Real Estate Investing
My New Year Gift To You All
January 1st, 2010I want to wish everyone a happy and prosperous 2010.
As I was enjoying the holidays with friends and family, I decided to go ahead and record a training on becoming “wealthy” as a way of giving back.
There is a lot of mis-information out there and confusion. So I decided to record 3 to 4 hours of FREE training on becoming wealthy. Some of this was from before, so I combined it into a series I call “The Wealthy Code.”
Here is the link – enjoy. http://www.TheWealthyCode.com
Let me know what you think of it.
Feds Printing LOTS of Money – What Does That Mean For Us?
December 22nd, 2009As we all know, the “Feds” (which is not part of the government by the way), is “printing” more money than ever before.
What does that mean for us?
Higher Inflation!
What does that mean for savvy investors?
Start asking how to position yourself to take advantage of that. As many of you know, real estate is a good hedge against real estate (which means real estate is a good asset to have to beat inflation).
So you might want to consider owning real estate and/or equity shares for those people that do not want to deal with the hassles of owning real estate.
Doctors, Listen Up!
November 30th, 2009Many of Gabby (my business partner) and my students are doctors.
So this post is for you. Many of you doctors ask me what should you do now?
Anyone with a high income and no time to allocate towards investing, here are some things you can do.
1) Buy a good single family home in a middle income neighborhood in your area at a 10% or more discount. Use a low 30-year FIXED interest mortgage. Avoid high end homes or “war zones.”
I say that because people are expecting inflation to get much higher. You have to realize that the real estate market in the next 24 months will still be rocky, so you will have to ride that through.
2) Start generating cashflow ASAP. Contact a QUALIFIED and EXPERIENCED mortgage broker to start you up on private lending. One such company is www.NorcalTrustDeed.com.
There is a lot more information, but this is a good start.
- George
Options – Powerful Vehicles To Build Wealth
November 20th, 2009Here are 2 common questions I get.
Question 1) The BEST way to massive cashflow that is relatively safe?
Easy! Become a private lender (http://becometheprivatelender.com)
Question 2) The BEST way to increase one’s networth FAST with minimal downside?
Easy! Real Estate Options.
Let me explain the latter.
I am talking about a “Straight Option” – not “Lease Option”.
I once taught an advanced class on this topic with a real estate attorney friend of mine.
The problem with the class is that the “Option” class is an advanced, and ONE student ended up following through and using the information (out of 25 students in the bootcamp). To me, that was not acceptable. So we decided to NOT teach the class due to the advanced nature.
However, I will share a few ideas from the class on this blog.
There are over 20 strategies with options that people can help increase ones net worth fast with little downside. Most people are familiar with ONE!
As I am typing this, I realized I had a previous post on this. Here is the link. http://www.georgeantoneblog.com/?p=196
So much for adding new content
Happy Halloween!
November 1st, 2009Just got back from trick-or-treating. My youngest daughter was dressed as a little devil (she’s 5 years old), my other daughter was a polar princess (she’s 11), and my son (13) was a scary bleeding skeleton (don’t ask). My wife was a punk rocker – kind of sexy
Anyway, as the night is winding down, the kids in bed, I turned on the TV and flipped through some channels and ended up on a “Fox Business” show on “Money”!
This is a show where people call in with financial questions and the hosts answer their questions.
I WAS SHOCKED AT THE ANSWERS!
Answer after answer, they were giving the BAD information. They had 6 or 7 “experts” on this show!
For example, they congratulated someone for getting a 15-year mortgage, and gave the same advice to someone else that called. “Get a 15-year mortgage” they said!
Now anyone that has taken my IWS class (InfiniteWealthSystem.com) knows what I think of that.
Here is a synopsis: People think that a 15-year mortgage is better than a 30-mortgage because it allows you to pay your mortgage faster! People also think that a 40-year mortgage (when available) is a BAD deal!
People – WAKE UP! Educate yourself. This advice is putting YOU at risk! It turns out that a 40-year mortgage is actually less risky than a 30-year mortgage, which in turn is less risky than a 15-year mortgage.
I talk about some of this in my “Financial Leverage” videos on this blog. Make sure to watch it.
The biggest lesson here is that just because someone hears this “advice” on TV, does NOT mean it is good advice. It is hard for me to believe this “crap” I heard on this show.
Private Lenders – Actions To Keep Your Investment Safe (Part 2)
July 19th, 2009Private Mortgage Lending (or Private Lending) is a very safe investment, especially when you consider the high interest rates you can earn and the use of other people’s money (private money). Nonetheless, no investment is completely worry-free. That is why it is essential to do everything possible to make your investment as safe as possible.
Private Lending is one of the fastest ways to generate passive income, and for those savvy private lenders, you do not need to use your own money or credit.
First, there are some insurance policies you will want to consider. There are two insurances that you should require when you loan money on a property: Title insurance and property insurance. These policies will protect your investment and are paid for by the real estate investor.
Next you will want to be sure that your loans are recorded properly.
And finally, there are ways to structure a loan that can assure even more safety.
In this article we will cover Property Insurance.
Property Insurance
Property insurance protects the property against physical damage to, or loss of your assets. In other words, against the loss of your investment capital. In the case of catastrophes like fire, explosion, theft, or vandalism, property insurance helps cover your costs – whether it’s to repair damaged property or replace what you’ve lost.
Events that do damage are known as perils or causes of loss, and include weather-related events such as lightning strikes or hail, or human causes such as robbery or a car crashing onto your property.
Policies can be named-peril or all risk policies. Named policies or specified peril policies specify which events will be covered. Remember, named peril policies will state exactly what is covered. If a particular coverage is not listed on your policy, it is NOT covered.
Here is a list of a few perils commonly EXCLUDED from named peril policies:
1. Damage caused by a flood
2. Damage caused by an earthquake
3. Damage caused by war or nuclear accident
4. Damage caused by an earth movement
All risk policies include any possible peril, unless otherwise named. Even these policies often do not include flood or earthquake insurance without an extra rider. Often, the terms “comprehensive” or “open peril” are also used to describe all-risk coverage.
All risk policies are, understandably, more expensive, however, they are the best policy for a private mortgage lender. Although all-risk policies are far superior, some properties will not qualify. Locations, property type, value, as well as your personal Insurance Credit Score all goes into determining the type of insurance package a company may have or offer.
NOTE: If the property is in a flood plain, you should demand that the real estate investor also get Federal Flood Insurance.
Before buying homeowner’s insurance, you need to understand the difference between “replacement cost” and “actual cash value.” Replacement cost is the amount it would take to replace or rebuild your home or repair damages with materials of similar kind and quality, without deducting for depreciation.
Do not confuse replacement cost with market value. Market value is a real estate term that describes what the current value of your home would be if you were to sell it, including the price of the land.
Actual cash value (ACV) is the value of your property when it is damaged or destroyed. This is usually figured out by taking the replacement cost and subtracting depreciation.
Although the cost for replacement value is higher, the extra protection is worth it.
Remember that a private lender’s main focus is to make money securely. Savvy private lenders take it a step further by creating “spreads” and making nice streams of passive income without using their money.
Fore more information, http://www.privatelenderssecrets.com.
Private Lenders – Actions to Keep Your Investment Safe (Part 1)
July 17th, 2009There are some savvy private lenders who have not realized they do not need to use their own money or credit. These are some of the many reasons private lending is so attractive!
Private lending is the quickest way for a person to make passive income. No investment is completely free of worry, yet there are methods to making your investment as safe as possible.
Private Mortgage Lending (or Private Lending) allows you to earn high interest rates by using other peoples’ money (private money).
You can keep your investment safe by considering some insurance policies.
Title insurance and property insurance are two insurances you should require when you lend money on a property. These policies will be paid for by the real estate investor and will additionally protect your investment!
Another detail you need to make sure of is your loans. They must be recorded properly.
There are ways to structure a loan which assures further safety.
This article will cover Title Insurance.
Title Insurance
Title insurance is an insurance policy that protects the lender against loss due to disputes over the ownership of a property and defects in the title that were not found in the search of the public record. For your protection, you will want to get a lender’s title insurance policy or loan policy.
This policy will only cover the amount you loaned to the borrower and not the amount the property is worth unless you specify otherwise. Therefore, if you provide a $50,000 loan on a $100,000 piece of property, traditional title insurance would only cover your $50,000 loan. If severe title problems occur, the cost of your settlement may be more than your loan amount, so it is in your best interest to have the policy cover the appraised property value instead.
Title insurance guarantees that the property belongs to the person on the title, that there are no undisclosed liens or encumbrances, and that there are no undisclosed payments on taxes due. If this is not true, the title insurance policy will take care of the mistakes at no cost to you.
The cost of title insurance varies, but generally amounts to about one percent or less, of the purchase price of the property. The premium is a one-time fee that is paid in full at closing.
The coverage is limited to defects that are already in existence when the policy is issued. It does not include those that occur after you purchase the property. Some policies also exclude problems related to easements, boundary line disputes, and mineral and/or water rights. Be sure to ask what coverage exceptions are in your policy and discuss these items of concern with your attorney or escrow agent before you close.
More than one-third of all residential real estate transactions in 2005 had title problems that required corrective action, according to a survey by the American Land Title Association (ALTA), Washington, D.C. If you don’t have title insurance, you will pay for these problems yourself. If you have title insurance, however, the title company will pay the claims, legal fees, and negotiate settlements. You won’t have to do a thing!
We know the main focus of private lenders, is to make money securely. Experienced private lenders go above and beyond by creating “spreads”, and are able to make nice streams of passive income without using their own money.
Private Lenders – 7 Things To Look Out For
July 16th, 2009Being a Private Lender can be very profitable for individuals, especially when they know how to do it without using any of their own money.
However, there are some things beginner investors should be aware of. Here is a list of 7 things:
1) NEVER ever give borrower money directly!
This should be obvious for most private lenders. Whenever lending money, always go through a reputable title company. Title companies are there to protect you and protect the borrower. Worried about fees? Borrower pays for these! You have nothing to lose when you work with a Title company. Remember, one of the main things private lenders always seek is security. Secure loans and great profits!
2) NEVER ever loan money without asking for an appraisal & preliminary title report!
Once again, most private lenders should know this. An appraisal (paid for by the borrower) gives you the value of the property. The value is the most important number in private lending. All your decisions are based on that, so make sure you have it right. I would like to also add that in this economy, I would suggest you also get a “BPO” (Broker Price Opinion) from a local real estate agent familiar with the area (where the property is located). One again, the borrower pays for both. I will not bore you with the reasons for now why to get a BPO in addition to an appraisal, just suffice to say that appraisals are done in specific ways and can be used in court against the appraiser, and BPO’s are “opinions” that are not.
3) ALWAYS use a QUALIFIED Loan Broker
Always use a mortgage broker used to brokering private funds. They will make sure all the loan paperwork and disclosures are in place and correct.
4) ALWAYS get lender’s title insurance
ALWAYS get lender’s title insurance. This should protect you from any title issues. Guess who pays for that? Yep, borrower does. In fact, as a private lender, you realize the borrower pays for almost everything! What a concept!
5) ALWAYS be on the borrower’s hazard insurance as loss payee
This makes sure that in case the collateral (the property) is damaged due to fire for example, the insurance company will pay you. The title company will add you as loss payee to the borrower’s hazard insurance.
6) ALWAYS know which lien position you are
This is pretty basic, but I am surprised how many people walk into my private lending boot camp and have no idea what position they are in (they had tried their hand at private lending before attending my 3-day intensive class). Make sure you know what position you are. 1st or 2nd loan positions are best; avoid 3rd or anything junior to that.
7) ALWAYS know your “LTV” (Loan to Value)
This is a VERY important ratio. As a private lender, stick to a maximum LTV you are comfortable with. Keep in mind that the LTV‘s vary by property type. For example, with residential 1 to 4 units, you never want to go beyond 65%. For land, 50% is absolute highest. In fact, as a beginner private lender, stick to 1 to 4-units residential properties, and preferably, single family homes in your area (30-minute drive radius from your home).
There are more things one should look out for, but this is a starting list of 7 things to look out for.
Being a Private Lender can be very profitable for individuals, especially when they know how to do it without using any of their own money. I can tell you that a savvy private lender can make more money, with less hassle, and with less money than the real estate investor.
Everyone out there should consider real-estate backed private money lending.
…And if you would like more information on creating passive income without buying properties, without using your money, and without having good credit, click here for more information>>>
Replay of Cash Flow Generator – Private Lending Mastery
July 8th, 2009Private lending has existed for decades for a good reason…
because it is a GREAT way to generate passive cash flow without hassles of real estate ownership.
Discover the secrets to private lending!
Click on link or picture below to start…
Private Lending Secrets – Part II
July 3rd, 2009If there was an incredible secret that has been around for centuries that can make you very wealthy, would you want to know it?
Well, there has, and I will reveal it here. But just because I am offering it for free in this article, please do not undermine its value.
It truly can make you wealthy.
The secret has been staring us right in the face the whole time. It is on every corner.
It is banking! Banks have existed for centuries for a good reason – they are profitable.
Individuals can do this and participate in some of the same benefits through something called “private lending.”
So what is private lending?
Private lending, also known as Trust Deed Investing, is a process whereby private individuals lend money to property owners secured by their real estate, with the desire to receive a fair return on their investment.
It is NOT a “get rich quick scheme.”
There are a few keywords one needs to know about lending; “Arbitrage” and “Leverage.”
“ARBITRAGE” at a basic level means making money off of spreads! i.e. borrowing money at a lower rate and lending at a higher rate.
“LEVERAGE” is controlling a larger asset with a smaller amount of money. Leverage is simply the use of borrowed money.
So here are some things people can do with private lending:
1) One can lend money at a higher interest rate, and borrow at a lower rate creating a nice spread.
One might think, “Isn’t that how banks got into trouble?” – The answer is no. Banks got into this because of greed! They were making 100% loans and taking on all the risk. Any savvy bankers or private lender will tell you that banks shifted the risk to them by doing so.
2) One can leverage money 3 times or more and lend that money out. So if you can take $10,000 and leverage it 3 times, now you have $30,000 in leveraged money that you can play with, PLUS the additional $10,000 (in most cases), giving you a total of $40,000 to lend out.
3) If you combine the above two, here is where you get “magic” in private lending – what most private lenders don’t even know how to do. Use a certain amount of OPM, leverage it 3 or more times, and lend it out.
Now here is the kicker. All that can be done in certain cases WITHOUT much risk to the lender. What does that mean? If things went south, you are not liable.
Read that again!
Ultimately, this results in generating a nice income every month, while being in a safer position than the property owner, and with limited downside!
So if there was an incredible secret that has been around for centuries that can make people very wealthy, would you want to know it? This is it, and it is just the tip of the iceberg!
Private Lending Secrets – Part I
July 1st, 2009So you want passive income?
Are you tired of your job or swapping time for money?
Then you ought to consider Private Lending.
So what is private lending?
Private lending, also known as Trust Deed Investing, is a process whereby private individuals lend money to property owners secured by their real estate, with the desire to receive a fair return (commensurate with risk) on their investment.
Oftentimes, private money loans are generally short to medium term in nature (1-5 years) and are used for all types of real estate financing: commercial retail, restaurants, hotels/motels, marinas, elder care facilities, industrial, agricultural, raw land, land development, construction, rehab, multi-family, and single family homes.
The words “private lending” invoke certain assumptions.
- Private lenders must have money. Not true!
- Private lending seems risky. Not true!
- Private lending requires decades of experience to do. Not true!
- Private lenders must dedicate full time to do this. Not true!
- Private lenders must have good credit. Not true!
So what is the truth?
It turns out that private lending is very similar to banking. They make money the same way.
Banks are in the business of lending money safely. The same with private lending.
In fact, a private lender is in a safer position than the property owner, with better cash flow. In fact it can be done without having much money or credit. Also, it is a relatively easy strategy to learn than learning about investing in real estate.
And the best part of this is that it can be done with a couple of hours a week!
So want passive income? You are missing out on a LOT if you do not consider private lending!
“The Real Estate Wealth Formula”
May 31st, 2009Many years ago, I was introduced to what was called the “The Real Estate Wealth Formula” that allowed you to build a real estate empire by simply starting with, or buying 1 house with your money!
Here is how it worked…
You own a home with some equity (if you do not, I will explain how to do start with one later).
You then write a note against the property you own and use that as a down payment to another house.
Now you have 2 homes, with the new one having some equity that you can use.
You then write a note against the new property you just purchased and use that as a down payment on another house.
You now have 3 homes, with the new one having some equity that you can use.
You then repeat the process by writing a note against the new property you just purchased and use that as a down payment on another house.
This keeps going on.
However at some point, when you have enough homes, you can then do a “substitution of collateral” on the mortgage on the very FIRST home and make that point on the very last home you purchased. Essentially, this is a way to make the very first home to be free of the lien you used in the very first step.
This allows you to keep the first home from being affected from bad deals.
It also allows you the ability to “BORROW” someones equity if you have no property and build your empire, then life the mortgage from it when time comes.
I like this! No money down!
You have to make sure the numbers work. I would watch the “Financial Leverage” videos to make sure you understand how to deal with leverage.
If you like this, let me know. Donna Fox and I are putting a membership site related to “OPM” (Other People’s Money), where we will discuss the details of using a note as a down payment.
This “The Real Estate Wealth Formula” is truly interesting for some of you to try out!
At Closing Table…
May 30th, 2009So you found a motivated seller…
…did your negotiations…
…completed your due diligence…
…have financing in place…
…and now you are sitting at closing table of this great deal – you are home free!
Well almost!
I have found more mistakes in closing documents than I ever expected!
Let’s start with some basics. Here are things you should expect at closing:
- Keys
- Garage door openers
- Service contracts
- Warranty policies that are still in effect
- …and any other docs pertaining to the house (such as blueprints etc.)
If a mistake was found, it might cost buyer or seller another few hundred bucks. So make sure both parties come with a checkbook in case one party owes the other more.
Okay, let’s go over things you HAVE to go over. Here are mistakes I have actually encountered:
Review the closing statement (a.k.a. settlement statement or HUD-1) carefully.
- Look at the pro-rated numbers carefully. Mortgage interest, property taxes, insurance. In one incident involving a duplex (2 units), one of the pro-ration figures was HALF what it should be. For some reason, the number was based on 1-unit as opposed to 2-units. I did not even know that was possible since both units were on same APN (parcel number)!
- Are pro-rations of rental income (if it is a rental) and security deposit included?
- Make sure the figures are in the right column. Was the seller charged all the correct expenses? Was the buyer charged all the correct expenses. I have seen cases where we agreed that seller would pay for something in the contract just to find out that the fee was split between buyer and seller. Why? Because “normal” way of doing things in that county was that, but the agreement between buyer and seller overrides that, but escrow agent assumed differently.
Review the finance documents:
- Review the Promissory Note VERY carefully. It is not uncommon to have lender submit a note that has NOTHING to do with what they had promised you (assuming you are the buyer). Read the terms of the note carefully.
- Check for prepayment penalty. Is it as agreed?
- Check amount financed. Is it as agreed?
- Check for penalties and charges. Are they as agreed?
- Check the interest rate. Is it as agreed?
- Check for date on which finance charges begins.
- APR of finance.
- Points charged. Is it as agreed?
- Number, amount and due dates of mortgage payments.
- Is there a balloon clause? Is it as agreed?
- Terms of loan. Are they as agreed?
- Make sure your name is spelled correctly in all documents.
- Review the deed carefully (Warranty Deed or Grant Deed - depending on the state you are in).
I am amazed at the number of “investors” that sign on documents at closing without knowing what they just signed. I have had to delay closings many times because paperwork would be SO DIFFERENT than what was promised.
Money For Deals…
May 23rd, 2009
So you need money for deals. You have no money.
Where do you start?
Let’s start with 3 basic ways of getting money:
- Save It!
- Borrow It!
- Trade It!
I will expand on each of the above.
- Save It: This is NOT my favorite way, but many people save money by living frugally and/or making making more money. If you save $20,000 per year (hard for many people), it would take you MANY years to save $1 million! Like I said, this is NOT my favorite way.
- Borrow It: This is one way to get money. You have to make sure you match the investment to the type of money. For example, borrowing money for long term with no cash flow investment is not a good idea. Borrowing money against a cash-flowing investment might be a better idea.
Here is an example: If you have an asset (e.g. building) that cash flows, then borrowing against it is a good idea. This is basic “arbitrage.” Just make sure that your cash flow coming in is HIGHER than what you are paying. For more information, check the “Financial Arbitrage” videos on this blog.
- Trade It: You can raise money by selling shares in your company. So the investor becomes an EQUITY investor. Anytime you are thinking of doing this, make sure you talk to an SEC attorney to walk you through all SEC compliance. But essentially you can trade ownership in your entity for money. This is good for long term investments. I use this method for my various companies.
Now, which method is best for you?
I gave you some examples.
But let me say this, you need to consider the downside as well. For example, if you borrowed to buy an asset, and things went south, what happens then? You are liable.
But what happens if things went south if your investor ownership? Well, assuming you worked with an SEC attorney, disclosed risks, and there was no fraud involved, you are fine!
So always consider upside and downside of dealing with other people’s money.
In general, here are my 2 cents for NEW businesses: “Trade It” when you are a new business, “Borrow It” if you are an established business with revenues to cover loan payments. There are exceptions.
Keep in mind when you buy real estate with cash flow, you are buying an “established” business. Just watch the “Financial Leverage” videos I have on this blog.
If you need help on learning about OPM, call us at 888-888-3612 and ask for a strategy session for OPM.
“Fast Track Investments…” asked this investor
May 21st, 2009Recently, an investor approached me during a 3-day workshop…
And he asked this question…
“George, I heard through the grapevine that you are doing a lot of ‘big’ business investments in addition to your real estate investments. Can you share with me some things you are doing and why are you not doing all real estate investments?”
I felt this would be a good blog post…
Have you played the board game “Cashflow(tm)” by RichDad organization?
Think about the 2 “tracks” – you have the inner circle on the board game that represents the “Rat Race” and the outer track which represents the “Fast Track” I believe.
Now, think about the TYPE of deals in the “Rat Race” track… They are mostly real estate.
Think about the TYPE of deals in the “Fast Track“… They are mostly “big” business!
I consider myself a WEALTH BUILDER, and real estate is just one vehicle I use.
I also like to play on the “Fast Track” because there are some HUGE deals there.
Through an investment group I am involved in, we launch or acquire businesses (including some real estate) that can be sold for HUGE profits.
The key is understanding and EXIT STRATEGY.
We NEVER launch a business or buy one for the sake of buying ourselves a job. We do it to build massive wealth.
For example, we look for markets that have a lot of “mom & pop” business owners in a highly fragmented market, which would allow us to do what is called a “Roll-up Strategy” – to consolidate these businesses under one brand & sell it off.
Another example is franchising very interesting small businesses that have huge potential.
I can go on and on, but let me say this.
Playing in the “Fast Track” is exciting! I feel very honored to work with some GREAT wealth builders (mostly my best students from my bootcamps).
To me, this is all “playing” – real estate, big businesses, etc.
Anyone that knows me will tell you that I am NOT a “professional” speaker, I am NOT a “polished” speaker – I simply do what I LOVE, I TEACH because I enjoy it, I surround myself with GREAT people, and I never take myself too seriously.
So for everyone stuck in the “Rat Race“, be persistent, stick with it!
You will realize that the “game” of wealth building can be a LOT OF FUN!
Now, back to these investments…






