REO’s and Earnest Money Deposits

REO’s and Earnest Money Deposits
I get quite a few emails with visitors asking me about earnest money deposits and real estate owned properties.  Here is a good Frequently Asked Questions for bank owned houses and earnest money deposits. How do I provide the Earnest Money Deposit with the initial offer? Here is...
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2010 Goals Acheived…more or less

2010 Goals Acheived…more or less
Well I’m excited to say I can finally check everything off on the goal sheet that stares at me from the wall of my office.  As of Monday we will have hit all of them! It is perfect timing too, as I am heading on vacation for a week. Make 36 Purchases (Rentals, Retail or Wholesale) On...
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California’s Buyer Choice Act: Bad Escrow Companies and ServiceLink

California’s Buyer Choice Act: Bad Escrow Companies and ServiceLink
Sunday October 11, 2009, California Governor Schwarzenegger signed the Buyer’s Choice Act, Assembly Bill 957, into law. The new law prohibits owners (typically banks) of foreclosed properties from forcing California homebuyers to use a particular title company, Escrow Company or...
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How I Determine Market Rent

How I Determine Market Rent
When I first started as a landlord it is pretty hard to determine what to rent properties for, as you have no idea what the market is like. There are some really easy ways to get the job done. Call Local For Rent Signs This method is too easy.  Drive the neighborhood and call 3 or...
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All the Investing “Mistakes” I Made…

All the Investing “Mistakes” I Made…
Real Estate Investors can rattle off all the advice for investors to get started: build a support team, get training, have ample cash reserves and then look for properties. I took the other path: I didn’t have much of support team On our first deal we worked with a contractor...
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Rental Phone Calls – Toktumi – The Service I picked

Rental Phone Calls – Toktumi – The Service I picked
As we started renting properties I had to search for solutions for phone calls.  I had a two major requirements: I wanted a local number versus a 1-800 number… I am sure a 1-800 number would work, but I think people are less likely to call it. I didn’t want to give out...
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House #50 – Before and After

House #50 – Before and After
We recently completed the remodel on House #50 and within 5 days of it being listed we opened escrow with a buyer!  Take a look, here are some before and after pictures.
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How I Raised a Quarter of a Million Dollars?

How I Raised a Quarter of a Million Dollars?
I haven’t talked about financing too much lately, but I thought I would share some details on how I was able to raise some money recently. It all started on a real estate site I visit regularly BiggerPockets, which is my favorite and the best real estate forum on the internet. ...
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November Review – Still Moving Forward Slowly

November Review – Still Moving Forward Slowly
It only took six days for me to get around to writing this review. Things went fine in November.  We have pretty much every rental we own occupied (with paying tenants), the market is slow, but prices are coming down (this will make me happy long-term) so we are pretty much good. Summary 1....
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