marketing to real estate investors: 3 No Cost Tips To Keep Property Crime-Free
- 10/12/09 09:55 AM
Due to high unemployment and the worst recession since the great depression, crime numbers have picked up across the nation. Landlords and property managers have a higher probability of crime occuring on their residential rental property. Obviously, any crime including vandalism will result in a negative impact on the value of the property. The good news is that landlords and property managers can take steps to prevent and even stop crime on their properties. Again an ounce of prevention is better than pound of cure which can protect landlords and property managers from expensive lawsuits. The following tips can eliminate the … (11 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Cutting Costs in a Recession Can do More Harm than Good
- 05/07/09 09:57 AM
I read an excellent post in Monica O'Brien's "Resourceful Marketer" blog and I think everyone should check it out, "4 lessons from the food industry on how to make money in a recession – Hint: it’s not by cutting prices". It’s too bad her insights can’t be found in textbooks! I think she had some really good advice that totally hitting the nail on the head. I agreed that cutting back in a recession is not always the way to go, and we can learn from other industries and apply that knowledge to our own. Just the other day, I … (4 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Expenses that can be Written Off Immediately
- 04/09/09 05:54 AM
Last Minute Tax Tip - Repairs due to Vandalism can be Expensed Immediately If rental property is damaged by vandalism, the cost of repairing the property to its previous condition is immediately deductible instead of being capitalized and depreciated.
For example, say you replaced an entire window frame on your property. Normally the cost would get added back to the basis and depreciated because windows are a component of the building structure (depreciated over 27.5 years). However, since the improvement is the result of vandalism, it is treated like a repair, and the costs are deducted in the year the … (1 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: 1 out of 5 Buyers is WHAT?
- 04/08/09 10:29 AM
1 out of every 5 buyers is an investor!!! This was again confirmed by NAR in their latest annual study on second homes and investment purchases. They found that purchases for investment purposes accounted for more than one out of five home sales in 2008. Second homes and vacation property purchases dropped last year to 9 percent of the total market, down from 14 percent in 2006.
Here are some other interesting findings: 66% of what investors purchased last year was detached single family units, 22% were condos or duplexes, and only 8% of purchases were multi-units, attached townhouses, … (10 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Giving Gifts that Lower Taxes
- 04/07/09 06:53 AM
Last Minute Tax Tip - Giving Gifts and Lowering Taxes If you give gifts in the course of your business, you can deduct all or part of the cost, but you cannot deduct more than $25 for each business gift that you gave away during the tax year.
A gift that is intended for the eventual personal use or benefit of a particular person or class of people will be considered a gift to that person or class of people. If you give a gift to a member of a customer's family, the gift is generally considered to be an … (2 comments)
You can pay your kids to do work on your properties, and put the money in IRA accounts for them. This is especially a good idea if you’ve already maxed out on your and your spouse’s IRA contribution for the year. You’re better off avoiding the taxes on your extra income, and the money will be safe in … (9 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: How to Deduct Losses When You Have No Expense
- 04/03/09 02:24 PM
Last Minute Tax Tip - How to Deduct Losses When You Have No Expense Losses incurred because of a casualty, disaster, or theft may be tax-deductible. A casualty is a loss of property (including damage and destruction) due to a sudden event that is identifiable, unexpected, and unusual. These losses may be limited, but they are deductible as a rental activity expense.
For example, your tenant runs their car through the garage door. Even though you haven’t replaced the garage door and don’t have any expenses because you didn’t fix anything, you can deduct the cost of damages incurred as … (4 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: "VISIT" your Clients!!!
- 04/02/09 09:02 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - VISIT your clients Click here for tips A-Z One of the big reasons why agents do not get repeat business from past clients is because they do not VISIT their clients. Generally speaking, an agent can create a very positive impression by sticking around and being in a client's mind beyond the transaction process.
VISIT your clients beyond the transaction process to let them know they are important to you. You don't have to physically go to their house. For example - you can VISIT them by calling them, emailing them, and sending them information. … (17 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Writing Off the Cost of Tenants
- 04/02/09 06:13 AM
Last Minute Tax Tip - Deducting Tenant Utilities that the Landlord Pays Utilities paid by the landlord for tenant use are fully deductible, provided that this is part of the rental agreement.
Landlords often incur expenses to light common areas or operate security systems on their properties. Other common expenses include power, water, gas, and cable, and internet. Any utility costs incurred during a period of vacancy are also fully deductible - but be careful. Deducting large expenses during periods of vacancy can be a reason for the IRS to become suspicious. Everyone's tax situation is different, … (5 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Amortizing Loan Costs
- 04/01/09 08:58 AM
Last Minute Tax Tip - Loan Costs need to be Amortized You can maximize your tax savings by deducting all of your loan costs. Loan costs do not add value to your property (like title charges), and must be amortized over the life of your loan (and not depreciated with the property basis.)
Find your amortization deduction by adding all the loan costs from your property's settlement statement and dividing by the loan term (30 years, etc...). The yearly amortization deduction gets reported on IRS form 4562 for the life of the loan. If you refinance the property, you will … (0 comments)
Common expenses can be advertisements on the radio, in the newspaper, classified lists, and phone books. Other expenses may include the cost of signs, banners, and postage for mailers. You can even deduct the cost of advertising for vacancies, including the cost of building a web site – just be sure that they are “ordinary and necessary” for your rental activity. Click here for the other tips. To learn more about saving money … (7 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Don't Believe Me about our Webinar
- 03/31/09 07:33 AM
Not too many people believe me when I talk about our webinar, and I don't blame them. I wrote about how it is the greatest thing since sliced bread - and to be honest, it was a little crazy and over the top. I made up a bunch of stuff, and perhaps that was misleading... … (3 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK and the resources that are readily available to you
- 03/30/09 07:17 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK Click here for tips A-Z In order to succeed with investors, you must be able to UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK and employ the resources that are readily available to you. That's why it is important to network with a team of talented people who you can rely on when you need access to resources or information.
Over the years, you will work with many different individuals who are involved in the real estate profession - like attorneys, mortgage brokers, property managers, stagers, and title officers. UTILIZE THIS NETWORK, because a good relationship with … (1 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: TIME IS MONEY, so make the minutes count!
- 03/29/09 08:35 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - TIME IS MONEY, make the minutes count! Click here for tips A-Z There are a lot of things you can accomplish in five minutes. Some people can write a blog post in less than 5 minutes. Some people take over 5 minutes to brush their teeth. TIME IS MONEY - so think about productive activities that you can complete in less than 5 minutes, and do one task daily.
Your time is more valuable than you know, so it's good to start out with a marketing plan. Make a list of activities that can take … (3 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: STORYTELLING SELLS, so make it interesting!
- 03/27/09 07:54 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - STORYTELLING SELLS, so make it interesting! Click here for tips A-Z It's hard to be in sales, marketing is tough, and competition doesn't make it any easier! You must to be able to sell a product just as well as any other salesperson, and that's why you need to know how to tell stories. STORYTELLING SELLS!
In order to be a great storyteller, you must be able to add interesting people and places, curiosity, drama, and humor to your tales. For example: TReXGlobal.com makes property management software. Real estate professionals can co-brand the software … (9 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: REACH OUT and touch someone
- 03/26/09 08:39 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - REACH OUT and touch someone Click here for tips A-Z In sales, it can be difficult to surpass the perception of a salesperson, and that's why it is important for you to come across as someone who is truly interested in the people you are serving and not the product you are selling. That's why you have to REACH OUT and touch your clients.
Having a "how can I help" mentality is the best way to secure a solid relationship with clients because it shows clients that you put their interests in front of your … (1 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: QUICKNESS MATTERS when it comes to response time
- 03/25/09 09:35 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - QUICKNESS MATTERS when it comes to response time Click here for tips A-Z There are many different factors within your control that will shape investors' perceptions about you as a real estate professional. If your looking for a skill that will set yourself apart from your competition, QUICKNESS is one of them. Response time is certainly something that you want to concentrate on, because QUICKNESS MATTERS, and the speed at which you are able to service your clients will often be the determining factor that brings them back to you.
Often, agents do not respond … (3 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: Last Minute Tax Tip - Rental income
- 03/24/09 09:08 AM
Last Minute Tax Tip - Rental Income The lower your rental income for the year, the less that you will owe in taxes. By minimizing your rental income, you can reduce your taxable liability. This does not mean you should stop collecting rent, it just means you might not have to include all the rent you've collected in your taxable rental income. You don't have to report your rental income if you rented out your property or vacation home for 14 days or less. Rental income is taxable in the year it is collected. If you did not receive … (8 comments)
marketing to real estate investors: PATIENCE leads to long term relationships
- 03/24/09 06:52 AM
Investor Marketing Tip - PATIENCE leads to long term relationships Click here for tips A-Z In order to build a long term relationship with your clients, you must have PATIENCE with them. Show your clients that they are more to you than a real estate transaction by extending your presence beyond the buying and selling process.
Clients are mainly interested in how you can help them to solve their problems, and their pain points extend beyond just searching for property and getting local information. Allow them to see that you have their best interests in mind, by helping them … (6 comments)
Due to high unemployment and the worst recession since the great depression, crime numbers have picked up across the nation. Landlords and property managers have a higher probability of crime occuring on their residential rental property. Obviously, any crime including vandalism will result in a negative impact on the value of the property.
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