The Influence of Age and Longevity on Residential Assisted Living

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By Gene Guarino

As we age, health and longevity become a prevalent topic. People want to know how to increase their longevity. They want to live longer and live better. How well you age, and your longevity is a projection of your health. There are some genetic factors to consider when talking about your health, but in many cases, it’s based on the choices you make. It’s a reflection of what you do to your body and what you put in.

One of the most important things you can do for your health is to pay attention to the food you eat.

Food is brought into the body then it’s converted to energy. Think of food as fuel for your body. Is it good or is it bad? Is it high octane or is it low octane? It’s important to get the right amount of fuel. If you’re taking in too much, you won’t burn it off and your body stores it instead. If you don’t take in enough, your body won’t have the energy it needs to function properly. A diet of a variety of fresh foods like vegetables, fruits, lean meats and whole grains are delicious and provide our bodies with the vitamins and nutrients it needs. Diets that are high in sugar, fat or salt can seriously impact the health of that individual in a negative way.

salad-2756467_1280You’ll also want to focus on the amount of water you consume daily. Your body’s systems require hydration in order to function properly. Though just about every liquid contains water, like soda or juice, many of these also contain sugars, salts, or other ingredients that can actually dehydrate you.

An active body is a healthy body. Get your body moving and working. Action is imperative to your health and works in conjunction with what you put into your body. Take up an activity like hiking or yoga. Get up so that you aren’t just lying in bed or watching TV. Your activity level has a direct impact on your health and therefore on your longevity. The more active you are, the healthier you are. The healthier you are, the longer you will live.

The third component to health and longevity is social interaction.

elders-401296_1280Humans are social creatures and need to keep company with others, not just being a lone wolf, staying at home sitting in front of the TV or computer. Really interacting with other people, whether its a quiet activity together or something a little more boisterous, can spark life and invigorate you. Increase your health and longevity by getting out there and connecting with people!

When it comes to aging and longevity, good health is the key.

For good health, what you put into your body, your activity level, and your amount of social interaction are all important factors to consider. A diet rich in good foods and drinking plenty of water is just as critical to your well-being as exercising, or being active regularly, and connecting with others.

Be sure to subscribe to our iTunes podcast to listen on the go! [CLICK HERE]

gene

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.

4 Reasons You Should Always Repay Your Loans

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By Gabby Darroch

If you’ve been with me for a while, you know you are not required to repay your policy loans. And if you’ve ever wondered, “If I don’t have to repay my loans, why should I?” let’s set the record straight.

The Caveat

In the initial stages of using your policy it’s important to note that we don’t recommend repaying your loan payments back into your actual policy. Instead, we encourage you to put those payments in a totally separate checking account. This is simply because why pay back money you’re just going to use again and again for things like paying off debt, financing a car, or buying a house. And a checking account is a bit easier to access than the money in your policy.

There may come a time in your life where most of your immediate financial needs are met (ie. debts are paid off). It is at this point that we encourage you to put all money stored in that separate checking account back into your policy to repay your outstanding loan balance. And here’s why:

Repaying your loan to your policy means:

growth-3078543_1280

  1. You’re rebuilding your available cash. You have a cash account for the purpose of financing your needs in life at any moment. But when you Repay your loan to get more moneytake loans from your policy, you deplete the amount you can take on a loan. So by rebuilding the cash value in your account, you’re allowing your future financial needs to be met with a loan later on. This keeps your money in motion and working hard for you.
  2. You’re replenishing your death benefit to the full amount. Remember, when you take a loan, your death benefit covers all your existing unpaid loan amounts and whatever is left goes to your beneficiary after you “graduate.” Repaying your loan means that you are replenishing the full amount of your death benefit that will be paid to your beneficiary.
  3. You will restore your full dividend earning potential (if your contract is with a direct company). Direct companies don’t always give you the full dividend depending on your outstanding loan balance. When you repay your loan, you’re able to collect the full dividend amount that is owed to you.
  4. You reduce the charge on your interest payment. If you recall, when you take a loan you are actually being loaned the insurance company’s money. They charge an interest rate of about 5% for this privilege. So paying back your loans to the insurance company will result in a lowering of your interest rate on subsequent loans. This frees up more money for you. (To learn more about the interest you are charged on your policy loans, check out this article.)

The Gist of It

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So yes, you don’t have to repay your loans. But it benefits you most to do so, if done at the right time in your life. Just remember, you do always want to pay the interest on that loan back to the insurance company. That is required.

To learn more or get started, please visit www.TheMoneyMultiplier.com. Scroll to the very bottom and click on “Member Area.” Enter the password “bankwithbrent” 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 you can give us a call at 386-456-9335, and one of our mentors will be in touch with you.

VA and FHA Mortgages & the Housing Boom (Part 2)

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Military Experience Eligibility for VA Loans

How does a retired or active military personnel member qualify for a VA loan based upon their military experience?

table

* An earlier discharge date for a service-connected disability may still qualify you.
** Officers who separated from service after 10/16/81 may be eligible.

For more details, please visit The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ website to learn about VA mortgage loan eligibility benefits:
https://www.va.gov/housing-assistance/home-loans/eligibility/

Once an active or retired military person meets the minimum qualifying guidelines, he or she will be given a Certificate of Eligibility that’s issued by the Department of Veteran Affairs. The VA mortgage loan applicant will then send a copy of the VA Certificate of Eligibility (VA Form 26-1880) to their mortgage broker or banker. For VA loan applicants who do not have a copy, they may complete a form entitled Request for a Certificate of Eligibility (Fillable) that’s linked here:
https://www.vba.va.gov/pubs/forms/VBA-26-1880-ARE.pdf

The Evolution of VA and FHA Loans

veterans-day-4653841_1280Near the end of World War II, the VA home loan program was created in 1944 as part of the original Servicemen’s Readjustment Act that’s also referred to as the GI Bill of Rights. The VA loan benefits were signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. A portion of each funded VA mortgage loan was guaranteed by the federal government in the event that the VA borrower later defaulted on the loan and lost the home in foreclosure. This way, each bank that funded the 100% loan for qualifying VA borrowers had much less financial risk.

Specifically, there were two types of government-backed or insured mortgage loans that stimulated the housing market and helped the U.S. economy prosper and rise up out of the previous negative Great Depression (1929 – 1939) years – VA and FHA (Federal Housing Administration) loans. These more flexible residential mortgage loans were part of President Roosevelt’s New Deal plan and the National Housing Act of 1934 that were designed to create more jobs and boost home values and the economy once again.

Since 1934, FHA has insured over 34 million home mortgages nationwide. As per the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), FHA has active insurance on over 8 million single-family mortgages. In total for both residential and commercial real estate properties, FHA’s insurance portfolio exceeds $1.3 trillion.

To learn more about the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), please visit HUD’s website:
https://www.hud.gov/program_offices/housing/fhahistory#:~:text=Congress%20created%20the%20Federal%20Housing,workers%20had%20lost%20their%20jobs.

VA and FHA Loans for Buyers, Sellers, and Owners

calculator-723925_1280The main difference between FHA and VA is that the government insures a portion of the FHA loan while guaranteeing a portion of a funded VA loan. The vast majority of home loans funded nationwide over the past 10 years, directly or indirectly, were either government-backed (VA) or insured (FHA) and/or purchased in the secondary markets by other government-sponsored or federal entities named Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, or Ginnie Mae.

FHA loans allow borrowers to qualify with 3.5% down on average (96.5% LTV) with lower FICO credit score options near 580 and easier overall underwriting allowances. FHA also allows seller credits and gifts from family members toward down payments that can effectively make a purchase loan become near 100% LTV also. However, borrowers will have to pay an additional monthly insurance premium along with their mortgage payment that can reach a few hundred dollars per month, depending upon the borrower’s FICO credit score, loan amount, debt-to-income (DTI) ratios, and LTV (loan-to-value). There are more flexible FHA Streamline refinance programs available as well that are similar to the VA Streamline.

For qualified VA borrowers, there is perhaps no better mortgage loan option available while FHA loans might be the second best option for high LTV loans. This is especially true as 30-year fixed mortgage rates continue to hover at or near all-time record lows while making many mortgage payments more affordable than rent even when the home is financed up to 100% of the purchase price.

To date, VA and FHA have guaranteed or insured over 58 million mortgages for homeowners. Home sellers should welcome any VA or FHA buyer prospect who has a pre-approval letter from a mortgage lender. This is because the lender is prepared to provide up to 96.5% LTV for FHA or up to 100% LTV for a VA loan. Amazingly, both FHA and VA loans can close in a few weeks or less due to expedited online application processing options.

 

Rick-Tobin-Professional-Pic-sharperRick Tobin

Rick Tobin has a diversified background in both the real estate and securities fields for the past 30+ years. He has held seven (7) different real estate and securities brokerage licenses to date, and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Rick has an extensive background in the financing of residential and commercial properties around the U.S with debt, equity, and mezzanine money. His funding sources have included banks, life insurance companies, REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), equity funds, and foreign money sources. You can visit Rick Tobin at RealLoans.com for more details.

VA and FHA Mortgages & the Housing Boom (Part 1)

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By Rick Tobin

The most flexible and easiest qualifying mortgage loan product in America is the VA (US Department of Veteran Affairs) mortgage loan. Between 1944 and 1966, approximately 20% of all single-family homes built or purchased were financed by the VA home loan program for active military or retired veterans of World War II (1939 – 1945) or the Korean War (1950 – 1953). From 1944 through 1993, the VA mortgage loan program guaranteed almost 14 million home loans. By 2013, the VA had guaranteed over 20 million loans. As of 2019 in the VA’s 75th anniversary year, VA had surpassed 24 million loan guarantees for borrowers.

investment-4737118_1280Did you know that there are 100% LTV (loan-to-value) mortgage loans available to qualifying active or retired military personnel up to $1.5 million dollars for owner-occupied homes as of 2020? Yes, a qualifying VA mortgage applicant has the option to purchase a home priced as high as $1.5 million with no money down. These 100% LTV loans have no additional monthly mortgage insurance payment requirements like required for most other mortgages with a loan-to-value range above 80% of the purchase price or appraised value.

VA Loan Guidelines

Purchase

Mortgage loan underwriting guidelines are subject to change and may have some exception allowances for mortgage borrower applicants due to factors such as credit scores, income, job history, debt-to-income ratios, and property types. However, these are common VA loan terms or guidelines that were available as of June 2020:

  • No money down up to $1.5 million for owner-occupied borrowers (not second homes or investment properties)
  • Historically, a debt-to-income ratio of up to 41% DTI* was typical for VA borrowers. However, some VA loan programs allow up to 60% DTI or higher
  • No monthly mortgage insurance premium requirements
  • FICO credit scores as low as 620

* Debt-to-income ratio (DTI) = Borrower’s proposed mortgage payment plus monthly consumer debt obligations that are divided by monthly income. A borrower with $2,500 in monthly debt payments and $5,000 in monthly gross income (before taxes) will have a 50% debt-to-income ratio ($2,500 / $5,000 = 50%).

VA Loan Refinance

percent-226357_1280For existing VA mortgage borrowers under newer 2020 rules, VA borrowers can pull cash out of their property up to 100% of their property value. For example, a homeowner with an existing $250,000 mortgage loan secured by a property valued at $500,000 could apply for a new $500,000 cash-out loan that gets them upwards of $250,000 additional cash-out that they could use to pay off credit cards, student loans, automobile loans, business debts, or use the funds to make new property or stock investments.

A mortgage borrower in a non-VA loan can refinance from a conventional bank loan or an FHA loan with costly monthly insurance premium (MIP) payments into a new VA loan if one or more of the borrowers has VA eligibility.

Another easier qualifying VA refinance loan option is generally referred to as a “VA Streamline” (IRRRL – Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan). With some non-credit qualifying VA Streamline loan programs (subject to change), the borrower’s application process includes:

  • No minimum credit score
  • No appraisal required
  • Primary and non-owner occupied properties may be allowed
  • Must be current on existing mortgage loan about to be paid off
  • Manufactured homes attached to the foundation may be eligible

To learn more details about qualifying for VA refinance loans, here is a link to VA Pamphlet 26-7, Revised, Chapter 6: Refinancing Loans

https://www.benefits.va.gov/WARMS/docs/admin26/pamphlet/pam26_7/Chg_17_ch_5.pdf

 

Rick-Tobin-Professional-Pic-sharperRick Tobin

Rick Tobin has a diversified background in both the real estate and securities fields for the past 30+ years. He has held seven (7) different real estate and securities brokerage licenses to date, and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Rick has an extensive background in the financing of residential and commercial properties around the U.S with debt, equity, and mezzanine money. His funding sources have included banks, life insurance companies, REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts), equity funds, and foreign money sources. You can visit Rick Tobin at RealLoans.com for more details.

The Better Alternative to Your Retirement Account

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By Gabby Darroch

Today I want to spend a little time clarifying exactly what makes the Infinite Banking Concept different. Different from any other banking system, financial institution, or retirement you’ve ever seen or heard of before. This will help you understand why The Money Multiplier is the best system for your money.

There are 3 major differences, and they are as follows:

  • You don’t have to lock up your cash;
  • You don’t have to turn over control of your cash to someone else; and
  • There are guarantees from day 1.

So let’s explore those a little further.

#1 – You don’t have to lock up your cash.

safe-3703193_1280If you’re contributing to a 401k, IRA, or any other retirement account, you might as well forget about your money. In fact, you probably already have because you can’t touch it and you can’t use it when you need it. Out of sight, out of mind.

Qualified plans require you to lock your money away until some far away future date, when you’re allowed to use it. You can’t get to your money without major penalties until you’re 59.5 years old. And the worst part is that you have no idea if your money is growing or tanking, until it’s too late.

You’re also giving up the opportunity to use your money today. You’re hoping your dollars will be there later. But when you’re finally able to use them, they’re actually weaker than when you locked them up because taxes go up, not down. And even if taxes do go down, we end up getting taxed on more things.

(Read this article to learn how quickly after you pay your premiums you can use the cash account in your policy.)

#2 – You don’t have to turn over control of your cash to someone else.

Don’t you associate more return with more risk? How much more risk are you willing to take on these days? Probably none, right? Especially with the money you’re intending to live off of after retirement. So, while there are people who say they have the time and expertise to manage your money for you, you won’t know if they are doing a good job. That’s a pretty big risk, don’t you agree? Like I said before, the only way you’ll know if your money is being mishandled is when it’s far too late to do anything about it.

But if you believe that with the right information you could make good decisions with your money, then you wouldn’t have to feel the need to give it away to someone else.

#3 – There are guarantees from day 1.

moneymultiplyNo other financial guru or financial product contains guarantees like this. The only thing they do guarantee is that they can’t go below zero. But inside your policy contract with The Money Multiplier there is guaranteed growth of 4%. And this growth isn’t tied to the markets whatsoever. So even if Wall Street sinks to an all time low, your policy will continue to grow at a rate of at least 4%.

The decision is clear

This is just a little taste of the power and control you have when you have a policy contract with The Money Multiplier. Your money isn’t locked up for years. You don’t have to hand over control of your money. And growth is guaranteed on your policy from day 1. Two things come to mind when I hear this: freedom and peace of mind.

Get started by visiting www.TheMoneyMultiplier.com . Scroll to the very bottom and click on “Member Area.” Enter the password “bankwithbrent” and watch the presentation that appears on the next page.

When you’re ready to begin building a retirement account you don’t have to wait until retirement age to use, 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.

What Should Assisted Living Look and Feel Like?

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By Gene Guarino

What should a Residential Assisted Living home look and feel like?

beautiful-home-1680789_1280When we talk about the look and the feel, it’s a home so it should obviously look like a home. Sometimes people try to take a commercial building and convert it into residential assisted living and it just doesn’t work as well. Mom grew up in a home. It’s got to feel like a home. Part of that is looking like a home. Usually there’s a roof of some kind. There’s a door, there are windows, it looks like a house. There might be landscaping on the outside. It should have driveways where people can pull up and easy to walk on walkways so somebody can get from the car to the front door. When you walk inside, is there a step up? You put a ramp in at that front door so if they have a walker or a wheelchair or just to avoid any trip hazard at all. When you walk in, it’s open, big. That is what a typical RAL home will look and feel like.

What should it smell like?

apple-pie-3723444_1280It should smell like a home. Some people’s homes don’t smell that great, but for a care home, it’s critically important that we make sure that it smells great all the time. We have special air purifying systems inside the home to make sure the air is circulating all the time. The only extra smell I want there is the smell of home cooked food, something that smells good when you walk in.

What should the inside look like?

The colors might be lighter, neutral colors. There should be shades, or curtains on the window to give it a homey feel. The front room has nicer furniture, maybe moldings around the room, so it’s a more upscale look. There’s artwork on the wall, so when you walk in, you feel good.

We want the person in the family that makes decisions to walk through the front door to look and say, “wow, this feels great, I could live here.” Because if she’s thinking that, she’s also thinking, “my mom would be comfortable here and I would be proud to have my mom here.” When they walk through the front door, it’s got to be clean, and smelling good because frankly, if you’re not taking care of the walls and the doors and the floors, they’re expecting you not to be taking care of their mom and dad.

What other little touches should you have?

turntable-1328823_1280As you walk around the home it should be convenient and make sense. The floors are smooth, easy to clean. When you walk into a bathroom there are grab bars by the toilets and the showers, so it’s safe for mom. You’ll want some artwork hanging on the wall, the license for the home, the manager, the code of ethics, and the numbers for them to call in an emergency. They should be hearing either music or maybe even books on tape, music from their generation. Music is such a powerful thing that really just jogs the memory. It brings them right back and all of a sudden their body takes on a remembrance of where they were and what they could do. So it is a home, not home like. It’s an assisted living in a home setting. If you put all of that together, you’ll have a winning combination for a very successful Residential Assisted Living home.

Be sure to subscribe to our iTunes podcast to listen on the go! [CLICK HERE]

gene

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.

Why now is the time to start a policy

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By Gabby Darroch

It really burns my biscuits when I hear people say, “I don’t want to start a policy yet because of the Coronavirus. I am not sure where the economy is going to go.”

corona-5081311_1280And the reason why this gets me so heated is no secret. Let’s be honest. Many people are making decisions out of fear right now. And fear-based decision-making is just about the worst thing you can do in an already difficult situation.

But this difficult situation is more reason than ever to start a policy because you’re right, you don’t know where the economy is going to go. On the contrary, did you know where the economy was going to go before? No, and you will never be able to predict this.

Things happen. We have windfalls and downfalls. Raises and demotions. We buy things and we also sell things. There are pandemics; We are healthy. Terrorists attack; Our country is safe and secure. We have Republican Presidents; We have Democratic Presidents.

My point is, you never EVER know what is going to happen. You can’t predict the future. So why do you want someone else controlling your own financial life?

Now more than ever, this is why you want to start a policy.

This is why you want to take control of your financial wealth. Because you don’t know what’s going to happen.

mailbox-2607174_1280Do you really want to be sitting by your mailbox waiting for:

  • your stimulus check to arrive;
  • the government to take care of you;
  • your pension to kick in;
  • social security to supply you with income; or
  • your 401(k)/IRA/qualified plan/mutual fund to save you?

Is that working for you?

How many people do you know that are out there at retirement age that are working when they should be enjoying their life? Are they working because they really want to be working? Because they just want something to do? Or are they doing it because they have to do it for survival because their qualified plan, their 401k, their IRA, their pension won’t save them? And the government didn’t take care of them like they thought they were going to.

It’s time to wake up.

businessman-4279253_1280It is time to take control of your own financial life. Quit making excuses. You are the one that can take control. And what better way to do it than to put your money in an environment where you have guaranteed tax free growth, where you pay the tax ONE time on your money at the lowest possible rate and now you have it into a vehicle, into a machine, into an environment, where you have guaranteed growth, and the government is completely out of your hair.

And not only is it going to create wealth for you while you’re living, but it’s also going to create multi-generational wealth for your spouse, your children, your grandchildren, and future generations to come.

Come on ladies and gentlemen. Get on board. Now is the best time to start your banking policy!

Why do you think we’re so busy here at The Money Multiplier? It’s because people are sick and tired of all that’s going on with their money. They are tired of the bloodbath in the stock market. And they don’t know what’s going to happen with Real Estate.

Next time you think, “Oh no! Are we at the peak or are we in another recession or depression? What’s going to happen?” stop yourself and remember, you have a policy, so your money, your financial future, is safe. That is, if you take action now. Eliminate all those worries in your life by taking control of your own financial wealth.

If not you, then who?

businessman-4914044_1280If you’re not going to take care of yourself then who will? YOU need to make the decision right now.

The wealth train is moving down the track. And it’s going to stop at your station. Are you going to let it pass you by? Are you going to watch it head on down the track? Or are you going to hop on board and take the wealth train to the promised land where YOU own and control your financial life and future.

To learn more or get started, please visit www.TheMoneyMultiplier.com . Scroll to the very bottom and click on “Member Area.” Then, 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.

Why Become a Residential Assisted Living Expert?

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By Gene Guarino

What will you be an expert at?

You’re going to become an expert at something. The question is what? There’s the saying that it takes 10,000 hours to become an expert. Now when you think about that, at 40 hours a week and 50 weeks in a year, that’s 2000 hours in a year, so if you devote five years of full-time effort to anything, you’ll be an expert. That job that you have that you could be an expert at, whether it be Infusionsoft, marketing online, selling a product, starting a store, or being a chef, the question is what and why. Why do you do what you do? What is it really all about for you?

It’s your choice.

choice-2692575_1280

So, what is it that you’re becoming an expert at? 2000 hours a year is 10,000 hours in five years of your life. You should decide what you’re going to devote yourself to. You could be more efficient and cut that time in half and make it 5,000 hours and get it done in one year by going to somebody else who knows what they’re doing and is willing to show you how so that you can become an expert very quickly. Because it’s not knowing something. It’s doing something with what you know.

Learn from the example set by experts.

Richard Branson has 300 plus companies, but not one office. You see what he focuses on is finding people that have invested their time and have the expertise. He hires them and becomes partners with them. He puts them in a position, gives them the tools and the ability to thrive in that environment. He brings people on and teams with them. He hires them to be the expert so that they tell him what to do.

Always be an expert in communication.

contact-us-2993000_1280

Communication is one of the things that you need to become an expert in. Maybe you are a really good team player and don’t need to be the front man. As long as the leader is heading in the right direction and you believe where you are going, then stay on that bus.

What are you willing to do today?

Think about how many books or articles on the subject have you read. How many webinars you have watched. Who is it that you’re hanging out with that may be able to help you? Where are you getting your input from? What is it you’re doing today will allow you to be an expert in your field, in your desire or your passion? And then we’re back to the why. What does that mean? What is the reason? What’s the passion? I guarantee you’re going to become an expert at something. The question is, is it productive, Is it profitable, Is it something you have a passion for? Is it with the right people? Why do you do what you do? Just decide what it is you’re going to become an expert in before you move forward.

Be sure to subscribe to our iTunes podcast to listen on the go! [CLICK HERE]

gene

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.

 

Prepare for the Coming Greed Pandemic

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Protecting Your Assets Is MORE Relevant Post-COVID-19

By Randy Hughes

If you wondered about your need for privacy and asset protection before the Pandemic, it will be critical for you and real estate investors like you post-Pandemic.

gdpr-4095257_1280The effects of the epidemic will be felt for years, not only financially but legally. If you have put off creating an asset protection plan, now would be a great time to start.

We have long known, as real estate investors, we are more inclined to be sued than most other occupations. Why? Because the average American assumes that ALL real estate investors are RICH! Therefore, we are good targets for frivolous lawsuits.

People with cash in the bank and no hard assets are not good targets for lawsuits because, unlike real estate, cash can disappear quickly . . . and buildings cannot. Furthermore, unlike deeds and liens, bank account balances are not available through public records.

Until you have been pursued by a contingency fee lawyer (and his or her deadbeat client), you might not feel the need to protect your assets. But, if you are going to stay in this game long-term, it is just a matter of time before the wolves will be at your door.

moon-4908100_1280The paradox of our careers is the more successful we become, the more of a “target” we are for the nefarious characters in our society. These characters do not want to work hard (like us) to become wealthy. They prefer the “easy route” via our dubious legal system.

I spoke 33 times last year to real estate investment groups around the nation. I stressed the need to get titles to real estate out of personal names and into Land Trusts for privacy, asset protection, and estate planning purposes.

In almost every gathering, someone asked the question, “Why do I need to protect my assets, won’t insurance take care of any claims?” My standard response was, “I believe in insurance and think you should buy all you can stand, but DO NOT RELY ON IT EXCLUSIVELY!

Insurance should be only one-leg of your asset protection stool. Why? Let me give you a recent example!

When the pandemic first arrived in America and almost every business was shut down, I called my neighborly insurance agent. Here is how our conversation went: “Hi Bob, I am calling because after 40+ years of paying you a premium for “business interruption” insurance, I need to make a claim.” Bob responded, “Sorry, but pandemics are excluded!” My response was, “Really? Forty years of premiums and now I AM NOT COVERED?

It is folly to rely solely on insurance to protect you when you need it the most.

As an aside, please read your policies. You will find LOTS of exclusions and often you are not even covered for “defense costs.” In other words, you can go broke just defending yourself (read: legal fees) from a legal challenge in which you are totally innocent.

lawyer-3268430_1280What is a real estate investor’s first line of defense? DO NOT OWN PROPERTY IN YOUR NAME! I have been preaching this to my fellow real estate investors for more than 40 years. I have been a full-time real estate investor for 50 years, and early in my career I discovered the benefits of using a Trust to hold title to my investments. I have written about the benefits extensively in this publication and many others.

Some people “get it” and many do not. They live in a dream world assuming that THEY will somehow be spared the sorrow and expense of a frivolous lawsuit (or worse yet, an attack by an irate tenant on them or their family at their personal residence). Consequently, they risk years of hard work and their family’s safety and financial security because they are too lazy to fill out a few papers.

I can lead a horse to water, but . . .

What is YOUR net worth, worth? Is it worthy of protection? How much of a price have you paid for it in sweat and tears? Are your family’s safety and security important to you? Perhaps you spend hours each week watching sports? Would it make sense to spend a little bit of your valuable time learning how to create a trust to hold title to your investments? The answer is obvious, you just need to do it and DO IT NOW!

output-5045168_1280What does this rant have to do with the pandemic? Plenty. Contingency lawyers and their deadbeat clients will be developing new and creative ways to find someone to sue because of the virus and its effects on tenants, businesses, and anyone with assets they covet.

If you can believe there are elements of our society that will walk in front of a car to eventually receive a “paycheck,” then you can also believe that it is time for YOU to get OFF the title of all of your real estate investments (and NEVER buy property in your name again!). Use a trust, you will be glad you did!

Several times a year I hear from people who have heard me speak or students who did not act on what they learned from me. They tell me they failed to take my recommendation, and now they regret it.

Don’t be one of those people.

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Randy Hughes, Mr. Land Trust

I encourage you to learn more by going to my FREE online training at www.landtrustwebinar.com/411 and text “reasons” to 206-203-2005 for my free booklet, Reasons to Use a Land Trust. You can also reach me the old-fashioned way by calling me at 217-355-1281. (I actually answer my own phone unlike most other businesses in America today!)

How to THRIVE in Real Estate in the Time of the CORONAVIRUS (Part 2)

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By Victoria Kennedy, CEO of Atlas Real Estate

Coronavirus Action Steps:

1) OVER COMMUNICATE WITH CLIENTS

contact-us-4193523_1280(Do not wait and put this off… if they reach out to you, it is too late.)
  • If you have less than 20 clients, call them individually and check in with how they are doing and how their family is. If you have more than 20 clients, send out an email blast with a video encouraging them and coming from a place of support as well as authority. Your clients are relying on you to be the calm in the storm.
  • Let them know which SOLUTIONS you are coming up with to serve them during this time.
  • EDUCATE them on how interest rates have never been lower and now is the BEST time to buy a home.

2) CREATE RESOURCES FOR YOUR CLIENTS

  • E-mail them personalized videos on the current state of the market in your community.
  • Instead of meeting clients for coffee, meet them over a video Zoom call and them mail them a $10 Starbucks gift card!
  • Conduct open houses via live stream and make it an event! You can have buyers join in, comment, like, and ask you questions about the home.
  • Send a bottle of hand sanitizer as a little ‘thank-you’ gift to your clients; it will give them a chuckle and will make you instantly memorable.

3) TIME TO GO ON THE OFFENSE

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  • If you haven’t started running paid ads to get appointments with potential clients, NOW is the time (Ads are going to be on sale… take advantage!)
  • If you aren’t shifting your marketing message around everything going on and are running the same cold email campaigns/ads/DM messages, shift them to align with the conversation going on.
  • Build a brand new offer that helps local businesses around everything happening and push it hard! We at Atlas Real Estate have already created brand new campaigns addressing this situation and we are offering engagement campaigns for our agents to establish YOU as the authority and expert in your community.
  • Most importantly, NOW IS THE TIME to step up as a Realtor and INNOVATE your product/service so that it is a SOLUTION to all of the problems your clients are facing.
I know that’s a TON of info and there’s so much more…
So if you want help executing on all of the above, we have the resources available for you to:
  • Establish yourself as the expert and authority in your community
  • Be the voice of calm and assurance to the buyers that need to hear your message the most
  • Get your current clients to stay and recommend you to their family and friends by staying top of mind and relevant
  • How to reach out and ease your current and past clients on why now is the best time to buy
  • Stay ahead of the curve by doing live streamed open houses and online meetups
adult-blur-boss-business-288477And don’t forget…
Chaos = Opportunity (for those who provide solutions + clarity). Some Realtors will NOT have solutions. Some Realtors will NOT have clarity. And they will fall. But for the select few, who act now. Who seek clarity. Who create solutions. You will end up growing massively. Buyers need assurance and a leader in their community more than ever. They are just as nervous about this situation as you, and they need your help. It is your time to step up as a Realtor. It is time for you to step up as a leader. It is your time to dominate. You’ve got this.
Reach out to us if you are ready to dominate and THRIVE in your real estate business this 2020.  
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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