Memphis Real Estate Firm Proves Success Possible in Slow Market

New paradigm in real estate investment industry grows investor portfolios while growing local economy

MEMPHIS, Tenn., Jan. 9, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Memphis Invest, a leader in the burgeoning turn-key real estate investment industry, announced today that it more than doubled its business last year with a 60-percent increase in home sales on behalf of its investors during 2011 compared to 2010.

The company also saw a 48-percent increase to its client base, and as a result of this growth, Memphis Invest has seen an increase in revenue of more than 90 percent year over year. While the housing market continues to struggle toward a full rebound, real estate firms like Memphis Invest are thriving by helping investors worldwide capitalize on the availability of low-cost homes combined with a growing demand for rental property.

Turn-key real estate companies such as Memphis Invest purchase, renovate and manage properties for investors who are interested in long-term revenue options, but also need a partner to operate and manage the properties on their behalf, particularly since many investor-owners do not live in the same city as their investment property. As faith in traditional investment options like the stock market wanes, this increasingly popular model for real estate investment, also referred to as passive real estate investing, has become an attractive alternative for those who have capital and want to own specific residential property but lack the time, experience or means to manage it. Memphis Invest's business model helps customers manage risk while preserving their capital.

"With nearly half of the Memphis population renting, Memphis has become a stable and lucrative market for real estate investors seeking to build their portfolios," said Chris Clothier, a partner with Memphis Invest. "Investors are looking for hard assets that provide safe, long-term opportunities in a time of economic uncertainty. Despite the recent real estate bust as part of the Great Recession, residential real estate remains a proven investment strategy."

The family-owned business not only grew its internal property rehabilitation and property management services staff by more than 30 percent last year, but its business model also enabled it to employ 47 other area companies that provide nearly 500 jobs to the region.

In November, Memphis Invest announced expansion into the Dallas market in response to growing investor demand and the attractive Texas market. The company plans to begin actively marketing and selling Dallas properties by the second quarter.

"The opportunity is there for us as a relatively young industry to fill a need in our national economy as more and more individuals look to rent and distressed and low-cost homes are available for purchase. Investors are looking for safe investments, and they are begging for great communication and customer service. We're simply connecting the dots to provide investors what they are looking for, and so far, it's a business model that has proven successful for us," said Clothier.

In 2011, Memphis Invest spearheaded the creation of a peer group for similar real estate investment companies, spanning from regions such as California, Florida and New York, that meet several times a year to define best practices for the green turn-key real estate industry. Clothier will lead the next meeting of the group, known as REI Edge Masterminds, in Jacksonville, Fla. this week from Jan. 12-13.

About Memphis InvestMemphis Invest provides turn-key real estate investment services to domestic and international clients looking to include residential real estate ownership in their investment portfolios. Founded in 2004, the company engages a professional network of portfolio managers, experienced contractors, appraisers and lenders to streamline the investment process for individuals looking to build their real estate investment portfolio without the burden of day-to-day property management. A privately held, family-owned business based in Memphis, Tenn., the company is led by two generations of employees committed to providing a personal level of customer service along with property identification and management solutions to their clients.

For more information about Memphis Invest, visit www.memphisinvest.com or call 1-877-773-9998.

SOURCE Memphis Invest

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved

REAL ESTATE: More distribution activity likely in 2012

The industrial real estate market turned a corner in 2011 in Inland Southern California, and there are strong signals the arrows are still pointing northward in the area’s eastern tier, thanks to renewed economic activity and a shortage of available space.

The latter part of that equation almost sounds like an echo from five years ago. There is not much available space to build a big-box distribution center near Ontario international Airport, considered the best location for a logistics facility, and there are few vacancies among existing buildings.

That means that developers are going to look east, much like they did around 2004 and 2005, when massive distribution centers were built in places such as Perris, Moreno Valley, San Bernardino and Riverside, developers say.

An end-of year report from commercial real estate company Lee & Associates found a 7.5 percent vacancy rate for industrial properties in the I-215 corridor, mostly in Riverside, Moreno Valley, Perris and surrounding areas. The vacancy rate had been more than 8 percent since 2006.

That means that 2012 could be a year to watch. If developers perceive there’s a demand for space, they could be ready to build new properties.

Three distribution centers near the city line that separates Moreno Valley and Perris are currently under construction and close to being completed. All are larger than 600,000 square feet, and all three are being built on spec, meaning they don’t have tenants yet.

“Those three big ones are like the canaries in the coal mine,” said Rick John, senior vice president of Daum Commercial Real Estate’s Ontario office. “We’re going to be watching those, and if all three are leased it’ll spring some new construction.”

Warehouse development has some detractors because it increases truck traffic, but it is probably the strongest segment of the job market in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. About 5,500 jobs related to the movement of goods were added in the last 12 months, and the growth rate of close to 5 percent is almost three times as much as the growth in all jobs, according to state data.

John Bower, the executive vice president in charge of the Inland offices of NAI Capital, said the prime locations near Ontario “are pretty well picked over.”

That means developers have no choice but to look east, and not only for the large distribution centers. Some investors are looking at facilities under 150,000 square feet, Bower said.

“We’re starting to get the next generation of developers wanting to replenish the supply in the mid-tier as well,” Bower said.

Bruce Springer, a Lee & Associates senior vice president, said it was unlikely the scenario that led to the construction of Skechers’ massive warehouse in Moreno Valley would repeat itself because that was an unusual situation. Developer Highland Fairview had Skechers lined up as its tenant early in the process. The three warehouses being built don’t have that luxury.

Also, Springer said, the market is still in the process of absorbing lender-owned properties that were given up in foreclosure proceedings, a reminder that the recession is still visible in the Inland area’s rear-view mirror.

“We’re still absorbing REOs, and that concerns me,” Springer said. “There are some great deals to be had. Unfortunately, there’s still blood coming out of the turnip.”

UBS's Chen Sees Opportunity in China Real Estate Stocks

Jan. 10 (Bloomberg) -- Chen Li, head of China equity strategy at UBS AG, talks about the nation's stock and real estate markets. He spoke yesterday in Shanghai with Bloomberg Television's Stephen Engle. (Source: Bloomberg) (Bloomberg)

Real Estate Technology Innovator Austin Allison Named To Forbes 30 Under 30 and Inman News Top 100 Most Influential

Allison Joins Panel at Inman Connect to speak on converting leads to clients

CINCINNATI, Jan. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- After recently being named one of the top 100 most influential people in real estate by Inman News, DotLoop President and CEO Austin Allison was named to the Forbes inaugural 30 under 30 list of 2012. Coming off of this accomplished December, Allison has been asked to speak at the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in New York City later this week where he will share his insight on how to convert leads into clients.

On Sunday, December 17th, Inman News released their annual report of the top 100 most influential people in real estate. The Inman 100 report is a list of the most influential real estate leaders and recognizes those who embody leadership, ingenuity, strength, conviction, power, persistence, perseverance and progress. The list includes the industry's brain trust, power brokers and deal makers and those outside the industry who impact the business of buying and selling homes. Allison was named to the technology category for leading DotLoop to become the fastest-growing software as a service company in the industry, acquiring international enterprise wide partnerships with real estate franchises and adoption by nearly 120,000 paying users and 2,000,000 nonpaying users .

Two days later, Forbes announced the inaugural list of 30 disrupters under 30, representing entrepreneurs in 12 verticals including Energy, Media, Technology, Finance and Real Estate that aren't waiting to reinvent the world. Allison joined the list with Eric Trump of The Trump Organization, Daniel Ek of Spotify, Stuart Anderson of Twitter, Kevin Systrom of Instagram, David Karp of Tumblr and Mark Zuckerberg of Facebook.

"To be a part of Forbes 30 Under 30 and Inman News Top 100 is an honor and testament to what we've accomplished. However any great leader knows that he or she is only as strong as the team's weakest link. Our concept fills a big gap in the marketplace and we have been fortunate to attract such an amazing group of 'Loopers.' This award is a result of our mutual success," said Allison.

The Inman Real Estate Connect Conference panel will be led by Gahlord Dewald, a columnist at Inman News and President of ThoughtFaucet. Aside from Allison, other panelists include leading innovators Grier Allen, President and CEO at BoomTown LLC, and Frederick Townes, Co-founder of Placester and CTO of Mashable.

Allison will dissect the art of converting leads to sales and the myth that more leads does not equal more sales. He will also discuss how to avoid the pitfalls associated with too much emphasis on lead generation and how to leverage the right solutions to close more business. "The topic of leads to clients is ideal in an industry driven by client referrals and consumer satisfaction," stated Allison.

Allison spoke at last year's Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco on the topic of the "CRM-Marry-Go-Round."

The Inman Real Estate Connect Conference will be held from Wednesday, January 11 through Friday, January 13 in New York City. For more information about the conference, please visit http://realestateconnect.com/nyc12/ .

About DotLoop

Headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, DotLoop is driving a movement in the real estate industry by providing a transaction hub where people work together to get deals done. As the leading provider of collaborative negotiation services, DotLoop is available to service all real estate professionals throughout the United States and Canada. The innovative DotLoop platform is a collaborative, wholly web-based negotiation platform that lets users add, adjust, approve, and sign documents digitally - addressing the challenges of consumer satisfaction, efficiency, and overhead costs in today's real estate industry. This is a real estate movement that the press has called "revolutionomics." For more information, please visit www.dotloop.com .

SOURCE DotLoop

Copyright (C) 2012 PR Newswire. All rights reserved 

4 Best Real Estate Moves

 (Shutterstock.com)

(MoneyWatch)  

Ever since the housing market collapsed five years ago, buyers, sellers and investors have been climbing their way out of the rubble. Things have improved a little, but it's clear we're not there yet.

Housing market predictions for 2012

Real estate trends: College town real estate

Your 2012 winter home maintenance checklist

Even so, there are signs of hope. Existing home sales are up by a large margin compared with the close of 2010. And for those with the cash, credit, and determination, there has never been a better time to buy a home or apply for a mortgage or refinance.

Mortgage interest rates are at all-time lows, hovering at or under 4 percent for a 30-year fixed loan. Last Thursday, Freddie Mac reported that mortgage interest rates matched the all-time low.

With some careful planning, a little research and a lot of persistence, you can avoid housing market misery in 2012, and come out on top.

Here are four best real estate moves you'll want to make this year:

1. Surround yourself with experts

No matter your goal - a first home, a refinance, reverse mortgage or the purchase of an investment property - you will need a little help from qualified professionals who can help you navigate the rough real estate waters.

Having a good experience starts with hiring someone who has been around this block many times before. So find yourself a very experienced real estate agent who can list your property or help you find the right new home.

But you'll also need to secure the services of trusted experts who can help you seal the deal. Look for a great mortgage lender, real estate attorney (especially if you're buying a foreclosure or short sale or are selling in a short situation), home inspector and tax advisor (for real estate investors).

Putting together the right team can go a long way toward helping you make sound real estate decisions in the coming year.

2. Know your credit score

As I suggested above, even those with a healthy credit profile can find securing a loan challenging in 2012. The wild days of mortgage lending, where everyone with a pulse got a loan, are over. Lenders are extremely (and perhaps overly) cautious, and your credit score has become a more important tool than ever in deciding upon interest rates and terms.

Start by going online to AnnualCreditReport.com, which is the only site operated by the three credit reporting bureaus (Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion). There, you can get a free copy of your credit report from each of the three credit reporting agencies, as required under federal law. For an extra $9 or so, you can purchase a copy of your credit report.

Or, you can visit a number of websites that will provide a free or low-cost copy of your credit history and score. If you don't like what your credit history or score looks like, you can make the decision to simply put off buying or refinancing and instead work on fixing your credit.

The key thing is to know where you stand before you negotiate.

3. Manage your credit for the long haul

In today's mortgage market, a credit score of 780 or above is considered optimal. But you should be able to get a mortgage if you have at least a 720 credit score.

If you're not there yet, there are certainly a number of steps you can take. Obviously paying your bills on time and in full is a key part of the process, but you should also act now to correct any errors on your report. If you don't have any errors on your credit report, you'll want to work to pay down existing debt as quickly as possible and make sure you don't have too many open lines of credit. (For some suggestions on how to fix your credit history, check out some of my posts on theEquifax Finance Blog.

4. Not all loans are created equal

It may be tempting to sign on the dotted line of the first lender who grants an approval, but don't. Consider that in many cases, a mortgage is going to be a 15 or 30-year commitment, and make sure you're comfortable with the terms for the long haul.

I suggest you talk to at least four or five lenders before making your decision. In addition, vary the type of creditors you're researching: A major bank, a local lender, a credit union, a mortgage broker and online options. Each of these will offer a variety of different loan programs, at different price points.

In 2012, if you want to make the best real estate moves, you'll have to arm yourself with information. In order to negotiate and secure the best deal, it is important to know what the competition will offer.

© 2012 CBS Interactive Inc.. All Rights Reserved.

Understanding credit ratings

When we approach a lending institution to borrow money, how does the lending institution know whether we are trustworthy or not? We might be able to assure them that we are… but can they take our word for it?

The lending institution is in the business of making money by lending money. They lend money to people who they think will pay it back and they charge a bit of interest which is their way of making money on the risk they've taken. But again, how do they know who will pay the money back?

That's where credit ratings come in. A credit rating – or "a credit score" – is derived from a big pile of information collected about us. There are three main credit scoring companies out there. They are private companies who get information about us from various sources. These credit reporting agencies use this information to give us a score. Every person has their own score.

Then, when we want to borrow money, we ask a lending institution for the money and they go to the credit reporting agency and find out what our score is. If we have a good score, the lender will give us money. If we have a bad score, the lender will either give us money but charge us a higher interest rate or they simply won't give us money at all.

So, it makes sense that we should work hard to improve our score. But how do we do that? Here are some tips:

1. Pay all bills in full. Don't leave any money outstanding on a bill. Pay it in full. Credit reporting agencies, and the lending institutions that use the scores, are going to want to know this information. After all, the lenders are considering lending us money and don’t you think they want to know if you pay your bills in full???
2. Pay all your bills on time. Don't be late. Don't wait until the last moment. Pay them on time. Again, lenders who are about to lend you money want to know that you are a conscientious borrower who happily meets your obligations.
3. Make sure you HAVE a credit history. A good score doesn't just occur because you don't own anybody anything. No. People get a good score because they've owed people money and they pay it back. Someone who doesn’t have any credit score at all isn't going to get much money loaned to them.
4. Watch your available credit. Available credit is how much money you CAN borrow. For example, if you have a maximum of $10,000 credit limit on your credit card, your available credit is $10,000. Lenders want to know this because they want to find the balance between what you earn and what your available credit is, If you have lots of available credit but a low income, they might be reluctant to lend you money. Some of the might be thinking: "If they go on a spending spree, they'll never be able to pay it all back."

Getting good credit is a strategic, time-consuming effort but it pays off if you want to borrow money.

Real estate investors need cash

There's a challenge in the real estate investment industry. There are many opportunities for real estate investors to buy inexpensive properties and fix them up and exit profitably… but they need something vital to make it happen. They need cash.

Real estate investing is a capital-intensive business because it requires tens of thousands of dollars up front in order to get started. You need to put some money down on the property, you need to fund repairs, you have carrying costs. Once you've covered all of those, you can sell the property (or rent it) and make a lot of money but it needs to have the cash up-front first.

Many brand new real estate investors make the mistake of using their own money to fund the deal. They use credit cards and they borrow against their mortgage. Unfortunately, those tactics have limitations:

• Credit cards have high interest rates and if a deal goes bad (and sometimes they do), the real estate investor may have a high amount of money to pay down on his or her credit card with exorbitant interest to pay, too. This can damage credit ratings!
• Borrowing against the mortgage is another way that real estate investors pay for their deals. Although the interest rate is lower, there is still substantial personal risk should the deal ever go south. The borrower could end up with their home repossessed.

Credit rating worries, high interest rates, and even the threat of eviction are all challenging problems that face the real estate investor using their own money.

But there are other options. Real estate investors need to apply the principle of "OPM" – "other peoples' money" – in order to invest successfully. When they do that, they put other people's money to work for them and they can get better rates of interest and they reduce their personal risk.

There are several ways to get access to other people's money:

1. The real estate investor can contact his or her family or friends and ask them to invest. Sometimes this is a good idea, especially if the real estate investor has a successful track record and the know people with money. However, this can be risky because they could lose their friends or family should a deal ever bust.
2. The real estate investor can go to a lender – like a lending institution. A lending institution might lend them money or they might not, depending on the investor's credit rating and how much risk the lending institution is willing to take on.
3. The real estate investor can find a group of investors – both individuals and corporations – who are willing to invest. This takes more leg work on the investor's part but it can release a great deal of money to the real estate investor to invest. And there are many investors out there!

Has Television Changed the Face of Real Estate Investing?

If you take a look through the television stations on almost any given day there is a television show somewhere that features home improvement, real estate investing, or some sort of combination of the two. From shows that teach people how to sell homes that have lack luster reviews to shows that teach viewers that it is possible to purchase, repair, and re-sell a home in a matter of weeks for astronomical profits, there are shows that appeal to the entrepreneurial wannabes in audiences around the globe.

These shows have made and lost fortunes a few times over by convincing viewers that they too can do the wondrous things seen on television. The truth is that many viewers are capable of doing these things but television never really shows how hard the work actually may be. The television cameras do not always show the blood, sweat, and tears that go into making these projects successful and rarely mention the countless complete and total failures that occur along the way. 

The cameras are also not to keen for showing up at 4 am and rolling well after midnight when the work for the day is finished. It doesn't catch the heart attacks and nightmares as credit cards are going dangerously close to being completely maxxed out while dreams of quick riches fade right in front of investor's eyes. 

This does not mean that every project is doomed to failure only that things are not always as rosey as they may appear to be on the television shows. Flipping houses may seem to be a bit glamorous and a lot hands on. The problem with that is that too few people really realize how much work goes into the hands on part of the program. This is not easy money no matter how much the television cameras would like to convince you otherwise. 

It is very possible to turn a substantial profit in a relatively short amount of time if you keep your cool, use your head, and buy and sell in the right conditions. The problem is that so many people do not consider the big picture and find themselves in over their heads and out of money before the project is anywhere near completion.

One thing that television has definitely done for this line of work is make competition for the flappable houses a little fiercer. The early bird in this business gets the worm and while the cheapest house isn't always the best candidate the less competition you have driving the prices up, the better in this situation. The goal is to buy low and sell high. Most people do not have a terrible amount of competition, as of yet, on the selling high portion of the program. The real trouble at this point in time lies in the buying low portion as there are many more would be real estate investors that are interested in buying the inexpensive properties than there are that will actually see the projects through from beginning to end.

So yes, television has greatly changed the way people invest in real estate. Whether this is truly good or bad for the overall real estate market remains to be seen. In light of the recent down turns in real estate it is to be expected that some of the popularity may diminish. The sad thing is that this is still one of, if not the best ways to make a large sum of money fairly quickly that is legal in the world today. Fortunes can be made and lost in real estate; the trick is always in placing your bets on the right property at the right time. For those who are willing to take the risks associated with this type of investment in today's market and those that are willing to wait for a slight upturn in the market the profit potential is phenomenal.

Flipping Houses for Fun and Profit

For those of you who watch on the edges of your seats week after week as people on cable television seek to successfully turn a lump of coal of a house into a diamond that is suitable for kings and queens of the middle class to call home it is quite possible that you have considered 'flipping' a home of your own. This is a great way to make a nice tidy profit in real estate rather quickly if proper planning and attention to detail is made in the process.

Believe it or not, when done correctly and within reasonable time and budget constraints, projects such as this can be a great challenge that is also a ton of fun. First of all, the average citizen isn't allowed to play with power tools on a regular basis and Tim Allen has taught us exactly how fun power tools can be. Keep in mind that he has also taught us just how dangerous they can be as well. The point is that it is often fun to learn new things and for many of us, working with power tools is a new thing. For those experienced with power tools, there are still likely to be some fun new things on the horizon when doing a real estate flip.

Even if power tools aren't exactly your cup of tea, perhaps you have always wanted to try your hand at creating a color scheme or a trial run at renovating a kitchen or bathroom. Beyond a great way to have fun while turning a profit, a house flip can be a great practice session for changes you'd like to make within your own home. Most of us learn best by making mistakes. Isn't it best to make mistakes with Formica or Corian (r) rather than the granite countertops we'd prefer in our own kitchens and baths?

This also gives you the opportunity to see how things you are considering for your home look in other homes before incorporating them into your home. If you are considering a certain type of laminate flooring, try it in a house that you are flipping. This is the ultimate opportunity to use trial and error when making design and décor plans for your own home. Even better is the fact that you can be working towards a profit as you do just that and I personally do not know of anyone that does not appreciate a nice hefty bit of profit every now and then.

Another fun thing about flipping real estate is that you often get the opportunity to work with the people you love. This is a great opportunity to get friends and family involved in the process of creating a masterpiece right by your side. The price for their time and labor is often some good music, a tasty pizza, and a couple of cold sodas (or beers provided the work is done for the day and everyone is walking home of course). 

Even children can be of some help in these projects though you want to be very careful that they aren't too much help with power tools and paintbrushes. Typically have older children help with landscaping projects and find someone to care for younger children (the tools, fumes, and temptations for small children simply may prove too risky to be practical).

Flipping Houses for Fast Real Estate Profit

One of the rising stars when it comes to real estate investment is known as 'flipping' properties. This works by buying properties that are in need of either minor cosmetic repairs or in need of serious renovations, doing the work, and selling the home for a much greater price. In theory this brings in a significant amount of profit in a rather small amount of time. This is the case for many who attempt to flip properties but it takes a little more than the idea in order to make the process work. For this reason, there are many who end up sacrificing profit or losing money in the process when plans aren't well conceived.

If you are considering a future in real estate investing, this is one of the quickest ways in which investors can turn a profit. It is also a method for bringing in high profit in a short amount of time. Unfortunately, this once closely guarded secret has gained some degree of infamy and there is fierce competition for the undervalued properties on the market as more and more would be investors decide to throw their hats into the collective ring.

If you are considering real estate investments in general and house flipping in particular there are some things you should keep in mind. 

1) Treat this as a business rather than a hobby. Far too many investors do not take their investments seriously. This is a mistake because in this business time is money and every month that the house isn't sold is a month that the house is costing you money. Create a plan, make a schedule, and stick to them both. 

2) Remember that this is a business. You are not investing in properties to make friends or seem nice. You are in this business to turn a profit. You cannot be timid about making low offers. The ability to buy low and sell high is the lifeblood of this particular business. This means that you are quite likely going to hurt feelings and make people angry (because they often place emotional prices to their homes that are simply not economically feasible). If you cannot deal with this reality then you are going to have some degree of difficulty gaining the high profits you are seeking. Nice guys finish last and you can't really afford to do that in this line of work.

3) Pay attention to the market. This is vitally important. Many 'flippers' lost their shirts in the recent near collapse of the housing market around the U. S. The truth of the matter is that the indicators have been building for years. In cities where there was once a shortage of viable housing options there are currently surpluses. This does not drive the value of properties down so much as it brings them back to their proper values. Investors that were counting on an ability to sell above the actual value of the property were left holding the bag (or rather notes) on these properties for quite some time until they could be sold. Some never managed to sell these properties and were left dealing with the expense in addition to the costs of the upgrades. Do not buy in an inflated market if it can be avoided unless it is during the very beginning of the inflation (before property developers have the opportunity to create a surplus). 

4) Do not allow it to become personal. Far too many first time house flippers decide to create a work of art rather than a business investment. It is tempting when making cosmetic and structural repairs to go ahead and create a dream home. The problem with this is that depending on the particular market you are unlikely to recoup the costs involved in doing so. The goal is to invest little and profit large. Granite countertops are lovely but not at all necessary in a neighborhood filled with those of humble means. Cater to the tastes and budgets of your target market rather than your personal tastes.

Despite the risks involved in flipping houses as a real estate investment there is no denying that fortunes have been made doing just that. Even in the current housing market there is a great deal of promise available to those who can do the work quickly and inexpensively. People still want to buy these lovely homes rather than buying a home that needs to be made over after the price of purchasing. 

Flipping A House For Cash

A lot of people these days are preaching about the buying and holding method of gaining wealth with real estate.  There indeed may come a time in your life or business when you’ll want to hang onto a piece of property, although you’ll only be interested in keeping certain types of property.  If you’re just starting out, flipping a house may be an ideal way to get started.

Basically, there are three ways that you can flip a house, although each one has it’s own terms, motivation, and type of property.  The first method is known as retailing.  What this means, is that you buy a house in bad shape, do the repairs to fix it up, then turn around and sell it.  There are a variety of houses in need of repairs out there, and several ways that you can quickly flip a house to net profit.  All you need to know are the techniques that will get you the most money in the least amount of time.

The second way you can flip a house is though wholesaling.  Wholesaling involves finding a home for sale then flipping it to an investor for a fast, yet small profit.  To do this, you’ll need to know the real estate investors in your area, the types of homes that flip the best, and how to fund your property so you can flip it to them.  If you live in a big area or a city, you’ll find that using the wholesaling method of flipping houses is actually easier to accomplish.  

The third way to flip a house is by assigning the purchase.  Using this method, you’ll commit to buy the house.  Instead of closing the deal yourself, you’ll assign it to a real estate investor - of course for a small fee.  The investor will take the contract over and close the purchase themselves - flipping the house.  This can be very profitable, especially if you invest in the right home.  You don’t need to have your contract worded any special way to be legal, although you will need to determine the assignment fee.

If you’re looking to break into the real estate market and make big bucks, you’ll need to learn all about flipping houses.  Flipping houses is very profitable, especially once you have learned the basics. The first and third methods are the best, although they will both take quite a bit of work on your part.  Restoring homes isn’t easy, and you’ll need to have a team qualified to handle any repairs.  Assigning the purchase may be difficult when you first start out, although it will get easier with time.  If you stay at it and do your best to make a profit - you’ll be an expert at flipping homes in no time at all.

Finding the Right Realtor for Your Real Estate Needs

Whether you are looking for a home of your very own or are interested in creating a long term working relationship with a realtor for the purposes of property investment it is very important that you find a realtor who will listen to your needs and wishes and act accordingly. The right realtor for your needs can mean all the difference in the world between a successful and profitable transaction now as well as many more in the future (if you plan on investing in multiple properties). Below are some important things to notice when selecting a realtor that will meet your needs.

1) Does the realtor you are considering listen to your needs? This is important as it will save you both a lot of time and money in the process of finding the perfect home for your family or for an investment property. If the realtor is constantly presenting properties that do not meet your budget or price requirements it might be a good idea to either lay down the law or find a realtor that is willing to expect your wishes and needs.

2) Does he or she ask questions and provide appropriate feedback? This indicates a direct interest in your needs, which is important-particularly when planning for a long-term investment relationship though some find it even more important when purchasing a home for their family home as this is a personal matter rather than a business matter. We all have a tendency to be more selective when placing the welfare of our family in the hands of another.

3) Do you feel comfortable dealing with the realtor you are considering? As I mentioned above we tend to be a little choosier when selecting professionals to help our families. Why on earth would be any less so when it comes to the realtor that will help our families find a home? Rapport is a good word to describe the sort of relationship you need to develop with your realtor. Do you have a good rapport with a potential realtor? If not, then move along. There are many realtors in most cities and there is absolutely no reason that you should deal with a realtor that doesn't make you feel comfortable and secure.

4) How well does the realtor in question know the area in which you are seeking a home? There are many things that make a home a 'good buy' for residential and investment purposes. You want a realtor that has his or her finger on the pulse of the city and the various areas of interest, growth, and decline within the city. School districts matter more now than at any other time in our history in most cases, he or she should know about the schools, new business developments, and the value of property in the area (as well as the tendencies of property values to rise or fall over the last several years). 

5) Does the realtor in question have specific experience dealing with your specific real estate needs? Whether you are planning a residential transaction or if you are seeking investment property you will need a dedicated and experienced professional that can help you meet your goals.

Realtors are a dime for a dozen in most cities and competition is fierce. There is no reason whatsoever that anyone should suffer with an agent that you do not feel is working for you or have your best interests at heart. If you invest a little bit of time and energy shopping around for the right realtor to meet your needs, you will find that your real estate transactions will take much less time and effort for this small sacrifice. It is much better to make the decision based on a few careful interviews in the beginning than after looking at fifty or more homes that do not meet your needs or price range. Then you have wasted a great deal of time and effort and you must still either risk wasting more time and effort or take the time to select another realtor for your real estate needs.

I also highly recommend selecting a real estate agent with a significant online presence. This means that he or she is making use of the available technology in order to offer more options to you as the consumer. Buying a house can be a mind-boggling process for the average person. Having a good realtor can make the process work so much more smoothly.