Posts Tagged ‘Heck’
Sure Signs that Banks are Getting Ready to Unleash an REO Tsunami...
Well folks, there's a few telltale signs that the REO climate is about to change.....yep, the clouds are thickening, the skies are grey and the wind is whirling around like a funnel cloud ready to whip out debris across the countryside! The REO storm appears to be right upon us. So hold on to your hats!
Ok, here's what I, and a few of my most trusted colleagues, both brokers and other REO industry "insiders" have been observing:
Watch The Books! The TOP Reason REO Brokers Go BROKE!
So, I got caught with my pants down and frankly I can't believe it. Just goes to show you that even when we're on top of our game there's someone who'll sneak something by you. My biggest nightmare...a bookkeeper who "took" me. Now I am NOT saying that she stole from me but I am saying that the books are a mess and I'm quite suspicious. Worse yet, she apparently has copied my QuickBooks file (with all of my data) onto a flash drive, took it with her and then deleted my master file from the server.....yikes!
How to Structure an REO Deal That a Hard Money Lender Will Finance
I get this question on REO Rockstars calls a lot so let me share a bit of free insight on why REO agents and investors buying bank owned homes have their hopes of a golden finish blow out violently, like a speed skater who's shoved into the boards, trying to squeeze out Apollo Ohno on the last turn before the finish line! Grab a pen and paper and take some notes my friend. This stuff is not for the fainthearted but it doesn't take 4 years of torturous training either-just a tiny little bit if focus. You can manage that can't you? 
...Every day my office receives offers from these "would be" investors. Seems like everyone has taken some class, "learned from a friend", or just plain walks blindly into the "investor" game. Now not to be critical of REAL investors here. We do business with PLENTY of super smart guys who make a very good living at this. But how do they do it? Well, it begins with the basics of knowing HOW to structure a deal that just makes sense. Contrary to what the "wanna be" guys seem to think, a great deal involves a heck of a lot more than looking at a few comps and speculating on a flip price. Bluntly, It is not the HOUSE that matters. It's the PLAN. Smart investors, the guys who actually make a career out of this (and no, I'm not talking about some of these TV goofballs who make me cringe as they buy termite infested, water logged, structurally defunct houses and end up rebuilding from the foundation up-HACKS!), break the numbers down to the last penny, including the financing factors. First, they have to consider "where" they are going to get the non-occupant financing and more importantly "how" they are going to convince the hard money guy to fork over a chunk of change to finance the project.
5 Useful REO Tools
There are certain tools that can just make life a heck of a lot easier if you're an REO broker.
RoboForm2GO Pro is just about the best little piece of software that I have ever purchased. It auto-fills registration forms and remembers passwords to all of your clients' on-line platforms. I cannot tell you how strongly I feel about having this little tool. It WILL be the best $49.50 you have ever spent. I prefer the RoboForm2GO Pro version. It can be loaded on to a flash drive and you can take it with you wherever you go. Get RoboForm2GO Pro version here RIGHT NOW.
Your website should be very "buyer sticky". By that I mean that it should give buyers reasons to stay around and seek out more information. Let's face it, buyers want to see homes. They don't care about how great you are or about your silly sales pitches. I have always gotten the best results by providing a "one stop shop" for REO searchers. I found exactly ONE IDX software that can be fully customized to your own specs - IDX Broker. Do not be fooled by companies who say there's is customizable. If you can't have access to the code then you can't really customize. For example: on my site REOAtlanta.com I have been able to code in special parameters that identify potential REO properties and short sales in ways that I could NOT do with any other IDX provider. This is like GOLD to REO investors and they come back to my site over and over each day. Try IDX Broker. It's the only truly customizable IDX solution on the market today. Don't know how to custom code? No problem. Email Brent Guest of BHGDigital LLC for custom web design (he does 100% of mine-including REO Rockstars.)
For BPO information I use a service called REDLINK. They don't service a lot of states but see if they service yours and use them if you can. It's a big shortcut to information for my valuations staff.
Lastly, I have a self-designed site called UnlistedBankHomes. It is a subscription based site for investors where I list homes that are about to hit the market. We list the homes here after getting a listing agreement from the seller and IMMEDIATELY before placing them on the market (we also give information on pre-list homes but it is very limited). This information makes investors drool and keeps them locked in to you as the expert resource they seek out. I would recommend using every one of these tools if you are going to be serious about making serious money selling REOs. Check them out and get 'em!
