The Art of Successful Trading

By Joe Inman

Trading is considered by many to be the most dangerous event short of war, and like the old saying goes “he who is well prepared has won half the battle.” You are going up against the best and brightest Wall Street has to offer and sometimes it feels they all have one goal, which is to take your money. If this is true, what can you do to survive and prosper in such a demanding profession? First, you must commit to yourself that your goal is not merely to trade but to trade successfully. Successful traders are patient and let the market come to them. It is not in their nature to force a trade. They realize it is better to do nothing unless there is something that should be done. All too often, those who are new to trading will commit the costly sin of overtrading. This occurs most often out of the fear that if they miss this trade opportunity, they may not get another one. Experienced traders realize it is better to miss a trade rather than get into one that only has a marginal chance of success.

Continue reading "Stock Education: The Art of Successful Trading" »

Posted at 01:39 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Jim and Darlene B. of Fort Collins, Colorado, began their training with Wealth Intelligence Academy in November, 2005. While completing their training, they purchased 17 properties. Their most profitable deal was a lot they purchased for $86,000 and later sold for $268,000.

Continue reading "Short Sales: a way to help good people out of bad situations" »

Posted at 01:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Business Capital:
The Life Blood of Your Real Estate Business

By Matt Fagerness

We’ve all heard about the numerous ways you can successfully do real estate transactions with no money down (or at least with a bare minimum of operating capital) and I am a believer in these techniques myself. After all, I was also a Wealth Intelligence Academy® student before becoming a trainer and a mentor for the Academy. I have done deals with owner financing and I have done my share of wholesale deals too, which goes to show that the no money down concept is alive and well, and that these kinds of deals are also something you can do.

With that said, let me shift gears just a little bit. It is often said that businesses (particularly small ones) usually fail for three common reasons. One is the business owner selects the wrong business to begin with. With real estate being as diverse and commonplace as it is, I am not concerned about this pitfall being in your way. Another reason that businesses may fail is they are poorly managed. Right now, your business is likely so small (personnel-wise) that management is not really a factor. On top of that, remember none of us need to be experts on all facets of the business and what you do not know can and should be delegated to your professional power team.

Continue reading "Business and Finance: Business Capital for Real Estate Investing Businesses" »

Posted at 01:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

The Hardship Letter:

Learn More about this Important Piece of the Short Sale Package

By Lauri Waddell

When a short sale is negotiated with the lender, a hardship letter from the homeowner is requested in the short-sale package. There are several purposes for the submission of the hardship letter which we will explore.

The hardship letter is a letter to be written by the homeowner detailing the events that led up to the default and pre-foreclosure of the mortgage. The letter should detail, in chronological order, the events that caused hardship which ultimately led to financial duress and the default of the loan. As investors, we must always keep in mind that “Life happens to good people.” No one intentionally chooses foreclosure. Our job as investors is to assist the homeowner in documenting the events that led to the preforeclosure of their home. We do this with an empathetic and professional approach that gives the homeowner dignity in the process of letting them tell their story.

Continue reading "Short Sales and Foreclosure Investing: The Hardship Letter" »

Posted at 01:12 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

While not the primary reason, mortgage fraud has certainly played a role in the current mortgage crisis and has had an impact on real estate markets across the country. It's easy to understand how a naive homebuyer could become a victim of mortgage fraud, but don't think you're too smart to fall for a scam -- even sophisticated investors are at risk. According to the FBI, losses due to mortgage fraud are $4-$6 billion annually.

For tips from the FBI on how to avoid becoming a victim of mortgage fraud, visit http://www.fbi.gov/page2/august08/mortgagefraud_081408.html

Posted at 01:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

According to a survey featured in Consumer Reports September 2008 issue, many real estate brokers are willing to negotiate their commission rates with sellers who try to haggle.

The survey found that 46 percent of sellers who responded attempted to negotiate a lower commission rate. Roughly 71 percent succeeded. The survey also found that sellers who paid commission rates of 3 percent or lower were just as satisfied with their brokers’ performance as those who paid 6 percent or more, suggesting that negotiating can’t hurt.

Continue reading "Consumer Reports Survey: Home Sellers Can Negotiate Broker Commissions Without Hurting Service or Sale Price" »

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Why do people fail to reach their goals? They usually have a vision and know what they want. They often put together a plan. But then they still don’t get where they want to be. Why?

Most of the time, it’s because they don’t take action. They fail to execute their plan.

Goals are important. A plan is essential. But without action, all the goal-setting and planning is a waste of time.

So think about it. If you haven’t yet reached your goals, could it be because you’re still milling around on the starting line?

Posted at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)