Archive for the ‘Articles’ Category
Charrissa Welcomes Baby Girl Cawley #3 To The World!
Wow-what a whirlwind couple of days! Yesterday, May 7, 2009 we welcomed our third little girl ., Avery Lauren Cawley, into this world. She is happy and healthy and we are so grateful shes made her debut into the family, finally! I wanted to share a pic of her with all of you , my REI Conferences clients! You guys are the best and are all a real inspiration to me. God has blessed me with a wonderful family, a wonderful business and wonderful clients, and I feel like the luckiest girl on the earth. Thanks for helping make our big day so special with all of the well wishes, flowers and kind words these past few weeks-I appreciate them all and thank you from the bottom of my heart! Mom and Baby are doing great and are looking forward to coming home!
Here are the first pics of little Avery! May she grow up to be a super successful investor:)
share.shutterfly.com/action/welcome?sid=0AbuGTZi5ZtGLmY
Blessings,
Charrissa Cawley
Preparing Your Children For Financial Success
Millions of Americans have been stunned by the speed with which their personal economies have changed with the current economic realities. This downturn gives real estate investors everywhere a golden opportunity to have genuine teaching moments with their kids by giving them solid financial literacy information and advice that can give them a jumpstart in leading a successful life.
As critical as it is to teach your kids about money, it’s also imperative that you lay the groundwork for success in life by giving them the tools and the confidence necessary to accomplish their hopes and dreams. The news is filled with lots of really scary financial topics that have adults shaking in their shoes; the problem can be even worse for your kids. Here’s an easy-to-implement blueprint for success:
Empower Your Kids to Succeed by Building Their Self-esteem – Study after study tells us that kids who feel good about themselves are more confident and that they tend to go further in life. By taking the time to spend with your kids and do fun things together you send the message to them that they have value – to you and the rest of the world. Help them to build self-confidence every chance you get. Not only will it pay off big-time now by cementing your relationship with your kids, it will pay off later in life when they need the self-confidence to know that financial decisions can be made – and that they CAN succeed in whatever endeavors they put on their “to-do” list.
Teach Them to Dream Big – Real estate investing is all about having a dream and the courage to see it through, even when the going gets tough. By instilling in your children the importance of dreaming big you’ll teach them that no mountain is too high to overcome. This will be critical to their success in life, whether they choose to follow you into real estate investing or they choose to go their own way.
Goal-setting is Great – Teach your kids from a very early age the importance of setting – and reaching goals. You can start teaching this simple concept at almost any age, but the younger they are when you get started, the better off they will be. You may have a youngster who wants to raise money for a new bicycle. While you may be tempted to take out your credit card and just pay for it, let them set a goal and then help them devise a strategy to raise the funds. They’ll learn a ton from this exercise – and no two wheels ever turned so smoothly or as fast as the wheels on a bike you’ve paid for with your own hard-earned money.
Introduce age-appropriate financial concepts – Cash is King to a real estate investor and you can begin laying the groundwork for a solid financial future by explaining the importance of letting your money work for you, instead of the other way around. What you teach your children can vary depending upon their age. For instance, you might want to teach your eight year-old how to prepare a simple budget by setting money aside on a weekly basis out of their allowance in order to save for an “expensive” item. If your child is a teenager, you can explain the importance of not relying on credit cards to finance luxuries that are beyond your means. Regardless, instill the importance of saving and giving back by teaching them to bank 10% of all cash they receive and to donate a minimum of 10% of their income to charity or your church.
Don’t be Afraid to let them fail – One of the hardest things a parent can do is stand by while their children fail. While difficult, resist the urge to “kiss it and make it better” when your kids make financial blunders. No lesson is learned as well as one that causes us some pain. While financial pain can hurt, it’s better to let your children learn these lessons at an early age when tens of thousands of dollars or their credit rating aren’t on the line. Later in life they’ll thank you for it.
These lessons can really do a lot to prepare your kids for success in life. By laying the groundwork now you’ll prepare your kids to reach for the stars and to succeed in all of their endeavors. Their financial success will help them to lead much more enjoyable, productive lives. Your enduring legacy can be that you taught them well and that they carried out your instructions to help make this world a better place!
Want your kids to learn the principles of being a successful entrepreneur for FREE? How to manage money? Invest in Real Estate? Bring them to Wealth Camps Young Entrepreneurs in Training on May 30-31, 09! Go here for the details:
http://www.wealthcampseries.com/yetclub.htm
http://www.wealthcampseries.com
Charrissa Cawley has a long standing reputation for excellence as a gifted speaker, real estate trainer and wealth coach. Her strength lies in training entrepreneurs in the areas of real estate, investing and financial literacy. Her passion is bridging the gap between learning and doing. She has helped thousands of entrepreneurs all over the world seeking financial growth by equipping them with the tools, resources and specialized knowledge to succeed. Charrissa offers accurate and proven strategies to investors of all different levels and is the founder of www.reiconferences.com, one of the fastest growing real estate investment training organizations in the US in addition to www.rewexclub.com , the top rated Real Estate Investor Community on the web today.
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
P.S. Want your kids to learn the principles of being a successful entrepreneur for FREE? How to manage money? Invest in Real Estate? Bring them to Wealth Camps Young Entrepreneurs in Training on May 30-31, 09! Go here for the details:
http://www.wealthcampseries.com/yetclub.htm
Happy Easter from me and my family to you and yours!
Hi there! Happy Easter! I hope you have had a blessed day!
My family and I have really enjoyed our time together in celebration
of Easter this afternoon! Here’s a pic of us enjoying a
beautiful day!
I just remembered something I wanted to let you know about too:
There is this great new funding source I just stumbled upon and I wanted
to share it with youm as I know many of you are looking for funding
right now!
It is www.pertuitydirect.com
You should check it out-some great lending options!
Also, I just wanted to addreess this real quick. I have been getting literally hundreds of requests to do another LIVE Coaching Series which I have not done in some time now, but Im opening one class and one class only as of tomorrow and registrations will start being accepted tomorrow morning at 9am CST! This is my 6 week personal group coaching program that has been closed for the past 6 months. I can accept only 6 students total out of my 85,000 client database, so if you want a spot in this exclusive “by application only” program that has not been open in months and won’t be open again anytime in the near future, Call Jaime after the program opens tomorrow at 9am CST at 888-250-6616 ext 705 for details.
I look forward to working together to help you achive your investing and money making goals in 2009!
Charrissa Cawley
The Biggest Losers for 2009
Oh how the mighty have fallen.
According to Case-Shiller, the National Home Price Index dropped by an eye-popping 16.6% in the third quarter. While that’s not exactly cause for celebration, it could be worse. And if their predictions for 2009 are at all accurate, 2009 isn’t looking to be a banner year either – especially if you’re investing in California.
They’ve released their forecast for next year and 8 of the 10 biggest projected losers are in California. Here’s the list, along with their best guess for how much more the market is expected to drop:
1. Los Angeles, CA -24.9%
2. Stockton, CA -24.7%
3. Riverside, CA -23.3%
4. Miami, FL -22.8%
5. Sacramento, CA -22.2%
6. Santa Ana, CA -22.0%
7. Fresno, CA -21.6%
8. San Diego, CA -21.1%
9. Bakersfield, CA -20.9%
10. Washington, DC -19.9%
If you’re investing in any of these markets, you can still make money. Will it be a challenge? You betcha. Can it be done? Absolutely.
If you don’t want to fight as hard to make money, you might want to jump out of your own back yard for awhile. I know the grass always looks greener on the other side of the fence, but there are markets that look infinitely better right now.
The good news? You can invest where the numbers make more sense to you. Where you rest your head every night has never been less important than it is right now. So take a look around. There are local real estate markets that have a downright rosy outlook. Find those markets, do your homework, and invest to your heart’s content.
2009 will be a banner year. Stake your claim on the kind of future you’ve always dreamed of. There are millions of dollars just waiting to be made.
The gold rush is well under way. It’s not too late to grab your share. All the tools you need for your very own gold mine are available at www.REIconferences.com
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
What Inspires You to Achieve Your Real Estate Investing Dreams?
You and I seek the motivation to achieve our real estate investing dreams from a variety of sources. It might be the memory of a treasured teacher who made a profound difference in our lives — or it could be a life-changing event that happened years ago.
I was inspired and touched recently by a short video that demonstrated the importance of never giving up. In this challenging real estate investing market, it’s easy to walk away before even getting your feet wet, convinced that phenomenal wealth and rags to riches stories always happen to someone else, somewhere else, at another time.
Somewhere, there’s a single mom raising a couple of kids because her husband checked out of the marriage when the going got tough. There is also a grief stricken man somewhere trying to find the strength to go on without his wife who was snatched suddenly from his life in a tragic accident.
These people manage to find the strength to pick up the shattered pieces of their lives and start living again. Slowly, piece by broken piece, they somehow summon the strength to once again smile, plan for the future, and become more optimistic that their hopes and dreams will become reality — even if their plans were altered by conditions beyond their control.
You’re a real estate investor.
Compared to some of the challenges that millions of others have successfully overcome, figuring out how to come to terms with a motivated seller is inconsequential. To you, however, it’s important. At times like these it’s important that you remember your commitment to continue trying even in the face of adversity.
You’ll hear the word “no” a lot more than you’ll hear the word “yes” — especially when you’re first getting started as a real estate investor. If your hopes and dreams are derailed by verbal opposition to what you’re trying to do, what will you do when you’re faced with a physical challenge — or even a bruised relationship? If you turn tail and run every time things in your life go awry, all anyone will ever see of you is your backside.
To reach your dreams, you have to stop in your tracks, turn, and fight for what you want. While it won’t be handed to you on a silver platter, you can overcome any challenge you face.
If you can’t think of an inspiring reason to dig in your heels and keep trying to succeed as a real estate investor, then check out this short video I saw recently. It’s about a man who loves life, kids, and golf. He’s not a real estate investor, but he does demonstrate the importance of never giving up. You can watch it by following this link to www.wimp.com/trueheart and then tell me how many times you can handle hearing the word “no” before giving up on your real estate investing dreams and walking away empty handed.
I’m guessing there isn’t a number high enough…
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
How Many Reasons Do You Need to Dive Into Real Estate?
Have you been sitting on the sidelines watching other investors play the real estate investing game? How many good reasons do you need to convince you that now is a great time to get started?
I can give you 2 trillion reasons why NOW is the time for you to quit sitting and start investing. That’s the amount of homeowner equity that has evaporated so far this year. This lost equity has resulted in a lot of homeowners being upside down on their mortgages – and looking for a quick exit.
When you factor in an economic crisis of biblical proportions, rampant job losses, and thousands of businesses on the brink of extinction, you have a nation filled with motivated sellers.
It’s true that whenever a homeowner realizes they can’t afford to keep their home, it’s a tragedy. An even greater tragedy is knowing that the very best you can hope for is a foreclosure and credit damage that’s going to follow you around like a lost puppy for the next seven years – or longer.
This is where a savvy investor can play the part of the hero in a massive homeowner rescue effort. But what can you do?
You can stand by and do nothing – or you can roll up your sleeves and get to work.
If you’re not sure of what to do, you need to take the first step. Learn winning strategies for buying some of these properties. Help homeowners find solutions for their economic problems. The government is spending money on massive bailouts for big businesses and other entities that are “too big to fail”. Everyone else is left swinging in the wind.
Are you unsure of the first step – or confused about how to get started? Don’t sit there and do nothing. As the saying goes, let your fingers do the walking…to your computer mouse and head on over to www.REIConferences.com. Let us help you take advantage of the chance to reach your potential as a self-sufficient real estate investing entrepreneur.
Do it now!
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
Miami Homeless Squatting in REO’s and Foreclosed Properties
Are you currently investing in the Miami real estate market? If you are and you’re tempted to buy bargain property sight unseen, you might just get an added bonus that you’re not counting on: squatters. There’s an anti-poverty group down there running around matching homeless people with vacant houses. The group, which calls itself Take Back the Land, is apparently trying to find a good use for some of the city’s empty properties.
So far law enforcement officials seem to be turning the other cheek and ignoring what’s going on. Now, I don’t know what kinds of properties these are. It’s possible they might need substantial repairs and aren’t ready to be lived in. The point is they belong to the lenders and in some cases – the government.
But what happens if an investor comes along and gets what they think is the deal of the century?
Will they have to fight to get the squatters out so they can begin the renovation process?
I’ve got nothing against finding a place for the homeless to live. I’m as compassionate as the next person. But it brings up an interesting question about who ultimately pays the cost of evicting squatters from these properties – and who’s responsible for any damages to the houses. If the properties aren’t properly secured it might be relatively easy for this group to help homeless folks to get in off the street.
But most of these places are probably locked up tight.
Without a key, how are they getting in? Are they breaking in? Or are the houses surrendering to the “will of the people” and spontaneously unlocking themselves so they can be lived in? If you’re investing in Miami – or anywhere else this kind of activity might be taking place – beware. Don’t take the law into your own hands. Be sure to research local laws to make sure you abide by the letter and the spirit of the law in the event that you buy one of these properties and discover that you have a tenant you weren’t counting on. You don’t want to have to fight for possession of YOUR property.
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
What Are You Thankful For?
Tomorrow is the day that millions of Americans pull the plug on chasing their dreams – and the almighty dollar – long enough to spend some time with loved ones, reflect on their lives and relationships, and give some thought to all they have to be thankful for.
So what are you thankful for?
Is it a loving spouse you swore you’d stick with through thick and thin, regardless of their flaws, until your dying day? Don’t just expect that they know you’re thankful for their love and support. Make a point to give your spouse a loving embrace and tell them what they mean to you.
Are you thankful for your children? Tell them how much you love, adore, and appreciate them. I believe children are a special blessing from God, and that if we just listen to them, we can better grasp the good that exists in humanity. Whether your children are 3 or 33, embrace them lovingly and express your feelings to them with words, deeds, and gestures. We too frequently get caught up in the moment and we forget what life would be like if they weren’t here to spread their light and their youthful zest for living.
Enjoy the moment – it truly is special.
If you’re mourning the loss of a dear family member or a close friend, weep if you must. But also take the time to be thankful. Be thankful for the life that was, the time you had, and the times you shared. Life is fragile and our time together fleeting, but by remembering the good times you had and expressing your Thanksgiving for the time you had together you can do your part to keep them alive in your heart and your mind.
Be thankful for America and the fact that – for all of her flaws and troubles – this is still the greatest country on the face of the earth.
Above all else, be Thankful tomorrow.
Let that thankfulness spread every day and never forget that there are others with so much less than what we’ve been blessed with.
When you take the time every day to be thankful for what you have, you really can turn the corner from looking at Thanksgiving as a holiday for eating turkey and taking a day off from work.
When you really let Thanksgiving infiltrate every corner of your life, you can take it to the next level.
Your day of Thanksgiving can give way to a life of ThanksLIVING.
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
Are You Positioned for Fat Profits in the New Year?
In my last blog post, I told you about how President Roosevelt basically kickstarted the economy to end the great depression by confiscating gold which devalued our currency, before revaluing gold much higher. I’ve done a little more reading on this subject and I see this as a possibility – maybe one of the more risky ideas out there, but one that has some interesting side-effects.
The G-20 nations will get together for another big meeting after President-elect Obama’s administration takes over. They’re not supposed to meet until April, but I won’t be at all surprised if they don’t get together a little sooner than expected because there’s a massive mess to straighten out.
I’m thinking more and more that this might be the hidden solution to a lot of the problems we have. If this is indeed the solution they select, there are some risks and rewards that will come into play. First, there’s a chance that it might not work. The longer other ideas don’t work, the better the chances that they’ll try to pull a rabbit out of their hat and try something radical. And, don’t forget that so far nothing else is working either!
Then again, this strategy worked once before – on a global basis – so I think that lends credibility to the idea that it could work again.
One big risk to devaluing currency and then revaluing it by a fixed percentage is that it could cause hyperinflation if they don’t do it right. And that could be a very bad thing, especially for people that have cash. Which leads me to a very good side-effect of this idea.
If they revalue gold upward that will revalue other assets upward by a comparable percentage. Therefore, things like real estate would increase with the stroke of a Presidential pen. So if you have a real estate investment with no equity before the adjustment is made, you could instantly have equity buildup of 40% or more.
Will they do it? And what could that mean to you and your family’s net worth?
The property-buying spree real estate investors everywhere are on right now would probably come to a screeching halt. But, the property you have could potentially be worth a whole lot more than it is now. In this situation, you could literally become an overnight millionaire.
Disclaimer: I’m not a lawyer and I’m not an economist. Before you do anything I suggest you do some research of your own and see what the risks and rewards are for yourself. Make your own judgment about what you think makes sense – or get the opinion of an expert. The bottom line here is that by doing your own homework you get to take all the credit for what you ultimately decide.
Big changes are coming. I don’t know what will be decided in the end, but these are exciting times as we rock and roll with every twist and turn this adventure we call real estate investing decides to take. Doing nothing will get you nowhere fast, but staying on top of current events and making smart decisions could easily set you on course for your own golden parachute – without having to go crawling to the government and begging for a handout.
Happy Investing!
Charrissa Cawley
How Will Financial Meltdown Impact Your Portfolio?
What impact would a complete meltdown on the financial system have on your investing career? Would it have an impact — or would you even notice?
In case you haven’t noticed, our financial system is struggling to recover from the near-collapse of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the subsequent takeover. Since then, there’s been an unending parade of bad news. If things continue in the direction they’re heading, there seems to be widespread agreement that credit could be as hard to get as a parking space at the World Series.
Are you prepared if it happens?
Now is the best time to get your financial house in order, so if you haven’t started the time to act is NOW. Fix any lingering credit issues because lenders are growing more and more selective about who they’ll work with. This doesn’t mean you won’t be able to get a loan or that real estate makes a bad investment. As a matter of fact, real estate makes even better sense with each passing day!
What it means is that you have to be is prepared.
You’ll still be able to get financing for your deals, but it will likely cost you a little more. So you may have to spend a few bucks more than you had planned. Here are three strategies that can help:
1. Hard money lenders –they’ll charge you more, but with today’s low property values you still ought to be able to wind up with positive cash flow, in spite of the higher interest rates.
2. Private money — Line up private money lenders. They’ll still say yes when everyone else says “no” — if the price is right. It takes a little work, but it can be worth the effort if you’re able to line up much-needed cash.
3. Creative financing — Real estate investors are a verstile bumch. If all institutional financing were to dry up in a day, you’d still be able to get creative in finding motivated sellers. If you haven’t already, learn the ins and outs of how creative real estate finance works.
The mail still gets delivered when it rains. There’s a financial storm brewing on the horizon and the wind has begun to blow. Regardless of what happens to the credit markets, you can still take advantage of this unprecedented opportunity to expand your real estate empire. Get out there and deliver your future!
Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley
