When To Hire Help For Your Business

As your real estate investing business starts to take off you will be faced with the decision on whether or not to get help. By help I am referring to others to assist you.

Lately I have been reading more and more news reports about crooked investors scamming millions of dollars from unsuspecting consumers (property owners/renters).

As I read each new claim I am having a hard time believing that so many set out to do dastardly deeds against the vulnerable. My observation has been that most investors who find themselves on the wrong side of the law have fallen victim to one or both of two dynamic forces which overwhelm then sucks the investor down the tubes.

* The desire to live the perceived lifestyle of a millionaire.

* Lack of organization within their business.

During the past few years we all have been bombarded with the millionaire message, especially in real estate. Nearly every marketing piece entices you to come discover the millionaire secrets to real estate investing.

The message has become so saturated that the many real estate investor seminars look more like a carnival than a learning environment. This environment can be a financially deadly trap to the person not realizing he is in business.

Before long he is doing more houses than he is capable of managing on his own, so he begins to take shortcuts to maintain his lifestyle.

The other factor I see causing so much grief is the serious lack of organization. The well meaning individual sets out to sincerely help property owners out of a bind. She begins to make promises too many. Soon her business takes off.

Like most she is unprepared for this adolescent phase of her business. Her attention is only on the front end of the business which is bringing in and closing deals. Soon, little or no attention is given to the back end of the business.

You know like record keeping, accounting, filing taxes etc. Before she knows it she is two years down this slippery slop. Then three, then four years of a sinking mess.

Only now with years of disorganization does she painfully give in to the idea of hiring help. In desperation she hires the first person through her door who seems like a nice, trust worthy person. Never mind they do not have the required skills needed to run a real estate business. Not surprisingly the investors business crumbles in a shambles when this new hire turns out to be a bigger burden than help.

The investor finds herself in a royal mess. Unfilled taxes, no accounting system, no record keeping of deals she loss control of. To add insult to injury she is being sued by 10 property owners who claim she failed to live up to her end of their deal. WOW! All because she was unorganized.

My guess is the above scenario will either sound familiar to you or scare the living goo-goo out of you. It should because this is what happens to many investors. As a result, it is an average four years, and they are out of business. Some even trying to stay out of jail.

Disorganization has been the nasty culprit for many failed real estate investors.

So, how to get organized? Start early! If you are just starting out in this business you should have as part of your plan to someday have to hire help to keep things moving in the right direction. You will need to plan on at least one assistant.

Some people mistakenly use family members in this role. Unless that family member has a sincere interest in what you are doing and you can see eye to eye, do not do it. More times than not, the family thing does not work out.

Who and when to hire? There is no one right answer here. My recommendation is to start sooner than you think. Needing to hire help is like eating. Better to take in several small meals before allowing hunger to over take you. By then you have waited too long and may over do it.

Some ideas for hiring. First let me qualify my personal opinion about hiring employees. I hate it!!!! I do not enjoy the interview process. I do not want someone who I have to motivate and stay after every day. This is what having employees can be like.

Instead I have learned to be pretty good at outsourcing. I have been down that path with employees and it was not a fit for me. . . . or them. I just do not have the patience to stay after people.

Instead today, I have become very good at outsourcing to specialized professionals. People who can answer your calls like PatLive.com Or getting an virtual admin person to handle the mundane tasks in my business. I have even set up technology systems to pay and track my bills. See guru.com doubleclick.com for ideas for virtual assistants. Check out virtual phone systems like speechphone.com, which make it appear you are all under the same roof.

Start small. Perhaps you start with a person or company to take your incoming calls. Next outsource a bookkeeping service to keep you on track financially. Be sure to complete a few deals first (two or three). Then create a budget for outsourcing. I prefer to work out of my home or where ever in the world I feel like. I have highly skilled professionals to call on for my business needs.

In my publishing business I have two awesome virtual assistants each living on opposite ends of Canada. None of us have ever met in person. I have only seen a photo of one after six months of working together. BUT let me tell you we work like a well oiled machine. They are responsive and come through every time I need them. AND I pay them monthly on an hourly basis.

My real estate business is similar. I have an assistant who is a real estate agent who lives in Virginia, I live Washington DC. We may see each other once a month. I have another field manager handling all my physical real estate business, inspecting houses, driving for dollars, meeting with people etc. and he and I met in person once.

We use a real estate management software created by investors for investors, which is web-based. I can work from anywhere. When I am in town you can find me at a Starbucks or a sidewalk cafe.

Now if you prefer to have an office and employees, more power to you. It could better suit you than it did me. In that case you will want to take your time with the interview process. Hire slow and fire fast. Before you hire your first person, be it employee or contracted assistant, be sure you write out everything that person needs to do for you.

Have a detailed task list already prepared so when you interview them you can match their experience with your needs. Also once you decide on a person or outsourced service, agree on a probationary period of 60 to 90 days. Have a detailed punch list of what must be accomplished with deadlines. Use this list as your objective measuring stick. If they fall short, cut the string. Even if you like the person. Cut it quickly! You are in business to make money and stay organized.

The warm and fuzzies have no place in the hiring game. Be objective and start getting help sooner than later. Because if you are at that four year mess I described at the beginning of this article, you will really need skilled professionals to help you out of the hole.

I know, I was once there. I had a five year mess before I hired my first employee who unsystematically helped me create a bigger mess.

Remember to hire slow and fire quick. You are in business. If it is friends you want, join a social club in your town.

Take Action!

Ken Williams
www.thewholesalewizard.com

Please Email Me; I Want To Know What Is On Your Mind!

I want to know what is own your mind. Therefore, I am taking a different approach with my weekly email newsletter today.

I would like to know if you have any questions for me that you think others like you would want to know the answers to.

Please email me your questions about Wholesaling specifically and real estate investing in general. Maybe I will feature them in my upcoming email newsletter.

Now do not take this as I have run out of things to talk about because every day there is something new on my mind about real estate investing which would interest you.

This is a way for me to stay in touch with you, my valuable subscriber. So do not hold back, cast your thoughts upon yours truly.

Just a few ground rules please, keep your email short and to the point (never mind my long email stories). Next be respectful and think of questions or comments to benefit the rest of the subscribers in my database.

I thank you in advance for your time and input.

HEADS UP!

I have another Teleseminar training coming up in September. If you have attended one in the past please tell all your real estate investor friends about it when the email arrives later this week.

Now if you have not attended one of my trainings you are in for a real treat. So be sure to watch closely this week for my emails so you can be one of the first to enroll. I can only take a limited number of participants so Fast Action will be a must!

Coming to you later this week.

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

PS. Tell me what is on your mind about wholesaling or real estate investing in general by replying to this email. I may post your question on my future weekly tips.

Vacant Properties, Best Source For Leads

How do houses become vacant anyway?

Well, there are many factors such as, divorce, death, job loss, etc. But most recently there is a tidal wave of vacant properties due to the rise of foreclosures.

Once you understand how this phenomenon of vacant and abandoned houses actually occurs you will have a leg up on your competition. Why?

Think about it for a moment, most realestate investors are incestuous with their activities. Most doing the same outdated, counter productive marketing activities. You know, like posting bandit signs, newspaper ads or subscribing to overused lists.

As the saying goes people are like sheep being led to the slaughter by uniformed other sheep.

That saying really hits home for me when I think about how investors go about locating and tracking pre-foreclosures. Many trust their wallets to solve the problem by subscribing to list services or running expensive commercials.

There may be a few crumbs to get by going about it that way. But remember this saying by yours truly If it is public it has been picked over.

Picked over by whom you say? By the few ultra savvy investors in your city, that is who! These investors know that to be able to cut through the clutter of bumbling and stumbling wanna-be investors, contrary actions are a must.

That is why one of the very best methods for finding those smokin hot deals which no one else knows about is with vacant and abandoned houses.

If it is pre-foreclosures you are after there is no better way to get a jump on the sheep than tracking this type property.

As a matter of fact the actual foreclosure is the end result of many things gone wrong over a period of time finally sending the property owner reeling in a state of confusion.

Many times during this intense financially pressured, back breaking, spirit draining period the property owner throws in the ownership towel in exasperation.

He/she abandons ship in the middle of the night adding his home to the growing ranks of vacant properties.

See, even at this point of abandonment the bank may drag its feet in taking legal action against the property owner for back mortgage payments. The banks are overwhelmed in some areas to stay on top of their defaulted notes.

The sheep stand around grazing in the weeds of misinformation, waiting on the bank to make a public announcement down at the court house.

Meanwhile the astute investor has a system in place to identify these vacant properties long before the sheep gets wind of the blowing scent of greenbacks.

The sheep are all bumping into each other, heads to elbows ambling down the same dead end path of nothingness.

I am encouraging you break rank right now from the sheep herder and think outside the box. Start by noticing the vacant houses in your own neighborhood. These properties are literally everywhere.

In my Wholesale home study system you have everything you need to research the owner to strike a deal saving him and the bank a lot of trouble and unnecessary loss.

Remember the foreclosure notice is a last resort by the bank to recoup its money. No bank or lender wants to foreclose on a property. It is expensive, time consuming and looks bad to their investors.

Therefore, in most cases it can take months before a bank takes action. In the process there may have been attempts to work things out with the property owner to save the house.

Early Signs of Financial Distress

While money is tight the property owner starts to slip on routine maintenance such as grass cutting and basic landscaping. Funds are tight in that household. What ever is scrapped together goes toward the mortgage.

Other housing expenses start to slip through the cracks such as property taxes, insurance, and HOA fees.

The astute investor is monitoring not only the physical condition of properties but expenses as well.

The numbers of vacant and abandoned houses are on the rise in direct proportion to the increase in foreclosures. If you have been paying attention, foreclosures are at a 40 year high and predicted to get worse before better.

If you are reading this I know you are ready to break ranks from the herd and blaze your own path. Now is the time to take action and order my Wholesaling For Fast Cash, home study system where you will get my beat them to the punch marketing strategies.

Go to this link now and order yours today.
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/main/

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

The Fear of Failure - Do Not Let It Stop You


The Fear of Failure Do not Let it Stop You.

Following is an article I wrote for a youth Investor training event. I think it has much relevance for adults as well:

Fear can be a good thing if used to your advantage. Fear is an emotion nature provided each of us as a warning mechanism signaling possible danger ahead. However, fear should never be allowed to prevent you from taking a few bold steps in life.

Because there is so much pressure in today???s society, to avoid failure many people focus only on what they do not want.

Your mind is like a magnet attracting to your life the things you think about most. So if all you think about is failing at something; that is what will happen.

The anxiety of being frightened by failure follows most people into adulthood. To avoid failure, most adults choose the safe path in life. The reasons are the same as when they were kids.

It is the fear of being judged by their friends and family should they fail at their dream. Many work extremely hard to create an image of success even when they know they are failing.

Is it possible to experience failure and still succeed? Absolutely! If you talk to any successful person, like Michael Jordan, Bill Gates, and the actor affectionately known as The Rock, they will all tell you stories of personal failure.

In case you did not know it, successful people fail far more times in life than those playing it safe. Michael Jordon can not make a basket sitting safely on the bench. No, he has got to get in the game and take a shot even at the chance he may miss.

The same is true for you. You must get in the Game of Life and try a few things you really want to do. Understand, you may have a few failures along the way. That is normal. My dream as a teenager was to own a real estate business.

I had my share of failures and I did my best to avoid the fear of failures along the way. I have come to realize how failure is a natural part of reaching success. Nothing happens in a straight line.

Accept failure as a natural progression toward your dreams.

There is no shame in failure, there is only shame in never trying. (quote)

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Real Estate Appraising is Tricky Business

Real estate appraising is tricky business. It is an arbitrary business based on opinions. And you know what is said about opinions.

Determining property values in our business is critical. Use the wrong value going into a deal, could mean a disaster on the other end.

My experience with appraisers over the years has been one of a love/hate experience.

An appraisal report, no matter how official it looks is nothing more than someone's opinion. A calculated guess even.

Years ago a very experienced appraiser told me his business was an art, not a science. The personality of the appraiser enters into the formula as well. Conservative personalities usually spits out a conservative report.

Anyone who spends a little time in the real estate business will soon discover appraisers can be deal killers or deal makers.

Lenders base their loan to value ratio on the appraiser's report. A few years ago during the boom years, real estate refinance loans were hot. Banks were flush with cash!

In that case appraisers were pressured to come in with the highest value possible to make the loan possible. In the market of today the opposite is the case.

With cooling market sales, banks, even hard money lenders, have tightened their lending standards. Caution is the current feeling.

One thing is for sure, there is no more accurate appraisal than that from a human being.

So what is up with the electronic appraisals? Technology is being used more and more to attempt to value property. Banks have been using their own software programs for years to determine value for properties.

There are many free websites today, which will (supposedly) give an accurate value for properties. Some are more accurate than others. However!

No matter how sophisticated the software program, there is no replacement for the man on the ground.

The computer can not get down on its hands and knees to poke, prod, smell, inspect or physically touch a subject property.

Property values can be misleading. A computer can never account for current condition and location like the flesh and blood, clip board carrying appraiser.

The savvy appraiser on the ground will take into account the property's condition, and actual location on the street. I call this the pebble in the water approach in my wholesale manual.

Neighborhoods have pockets of both good and bad trends which a computer is unable to catch. But, the man on the ground certainly will.

The national appraiser's union has opened a law suit against a large mortgage lender for taking their reports and loading them into a database to use for future appraisals.

The alleged violation is that the man on the ground sends back his report to the lender, only to never get follow up business. The lender loads that report into their database for future use or even to sell that same data to others.

If this is the case, it is not a smart move on the part of the lender. Appraising is a case by case business. Technology can never replace that man on the ground who can see, touch, and smell the property.

As far as the electronic appraisals go, you can use them as a guideline. But more intricate info is needed to grab the finer details of the value of a property.

Remember, ours is a business of numbers, not emotions. You must get the best numbers to get the best deals.

Take Action!

Ken Williams
www.thewholesalewizard.com

Wholesale/Retail - Two Different Worlds

The topic has come to my attention that many are confused about the two vastly contrasting worlds of Wholesale and Retail real estate.

Let me begin by emphasizing why I do not like the term Flipping. Mainly because flipping often involves the commingling of the wholesale and retail markets.

Also many people who use the term have no idea what they are even talking about. But when you decide to think of the real estate business in clear cut terms such as wholesale or retail your business life will become so much easier and better focused.

The wholesale world in real estate involves investors and their affiliates. The retail world involves consumers and their many advisors.

Sadly enough far too many people mix the two, to a disastrously counterproductive outcome.

Investors are guilty of mixing, such as assigning to retail buyers or attempting a bank loan when buying an assignment contract.

Agents also mix the two worlds when they try to sell a junker property to a retail buyer at retail prices.

Wholesale real estate, involves, investors who deal directly with the source. Within the wholesale side of the business institutions play a minor role in the overall equation.

I personally prefer the wholesale world and avoid dealing with the retail side of the business as much as possible.

I like dealing directly with the home owner, skipping the agent or other 3rd parties when buying. I also prefer to deal with fast acting money sources such as hard money lenders or private lenders.

I do not care that the rates are higher. I factor that into the price. It is about the ease and availability of the money, not the cost. (You factor cost into the price).

I prefer to deal with other investors when selling my properties. I avoid the endless hassles of the retail buyer and their army of advisors who can kill your deal at any stage of the process.

When selling or renting properties to the consumer I prefer to contract that out. I am too impatient for the red tape mentality.

The wholesale world is fast, mostly unregulated, discounted, creative and all about the bottom line.

The Retail world on the other hand is the complete opposite. The Retail world is bloated with regulations, laws and customs created to protect its players but actually often kill creativity and the deal.

Mostly institutionalized, the retail world is slow, burdensome, and is process oriented. Results, it seems are an after thought. Rewards and certificates are valued more so than actual income.

Another stark contrast between the two worlds is that investors are concerned with NET dollars per transaction. Agents, on the other hand, are more impressed by total gross dollar sales. Never mind that their NET was a drop in the bucket by comparison.

Some real estate brokers even brag about the number of agents they have in their office. Never mind that a third are dead weight and few are doing little in the way of actual sales.

Let me sum it up, the Retail real estate world is more about the warm and fuzzy. The emotional side of the business. The Wholesale world is about the bottom line. Get in, get it done, and get out!

Some might argue as I have heard many agents, make the point. That investors are cold fish, and out to get a fast buck. I can see their point and will agree there are many investors whose attitude reeks of selfishness. But they are the exception, not the rule.

Finally, I say to you to each to his own. Enter that world which best suits you. But be careful to never mix the two.

Keep things clear, clean, in the right lanes and watch how simple life is meant to be.

Take Action!

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard....

http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Why Agents Should Work With Investors

Some real estate agents just do not get it! Especially those who work in a relatively active market.

I read a USA Today article about the dismal numbers agents deal with to make a living. The numbers I am talking about are income, broker splits, hours spent driving around finicky buyers, and marketing dollars spent on listings which go stale.

According to the article agents average income is dismal during the firsts two years. In my opinion their numbers are painful even for the experienced who hang around for 16 years or more.

Check this out. The article quoted these numbers from the National Association of Realtors (NAR).

Average annual income during first two years is $15,300 (before taxes and expenses). Income for 3 -5 years, $44,200. Even the grizzled veterans who stick with it for 16 years or more average $76,200. And believe me they earn every dime with constant hard work, no time off and crazy hours.

And these numbers are getting worse all the way around!!

Just think, by contrast the average profit of a new wholesaler is as much as the annual income of the agent with 2 years in the saddle. And, I might add, with a fraction of the work. But, that is another story. Do not get me started.

The agents I meet who get it, by IT, I mean they understand where the real money is in this business. I usually meet these renegade agents at a real estate investment seminar.

Just last week I met an agent who works in the Northern VA market just outside DC. Now, this guy gets it! His business model is to work with fast action cash paying investors.

This agent is extremely rare in his market. He has figured out how it is better to string a few fast closing deals together without the usual hassles of a retail deal. He works in the wholesale side of the business.

He has dedicated himself to locating properties at wholesale prices. He analyzes them quickly, makes a brief call to one or two of his HOT buyers who jump into action. In less than a month the agent is in and out of the deal, with check in hand. Do that a few times, the commissions add up quickly.

Sure, there are a few REO (REO= Bank owned) agents doing similar tactics. Mostly in markets where things are slow. However, when the real estate retail market is hot most agents forget about investor buyers.

Even though sales have slowed here in my DC market, most agents still do not get it. Here is an actual example:

Agent lists a junker house at $750K, which has an ARV (retail value) of $850k. He is told by Joe the handyman the house needs $50k to fix. The agent is holding out for a sucker.....er, eh I mean a retail buyer who will pay top dollar. As a result the house sits. It sits for a year, and the agent still does not get it.

The agent wastes everyone's time. Usually he is driven by greed and ignorance. What a combination.

Now lets look at how a savvy agent might look at the same situation. She does her homework; ARV is $850k with 60 days to sell. She contacts a licensed reputable contractor, who actually does renovations. Fix up is $150k, she advises the sellers of the numbers. She is in charge of the situation.

She explains to them that to get a quick sale, she could contact her investor/developer clients who can purchase in less than 30 days. But, the price must be reduced to the low $500s a realistic number. You will be in and out with your money in hand with no hassles, she tells them. She will even refuse to work with them if they are uncooperative.

In the second scenario everyone wins. The sellers are rid of a time and money sucking junker house. The investors have a project the paid a fair price for. And this smart agent is in and out with commission check in hand. Ok, the check is smaller, but she is done four such deals like this while the first type of agent sits on a stale listing for a year or more only to eventually bring his price down to the $500k range.

Another thing the smart agent understands by working with investors is having a solution for those seller crises which have a short fuse. If there are just days left before an auction, most agents walk away. If the seller owes more on the property than it is worth the agent walks away. Same with liens, structural damages, legal damages etc.

As an investor it is up to you to show the agents in your area why they need to work with you. Show them how working with you will benefit their business. This will be easier if you are in a slow or declining market. The challenge is if you are investing in an active market. Agents will not get it.

The NAR has predicted the continued dropping of agent incomes this year. Many, 25% of agents, were licensed over the last five years, during the boom years. These agents are most vulnerable to the changes. Gone are the easy deals where you stick your sign in the yard, sit back and wait for competing offers.

Many of these new agents are bailing out of the business with tails tucked. So, while you go about your daily business of locating and selling properties, add a few agents to your team. Work only with the ones who get it.

Here is another tip to grab the agent's attention. Offer to give them leads for listings. That's right. As you market and talk to sellers you will realize many do not have urgent situations and would be better off listing with an agent.

In turn your new agent contact will gladly pull comps for you and work with you on various deals.

Remember, agents need us whether they realize it or not.

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Webinar Replay A Must See & Hear !

I am so fired up about this real estate management software that I am sending it out again as a replay Webinar.

If you missed the call here is your chance to see this software in action. Even if you made the call and want to hear it and see it again here is your chance.

Once you click on the link below, be sure you give the player a moment to download the video, as we had a little technical delay on the call with our moderator feature.

Be patient...... Ok, click now on this link:

If you missed my emails last week and do not know what I am talking about, first of all shame on you!

What I am so pumped up about is a software program which has more relevance to us as real estate investors than anything else I have ever seen.

Listen, I do not hide my personal disdain for most software programs aimed at real estate investors. Most are just hyped up, costly and unnecessary gimmicks.

This my friend is totally different. It is a combination of several high quality programs rolled into one. It will easily replace 5 employees if used as intended. Oh, and the software is receiving new features in a week or so.

Not only that, but the part that makes me most enthusiastic is this software is web based, and can be run from anywhere in the world with an internet connection.

If you are like me and like to travel, this is perfect. So without further ado, I suggest to take a moment out of your busy day and click this link to get the Webinar replay started.

Remember to allow a little time for the download.
Please click here for the demo.

At the end of this approximate 1hour demonstration you will have an opportunity to grab this software for yourself. The price is miniscule compared to what it will save you even in the short run.

Not only that but my guest Greg Clement has made this investment very easy to get your hands on it with his Finance Me Now Program. Get the software now, take your time making payments. What else can you ask for?

I will tell you what else! There is a way you can get this program for FREE! That's right FREE! Greg has what he calls the 3 and It is FREE program. Get three of your friends to invest in the program and receive a 100% refund of your purchase.

I have been around this business a long time now. It is rare something truly revolutionary comes along to make our lives easier. This is it!

So take action to click this link to get started viewing and listening to the demonstration. Remember to allow time for downloading:
please click here for the demo

Take Action!

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard

PS. you get a second chance to view the awesome software demo via this Webinar replay: click this link now: please click here for the demo

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

A Business Tool To Take Your Investing To The Next Level

A few months ago I wrote an article about the hyped up need for software to be successful at this business of real estate investing.

You may recall I made the point that most real estate software products I had encountered at trade shows and multi-day events were mostly fluff. I still feel that way, they look good, but are useless.

Now, to the contrary! I bumped into a really smart guy who has a software system which completely grabbed and KEPT my attention. This system will do the work of 5, maybe even 10 employees.

That is worth gold to me, since I lack patience for managing employees.

This software truly fills a gap in the real estate investment world. That gap is management and control of your marketing and deals.

*How may times have you written down an address of a vacant house only to loose track of it?

*How many times have you lost the notes on the conversation you had with a seller, only to scramble when that seller called you back to follow up?

*How many times have you lost track of your best cash paying buyer when you needed them most?

*How many times have you wasted time on a Short Sale? This software will even rank which loans to short and which to avoid.

*How many times have you lost track of your expenses on a rehab job?

Yeah, I have done all of the above at some point in time. That is why I am so excited about this new software system.

In keeping with my military background I call it my command and control system.

What you may not know about me is Ken Williams is like a duck on water. I am smooooooth on the surface but underneath my feet are kicking and flailing.

I am so unorganized when it comes to paperwork and I refuse to manage employees, I have been affectionately referred to in the past by an employee as the Absent Minded Professor, she meant well.

What that employee did not understand was that I like to focus my attention and thoughts on driving in revenue. There' is little room in my brain for keeping track of paperwork and employee tasks.

If you are like me, or even if you are not, this software management system is AWESOME!

Do not take my word for it; you will have a chance to see for yourself. Join me Thursday, May 31st at 8pm, edt on a webinar which will display this system right before your very eyes.

Take action now and click this link or copy to your browser:

Space is limited.
Reserve your Webinar seat now at:
gotomeeting.com

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

PS. Do not forget to join me this Thursday @ 8PM EDT for a
FREE webinar on a software system that will change
your business completely

The Beginner's Plea! Where Do I Start?

I have been to all the seminars and read all the books. I have even listened to the CDs but I just do not know where to start my investing career!

Ah...the all too common beginners plea for help!

Knowing how and where to begin investing is a valid concern. Though, I am more than 12 years into my own investing career, I remember as though it were yesterday my feelings of uncertainty about how to take the first steps in what would become my livelihood.

Anyone around this business 12 years ago can tell you about the information scarcity about real estate investing compared to today.

Investor clubs? I could not even find one in my area in those days. Also, unlike today, where major book stores dedicate entire business sections to real estate investing, I had to scrounge the shelves of local libraries for out of print, dusty, moldy smelling, real estate reading materials.

What a difference time makes. The person starting out as a real estate investor today is faced with the opposite as a challenge.

There is an overload of information about real estate investor strategies. This overwhelming information is the main reason so many become confused.

Believe me, I have discussed this dilemma with enough people in search of their first steps as an investor. I feel your pain!

The goal of any investor is to make money. And making lots of money fast is perhaps the biggest focus of most of those.

It is no secret real estate investing is full of fortune hunters clamoring to get into the gold rush, tripping over their own two feet, they stumble and bumble in perpetual darkness.

Many unfortunately give up and go back to their cubicles of life, off comes the cape. The super hero retreats, slinking back to the land of dreams deferred.

To choose a clear path, you must first know why it is you want to take the trip in the first place. Sounds simple does it not?

Well it is not! It has been said a good salesman can sell to most anyone because 90% of the people wondering around aimlessly do not know what they want. Same thing with investors, their only goal is to be rich! A millionaire!

Never taking a moments notice, that to make money in this business means solving problems for others. Oh yes, and to work at it!

That is right, the person who solves the most problems in life is rewarded the greatest.

Still sounds simple does it not? Your mission is to go out and solve problems for as many property owners as you can find. Do that and the money will follow.

That is where the missing link can be discovered. Come home from real estate seminar, all fired up to be a rehabber. Fix it and flip it! ( you know I hate the word flipping) Only problem is, your area has a soft market of resells.

Who you gonna sell it to?

That was my first amateur challenge. I found the properties. Fixed them nicely enough, but no one was buying in those days. I was stuck, or so I thought. It did not take me long to figure out instead of selling my rehabs,

I could rent them out easier. With that, beginners luck, I accumulated many rental properties, which quickly surpassed my salary at my day job.

Here in the Washington DC area gurus come to town teaching strategies which are a waste of time for our market.

An example of this is just a few months ago our market was on fire. Prices were climbing 2% per month, banks were handing out money to any buyer who could fog a mirror, yet some gurus sucked in the naive to their ineffective strategies like Short Sales and Lease Options.

That was crazy! No demand existed for the two. It was pitiful watching the bamboozled newbie spin his wheels.

Your mission, find the demand in the market where you plan to invest. You would be wise to know what is going on before you too spin your wheels.

Figure out what is going on in your market. Far too many newbies attempt to bring a supply of goods(strategies) where there is no demand.

What is going on? Are rehabs selling like pancakes? Or are the rehabs being kept as rentals? Are home owners suffering huge numbers of foreclosures?

If so get in, set up the plan to rescue these people with a quick purchase.

Do you live in an area where the home owners are aging and moving to retirement communities?

If so, the opportunities are many to buy these properties with huge equity margins, keep them as rentals, rehab or whatever.

If you live in a declining market where sales are slow, short sales and lease options are awesome strategies.

Keep your ear to the ground. Find out what the needs are. Find the demand, and then fill it!

Those most successful in life are the men and women who have found a way to make life easier, more bearable for the rest of us.

Gotta go now, it is time for me to order my groceries online. And you know what? I am eager to pay the company who created the online grocery ordering service.

They save me from having to jump in my car and trudge up and down the food isles in misery.

They sure solved my problem and made my life easier, And I am willing to pay a premium for that convenience!

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Location! Location! Location!

How many times have you heard that location is the key to real estate? Yeah, sure you have.

Ever thought about its validity? I mean, by far its perhaps the most used marketing cliche in real estate.

Well just how potent is such a statement? It certainly rings of logic on the surface.

A few weeks ago I wrote an article about beware of the so-called "up and coming" areas some sellers try to use to justify their outrageous prices.

In that piece I also detailed what I call the BIG Dog factor. Which is when the big name developer in town show's an interest in a particular area, that area can have mass appeal seemingly overnight, thus kicking up values as well.

When people use location as the most prominent marketing and advertising benefit they're usually talking about emotional selling points. Such as good schools, close to shopping, prestige zip code, water front etc.

Now, those things WILL impact the value of a property, usually for the better. However, let's have a look at an opposite scenario. Just as is the case of a Big Dog bringing value to a depressed area, so can a knuckle-head killed value in an already established area.

In my hometown of San Diego California, my family was one of the first to move into what was then a far out place called Mira Mesa.

It was a quiet, newly developed desert town which housed many navy and marine families like mine. The place was solid as far as living standards and a utopia for an energetic kid like me.

I was able to be a free spirit roaming the canyons with my buddies in search of animals or playing baseball and football all year round in the beautiful warm weather.

What comes to mind as I write this is that I remember vividly when the first retail shopping strip was developed. Mira Mesa Mall is what its was called. It was our first entertainment/real retail space.

Therefore this small mall was a big deal then and for years to come. I mean we finally had our own movie theater.

This place was the center point of attraction for years after. Development spread from this retail center as the bull's eye, until the place lost its footing as the main spot to be.

During the mid to late 90's the place changed! The whole look and feel seemingly changed overnight.

Someone came in with a lame brain idea to change the movie theater into a fish market. Supposedly (I haven't seen it) each movie room was converted into separate fish store of some kind.

Needless to say, that idea really changed the pace of things in that area. As a matter of fact a new entertainment and retail center was developed over the last four or five years way across town.

That fish market idea was one that put out the flames of entertainment in what was once the location we kids watched Bruce Lee movies.

This is not the only factor which affects location, the closing of a school, a poorly constructed, and poorly managed building can do damage to an area's values as well.

So when you're out looking at location be sure you understand what really is going on there. Transition can be a tricky thing. One bad decision can turn things around quickly.

Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Why People Should Rent/Invest Savings In Stocks

I had another tip planned for you today until I read an article on my MSN page which totally refocused my thoughts.

It was entitled Why People Should Rent Put your Savings in Stocks Not In a House

In all fairness to the author he provided many thought provoking points of view regarding his claim that renting was a better financial plan for both home owners and investors.

Hey, I am a fair guy, I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, however, I see things totally differently than the author of that article.

Let me preface my response with an acknowledgement of the obvious. I do not have before me a stack of mind boggling statistics going back to 1870 to support my point of view as the pro-stock writer evidently did.

What I do have is real world common sense knowledge and experience in the trenches of real estate investing. I have witnessed first hand how owning houses to be parallel, has improved a family's entire financial future in less than 45 days.

Funny how the author only picked on houses to compare to stocks as investments, no mention of other types of real estate. Hmmmmm?!

So, I will stick with houses. I think I am smart because I know what I do not know. Stocks have never been my thing. Never had the patience to figure out the details enough to bet my money.

My mutual funds and IRA investments are the closest I have come to dipping a toe into the tricky waters of the stock market.

Now houses I know! So does the typical adult in this country. We all have a good idea how renting a house for more than your monthly expenses is supposed to work. It is called cash flow.

I believe you could stop the average Joe on the street and ask which he understood more, the stock market or rental houses.

I would bet my money that rental houses would be far better understood by most than the stock market-all day long.

The premise of the article was that you would be much better off renting an apartment and investing your difference saved in the stock market. The stock market would realize you a better overall gain with no expenses to maintain. I have simplified the point but that is what states.

Well, that sounds a little like the idea behind whole life insurance. Pay a bare bones premium and invest the difference.

Sounds logical, however, how many of us has that discipline required to keep our paws off the difference and NOT run out to buy a new car or other toys?

Not only that, but the research involved with choosing a winning stock is not something most people will find enjoyable. In comparison, choosing a winning neighborhood to buy a cash producing rental property would be far more appealing.

Owning vs renting. I believe most families will be better off owning their home. Renting would leave you vulnerable to the whims of far more arbitrary forces. Owning your home gives you more control over your residential destiny.

Now when I turn my thoughts to comparing stocks and houses as investments, there's no comparison. NONE!

With stocks you are at the mercy of the invisible others who are calling the shots. One bad CEO or management team and there goes your money in his/their severance package. With houses YOU call the shots.

Also, you as my savvy subscriber know you will never purchase a house at retail price as a rental. Your strategy is not as was implied by the article, you are not buying rentals to sit back and wait on appreciation or a good economy.

As real estate investors we create our own appreciation. We buy low, sell high. We do not wait on market conditions to make money. We seek out situations where we can solve someone's real estate problems to be rewarded with a BIG check.

Our approach is totally hands on.

This suits us fine. We do not conform to conventional wisdom. Rather we seek it out to know what to do to the contrary. Call us what you will, Renegades, Mavericks, Wildcatters, or whatever, just do not call us late to settlement. We want our money, NOW!

Nothing makes me cringe more than when I bump into a person who refers to themselves as a real estate investor who buys everything retail and waits for appreciation and/or tax write offs to take care of them.

In my world given the choice between stocks and real estate, there is no competition. Some day I may look into stocks as another passive stream of income. Maybe.

For now I prefer real estate investing as an active and passive investment. I even prefer the two MLMs I am involved in for passive monthly income. At least I can have a hand in what happens day to day. No offense stock investors.

I just had to vent today!

To YOU, my action oriented subscriber, I say remember to always.....

Take Action!

Ken Williams
www.thewholesalewizard.com

PS. Real estate investing offers more hands on opportunities than any stock.

Controlling The Deal Is Most Challenging

Control is the most important part of any deal.

I realize for the new investor it seems like finding motivated sellers is the most challenging part of the business.

You will soon discover that staying in control of the deal will be most challenging of all

Any successful investor will tell you that finding the deals will become easier as you establish yourself in the market.

Control should begin the moment you make contact with a seller, either by phone or in person.

Your objective is to determine if you are able to help the person on the other end as quickly as possible.

Ideally within the first 3 to 5 minutes of a conversation you will get an idea of the possibilities. There is no time to waste barking up the wrong tree.

The quicker you are able to process leads the sooner you will get to the deals which produce CASH!

I have witnessed many new investors trying to get cute with their solutions to a sellers problems. Cute is not the same as creative.

As a wholesaler, the name of your game is Speed Propelled by Cash. It is okay if you cannot solve everyone???s problem.

Not until you have a number of deals lined up for settlement should you spend your time on those difficult and time consuming deals.

It is like a multiple choice question test answer the easy questions first. Remember that advice from school?

Not long ago, I completed a wholesale deal which took me 18 months from start to finish.

However, I would never have given my attention to such a challenge if it were my only deal.

You better believe that during those 18 months, I had other transactions of all kinds going on each and every month.

It is about your opportunity costs. Spend your time wisely. Do not get bogged down early in the game. You may find yourself discouraged and as a result, you may quit.

Be Forewarned! Prior to vesting your valuable time with anyone by phone claiming to be the legal owner or the owners representative, you should verify as much as possible.

To do this, simply search the property records. Another way is to ask them directly if they are the legal owner.

Still suspicious? Send them a simple affidavit to sign by notary - that'll flush out any weasels.

If there are other owners on the title, ask the person on the phone if they expect the others will be cooperative? Dealing with multiple owners can be tricky.

TRUE STORY

I dealt with a seller once who by all accounts was the legal owner of the property she called to discuss.

I verified the tax records for owner information, which listed her name.

However, as time went on, I realized her memory was slipping.

During each successive phone call I had to re-introduce myself and refresh her memory as to the details from when we last spoke.

I knew she was an elderly lady and I also suspected some sort of memory loss.

It was not until I returned to one of her properties for an inspection that I saw the real estate agent sign in the window.

When I called to inquire the agent kindly explained how she was hired by an attorney who was the custodian of the sellers legal and financial affairs. Wow!

The owner had been found mentally incompetent to handle her own affairs.

I had spent nearly two months going through what I thought was follow-up with the legal owner. Instead, I had been only going through the motions.

This was a rare occasion. As a matter of fact, it has been the only one of its kind in all my years of dealing with sellers.

There was no way of my knowing any different about the ownership situation. Do the best you can to ensure that you are talking to the person who can legally sell you a property.

If you found this tip valuable I suggest you share it with a friend.

Take Action!

Ken Williams
www.thewholesalewizard.com

A Negotiation Strategy

In our quest as investors to secure great deals we encounter all types of sellers. I have a special CD in my Wholesale package dealing with Flakey Sellers.

Here's another technique I've used over the years to ease sellers into my way of thinking.

My assistant Valerie handles most of the contacts for our residential leads and she does a great job of it. Occasionally, she'll arrange for me to speak to a seller to close the deal, besides it keeps me sharp.

In this case last week we were talking to a seller who owned a real junker of a property in a decent neighborhood. The seller had been straddling the fence with regard to making a decision. I was intent on nudging her off the proverbial fence.

I let her do most of the talking, so I could note the major concerns. Her thinking was that she wanted to renovate the house herself to grab a bigger profit. I've heard that one before!

Why people underestimate what it takes to do a quality renovation needed to sell a home is beyond me.

I guess some of the blame can be placed on that TV show Flip This House. The show gives the appearance of having a ball while picking out materials, laughing and scratching with the contractor and magically the project is done.

That???s show is painting a rosy picture. Anyone who does or attempted to do a renovation knows how much of a challenge it is.

After hearing the seller out, I politely asked her if renovations were what she did for a living? She said no. I asked had she ever done one before, again, she answered no.

Next I asked what she did for a living? She responded she was a computer technician. I then asked how long had she been in that field. She said about 15 years. I complimented her by saying I was sure she was good at what she did, she agreed.

I bet it is hard detailed work on your job, I said. It sure is, she responded proudly. With the setup in place, I went for the close. So, I asked her, what would you say my chances are of walking into your workplace next week with no previous experience and be able to do what you do?

She chuckled, and said she wouldn't give me any chance. She went on to describe all the training she'd gone through to become the high tech she was. As she talked, her pace started to slow, as the sobering realization started to ease into her mind.

She got the comparison. But to be sure, I made it clear. I told her that???s exactly how it will be with renovations. It's taken me years to build a team, the skill, the money contacts, etc.

Renovations are a skill that she believed she would be able to to do, and do it well. She thought she could manage a major renovation gut job. I mean this house was in such bad shape it would intimidate most rehabbers who had any good sense.

I turned it back over to Valerie who asked on cue, when would be a good time to send our contract?

This is a powerful approach to use on the seller who is not being realistic. Some sellers simply see dollar signs while discounting or downplaying in their minds the amount of serious work required to make things happen.

It's your objective to point this out to them. It's your objective to save them from themselves.

I can't tell you how many owners over the years shared with me their plans to renovate a property. Before, I knew better I'd scratched them off my list, only, to notice after awhile they never even got started OR they actually made the home worse.

In my city of Washington DC, there's still many abandoned properties where some would be rehabber started out only to get in over their heads.

During conversations with sellers, be sure to listen closely. Be ready to point out any flaws or weaknesses in their thinking but in a non confrontational manner. Never brow beat a seller into your way of thinking. You'll loose ???em for sure.

If you found this tip helpful send it to a friend.


Take Action!

Ken Williams
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Finding Motivated Sellers Without Spending A Dime!

Contrary to popular belief it is possible to locate hot leads with motivated sellers on the other end without spending a dime

Conventional wisdom says you need to spend a ton of money subscribing to lists to sniff out motivated sellers. Not necessarily so.

Last night I interviewed two of my students who are finding great leads right in their own neighborhoods without spending any new money.

If you missed the call last night you have another chance to get the scoop.

Click here or copy and paste into your browser to listen to the replay

http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/audiorec19april.html

Also, a reminder, my five week telecoaching seminar starts tomorrow, Saturday April 21st you will discover many money making strategies and time saving techniques.

You still have time to sign up and have me lead the way to your next deal:

Go to this link now to register:

Take Action!

Ken Williams
Aka The Wholesale Wizard.....

Get involved by going now to:
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/Register

Register now and get on the Fast Track to Cash!

Take Action!

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard....

P.S. To discover simple team building strategies and
more, join me on April 21st for my 5 week teleseminar/
coaching series: http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Listen In While I Interview Students With Deals

Be a fly on the PHONE this Thursday night April 19, 2007, see call-in details below.

Tomorrow night I will interview via a FREE telecall two of my students who have identified properties the easy way. Both are in conversation with the owners now.

Normally, you hear about the deal once it's over and the check amount is what is emphasized.

I know that kind of call may leave you wondering just how they found the lead? what did the owner say? and other things

So be a fly on the wall and listen to me interview my students and provide them with direction.

I'm making this telecall totally easy for you to join us. There's not even a link to click. Mark your calendar for this Thursday, tomorrow night, at 9pm.

Call this number 712-432-3000 PIN 462467 and

PRINT THIS PAGE AS YOUR REMINDER!!!

Take Action!

Ken Williams
Aka The Wholesale Wizard.....

Get involved by going now to:
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Register now and get on the Fast Track to Cash!

Take Action!

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard....

P.S. To discover simple team building strategies and
more, join me on April 21st for my 5 week teleseminar/
coaching series: http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Fast Track Telecoaching Programme.

Got an email from one of my subscribers the other day who commented on my previous E-zine article about the frustrated guy who attended a three day event with a big seminar company.

This recent emailer hit the nail on the head when he made the following statement:

"All any investor wants is a blue print to follow which leads us to the most money with the least amount of our own effort"

Sounds like a quote from J. Paul Getty or someone like that, but he's right. How to use minimum units of effort to gain maximum units of profits, is every wage earner's and business owner's dilemma.

After coaching investors of all experience levels I know his to be an honest statement. Sadly enough there are folks who wish to make money with zero human effort.....now that just ain't going to work yet. The all robotic McDonalds test even failed back in the 90"s.

I do know that many are confused about what to do and how to get on track as an investor; and others want to get back on track with their real estate investing. The time is right for those folks and yourself if you too want to get on track..."The Fast Track To Cash" that is.

I have an awesome telecoaching program complete with PDF handouts where I walk you through step by step on how to get to the money, all from the comfort of your own home.

This is the 3rd time I'm teaching this program, my students of past coaching programs have loved it and many have prospered in a big way.

If it's your time to cut out the frustrations or the lack of belief that you too can start making money as a real estate Wholesaler, then waste no time;

Take Action now and jump on this link to register:
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

This training starts on the 21st of April so don't procrastinate.

Take Action!

Ken Williams

Tax FREE Real Estate Wholesaling!!!!

How to keep your wholesale profits Tax Free! Legally!

Sound too good to be true? Well, check out this amazing technique below.

Earn tax deferred or Tax FREE wholesale profits using your IRA account. Just think those $5,000 - $10,000 or $15,000 wholesale profits can be yours without Uncle Sugar taking a bite. Boy, once you get good at wholesaling properties, your averages could exceed $20,000 or more per deal!

Hold your hat! Here’s how it works. First convert your IRA to a true “Self-Directed IRA.” This is done by transferring your account to an IRS-approved securities company who will act as a custodian for your IRA on your behalf. There are a few such companies who are approved to do this.

I have my Roth IRA account with Equity Trust Company located in Ohio. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in doing this. Their website is www.trustetc.com. They also understand investors and what we do.

The transfer of your existing account will require completion of a simple application and request form provided by Equity Trust. If you don’t have an IRA, you’ll want to contact Equity Trust as well for guidance on setting up an account. By the way, I get no cut from ETC. I’m only looking out for you!

Mechanics of a Wholesale Deal into Your IRA

Identify a property; negotiate the price and terms with the seller. Next place a contract to purchase on the property with your IRA as the buyer. Complete a simple form called a Direction of Investment Form, provided by Equity Trust. Send this completed form back to ETC along with your ratified contract as verification of the deal. Equity Trust will wire funds or send a check to the appropriate payee.

Example: You find a property – 123 Main Street, Anytown, USA – you negotiate a purchase price of $250,000 cash and agree to settle in 45 days. You offer to pay $100 Earnest Money Deposit to the seller.Your IRA must make an investment in order to receive a return. Remember, we’re talking investments – not contributions.

On the Direction of Investment Form, you instruct that $100 be mailed or wired to the ABC Title Company as an Earnest Money Deposit for the purchase of 123 Main Street.

Complete the contract identifying the buyer as your IRA. Here’s what it would look like: buyer: Equity Trust Company, FBO (Your Name), IRA.

“FBO” stands for “For The Benefit Of”. You send this contract along with the Direction of Investment form to Equity Trust. They send the $100.00 from your IRA account. Your IRA now has a ratified contract.

Wholesaling this contract works the same as any other. You Simply contact a cash buyer and assign the deal to them. Complete the same assignment document. Only now, your IRA becomes the assignor and the assignee is the cash buyer. Simple!

Once the deal goes to settlement, your wholesale fee of let’s say $20,000 is sent right back into your IRA, tax deferred or better yet Tax FREE! depending on what type of IRA you have, beautiful, isn’t it?

The IRS will allow a company like Equity Trust to do deals on your own behalf five or six times per year. You’ll want to discuss this rule with the Equity Trust Company. While you’re at it, have your Equity Trust advisor explain to you the difference between the Roth IRA and other retirement accounts. Investing in your Roth means tax-free profits.

This is an awesome strategy to add to your tool chest of money making and money keeping moves as a real estate investor.

If you liked this tip, there’s more where that came from in my world’s best Wholesale system. I’m offering a five week telecoaching series to get you on the Fast Track To Cash starting this Saturday April 21st. If it’s Cash you desire in your life to turn a few things around you can’t afford to miss out on this training.

Go now to http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/ to get registered.

Space is limited, since my bridge line will only hold so many participants.

Take Action!

Ken Williams

PS. Learn techniques like the one above and more at
www.thewholesalewizard.com…….

Set Up Your Core Wholesaling Team

Taking steps to set up your Wholesaling team.

(be sure to pass this to a friend)

To survive as a successful Wholesaler you cannot be a lone wolf. I see some investors handle everyone like an opponent. That tactic only lasts but so long.

To be in this business any length of time you will have to depend on others in a give and take relationship. To survive as a Wholesaler you must assemble a small core team of players to help you get things done.

I use the analogy of a basketball player position, the point guard. He may be the best ball handler in the world but unless he has someone to pass to, block, or screen the opposition he'll be ineffective. even overwhelmed!

The Wholesaler is no different. They are the first one in to set things up. Unless they have others to pass things off well, their deals wither away before their very eyes, and they becomes ineffective very quickly. Soon they earn a reputation as someone who can't close deals, as word gets around quickly.

So who should make up your core teammates?

1) Settlement Attorney/Agent
2) Cash Buyer

That's it! With these two players as a minimum you're in business. Of course your team members will grow as your business does.

Notice I didn't mention a CPA, a Realtor, Tax Advisor or Asset Planning Attorney! These are all valuable players you will certainly want to add to your team eventually, but for starters your two most valuable players are your settlement attorney and a cash buyer.

Ironically, I see far too many Wholesalers abuse both. They mistreat the buyer by deceiving them of the facts then getting into a tug of war over price, etc.

With the settlement attorney they waste their time with empty promises of deals they're working on. Or have the attorney/agent pull title searches on property they've miscalculated. And worst of all some Wholesalers attempt to trick the settlement attorney/agent into doing an illegal or awkward transaction.

That's counterproductive. When treated as part of your team both players will make your real estate life so much easier. Everyone will be working on a common goal, which is to get the money as quickly as humanly possible and hassle free.

When you take the win-win approach you eventually won't have a need to show up at settlements. Your cash buyer and attorney will know their roles and take care of everything at settlement;. meanwhile, you'll just wait for a wire transfer.

You as the Wholesaler will have your attention on the set up. Bringing the deals in to pass off. Your two core team members will appreciate your business and respond accordingly especially if and when you need help in tough situations. There's nothing like back up.

Contrary to the scenario above which will run like a well oiled machine with just three people, many Wholesalers complicate everything.

But-but-but, what about setting up my LLC? What about my tax planning? What about a realtor on my team?

First of all don't waste your time and money setting up an LLC before your first deal. I've seen many waste both time and money on an LLC only to never get around to doing a deal.

If you really must have an LLC on your first deal, your settlement attorney can create one for you at settlement using your proceeds from the deal, no old money spent. Remember your revenues should always precede your expenses in any business.

Tax planning can be placed on the back burner until you get some deals flowing. There's no bigger waste of time than tracking down a busy CPA to talk about your hypothetical deals. Once you have one or two under your belt, the CPA will be more open to talking to you about "what is" instead of "what might be."

As for real estate agents, I love em! But, not many of them understand what we're looking for and how we figure our profits. Besides, to be an effective Wholesaler, you must repeat this motto to yourself everyday until it's second nature. "GET THERE FIRST!!!!"

The more people between you and the money means less money and more time to close a deal. Like the other eventual players, a realtor should be added at some time to your dream team, but under your directions.

Take this tip, and tuck it safely under your cap for future reference. Resist getting off track and plunging yourself deep into the weeds of counter-productivity.

You'll discover more strategies such as this one straight from me, The Wholesale Wizard by joining me on April 21st. That's this Saturday which is the start of a 5 week teleseminar/coaching program. I will fill you with plenty of useful money making techniques.

Get involved by going now to:
http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/
Register now and get on the Fast Track to Cash!

Take Action!

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard....

P.S. To discover simple team building strategies and
more, join me on April 21st for my 5 week teleseminar/
coaching series: http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Major Announcement Coming Your Way

"Heads Up!" As we used say on the baseball field when a ball was coming ones way. Some heads would crane upward in search of the errant white missile (baseball) others would duck between hunched shoulders.

Well, you'd better not hunch your head between your shoulders or anywhere else for that matter, cause I've got a real doozy coming your way in a few days.

I want you to stay glued to your PC each day in search of my emails, because I'm planning a real special deal just for you, IF you act quickly.

Ok, enough said, please monitor closely your inbox for emails sent from theWholesaleWizard.com.

As always, when you see what I have in store for you I want you to live up to our motto which is........

Take Action!

Ken Williams

Much success to you.
Go to www.thewholesalewizard.com for more information.

He's Located His First Lead - Already!

He has located his first lead and is talking to the motivated owner after just one day of receiving my Fast Track to Cash Wholesaling system.

During his morning walks in his OWN neighborhood he found a cleared water front lot which apparently had something go wrong.

There had been a foundation poured, framing materials delivered and stacked on the ground. He could tell it had been some time since any action took place on this project. The grass had grown all around the pallets and materials.

He used my system to locate the owner and called. He made contact with a very motivated owner. He then got the scoop on what happened with the project. Turns out a minor squabble stirred up between the owner and his contractor.

Each not willing to budge, (testosterone at work no doubt) they are in court fighting it out.....over a very minor cost, as the story has been relayed to me. My opinion is they'd both be better off cutting their loses, move on and save the thousands in legal fees and wasted time.

Ok, back to the story. The owner's self description was that of a motivated seller ready to get rid of this lot (his headaches) as soon as the judge makes a decision on the case in 60 days. Whoa Nelly! that’s a long time for us Wholesalers to wait.

My student emailed me with the details and for advice. I gave him a few suggestions which he will now take and run with. My main objective is to get the owner to sell prior to the final court case in 60 days. But how?

I gave him some verbal ammunition to work on both the owner and the contractor to reach a resolution. Convince both of all the money they'll save, while keeping each one's pride in tact. After all, solving real estate related problems for others is what we do to generate our profits.

Now my point to this story is to illustrate how easy it is to locate HOT leads when you know what you're looking for. In the case of my student above he has no competition from other investors on this lead. This lot is off the beaten path, tucked away out of the public's eye. A true Pocket Property and that’s what I teach.

These properties are everywhere. There's one waiting for you, right under your nose, probably in your own neighborhood.

Funny thing is this same student, mentioned above, just registered for my Fast Track Coaching program which starts April 21st. He came to me after taking another training program which he said took his money and time offering little direction.

He'd been instructed to look for REO's (Bank owned properties) until he realized the good deals with REOs were few and far between in his area. He suspected (his words), that the trainers just wanted to sell the list of REOs to him and others.

Hmm. . . ., no comment there.

If you too are tired of the run around about how to put the Fast Cash into your life then join me on April 21st for a five week coaching program that will get you on the Fast Track To Cash. Go now to:

www.thewholesalewizard.com and get registered.

As soon as you register I will send you your Wholesale Manual so you can get started. If you find a lead before the training begins you'll still have access to me via email for support once you contact the owner.

Take Action now and go to: www.thewholesalewizard.com

You can’t loose with this step by step program.

Take Action

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard

P.S. You too may find a HOT lead in your own neighborhood during your daily walk. Don't know what to look for?

Go now to www.thewholesalewizard.com

Get your Envelopes Opened

I got a call the other day from a lady who owns a house I targeted with my "Harpoon Marketing" approach. In my Wholesaling System, I explain how to set up your marketing with a low cost approach.

This lady called me after receiving one of my hand written letters stuck inside of a hand written envelope. We went on to have a most unusual type of conversation. One you might not expect under the circumstances, read on.....

First of all she introduced herself as the Mrs. of her home, then immediately wanted to know how I'd found them? Why I targeted their house? She had so many questions for me in her energetic, straight to the point manner of speaking, I could only respond.

As she put it, she was stunned! Stunned by how I'd found her house tucked away at the end of a quiet street, and why? This was different, I thought to myself, since I'm supposed to be the one asking the questions.

Now, I realize my marketing is much different from what's being taught by most gurus as the norm, but "stunning the recipient" was a new way of describing it. This lady, let's call her Mrs. C. wanted to know "what" about her house caught my eye? "Careful now Ken," I thought to myself.

I almost said well, "I look for unkempt houses," but knew that would make a short version of our conversation. Instead I told her with tact and a ton of charm, that I lived in the neighborhood and during my morning walks, I make note of houses which catch my attention.

I notice houses because of their fine detail of architecture and potential. (That's only part of it. Between me and you I look for houses which need a little or a lot of TLC)

I further explained that I restore properties for a living. I bring them up to a standard of stunning beauty (I used her language to connect with her). You can use this same explanation even if you don't do rehabs, just by saying you work with a team of investors who restores properties.

"Why are you still interested in real estate?" She asked innocently enough. She went on to say, "I thought real estate was pass? as an investment. I've been in my house since 1984 and everyone else I know wants to stay put for now."

I continued to talk to this lady sensing a possible bird dog. (you know, a scout for more properties). I explained how I didn't care what the rest of the world did, as long as there was one person looking for real estate I would have something for them to buy.

I added that I also pay a referral fee to those who put me in touch with an owner who sells to me. I worked her again, asking if she was sure she didn't know a single person who wanted to sell their property. She couldn't think of anyone at the moment but agreed to keep my name and number in just case.

Finally, I had to ask her a burning question. I asked Mrs. C, "what about my letter caused her to call me?" She said first of all inside the envelope she heard a jingle sound. The fact the envelope was hand written caused her to believe it was someone whom she was acquainted. Once she opened the letter she was overcome or "stunned" by curiosity.

"Curiosity" will get more of your mail pieces opened and read. With regard to envelopes, the recipient has to be compelled to open the darn thing before they read what's inside.

That's why I hand address my envelopes and place something inside to make noise. My favorite stuffers are coins. That's right I place pennies and nickels inside to feel lumpy and jingle. I usually mix things up with the envelopes themselves, using colorful party style envelopes. In this case Mrs.C. received my white No. 10 envelope which I hand addressed with "Neighbor" followed by her address.

This technique is just one of the many I use to get to my property leads to respond. I mailed only four (4) envelopes along with the one I sent to Mrs. C. and received one call in a matter of two days. That's a 25% response ratio.

In case you didn't' know even the best direct marketers hope for a 1 or 2% response ratio. I can expect another call in a few days or weeks from that small batch as is usually the case with my marketing. Why? Because I approach things in reverse of the norm.

I first spot the property, research it, or scrub it as my students are taught, then I send out a letter or post card to a laser beam focused list. I've been using this same approach for over 12 years now. I've never mailed out more than 100 marketing pieces at a time for houses - ever. It's usually more like 10 to 15 at a time, and my deals are more lucrative than most wholesalers.
I believe in spending time doing a bit more research to ensure a better success rate. It was Abraham Lincoln who said "given eight hours to cut down a tree, it's best to spend seven hours sharpening your saw." I love that quote.

This is only a snippet of what's in my wholesale system which is still on sale with only a few sets remaining. Also inside the pages of my awesome system are phone scripts for you to use. If you're strictly a Wholesaler, I tell you what to say, and how to say it, you can't go wrong.

If you want to know more about my "outside of the box" strategies to real estate wholesaling, you must take action now to order my system while it's at half price.

Go to or paste this link in your web browser: www.thewholesalewizard.com/basementsale.html

This SALE price is good only as long as supplies last, and they're going fast. I expect my basement to be clear of books very soon, then it's back to full price again.

Save this tip for yourself, then forward it to a friend and remember to.....

Take Action,

Ken Williams aka, The Wholesale........

PS. To get my Wholesale System at Half Price and discover more "outside of the box" money making strategies like the one above. Be sure to hustle over to:

www.thewholesalewizard.com/basementsale.html

Get The Landlord’s Advantage Using Wholesaling

“Less is More. . . . .” Most investors who have the goal of owning rental properties usually have one thing in mind – “Accumulate as many rentals as possible!” They lock onto this goal without any regard to the negative effects it could have on their quality of life.

They make the all too familiar mistake of over-leveraging their properties and their time. The objective for owning any investment property should be for the sake of it serving you, to make your life easier.

Instead, what happens is the reverse. The investor starts serving the investment. This is especially true of rental property owners. Ask me how I know? You guessed it! I made the same mistake, and I learned my lesson – the hard way! Now I try to share with with others what I learned to avoid them having to make the same mistakes.

Think about this for a moment. Wouldn’t it be more appealing to own half as many rentals, but earn a higher return? of course it would. This business should be fun. It should make our lives more enjoyable not miserable. Attention, land lords! I’m about to share something with you that will turn you into believers!

Instead of owning 20 properties leveraged up to 75%-90%, I’m going to share with you what I call “The Landlord’s Test”. Some of you will have to see for yourself before you are believers. So, take a look at the example below:



Example 1
20 Properties Owned $100k value each
$80k 1st @ 8% / 30years = 587 PI
PI $587 + Insurance $20 + Taxes $75 = $682 monthly costs
Rent $900 ($900 - $682 = $218 x 20 properties = $4,360 monthly

Example 2
10 Properties Owned $100k value each
6 properties (same financing as above)
PI $587 + Ins $20 + Taxes $75 = $682 monthly costs
Rent $900 - $682 = $218 x 6 properties = $1,308 monthly

Example 2 continued
4 properties (owned free and clear)
PI 0 + Ins $20 + Taxes $75 = $95 monthly costs
Rent $900 - $95 = $805 x 4 properties = $3,220
10 properties $1,308 + $3,220 = $4,528 monthly




In this example, I used properties with the same values. Most property owners follow Example #1 and are always scrambling to keep up with their properties. They’re consistently in “Catch-Up” mode. Owning less properties, affords you more time. Time for yourself, time to carry out the “Twice A Year” preventive maintenance. Before long, you’ve saved money on your overall expenses.

The way to accomplish this is to wholesale properties. If you wholesale consistently, you can pay the loan balances down on your rentals until you own a few properties free of debt. Keep this up and before you know it, more of your rentals are paid off.

Just because my example shows the ownership of 10 properties with 4 owned “free and clear”, shouldn’t mean you stop there. My only emphasis is on quality versus quantity. You should continue, your goals should be accumulating rental properties at a pace where you keep quality ownership along with maximum profits. Learning to wholesale will certainly enable you to do just that.

This strategy is straight out of my Wholesaling manual. If what you just read makes sense then you ought to have the world’s best Wholesaling system called “Fast Track To Cash.” In it you will find this and many other simple to understand money making strategies, minus the hype.

As a matter of fact, your timing is perfect since I’m including with the purchase of my “Fast Track To Cash” manual, a five week, get you started coaching program which starts April 14th. I will help you get on the Fast Track to Cash.

Take Action and go now to this link

http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Take Action!

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard

P.S. Get involved with my 5 week coaching program you need to Go to this link now: http://www.thewholesalewizard.com/

Feeling Confused and Abandoned

I got a call yesterday from a guy who was really frustrated and needed to make money in a hurry. He was referred to me by a mutual friend, which happens all the time. What made this guy different right off the bat was unlike most friends of friends who claim they want to get into real estate investing, this guy had been taking action, most just talk and never make a move.

This gentlemen’s problem was not lack of action, his troubles stemmed from misdirected action. He was so excited to be talking to me about wholesaling he rambled on a warped speed.

Whoa there! I had to slow him down and get him to relax. Sometimes I feel my role is that of a therapist. He went on to describe all the things he had been doing in search of his first wholesale deal.

Wow! I was blown away! Just about everything he told me was dead wrong, essentially he was spinning his wheels. I asked him where on earth did he get those ideas?

That’s when his water fall of words came pouring out. He’d just spent over $1500 to attend a two day event with one of those big seminar companies which blow through towns leaving a wake of confusion and empty pockets.

He bought into this program because they promised to talk about wholesaling, the only thing he was interested in learning about. But much to his dismay the speakers spent all of 15 minutes on wholesaling and somehow managed to send him down the wrong path for the money.

He went on further to say he and others in attendance felt confused and abandoned, not knowing what to do first or what to do next, the speakers left them to their own interpretations.

Now, it’s not my style to knock anyone’s training program, but I had to tell him he was barking up the wrong tree, - big time! I then reassured him he was in good hands now – mine.

I corrected a few things he was doing wrong and shared how I instruct in wholesaling. He was even more excited and ready for what I had to offer.

According to him I was the “go to guy” when it came to wholesaling properties. I will have to agree with him on that point! I have spent many years testing what works best and what doesn’t work, and what things are just hype.

If you know me, then you know I dislike anything that even smells of hyperbole. I’ve put a microscope on the subject of wholesaling where many gloss over the subject leaving it to a student to make interpretations.

So my caller was ready to do things right this time. He needed money in a hurry to take care of some bills and other pressing matters.

I invited him to my Fast Track To Cash Wholesaling five week coaching telecalls. I told him I would provide step by step instructions and take his questions after each call. I will even assist him with his deals. He was ecstatic, and replied by stating “let’s start now!”

Well pump your brakes, I told him. This training is a group deal which starts April 14th, yes, that is a Saturday. I want to get your ball rolling in a hurry, I directed him to: www.thewholesalewizard.com

If you are one of my current students who has my Wholesale Manual you’ll get a $200 “wizard coupon” good towards any of my products, live events or co-sponsored events. That’s everything with the exception of my Inner Circle Programs.

When you go to the web site to register be sure you scroll to the bottom to listen to what others who took this same training had to say.

Click on now, or paste into your web browser to register: www.thewholesalewizard.com

Take Action!

Ken Williams

Much success to you.
Go to www.thewholesalewizard.com for more information.

What is Real Estate Wholesaling?

I received an email from a lady, who asked, what exactly is Real Estate Wholesaling?

You see my 50% Basement Sale promotional emails are going to my entire subscriber list. Some people like this lady are on that list but not yet students. They are very interested in what I teach, Even though they have never met me in person.

Click here or paste into your browser for the sale information www.thewholesalewizard.com/basementsale.html

I’ll let you read her words

“Hi Ken,

Your offer to buy your course for 50% off sounds real good, except for one thing. I’m not all that sure what real estate Wholesaling is. Sorry to sound so uninformed. I recently signed up for your weekly tips because I have an interest in real estate and I also find your tips entertaining while still informative.

I know you’re busy but please have someone respond to this email so I can determine if this is something for me. I’m a mom without a whole lot of spare time.

Thanks”

JoAnne, Oregon

(My response to her) Hello JoAnne,

Thank you for the opportunity to clear things up for you and anyone else who may have the same question, because I don’t want you to miss out on this great offer. (By the way, I have many students who are moms and dads with little time, going full force in this business!)

Wholesaling in a nutshell is taking control of a property with a contract then assigning your rights to that contract to a CA$H paying buyer. My students all over the country are averaging $10,000 to $15,000 per deal. Fast Cash Deals!

This requires very little money ($10) out of your pocket with little risk to you. Follow my system and you’re in and out of the deal in 30 days or less.

There is no Faster, Safer, Easier, Money Making Strategy known to real estate for putting Cold Hard CASH into your pocket.

Wholesaling is the undisputed KING of CA$H!

This sale 50% off means an investment of $597, to make $10,000 on the low end. That’s more than 16 times your investment. Need I say more?

To take advantage of this sale, while supplies last click this link or paste it into your browser: www.thewholesalewizard.com/basementsale.html

You have nothing to loose and everything to gain. I’m offering my 30 DAY Money Back Guarantee!

If this is not for you, send it back no questions asked. I'll refund 100% of your money!!!!!

Take Action and go now to: www.thewholesalewizard.com/basementsale.html

Ken Williams aka The Wholesale Wizard....

PS. Don’t miss out on the Quickest, Easiest, Least Risky, Money Making Strategy in real estate investing. WholesalingIs the KING of CA$H!!!!!

www.thewholesalewizard.com/basementsale.html