Thursday 31 December 2015

Do You Really Want to Change Your Life in the Coming Year?

Do you really want to change you financial landscape within the next 12 months?

Because if you do, I’m going to tell you how.

Real Estate Investor

You MAY not want to read what I’m about to write because it WILL remove excuses you have.  In fact, after this very simple tip, you will no longer have the ready-made excuse that perhaps you’ve used in the past.  I will strip it away like Dad rips off the warm covers on a winter morning.

The most common excuses that I hear folks offer for not getting off their duffs and starting their investment careers are (1) time and (2) knowledge.  (The number one unspoken excuse is fear.)  For this article, I am REMOVING the time and knowledge excuses.  I’ll get to the fear part…briefly.

Okay, if you’re still reading, here goes…but I warn you.  You may not like it.

Turn off the stinkin’ TV!

I mean, avoid it like the plague!  It’s robbing you blind.  To be precise, it’s costing you tens of thousands of dollars per year if you are like most Americans and tune into TV or watch movies for 1-3 hours a day.

What a country we are.  The average American buys a TV and then that TV costs many times more than the cost of the set per year in opportunity loss.  We buy, bring it into our homes, and give it a place of prominence, and let it steal from us!

As many of you already know, I boldly say you and I can make an extra $10,000-$50,000 per year on a mere 10 hours a week by rehabbing real estate.  I know this because I do it.

A little math…let’s say you watch TV a mere 1.5 hours a day on weekdays, and sports on the weekend at 2.5 hours a day.  If you give up all TV, that’s 12 and a half hours a week.

In other words, you can watch a game on the weekends and STILL have 10 hours a week to devote to a real estate investing career.

Let’s say you are someone who is on the LOW end of American TV watching habits and you watch an average of 1 hour of TV a day.  (Which means you probably don’t watch sports.)  In that case, turning it off means you need to invest a mere 3 hours a week.  Do you have 3 hours a week if it pays $10,000-$50,000 per week?

Reality check.  If you watch football, you probably watch a college game on Saturday, a pro game on Sunday, and Monday Night football.  In that case, that’s a minimum of 7 hours per week of the 5-month season…gone!  Many football fans watch more!

So what could you do with that time?  Get the knowledge you need to start with.  How many books or courses can you work through if you honestly devote 10 hours a week?  Since the process of rehabbing real estate isn’t rocket science, it’s a process that must be learned, it isn’t going to take many weeks to be flush with knowledge and ready to put a business plan into action.

There will be a few reading this that don’t watch much TV at all.  (You are rare indeed!)  Examine your habits and see where you time is going.  There is often time sinks that you can capitalize on by changing your habits.  Do you surf the net for hours on end?  Do you spend 2 hours a day pumping iron.

Or…oh, this one might hit close to home…do you sleep 10-12 hours a day?

Chances are there is a way to eek out some hours by a relatively minor change in habits.

I can hear it already…GIVE UP TV?!  That’s not a minor adjustment!

Baloney.

Let’s see how important TV really is to you.  There are two ways to think about this.

Approach number 1: 

Let’s say I knock on your door and wave ten thousand dollars in front of your face.  All you have to do to get it is give me your TV for a year.   Would you go for it?  What if I offered you twenty grand?

Approach number 2:

Let’s look at what giving up TV would mean to you.

– You wouldn’t be able to talk about what happened on TV last night at the water cooler at work.  I mean you could, but you would not have watched it.

– You would miss seeing first hand who beat who to a pulp on the field, or on the court.

– Shows will come and go, and you will have never have seem them.

Perish the thought!  You’d miss stuff on TV, but the sun will continue to come up, the Earth spins, and your financial picture gets a lot rosier!

Is the time you spend in front of the TV really worth what it’s costing you?  $10,000 or $20,000, or even $30,000 or more…every year?

I’ll go a step further.  You could stop watching all your favorite programs and guess what, your life would be unchanged.  If you did something positive with that time you spent watching them, your life will be changed for the better.

For you sports fans…Let’s say “your” team wins the championship this year.  Does that change your life in any way?  Do you get a raise?  Do you move into a better house? Does it really change anything that matters?  Sure, you get to tell folks that they are “your” team even when they aren’t and nobody on the team knows you from Adam.  In fact, if “your” team wins you will probably be even more into them, spend more time watching TV, so the cost to you goes up!

I don’t mean to sound like I’m on my soap box, but there are many folks who need a wake up call.  Capturing TV time and using it to your financial benefit is a relatively minor habit adjustment that can result is some serious financial gain.  Spend a month learning, then put a plan into action.  That’s how things get changed.

My close friends and family know that I rarely turn on my TV.  Years ago, I made the commitment to use my time better and since I have improved my life immensely by doing so.  So, I want you to know that I am living my own advice.  While it’s true that I’ve never seen a minute of “reality” TV, and I prefer to see my sports live, my life is quite different now!  I’ll never look at TV the same again!

You can do the same.  This minor habit adjustment can mean you take the reigns of your financial future and drive it where you want to go.

I knew some of you would not like it, but there it is…the formula to free up a LOT of time and how to gain the knowledge you need to make this coming year the most profitable yet.  Will you do it?

Now, what about the fear part?  This article is getting kind a bit long, but I have written a six part set of articles to help in that combat fear.  I encourage you to click through to my website and click on the “Nothing Held Back” newsletter.  There you will find out how to get the articles, or mini-course I call it, at no cost. Follow us on Twitter & Be sure to like us on Facebook.

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Monday 28 December 2015

Buying Unfinished Homes

Unfinished homes present a great way to save a lot of money and get yourself a new home in the process.  If you buy an unfinished home, you can keep your monthly mortgage payment low and also lower your initial investment.  You may also be able to buy a larger foundation size as well, which you can easily add on to and save money in the process.

Normally, unfinished starter homes leave the upstairs area unfinished.  The question here, is just how much equity you want to put into an unfinished area.  Sometimes though, an unfinished home may leave the roofing, framing, plumbing, or electrical aspects unfinished.  Before you make a purchase, you should always decide how much money you have to finish what needs to be finished.

If the home you are looking at has plans for a garage, you can save thousands if you decide not to go with the garage.  On the other hand, if there is another attached room that is Buying Unfinished Homesplanned to go onto the house, you can save just as much if you decide to forgo it.  There are always ways that you can save money just by looking at the plans.  Unfinished homes may have other planned on additions as well, in which you can save a lot of money just by leaving them out.

The is something that you should always keep in mind.  When builders acquire a piece of property that they plan to build a home on, they will do everything they can do make as much money as possible on their homes.  You might be able to get them to agree to some of these ideas, although they probably won’t agree to all of them.  Building homes can be a very profitable business – which is why most companies like to build their homes exactly as the plans call for.

When looking at unfinished homes, you also need to look at what banks are willing to accept.  If you are planning to get a mortgage, most banks will need to ensure that the home is up to local codes and in living condition.  What this means, is that there will need to be a living room, bedroom, and other rooms finished.  If the home is lacking quite a bit in terms of being unfinished, most banks won’t give you a mortgage.

Most banks are also known to turn down unfinished home mortgages that they feel will have trouble selling in the event that you default.  Normally, the entire downstairs area will need to be finished, along with most of the landscaping.  You might be able to do some of it yourself and save money, although in most cases the home builder will need to do a majority of the topsoil and grass just to satisfy the bank.  Banks have strict requirements when it comes to unfinished homes, which is why you should always check with your bank before you invest in an unfinished home.

As most of us already know, buying an unfinished home provides an excellent way to get into the housing market and get your very own home.  Unfinished homes also allow potential buyers the chance to grow into their home along with their family.  If you are interested in saving money, you should be sure to talk to the builder.  This way, you can go over the plans and decide what doesn’t need to be there.  In most cases you can save a lot of money and still get a home that will provide years and years of memories for yourself and your entire family. For More Details Visit us & Follow us on Twitter & Be sure to like us on Facebook

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Tuesday 22 December 2015

Buying Your Dream Home

Even though it’s not easy for everyone to buy a home, it is in fact easier than ever to get a home these days with most lending agencies and banks being more liberal than ever with providing home loans and mortgages.  Even if you don’t have a lot of capital or a lot of money to put down, you can still get the home of your dreams at a very affordable price.

Buying Your Dream Home

A lot of us think that buying a home is a tough process, needing a large down payment, although this isn’t always the case.  Buying a home largely depends on your budget.  If you put a down payment on your home purchase, it will go towards your overall purchase.  The more money you put down on a home when you purchase, the lower your monthly payments will be.

Those of us who don’t own a home live in rental houses and apartments.  This can be a worthwhile solution, although you’re still paying money towards your housing that you could instead be putting towards a home of your own.  Owning a home is a dream for many of us, especially when it comes to that dream home that we all hope to own one day.  Apartments and homes are great to rent – although most these days will cost you just as much as a mortgage payment – which doesn’t make any sense at all.

Instead, you can easily convert your rental payments into monthly installments towards your own home.  All across the United States, you can find of lot of banks and lenders that offer easy to get loans for purchasing your own home or real estate property at low interest rates.  With a lot interest rate, you can get the home of your dreams and enjoy low monthly payments.

Keep in mind; you need to choose a loan plan that’s best for you.  You can go through bank, through a lender, or use a service online. There are many different ways that you can go, although real estate agents seem to be the most common now days.  Good real estate agents will be more than willing to help you get a great deal on the home, at prices that are right for you.  Anytime you buy a house, you should always plan ahead, get yourself a real estate agent, and then pursue your dream home.

If you plan your budget and take things one step at a time, you’ll be closer than you think to the home of your dreams.  If you choose to keep renting and pay money toward something you don’t own – the home of your dreams will continue to slip away.  Take action now and stop renting – find the home of your dreams and put your money towards owning it instead.

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Tuesday 15 December 2015

Build Your Business With Four Easy Steps


Creating a successful and profitable business is no easy task. It’s reliant on many outside factors, including competition, timing and demand, which you have very little to no control over at the beginning. Assuming all of these outside factors are in your favor, having a sound business plan can lead to having a successful business. Here are five steps to consider when you’re building your business from the ground up:


1. Determine your business. What are you selling?
This question isn’t as easy to answer as you may think. For example, Nike is in the sportswear business, but the truth is that when you buy a pair of Nike shoes and a t-shirt at the mall you’re buying a lot more than sportswear — you’re buying an image, a feeling. You're buying the Nike brand. Richard Thalheimer, the former CEO of The Sharper Image and the founder of RichardSolo.com, has worked in specialty retail for more than 30 years. When asked what business he’s in, he’ll tell you “convenience” or "innovation" before he specifies any particular industry, and he's built one of the most powerful brands in America. Keep in mind, there’s more to a product than, well, the product. Your brand is what sets your product apart from your competitor’s.  

2. Select your market. Who are you selling to?
This step is a bit less interpretive as the first, though equally important. Who are you selling to? or more importantly, what do you know about this person? Understanding your consumer is a key to success. What do they do? Where do they hang out? What do they watch on television? These are just a few of the questions that you should be able to answer about your consumer. Knowing the answers to these questions can answer a lot of questions of your own when it comes to a devising a marketing strategy. Richard Thalheimer understood his market for The Sharper Image, probably as well as they understood themselves. From an article in the LA Times, Tracy Wan, who was president and chief operating officer under Thalheimer says "Richard has the amazing ability to figure out the things that people want to have." This ability to perceive your consumer's desire can only be a result of knowing them like your neighbor.  

3. Create a marketing strategy. How do you speak to these people?
This is a culmination of understanding your brand and your consumer. As mentioned in number two, understanding your consumer can answer a lot of questions concerning your marketing strategy: Where should you advertise? What's the voice of your brand? What kind of prices are reasonable for this demographic? In order to engage your consumer, a.k.a. sell your product to them, you must know where your advertisements will be noticed, how to speak to them, and how much they will be able to spend, among many of things. Really, this step should have been combined with the last because who your market is dictates your marketing strategy entirely.  

4. Learn by example. Seek advice from those who have done it.
There are many books written by professionals who have already started their own business and have been successful in doing so. One that comes to mind immediately, as we've already mentioned him a couple of times, is Richard Thalheimer. "Creating Your Own Sharper Image" shares the story of how he grew his tiny office supply company, The Sharper Image, into the thriving enterprise that it has become today.  

Remember, building a successful business in not all about the dollars and cents. Equally as valuable is you brand equity and your ability to engage your consumer, which is only attainable by understanding them. Assuming there is a demand for your product, and you can compete with the other brands, following these four steps shall guide you in the right direction. For More Detail Visit us.