5 Steps to Automating Your Real Estate Investing

After 2 years and countless interviews with the most successful real estate investors in the US I have discovered a recurring theme of just what it takes to automate your real estate business. The following list is a compilation of the Top 5 steps to Automating Your Real Estate Investing.

1. Build a relationship with a good Realtor that specializes in helping real estate investors.

Every city has many qualified Realtors. The key is to find a Realtor that specializes in assisting real estate investors. Find other real estate investors in your market and ask them who they use. If they don’t work with a Realtor ask them for a reference. Still do your own homework. Find out what percentage of their business is derived from helping investors find properties.

2. Identify a couple of good mortgage brokers that can finance non-owner occupied homes.

Don’t make the mistake to believe that financing your residence is the same as financing an investment property. Search for mortgage brokers who can close “non-traditional” transactions. Don’t take someone’s word that they can close your deal, ask them to show you upfront.

3. Get the best property manager money can buy.

A good property manager can keep your units rented, the cash coming in and stay on top of repairs and tenant issues. A poorly equipped property manager can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth about real estate investing as a whole. Ask specific questions about how they handle tenant issues and what is included in their services. Always ask for referrals from other owners who have homes in your home’s neighborhood.

4. Identify a good real estate attorney.

You are looking for someone who is going to make you money and not cost you time. Make sure the attorney you choose was not chosen because he/she did a great job on your will. You must get an attorney that specializes in real estate law. Get referrals but feel free to ask for a free consultation. Find out what percentage of their business is real estate law. Also find out what they are comfortable with. If you are buying foreclosures at the courthouse steps find out what they think about that.

5. Pay Uncle Sam, but only what you owe him.

Get a good accountant. Just like your attorney make sure they specialize in real estate investing. They are harder to find but you can find them. The great news for you is federal IRS laws pertain to all states. Find the accountant that can work with the individual investor. If your accountant only works with real estate development firms, mid-sized builders and the like don’t assume they can help you. What percent of their business comes from people like you?

Remember it is not the amount of time you spend working in your business that makes you successful. Instead it is the amount of good people you have around you that are “covering your assets.” Learn to be a great purveyor of talent and you will spend less time making money and more time enjoying it.

Home Based Business: Vast Opportunities Around

A home based business can be a viable option for anyone to earn a full-time income or just to have some extra on the side. This is because there are a lot of home business types that can match almost anyone’s skills, talents and interests which can be turned into money-making products and services and business ventures. Whatever skills or knowledge you now possess, be it from your studies or developed through your work experience can be your competitive advantage which could generate you earnings and profits as you live the dream of working from home!Your home based business opportunity depends on what you are most into. One of the most common online business opportunities found online are for marketing products. There are a lot of companies that offer membership and sales opportunities which earn income from sales commissions or from recruiting new members. All you need to do is sign up and pay a certain amount of investment for membership and some products to sell and the right to sign up other members. You can promote and sell these products through a website which may also be provided for you. If you have a penchant for sales and marketing, and possess natural people and social skills, this type of business may be right for you. It’s best that you are most comfortable in dealing with people to maximize the earning potential for this particular business type.You can also set up an online shop that will turn your technical expertise into sellable products. If you are an IT professional, you can offer web page design services, create application software or create a members-only website, such as game and entertainment sites, for example. You can charge a membership fee for a username and password for exclusive access to your site’s contents. You can promote your home based business with a website of your own, and can deliver your IT products via email or through downloads. Either way, this virtually eliminates the need for physical efforts to deliver your wares, receiving payments and other transactions. Other technical skills in demand online are technical plans, financial record keeping and legal advice, just to name a few.People on the creative side can have a good home based business opportunity as well. There is a good demand for freelance graphic artists, advertisers and other creative services providers. One of the most common work-from-home opportunities calling for creative skill is online writing. If you are most skilled in languages, grammar and have a good way with words, an online writing gig could earn you lots from just by working in front of your computer and doing research. There are a lot of websites offering full or part-time writing jobs to be used as contents for the millions of websites born every day. All you need is a computer, internet access and to apply for the writing job. You can choose projects and have flexible time schedules so you can write and earn even during your free time.Any type of skill, any talent you may have and any time you spend can be a money making opportunity for you. Harness these skills and get the right methods to sell and promote them and succeed in competing in a dynamic online business environment. What you have now are your primary tools. Realize their income potentials and let them be your key to a better and a freer lifestyle by sharing it to the world with an online home based business.

The Home Based Business – 7 Steps to a Successful Business

Do you have a home based business? Are you dreaming of creating one? In this article we will discuss seven steps to creating a successful home based business.1. Treat your home based business like a real business. You are a business owner, a professional. Treat your business just like any other business. Get a separate bank account for your business. You need a separate telephone line and/or email dedicated for just your home based business.2. Don’t mix your personal life with your business. Create a separate space in your house. Your home based business needs a room of its own for your home office.3. Set specific work hours. You are your own boss. You need to be a strict boss and not let your employee slack off and not get the work done. Make a work schedule for working your business and stick to it. Don’t start working and then stop to take breaks to do things around the house. A good help is to get an egg timer and set it for an hour. Work diligently for that hour and then take a 5 minute stretch break. Then do it again. You will be amazed at what you can get done.4. Approach your home based business with self-discipline. When you have a regular job, you go to work some days when you don’t feel like it or don’t want to. A home based business is no different. Get up early and start working, even if you’d rather watch the TV or read the paper.5. You must be organized. Make a list of the things that you need to do every day. Prioritize them in the order of importance. Then do them. Cross them off as you do them. Again, you will be amazed how good you feel and how much you get done.6. Let people know you are in business. You must advertise to do this. The internet is one of the most cost effective ways to advertise. You can advertise through banner ads, forums, blogs, pay per click. Educate yourself on these methods. Much is available online. Print media and traditional advertising are also an option.7. Maintain your integrity. In order for you to stay in business and make money, people must trust you. If you maintain your integrity you will win the trust of your customers. Always under promise and over deliver. When the customer is pleased with what he sees in you and gets from you, he will automatically advertise for you by spreading the word about you, your products or services.Starting and maintaining a home based business takes work to be successful. Once created and up and running, it is all worth it. These 7 steps can be the beginning of a wonderful journey of self- discovery and the great feeling of accomplishing something you are proud of, a successful home based business.