Real Estate Information | Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com |
|
Real Estate Investing: Infomercial and Mentoring Scams
Flipping through late-night infomercials recently, I saw two real estate get-rich quick schemes, and I couldn't help but wonder why people still fall for those old scams? Has anyone really talked a seller out of his home for no money down with owner financing lately? Real estate infomercials do great harm to beginning investors, who waste hundreds of dollars on old information. Worse yet, those beginners soon get discouraged and miss out on the true (and profitable) adventure of real estate investing. One of the most popular late night infomercial shows tells beginners that it's possible to make a fortune by buying houses with no money down and then renting them out to cover the monthly payments. It's true that you can buy a home for no money down, but the requirements include having good credit, good income, and the home should be owner-occupied. Rentals don't normally qualify for no money down financing. Institutional lenders aren't supposed to make no money down loans on investment properties, and even if you could buy an investment home with no money down, the monthly payments would generally eat up the rent. Late-night scammers also claim that investors can get owners to pay the closing costs, including the down payment. But when a lender asks where your down payment will be coming from, saying, "the seller" is not the right answer! Today's sellers are also fairly savvy, and understand that with no money invested in a property, a buyer could easily walk away and leave them with a home that's been ruined by careless tenants. Another TV program offers a bogus system for buying houses at ridiculous prices, but think about it: has anyone bought a home, free and clear, for $345.00 at a tax sale recently? Hordes of investors flock to the tax sales in the area where I live, bidding up the prices of foreclosure properties far beyond a few cents on the dollar. It just doesn't happen. Today, another real estate investment scam is popular in Southern California. Here's how it works: a young person we'll call Charles charged $4,000 on his credit card to hire a real estate "mentor," after the mentor wined and dined him at a fancy Beverly Hills restaurant. In exchange for the fee, the mentor instructed Charles to find distressed houses by driving around the area and writing down the addresses of ugly houses in nice neighborhoods. Once Charles had given him the addresses, the mentor obtained the owner's address and sometimes a phone number. Then it was up to Charles to call the owners and talk them into selling their houses for no money down, and carrying the paper, too! I met Charles when he called me about buying a property that my husband and I had on the market for $1.2 million. When I asked him how such a young man was going to make the payments on $1.2 million home, he told me that he planned to rent the house out for enough to make the payments. As a real estate investor myself, I tried not to laugh at his naivete, and after talking to Charles and listening to his frustration about trying so hard to follow his mentor's advice, I offered to help him find a property, and I'm happy to say that Charles now owns his own home. But he'll still have to spend years paying off a $4,000 credit card bill. If you want to make money as a real estate investor, a good first step is to buy your own home, like Charles did. You can do that for no money down if you have good credit, or for a relatively little amount of money down if your credit is poor. Once you've purchased your own home, fix it up and then either sell it or refinance it and use your profits as the down payment on an investment property. Don't pay hundreds of dollars for out-dated methods that may have worked in the middle of last century! They're a waste of your time and money. Real estate investing is truly a great way to make a fortune, but you must stick to tried-and-true proven strategies, ones that work in today's real estate market. (c) Copyright 2004, Jeanette J. Fisher. All rights reserved. Professor Jeanette Fisher, author of Doghouse to Dollhouse for Dollars, Joy to the Home, and other books teaches Real Estate Investing and Design Psychology. For more articles, tips, reports, newsletters, and sales flyer template, see http://www.doghousetodollhousefordollars.com/pages/5/index.htm
MORE RESOURCES: |
RELATED ARTICLES
The Person With The Most Money Wins! More money can mean better:- Health Care - Relaxing Vacations and Adventures - Education for your children or yourself - Better home than you have nowBest of all it can reduce stress from not having to worry about money!Many of us have problems in life that additional cash will help solve the situation. Did you know that 80% of problems in life could be simply resolved with additional cash. Best Places to Retire Places to Retire: Popular Doesn't Always Mean "Best"Las Vegas, Nevada; Phoenix and Yuma, Arizona; Las Cruces, New Mexico; and Ocala, Florida-just a few names that rank among America's most popular retirement destinations. Unfortunately, their popularity doesn't necessarily mean that they are especially appropriate choices for astute consumers. What is a Foreclosure? A foreclosure is an action taken against a property owner by seizure of his/her real property. It can be for many reasons. High Profit Real Estate Investing--Make a Good Deal Every Time! Knowing what a Good Deal is - Is the Key to Success inReal Estate.Dear Investor,Take this little survey: The most important key to Real Estate Success is:1. Types of Listings with Agents There are several different types of listing contracts. Few of them are detailed below:Open ListingThis type of listing is when you, the seller, don't want to commit to any one particular agent and when you are also open to selling the home by yourself. Minneapolis Warehouse Loft Downtown Minneapolis is rich with true metropolitan charm. With the growth of an incredible entertainment district, a wonderful artistic community, and all the opportunities of a large urban center, downtown Minneapolis is pleasantly thriving. Various Aspects Of The Lease Purchase Business In a previous article, we wrote why we believe that Lease Purchasing is the perfect home-based business, here we want to briefly touch on some of the actual aspects of operating such a business, the pluses and minuses and why Lease Purchasing represents a win-win situation for the seller, the tenant/buyer and just as importantly, you, as the business owner. One of your goals in operating a Lease Purchase business is to contract for property that you then move to the tenant/buyer. How Can the Average Person Build Wealth in Real Estate? Books on real estate are a dime a dozen-and most focus on taking advantage of someone else's misfortune. They frequently describe lofty methods for buying and selling properties no ordinary citizen can be successful using. Odors Can Make or Break The Sale of Your Home It's amazing how important the sense of smell is to many people. If you're selling your home, and this applies across the board to houses, townhouses, condos, apartments, or whatever, you need to be aware of the power of odors. A Crash Course On The Payout Options Available To You When Selling A Mortgage Note Okay, let's take a look at the typical payout options:Full Purchase - The investor buys the entire note. This alleviates the seller of the responsibility to collect payments in the future. Buying and Selling Real Estate: Negotiating to Win-Win You don't get what you deserve - you get what you negotiate for.If you've spent some time on homekeys. Green Building Media Fact Sheet - Past, Present & Future PastSpecialized, niche home builders began constructing resource-efficient, environmentally sensitive homes in the early 1970s. The home building industry coined the phrase "green building" in the late 1980s/early 1990s, turning a movement into a quiet revolution. Why Should Sellers Be Absent During Showings? If only there were a way to sell your home without letting all those people come through. Unfortunately, the reality is that homes must be shown in order to be sold. Kings Bay Georgia Real Estate - Be Picky When You Choose your Realtor! I have been a mortgage lender for many years and have seen a few transactions go sour. When problems arise after a contract is signed, it can be stressful for everyone involved. You Have 15 Seconds to Sell Your Home! 11 Steps You Can Take to Sell Your Home for Top Dollar Selling your home? Here are some suggestions to help you sell yours for more than your next door neighbor's, and faster! Most buyers will know within 15 SECONDS after crossing the threshold if they want your home. But first, you need to attract them inside!11 steps to take to sell your home for top dollar1. Secrets of Making Money from Real Estate - Part 2 Leverage: With real estate, people and companies will lend you money to invest. How much real estate can you buy with $20,000? Probably between $100,000-$300,000, depending on the lender. Donald Trump on Real Estate I love what Trump says about the business of real estate.I am a big believer in setting up business systems for all my clients. What Should I Do If My Home Isnt Selling? Suppose you've been trying to sell your home for months. You haven't had even a nibble from a prospective buyer. Avoid The Traps Of Finance Most consumers are told where to get their mortgage because few people personally know and trust a mortgage or loan officer or correspondent (the same thing). It used to be agents would take their buyers out to find the house they wanted, then to their favorite mortgage company. Homes For Sell By Owner - FSBOs and Buyer Brokers You're selling your home as a FSBO (for sale by owner) and you get annoyed when real estate brokers call you, right? That's a reasonable response when you're doing all the work to market your property to save thousands of dollars in broker commissions. However, when a "buyer broker" calls, you might want to listen. |
List4Sale Domain Is For Sale - $10,000 For Enquiries eMail Us © www.List4Sale.biz 2012 |