Author: John Peterson

“Ultimately – You are responsible.”

That’s what my mentor used to tell me.

This time of year, I am often reminded of my mentor, and how excited he would be as we all moved onto the new year.  His advice has propelled me forward in my career. He was also very down to earth, and would constantly remind me that the training and experience would never benefit me, unless I took responsibility for the results.

I share a little more of his beginning of the year advice in this video below:

I hope this month at Washington REIA Network you can come out and meet some of our members who are great and experienced people to know in this business. If you are involved in investing in real estate in the DC area – there is simply no better group of people to surround yourself.

Let me know if there is anything I can do to help you in your business here in the DC area.

John

Profitable Property
Rockville, MD
301-881-5541
ProfitableProperty@gmail.com

http://www.facebook.com/ProfitableProperty
http://www.youtube.com/profitableproperty

Interesting Conference today!  The place was packed to hear guest speakers talk about the local economy and predictions for the housing market in the coming years.  The talks were focused on how the regional economy can change gears as the federal government begins to slow spending.

Wow… What a difference just one year can make.

I thought I noticed fewer IPhones floating around…. but I had no idea.

Apple – the maker of the IPhone and other cool “I-gadgets” sold 24% of the smartphones worldwide in the 4th quarter of 2011.

Today – they control just over 14% of the market.  You can read the entire article in the Wall Street Journal today, or online at http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324391104578230060513922882.html

One year – and Apple loses almost half of their worldwide market share.  That is a huge loss. So large in fact, that the company is finally considering a lower cost alternative to their $600 or more current model.

I am pretty careful where I spend money, and certainly subscribe to the “penny saved, penny earned” theory.  When I was shopping for a phone a few months ago, I chose an Android phone – because it was cheaper.  Most people that know me, know that I am not too technical – but – for me and my needs, (and contrary to the trendy kid at the Verizon store who tried desperately to sell the IPhone) my phone seems to do most of what the IPhone could do, and at a substantially discounted price.

Before you go taking my advice about phones  – please don’t.  I’m just telling you a story about what works for me, and apparently, quite a few other people around the world.  You do what works best for you.

Justin and I were in the office yesterday, and he reminded me of the article about Facebook suggesting their employees switch to Android based phones.   I think the whole smartphone market is pretty interesting and I continue to be amazed at what I can do with my phone. Even Facebook realized that markets change – and they want to their employes to stay within the herd to get the same experience that their users have when using mobile devises.  You can find that Facebook article at http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-57553967-93/facebook-uses-posters-to-push-employees-to-switch-to-android/

Why is this interesting?  Because markets change.  People start to want different things.  If your business doesn’t change, you will lose market share – just like Apple.

In the 30’s and 40’s the family gathered around the radio.  By the time the 50’s and 60’s rolled around, the TV was a gathering point.  Today, everyone in my house has their own mobile wireless computer, (one of which is an IPad) and on many nights we may be all in the same room, but each person is “doing their own thing”.

Our business has changed slightly in the last 12 months – we are starting to focus on different markets than we did in 2010 and 2011.  Every month this year, we plan to keep you updated about what is going on in our world of real estate, and how the DC-Baltimore market (and it’s many sub-markets) is changing.

This story about Apple also reminded me about a property we are trying to sell right now – sometimes, it is about the price. Listen to the feedback you get from your customers.  Listen to your market.  Never be afraid to make changes quickly when you need to.

I am excited to see you in a couple weeks (Jan. 21st)  as we kick off another year at Washington REIA Network.  We are going to continue to introduce you to local professionals in our area – so you get a sense of how this business really operates.  There is no better way to learn about this business, and stay on top of the current local trends than from the DC “insiders”.

Let me know how I can help you,

John Peterson

Talk about an exciting way to kick off the new year…..

We have had a few questions come into the office this morning, and my answer so far has been (in the words of Barry Manilow)

“Looks like we made it.”

Continued mortgage forgiveness did get tucked into the final version of the fiscal cliff deal.

This means that sellers who are still underwater on their mortgage, have received a one year reprieve when it comes to debt relief and mortgage forgiveness.

We also kept the mortgage deduction – but we never doubted that would disappear.

Why is mortgage forgiveness important?  Well, 13,000 loan modifications were done in November alone. But that pales in comparison with another 98,000 short sales which were finalized in the 3rd quarter.  Banks and homeowners seem to be agreeing to take the short sale route vs. the modification route as a way to move the potential foreclosure inventory.

What does this mean for you as an investor?  It means through 2013 we can educate homeowners and show them that the sale of their property still has a tax incentive to help them make a decision.  It helps the market keep moving – a good thing since we still have a massive supply of potential foreclosure property.

Plenty of people are still underwater and owe more than their home is worth.  Get out their and help them make a decision on what to do next.

Wondering where to go in your real estate investing career?

Come join us as we kick off the new year of

Washington REIA Network on Jan. 21st.

WREIA Toy Drive

With the help of a few generous WREIA members, we collected and helped distribute some extra presents to a few dozen kids in the DC area yesterday.

We snapped a quick photo before the gifts left the office a few days ago.

We also posted a quick “Year End Wrap Up” video a few moments ago.

Keep up the good work and push on through the end of the year.  We are still here in the office trying to get the last of a few properties closed by year end.  If you have any real estate questions, feel free to call us or post a message to us at https://washingtonreianetwork.com/contact-us/ .  We would love to hear what you are up to, and help you with your real estate questions in any way we can.

Have a great new year, and we hope to see you in January as we kick off 2013 in the world of real estate investing in the DC area.

John

Right now, there are a few things about the FHA that make me feel a little like …. 2007.
http://www.theatlantic.com/business/archive/2012/11/the-next-housing-bailout-big-trouble-brewing-at-the-fha/265359/

Here are three quick take-aways from this article:

• FHA now guarantees 16 percent of all US mortgages, and 30 percent of all new home purchase mortgages.
• Fannie, Freddie, FHA, Ginnie Mae, and even the USDA act as the five faces of Uncle Sam’s home loan shop; they account for 90 percent of all new originations.
• In the first quarter of FY 2012, an estimated 40 percent of FHA’s business consists of loans with either one or two subprime attributes.

Articles like this make me wonder if we didn’t “federally guarantee” our way out of the housing mess.  In fact, I wonder how big are the problems still within the industry.

But articles like this can’t stop your business.  One of the things that keeps me going is the one big thing we all have going for us in our business – people need a place to live.

Join us tonight at WREIA for the last meeting of the year.  There will be no outline to follow.  There is no script tonight.  But that doesn’t mean you won’t want to take notes.

  Come join us tonight and find out more about where our members

Get more details and register for the WREIA Nov. meeting tonight at
http://nov2012-wreia-wreia.eventbrite.com

Many people will need help in 2013 – I sure hope you plan on being with us tonight to listen in an maybe even contribute to the conversation.

• Commercial
• Where do I find small commercial deals that cash flow?
• What type of programs are available to finance commercial properties?
• Advantages and disadvantages of this type of investment?
• Renovation
• How are you finding deals?
• What is the toughest part of the process?  Finding, Fixing or Selling?
• Where are the best places to invest?  Where are the DC Area Hot Spots?
• Wholesaling
• How do you build a reliable list of Purchasers?
• Where do you find information on value and renovation expenses?
• How much money can I expect to make on a typical wholesale deal?
• Investor/Realtor
• How do I find a realtor that can assist me with investments?
• Is the MLS a good source of deals?
• What do I need to have in order to be attractive to realtors?

Get more details and register at   http://nov2012-wreia-cc2.eventbrite.com

Let me know how I can help you,

John Peterson

 I HAD To Laugh When I Heard Him Say…

“This fiscal cliff is scaring me to death! I don’t know what to do.”

“Why?” I asked.

For the next 5 minutes I heard what sounded like a word for word reporting of every thing I’ve been reading and hearing about across every newspaper and news station.

The big difference for me, I explained, was that after all the same “news”…..

I see opportunity.

If all of the headlines are making you just the slightest bit nervous, come join us on Monday night at Washington REIA.

One of the things we are going to talk about is the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act. The Act is set to expire on Dec. 31st.

You can find more at http://www.irs.gov/Individuals/The-Mortgage-Forgiveness-Debt-Relief-Act-and-Debt-Cancellation-

The expiration of the Act concerns me for one reason.  When we are talking with potential sellers of over-leveraged properties, this Act creates an incredible tax incentive for them to sell their property through the short sale process OR apply for a modification of their existing mortgage.

There are still millions of people across the country who are underwater on their homes.  There are thousands of people in the DC/Baltimore area who still need help.

If this Debt Relief Act is not extended, we will be switching most of our focus to the bankruptcy courts.  That will be the only solution for many of these people in our area who need to get out from under their properties and the massive deficiency judgements that would follow.

Come join us Monday night and find out more about where our members
found terrific success in 2012 and where we are focusing in 2013.

Get more details and register for the WREIA Nov. meeting at
http://nov2012-wreia-wreia.eventbrite.com

We are going to cover a lot of ground on Monday.  Washington REIA members will be talking about their investing discipline, including answering the following;

Commercial
Where do I find small commercial deals that cash flow?
What type of programs are available to finance commercial properties?
Advantages and disadvantages of this type of investment?

Renovation
How are you finding deals?
What is the toughest part of the process?  Finding, Fixing or Selling?
Where are the best places to invest?  Where are the DC Area Hot Spots?

Wholesaling
How do you build a reliable list of Purchasers?
Where do you find information on value and renovation expenses?
How much money can I expect to make on a typical wholesale deal?

Investor/Realtor
How do I find a realtor that can assist me with investments?
Is the MLS a good source of deals?
What do I need to have in order to be attractive to realtors?

Get more details and register for the WREIA Nov. meeting at   http://nov2012-wreia-wreia.eventbrite.com

Let me know how I can help you,

John Peterson
301-881-5541
Washington REIA Network, President
Profitable Property, Founder

P.S We are doing projects all over Metro DC!  If you need an active finance partner in the Washington DC area, we have been expanding our capital base and now have all the funds you could ever need to help you with your deals.   You can request a funding letter or share details on your property at http://dchardmoneylender.com/quick-property-submit/

Join us at the November WREIA meeting.  Get more details at http://nov2012-wreia-wreia.eventbrite.com

The Window IS Closing

Where are we going in 2013? Well….

“The end of 2013 is going to look very different than the beginning of the year.”

That quote was said during a conversation a few days ago with one of our private money partners.

***
By the way – We currently have access to all the capital you could
possibly need to fund your deals.
(And yes, that’s a shameless plug.)
Call the office at 301-881-5541 if you need a finance partner.
***

Come join us at WREIA next Monday at the final monthly meeting of the year and find out why 2013 will present many opportunities at the beginning of the year, that will not be available at the end of the year.

Last year when we had this same members-only format for the November meeting, everyone who attended agreed it was one of their favorite nights of the year.  Our WREIA members are going to get up and tell you about their year – both positive and challenging – and how a few of them have made exponential progress during 2012.

Come a little early for the pizza and networking, but make sure you get a good seat.

Please note: We will not be distributing a presentation after the meeting and there will be no video or audio recording available of the Nov. meeting.

Like a stuck window that you need to close due to a coming storm – sometimes you have to open it further to get it moving.  Our window of opportunity is going to swing wide open in the 1st quarter of 2013 before it slams shut later in the year.

Come join us and find out why on Monday night.

Get more details and register for the WREIA Nov. meeting at
http://nov2012-wreia-wreia.eventbrite.com

We are going to cover a lot of ground on Monday.  Washington REIA members will be talking about their investing discipline, including answering the following;

Commercial
Where do I find small commercial deals that cash flow?
What type of programs are available to finance commercial properties?
Advantages and disadvantages of this type of investment?

     Renovation
How are you finding deals?
What is the toughest part of the process?  Finding, Fixing or Selling?
Where are the best places to invest?  Where are the DC Area Hot Spots?   

Wholesaling
How do you build a reliable list of Purchasers?
Where do you find information on value and renovation expenses?
How much money can I expect to make on a typical wholesale deal?

    Investor/Realtor
How do I find a realtor that can assist me with investments?
Is the MLS a good source of deals?
What do I need to have in order to be attractive to realtors?

Get more details and register for the WREIA Nov. meeting at   http://nov2012-wreia-wreia.eventbrite.com

Let me know how I can help you,

John Peterson
301-881-5541
Washington REIA Network, President
Profitable Property, Founder

Unbelievable. I looked up at the calendar and it’s November already….

What happened to 2012!!??

I hope you have had an exciting and profitable 2012. We only have a few chances for you to catch us as we start ramping up our renovation business for 2013.

Just like you, we are out there every day looking for those lucrative projects to start as we head into the end of the year. We have joint venture opportunities and capital to lend on your great projects so don’t be shy. We would love to help you get your ready-to-sell inventory primed for the spring buying rush.

For those of you who attended our October WREIA meeting, you know that we are focused and planning on doing good, solid projects, in sought after communities, across our broader DC region.

Some of you also mentioned the WREIA meeting in September was helpful and exciting, but you wanted to see more of the tools and techniques we use to generate interest and leads for the projects we do.

Well, we heard you. On November 2nd, WREIA and Profitable Property are sponsoring a super low-cost 2 part training that will knock your socks off.

At our old stomping grounds at the Rockville Hilton, we are going to be showing you more of our numbers and the results we are getting from online and social media marketing campaigns here in the DC area.

The class is jam packed with tons of information you can act on as soon as you leave the building. For those of you who are super motivated, you could actually start using some of the tools in the lobby……

We are going to be showing you details on why and how much time you should be spending on social media. Believe me, if you are seasoned in this business, you could be spending as little at 6 hours – A WEEK – on social media marketing and generating all the leads you can handle. (In fact, 61% are seeing lead generation benefits with 6 hours or less.)

Please understand – I said 6 hours for seasoned business owners.  If you are getting started, it will take a little more work than 6 hours per week to get your plan up and running.

Friday Nov. 2nd is not for the “push a button and I’m rich” crowd.

This business today takes some hustle.

Friday Nov. 2nd is not for the “I’ll just hire someone on Odesk to do it for me” business owner.

The hungry outsourcing crowd on Odesk offer services that could actually hurt your business online today. You have to know what to tell them to do – as well as understand why they are doing it. Our online contractors are doing very different work for us today compared to what they were doing in 2009.

If you are just getting started in this business or your marketing online could use a jump-start – that’s OK. You are really going to enjoy the morning session from 9-11AM.

However, if you have a good system up and running already, and want to get out in front of your competition, you will want to attend the Advanced class from 12-2PM.

Of course you can choose the morning Beginner & Getting Started session, the afternoon Advanced session or simply attend both. Get more details on the two sessions here.

Please don’t wait to register. For the first time, our new affiliates went live and started marketing to their lists yesterday.

We only have 30 seats and at the rate we are going, this class is going to sell out soon. You cannot plan on coming to the door to register – you simply will not find a seat. (We offered the same class last year, and sadly, some of our members were turned away at the door. If your marketing needs help, please don’t let that happen to you on Nov. 2nd.)

Bring your marketing frustrations and questions – this is an interactive training experience.

Let me sum up the class by saying this:

Both sessions are focused on creating multimedia content your clients and customers will engage and respond to – with an intense focus on generating a bottom-line, dollar denominated, measurable profit for your business.

You can find even more details and register here or at
http://small-business-profitable-property-marketing-cc1.eventbrite.com

Now – on to the last WREIA meeting of the year.

Last year, we had the most positive feedback and comments from the November WREIA monthly meeting – BY FAR. Dozens of people let us know how much they enjoyed the evening.

We are going to bring in some of our WREIA members who are superstars, and they tell you what they did, and how well they did over the course of 2012. They are not joining us to brag about themselves, but to help motivate you. (If you are interested in sharing your success story, let us know.)

We plan this November format because of one simple reason:

When you see other people doing it, you realize you can do it too.

Let me know how I can help you,

John Peterson
301-881-5541