RALPH ROBERTS Time Magazine "best-selling REALTOR® in America,"

Dummies Month Means Savings on my For Dummies Books

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Fri, 10 Apr 2009 21:26:39 -0500

Dummies Month Means Savings on my For Dummies Books

March is Dummies Month - an annual traditional that results in big savings for people who buy For Dummies titles like my latest book (availble in April of this year), Financing Real Estate Investments For Dummies.

Please join me in celebrating Dummies Month and saving a few bucks on your purchase of my For Dummies titles. You can buy any of my For Dummies books directly from Wiley by clicking on the links below, or you can purchase them from your favorite bookseller, including Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, Borders, or any other bookstore.

Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies

Flipping Houses For Dummies

Foreclosure Investing For Dummies

Financing Real Estate Investments For Dummies

Advanced Selling For Dummies

Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies

Be sure to save your receipt, because when you do, you can then download and print the Dummies Month Rebate Form, complete it, and submit it to Wiley along with your receipt to receive a $5.00 rebate on your purchase.

Following is a list of Dummies titles I've co-authored with links to the Dummies Store, where you can purchase the books and find out more about the $5 rebate available during Dummies Month:

March is Dummies Month

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sun, 01 Mar 2009 20:29:36 -0600

Dummies Month Means Savings on my For Dummies Books

Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies

Flipping Houses For Dummies

Foreclosure Investing For Dummies

Financing Real Estate Investments For Dummies

Advanced Selling For Dummies

Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies

Following is a list of Dummies titles I've co-authored with links to the Dummies Store, where you can purchase the books and find out more about the $5 rebate available during Dummies Month:

Special CNN Report on Foreclosure

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 05:42:02 -0600

Ralph R. Roberts Featured in Special CNN Report on Foreclosure

Author of Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies Advises Struggling Homeowners

Detroit, MI - February 25, 2009-Ralph R. Roberts, consumer advocate and spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP, was featured on CNN Saturday during a live special report on the foreclosure crisis. The hour-long report, hosted by anchor Fredricka Whitfield and facilitated by CNN's Josh Levs, included a series of hard-hitting questions from struggling homeowners facing the prospect of losing their home in foreclosure.

Since losing his own home to foreclosure in the late 1970s, Roberts has made it his life's mission to cure what he calls the "Cancer of the American Dream." During the segment he rallied homeowners to modify their mortgage loans, "You can't modify a loan if you're not working, but as you find work, be ready to modify your loan. The more Main Street steps up and fights for themselves, the more affordable their homes are going to be, and the better it's going to be for their families, the neighborhoods, the schools, the tax base, and for all of us as Americans," said Roberts.

Roberts, who has led thousands of families through the foreclosure maze, also provided his perspective in response to President Obama's recently announced foreclosure prevention plan.

"We've been bailing out Wall Street," said Roberts. "We've been bailing out insurance companies. We're bailing out states. We're bailing out cities. We need a bailout for Main Street. What everyone needs to realize is by bailing out your neighbor, it's going to protect your value [the value of your home]."

He went on to suggest that the Obama Administration would be wise to consider investing more of the bailout money modifying mortgage loans for all American homeowners. "Let's just modify the whole country. That would be the best thing, instead of throwing all this money at Wall Street like we've been doing, let's modify Main Street, because America really needs it," he said.

Roberts, an award-winning author, also shared insights from one of his latest books, Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley).

About Ralph R. Roberts

Ralph R. Roberts, GRI, CRS is a real estate-focused consumer advocate who knows a thing or two about overcoming challenges. An award-winning author and REALTOR^®, Ralph lost one of his own homes to foreclosure in the late 1970s, and soon thereafter added a foreclosure division to his real estate business. Since then, Ralph and his team has led thousands of families through the foreclosure maze, informing them of their options, including loan modification, and steering them clear of the most common pitfalls while empowering them with the information required to get on with their lives. Ralph is an award-winning REALTOR^® and author who has penned several successful books, including Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley), and Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership (Kaplan). His latest book, Loan Modification For Dummies (Wiley), is slated for publication in summer of 2009. For more information about Ralph please visit www.keepmyhouse.com.

Ralph R. Roberts is the spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP, a law firm dedicated to preserving the American Dream of Homeownership by successfully renegotiating loan agreements between homeowners and lenders. For more information please call 1-877-39-HOUSE (1-877-394-6873) or visit www.fedmod.com.

###

Ralph R. Roberts Provides Ten Steps to Negotiating an Affordable Loan Modification

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Thu, 12 Feb 2009 06:37:25 -0600

Ten Steps to Negotiating an Affordable Loan Modification

Detroit, MI - February 12, 2009-
Ralph R. Roberts, consumer advocate and spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP, today released his list of the top ten steps homeowners can take in order to negotiate an affordable loan modification. The following steps apply to homeowners working directly with a lender as well as to those teaming up with an attorney or alternative third-party representative.

Come clean -

Understand your lender's point of view -

Keep a cool head -

Give them what they need -

Ask for what you want -

Let them do their job

Get your financial house in order -

Keep everyone posted of any changes -

Make sure the lender's offer is truly affordable -

Hold up your end of the bargain
- The key to success is discipline and commitment. All the effort you spend setting up a plan is of no use if you don't follow the plan you created or agreed to.If the loan modification is unaffordable or makes your budget so tight that you are only one car repair or medical bill away from defaulting again, head back to the negotiating table to try to work out a better deal.If anything changes related to your financial situation, be sure to keep your loan modification representative or lender in the loop.Put a tracking system in place today and start developing a budget to ensure you are not spending more money than you are earning.- Loan modifications typically take between 30-90 days from start to finish. During this time, avoid the temptation to micromanage the process. To alleviate unnecessary anxiety, ask your lender for an anticipated timeline. Before meeting with your lender, make sure you spend some time figuring out what you want and need. For example, how much can you realistically afford to pay each month? In order to expedite the situation, find out exactly which forms you need to fill out and which documents your lender needs to process your application. Make sure you provide everything to your lender or representative in the manner specified.Expressing anger toward your lender puts you in an extremely disadvantageous position. For example, your lender may decide that you are unreasonable and that foreclosing would be less costly overall.As far as your lender is concerned, it all boils down to money. You are most likely to be approved if you can show modifying your loan will cost the lender less than a foreclosure. It can be tempting to bend the truth when you are trying to convince a lender to approve a loan modification. Only by laying all your cards on the table and disclosing the truth can you begin to develop and implement solutions that will put you back on the path to long-term financial health.

To read Ralph's full article on this and other topics, please visit www.keepmyhouse.com.

My latest book, Loan Modification For Dummies (Wiley), is slated for publication in summer of 2009

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
Loan Modification Expert/Author
Sterling Town Center Office
12900 Hall Road, Suite 300
Sterling Heights, Michigan
48313-1150
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 620-6449
Email: RRnail@Gmail.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com)

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Remember every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. --Anonymous

What's Good for Homeowners Is Good for America!

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 20:05:23 -0600

What's Good for Homeowners Is Good for America!

Why Foreclosure Is Bad For Everyone

(active rain WIRE) -- Ralph R. Roberts, consumer advocate and spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP, today shares his perspective on why helping to keep people in their homes is good for America. "It's important for the American public to understand that when a family loses their home, everyone in the neighborhood becomes a victim of foreclosure," said Ralph R. Roberts. "This is why it is critical for us to work together as Americans to stem the tide of foreclosures and stabilize the housing market." Ralph cites the following reasons to explain why foreclosure is bad for everyone:

-- Foreclosures reduce property values for everyone in the neighborhood.

-- Lower property values usually mean states, counties,

and towns have less money to fund education and other services.

-- Lower property values also lead to lower commissions for real estate agents and less business for everyone who makes a living off of the real estate industry.

-- Foreclosures leave vacant homes that tend to attract vandals, vagrants, and other criminal types who either set up shop in the homes or use the homes to commit real estate or mortgage fraud.

-- Rising default rates convince lenders to tighten credit, making it more difficult and costly to borrow money.

-- As families lose their homes, they have less money to spend on products and services, lowering demand and increasing unemployment.

-- The mass exodus of families from an area destabilizes the neighborhood, often attracting transient (just passing through) populations.

This makes it difficult for schools and other township agencies to plan for development. In order to prevent increasing foreclosures Ralph recommends that citizens put aside any misgivings they might have about "unjust" deals for homeowners and try to focus on the dangerous impact that widespread foreclosures have on society as a whole. "We need to stop worrying about homeowners who have gotten breaks that seem unfair and begin to realize that we have a lot more to lose if homeowners across America are not given the breaks they need," To read full article on this and other topics, please visit www.keepmyhouse.com .

About Ralph R. Roberts Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI is a real estate-focused consumer advocate who knows about overcoming challenges. An award-winning author and REALTOR(R), Ralph lost one of his own homes to foreclosure in the late 1970s, and soon thereafter added a foreclosure division to his real estate business. Since then, Ralph has led thousands of families through the foreclosure maze, informing them of their options, including loan modification, and steering them clear of the most common pitfalls while empowering them with the information required to get on with their lives. Ralph is an experienced real estate mentor, coach, consultant, and author, who has penned several successful books, including Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley), and Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership (Kaplan).

For more information about Ralph please visit www.keepmyhouse.com . Ralph R. Roberts is the spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP, an organization dedicated to preserving the American Dream of Homeownership. For more information please call 1-877-39-HOUSE (1-877-394-6873) or visit www.fedmod.com .

Remember every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. --Anonymous

Top Five Dos and Don’ts of Loan Modification

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 09:31:43 -0600

Consumer Advocate Ralph R. Roberts Reveals the Top Five Dos and Don'ts of Loan Modification

Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP Spokesperson Embarks on Crusade to Prevent Unnecessary Home Foreclosures

DETROIT--(activerain)--Ralph R. Roberts, consumer advocate and spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, LLP, today revealed the top five do's and don'ts of loan modification. Since losing one of his own homes to foreclosure in the late 1970s, Roberts has made it his life's mission to prevent unnecessary home foreclosures. The following do's and don'ts are intended to dispel common myths about loan modifications, which typically manifest in the form of a rate reduction/adjustment to an existing mortgage.

#1. DO TELL YOUR SPOUSE OR SIGNIFICANT OTHER: It's tempting to hide bad news from your partner, but this can actually work against you. For example, in most cases, you cannot legally negotiate a loan modification without your spouse. You and your partner are in this together and are stronger as a team. Regardless of the reason, disclose it to your partner, put it behind you, and work together to resolve the crisis.

#2. DON'T ASSUME IT's TOO LATE TO ACT: As long as you are still residing in your home, you have opportunities to keep your home.

#3. DO REALIZE THAT YOUR LENDER WANTS TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. The only way the lender makes money is if their loans perform-modifying a loan through loan modification makes it perform for the lender. Banks and other lending institutions make more money and lose less money if you can make your payments. When they foreclose, they not only lose your monthly payments, they also have the expense of foreclosing (attorney fees), rehabbing the home, and then selling it (agent commissions).

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
Loan Modification Expert/Author
Sterling Town Center Office
12900 Hall Road, Suite 300
Sterling Heights, Michigan
48313-1150
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 620-6449
Email: RRnail@Gmail.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com)

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Remember every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. --Anonymous

#4. DON'T GO INTO HIDING: As hard as it is, failing to pick up the phone, return phone calls, or respond to notices is one of the worst things you can do. Your lender needs to know from you or your legal representative that you are aware of the delinquent payments and are working on a solution.

#5. DO SEEK PROFESSIONAL REPRESENTATION: You may be able to negotiate a loan modification yourself by working directly with your lender, but an experienced attorney or loan modification expert can properly represent your case to your lender that your loan is modified to a level of affordability. Homeowners who represent themselves often overestimate what they can afford to pay and end up in the same situation months after they receive their modification.

Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies® Helps Bridge the Culture Gap

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sat, 03 Jan 2009 23:04:27 -0600

Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies® Helps Bridge the Culture Gap

(HOBOKEN, NJ) 1-03-2009 - With the marketplace having gone fully global, salespeople must venture beyond traditional marketing and selling strategies in order to maximize their exposure and sales potential. For those looking for expert advice on how to communicate with people from diverse backgrounds, the recently published Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies® (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.; 978-0-470-37701-7; $21.99) offers a range of useful strategies and tips-from tailoring marketing materials for more global appeal and incorporating multiculturalism into the workplace, to bringing in new products that appeal to a target market.

Authors and sales experts Michael Soon Lee and Ralph R. Roberts state in the introduction, "Cross-cultural selling is nothing more than adjusting your sales practices, presentation, and products to meet the unique needs of multicultural customers. Although it may sound simple, you must be constantly aware of how culture affects your interactions so you can continuously adapt to your buyers."

Cross-Cultural Selling For Dummies helps readers reach out to multicultural customers by

mastering specific business practices-from the different ways to hand out a business card, to

the correct distance to stand from a client, to the use of specific idioms. In addition, readers will

learn how to:

Identify generational differences and customer motivation
Overcome language barriers
Adapt your sales presentations and techniques
Negotiate effectively
Maintain a diverse sales team
Generate referrals
Avoid cultural conflicts

The handy "Cheat Sheet," a tear-out card located in the front of all For Dummies® books, includes tips for meet and greets, detecting common buying signals, honing haggling skills, and more. The always popular "Part of Tens" debunks ten myths about multicultural customers and reveals ten common stereotypes other cultures have of Americans. In addition, an appendix provides a quick reference for cross-cultural etiquette and a cross-cultural holiday calendar.

Remember every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. --Anonymous

Ralph R. Roberts Reveals the Top Five Myths About Loan Modification

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Mon, 29 Dec 2008 21:21:53 -0600

Ralph R. Roberts Reveals the Top Five Myths About Loan Modification

Consumer Advocate Demystifies Common Misconceptions for Home Owners Facing Foreclosure

DETROIT--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ralph R. Roberts, consumer advocate and spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center, today released a list dispelling the top five myths about loan modification. Intended to better educate homeowners facing the prospect of losing their home in foreclosure, the following list demystifies the most common misconceptions surrounding the loan modification process.

MYTH #1: My bank wants me out of my house. / My bank wants my home. Banks and other lending institutions do not want to foreclose. They earn more money if you can make your payments. When they foreclose, they not only lose your monthly payments, but they also have the expense of foreclosing (attorney fees), rehabbing the home, and then selling it (agent commissions). In today's market, there's a good chance they'll have to sell the home at a loss. This is all good news for you - it means the bank is highly motivated to make a deal with you.

MYTH #2: My credit score is bad so I won't qualify. Unlike the option of refinancing out of trouble, which requires you to apply for a new loan, loan modification simply adjusts the terms and perhaps reduces the balance of a loan you already have. Your credit score is much less of a factor in determining whether you qualify for a loan modification. In addition, a successful loan modification can actually improve your credit score over time, especially if it prevents you from ending up in foreclosure or bankruptcy.

MYTH #3 I am not late on my mortgage payments so I won't qualify. / I have to miss a payment to be eligible. Early on, this was true. In fact, some early eligibility requirements stated that you had to be 61 days delinquent in order to qualify. In other words, you would have had to have missed two full payments. The truth is that the eligibility requirements are constantly changing and differ among lenders. Many lenders are now working out loan modifications with borrowers who are up to date on their payments. It's difficult to determine whether you qualify until you actually discuss your situation with the lender or with an attorney who is knowledgeable and experienced in loan modifications.

MYTH #4: I would be better off walking away or declaring bankruptcy than modifying my loan. Walking away from the home and filing for bankruptcy are certainly two options, but they are rarely the best options when you are facing foreclosure. If you simply walk away, the lender is unlikely to pursue legal action against you, but in some jurisdictions, the lender can pursue a deficiency judgment against you to collect the difference between what the lender receives for your home at auction and what you currently owe on the balance of the mortgage. Filing for bankruptcy may be better than just walking away, but it can leave a blemish on your credit history that makes it difficult to borrow money in the future. A successful loan modification is almost always a more prudent choice.

MYTH #5: It's too late. I have already received a foreclosure notice. As long as you still reside in the home - that is, you didn't voluntarily abandon it, and the home hasn't been sold at a foreclosure auction - you may still have time to work out a loan modification with your lender. The sooner you take action, the more options you have available and the more time you have to pursue the best option, but you can still negotiate late into the process. By contacting the lender or, better yet, having your attorney contact the lender on your behalf, you demonstrate a good faith effort to work out a solution and can often buy yourself extra time to negotiate a loan modification.

About Ralph Roberts

Ralph R. Roberts is a consumer advocate and spokesperson for Federal Loan Modification Law Center. After losing one of his own homes to foreclosure in the late 1970s, Ralph added a foreclosure division to his real estate business. Since then, Ralph has led thousands of families through the foreclosure maze, informing them of their options, including loan modification, and steering them clear of the most common pitfalls while empowering them with the information required to get on with their lives. Ralph is also an experienced mentor, coach, consultant, and award-winning author and REALTOR®, who has penned several successful books, including Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley) and Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership (Kaplan). To find out more about Ralph and loan modifications, visit www.KeepMyHouse.com, www.FlippingFrenzy.com. or

www.AboutRalph.com

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
Loan Modification Expert/Author
Sterling Town Center Office
12900 Hall Road, Suite 300
Sterling Heights, Michigan
48313-1150
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 620-6449
Email: RRnail@Gmail.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com)

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Remember every job is a self-portrait of the person who did it. Autograph your work with excellence. --Anonymous

Happy Thanksgiving from Ralph Roberts @ Flipping Frenzy

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 20:29:38 -0600

Happy Thanksgiving from activerain member Flipping Frenzy

To everyone who takes the time to read our blog, wage battle against real estate and mortgage fraud, and who believes in the power of new media journalism and citizen participation... we offer the following thoughts on how to observe this Thanksgiving:

Count your blessings instead of your crosses
Count your friendship and knowledge gains instead of your losses.

Count your joys instead of your woes
Count your friends instead of your foes.

Count your smiles instead of your tears
Count your courage to fight on instead of your fears.

Count your full years instead of your lean
Count your kind deeds instead of your mean.

Count your health instead of your wealth
Count on the power of all of us instead of just yourself.

Happy Thanksgiving!

www.FlippingFrenzy.com

FORECLOSURE MYTHS: 77 Secrets to Saving Thousands on Distressed Properties!

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Mon, 08 Sep 2008 17:48:53 -0500

FORECLOSURE MYTHS: 77 Secrets to Saving Thousands on Distressed Properties!

By Ralph R Roberts "activerain member"

Foreclosures across the country are at an all-time high since the 1930's, and continue to break records every day. Foreclosure is an unfortunate reality we must face in the aftermath of the housing bubble of the 1990's, but it can also be an incredible money-making opportunity for those who know how to approach this profitable piece of the market.
Learn the whole truth about foreclosures-and discover some real bargains too!

In Foreclosure Myths: 77 Secrets to Saving Thousands on Distressed Properties!, Ralph R Roberts and Certified Mortgage Consultant Chip Cummings debunk seventy-seven persistent myths that prevent would-be homeowners and real estate investors from taking advantage of the tremendous profit to be had in foreclosures. Through the process of revealing the truth about the most persistent foreclosure myths, Roberts and Cummings show you how to find, evaluate, and buy foreclosure properties at a discount-including how you can use other people's money to finance your investments.

Learn why these and other myths aren't true at all:

· There's nothing an investor can do to assist distressed homeowners

· Only insiders can find good foreclosure properties

· You need a lot of money to start investing

· Only experts can understand the foreclosure process

· Every foreclosure property is a moneymaking deal

· Real estate agents always get the good deals at auction

· Foreclosed properties are always in terrible shape

• You can only sell a foreclosure home after extensive renovations

In addition, Foreclosure Myths features quotes and firsthand stories from top industry professionals that illustrate the path to a successful foreclosure investment, helping you reap maximum rewards from your efforts. Handy resources like national and state foreclosure guidelines, sample forms, checklists, and all the other tools everyday investors need to earn a profit buying, fixing up, and selling or renting out foreclosure properties-or simply making the property their new home, are included in the helpful appendix.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

Ralph R. Roberts is a real estate investor and an award-winning speaker and author whose other books include Foreclosure Investing For Dummies, Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies, and Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman, all from Wiley. For more information, visit www.AboutRalph.com.
Chip Cummings has spent twenty-five years in real estate finance, with more than $1 billion in loans as a broker, banker, and president of several mortgage companies. He has helped thousands of homeowners obtain their own homes and investment properties, is a certified trainer for the National Association of Mortgage Brokers, and is a former president of the Michigan Mortgage Brokers Association. His other books include Mortgage Myths, from Wiley.

About Wiley
Founded in 1807, John Wiley & Sons, Inc. has been a valued source of information and understanding for 200 years, helping people around the world meet their needs and fulfill their aspirations. Wiley's core business include scientific, technical, and medical journals; encyclopedias, books, and online products and services; professional and consumer books and subscription services; and educational materials for undergraduate and graduate students and lifelong learners. Wiley's global headquarters are located in Hoboken, New Jersey with operations in the U.S., Europe, Asia, Canada, and Australia. www.wiley.com

Ralph Roberts activerain member for President?

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Thu, 28 Aug 2008 22:38:56 -0500

Ralph Roberts for President?

11:33 AM PDT, August 28, 2008, updated at 8:00 AM PDT, August 28, 2008 A colleague of mine recently sent me a link to an I News 3 story about a grass roots movement to elect Ralph Roberts president. I know of several Ralph Roberts-es, including the Ralph Roberts who started Comcast, the "Real Ralph Roberts" who's penned a bunch of computer books and other how-to publications, and Ralph R. Roberts the real estate sales guy I co-authored several books with.
I'm not real sure myself which of these or any other other Ralph Roberts is the person people are trying to elect as president. My co-author has remained mum so far, but if he announces his candidacy any time soon, I'll be sure to let you know.
Here's the link to the I News 3 video.
(This is actually a clever and somewhat humorous marketing scheme. If you go directly to www.inews3.com and click the link to play the video, it plays with another person's name in place of "Ralph Roberts." But this is the kind of shameless self-promotion that Ralph R. Roberts talks about in Advanced Selling For Dummies. At the end of the video, you can click a link to launch your own grass roots campaign for president.)

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
Sterling Town Center Office
12900 Hall Road, Suite 300
Sterling Heights, Michigan
48313-1150
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 620-6449
Email: RRnail@Gmail.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com )

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts. com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Mortgage Fraud: Unraveled by Ralph R. Roberts activerain member

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Wed, 27 Aug 2008 21:34:53 -0500

Mortgage Fraud: Unraveled by Ralph R. Roberts

Leading real estate and mortgage fraud forensic analyst was the first to report the facts to local and federal authorities

DETROIT, Aug 27, 2008 /PRNewswire via activerain/ -- Ralph R. Roberts, a nationally known real estate and mortgage fraud forensic analyst and the co-author of "Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership" (Kaplan), is available to talk with the media about the recent mortgage fraud allegations involving Detroit Pistons' basketball player Lindsey Hunter. Roberts -- who is one of the world's foremost experts on spotting and preventing real estate and mortgage fraud -- was the first person to alert local and federal authorities to Bruce McClellan's claims of being defrauded by a scheme that involved Hunter and his company, L&I Enterprises, LLC. "I audit hundreds of real estate files every year, and this file takes the cake," says Roberts, who runs the popular real estate fraud awareness and prevention blog http://www.FlippingFrenzy.com. "If anyone is looking for a trademark signature of mortgage fraud, I think they'll find it here. From fabrication of Bruce McClellan's assets and making outrageous claims about McClellan's guaranteed return on his investment, to making no real attempt to sell the investment property and taking cash back at closing, here we have what appears to be knowingly committed mortgage fraud." As first reported by Crain's Detroit Business (with Roberts' help), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Wayne County (MI) Register of Deeds' mortgage-fraud task force are now investigating the allegations, which involves claims of Lindsey Hunter's company directly involved with the unlawful flipping of houses. During the housing boom, flipping houses was almost a national pastime. Shows like Flip This House, Flipping Out, and Flip That House attracted huge viewing audiences because of the high success rate of the investment strategies involved. Today, however, if you mention house flipping to a law enforcement professional, they are likely to think that you are talking about committing a crime. To them, the word "flip" is a four-letter word. HUD (the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development) declared it so when it released its FR (Final Rule)-4615 Prohibition of Property Flipping. "What Lindsey Hunter's company is under investigation for having done ruins lives, destroys neighborhoods, and is calculable in our current mortgage meltdown and housing crisis," says Roberts. "People generally do not commit real estate or mortgage fraud for the sheer joy of ripping off the system, although in Lindsey Hunter's case -- with all the benefits he receives by virtue of playing in the NBA -- if he did it -- then that would appear to be the primary motivation."

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
67775 Van Dyke
Washington Township, MI 48095
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 752-8959
Email: RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com )

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Learn the Secrets to Success at RISMedia’s Leadership Conference

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 22:32:30 -0500

Building an Agent Team from the Ground up - Learn the Secrets to Success at RISMedia's Leadership Conference

Posted By Paige On August 26, 2008 @ 4:09 pm In Today's Top Story | Comments Disabled

RISMEDIA, August 27, 2008-There's been so much talk about agent teams recently. Are they good for the industry? Are they bad for the broker? Regardless of the answer, they're popping up everywhere-from small towns to giant metros. Big or small, these mini-powerhouses have changed the way practitioners work with their buyers and sellers.

Jacky Teplitzky, managing director, Prudential Douglas Elliman is one of three panelists who will offer her expertise on the agent team concept during the "Agent Teams: Friend or Foe" session, facilitated by Marylyn Schwartz, president, Teamweavers, at RISMedia's 19th Annual Leadership Conference at The Roosevelt Hotel in New York City.

Teplitzky is a sought-after guest speaker and has presented at numerous regional and national venues. She has appeared in more than 10 New York Times cover stories as well as on "Good Morning America." Teplitzky is leader of the Jacky Teplitzky team, the number-one ranked team at Prudential Douglas Elliman (PDE), where there are more than 3,300 brokers in over 60 offices.

Also don't miss, "The ABCs of Forming a Winning Agent Team," facilitated by Ralph R. Roberts, broker/owner, Ralph Roberts Realty, an educational session that will teach you the basic steps toward forming your own agent team.

Session Details:

Session Title: Agent Teams: Friend or Foe?

Date: Thursday, September 4th

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.

Facilitator: Marylyn Schwartz, President, Teamweavers

Panelists: Barb Jandric, General Manager, Edina Realty
Mary Tennant, COO, Keller Williams International
Jacky Teplitzky, Managing Director, Prudential Douglas Elliman

Session Title: The ABCs of Forming a Winning Agent Team

Date: Thursday, September 4th

Time: 1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m.

Facilitator: Ralph R. Roberts, Broker/Owner, Ralph Roberts Realty

Panelists: John Bendall, Team Leader, The Bendall Group
Bryan Felder, Realtor, The Virginia Realty Group
Faye Rispoli, Broker Associate, RE/MAX Premier
Howard Witz, Associate Broker, Fillmore Real Estate

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
67775 Van Dyke
Washington Township, MI 48095
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 752-8959
Email: RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com)

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Real Estate @ Mortgage Fraud Statistics

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sat, 23 Aug 2008 22:53:03 -0500

Mortgage Fraud Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which earlier this month issued yet another Mortgage Fraud Advisory, here are the latest Real Estate Fraud statistics:

Estimated Annual Losses: $4 billion to $6 billion

Total Mortgage Fraud Suspicious Activity Reports in Fiscal Year 2007: 46,717, with $813 million in losses

Total FBI Mortgage Fraud Task Forces/Working Groups (June 2008):
42

Pending FBI Mortgage Fraud Investigations (May 2008):
1,380

Cases opened in Fiscal Year 2007:
462 (compared to 295 in Fiscal Year 2003)

Successes in Fiscal Year 2007:
321 indictments/informations; 260 convictions

States with Significant Mortgage Fraud problems in 2008:

Florida
Nevada
Michigan "my State"
California
Utah
Georgia
Virginia
Illinois
New York
Minnesota

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
Ralph Roberts Realty
67775 Van Dyke
Washington Township, MI 48095
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 752-8959
Email: RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com )

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books, including:
- Power Teams: A Guide to Building and Managing Winning Real Estate Agent Teams (RISMedia)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph Roberts maintains a number of popular Websites and Blogs, including:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.ForeclosureSelfDefense.com (Info about Foreclosure Self-Defense)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.PowerfulSelling.com (Sell tips, strategies and warnings)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (A tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Fredric “Rick” Dryer Found Guilty on 44 Counts in Colorado Real Estate Fraud Case

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 21:47:55 -0500

Fredric "Rick" Dryer Found Guilty on 44 Counts in Colorado Real Estate Fraud Case

Updated: 9:05 P.M. ET, July 17, 2008

According to reports out of Denver, Colorado, Fredric "Rick" Dryer has been found guilty on 44 out of 60 felony counts in a securities fraud case involving Dryer's former company, Mile High Capital Group, LLC. From Bob Mook at the well-respected Denver Business Journal:

Dryer- the self-described multimillionaire, real estate guru and founder of Mile High - was found guilty on counts of violations of the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act, conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud and theft. He was found not guilty of 14 counts of securities fraud and two counts of theft.

Dryer sat expressionless as the verdicts were read. He faces a maximum sentence of 24 years for each criminal count.

Dryer was convicted of 44 felony counts including violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act (racketeering), securities fraud, and theft. The jury found him not guilty on 15 additional counts.

Dryer and two co-defendants were indicted in 2006, accused of duping hundreds of investors who invested in his companies, Mile High Capital Group and Replacement Property Solutions. Denver's Chief Deputy District Attorney Joe Morales and Deputy District Attorney Kandace Gerdes prosecuted the case, which spanned 12 days of testimony and three days of jury deliberations. According to Morales, after the jury was discharged, Dryer, who had been out on bond, was led from the courtroom in handcuffs to be held in custody pending sentencing on September 12, 2008 at 1:30 P.M Mountain Time in Denver District Courtroom 10.

Dryer now faces from between eight to 528 years in prison under the watchful eye of the Colorado Department of Corrections.

Dryer's two co-defendants pleaded guilty earlier. Richard Darrow, 43, pleaded guilty to violating the Colorado Organized Crime Control Act and was sentenced to a suspended 20-year prison term that requires two years in the Denver County Jail and 10 years on probation. He was also ordered to pay $1,150,048.00 in restitution. Jeffrey Dietz, 38, pleaded guilty to securities fraud and was sentenced to two years probation and ordered to pay $990,406.00 in restitution.

In 2000, Rick Dryer launched Mile High Capital Group, LLC (MHCG)-a builder and developer of single-family homes, at the time specializing in mountain building. It was in late 2002, when Dryer was approached by out of state investment clubs looking for a reputable Colorado builder/developer, that the business model changed. Dryer didn't think mountain properties were suitable for income property, so he began to research what would work.

Over the next two years, MHCG evolved into a builder of just such properties. Its reputation grew. Infinity Broadcasting sent its program directors to ask MHCG to sponsor its Rich Dad Poor Dad Real Estate Workshops, with Dryer as the main speaker with Robert Kiyosaki. Dryer's research and experience evolved into what was to become his Right Place Right Time Real Estate Investment Strategies syllabus.

MHCG grew with Dryer's reputation. The company planned to develop subdivisions around the country on the edges of high-growth areas where demand for rental properties was expected to be high. MHCG would then sell the rental properties to investors. The plan was to make it easy for real estate investors to purchase revenue-generating properties.

As far as real estate investment gurus go, Dryer had a track record and reputation that was good and getting better. Typical real estate investment gurus charge thousands of dollars for information that's worth no more than about $50. They pitch risk-free, get-rich-quick schemes. They encourage people who are in no position to invest in real estate to become full-time investors. Most of these gurus are not successful real estate investors themselves-if they could make millions in real estate, they would not be spending their time pushing seminars.

Dryer was different. His Right Place Right Time Real Estate Investment Strategies were well known in the industry, and he had a solid public record of accurate predictions about emerging markets and trends. He became a popular and frequent speaker at Robert Kiyosaki's Rich Dad Poor Dad real estate investor workshops around the country before starting his own workshops. He seemed to know his stuff and was said to careful remind people that investing in real estate carries risk. Dryer seemed like the real thing, and MHCG seemed like a legitimate company offering genuine real estate investment opportunities.

Through his seminars, Dryer promoted MHCG to attendees, and they were eager to buy these rental properties. The risk seemed negligible. After all, Dryer had a proven system in place for identifying areas where rental properties would soon be in high demand. His system was so successful, in fact, that many celebrities had bought into the program, including:

Gary Eldred, PhD, author of Investing in Real Estate and professor of Trump University
Richard Florida, PhD author of The Rise of the Creative Class and professor in the School of Public Policy at George Mason University
Richard Karlgaard Publisher of Forbes magazine and author of Life 2.0
Dan McCabe, Esq., CES of the Investment Exchange Group
David Bach, New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of The Automatic Millionaire; Start Late, Finish Rich; and the entire Finish Rich series
Mark Victor Hansen, New York Times and Wall Street Journal best-selling co-author of the Chicken Soup series

Having these big names involved added to Dryer's and his company's credibility, and the list of customers began to grow as investors spread the word to their friends and relatives of Dryer's Right Place seminars. Money was pouring in. Under the direction of founder and CEO Rick Dryer, MHCG had risen from its humble beginnings to become a $150 million real estate business in just five years. According to court documents, MHCG had over a quarter billion dollars in sales by 2005.

Unfortunately, the product being sold was never delivered, and today Dryer was found guilty of committing some pretty serious real estate fraud-related acts.

After the jury was discharged, Dryer, who had been out on bond, was led from the courtroom in handcuffs to be held in custody pending sentencing. http://www.flippingfrenzy.com/2008/07/17/fredric-rick-dryer-found-guilty-on-44-counts-in-colorado-real-estate-fraud-case/

activerain Member Interviewed about Flipping Houses by Crain’s Detroit Business

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Tue, 08 Jul 2008 21:17:15 -0500

Interviewed about Flipping Houses by Crain's Detroit Business

Southeast Michigan's most popular and respected business newspaper and website recently took the time to interview me about the state of the house flipping market here in Michigan. The interview/story made it to the front page of the current edition of Crain's Detroit Business.

Here's a shot of the front page:

For more, read "Some area house flippers find upside to housing downturn" by Tom Andrew of Crain's Detroit Business.

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI
67775 Van Dyke
Washington Township, MI 48095
Office: (586) 751-0000
Fax: (586) 752-8959
Email: RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com
Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com)

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:
- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)
- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)
- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)
- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:
- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)
- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)
- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)
- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)
- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

A Salute to "All Fathers"

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Mon, 16 Jun 2008 22:40:09 -0500

June 16, 2008 by Ralph Roberts comment

I hope that all of the Macomb County fathers and Fathers around the "Cyber World" had a Happy Father's Day yesterday and that you were all celebrated in grand style. June is the season of Dads and Grads since we celebrate fatherhood and commencement this month, but Father's Day was not always celebrated in June.

Just like Mother's Day, Father's Day has an interesting history. What is acknowledged as the first Father's Day commemoration in modern times took place in Fairmont, West Virginia in July of 1908. At that time, an explosion had killed miners in this town, many of whom were fathers, and residents wanted to honor their memory. Just two months before this, Grafton, West Virginia had held the first Mother's Day celebration.

In Spokane, Washington, another early 20th century celebration of Father's Day was inspired by Mother's Day. The Spokane YMCA held the first June father's day event on June 19, 1910, after a resident there wanted to honor her father for raising six children alone.

Again, I hope all of Macomb County's fathers had a great day yesterday. Whether you are raising kids or acting as a father figure to children you are not yours, you deserve a round of applause.

Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI

67775 Van Dyke

Washington Township, MI 48095

Office: (586) 751-0000

Fax: (586) 752-8959

Email: RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com

Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com )

Ralph Roberts is the author of many books:

- Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

- Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

- Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

- Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing)

- Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing)

- Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing)

Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs:

- www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company)

- www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud)

- www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph)

- www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers)

- www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

Ralph R. Roberts is the founder of Metro Networking Professionals (MNP)

Power Teams: The Complete Guide to Building and Managing a Winning Real Estate Agent Team

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 22:47:18 -0500

By Ralph R. Roberts, top-producing Broker/Owner and Team Leader and John Featherston, RISMedia President & CEO

RISMedia releases comprehensive book on succeeding with the team concept

RISMEDIA, 2008 -RISMedia, publisher of Real Estate magazine and the Power Team Report, recently debuted its new book, Power Teams: The Complete Guide to Building and Managing a Winning Real Estate Agent Team, by RISMedia President & CEO John Featherston and top-producing Broker/Owner and Team Leader Ralph Roberts.

Identifying the growing presence of agent teams on today's real estate playing field and recognizing the void in information specifically for and about teams, Featherston and Roberts set out to create Power Teams last year. Besides drawing from personal insights and experiences in their storied real estate careers, the authors interviewed many of the country's top teams. Power Teams, therefore, not only includes a step-by-step guide to forming an agent team, but the best practices of teams who have already reached a notable level of success.

"Being a real estate agent just isn't what it used to be," said Featherston. "Today's real estate consumers are more sophisticated and knowledgeable than ever before. Ralph and I both believe that in order to remain competitive, agents have to do much more-place more phone calls, ramp up their marketing efforts, offer additional services, and spend more time with their clients to better understand the needs of today's real estate consumers. Many agents are feeling the strain and looking to the team concept as a solution for themselves and their customers. In Power Teams, we help agents-and brokers-overcome the obstacles of creating and succeeding with an agent teams."

"Power Teams is the most comprehensive guide for real estate teams I have seen," said Dave Liniger, co-founder and chairman of RE/MAX International, Inc. "At RE/MAX, one in 10 of our members is classified as a Team Leader. So, we are making a commitment as part of our overall strategy to support and build teams within our system. We also recognize that teams represent a significant opportunity to recruit talent in today's marketplace, and Power Teams will provide a practical blueprint on how teams can be profitable and efficiently integrate into existing real estate companies."

Power Teams sets out to:
- Define and explain the agent team concept
- Review the various agent team models
- Help agents decide whether the agent team concept is right for them
- Show agents how to build a team from the ground up

Designed to be the definitive resource for fledgling and seasoned teams alike, Power Teams is packed with proven strategies and best practices from leading real estate agent teams across the country. Among the targeted topics covered in the book are:

- Why? Grasping the Real Estate Agent Sales Team Concept
- Team Models: What Type of Agent Team will Work for You?
- Getting the Timing Right: Knowing When to Start an Agent Team
- Building a Team as a True Business Entity and Salable Asset
- Transitioning from Independent Agent to Team Leader
- Mastering the Art of Delegating
- Equipping Your Team with the Tools and Technologies to Succeed
- Communicating and Collaborating Effectively with Team Members
- Creating a Lucrative Financial Environment for Team Members
- Boosting Sales and Profits with Team-Based Selling
- Managing Conflict: Prevention and Resolution
- Marketing Your Team to Build a Strong Brand Presence
- Teaming up with Your Broker for Your Mutual Benefit
- Safely Navigating the Legal Minefield

Power Teams also includes a special section just for brokers on how to successfully co-exist with the team's in their office.

To order you copy of Power Teams, available in both soft- and hard-cover versions, please click here, or call 1-800-724-6000 .

ActiveRain Members hope you like my new Book and if you have a Power Team and would like to be part of The "RisMedia Power Team Family" please email me.

Ralph R. Roberts founder of Metro Networking Professionals (MNP)

The New York Times and My Book on Foreclosure Self-Defense

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 21:54:30 -0500

Monday's edition of The New York Times includes a story by Joanne Kaufman entitled, "A Shift in Real Estate Books." The piece is about how publishers-including some of the ones that publish my titles-are hard at work publishing books that help homeowners and others with the downturn in the housing market and increasing foreclosures.

The article begins by focusing on the fact that even high profile celebrities are experiencing housing-related trouble (a topic I wrote about just last week). As most people already know, recently, Ed McMahon-famous for sitting next to Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show set and for making a relatively small number of people ridiculously happy as spokesperson for American Family Publishing sweepstakes-has run into financial trouble and is facing foreclosure on his home in California. As Kaufman's article mentions, I personally attempted to contact McMahon to offer my help in reviewing his real estate files-to see if he had been mislead or worse by his financial advisors or the real estate industry insiders who worked on his behalf.

The New York Times article serves as a nod toward those of us work so hard to write great books that truly help homeowners navigate their way through troubled waters. The payoff, while certainly not large in terms of royalties or fat advances (far from it in fact) can be found in the hundreds of comments I receive from homeowners who found some level of relief based on the advice and warnings found in my books.

From The New York Times:

A few years ago, when the housing market was white-hot, companies that publish how-to books were tripping over themselves to pump out titles about buying property and making money in the real estate business.

Now that the bottom has fallen out of the housing market, the opposite is true: publishers are updating their backlist titles as well as rushing out newly acquired manuscripts to advise consumers who may have stumbled in the housing game.

For more on the article, read "A Shift in Real Estate Books."

Ralph R. Roberts founder of Metro Networking Professionals (MNP)

Kinetic Knowledge Names Ralph R. Roberts Official Spokesperson for Leading Real Estate Blogging Platform

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 20:34:33 -0600

Kinetic Knowledge Names Ralph R. Roberts Official Spokesperson for Leading Real Estate Blogging Platform Ralph R. Roberts to promote innovative blogging platform for real estate industry professionals. AVON, Colo., Feb. 28 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Kinetic Knowledge, LLC named REALTOR(R), author and speaker Ralph R. Roberts, GRI, CRS, spokesperson for the company's business-class blogging platform for real estate industry professionals. In addition to speaking on behalf of Kinetic Knowledge to real estate professionals, Roberts will provide original content for Kinetic's clients and use the Kinetic platform for his new blog about foreclosure self-defense (http://www.ForeclosureSelfDefense.com). "Having the chance to bring Ralph Roberts in as our spokesperson for the real estate industry is not only an honor, it is a chance to align a customer service focused model with one of the great American business blogging success stories," says Chris Frerecks, CEO, Kinetic Knowledge, LLC. Through its affiliation with Roberts, Kinetic Knowledge is better positioned to deliver leading blog technologies, education, customer service, and content at a very accessible price. "I am thrilled to have the opportunity to speak on behalf of this innovative company," says Roberts. "Kinetic Knowledge has an excellent blogging solution for Realtors, and the team they've assembled is dedicated to providing quality guidance and service." Blogs are increasingly important to the real estate business. Prior to announcing Roberts' affiliation with the company, Kinetic Knowledge launched a new corporate website (http://www.KineticBlogs.com) making it easier to learn about business blogging and the company's services. To promote the new website and the appointment of Roberts as spokesperson, the company today announced a free 90-day offer of consumer-facing content for new clients. Since early 2003, the staff of Kinetic Knowledge has worked in the area of business-class blogging solutions, and, under Frerecks' leadership, the company is poised to provide the best blogging product and service on the market for real estate professionals. About Kinetic Knowledge Kinetic Knowledge is an application service provider focused on the delivery of a business-class blogging service. Founded out of the Web 2.0 movement, Kinetic's staff is deeply committed to the success of each of its clients. From building and hosting powerful blogs to creating and distributing educational and business resources for those new to blogging, Kinetic Knowledge is uniquely positioned to help today's business professionals take advantage of the ever-changing rules of marketing. For more information, visit http://www.KineticBlogs.com. Ralph R. Roberts, CRS, GRI 67775 Van Dyke Washington Township, MI 48095 Office: (586) 751-0000 Fax: (586) 752-8959 Email: RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com Personal Assistant: Lois Maljak (LoisMaljak@RalphRoberts.com) Ralph Roberts is the author of many books: - Flipping Houses For Dummies (Wiley Publishing) - Foreclosure Self-Defense For Dummies (Wiley Publishing) - Advanced Selling For Dummies (Wiley Publishing) - Protect Yourself from Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud (Kaplan Publishing) - Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets to Save on Home Financing (Wiley Publishing) - Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (Wiley Publishing) Ralph also maintains Websites and Blogs: - www.RalphRoberts.com (Ralph's real estate company) - www.FlippingFrenzy.com (Ralph's blog about Real Estate & Mortgage Fraud) - www.AboutRalph.com (Where anyone can learn more about Ralph) - www.GetFlipping.com (A resource for house flippers) - www.KolleenRoberts.com (a tribute site to Ralph's daughter)

SALES CLINIC

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sun, 10 Feb 2008 20:48:49 -0600

SALES CLINIC
Ralph Roberts diagnoses your selling maladies

Roberts, a nationally recognized expert on real estate sales and marketing, is the author of Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman and 52 Weeks of Sales Success (New York: Harper Business). He's also the owner of Ralph R. Roberts Realty Llc, Mich.

Trainer, trainer thyself

Get the Agreement Signed First

Even when you train hundreds of salespeople a year, you still need to find time for the person in the next office. This month, Ralph Roberts shares recent questions from his own staff.

BY RALPH R. ROBERTS

Q. I'm a buyer's agent who recently sent clients to an open house alone. They ended up buying the house from the listing salesperson, who refused to split the commission with me. How can you keep buyers loyal?
Don Houser, Sales Manager

You should always meet face-to-face with your buyers and get them to sign an exclusive buyer agency agreement before sending them to look at homes. Carefully explain to them that when they sign this agreement with you, they're obligated to pay you a commission.

If your prospective clients are reluctant to sign an agreement during your initial meeting, explain the advantages of having a representative who works solely in their interest. Most buyers don't realize that a listing salesperson always represents the seller, not the buyer. Point out that as their agent, you can assist the buyers in negotiating strategies to secure a better price and help them through the maze of documents and reports needed to purchase a home.

Try to go with your clients to open houses, so that you can take them around personally and avoid the problem that you described. If you can't go with them, remind your clients again of your agreement when you send them out to look at houses.

If you don't go to open houses with your clients, consider developing a "home evaluation" checklist based on their needs. This form will help clients view each house more effectively. For example, if clients want a fenced yard and eat-in kitchen, being able to keep track at every stop avoids the need to return. Just as importantly, the checklist will demonstrate your value to them even when you aren't around.

You might also want to advise your clients to immediately tell the listing agent at an open house that they have representation.

Q. How do you manage clients who want you to "jump through hoops" for them? I recently had a buyer who looked at 25 houses-some several times-and still couldn't make up her mind to buy?
Paul Corona, Listing Manager

You should always put forth your best efforts to satisfy clients' wants and needs. However, they should respect your time and efforts. If clients sign a listing or buyer's agreement with you, make sure you explain how you work and what they should expect from you.

You can also let them know what you expect from them. For example, let clients know that you don't work on Sundays or after 8:00 p.m., but that they may e-mail you at any time and expect a response in less than 24 hours. I also suggest putting these expectations in writing and giving a copy to your clients. Not clarifying your and their expectations leaves room for disappointments later.

When customers start to become "high maintenance," review the established guidelines with them and point out the extra services you have already provided. Some of my salespeople charge an up-front fee as part of an exclusive buyers' agency agreement with clients.

If a client continues to make extra demands, you must decide if the client and sale are worth working for. Consider the potential sale price of the house, the other listings, buyers and clients you're currently working with, and the overall strength of your market before you make your decision. If you have a buyers' agreement, review the terms of the contract and the cancellation options it provides. If you decide to end the relationship because of time constraints or personality conflicts, consider referring the client to another salesperson and collect a referral fee.

Q. How do you make your offer stand out when there are multiple competitive bids on the table?
Jocelyn Santiago, Salesperson

First, make your offer as enticing as possible. Your buyers may not always be able to make the highest offer, but factors such as large earnest money deposits, quick closings, and strong pre-approvals are all factors in a good offer. Explain the value of these factors to your buyers, get their agreement, and then feature these benefits prominently in your offer.

Next, make sure your paperwork is accurate, neat, and complete. Dot your "Is" and cross your "Ts." Fill in all the blanks, and don't forget the witnessing signatures. Use computer-generated form that you have created or purchased, or at least type your offers and addendums so they are easy to read and understand. This suggestion may sound simplistic, but a confusing presentation or incomplete information is an easy excuse for discarding an offer.

Consider adding a personal letter from the buyer to the seller telling the sellers why they love the house and why they want to buy it. Most people have a sentimental attachment to their homes; so selling to someone who will love it as much as they do can give your offer that extra edge.

Once your offer is letter perfect, try and set up an appointment to present your offer directly to the seller. Face-to-face contact is the best way to get a sale.

If you have made the best offer possible, prepared it professional, and are able to present it directly to the seller, your bid will certainly be the most noticeable, and probably the one that gets accepted.

77 MORTGAGE MYTHS by RALPH R ROBERTS

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 21:48:39 -0600

By Ralph R. Roberts

I graduated high school with a 1.8 grade average and $900 in the bank. That $900 was a graduation gift. I used it as a down payment on a fixer-upper in my neighborhood. I bought other investment properties with money I borrowed from my grandmother, with conventional loans (when banks would loan me money), and even with credit cards at times. One of my mentors taught me that the cost of borrowing money isn't something to worry too much about. The access to money is what's important.

I moved 19 times in 23 years, before marriage slowed me down. Over the course of 25 years, I earned hundreds of thousands of dollars buying and selling residential real estate. I've bought and sold thousands of properties and helped other people buy and sell thousands more through my real estate business. With my personal investment properties, I made most of my money using other people's money. That's right, I borrowed it.

Far too many people today are averse to taking on debt and the risk that often accompanies it. Our society has unleashed a mythological beast that scares us into believing that debt is evil and risky. Many people talk themselves out of buying an "expensive" house, even when that house would cost less than what they would pay in rent for a smaller place. Most people are convinced that borrowing money to invest in real estate is too risky, never realizing that by not taking a risk, they're increasing their financial burden.

In The Mortgage Myth, Chip Cummings and I blast away at the 77 mortgage myths that prevent would-be homeowners and real estate investors from pursuing their dreams of homeownership and wealth building. Here, we distinguish the difference between good debt and bad debt, reveal just how easy it is to obtain approval for a mortgage loan, and unveil the power of using other people's money to leverage your own personal investments.

If mortgage myths are holding you back from achieving your dream of owning your own home or building future wealth in real estate, let us liberate you, as we blast away at every single myth that's getting in your way.

http://www.themortgagemyth.com/

Ralph R. Roberts GRI CRS
The Ambassador of Enthusiasm
"Official Spokesperson of Guthy-Renker"

Author of :
Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman
52 Weeks of Sales Success
Real Wealth By Investing in Real Estate
Flipping Houses FOR DUMMIES
Foreclosure Investing FOR DUMMIES
Advanced Selling FOR DUMMIES
Foreclosure Self-Defense FOR DUMMIES
Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets

RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com

www.AboutRalph.com Speaking/Coaching
www.RalphRoberts.com Real Estate Site
www.KolleenRoberts.com Tribute
www.FlippingFrenzy.com Mortgage Fraud
www.BigNail.com Branding
www.MacombCountyVoice.com Community
www.GetFlipping.com Flipping Houses Site
www.ActiveRain.com Real Estate Network

67775 Van Dyke
Washington Twp. Mi. 48095
Office: 586-751-0000
Fax: 586-752-8959
Personal Assistant -Lois Maljak: 810-533-3448

Declaring the Foreclosure Epidemic a National Disaster

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Sat, 03 Nov 2007 19:11:59 -0500

Declaring the Foreclosure Epidemic a National Disaster

by Ralph R. Roberts

The American Red Cross estimates that more than 350,000 homes were destroyed by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, while an additional 146,000 had major damage. Wildfires in Southern California consumed over 1,600 homes and other structures, were threatening 68,500 more, and had displaced over 500,000 people.
These are truly natural and national disasters, but in some ways they are dwarfed by the man-made disaster that is currently afflicting the housing industry all across the nation. For the third-quarter of 2007, Realty Trac reported more than 446,000 foreclosure filings, including default notices, auction sale notices, and bank repossessions. That places U.S. homeowners on the track to getting booted out of nearly two million homes in a single year. For the people losing their homes in foreclosure, the loss is no less devastating than losing a home to a fire or flood. In some cases, the experience is even more tragic-after all, those families who lose their home to foreclosure don't get an insurance settlement; they don't have money to rebuild.
Nearly two million families are going to lose their homes to foreclosure, yet I haven't seen a single governor declare a state emergency. I haven't heard the President identify any national disaster areas.
Although I agree that a federal bailout could do more harm than good-rewarding the lending industry for rolling out risky products and making bad decisions-I think the government could do more for homeowners. If the government is worried about the money, perhaps it can force the lenders who created this mess to clean it up, or lenders can voluntarily step up to the plate.
Countrywide Mortgage recently announced its decision to assist homeowners by refinancing or modifying $16 billion of loans, primarily to assist 82,000 borrowers who took out adjustable-rate mortgages and face higher payments to keep their homes. Some analysts feel that this will encourage the resumption of risky lending to risky borrowers, which is a valid concern, but in the current situation, drastic measures like this may be necessary.
When we see the images of Southern California burning and the floodwaters from hurricanes Katrina and Rita, we don't hesitate as a nation to send rescue personnel and resources to those areas. We should take the same approach with the current mortgage meltdown and foreclosure epidemic. Real families are hurting from this national disaster. We shouldn't make matters worse by bailing out the culprits, but we do need to tend to the victims.
Ralph Roberts is a real estate fraud expert and activist and co-author of Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud: Preserving the American Dream of Homeownership (Kaplan, August 2007). Visit FlippingFrenzy.com or contact Ralph at RalphRoberts@ralphroberts.com or 586.751.0000.

Ralph R. Roberts  GRI CRS
The Ambassador of Enthusiasm
"Official Spokesperson of Guthy-Renker Home"

Author of :
Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman
52 Weeks of Sales Success
Real Wealth By Investing in Real Estate
Flipping Houses FOR DUMMIES
Foreclosure Investing FOR DUMMIES
Advanced Selling FOR DUMMIES
Foreclosure Self-Defense FOR DUMMIES
Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets

67775 Van Dyke
Washington Twp. Mi. 48095
Office: 586-751-0000
Fax:   586-752-8959
Personal Assistant -Lois Maljak: 810-533-3448
Virtual Assistant- Kandra Hamric -734-446-0328

RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com

http://www.realtytracker.com/ Guthy Renker Home
http://www.aboutralph.com/Speaking/Coaching
http://www.ralphroberts.com/ Real Estate Site
http://www.kolleenroberts.com/ Tribute
http://www.flippingfrenzy.com/ Mortgage Fraud
http://www.bignail.com/  Branding
http://www.macombcountyvoice.com/ Community
www.GetFlipping.com Flipping Houses Site
http://www.activerain.com/ Real Estate Network

Achieving Success with the Strebor System

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 18:34:00 -0500

Commentary by Ralph R. Roberts

activerain, Oct. 31, 2007-A while back, I realized that my last name, "Roberts," spelled backwards is "Strebor," and I designed a system for effectively implementing any plan for success.

When you're ready to put your plan into action, follow the Strebor System:

S: Sticktoitism is the dogged determination required to ensure that you follow through on your plan.
T: Training provides you with the know-how and skills to properly execute your plan.
R: Results are what you build on as you attain higher and higher levels of success.
E: Enthusiasm provides you with the ambition and energy required to follow through.
B: Benefits give you the motivation to succeed.
O: Optimism is the confidence that enables you to overcome obstacles.
R: Reach is your commitment to taking risks and seizing opportunities that make you grow both professionally and personally.

The Strebor system starts with a positive attitude that gives you the enthusiasm, optimism, commitment, and sticktoitism required to pursue and ultimately achieve your goals. Although some people are born with eternal optimism, others of us have to work at it. Here are some suggestions on how to put yourself in a better frame of mind:

- Identify your sales heroes. Success leaves big footprints, so follow the trailblazers to lessen the burden of your journey. Over the years, I have followed in the footsteps of my heroes, including Julia Rowland (my grandmother), Tony & Noel Fox of Fox Brothers Real Estate (my first mentors), Ira Hayes, Tom Hopkins, Zig Ziglar, Charlie "Tremendous" Jones, Art Fettig, Joe Girard, Earl Keim, Lee Iacocca, Norman Vincent Peale, Mark Victor Hansen, Og Mandino, Tom Antion, Les Brown, and a host of others.
- Shadow top producers. Network with the top producers in your area and ask if you can observe them for a day. You can pick up a wealth of information and new techniques in a single day in addition to discovering a new source of motivation.
- Write and repeat positive affirmations. Negative self-talk can drag you down into the depths of self-defeatism. Replace that negative self-talk with positive can-do affirmations. Mr. Positive, Dave Boufford, made his own leap to pursue his dream of guiding others in developing and maintaining a positive attitude through his inspirational e-zines Positive Thoughts and Positive News. Let Mr. Positive pump you up by visiting http://www.mrpositive.com/.
- Surround yourself with positive people. When I am around someone who has a negative attitude, I can feel the energy and enthusiasm being sucked right out of me. Positive people bring me up, make me believe in myself, and encourage me to strive for higher and higher levels of success. Avoid people who drag you down, and gravitate to those who lift you higher. This includes family, friends, colleagues, associates, and supervisors.
- Wake up with a positive plan. The first 15 minutes of any day can make or break it for you, so spend that first 15 minutes developing a positive plan. Once you have a plan in place and the sticktoitism to execute it, you are well on your way to a productive day.
- Define "success" in your own terms. Don't let other people dictate what "success" means to you. Spending more time with friends and family, getting involved in your community, and pursuing other interests may mean more to you than earning millions of dollars. Of course, doing all of those things and earning millions of dollars are not mutually exclusive.
- Reward yourself. I reward myself in two different ways: I reward myself upon achieving a specific goal, and I reward myself in anticipation of achieving a specific goal. Some people don't understand that second approach-why should I get the reward before I achieve the goal? Well, once I reward myself, then I know I have to work harder to pay for the reward. I usually charge the reward on my credit card. That gives me the added motivation of earning enough to pay for the reward before the balance comes due.

Tip: If you are a part of an agent team, make sure that everyone on your team is contributing to creating and maintaining a positive attitude in the workplace. Deal immediately with any conflicts that arise, shut down the gossip mill, and find a way to relieve tensions and create an environment in which people are eager to come to work the every morning.

I encourage you to put the Strebor system into action in all areas of your life. I have found it effective for achieving both personal and professional goals. Remember, however, that it all begins with a positive attitude.

I invite you to write to me at mailto:Ralph@RalphRoberts.comand let me know what you do to pump yourself up and start each day with a positive attitude.

Ralph R. Roberts, official spokesperson for Guthy-Renker Home and author Advanced Selling For Dummies and Foreclosure Investing For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons), can be contacted at 586.751.0000, or visit http://www.aboutralph.com/.

Ralph R. Roberts  GRI CRS
The Ambassador of Enthusiasm
"Official Spokesperson of Guthy-Renker Home"

Author of :
Walk Like a Giant, Sell Like a Madman
52 Weeks of Sales Success
Real Wealth By Investing in Real Estate
Flipping Houses FOR DUMMIES
Foreclosure Investing FOR DUMMIES
Advanced Selling FOR DUMMIES
Foreclosure Self-Defense FOR DUMMIES
Protect Yourself from Real Estate and Mortgage Fraud
Mortgage Myths: 77 Secrets

67775 Van Dyke
Washington Twp. Mi. 48095
Office: 586-751-0000
Fax:   586-752-8959
Personal Assistant -Lois Maljak: 810-533-3448
Virtual Assistant- Kandra Hamric -734-446-0328

RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com

http://www.realtytracker.com/ Guthy Renker Home
http://www.aboutralph.com/Speaking/Coaching
http://www.ralphroberts.com/ Real Estate Site
http://www.kolleenroberts.com/ Tribute
http://www.flippingfrenzy.com/ Mortgage Fraud
http://www.bignail.com/  Branding
http://www.macombcountyvoice.com/ Community
http://www.getflipping.com/ Flipping Houses Site
http://www.activerain.com/ Real Estate Network

THE 10 "TEN" Commandments of SELLING

RALPH ROBERTS (RALPH ROBERTS REAL ESTATE MACOMB COUNTY) — Tue, 30 Oct 2007 17:53:08 -0500

The 10 Commandments of Selling Success

By Ralph R. Roberts

ACTIVRAIN, Oct. 31, 2007-There are no secrets to selling success. Every salesperson knows what he or she must do to attract clients, grow business, and boost revenue. Sometimes, we just get so caught up in the day-to-day drudgery of doing business that we forget what we should be doing to build our business.

The following ten commandments of selling success can help you refocus your energy and enthusiasm on the factors that contribute most to your selling success:

1. Practice your craft. Practice selling at work, at home, at the airport, in the taxi, at the grocery store, and wherever else you happen to be in contact with other people. The key to selling is being able to establish personal relationships with your clients. Practice by making meaningful connections with everyone you meet.
2. Invest in your own success. As an entrepreneurial salesperson, you have to act like a business, and that means investing in your own personal and professional development, in the latest technology, and in support personnel, so you have more time to spend on what you do best and what earns your company the biggest profits.
3. Adopt new technologies. Tech savvy clients are relying more on the Internet for their information and are using a variety of communications technologies to keep in touch, including cell phones, e-mail, text messaging, VoIP (Voice Over Internet Protocol or Internet phones), and blogs. To stay in touch with the latest generation of shoppers, you'd better be tech savvy, too.
4. Hire an assistant. Hire or be hired. Hire people to take on tasks that they can perform better, faster, and for less money than you can, and then treat them well. The more work you can outsource to others, the more time and energy you can spend on dollar-productive activities. Instead of asking "What's the cost of hiring an assistant?" ask "How much revenue am I losing by not having an assistant?"
5. Fire your worst clients. The customer is not always right. In fact, some customers can drag you down, sapping time and energy you could be devoting to other, better clients. You don't have to be rude about it, but get rid of the clients who are squandering your time and resources.
6. Date your leads... or someone else will. Regardless of how you obtain leads, make sure you keep in touch with those leads until they are ready to buy. One great way to automate the process of keeping in touch with your leads is to add leads to a drip e-mail campaign. A drip campaign sends a series of e-mail messages to prospective clients over the course of several weeks or months automatically.
7. Give without expectations. Sales coaches often recommend that you "give to get." I'm telling you to "give to give." If you're expecting something in return, you're not really giving-you're bartering. Give for the sheer pleasure of giving.
8. Take risks. The people who make the most money take the biggest risks, and that applies to sales as much as it applies to anything in the world of business. You have to be willing to invest money and take some chances. Otherwise, you're not a salesperson. You're an order taker.
9. Embrace change. The Internet, new technologies, and the global economy have combined forces to accelerate change to a dizzying pace. The only way to survive and thrive in this environment is to embrace rather than resist change. Every change, particular changes that cause problems and headaches, is packed with potential.
10. Achieve a balanced lifestyle. Being a successful human being means much more than achieving career success. It means remaining healthy, building rewarding relationships, supporting your community, and perhaps even raising children. Failing in one area of your life can lead to failures in other areas.

Work on being successful in all areas of your life. Without the strong relationship I have with my wife and children, I would not have achieved the same level of success in my career. Success feeds on success, and, unfortunately, failure feeds on failure. Encourage everyone around you to set goals and pursue their dreams. Surround yourself with success.

Ralph R. Roberts, official spokesperson for Guthy-Renker Home and author of Advanced Selling For Dummies (John Wiley & Sons), can be contacted at 586.751.0000, or by e-mail at RalphRoberts@RalphRoberts.com. aboutralph.com.