leadership have come full circle. During a time when people need connection, helpfulness, and human kindness more than ever, we all should be taking our cues from mission-driven organizations like MSF.
Here are the four big lessons that guide me as I build my relationship-based business:

1. Develop Ambassadors, Not Employees

Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a dynamic movement propelled forward by people from all corners of the globe who share a common mission: to save lives and alleviate suffering by delivering medical care where it is needed the most. To achieve this mission, the medical personnel who work with MSF are not merely employees. They are ambassadors for MSF promoting its ideals and raising awareness about the organization.
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Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay

For real estate agents, the lesson here is to look for a team that embodies a spirit of ambassadorship. When you find colleagues and business partners who are open to teaching you sales techniques that have worked for them, you will feel supported in developing your own sales process. So, remember to build relationships with employees and colleagues, not just prospects.
Once realtors, brokers, and other real estate professionals experience this relationship-based approach, they become instant ambassadors. Ambassadors are proactive. They don’t sit back and let life happen. They go out and close deals. They understand, especially in this climate, standing out is about more than simply following up on leads.

2. Go Where You Are Needed the Most

This simple, but powerful concept drove the founders of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). In May of 1968, a group of young doctors decided to go where their medical services were needed the most: to the victims of wars and disasters anywhere in the world.
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Image by jennycepeda from Pixabay

The needs of buyers and sellers have shifted during the pandemic. However, smart realtors and brokers who follow this principle have naturally shifted their focus to meet current needs. When real estate agents trust the system and go where they’re needed the most, they will stay on track with closings regardless of market fluctuations.

3. Let Transparency and Accountability Be Your Beacon

For a medical aid organization, like MSF, that relies on the financial support of donors, transparency and accountability are crucial. But the fact is, in the real estate industry, these values are just as important. It’s sad, but we all need to look out for frauds and those who seek to take advantage of people’s goodwill during this difficult time. In a relationship-based business, this should never be an issue. When you put trust at the core of how you lead, your value will shine through to your clients. One way to build trust is to provide transparent information that your clients can use. For example, you could email weekly videos about the state of their local market to your prospects.

4. Get Creative with the Resources You Provide

The medical professionals who are part of Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) aren’t afraid to get creative to find solutions out in the field. Providing medical aid without the institutional support of hospitals requires thinking outside the box. This is why so many institutions, like nursing homes, have been turning to MSF to help train staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Image by Fathromi Ramdlon from Pixabay

Real estate leaders and professionals have also needed to get creative during this unprecedented time. Here are some of the ways our brokers and realtors have gotten creative as they’ve shifted their real estate businesses online:
  • They work with photographers to create 3-D virtual home tours.
  • They livestream open houses as virtual events.
  • They send memorable gifts to clients (e.g., face masks and home-made hand sanitizer).
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) is a unique organization with amazing professionals doing much needed work. But the lessons of leadership apply to every business in every industry. When leaders focus on building relationships, there’s no limit to what we can do together.
Bao Le is a philanthropist, tech expert, and CEO of Boass Digital which is a marketing agency for top Real Estate professionals. Discover his system for doubling your closings by booking a call here: https://bit.ly/314aeH1
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Victoria Kennedy [email protected] atmanrealestate.com

Nominated as a 2020 Brand Ambassador for Inman, Victoria Kennedy is a well-respected authority in Real Estate marketing and branding. She is the CEO of Atman Real Estate, a marketing & branding agency that is committed to helping top producing Real Estate professionals become the #1 Agents in their area. She is a highly in demand speaker on all things digital marketing, and has helped many clients boost their visibility and revenue. Because of her expertise in real estate, she has been a trusted speaker and contributor to such organizations as the National Association of Real Estate Brokers, Inman News, and Yahoo Finance. In addition to running a successful marketing agency, she also has given talks, workshops, and has worked as a trusted consultant for Realties, Title Companies, Investors, and top producing agents. She has been featured in over 175 publications and podcasts both nationally and internationally. In addition to her marketing expertise, Victoria is a #1 selling classical-crossover singer and has sung with the likes of Andrea Bocelli, as well as toured all over Europe with her music. She is excited to share with you the power of her Closing Maximization Method and how it can exponentially grow your business. Find out more here: atmanrealestate.com

10 Habits of Successful Real Estate Investors

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By Russell Barneson

If you’re an aspiring real estate investor, building good habits will be the core foundation to your success.

From the moment you rise to the time you go to bed, outlining your day will make you more efficient and more effective at your job. Here is a game plan to implementing habits to develop to put you on your path to achieve your real estate investment goals.

Having a Schedule

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Image by Tumisu from Pixabay

Having a daily routine of planned activities will help you get into a rhythm. Waking up at the same time, going to the gym daily and even planning your meals are great for building structure.
Setting a schedule will help you clear your mind, giving you laser focus.
The side benefit of such a structure is you will not be worrying about whether you forgot to do something. There are many scheduling, CRM and organization tools you can install on your phone and computer, making it easier than ever to stay organized. These tools will send you reminder messages so you don’t miss an important meeting or appointment.

Find a Niche

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Image by Clker-Free-Vector-Images from Pixabay

There is an ocean of property types and investment strategies out there.
The world is a complicated place, finding a niche helps simplify life.
Pick one type of property or strategy to invest in; this will give you an identity and make you an expert in the niche you choose. For example, if you work in rehabbing single family homes in a certain area, over time you will become an expert in this industry and will know what to look for in regards to the local market.
Developing strong relationships with property brokers, contractors and lenders will be beneficial to your success.
For example, a great relationship with a property broker may result in access to insider pocket listings unavailable on the MLS. Go with what you know! Try to stay away from projects outside your niche as this can become time consuming and bring on unnecessary risk.

Settings Goals

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Image by Megan Rexazin from Pixabay

Great real estate investors set short and long term goals. For instance, a long term goal might be turning over 1 fix and flip every month or earning $200K profit per year. A short term goal might be going to the gym every 2 days for a month. Humans thrive with goals, having a target to aim for will help you orientate yourself towards a brighter future and help you avoid complacency.

Persevere Through Down Markets

Real estate markets, like all markets, are cyclical. Like a surfer, learn to ride the highs as well as the lows.
Position yourself to withstand an unexpected downturn in the real estate market as it is inevitable.
And don’t be discouraged if you have a few bad years, stay positive and find ways to persevere.

Go to School

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Photo by Pixabay from Pexels

Getting higher education is a valuable tool. Becoming more knowledgeable could open up various job opportunities throughout the real estate industry.
People with degrees often get promoted and have higher incomes than those without.
According to APLU.org, high school grads earn 62% of what a college graduate earns.

Diversify

Rule No. 1: Never lose money. Rule No. 2: Never forget rule No. 1. – Warren Buffet
The number one rule of investing is preservation of capital. The easiest way to achieve this is through diversification. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket and consider partnerships if necessary to diversify into multiple projects. This will balance out your portfolio in the case one of your assets is underperforming.

Patience

Patience is a virtue. Real estate markets have been around for eons and will always be cyclical.
What is valuable today is worthless tomorrow. Avoid buying at the top of the market, and try getting into up-and-coming neighborhoods, or buying when you think a recession is at the bottom.
Therefore, don’t chase deals. Have cash reserves ready for a drop in the market, in order to capitalize on bargain deals.

Work Smarter not Harder

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Image by Fathromi Ramdlon from Pixabay

Know your priorities and limitations. Be efficient and do one thing well, outsource the tasks you struggle with. Don’t scoff at the idea of getting some outside help. When blocked on something ask for feedback. Not a web developer? Don’t try to build everything yourself. Trim the fat and focus on your money makers.

Create Passive Income

Creating passive income helps you leverage your time and is one of the most powerful income generating strategies in the world. If you have a solid rental business setup and organized, you will have a lot more time to focus on developing other businesses or living a more fulfilling life.

Hire the Right Team

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Photo by fauxels from Pexels

An expert is a person who has made all the mistakes that can be made in a very narrow field. – Niels Bohr
Paying employees a little more than competitors can be beneficial in the long run. Hiring competent people to make difficult decisions on your behalf will not only benefit your business but also give you more time to do the things you love. Additionally, turnover in any business can be costly due to the training time for new employees, so it’s best to find great employees and stick with them.

About the Author

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Russell Barneson runs Sales & Marketing at Crescent Lenders and is a real estate investor and operator of his own vacation rental business. He is passionate about the topic of real estate investing and helps real estate investors from across the USA obtain private money financing. Having the experience of running and operating a real estate business himself, as well as helping other investors get capital for their projects, gives him unique insights. Russell is a sports fanatic and in his spare time he loves to travel, surf, play sports, and have the occasional beer. For more information, visit: https://www.cresentlenders.com

The Secrets of Being a Successful Landlord

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By Kathy Kennebrook (The Marketing Magic Lady)

You’ve all heard the tenant horror stories from people who have had tenants in properties, but being a landlord doesn’t have to be difficult as long as you learn some strategies for handling your tenants. My husband used to say that handling tenants was like having a group of children that you have to train and discipline. But it doesn’t have to be that difficult.

You do have to make some specific rules for your tenants and stick to them. Every time you change the rules you give your tenants the upper hand. You must also have an iron clad lease that specifically addresses the issues that you may have with tenants including getting your rent paid on time.

rule-1752625_1280This is one area in which I am steadfast with the rules. I don’t care what the tenant’s situation is, their responsibility is to pay me on time and in full or they are stealing services from you without paying for them. My tenants are responsible for having the rent in our post office box or direct deposited through zelle or paypal on or before the date it is due or they are served with a three-day notice the next morning as required by law where I live in order to begin the eviction process. There are no exceptions. We even have tenants who send their checks to me priority mail to make sure they get to me on time. Most of our tenants have been with us a long time and many pay early.

You must also take the time to pre-qualify your tenants’ right from the beginning so you can avoid some problems right from the start. Don’t just accept a tenant into your rental property because they have the money to move in. Don’t let greed be your guide. Have your tenants fill out a specific rental application. Then you run must a tenant check with a reputable company. Don’t try to do this yourself just by looking at public record. You will miss credit issues and anything that may have occurred out of state. You need to find out the information you need to know about your tenants’ right from the start before renting them your unit.

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For example, if the tenant check shows the applicant was just evicted from another premises, this certainly isn’t going to be a tenant you want in your property. Or if your tenant has had recent felony convictions, this isn’t a tenant you want in your rental unit. If your applicant has multiple animals, this is also not someone you want in your rental unit. I will mention however, that I will allow a tenant with a small dog or cat to rent my units. I find that usually a tenant who has a pet that they have had for some time will make a good tenant who will stay longer in your unit.

I also have a separate pet lease which addresses specific rules regarding pets in my units. The pet lease requires that the dog or cat is an indoor pet and I have an additional non-refundable amount of security deposit for the pet lease and additional pet rent of 25.00 per month. I find that this works out very well. If the tenant gets a pet that is not on the lease, this is grounds for immediate eviction, and we do have someone who checks our units about every 60 days for us to make sure all is well with our rental units.

puppy-1903313_1280I also check out where they were living before by going by the address and checking it out and I talk to their previous landlord. I want to see how they have been treating the place where they were living before. If it looks like a pig pen or if they have multiple animals, this is not someone I want in my unit. If they don’t give me this information on the rental application, I won’t even consider them to rent my unit.

I know some of this is just common sense but it bears discussion. If a tenant makes it through my rigorous screening process, I also have them pay first month’s rent, last month’s rent and the security deposit either by cash, cashiers check or by money order. I do not accept personal checks for the move-in amounts.

During the following months I do not accept personal checks from them for the rent, we only accept money orders or direct deposit. The first time a check bounces for insufficient funds or any other reason, they must make it good immediately or I will immediately begin the eviction process. This is all covered in the lease they have signed. I also make sure that the person I have putting tenants in units for me thoroughly covers all the items in the lease with them before they sign it.

If a tenant does get their rent to us late, they are responsible for additional rental fees of one percent per day. These fees are in our lease as additional rental fees as opposed to late fees since some courts won’t allow you to get a judgment for late fees. Within the body of our lease we also require our tenants to have renters insurance and I want to see proof of the policy before they move in. This way I can’t be held liable for any injuries or the loss of their possessions due to an accident, fire, hurricane or any other natural disaster.

sale-3701777_1280Additionally, once my tenants sign a lease with me, I will not give them keys until I see proof of utilities in their name for the unit. In certain counties like ours, the landlord can’t turn off utilities in their own name. The only way the name changes on the utilities is with a new lease and then utilities get put in the tenant’s name. This rule may be different where you live, but a lot of the time if the tenant doesn’t pay their utilities it falls back to the landlord. This is just one way for you to protect yourself.

These are just a few of the basic techniques that will make you a happy and successful landlord. Monthly cash flow is a wonderful thing if your properties are managed correctly.

For more information on becoming a successful landlord and finding all the deals you need for your real estate investing business, check out my website at www.marketingmagiclady.com. While you are there be sure and sign up for my Free Monthly Newsletter!!

The Problem With an IBC Policy

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By Gabby Darroch

“What’s the problem with IBC?”

If you’re like many people who’ve heard about The Money Multiplier Method and IBC (especially for the first time) then you’ve probably had this thought cross your mind a time or two.

We get it. You want to know all the bad things that accompany all the stellar benefits of having and using your banking policy.

upset-2681502_1280Since the “perfect system” does not exist, this concept presents some challenges of it’s own. And we are prepared to discuss them with you, right here, right now. Why? Because, if you know anything about The Money Multiplier, you know we LOVE transparency. Just not when it comes to walls… or clothes.

So here it goes.

  1. Policyowners must commit to a long-term plan.
  2. Applying the recommended guidelines can be challenging… on your own.
  3. Most people don’t know the first thing about designing a plan that fits their specific financial needs.
  4. Your own mind may be your worst enemy.

Now, the good news is that we have solutions to each of these “obstacles.” So stop reading here if you hate having solutions to your problems.

The problem: Policyowners must commit to a long-term plan.
The solution: If you have commitment issues when it comes to your money, we get it! But just remember, your money isn’t locked up for years, unable to be even touched without some kind of harsh fees or penalties. This policy is nothing like your 401k, 403(b), annuity, or even a CD. And while in the first few years you don’t get access to 100% of the premium deposits you put into your banking policy, you’ll never have less than 60% of those funds available immediately within 30 days of making your premium deposit. And that’s just for the first year! Every year after, that percentage increases so you’re able to borrow more and more of your premium deposits. (And yes, it won’t be long before you’re able to borrow every single penny you put into your policy and more!)

The problem: Applying the recommended guidelines can be challenging… on your own.
The solution: Did you hear that last part? There is only a challenge if you’re going in alone. But if you’re with The Money Multiplier, we’ve got your back. We check in with you at least twice a year to update your goals. And we also give you a plan of how best to utilize your policy to reach those goals using your banking policy. So when you get a policy, we don’t expect you to know everything. We have a team that does all the hard stuff for you so you can enjoy your life, which is why you started this policy in the first place, right?

hand-1917895_1280The problem: Most people don’t know the first thing about designing a plan that fits their specific financial needs.
The solution: We don’t expect you to know a thing about these policies (although we always provide resources for you to learn from. Knowledge is power!). That’s what we are here for. You don’t need to know anything about policy provisions, riders, or other policy options that you might need. We take care of that part, always keeping your best interests at heart. So rest assured, your policy is completely customized to fit your specific financial needs.

The problem: Your own mind may be your worst enemy.
The solution: These concepts, even though they’ve been around for over 200+ years, are difficult for many to believe in. Not because they don’t work. In fact, there is no other tool out there that works quite as well in reaching your financial goals as the Infinite Banking Concept does. However, so many are taught their whole lives to think the way banks want them to think about their money. But your bank telling you they should control your money is like your (shady) mechanic telling you your car needs repairs it doesn’t actually need. Both are trying to make a profit off of keeping you in the dark about what’s really going on. (Side note: not all mechanics are shady. Some are pretty awesome!) The point? Trust the process that puts you in control of your money, not the one that’s kept you on the financial hamster wheel your whole.

steering-wheel-2209953_1280Our only goal is putting you back in the driver seat. And we’re here to help you overcome whatever obstacles are standing in your way to do so. Because here’s the thing: There’s never going to be a better time than now. We grow older. The bills keep coming. Our health declines (even if slowly). Problems come out of left field and hit you square between the eyes. But you can do this for yourself and your family and work towards the life you want, the life you want for them, and the future you all deserve. Because where there’s a will (and an awesome team of experts who’ve got your back), there’s a way.

As Nelson Nash, the founder of the Infinite Banking Concept, once said, “Someone’s gonna be the banker. And the tragedy is that it should be you, but people don’t realize that.” But now, I hope I’ve helped you to realize that you should be in control. You should be the bank. And we’re here to help.

To learn more about The Money Multiplier or to get started with your own policy, please visit www.TheMoneyMultiplier.com/member-area and watch the presentation that appears on the next page.

When you’re ready to get started on creating your financial legacy or if you have more questions, please email us at [email protected], or give us a call at 386-456-9335, and one of our mentors will be in touch with you.