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Here is a great article in Forbes about being a landlord.

5 Ways To Tell If You Would Cut It As A Landlord.

Check it out if you are even considering renting property as part of your wealth building profile.

Quite frankly, being a landlord is not for everyone. The thought of evicting a family is too much for some people.

Check out the article – it’s going to give you even more ammunition when you join us at our last WREIA meeting of 2018 this Monday in Bethesda.

A few more things we will be talking about tomorrow night at WREIA:

Have you noticed a slowdown in DC area sales?

Has your traffic at open houses been slow?

Where are we headed going into 2019?

I hope you join us at WREIA tomorrow!

We are going to talk about THREE KEYS I think are going to be invaluable to your success in real estate in 2019.

Whether you are getting started, beginning to grow, or slowly building your real estate holdings, there will be something for everyone this month at WREIA.

If you’re interested in GROWING your business and adding skills that will help your investing career join us at WREIA on Nov. 12th in Bethesda.

Monday, Nov. 12th at Washington REIA.

Will I see you there?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then join us at WREIA – Monday, Nov. 12th. It will be a great meeting to get you motivated, and get some momentum for the final weeks of 2018.

Join us as we enjoy “Three Keys To A Successful ’19 In Real Estate”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

Re: BRRRR

Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat – How many times can you do that in your career?

The answer?

As many as you want.

It’s not often I come across an article online that I really enjoy.

Here is an article filled with common sense, realistic expectations and my favorite acronym – BRRRR.

You can also find it here at this link –   https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidgreene/2018/10/30/how-to-prepare-for-the-next-real-estate-downturn/

In one of the best paragraphs of the article we find this gem:

“In today’s market, we see a much different scenario. I work as a real estate agent in the San Francisco Bay area, and I’ve yet to see any funky, clearly foolish loans from any of the buyers I’ve worked with. Rates are generally fixed over 30 years, do not adjust, and are absolutely reasonable based on the buyer’s income. It’s obvious that home prices are up, but what’s not often talked about is how wages are up, too. Let’s not forget that there have been 13 years of wage increases since 2006. That’s a pretty healthy number. Prices may be higher, but they’ve increased in proportion to wages as well. The danger of a massive wave of loan defaults hitting the market all at once isn’t all that high.”

Did you catch that? “13 years of wage increases” is something we aren’t hearing too much about tucked inside the doom and gloom slowdown headlines.

Check out the article at the link above – it’s going to give you some ammunition when you join us at our last WREIA meeting of 2018 next Monday in Bethesda.

Have you noticed a slowdown in DC area sales?

Has your traffic at open houses been slow?

Where are we headed going into 2019?

I hope you join us at WREIA next Monday.

We are going to talk about THREE KEYS I think are going to be invaluable to your success in real estate in 2019.

Whether you are getting started, beginning to grow, or slowly building your real estate holdings, there will be something for everyone this month at WREIA.

If you’re interested in GROWING your business and adding skills that will help your investing career join us at WREIA on Nov. 12th in Bethesda.

Monday, Nov. 12th at Washington REIA.

Will I see you there?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then join us at WREIA – Monday, Nov. 12th. It will be a great meeting to get you motivated, and get some momentum for the final weeks of 2018.

Join us as we enjoy “Three Keys To A Successful ’19 In Real Estate”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

“With interest rates sitting near record lows a few years ago, millions of borrowers refinanced their home mortgages, saving billions of dollars in aggregate. But millions of borrowers didn’t, and now they can’t see those same savings.

Since 2016, when rates were at rock bottom, 5.9 million borrowers who could have benefited from a refinance did not apply for one. This year alone, 2.2 million who could have saved money with a refinance no longer can. The report only counted those who would likely have qualified, having high FICO scores and at least 20 percent equity in their homes.”

Find the complete article posted at https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/05/more-than-2-million-homeowners-just-missed-their-chance-to-save-money-by-refinancing.html

The Fed could take a pause after December hike: Investor from CNBC.

Have you noticed a slowdown in DC area sales?

Has your traffic at open houses been slow?

Where are we headed going into 2019?

I hope you join us at WREIA next Monday.

We are going to talk about THREE KEYS I think are going to be invaluable to your success in real estate in 2019.

Whether you are getting started, beginning to grow, or slowly building your real estate holdings, there will be something for everyone this month at WREIA.

If you’re interested in GROWING your business and adding skills that will help your investing career join us at WREIA on Nov. 12th in Bethesda.

Monday, Nov. 12th at Washington REIA.

Will I see you there?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then join us at WREIA – Monday, Nov. 12th. It will be a great meeting to get you motivated, and get some momentum for the final weeks of 2018.

Join us as we enjoy “Three Keys To A Successful ’19 In Real Estate”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

Re: Less is more

It’s true – Less can be more – if done properly.

If you keep doing the same thing but do less of it, you will likely have even less of the same results.

However –

When you change the “stuff” you are doing – things will change.

For instance:

If you are looking for houses in our area but you are only combing through the MLS have you been getting more frustrated over the last few years? The answer is probably “yes”. That’s because very few people find good DC area “deals” via the MLS list of properties.

Now, instead of looking at only residential properties, why not add – just one day a month – where you look at small commercial properties?

Of course, you will have additional results that you did not have before.

Now, what if you started to look for multi-unit properties outside of your normal area? Even more results!

Would you be doing less of your normal activities, but actually doing more – simply by contacting more people?

This way of thinking can be a difficult concept for some people to understand.

Some of my best deals through the years have come from places and people that were not in my normal course of business. They happened because I was doing LESS of my NORMAL activities, and MORE of something different.

I ventured into places unknown, but I was still armed with the knowledge I had from places I had already been.

I hope you join us at our October WREIA meeting tonight.

If you understand the basics of property investing I will show you how you can easily add multi-unit opportunities to your list of daily, weekly or monthly activities.

If you’re interested in “GOING BIG” and adding some commercial multi-units to your portfolio at some point in your investing career join us at WREIA tonight – Oct. 15th in Bethesda.

Monday, Oct. 15th at Washington REIA.

Will you be with us?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then join us at WREIA – Monday, Oct. 15th. It will be a great meeting to get you motivated and get some momentum for the final months of 2018.

Join us as we enjoy “Multi-Unit Property Investing”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

I was at the airport about to take off and had a few thoughts about townhouses, Montana and my old dreams of becoming a millionaire.

I hope you join us at WREIA this month.

If you understand the basics of property investing I will show you how you can easily add multi-unit opportunities to your list of daily activities.

If you’re interested in “GOING BIG” and adding some commercial multi-units to your portfolio at some point in your investing career join us at WREIA on Oct. 15th in Bethesda.

Join us as we enjoy “Multi-Unit Property Investing”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

Magdalene Altidor lost her home to foreclosure during the subprime mortgage crisis, but this week she was first in line at a four-day event in Miami where borrowers with poor credit were offered no-down payment, low interest rate loans.

“I left home, it was about 4 a.m.,” she laughed. “I’m ready to purchase a home.”

The event is one of several being held in cities across America this year, run by the nonprofit, Boston-based brokerage Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America, or NACA.

“It’s a national disgrace about the low amount of homeownership, mortgages for low- and moderate-income people and for minority homebuyers,” said Bruce Marks, CEO of NACA. “In the loans that we’ve originated in the past 6 years, zero foreclosures.”

Marks and NACA were front and center during the subprime mortgage crisis, holding mass mortgage modification events across the country with banks and servicers. Bank of America was there then and the bank is with NACA now, backing the program with $10 billion in mortgage commitments.

Complete article posted at https://www.cnbc.com/2018/10/12/thousands-line-up-for-zero-down-payment-subprime-mortgages.html

On the way to a meeting yesterday I stopped by this apartment complex to grab a quick video about our next WREIA meeting on Oct. 15th.

Apartment Buildings, Strip Malls, Office Buildings, and Warehouses all fall under the umbrella of Multi-Unit properties.

There are many upsides to Multi-units, and a few downsides as well. We will cover both at our meeting this Monday.

Many people think this type of property is too big, or too complicated. This is a shame, because it’s really the same as residential investing once you understand the basics.

I hope you join us at WREIA this month.

If you understand the basics of property investing I will show you how you can easily add multi-unit opportunities to your list of daily activities.

If you’re interested in “GOING BIG” and adding some commercial multi-units to your portfolio at some point in your investing career join us at WREIA on Oct. 15th in Bethesda.

Join us as we enjoy “Multi-Unit Property Investing”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

Re: Top Reason People Sell Their House

Do you know the top reason people sell their house?

Retirement? No.

Health Problems? No again.

Lifestyle Changes? Sorry. Nope.

They simply can’t afford it? BINGO!

Now, retirement, health issues and lifestyle changes can all bring on money problems. We call those leading indicators of the real issue.

Money problems are all around you.

According to a 2017 survey, can you guess how much the average American has in savings?

This is going to shock you.

57% of people had LESS than $1000.

Sad.

But even more than sad, it’s dangerous and horribly stressful.

So, when the typical “investor” sends yet another postcard asking someone to sell them their house in 7 days – what do you think goes through that homeowners mind?

Something like “This thief is trying to steal my home.”

Or “Yeah, I’ll sell. But then what? Where would I live?”

This postcard tactic is breaking the #1 rule of marketing.

Know your audience.

Do you know how stressed a person gets when they suddenly get a 5k or even 50k medical bill but they have only $500 in the bank and their credit cards are already maxed out?

How can you help that person – beyond buying their house?

Can you help them set up a payment plan with the hospital?

Refer them to a debt specialist?

Maybe help that person get in shape so they can avoid more health issues in the future? (Big opportunity right there!)

So what does that have to do with real estate?

It has to do with being a human being, and more importantly a person that has empathy for our neighbors.

When we help people turn the page and move on to their next home, it’s enjoyable.

Some people are moving out, and others are moving in.

We’ve done a good job when both groups of people are happy with the results. To be able to make a living by doing this every day – is simply a gift.

We have had a good run in real estate over the last few years. Prices have been escalating nicely.

A few months ago, something happened and things started to “slow down”.

People are getting nervous. The last time our market slowed down, it was a result of the debt crisis. This time, it’s different.

It’s more NORMAL.

Normal cycles in a business are easier to deal with than the shock and market collapse we had in 2007, 2008, and 2009.

If you would like to see around the corner, and see what it’s going to take to get you through this part of the market cycle – join us this Monday at WREIA.

Investing in our area doesn’t have to be hard. If you stick to a few basic principles, you will be fine. In fact, I think you can make the next few years some of your best and most enjoyable if you pay attention this Monday.

In short – there is probably never been a better time to market your product or service, online or offline, than RIGHT NOW.

I think you should set aside a few moments to be with us next Monday, Aug. 17th.

FAIR WARNING: Our speaker will be discussing some controversial topics and people. Some of these topics and people are completely off my radar, but I’m giving some special permissions this month to discuss them with our audience and WREIA members.

Saying that, he is also going to connect the pieces for you and show you how you can use the same techniques today’s business builders use to build your business – quickly.

Lastly – you can relax. You won’t get a plan to build a 100 year company like Jack Ma in our last article. Instead, he will focus on things you can do in the next 6 months to make 2019 enjoyable.

It’s much easier than you think.

So, mark your calendar –

Monday, September 17th at Washington REIA.

Will I see you there?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then join us at WREIA – Monday, Sept. 17th. It will be a great meeting to get you motivated, and get some momentum for the final months of 2018.

Join us as we enjoy “Successful Real Estate Marketing”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat at this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association

Re: It’s Not The 80’s

When I looked outside this morning, I couldn’t see far.

The fog was pretty dense.

Fine. It gave me a few minutes to catch up on some reading I wanted to do. The usual drive this morning was delayed by a few minutes as I waited for the sun to come up and “burn off” the humidity.

As I was reading an article, I was reminded of my early years in business.

I learned about business in the 80’s, applied what I learned in the 90’s, continued into the 2000’s – and here we are today.

Business today is a LONG way from the 80’s.

In the 80’s we had the war on drugs. Drugs were bad and destroying peoples lives all across the country. It was an epidemic and people were dying.

But today things are different –

We pointed out last week – a major business icon of our time – Elon Musk – smoked weed on a podcast, and people have barely batted an eye.

People are in jail today for possession of the same controlled substance that this CEO just publicly used.

Not long ago that would have been a career ending moment for a CEO.

But definitely not today.

In fact – that “podcast” has been viewed on YouTube nearly 10 MILLION times in the last 4 days. Never mind that until last week I thought podcasts were audio recordings – that is a lot of people consuming that content!

And that does not take into account all of the publicity and free PR that “stunt” brought in for Tesla, Elon Musk, and other companies he is affiliated with or founded.

Never mind what you or I think about the legalization of marijuana in the United States.

Never mind what you or I think about Elon Musk or any of his companies. Let’s put all that aside and take a look at HOW he delivered this avalanche of publicity.

#1 It was controversial.
#2 It was not on mainstream TV or within a 2-5 minute interview on a major network.
#3 This was not scripted “reality” TV.

What does that mean?

It means you should wake up – this isn’t the 80’s or 90’s any more.

It means that if you are trying to reach people using old and very dated media tactics – your time in this business may be coming to an end soon.

People don’t trust anyone any more – for many reasons.

Here is one example where a contractor/friend stole money from his friends closet while he was in SURGERY! His BUDDY pulled out the entire safe and dragged it across the floor and out of the house!

I heard a similar scam going on in the DC area just this morning. Contractors are going into homes and when they do the work, they are also walking away with jewelry and cash found around the house.

Not good.

But what does this have to do with our lives as real estate entrepreneurs?

Maybe, like my issue with the fog this morning, you are having a little trouble seeing where all this is going?

It means that it is becoming harder and harder for people to trust anyone – let alone someone who is offering to “Buy Your House In 7 Days” for “all cash!” and “quick settlements!”

Stop doing that type of marketing!
Please?

It’s even difficult for those of us IN this business to trust each other!

When I get a call or email about a new off-market property for sale, I almost always get a second, third or fourth email about the same deal! Every one of these amateurs wants to “tack on” a “finders fee” for helping me find the deal. The infamous daisy-chain deal that we are ALL getting really tired of hearing about.

Daisy chain “deals” didn’t exist back in the 90’s. And I hope we get rid of them soon.

Trust……. It’s a huge issue today in any business.

So what do you do?

Would you like to know how you can attract people that are EASY for you to do business with?

Elon Musk did it last week and you are going to find out how and why next Monday at WREIA.

I had a call last week with our speaker this month at WREIA. He has connected the trust dots for me in a way that is simple to understand.

In short – there is probably never been a better time to market your product or service, online or offline, than RIGHT NOW.

I think you should set aside a few moments to be with us next Monday Aug. 17th.

FAIR WARNING: Our speaker will be discussing some controversial topics and people. Some of these topics and people are completely off my radar, but I’m giving some special permissions this month to discuss them with our audience and WREIA members.

Saying that, he is also going to connect the pieces for you and show you how you can use the same techniques today’s business builders use to build your business – quickly.

Lastly – you can relax. You won’t have to smoke marijuana on a podcast, scream like a 2 year old, or other idiotic or dangerous things to get peoples attention.

It’s much easier than that.

And now that the fog is gone – it’s time to get back out there!

So, mark your calendar –

Monday, September 17th at Washington REIA.

Will I see you there?

Bring your questions for the Q&A section.

Save a few dollars and reserve your seat early. Then join us at WREIA – Monday, Sept. 17th. It will be a great meeting to get you motivated, and get some momentum for the final months of 2018.

Join us as we enjoy “Successful Real Estate Marketing”

Meet real people doing real deals in real estate – right here in the DC/Baltimore area.

Reserve your seat this link.

John Peterson
Founder, Washington Real Estate Investors Association