real estate professionals: Agent Lays the SmackDown on the IRS - 05/20/09 03:03 PM
Many of you have heard about how the IRS has been targeting Real Estate Agents, and challenging the status of a "real estate professional" for an Agent.
To give you a brief background without getting into the details - a "Real Estate Professional" is someone who "materially participates" in their real estate activity. As a result, they are able to deduct real estate losses from other income that is not related to real estate.
The IRS had been challenging the "real estate professional" status for agents - stating that Brokers qualify, but Agents do not. And they were winning...
The great … (7 comments)
|
real estate professionals: MARCH MARKETING MADNESS - Tip #7: GET REFERRALS - 03/08/09 04:04 PM
INVESTOR MARKETING TIP - GET REFERRALS from the right places
There's no reason why you shouldn't try to GET REFERRALS. For many agents, referrals and word-of-mouth marketing are their primary source of new business. Getting a referral might be difficult if you think it is unprofessional to ask for referrals or if it makes you feel uncomfortable. Try to take yourself out of that frame of mind.
Investors are highly networked individuals, and depend heavily on referrals themselves. GET REFERRALS from people in their network. Attorneys, accountants, tax professionals, and property managers are all good examples of where you can … (3 comments)
|
real estate professionals: MARCH MARKETING MADNESS - Tip #6: FOLLOW THEM - 03/07/09 02:01 PM
INVESTOR MARKETING TIP - FOLLOW THEM to the places they hang out.
How do you get investors to come to you? Simple - you don't! You should find out where your prospects hang out, and FOLLOW THEM.
This can be applied to both the online and offline world. For example, on the internet, Investors like to hang out in places like Craigslist and BiggerPockets. Having a presence in these areas will give you exposure to investors you can connect with. In the offline world, try showing up at the next investment club meeting in your local area, and introducing … (4 comments)
|
real estate professionals: MARCH MARKETING MADNESS - Tip #2: BE KNOWN - 03/03/09 10:46 AM
INVESTOR MARKETING TIP OF THE DAY - BE KNOWN in the areas you want to serve.
Make it your priority to BE KNOWN in your area - you won't get very far if no one knows about your business. Get to BE KNOWN amongst all the local business owners and group leaders. Contribute to local organizations and participate in venues where you can volunteer your services. The more people who know about you and the service you provide - and the better off you'll be.
Real estate investors know what they want and don't have trouble looking for it. Very … (0 comments)
|
real estate professionals: MARCH MARKETING MADNESS - Tip #1: ADD VALUE - 03/02/09 11:20 AM
In lieu of March Marketing Madness (a stimulus plan to connect agents with these emerging investors), I have compiled "Investor Marketing Tips, A-Z," to help agents grow their business with real estate investors - and every day I will post a new tip that can help you with your investor clients and prospects. Be sure to subscribe to my blog or bookmark this page for the latest updates.
INVESTOR MARKETING TIP OF THE DAY - ADD VALUE to the service you provide.
To retain clients, gain referrals, and increase recurring business - you need to do something special to set … (0 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Fannie Wants to do Who in the What Now? - 02/26/09 12:08 PM
Fannie Mae wants to do more business with real estate investors.
In just a few days (3/1), Fannie will start allowing investors to hold up to 10 mortgages and get Fannie Mae backed loans. The limit had been previously reduced to 4.
It makes sense - investors account for at least 22% of the market, and 75% of their purchases are single family homes, condos, and townhouses.
You'll notice an increase in activity from investors who had been halted by the 4 property limit, so it's certainly a good time to market to them. Start by getting a list of … (2 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Expanded Tax Break for First Time Home Buyers - 02/25/09 01:56 PM
The IRS announced that taxpayers who qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit and purchase a home this year before December 1st can take the tax credit either on their 2008 tax returns this year or on their 2009 tax returns next year. They do not have to repay the credit, provided the home remains their main home for 36 months after the purchase date. They can claim 10 percent of the purchase price up to $8,000 ($4,000 for married individuals filing separately), and the amount of credit begins to phase out for taxpayers whose adjusted gross income is more than $75,000, … (2 comments)
|
real estate professionals: New federal tax break for first-time home buyers - 02/23/09 05:45 PM
Here are details of the new federal tax break for first-time home buyers:
– It’s for new and existing homes purchased between Jan. 1 and Dec. 1, 2009.
– Buyers get a tax break equal to 10% of the purchase price, up to $8,000.
– It does not have to be repaid. (Last year, buyers got $7,500 tax credits for homes bought between April 9, 2008, and Jan. 1, 2009, but had to repay over 15 years, interest-free).
– Singles must earn less than $75,000 a year. Married couples can qualify with joint annual incomes up to $150,000.
As a … (3 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Have you told Clients and Prospects about the 41 Tax Deductions they're entitled to? - 02/23/09 05:19 PM
With the current uncertainties in our economic environment, and even tougher times possibly ahead of us, your investor prospects and clients are in a position where they are looking for more ways to save and hold on to every penny they have.
Did you know that there are 41 different expenses that a rental property owner can write-off to put more money in their pocket this tax season?
Don’t let your clients pay more than they need to!
If your investor prospects or clients don’t know about these 41 different expenses they can write-off, they are definitely paying more … (5 comments)
|
real estate professionals: How Do You Keep Buyers Committed? - 12/17/08 03:13 PM
Frank Bailey posed an interesting question in his blog, and asked AR professionals: "what's your course of action to keep a buyer committed to you?" The discussion is around whether or not to spend time on buyers if they aren't committed.
I wrote a rather lengthy response, and found it is worthy of being a blog in itself. I'm interested to see what everyone thinks... Here's what I responded to him:
Great discussion. Although I agree with just about everyone in some way, I DISAGREE that you will be saving time and money by not dealing with these people. Is it … (2 comments)
|
real estate professionals: So the Market is Beginning to Heal Itself? Depends on You, According to NAR and WSJ... - 10/30/08 03:34 PM
… (10 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Help the Sellers, Help Yourself - Cultivating Business for the Long Term - 09/26/08 02:48 PM
… (3 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Deducting Life and Health Insurance Payments on Taxes? - 08/13/08 02:57 PM
… (5 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Convert Web Visitors into Leads for FREE - 07/28/08 05:33 PM
… (6 comments)
|
real estate professionals: No Loss Limits for Realtors? Unlimited Tax Deductions? - 07/10/08 02:17 PM
… (2 comments)
|
real estate professionals: How Can Standard be Better? - 07/03/08 02:32 PM
… (5 comments)
|
real estate professionals: To Gift, or Not to Gift... That is the Question... - 06/25/08 04:45 PM
… (11 comments)
|
real estate professionals: I'm Selling My House to Myself because of Uncle Sam!!! - 06/18/08 04:13 PM
… (13 comments)
|
real estate professionals: Pay Your Spouse to do Your Work! - 06/09/08 06:06 PM
… (25 comments)
|
real estate professionals: How to Deal with a Casualty... - 05/21/08 03:02 PM
… (6 comments)
|
;)
;)
