Insurance and Credit

Have you noticed how anytime you walk in to a book store and find your way to the business or financial books all the views that are expressed in the titles are very similar??? In one way or another they all call out for a monetary version of bloodshed. I mean the titles are about “how you can crush the other guy”or “it’s not personal its business”, “How to come out on top” etc etc. Years ago when I got into the real estate investment game I spent hours looking thru the book titles. Trying to find the one book that would teach me how to become that REAL ESTATE INVESTING GOD I knew I could become. After reading many of the most popular books of the time I actually would feel beat up over the content. I mean did I have to be a “take no prisoners” type of investor? Did I have to prey on some one else’s misfortune?? The answer was no. However I did need to learn to take somethings to heart,and NEVER let go of them. I liken it to building my investment suit of armor so to say. So I set out to build a list of my investment rules. We each should have our own set of investment rules. It will help you keep the animal investor inside of you in check. In my case,being that I am a VERY competitive aggressive alpha male type personality I need rules that would keep me “Human”. My own set of personal laws that would keep me on the “non predatory” path. Doc’s Rules for investing:

1) Set up personal guidelines: Define and follow your personal guidelines. This is the most important rule I have. My guidelines define the investments I will go after as well as the amount of investment I’m willing to part with to get it. It outlines my investment strategy as well as how I want to conduct my investment business. Things to include, but not limit you to, are: Top dollar amount and lowest dollar amount. Type of investment you want to deal with. Period of term for investment.. Etc etc. (Between you and me I even have a guideline about the amount of time I will work per-day)

2) Remember some ones family is behind the deal you?re working on. Simply put,whoever you are dealing with has mouths to feed. Don’t forget this. Just because you can get a great deal on a house because the current owner is in a facing some sort of adversity that is causing them to sell below market value, doesn’t give you license to kick them when they are down. Treat everyone with dignity and respect. If the price they are offering still falls within the personal investing guidelines you have set for yourself don’t use your position to abuse the seller. If you are getting the house for .40 cents on the dollar,don’t be a jerk and push for .38 cents. Always remember…it could be you in the sellers postion. (This rule DOES NOT come in to play when dealing with a bank owned property)

3) Always ask for what you want. No where does it say you can’t ask for something in an investment deal you like, I.E. if you’re looking at a piece of real estate with a pool,ask the seller if they would be willing to throw in new carpet to the sale. I once met a investor who was looking at a house that had been on the market for more than 6 months. When he went to talk to the seller he happen to see a 1954 Merc Coupe in the garage, so he asked if it was included in the deal. The deal eventually closed for the house AND the car. 4) Offer everyone the chance to make money as a bird dog for you. I always give several of my business cards to anyone I do business with and offer them a portion of any profit I make from any investments they help me locate. You would be amazed at how many people are willing to help you make money when they get a small part of it for doing very little work. (And if you follow rule #2 you will be amazed at how many of those bird dogs will sing your praises from the highest mountains)

Just some ideas of things to keep in mind when you’re working on your investment mindset. I have used these rules over the years,and in many cases they, have gotten me more return and repeat networking opportunities then I can count.

Are you aware that choosing the right loan for your ideal property is a crucial step in any homebuying activity? Before you get prequalified and preapproved to loan for your new home, you need to keep in mind several measures and have to make sure your credit report is sufficiently examined. A common practice among prospective lenders is scrutinizing the loaner’s credit report and other financial records; as you go through loan prequalification and preapproval – secure your free credit report from a major credit bureau so you can check for any errors.

There are cases when errors or mistakes happen and if this is the situation, better have your records cleared up, likewise, compile all your communications with credit bureaus and lenders as references. If you have finished all these tasks, its time to factor in this important ideas and tips in the loan prequalification and preapproval for you to buy your new property:

1. Go online to review different mortgage programs. Websites such as LendingTree.com and Bankrate.com offer a number of loan packages and will also list the latest interest rates. Take the time to review several options and submit your personal information for preliminary review. You can expect to be contacted within a few days from a loan representative who can then guide you through the rest of the process.

2. Consult the right authority in your area bank. One of the most practical ways to follow when securing a prequalification letter or preapproval status is to seek the help of your bank’s mortgage loan officer. As the author of the book “100 Questions Every First Time Home Buyer Should Ask”, Ilyce Glink mentions, this process may be quite time-consuming compared to online processing. Nevertheless, this is more preferred by most people and they would opt to get started with the bank personnel’s assistance. But either way, the same kind of service is delivered.

3. Pick up the phone. Some lenders offer prequalification services over the phone, so you may not need to resort to an online application or go to the bank to get the process started. Just call your local bank or other financial institution for a phone number and you can share your personal information over the phone.

4. Engage the service of a national lender. These lending companies may provide you a wider array of options than that of a bank or online processes; examples of national lending institutions are Countryside Home Loans and Bank of America. Know more about the current rates in their website and get your home loan pre-qualified after sending your personal information.

5. Visit an aggregator website. This type of online resource provides documents on rates and services offered by different lenders and a good option where you can submit your personal information instead of a bank or any other financial institutions. Several options are available for you to choose from after you have submitted your info.

Getting prequalified and preapproved for a home loan is the first important step in home buying. Use any of the above resources to get the process started and get the best rates for your future mortgage.

Have you heard these “bits of advice”????This is not a good time to look at property investment? Now is not a good time to invest in the stock market? Now is not a good time to buy oil futures? We have heard this from every “GURU” on the nightly news. The fact that this is a common belief does not make it true. Now is the time to go against the flow of popular opinion and buy an investment. The risk must, however, be a reasoned one and never spend the rent money on risky things.

If you are willing to move against the flow you must seek out deals and only buy bargains. Property investment is great because you can feel the permanence of your investment and over time real estate has proved itself to be a solid money maker. Contrary to all the latter day negative gearing you need to make sure of a positive cash flow. Rents must give a return on investment. Simply put…. you do not buy at silly prices you buy only when the figures give you a return.

Current feelings of uncertainty in the real estate market makes buying bargains not very difficult. Foreclosures are not nice for anyone to deal with and being a buyer at a foreclosure or mortgagee sale can make you feel very uncomfortable and even intimidated. These properties do have to be sold though and foreclosures will work to an investor’s advantage. Its just bargain shopping on a bigger scale.

You don’t have to work with just foreclosures. Many people got into the property investment business over the last few years with the promise of easy profits and now feel worried and insecure with mortgages over their family homes or repayment bills that will not lessen in the near future. They just want to quit the game no matter what and will take a loss to set themselves out. Just do not make the same mistake they made. Do the math!! Get a return on your investment. Lastly have the right mind set which is to buy for the long term. Property investment is a long term game and very lucrative over a long period. Just make certain that you are happy and secure with a long term investment and you will really cash in when the next real estate price surge hits. Whenever that might be.