Bryan Benson's Profile
Bryan Benson's articles
When it comes to senior housing, there are a few areas you might want concern yourself with to avoid any pitfalls. In fact, maybe the city itself (the city you are dealing with) does not believe there is enough senior housing in their area-maybe they are welcoming it.
Posted: 2008-04-02
Category: Real Estate
Are you having issues with your yellow letter campaign? Let me guess. You are getting a ton of calls, which let’s face it-that is wonderful problem to have. Are you unsure of how to really explain yourself? Many people find themselves in this situation.
Posted: 2008-04-02
Category: Real Estate
Before you can even begin to answer this question you have to really ask what the property itself is worth. If you are sure (dead sure) about the value of the inventory, and you are also sure of the value of the property, then you do have a couple of options.
Posted: 2008-04-01
Category: Real Estate
Say you have a lease-purchase option on a property and a tenant-buyer in it. The tenant-buyer is wanting to purchase this in about three months; and now all of sudden you are having difficulties finding a closing attorney who will close this loan for you without the initial security being in your name.
Posted: 2008-04-01
Category: Real Estate
There 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.
Posted: 2008-04-01
Category: Real Estate
Has this ever happened to you? You have found the perfect house you want to purchase. And you are even able to find the owners.
Posted: 2008-03-31
Category: Real Estate
Many people have questions about equity spread (and what is considered a common equity spread).
Posted: 2008-03-31
Category: Real Estate
Is there a law that says you cannot give a car away if somebody buys a house? Think people-this is not a lottery.
Posted: 2008-03-31
Category: Real Estate
In general this can be a tough market-but it doesn’t have to be! Remember, it IS what YOU make it! With that being said, let’s focus on a couple of fundamental principles.
Posted: 2008-03-29
Category: Real Estate
One of the most popular questions deals with redemption periods. When a state has a redemption period, how are investors handling it when the property is subject-to?
Posted: 2008-03-29
Category: Real Estate
As you all know, bankruptcy laws have changed in quite a few states over the last couple of years (and are continuing to change as we speak).
Posted: 2008-03-29
Category: Real Estate
Many people think that approaching the IRS to ask for a release of Lien is a negative or scary experience. Let’s really think about what we’re doing here. If you have obtained a property with a hefty tax lien, do you think you should really approach the IRS directly?
Posted: 2008-03-28
Category: Real Estate
Having a hard time selling your land? How about having a hard time buying land from people who don’t want to let go? In today’s economy it can be rough…and tough-but it doesn’t have to be!
Posted: 2008-03-28
Category: Real Estate
I know by now you may think you have figured it all out on which method truly will suit you best for marketing to potential sellers. But you have to remember that everyone is different and not everyone will respond to the same methods.
Posted: 2008-03-28
Category: Real Estate
Challenges you say? This business is filled with challenges around every corner. Here are some things you really need to look out for and think about before you start any kind of action. And remember-most importantly- before you start any action-you need a plan of action.
Posted: 2008-03-26
Category: Real Estate
Short sales can be very tricky. In order to benefit from a short sale, you must keep all of your ducks in row, and not focus on the sale but focus on yourself. Of course I’m not suggesting that you don’t focus on the sale-you always want to stay focused on the sale. But what I am also suggesting is that you focus on your actions as well.
Posted: 2008-03-26
Category: Real Estate
It’s the same old story. I have heard this story dozens and dozens of times. You have found the perfect house, located on a perfect piece of property in the perfect area. One problem…you have not found the perfect seller. In fact, you cannot even find the owner or seller.
Posted: 2008-03-26
Category: Real Estate
Many 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?
Posted: 2008-03-11
Category: Real Estate
Here’s a scenario you might be interested in.
Posted: 2008-03-11
Category: Real Estate
Let’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.
Posted: 2008-03-08
Category: Real Estate
Is your land Planned Unit Development (PUD) approved?
Posted: 2008-03-08
Category: Real Estate
Say you just got your first deed subject to deal, and you are a little bit confused about the steps you need to take.
Posted: 2008-03-08
Category: Real Estate
Someone is looking at a piece of raw land in Michigan. It has 169 acres, with a 40-acre lake in the middle of it.
Posted: 2008-03-07
Category: Real Estate
Are you unclear about owner financing? It’s not as difficult as it may seem.
Posted: 2008-03-07
Category: Real Estate
When you buy the house subject to, does that mean the seller doesn't care about their credit? Some sellers just don't.
Posted: 2008-03-07
Category: Real Estate
If the seller says they will sell for what they owe, understand that you are taking over their debt.
Posted: 2008-03-06
Category: Real Estate
Are you getting What are the best policies and procedures when it comes to managing your properties? Tangled up in the words?
Posted: 2008-03-06
Category: Real Estate
If you’re thinking about making the seller the trustee, you don't want to do that. Why you ask?
Posted: 2008-03-05
Category: Real Estate
A deed to a property is an essential document passing ownership of a property from the seller to the buyer. There are several things to consider when deeding a property.
Posted: 2008-01-17
Category: Real Estate
Consider using a hard money lender when making a big real estate purchase. This may be your best option if the money you need is not available from a traditional bank loan.
Posted: 2008-01-17
Category: Real Estate
Finding foreclosed properties is a great way to make money, but you need to do some research to find them. If you follow these tips you can find a property that meets your criteria.
Posted: 2008-01-17
Category: Real Estate
One very effective option that can be given to someone whose home you are getting ready to acquire is to allow them to stay and rent from you. This is definitely something you can pull out of the hat when the market is hot. It can make things a little easier for that person or family having these financial problems.
Posted: 2008-01-11
Category: Real Estate
Determining if a property is pretty or ugly can be a relative thing. After all, it can be a matter of opinion whether or not a property is pretty or ugly. In some states, people go by the general consensus that in their prospective area, there are no pretty houses until it is proven otherwise.
Posted: 2008-01-11
Category: Real Estate
There are several ways to save money and time on mailings. The yellow letters are great, and here are some tips to get the necessary number of letters out week after week.
Posted: 2008-01-11
Category: Real Estate
Finding a decent comp for a certain property can be very challenging. Fortunately there are many, many online tools that you can use to help expedite the process.
Posted: 2008-01-10
Category: Real Estate
Normally when subject to's are done, you will then have to deal with the issue of the documentary stamps, also otherwise known as doc stamps. There can be many legalities to these and there different ways to handle them. As an investor, you have to make your own decisions. You're taking titles in land trust.
Posted: 2008-01-10
Category: Real Estate
Stay in this business long enough and you will one day be able to say that there isn’t much that you haven’t seen. In fact, you may find that the time may come when you see much more than you wanted to see.
Posted: 2008-01-10
Category: Real Estate
If 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.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Real Estate
Sometimes it can be difficult working in the real estate business because you find yourself profiting off the misfortunes of others. It is not uncommon to find yourself in the middle of a real estate venture where there is a divorce involved. The reasons are of no concern. The fact remains: either you can take over the property or someone else can.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Real Estate
Though it is certainly more common, and in many cases easier, to find deals with the single family houses, there are times when the opportunity presents itself to acquire a commercial property. And if you are a person who desires to pursue this venture, there are a few things you want to keep in mind when doing this. Following these simple steps can help speed up the process of getting some of these big deals in the pick line.
Posted: 2008-01-08
Category: Real Estate
Change is the only constant in the universe. And this one relative fact is true in the real estate business. With the rise of inflation and the fluctuating interest rates, it is not difficult to understand the drastic effects it can have on us.
Posted: 2008-01-06
Category: Real Estate
There are several different bankruptcy codes that people file when they get in over their heads financially. One of the more common ones is Chapter 7. This is the bankruptcy code providing the “liquidation” of the debtor’s assets with the proceeds of this liquidation going to the creditors.
Posted: 2008-01-06
Category: Real Estate
PATLive 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 have also moved internationally. The company offers its services to businesses ranging from home offices to government agencies.
Posted: 2008-01-06
Category: Personal Finance
Expired listings are usually going to be your best target for trying to find a really good deal. But targeting these properties can also have their own set of challenges as well. There are some simple tips you can follow that can help streamline this procedure and generate some of the leads you are looking for.
Posted: 2008-01-02
Category: Real Estate
The literal meaning of a bird dog is a hunting dog used to find and/or retrieve birds while hunting. In the real estate business, a bird dog is someone who finds prospective properties that otherwise would not be found.
Posted: 2008-01-02
Category: Real Estate
The goal of most people who are in the real estate business is to have a good tenant, one who doesn’t cause problems to our properties and also pays their rent in a timely manner. Unfortunately this is not always the case and we are forced to deal with the tenant that is less-than-desirable.
Posted: 2008-01-02
Category: Real Estate
A forbearance agreement in real estate is an agreement by the lender not to exercise the legal right to foreclose in exchange for an agreement by the borrower to a payment plan that will cure the borrower’s delinquency. This is something that can be actively pursued by someone who is possibly facing foreclosure and wants to stop it.
Posted: 2008-01-02
Category: Real Estate
It can sometimes be very common to find yourself stuck in a rut. Maybe you feel like you’re spinning your wheels trying to get stuff bought and sold.
Posted: 2008-01-01
Category: Real Estate
Anyone who has been in this business for any amount of time can tell you that it is a business full of ups and downs. One moment you can be excited and enthused about closing a great deal – a seller signs a contract with you to take over his property with a mortgage balance that is 40% below the ARV.
Posted: 2008-01-01
Category: Real Estate
When lenders agree to do a short sale in real estate, it means the lender is accepting less than the total amount due because the balance due on the loan is more than what the property will sell for. Not all lenders will accept short sales or discounted payoffs, especially if it would make more financial sense to foreclose.
Posted: 2008-01-01
Category: Real Estate
There are many different entity structuring types that have been made available to the business entrepreneur today. Many, if not all, of these can be implemented in the real estate business.
Posted: 2007-12-28
Category: Real Estate
Once you have gotten the deed to a property and you are in the short sale process, there is some information that you don’t want to give to mortgage companies once they start calling.
Posted: 2007-12-28
Category: Real Estate
An exception might be if there is significant damage to the home, for example if there is fire damage. Under these circumstances, selling the home by traditional means may not be an option. The average buyer does not want to buy a house that needs repairs, they want a house that is ready to go… ready to move into and start making it a home.
Posted: 2007-12-28
Category: Real Estate
One of the many benefits extended to our men and women in the Armed Forces is the availability of the Veterans Administration to co-sign on a mortgage loan. With a VA Loan, soldiers and veterans can get into a home with no money down.
Posted: 2007-12-27
Category: Real Estate
With all the things that may come into a deal, sometimes what might be included in the deal is an extra lot, a smaller piece of property with dimensions that are so abstract and a shape to the property that may make it difficult to sell or to build on.
Posted: 2007-12-27
Category: Real Estate
At first glance, it looks like a great investment and prospects of a fantastic gain are everywhere. You’ve got a great house, very good looking, everybody who sees it loves it.
Posted: 2007-12-17
Category: Real Estate
Many wonder what the ideal short sale candidate might look like. With all the different and unique situations that you may run into, here is an example to compare to.
Posted: 2007-12-17
Category: Real Estate
The infamous “yellow letter” has brought success in some way to everyone that has implemented it in his or her business. Putting it into your business is a time consuming process, but it is well worth the time and money.
Posted: 2007-12-17
Category: Real Estate
This 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 cost of the first contract or will separate financing have to be obtained.
Posted: 2007-12-14
Category: Real Estate
When buying a higher dollar house, buyers are not going to want a rent-to-own situation. Generally speaking, rent-to-own works best when you are dealing with a lower-priced home. The higher the price home buyer would want to go with owner financing… no banks needed and no bank qualifying. Even lease options usually will work better than rent-to-own.
Posted: 2007-12-14
Category: Real Estate
Attempting to do a short sale may be a challenge when there a foreclosures on homes with multiple mortgages. For example, there may be a situation where the foreclosing lender with the highest amount due is in the second place, and the second lien holder with a substantially lower amount is in first place. This can happen because the second lien holder got to the courthouse first and recorded ahead of the larger mortgage holder.
Posted: 2007-12-14
Category: Real Estate
Everyone seeks maximum exposure when trying to sell a property and to attract a tenant or potential buyer. Many different methods are available to choose from when you are looking to bring maximum exposure to your property.
Posted: 2007-12-13
Category: Real Estate
In finance, a capital gain is profit that results from the sale or exchange of a capital asset over its purchase price. If the price of the capital asset has declined instead of appreciated, this is called a capital loss. Capital gains occur in both real assets, such as property, as well as financial assets, such as stocks or bonds.
Posted: 2007-12-13
Category: Real Estate
So many times, we run into rookies who are fed up with their regular 40 hr week job. After hearing all the stories of people getting rich with real estate, they are ready to throw in the towel on their regular job, tell their boss what they think of him, and jump full time into the business of buying and selling homes.
Posted: 2007-12-13
Category: Real Estate
During financially difficult times, people can find it hard to make a mortgage payment. Whether it is a sickness or other medical emergency, a loss of employment, or any incident that can place an unusual drain on a person’s monthly income, one option that people have is to add any missed payments to the end of the mortgage loan.
Posted: 2007-12-12
Category: Real Estate
Many have asked questions about auctions. Frankly, an auction should only be considered as a last resort, or your last exit available. First thing you would do is try to market it through a traditional channels depending on how much time you have and if I agreed to make big monthly payments in the process.
Posted: 2007-12-12
Category: Real Estate
This is actually a pretty common thing that is addressed often. What do you do when you know that your market is hot, appreciation is going up faster than ever, yet you can’t seem to find the right deal out there?
Posted: 2007-12-12
Category: Real Estate
Making money in real estate doesn’t have to take a lot of time or energy. If you make the right deals and have the right training, you can be on your way to earning six and even seven figures in no time. Here are the top three criteria for a good investor to remember when working in real estate.
Posted: 2007-12-11
Category: Real Estate
Are you tired of hearing about the real estate bubble, with rising home values that seem to have no ceiling? Is the media’s coverage of the inevitable “burst” getting on your nerves? What if there was no bubble and no imminent burst to consider? Take a look at what the media’s not telling you about the real estate market.
Posted: 2007-12-11
Category: Real Estate
Foreclosures are seldom ever a good experience to deal with. Though FHA loans don’t cause problems too often, recurring problem seems to happen with conventional loans. Most of the time, the banks that deal with these loans choose not to discount the property very much, if at all. They often want to charge or will want to charge the BPO or the appraised value of the property.
Posted: 2007-12-10
Category: Real Estate
It can be difficult to make money in real estate as an investor if you expect every individual who comes to you to purchase to have the same sets of qualifications as a bank or builder would require. However, you can target a larger percentage of the buying community by selling your properties with lease options.
Posted: 2007-12-10
Category: Real Estate
It may be difficult to imagine ways to make money selling real estate in a buyer’s market. However, with proper training and knowledge, you can continue to earn income through the sale of homes, even when the market is working against you.
Posted: 2007-12-10
Category: Real Estate
To try to work around insurance issues involved with purchasing property, some choose the route of applying for an LLC. This is done because some don’t feel comfortable getting an insurance policy in their personal name and then having that sent to the mortgage company.
Posted: 2007-12-07
Category: Real Estate
Looking for individuals with good credit and a hefty down payment to purchase your investment homes is like spinning your wheels, since these individuals can just go to the bank. If you look at potential buyers from a different perspective and have a different set of requirements, you’ll have a much larger target audience and greater success rate.
Posted: 2007-12-07
Category: Real Estate
investment homes is like spinning your wheels, since these individuals can just go to the bank. If you look at potential buyers from a different perspective and have a different set of requirements, you’ll have a much larger target audience and greater success rate.
Posted: 2007-12-07
Category: Real Estate
