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

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Real estate prices have dropped like a rock and if you’re looking to build your investing portfolio and seize the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to build a lasting legacy, now is the time to kick yourself into overdrive.

The foreclosure mess has caused prices to drop like a rock — and in some markets you can get unbelievable bargains on property if you’re diligent and you buy in the right places.  So how cheap can you get property?

Is a buck too much?

That’s right…a dollar.  That’s not a down payment or an option fee — that’s the total price somebody paid for a real house on a real lot in Detroit.  That very same property sold for $65,000 in November 2006 and at the time was reportedly the nicest house on the block.  Of course the property fell on hard times now and was sold for much less, but I’d venture to guess it was worth more than was paid.  I hear the buyer paid all cash:)

If you’re resourceful you can get property at rock bottom prices.  Do you want to see houses that sell for anywhere from $1 to $10,000? Check out this link!  http://stlouis.missouri.org/development/realestate/index.html Maybe you won’t find YOUR perfect property for a dollar.  Maybe it will be $500 or $1000 or maybe even $5000. But you don’t even have to be able to do math to know that nine times out of ten a deal like that makes great sense if it is located in the right area! How much thicker can your portfolio get if you can scoop up a handful of properties for even 40 or 50 cents on the dollar? 

It’ll take some planning, diligence, and following through on your plans.  Do your due diligence; make sure a property will make a good investment and then buy all you can.  Today’s prices won’t be available forever, but while they are you may as well be the one building equity and positioning yourself for the inevitable real estate turnaround.

When it comes, you’ll be prepared.  Who’s first in line for a million dollar payday?  Is it you?

What are you waiting for?

Blessings!

Charrissa Cawley

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I read an article the other day that knocked me off my chair.

I honestly don’t know if it was ignorance on the part of the “journalist” who wrote the article or whether it was part of a much larger, deeper running conspiracy to try to fool the American public. Let me tell you what I read.

The article was in a national publication (I’m not going to tell you which one to protect the stupid – or the guilty) but the article said that if you were interested in buying property right now on the cheap, you should consider buying REO properties from lenders. As a real estate investor, you know that this idea makes perfect sense.

Here’s where the story went south… and wound up somewhere in the Gulf of Mexico. The reporter said that if you wanted to get a real bargain given the number of REO properties on the market, you should approach your friendly banker and if you were a really “savvy investor”, you “might” be able to negotiate an REO purchase in the neighborhood of 95%.

That’s right… 95%.

The idea that someone might be willing to pay nearly full retail for an REO right now is absolutely laughable. Banks are bursting at the seams with REO properties. Banks have more REO’s then teenagers have excuses, and now there are news stories telling people how to go to the banks and pay retail.

That begs the question in my mind: Is this journalist stupid, misinformed, or is this story a plant from either the banking industry or the federal government to try and kickstart the real estate market? I’m not a conspiracy theorist, but it certainly makes me wonder. Think about it for a second. The average untrained Joe can waltz into any realtor’s office in America and get that deal — or better. I seem to remember reading a statistic from the National Association of Realtors one time that said that the average home sold for about 93% of list price. What’s up with that?

I’ve heard of investors getting deals for as little as 50 cents on the dollar, depending on the lender and how hungry they are to move a property. If you’re a brand new investor, do yourself a favor: Don’t believe everything you read. You might be better off getting real estate investing advice from the National Enquirer!

I’m not trying to kick sand into the gearbox of their well laid plan, but I think someone is trying to pull the wool over the eyes of a lot of people. Maybe I’m wrong… maybe it’s not a conspiracy.

What do you think?

There is a lot better information out there, that won’t put your neck out on the line. You deserve honest information from reliable sources. Apparently, newspapers have become repositories of fictional accounts. If you need better Real Estate Investing tips and advice, try this link…I think you’ll like the advice (and the results!) a whole lot better.

 www.reiconferences.com

Blessings!

Charrissa Cawley

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More than a million homeowners are in default on their mortgages and about 10 million more are upside down – owing more on their homes than they are worth. Daily reports on CNN paint a grim picture of the current housing and banking situation. As real estate investors, we have an unprecedented opportunity to create real wealth for ourselves while helping homeowners who are desperately looking for an exit strategy from their homes without the societal stigma – and lasting credit damage – that comes from foreclosure. They’re looking for a graceful way to quietly exit stage left with their dignity intact before their lender takes it along with their homes.

As bad as the situation may seem for the homeowners, it’s even worse for banks. Every homeowner that winds up on the street due to foreclosure costs their lenders dearly – they face growing public scrutiny from Legislators, the media, and anyone with an ax to grind – and adding insult to injury, they have to set aside funds to cover their anticipated losses, which further reduces their ability to provide other loans and places their very futures in jeopardy.

Now there’s a new threat.

Foreign investment funds, many of them financed by record oil profits, are circling like vultures moving in for the kill. Their target? REOs. A handful of these investment funds have amassed more than a trillion dollars that’s burning a hole in their collective pockets, and they’re itching to snap REOs up in mega-purchases of several billion dollars at a time, hoping to pick them up for as little as 40 cents on the dollar. A number of these funds are controlled by some of the wealthiest countries in the Middle East, looking for yet another opportunity to turn a huge profit.

Individual real estate investors like you and me can secure our futures today, but only by acting now. These properties will go somewhere. These market conditions won’t last forever, and foreign interests with an almost unlimited supply of blank checks and favorable currency conversion rates are causing oil tycoons to take on the dual role of real estate mogul.

There’s a silver lining for homeowners as well. They’ll bounce back. Once they get their financial houses in order they’ll look to re-enter the housing market. As this happens, the historic real estate downturn could turn into a surging market as increased demand causes prices to escalate. The question is: how thick will your portfolio be when this happens?

Real estate isn’t a bag of Lay’s potato chips. So get all you can while you can because, unlike potato chips, they won’t make more.

Happy Investing!
Charrissa Cawley

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I just wanted to wish all of you a Happy New Year! 2008 is going to be the best year ever!

We had a New Year’s Eve party at my house with family and close friends and the Drifters!

Talk about a great time! Anybody remember those guys? Ill have to post a pic here soon…What a fun time…

I waited to send this until  now because I figured everyone has recovered from all the holidays and are back at it again with real estate!

I wanted to let those of you that aren’t a part of my Inner Circle Group know something:

You are missing out! I have some amazing mastermind calls planned these next few weeks and if you are a REWEX member

(www.RewexClub.com), you not only have access to the website of over 8200 pages, but you also gain access to our biweekly interactive mastermind calls! 

Yes, they are interactive and you can ask questions and we do group discussions! Its Real Investors helping Eachother! Amazing concept that works!

This is one of those golden nuggets in life you don’t want to miss out on. Go here to Join now for only $1: http://www.RewexClub.com

See you inside!
http://www.RewexClub.com

Here’s to the Best Year Ever!

Charrissa Cawley

www.REIconferences.com

www.RewexClub.com

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Hi there and welcome to Charrissa Cawleys new Blog!

Im stepping into the “2000’s” with my new blog.

This is a place for me to connect with you guys better

and share all of my “Latest & Greatest”!  Stay tuned and

check back often for the best wealth building and real estate

investing resources and strategies out there today!

Warm Regards,

Charrissa Cawley

www.REIconferences.com

www.PropertyAttic.com

www.MyREIwebsites.com

www.Rewexclub.com

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