The G-20 nations met with President Bush over the weekend trying to collectively solve the global financial crisis.  At this point, nothing much was accomplished, but they’ll be meeting again shortly after Barack Obama becomes President.  In the meantime, it looks like the short-term solution of the day seems to be continuing to throw money at the problem and hoping against hope that all that money will somehow cause the major economies of the world to catch fire.

I’m no economist, and I honestly don’t know if it will work.  But I read an article that got me to thinking about some of the more radical solutions they might decide to implement if all that cash doesn’t catch a friendly spark and a favorable wind that reignites the economy in the meantime.

In 1933, President Roosevelt used the power of his Executive Order pen to simultaneously devalue U.S. currency and confiscate gold.  He then raised the value of gold by about 70% which revalued all financial assets.  It worked back then.  Would a similar idea – implemented on a global basis – work today?

I’m not suggesting they would confiscate gold – and the author of the article wasn’t either. What he was suggesting is that if they were to simply restate the value of gold that it could have the same effect.  By skyrocketing the value of gold, they would basically be raising the value of everything of value – gold, real estate, etc.

Would it work?  I have no idea.  

What I do know is that governments around the world can’t seem to print money or IOU’s fast enough to keep up with demand.  Nothing they’ve tried has worked.  About all they haven’t tried is giving every man, woman, and child in America a check for a million dollars and ask that they please start buying stuff.

Who knows, that may be next.

Like I said, I don’t know if this will work or not.  But it will be interesting to see how it all shakes out.

Until then, invest right and invest smart.  We don’t know what the future holds, but the coming weeks and months promise to be a wild ride.

Blessings!

Charrissa Cawley

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Last week we made history in this nation by proving that hard work, an indomitable spirit, and a few lucky breaks along the way make it possible for any of us to achieve our dreams. So what can we all learn from the Obama campaign model – and how can you put a micro-version of this to work in your investing life?

• Don’t be afraid to try new ideas even if everyone you know thinks you’ll fail – Friends and family will tell you that real estate investing is a bad idea, that millions of people are staring at foreclosure right now, and that only a fool would jump into a market that is bruised, bleeding, and holding on for dear life.  Only a fool would buy real estate when prices are at the top – because there’s only one direction they can go.  Hint: It’s not up.

• Believe in yourself regardless of what the pundits think – A strong belief in yourself can help you overcome any adversity you might face.  Lack of money, credit, knowledge – these are all challenges you can overcome.  Believe in yourself and find a way.

• Surround yourself with smart people who believe in you – You recognize that you don’t know everything.  Instead of lamenting this for 40 years and treading water, find someone who knows what you don’t.  Tap into their expertise and move forward.  

Congratulate Barack Obama on his historic achievement regardless of your political viewpoint.  Use his election as an incentive to challenge your own preconceived notions of what is possible.  When success in real estate seems like a mere pipe dream, reach down deep within yourself and keep pushing forward with a mantra for success, “Yes, you can!”

Yes you can.

Blessings!

Charrissa Cawley

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The impression a lot of people have is that the average real estate investor is a fast-talking con-man (or woman) who specializes in preying on those unfortunate enough to fall on hard times.  As you know, the reality is much different.  These misconceptions are fueled in part by media perceptions and a few bad actors who call themselves real estate investors, but are — in reality — low-lifes who should be serving long stints in the Cross Bar Hotel.  

As an honest and ethical real estate investor who is interested in buying right and doing the right thing — while helping people who NEED to unload their property — I want to share a totally uplifting story I read about a truly special real estate investor. A woman who fell on hard times and lost her home was fortunate enough to run into a real estate investor with a heart.  What this investor did was enough to bring a tear to my eye.  She bought the property at auction and immediately gave it back to the lady who had lost her home.  No strings, just blessings and a great big hug.

As an investor you may not be in the position to be able to do this sort of thing, but by getting in gear now and capitalizing on the unprecedented opportunity you have to make money and build real, sustainable wealth, you still have a chance to do much more than the average person who simply shrugs their shoulders and switches the channel. You can take care of your future, but you can also do some good for other people.

Obviously, the choice is yours.  

You can pocket all of your profits if you like. But, I recommend you do some good for others.  Your contribution can be a series of small, quiet contributions to charities that you believe in, or a loud, in-your-face gift that will make others praise your name.

The choice is yours.Secure your future by building real, sustainable wealth. But don’t forget to give something back.  

Make no mistake about it.  Real estate investing riches are great.  

Even better is the undeniably electric feeling you get by making a real difference in somebody else’s life.  The beauty of this concept is you’re in charge of your destiny, but you can also play a vital role in improving the lives and the outlook of others as well.

When you do that, you truly understand the concept of being wealthy.

Blessings!

Charrissa Cawley   

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On Monday the U.S. House of Representatives rejected what was termed a Wall Street “bailout”.  Two days later, the Senate overwhelmingly passed a “rescue” plan.  Was the difference a new word or a few billion barrels of pork that lawmakers added to the bill to make it more pleasing to nervous Senators?

I can honestly say I don’t know.  I’m just glad I didn’t have to make the decision.  What I do know, though, is that there are no easy answers and $700 billion is 2.8 million houses at a quarter of a million apiece.  Or 5.6 million if you can get 50% short sales

Really, though, a bailout sounds worse than a rescue.  Rescuing somebody just sounds better — especially when your wallet stands to be the life jacket being used.  You feel more heroic, and I think that was the goal.  Because words mean things.

Take real estate investing for instance.

When you’re negotiating with a seller, the difference between a deal and an unfulfilled dream could be what you say — and it might be how you say it.  Success in real estate investing comes down to the art of negotiation.  You may be faced with dealing bad news to the one you’re negotiating with.  You may not be able to give the seller what they want, but find  a way to turn it around.  Be diplomatic, which is the art of telling someone where they can go so artfully that they actually look forward to the trip.

So take it from your government:  Choose your words wisely, find out what the other party needs, and figure out how you can give them what they need — even if they don’t know what it is.

Then you have a win-win transaction.

And nobody gets stuck with a debt that can’t be repaid.

Happy Investing!

Charrissa Cawley

www.REIconferences.com

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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

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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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For millions of Americans Labor Day is nothing more than a reminder that they need government intervention to provide them with a day to celebrate the fact that they work entirely too hard for much too little, and that when the last sentence has been written on their working career, that they can look forward to retirement – and worrying about whether Social Security or their meager savings will be enough to sustain them until they die.

As a real estate investor, you’ve gone a different direction. You believe in yourself, your dreams, and the vast world of untapped potential that lies out there in the unprotected sea of real estate entrepreneurship. You reject the idea that your value is tied to what an employer is willing to pay or a labor union can negotiate on your behalf.

You want to create wealth, create opportunity, and you want to do it on your terms.

On this Labor Day I want you to rededicate yourself to the principle that real estate investing can be the vehicle that makes your financial goals reachable if you’re willing to simply step out on faith and claim them by doing a few simple things and doing them well.

Instead of a $100-$200 paid day off you can count on building a portfolio that will allow you to have as many labor days as you like. Except in your case, a labor day will be a day you choose to work in order to dramatically increase your income, instead of a government-sanctioned day of rest that forces you to thank someone else for throwing you a bone and giving you a day off to reflect upon the mediocrity that is your life.

Which future do YOU prefer?

Blessings!

Charrissa Cawley

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There’s a huge WIIFM (What’s In It For Me?) factor involved in real estate investing, but have you ever stopped to consider all the good things that can come about from your decision to become a real estate investor? Consider the good works you directly or indirectly perform:

• You put property back on the property tax rolls
• You help people obtain affordable housing
• You improve neighborhoods
• You help increase property values
• You help support infrastructure (roads, police & fire service)
• You help fund education

Making money and getting rich is a nice goal to have, but is there an issue or a cause you are passionate about? Your real estate investing can be the means to providing much needed funds to a group, an organization, or a cause much larger than you. It’s wonderful that you want to be rich beyond your wildest dreams, but true wealth is measured not by what you keep, but by what you get to give away.

What do you care about? How can you help? You can give your time, but many worthy causes are especially strapped for cash. Right now the news is filled with stories about the environmental footprint we all make. But what kind of a societal footprint are you making? What can you do to make yours bigger?

Make a difference – Make it now!

Blessings!
Charrissa Cawley

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How do you prefer to receive your cash? Little dribs and drabs at a time, like might come in a one gallon bucket, with the potential to leave nice uniform piles all over your living room – or high volume profits that can gush through a properly placed pipeline, saturating your future with spendable cash?

If you’re anything like most people – and I’d bet you are – you’d choose the pipeline any day of the week.

Then why are you still holding a bucket?

In today’s real estate investing market, there’s no doubt you can generate real sustainable wealth for yourself. You can run ads, distribute ink pens, or throw rocks attached to your business card through people’s windows. While I don’t advocate this approach unless you relish the thought of a visit from the Boys in blue, each of these strategies will get you attention. And you can make money with all of these strategies (even the rock idea might work once in today’s market!), but to really maximize on the opportunities available now, I recommend you pitch the bucket over your shoulder and use your computer to electronically build a never ending profit pipeline.

You’ve heard people screaming from the mountaintops that the Internet is the wave of the future. The future is here, the future is now, but it won’t do you any good if you don’t know what you’re doing or how to proceed. REI Conferences has all the answers you need to build your pipeline. With the proper knowledge and tools you can learn how to lay the foundation for your pipeline and arrange for a tanker to periodically slip by and take your profits to the bank.

So what are you waiting for? There’s never been a better time than right now to get started. Point your web browser to REI Conferences and start digging the foundation to your future!

Charrissa Cawley

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There’s a reason you live where you do. It might be because it’s close to where you grew up or it could be because the lovely woman who said yes to your marriage proposal likes taking long walks on the beach with you at sunset. Then again, you might live where you do because you were driving cross-country between your junior and senior years of college and had mechanical problems there, liked the atmosphere – and returned after graduation. Regardless of the specific reason, you live where you do based on an emotion or a series of emotions. Just because you live there doesn’t make it a good place to invest in real estate.

Real estate is a decidedly unemotional commodity unless you’re shopping for your primary residence. If it’s not – it should be. Thousands of successful real estate entrepreneurs know that in all ways real estate is a numbers game. Up markets, down markets, stagnant markets – it’s all about numbers. You contact ‘X’ number of sellers before you find the one property you ultimately buy. Because you live where you do, conditions may or may not be conducive to great investment opportunities. While conditions around the corner from your home might fit your investing goals, it’s a safe bet that you can find better conditions and better opportunities somewhere else. Is it written on a stone tablet somewhere that you have to invest where you live? If that’s what you think, you need to hurl it to the ground so that it shatters your erroneous thought process. Use stone cold reason to unleash your potential for profiting from your real estate investments.

The very emotions that make your neck of the woods such a great place to live are the very same reasons that could make it a lousy place to invest in real estate. With that said, you could live in an ideal area for real estate investing.If you live in a tourist trap or an area with an abundance of beaches, fair weather, and amenities that are considered ideal to the majority of people, a lot of other people will want to live there as well. If rental rates and property values are extremely high, you don’t necessarily live in a solid area for real estate investing.

Instead, look at the numbers without being bound by the emotions that fueled your desire to live where you do. Explore and examine other markets across the country or even abroad. The good news is you can do this business “virtually” without having to personally visit or live in the area in which you’re considering investing.You may find by looking at numbers from a variety of research and data sources that St. Louis, Missouri, Charlotte, North Carolina and McAllen,Texas make sense to you. Don’t get hung up on whether or not you would want to live there. It doesn’t matter if you like the atmosphere, the environment, or the look of the community. All that matters is: What do the numbers tell you?

Willie Sutton didn’t rob banks because he particularly liked the ambience of bank lobbies, the great customer service, or the way the bank President tipped his hat to all the ladies he passed walking on the sidewalk. He robbed banks because that’s where the money was. Politicians of every political persuasion have learned that mingling politics and religion to the point that you debate the merits or faults of vastly differing viewpoints is suicide. So don’t kill your potential to turn a promising real estate investing career into a never-ending cycle of personal disappointment by allowing emotion to enter your real estate investing equation. X +Y=Z, but when you plug emotion into the equation you get chaos – and missed opportunities.

Keep emotion out of it and remember it’s all about the numbers. Live where you want to live and invest where it makes the most sense. If you do you’ll discover that the numbers will be on your side and your profits will be in the bank. Now that’s something to get emotional about!

Blessings,

Charrissa Cawley

www.REIconferences.com

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