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Real Estate Investing In a Down Market 

Timing may be everything, but is now the right time to invest in real estate, given the steep declines seen in the housing marketing in recent months?  Some real estate investment professionals seem to think so.  In fact, the smart investors are buying, buying, buying properties right now.  Why? 

“First, let’s define what we mean by “investing,” says real estate mentor and author Minh Pham, whose popular real estate seminars pack convention rooms with novice real estate investors eager to learn how to make money with real estate.  “Are you intending to be a knowledgeable, well-educated buyer of under-priced properties and stay in the real estate market for the long term in order to see excellent returns?  Or are you looking for a ‘get-rich-quick’ scheme?  If so, my real estate seminars are not for you.” 

Pham explains that buying a cheap property in the hopes of immediately reselling for a lot more than you paid is speculating, not investing.   And speculating is as risky as buying a lottery ticket.  No credible real estate investment coach will teach you how to speculate, because there is no way to guarantee profits. 

But that doesn’t mean you can’t start seeing profits in a fairly short space of time – you just need to know what you are doing.  

Becoming a successful real estate investor involves getting educated, doing excellent research, and putting together a well-thought-out strategy.   This may seem like homework to some, but for those who have done it the financial rewards are more than making up for the time spent learning.   

“Can you make money in real estate in a down economy?  Absolutely.  Can you do it without knowing what you are doing?  Absolutely not,” says Pham. “Worst case scenario, you could lose thousands of dollars and end up being very disillusioned, as many people are right now as a result of not really understanding what they were doing.  There are rules to any game, and if you don’t take the time the learn them you could lose your money.” 

According to Pham and other real estate investing experts, in order to be successful it’s important to learn how to make money in both ‘up’ and ‘down’ markets. You need survival strategies for when the economy is bad, and know how to win in a competitive market when the economy is booming.   “Don’t fear the competition – embrace it,” advises Pham.  “If you see a lot of investors competing for deals, then know you’re not the only one that sees the potential for profit.  There are more than enough good deals to go around. At any given time there are hundreds of properties for sale in local market niches, enough for every savvy investor to make the profits they’re looking for.  

Even in today’s uncertain climate, novice real-estate investors are making money, especially in smaller properties that are easy to acquire and manage.  Owning property that pays for itself is what it’s all about.  But how do you find those kinds of properties, and how do you recognize them when you do?  “Ah, you’ll have to come to one of my seminars,” grins Pham.   

Minh Pham’s next real estate investing seminar will be held in Alexandria, VA on March 14th, 2009.  He will be giving away his real estate investing handbook, “Turnkey Profits Using Lease Purchase, Subject To’s and Other Creative Real Estate Investing Techniques” to seminar attendees.  To reserve a seat go to www.realestatementoring.eventbrite.com.

Real Estate Power Investor- Start Flipping Homes for Profit

If you have been looking for an opportunity to make some serious money then the timing couldnâ??t be better. The 2009 real estate crisis has presented unique opportunities for anyone looking to capitalize on the abundance of foreclosures and other properties which are available at bargain prices.

The problem a lot of people have with this business is that they might not know anything about it, or they think only experienced real estate brokers are able to take advantage of this. You should know that if you really want to take advantage of this opportunity you can do so, and you don’t need deep pockets or a wealth of knowledge to do it.

If you interested in flipping homes for profit, but donâ??t know where to begin then take a look at the Real Estate Power Investor Course. This course was designed by Charrissa Cawley, who is well known in real estate circles as a very successful property investor and she is ready to share her secrets with you.

The course is divided up into 10 modules, with various bonus sections. Each is designed to cover every possible angle of the business from locating investment properties, to financing, rehabbing, dealing with contractors, various exit strategies and much more.

Real Estate Power Investor launches on April 28, 2009 and the introductory launch price is set at $97 for a very limited time. When you consider the fact that you can make thousands of dollars on every deal by flipping homes for profit, this could very well be the best money you have ever spent.

How to Have the Most Profitable 4th Quarter of Your Real Estate Career

Here is something that I read every day that I received from my real estate coach Mike Ferry. This will keep me on track to have the best 4th Quarter of my life and start 2009 off to a great start. We all know in real estate what you do today will have an impact on tomorrows results.

1. Four times a day take 15-minutes and work on the mindset that this will be your best 4th Quarter in history. This should include three or four strong affirmations to assist you.

2. Set a higher than normal goal for listings and sales in the 4th quarter. Many agents quit because they feel they’ve already accomplished what they could for the year. Remember great agents work 11 months, not eight.

3. If for any reason you’re way off your goal for 2008…don’t mentally quit before you physically quit…keep working. It’s common for agents to give up when they’re behind and start preparing for January when you have 90 days to build your foundation and do additional deals for 2008.

4. Remember the power of momentum. Having things work inyour favor and continuing to have them work in your favor is positive momentum. Stopping working is also momentum …
just the wrong momentum.

5. Identify the source of each deal you’ve done this year (listings and sales) and see who will give you another referral or will do another deal. Remember, the key is to duplicate your business.

6.Create a schedule for the remaining three months of the year… be specific … allow for days off for shopping, holidays

7. Everyone wants to take time off over the holidays … the holidays are generally four days off over Thanksgiving and four to six days off over Christmas and New Year’s … the rest of the time off is just screwing around. Remember your competition will stop working effective now and you will be the only one working, which enhances your chances. So get over taking time off.

8.Remember October 31st, Halloween, is not the beginning of the holiday season and is not a holiday you should be taking off … nor is it the end of the year. For some reason Real Estate people like to start their holiday seasons early. Remember if you had a real job you’d be working every day except a few days that your employer would give you off. You be the employer.

9. Set a goal today for the number of listings you want to have in inventory on January 1st adn the number of closings you want to have in both January and February (remember cash flow is important). This is the easiest way to keep momentum going and give you a huge boost to start the year.

10. Decide on how much listing appointments you want to have in January. Remember the only way to get those appointments is to prospect every day, starting today.

11. We must maintain mindset that people are going to be buying and selling Real Estate in the 4th Quarter. The market always continues…only the agents stop. Remember this affirmation…”I am the best agent to handle this transaction.”

12. Make a list of all the normal holiday rejections you will receive and then start working on the answers now. The worst case scenario is that you start creating a huge lead source for January.

13.Remember if 95% of the Agents quit working by November 1st and you continue working, the business will always come to you. “Be the last man standing.”

14. Contact your past clients and center of influence now. Ask them for 4th Quarter referrals.

15. Determine immediately the average number of hours you’ve prospected for the year and the average number of contacts per day you’ve made for the year … then add 30% to those numbers for the 4th Quarter and you’ll win the game.

16. Start today working on the mindset that the 1st Quarter of 2009 will be your best 1st Quarter ever. It will be because you’re willing to use points 1 – 15 of this report.

17. Since it’s harder to remain focused during October, November, and December … but the payoff is bigger than you think. Remember also that the distractions of Christmas parties, other Agents not wanting you to work are monumental … do not let this happen to you.

18. Write a three month wish list as to what you want for your family and yourself for Christmas … think big.

Prepare for the New Real Estate Boom

Even as foreclosures have reached an all-time high, the vibe I feel is that the good days will soon be here again. Real Estate is cyclical, just as life itself. People die everyday and new babies enter the world. Some families weep, others rejoice. What goes down must goes up. This is just the fact. Here are strong reasons for my optimism.

1)      The Stimulus Package

You may not know this but in mid February this year the President signed into law a $150 billion federal economic stimulus package. This measure allows Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae to buy conforming loans up to 125% of the area median home price, capped at $729,750.This means that lenders in high-cost areas, like the Bay Area, will be able to make a simple loan to many homes buyers who before either had to take out a non-conforming loan with a high down payment requirement and costly interest rate premium or a piggyback loan package. These are the kinds of loans lenders shied away from in 2006-2007 as the market experienced a credit crunch and caused gargantuan foreclosures rates. With the new FHA and Fannie/ Freddie Mae limits lenders will make high loans on more advantageous terms.

Secondly, the higher loan limits will open up desirable inventory for first time buyers because existing home owners will jump into the market and move up to bigger, more expensive homes. It’s predicted that the new loan limit will boost home sales by as much as 36,000 transactions a month, generating billions of dollars in economic activity. Both Fannie and Freddie started buying these types of loans this spring. This means a new day is dawning because when banks find they can make these loans and have a market for them without having to worry, it will make a BIG difference in home sales.

2)     A New Government in 2009

        Both Democratic contenders for Presidency have voted to tackle the housing crisis head-on, Obama most especially. We all know the election will take place this November and a new President will be sworn in in February 2009. Should Obama win the election, which I personally believe is very likely, then he is bound to make economic recovery, and most especially real estate, one of his top most priorities.

3) A Yoyo Stock Market

The stock market is sick. Though figures show that the economy is not as robust as it should be, there is every sign that incomes have not declined. If anything, incomes have risen, at least for most of the people I know. Where do all these people put their money? Interest rates have been cut drastically and the federal rate is now at 2.25%. Unlike in the last two years where banks were offering over 6% returns on your money, those returns are now less than 4% and they will only head downward. The stock market is not doing well, bank yields are measly, gold is at record high, and so is oil. So what is relatively affordable these days? Where are investors flocking to? Real Estate. They buy low, hold and keep till everyone starts to buy and if you understand the law of Economics, where demand is high prices rise. Talk about the new boom; See you in 2009/2010. But why wait? Why buy high? Buy low. Buy now. This is the way of the rich. Join the club.

Ahwatukee Arizona Real Estate Market Improving Significantly

Ahwatukee Real Estate Market Experiencing Stronger Year-Over-Year Buyer Demand

Ahwatukee in Arizona is experiencing solid improvement in its housing market as buyer demand accelerates.

Ahwatukee is considered a “Village” of Phoenix and is located to the southwest of central Phoenix. Tempe borders Ahwatukee to the east and Chandler to the southeast. Ahwatukee is considered a master planned community concept with its origins dating back to the 1970s. Ahwatukee is geographically defined by that south of South Mountain Preserve and west of Interstate-10, and postal codes 85044, 85048, 85048.

Ahwatukee real estate market improvement is due primarily to increased buyer demand for homes as a result of lower home values, lower mortgage interest rates, and the Federal Government’s $8,000 “first-time homebuyer” tax credit. The combination of these factors is creating an appealing incentive for purchases of Ahwatukee homes and homes in other parts of the Valley of the Sun.

Demand for Ahwatukee Real Estate On the Rise

Buyer demand for Ahwatukee real estate, as measured by the number of Ahwatukee homes currently under contract for purchase, is experiencing measurable improvement.

29.7% of marketed Ahwatukee homes are now under contract for purchase as compared to 18% a year ago. This represents a 66% improvement from last year.

Put another way, for every 10 Ahwatukee homes on the market, there are now 3.0 buyers vs. 1.8 buyers a year ago. Much of that improvement has taken place since the beginning of 2009.

Looking at broader Phoenix activity, the number of Phoenix homes currently under contract is at a record-level of 3,700 properties. This surpasses any level seen even during the market high of 2005-6.

Ahwatukee Homes Inventory Showing Modest Improvement

Ahwatukee home inventory is showing modest improvement with 608 homes currently available for purchase. This figure is fluctuating so any general improvement in inventory is less than a 10% decline since the beginning of the year.

Phoenix in general is experiencing inventory levels that are currently at a 2-year low. Though this trails other parts of the Valley, analysis supports continuation of this downward trend.

Ahwatukee Home Sales Remain Flat

Sales of Ahwatukee homes remain relatively flat. In the first quarter of 2009, 238 homes were sold as compared to 252 homes for the same period a year earlier. This measure may be premature. Given the recent improvement in pending sales activity, sales should begin to show gradual improvement as homes currently in escrow eventually close.

Ahwatukee Foreclosures & Ahwatukee Short Sales

Ahwatukee, like many Valley communities, has been beset by short sales and foreclosures which have pushed prices down aggressively from the market highs of 2006.

This remains an area of concern despite improvement in other Ahwatukee real estate market areas. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac terminated their foreclosure moratoriums on March 31st which had been in effect for several months. As such, the next 1-3 month period may experience an additional volume of foreclosed properties hitting the local Ahwatukee real estate market.

In regard to short sales, continued layoffs and depressed prices could force additional homeowners to attempt short sales of their properties as well.

Ahwatukee Housing Market Outlook

Overall, the Ahwatukee housing market is clearly experiencing strong growth in buyer demand as measured by the number of homes under contract for purchase. Inventory is somewhat stable with modest declines at best. Though sales remain flat, we should expect improvement consistent with the increases in pending property statistics.

Over the next 1-3 months, the Ahwatukee real estate market could experience further improvement in buyer demand with a more pronounced decline in inventory. Sales should begin to break away from 2008 levels as homes under contract finally close. Potential Ahwatukee foreclosure activity does remain an area of concern given the termination of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac foreclosure moratoriums and how new inventory may affect the market.

In summary, Ahwatukee appears to be shoring up elements of its housing market as buyer demand intensifies. This should more directly result in lower inventory and higher Ahwatukee home sales though the impact from future foreclosures remains uncertain.