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Articles from Bryan Benson | Selfgrowth.com
- Getting Your First Deal: Which Direction Should You Take? Part III Entitlement Timeframes. - by Submitted on Apr 04, 2008 from Bryan BensonSay your state poses a bit of a challenge from an entitlement standpoint. As we discussed in parts I and II, you have worked on your first deal-and it is coming along! You have even gotten to the next stage of pricing your unit(s). Now you are ready! Bring on the contractors-right? Here is ...
Views: 567 - Getting Your First Deal: Which Direction Should You Take? Part IV: Which Stage Will You Use For Your Sale? - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2008 from Bryan BensonSince I’ve taken you this far, I’ve decided to take you all the way! I can’t leave you hanging at this point can I? Okay, let’s re-cap. You have gotten your first deal, you have priced your unit(s) and now we are going to discuss what stage of selling you are in and how ...
Views: 568 - Going The Distance - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2008 from Bryan BensonMany people take the time to discuss how certain tactics aren’t working for them. Or how a strategy might not be working and they don’t have the money to invest in other tactics. Is this a viable complaint? How about this one: A woman was going to get some input on those yellow letters to ...
Views: 625 - Good First Deal? - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2008 from Bryan BensonLet’s take a look at this scenario from a guy in San Diego. He thought he had a good shot on his first deal-a luxury condominium in down town San Diego. The guy owning the property was one of his past clients. He had some unfortunate things happen in his business where he's willing to let the ...
Views: 682 - How Can You Identify A Buyer's Market? - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2007 from Bryan BensonPart of being successful in real estate involves reading the market and knowing the difference between a buyer’s market and a seller’s market. In order to drive a profit, you have to understand how to play your cards, and to be able to win the hand, you have to identify exactly what ...
Views: 1014 - How Can You Identify ASeller's Market? - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2007 from Bryan BensonDo you remember in your social studies classes – government and economics – when you studied the laws of supply and demand? Perhaps you looked into the subject more deeply in college with a marketing, advertising, or finance course. Unfortunately, this is one subject you will have ...
Views: 652 - How Do You Define What a Good Mailing List Is? Part 1 - by Submitted on May 02, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart 1 Many people worry about mailing lists, but you need to remember; with mailing lists is it not hard. There are a whole bunch of them to choose from. It truly depends on what you want to target. Say you are looking for pretty houses. And for the sake of argument let’s say you are ...
Views: 748 - How Do You Define What a Good Mailing List Is? Part 2 - by Submitted on May 02, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart 2 Most people become discouraged and get hung up in the response rate. The response rate is irrelevant people. What relevant is how much money did you spend, and how much did you get back? It doesn't make any difference what the response rate is... it really doesn't matter how many calls ...
Views: 743 - How Do You Get a Good Market Value on Things? - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2008 from Bryan BensonThis is something that many people are unsure of... There may not be a lot of information out there on how to get a good market value on things. Say your area has been a really fiery hot market for a couple of years with property values going up in the double digits. Say you have just started in ...
Views: 924 - How Do You Proceed In A Land Trust? Part I: In The Beginning...Making The Right Decision - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2008 from Bryan BensonSay you picked up a residential house just recently and you did not realize what a great deal you have. You knew you had a lot of equity in there, but you really didn’t realize what a great deal it truly was. So you have gone ahead and gotten the deed. And the next step is to file it in a ...
Views: 573 - How Do You Proceed In A Land Trust? Part II: Deciding Upon Your Exit Strategy - by Submitted on Apr 05, 2008 from Bryan BensonIn part I we discussed the perfect home you were in the process of purchasing. At this point, you are making the decision of what to do with the home. We have discussed the strategy of keeping the home for an extended period of time to see if the property value increases. Another thing that you ...
Views: 694 - How Do You Title The Trust, The Trustee And The Beneficiary? - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2008 from Bryan BensonIf you’re thinking about making the seller the trustee, you don't want to do that. Why you ask? Because the seller is out of this, their business is none of your business and vise versa. We know what you might be thinking, what if I can avoid the due on sale clause by making them the trustee ...
Views: 841 - How Does The Media Affect The Real Estate Market? - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2007 from Bryan BensonA trained eye knows how to read the real estate market without listening to talking heads that provide general news. Media often hypes any story to sensational levels in order to gain attention, building ratings for whatever network running the program. That means that, whether talking about a ...
Views: 912 - How To Proceed In Land Trust Part III - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2008 from Bryan BensonRemember your great house? Remember the great deal with the potential to make an additional 20%? And lastly, remember the owner who is still living in your house? As we said in part II, you need to get the owner out of there. In case you cannot come up with the money to cash this thing out, ...
Views: 738 - How To proceed In Land Trust Part IV - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2008 from Bryan BensonRemember our friend? The owner who still hasn’t left our home? What are you going to do? Okay go back through your pretty house manual and look at a few of your exit strategies again and know that you need to be able to move them as quick as you can (just in case you can't get anything ...
Views: 681 - If They Say They Will Sell For What They Owe - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2008 from Bryan BensonIf the seller says they will sell for what they owe, understand that you are taking over their debt. One of the things you want to make sure that you do is to cash them out and only pay what they owe at that time; keep in mind that is all you can pay. Remember, you'll pay the bank directly; ...
Views: 646 - Implementing PATLive - by Submitted on Jan 04, 2008 from Bryan BensonPATLive is a telephone answering service offered to a wide array of businesses. Studies have shown that people prefer talking with a person and not an automated IVR system. The service was founded in the early 90’s in Tallahassee Florida. It has expanded nationwide and has services that ...
Views: 702 - Information On Rent-to-Own Properties - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2007 from Bryan BensonPeople have asked, “What's the difference between a rent-to-own versus the owner financing?” The answer – nothing. It’s just about the way you say it and the way it is perceived. When buying a higher dollar house, buyers are not going to want a rent-to-own situation. ...
Views: 591 - IRA - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2008 from Bryan BensonYears ago, people kept their money in one location-usually under their mattress! People did not trust banks and sometimes people hid their money in locations in their home. Crazy to think about isn’t it! Nowadays, people have money in countless varieties of funds, accounts and ...
Views: 841 - Is The California Realtors Contract Assignable? - by Submitted on Dec 14, 2007 from Bryan BensonThis is a question that has been asked to us several times in the past… members wanting to know if the California Realtors Contract is assignable, or will they have to close on the contract themselves and then close with buyer. We’ve also been asked if the buyer's cash covers the ...
Views: 721 - Is Your Approach Working? Do you need to work on your approach? - by Submitted on Apr 22, 2008 from Bryan BensonAre you not feeling confident about your approach? Are not feeling confident about your interactions? What is the best way to approach? Say you have been going on the Internet and getting foreclosure lists and sending postcards. Let’s take it a step further-say you have even been putting ...
Views: 780 - Is Your Number Important On Your Yellow Letter? Pt.1 - by Submitted on May 02, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart I How important is the number listed in your yellow letter - very! Many people think an 800 number is the way to go, but this is simply not the case. Think about it - you don't want somebody answering it like they are a business; you want it to sound like it's going to be you. And ...
Views: 929 - Is Your Number Important On Your Yellow Letter? Pt.2 - by Submitted on May 02, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart II In part one we talked about the importance of the yellow letter calls. The important part was not only the number being used but, more importantly, we talked about who was answering the call! It is irrelevant who you use (as far as which company), but there are ones already programmed ...
Views: 777 - Know Your Answers Before You Close So You Know Whether to Pass or Play - by Submitted on Apr 24, 2008 from Bryan BensonSay you have a house that a woman wants to sell to you. In fact, let’s say it is your first deal (for all of you first time dealers out there, this one is for you). So the house has two little apartments that have been added to the side. Is this a good deal? This may be the question you ...
Views: 795 - Law Of Attraction And The Vision Board - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2008 from Bryan BensonA Vision Board is a simple tool you can create to help you with getting what you want out of life via the law of attraction and manifestation. It is the visual equivalent of your thoughts, of what you desire and want in life. Your Vision Board could be your idea of a dream trip you want to take ...
Views: 650 - Loan To Value Ratio: Know Your Numbers - by Submitted on Apr 16, 2008 from Bryan BensonSay you have an arm of 4.25 with a loan balance of $178,000.00 that you can take as subject-to on that and you are getting the asking price of $325,000.00 for this house. What are you figuring the loan to value ratio for? Now you may be doing this for a private lender because you need the ...
Views: 745 - Making Money Through Seller Financing - by Submitted on Dec 05, 2007 from Bryan BensonIf you are serious about real estate investment, you should think twice about your requirements for purchasers or tenants. In most cases, if someone is ready to purchase a home without going through a traditional bank, it is because they don’t meet all of the requirements to qualify for a ...
Views: 853 - Making Use Of A Bad Real Estate Market To Build Fortunes - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2007 from Bryan BensonIf you have received the proper training as a real estate investor, you realize there is no such thing as a “bad” real estate market. The real estate market fluctuates cyclically, driven mostly by the laws of supply and demand. As you probably learned in grammar school, supply and ...
Views: 593 - Managing Your Properties - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2008 from Bryan BensonWhat are the best policies and procedures when it comes to managing your properties? Are you getting tangled up in the words? Every time there's a hiccup in the business people run like flies. If you’ve made a lot of money on the lease purchase (and not sure how to circumvent this) you should ...
Views: 714 - Media Advertisement - by Submitted on Jan 08, 2008 from Bryan BensonIf you are someone trying to buy homes, then using something like television commercials to find potential sellers goes against everything taught by FFN. If you have the appearance of being a business or company owner, it will be an immediate turn off for the seller. In some markets, buying ...
Views: 676 - Meditation To Increase Brain Function - by Submitted on Mar 11, 2008 from Bryan BensonMeditation is a discipline where the mind is focused either on an object or on breathing. It has been described as ‘self regulation of attention, in the service of self-inquiry, in the here and now.” There have been numerous articles in major magazines as well as in medical journals of the ...
Views: 779 - Money Or Credit - How To Cater To More Of The Buying Marketplace - by Submitted on Dec 07, 2007 from Bryan BensonIf you look at the statistics today for the American population, you’ll find out quickly that it can be unrealistically difficult for the average person to obtain a traditional mortgage loan. In order to qualify through most sources, a buyer has to have a high credit rating (which ...
Views: 691 - Money Saving Tips - by Submitted on Jan 11, 2008 from Bryan BensonThe yellow letters are great. They do not need changing in any way, and if you follow the instructions exactly as they are given, you will get a return from them. Getting these letters written and the envelopes stuffed is something that you can do yourself. Some have chosen to get someone to ...
Views: 712 - Nine Ways To Improve Your Closing Ratio - Part 1 - by Submitted on Dec 03, 2007 from Bryan BensonYou’ve pre-qualified your prospects. They look good and you’ve made an appointment with your lender for the formal loan application. You’re feeling good about yourself now because, as far as you’re concerned, this house is sold...or is it? Don’t spend your money ...
Views: 725 - Nine Ways To Improve Your Closing Ratio - Part 2 - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2007 from Bryan BensonStep 2. Call The Loan Processor Within 3 Days To Make Sure The Appraisal Was Ordered That’s right; you actually have to check to see if they did. Remember this...every day that goes by decreases your chances of closing. It’s your job to take care of the details. No one else cares ...
Views: 626 - Nine Ways To Improve Your Closing Ratio - Part 3 - by Submitted on Dec 04, 2007 from Bryan BensonStep 7. The Day Before Closing Call the closing agent and get the exact amount the buyer will need to bring. Usually a cashier’s check is required and you don’t want this to be a last minute thing that was missed. Call your buyer with the amount and confirm they have the insurance ...
Views: 574 - No Need To List With A Realtor - by Submitted on Mar 10, 2008 from Bryan BensonHere’s a scenario you might be interested in. Suppose you are getting a lot of response on a property-it's not just from the ad in the paper, it's also from additional marketing. The issue in this scenario includes a high dollar amount loan (say $600,000.00) with a $4,000-dollar a month payment. ...
Views: 599 - Over Leverage Or Short Sale? - by Submitted on Dec 28, 2007 from Bryan BensonAn over leverage home is one that you want to stay away from… meaning that the amount owed is more than what the house is worth, even more than the AVR. About the only thing you can do with these homes is list them. An exception might be if there is significant damage to the home, for ...
Views: 736 - Planned Unit Development - by Submitted on Mar 08, 2008 from Bryan BensonIs your land Planned Unit Development (PUD) approved? Do you have land that can be used to put condos or other housing on? Say you have about 10 acres, has the city approved you putting condos on it or is that just something you’re thinking about doing? Are you sitting on a goldmine? Could you ...
Views: 711 - Private Lenders - by Submitted on May 02, 2008 from Bryan BensonSay you have a subject to. How can you give a first mortgage to a private lender if you are going to be making the mortgage payments? First things first! That is kind of a trick question because you can borrow both first and seconds from private lenders. Did you know this? Now private ...
Views: 996 - Promises, Promises. Promises Made...Promises Broken? - by Submitted on Apr 01, 2008 from Bryan BensonThere are many things you may promise a seller. Of course you want everything to work out perfectly when it comes to a sale you are involved with. I’d like to give you an example you should be wary of and give you a possible solution. Say you have a short-sale happening and you should ...
Views: 561 - Questioning Whether the Value of Your Property Will Rise...or Fall? Part I - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2008 from Bryan BensonDid you just purchase your property? Say you just bought a property and it wasn't through anyone person in particular, it was just on the regular market. It was with a builder who was offering a whole lot of discounts to move the property before the end of the year in a new development. Your ...
Views: 690 - Questioning Whether the Value of Your Property Will Rise...or Fall? Part II - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart II In part one you had just purchased your property. You had it titled in your name rather than in your LLC. You were going to bank to get a loan. You also have hired an appraiser to figure out the true worth of the home. Now you need to title it. Keep this in mind. You can actually ...
Views: 793 - Questions about Auctions: What you need to Know! Part Four - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart Four: Auction this, Auction that We have come full circle! In part one we talked about the basics of auctioning. Part two we touched on the nitty-gritty and about how to handle the auctioneer and how to get involved with the auction. Part three we really got to know our motivated seller. ...
Views: 718 - Questions about Auctions: What you need to Know! Part Five - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart Five: The art of negotiation We’ve talked about the basics of auctioning in part one. In part two we started to talk about what I call the nitty-gritty. We talked about what to do with the auctioneer and how to go about getting involved in the auction. We also talked about the ...
Views: 747 - Questions About Auctions: What You Need To Know! Part One - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart One: The Basics Do you have a home that you would like to get rid of but just aren’t sure how? Maybe an auction is right for you. Auctions are becoming increasingly important to talk about. The worst thing you can do is agree to an auction (not knowing a thing about them). We are ...
Views: 734 - Questions About Auctions: What You Need To Know! Part Three - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart Three: The Motivated Seller We’ve talked about the basics of auctioning in part one. In part two we started to talk about what I call the nitty-gritty. We talked about what to do with the auctioneer and how to go about getting involved in the auction. We also talked about the ...
Views: 700 - Questions About Auctions: What You Need To Know! Part Two - by Submitted on Apr 09, 2008 from Bryan BensonPart Two: The Nitty-Gritty So you have decided to try your hand at an auction. We talked about the basics of an auction in part one. Mainly, you learned whether or not you should participate in an auction (as a seller) in terms of price for your property. Now we’ll dive a little deeper ...
Views: 742 - Questions about Equity Spread - by Submitted on Mar 31, 2008 from Bryan BensonMany people have questions about equity spread (and what is considered a common equity spread). Let me explain it to you this way. If you have a home that is subject-to and is leveraged pretty high, how much equity spread actually still makes it a deal? Before you can answer that, you need to ...
Views: 608 - Questions About Raw Land? - by Submitted on Apr 07, 2008 from Bryan BensonAre you sitting on top of a parcel of land that is a gold mine waiting to happen? Is this land just perfect-except the land is contaminated! Contaminated-what happened to your gold? Let’s look at this kind of situation, because it happens regularly enough and should be talked about. Say ...
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