Real Estate for Your Life

Real Estate Works When You Network

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:46:00 +0000

If there is one easy way to garner real estate leads, it must be through networking. Networking works in any business. If you want to snag a job, consult anyone from your network. If you want people to buy your stuff, then start networking. So networking in real estate is important that agents must not take it for granted.

But networking is not that easy. Real estate agents must be up-to-date, in terms of networking techniques, marketing concepts, financing sources and other latest pieces of information. There must be more ways and networking methods that real estate agents must stick to in order to attract buyers. Here they are:

1. Hold Lunch Meetings And Round-Table Discussions.

To know what is the latest in the real estate industry, gather your contacts for a breakfast or lunch meeting and just gab about the issues. This is the chance to network further and establish friendship with the people. If word gets out that you, the real estate agent, conducts these regularly, then people will ask for you and squeeze themselves into your circle.

2. Hold A Summit That Forecasts What Will Happen To The Real Estate Industry In The Future.

Get a chance to review what's currently happening in the market and at the same time have the opportunity to meet new people and network. A summit like this never fails to attract people and generate real estate leads.

3. Hold An Awards Night.

Yes, an awards night. Make it a luncheon event where you can gather all your contacts and recognize their role in making the real estate industry formidable. Don't forget to include the possible buyers in the guest list!

4. A Party Always Works.

"7pm. At my house. Overflowing drinks. Bring a friend." Utter these magic words to a potential buyer and by the end of the night, he might already sign a deal and buy the property!

5. Make Yourself Heard.

Don't forget to put up public announcements. Speak up during seminars. Put up your own newsletter. Send out flyers. Extend your hand to a stranger and introduce yourself. All of these are tried-and-tested networking tricks that you must not miss!

Networking is fun, and that is what makes getting real estate leads easier. You meet new people, you sell properties and then you earn money! It just takes a good personality for this method to work out. Remember, a grumpy face is no good in sales!

Showing Off In A Home Builder Show

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:45:00 +0000

There are a lot of ways to acquire real estate leads, and for a real estate agent, generating those is not exactly an easy task. There are so many ways but what can actually come up as the most effective one?

Here's A Tip: Try Home Builders Shows.

Past experiences and many property experts believe that home builder shows do work wonders. Prospects come a-plenty if there is a home builder show involved. How does this happen? Here are some things you, as a real estate agent, need to know.

1. Home Builder Shows Are Established By Self-Builders And Renovators.

Why is this fact so important? Remember that this exhibit is out to help people rebuild and create their perfect homes. If you put up a booth in a home builder show, chances are, people will gravitate toward you. Let them know that your property has what it takes to qualify as an ideal home!

2. Home Builder Shows Have Been Around For Quite Some Time.

It is a given: home builder shows are steadily growing for 15 years and counting. So that just means that they are truly successful. Trust the reputation of a home builder show and you will see what it can do for you.

3. Home Builder Shows Have Everything.

What every prospect wants is here: veneer, shutters, roofing services, measuring devices, ladders and attics, insulating materials, greenhouses, garage doors, fireplace equipment, central vacuum systems, coatings and other building materials and specialties. This is a huge advantage of home builder shows over other means of generating real estate leads.

4. Home Builder Shows Also Shell Out Seminars That Are Proven Useful.

Seminars on everything related to real estate -- they are all in a home builder show! People will be taught on how to plan and renovate a building from scratch. Financial packages abound. All these amount to a bonus that one cannot easily discount.

5. Home Builder Shows Are Grand!

If you are an exhibitor in a home builder show, the people are given the impression that you are bigtime and can do great things, including scoring efficient real estate leads and deals.

Real estate is a risky business, but rewarding if pulled off well. Home builder shows are effective venues to address real estate concerns and other proprietary matters. So the next time a home builder exhibit is in town, sign up immediately and make yourself known.

The Power Of A Home Parade

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:44:00 +0000

Parade of homes happens for two reasons: to flaunt beautiful homes then urge people to buy those beautiful homes. Such a parade is a big event across America. Hawaii holds its "BIA Parade of Homes" annually. New Mexico has its "Homes of Enchantment Parade." Other states have their own grand counterparts.

These parades exhibit the new constructed homes in town and if you want to coax people to buy your property, then spot them in one.

Here are more reasons and facts you should know why local parade homes gives real estate leads:

1. Parade Of Homes Attracts The Curious.

Those who want to know what are the latest luxury homes troop to these local parades. Be on the lookout for these people because you might urge them to be more than curious. A little tap and chitchat might enable them to consider buying a home.

2. Parade Of Homes Provides A Vision And A Dream.

The local parade is a gathering of people who are dreaming to snag their dream property. As a real estate agent, use this to your advantage. Let your prospects know that their dream is in your hands. Entice them. Charm them. The parade, which displays the latest in architectural design, will surely catch the buyers' fancy.

3. Parade Of Homes Also Gives You An Idea For Competition.

Your company will compete side by side with other real estate and development companies. This enables you to gauge their capacities, strengths and even shortcomings. You can then work on your company's attributes and exert more effort for real estate leads to come your way.

4. Parade Of Homes Allows Networking.

The parade is not only for the subcontractors and developers, but also for those in the interior design, landscape and pool business. Get to know them. Establish a connection. Once you do, word that you have what it takes to build that dream house will travel faster.

5. Parade Of Homes Attracts Multiple Buyers.

If the parade has higher value per lot, then more buyers will flock to size up the homes and get themselves one. Be sure you are always on the lookout for these people who have already made up their minds that they are going to buy, by hook or by crook.

A local parade does so much to real estate agents. The real estate leads are everywhere, you just have to know where to find them.

How To Find Real Estate Leads Via…Local “Parade Of Homes”: A Lifetime Goal

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:39:00 +0000

In today’s growing economic crisis, most people are reluctant to buy their own home. This is unfortunate because it is a buyer’s market and a good time to buy.

Why? Because properties for sale abound as a response to the recent economic crisis. Some previously overpriced houses have as low as 25% discount.

Therefore, since there are too many housing projects on the horizon, realtors have to work double time and employ radical measures to be able to generate real estate leads. The competition becomes so intense that most realtors find it hard to generate the quality leads that they need.

Therefore, it is best for each realtor to find some effective strategies that will help them produce the leads that they need in order to create the sales and the money that they want.

One of the best ways to do this is through the local “parade of homes".

In this manner, realtors, builders, and developers work together, in order to display model houses that are being sold in the market. Through the parade of homes, real estate developers are able to systematize the building a number of homes under one “sub development” through the help of some group of builders. This group of builders were arranged and coordinated by the real estate developers themselves.

Basically, homes that are included in a “parade of homes” are freely available for the public for sightseeing and explorations. Usually, parade of homes showcases groundbreaking ideas for most homebuyers.

For this reason, organizing a “parade of homes” will definitely allow realtors to find their much-needed real estate leads. This is because most people who will attend this kind of event are the ones who have the potential to buy or are interested in buying a house.

Moreover, local “parade of homes” can give the potential buyer a chance to meticulously scrutinize the overall condition, structure, and features of the house. Seeing the house on its actual condition can definitely entice every customer who is very willing to buy a house.

Therefore, it would not be hard for a real estate agent to convince the person to buy the house, not unless there is a problem with money.

It is a well-known fact that people who mostly go to “parade of homes” are the ones who are interested to buy a house or those who have plans of buying a house. Hence, these people can be easily converted into leads, and leads can easily generate deals and transactions.

Besides, it would be easier to explain presentations and features of the house to a person who have exerted efforts to attend this special event just to see the house. This is all based on the interest of that person in buying the property.

The logic is simple. If the person were not interested to buy a house, then he would not go to all the trouble of finding “parade of homes” events and travel from his place to the venue.

In addition, through the “parade of homes,” realtors can easily take their client through each property in detail, explaining the topography of the lot, the neighbors, the streets, the drainage, the security, the whole package. In this way, the realtor can explain why the property will fit the buyer’s needs.

Having been informed with all the “parade of homes” can provide, the buyer could easily realize that they have gained more than just a roof over their growing families. In turn, they would be more than willing to buy the house.

Indeed, the importance of using "parade of homes” in finding real estate leads is undeniable clear. What is important when using this strategy in generating leads is to make the buyer realize that they have just made a major investment.

When you use this tactic, you should be able to make the buyer feel that money-wise home ownership in the coming decade means buying to sell in the future. Moreover, they can only be satisfied if they were able to see the actual features of the house.

All of these things are boiled down to the fact that generating leads through “parade of homes” is relatively effective because homebuyers get to see what they are paying for. Hence, they get to be assured that where their money goes is worthy of its cause.

A Better Way Of Finding Hot Real Estate Leads

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:38:00 +0000

If you’re a real estate agent, you must have said this more than once: “There has got to be a better way for finding leads.”

And you are not alone. Every single agent’s mind has crossed this idea for the simple reason that looking for leads is about the most tedious task there is in the real estate business. Unfortunately, it is also the first step in getting any business. Without leads, you would have no business at all.

You probably have had more than your fair share of frustration in building your network and exhaustion in creating as much connections to as many people as you can. You also probably worry over avoiding the $11,000 penalty that comes with the “Do-Not-Call” Rule. With this new rule alone, you’re probably asking yourself, how can you possibly find leads then, let alone viable ones?

Fortunately, there are solutions that address these concerns. They help you build an extensive network, maintain your contacts and save you from the DNC rule while getting you reliable leads that are a stone’s throw away from a closed deal.

This is called response marketing, which is getting buyers/sellers to respond to an ad you placed and having them initiate contact with you.

The fact that these buyers/sellers are responding to your ad puts them in a mindset ready to do business. This is a huge difference from cold calls where it’s usually a hit-or-miss when it comes to whether they want to do any business at all.

Another plus is that since these leads made the first contact, you are free to call them without having to worry about the DNC rule.

How Does It Work?

You start off by placing an ad that’s designed to make prospects want to respond to it. (More on this later.) You then provide a means for these prospects to contact you, usually in the form of toll-free numbers.

“Wait a minute,” you may ask. Will I be the one to answer each and every call that’s made? Wouldn’t I have to hire a whole lot of representatives to answer these calls for me?

The answer: Yes and No. The person who will answer the phone every time an ad respondent calls will be you – in the form of a recorded message. It is personal in that it is your voice the respondent hears. But it is detached enough to make it comfortable for the prospect since he/she does not have to worry answering probing questions during the first contact.

The respondent has the general options to leave you a voice message or even calling you directly through a call transfer feature. Should they want more to know more before they call you, they have immediate access to information you want to share through a fax-back option. This feature is particularly useful in sharing documents like company/personal profiles, floor plans, brochures, maps and even helpful tips in doing business in real estate.

By allowing your prospects access to such information at this level of ease makes them more inclined to do business with you. Experts and consultants in the industry have noted that nearly 75% of prospects end up transacting business with the agent they made first contact with. For an agent, that means doing what you can to make sure you’re the first person a prospect would call.

Every time a prospect calls your hotline number, you are notified right away of the call through your fax, email, cell phone and/or PDA. This immediate notification is essential since as mentioned before, leads will most likely transact with the first agent they come in contact with. The sooner you make your own response to theirs, the sooner you establish rapport, the more likely you will be able to close a deal.

And Now, Some Words About Your Ads

The ads you place must be designed to compel a reader to call you first. You do this by offering something a prospect wants to have. The nature of being a prospect shows that they are interested to know more about the real estate business. So why not offer information you feel they need to know?

Also, make it clear how you can help your prospect. They’re more interested in that than reading about how you are one of the top sellers in your district. Showing that you can and want to help makes you more inclined to be called.

Same Business, Some New Tools

The things mentioned above do not in any way replace the trusted methods of establishing rapport, conscientious follow-up and genuine character building. In the bigger picture, this accounts for the closing more than any other fancy tool.

Finding leads through these means simply save you the time and the effort in mining for new leads and allows you to devote your energies to more enriching tasks both for yourself and your prospects.

Create Your Own Web Site: The Realtor’s Key Selling Tool

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:37:00 +0000

Buying a house is one of the most precious lifetime goals and requires a large sum of money. That is why real estate has always been a serious business especially now that the values of real estate properties rarely depreciate. In turn, most real estate buyers are now more prepared mentally and financially.

For this reason, most realtors know that they have to do their best to attract more clients and to keep up with the growing competition in the market.

In one aspect, realtors value their leads the most. They know that real estate leads are the primary source to their success. They know that without leads, there would be no deals. And without deals, there will be no sales. That is why they try to find ways on how to generate more leads and boost their sales.

Consequently, with the advent of information technology, the Internet has always been the primary source of effective marketing tools and strategies. This is because the Internet has a wider reach that can generate millions of people in just one sitting.

Hence, experts contend that realtors must conform to the growing trend of marketing today, wherein most salespeople generate their leads using the Internet.

And how is that? They build their own web sites.

Alternatively, in a recent study, the demographic profile of the Internet users showed that 50% of it have college degrees, the typical earnings of Internet users is $52,500 and almost 42% earn beyond that, and the total frequency percentage rate of Internet users on a daily basis is almost 88%.

This goes to show that more and more people are using and accessing the Internet. And with the average income of most Internet users, the National Association of Realtors contends that 96% of the Americans who would buy houses will access the Internet to find their dream houses.

These facts, in turn, require a realtor to create his or her own web site to gain the profit they wish to obtain. Most realtors just do not understand the potential of the Internet in generating the sales that they need. They do not realize that the generation of leads through the Internet can significantly increase your sales.

However, creating your own web site is a lot of work. There are a lot of various expertise and flairs that need to be mastered especially if you do not have a basic knowledge on web designing and developing. It entails the use of graphic designs, programs, search engine optimization tools, different software, etc.

On its total concept, it is really hard to incorporate all of these things on an instant. Actually, it is not a requirement that you have to create superfluous designs and features on your web site, but keep in mind that the Internet market has more fierce competition when compared to the outside world.

Hence, it is relatively important that you pay attention to your web site and come up with something that will generate leads for your business. The trend of the market today is based on the fact that the more proficiency and skill you can incorporate on your web site, in any aspect, the tougher your competitive spot in the market.

Therefore, the important aspect that you should focus more when creating a web site is on how you can generate your leads, work on it and turn it into prospects, and convert prospects into deals. That is basically how you can generate your income.

Here is a list of some of the benefits you can derive from creating your own web site:

1. You get to connect with other web sites that have greater flow of traffic where they generate almost 60,000 of visitors a day.

2. You get to create your own listings, which can significantly add usefulness to your website.

3. You can use email marketing to get hold of individuals in the target market, who are more than willing to gain updated information on real estate listings.

4. You can participate on virtual tours such as Yahoo virtual tours and on other web sites and provide links that can generate traffic to your web site and generate your leads.

5. You get to advertise your properties without the expenses that the typical advertising can give.

Indeed, creating one’s own web site should be the primary marketing tool of every realtor. Realtors should grasp the growing potential of the Internet in increasing their sales. The drift of the market today is based on the fact that the money is in the Web.

How To Find Real Estate Leads Via… Virtual Tours: When Image Really Matters

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:36:00 +0000

It is a well-know and well-accepted fact that the Internet is currently considered as one of the best pragmatic tools that technology has ever created. It provides a lot of possible information that can be quickly accessed without having to resort to manual process and without having to exert physical prowess.

That is why most of the activities on the Internet are described as virtual, meaning the activities are executed without having to carry out the actual activity. It is when things classified as virtual fall under the category of things existing in essence or effect though not in actual fact or form.

For this reason, certain businesses have realized the potential of the Internet in giving their clients the much-needed presentation without having to physically and actually render the actions. This goes to show that people who are in different places can still get access to some relevant information about the matter without having to be physically present in order to evaluate the item in scrutiny.

This concept was greatly accepted by the real estate industry. Most realtors had seen the probability of gaining sales without having to propose the properties to their clients in actual time and space. This is possible through the use of virtual tours.

Virtual tours refer to the access of the potential homebuyers in getting a good look at the insides of the house that they plan to buy through the use of the Internet. This is possible by using a web-based software that enables the potential homebuyers to “tour” in and around the house. This enables them to assess whether or not the house is worthy enough to buy.

With the convenience that the Internet gives, most people are comfortable with online shopping. They contend that it is easier and more comfortable to access information of the things they want to buy through the Net. That is why most home buyers request virtual tours online.

For this reason, most experts contend that for every realtor who has a web site and wishes to generate real estate leads with the help of the Internet, then, it is best to use virtual tours. These tools will enable the realtors to get access to people who are willing to buy a house because they are interested in how it looks inside and out.

Virtual tours are great lead generators because they attract potential homebuyers to your web site. Keep in mind that most people who get access to the Internet are usually those who are hungry for information.

Hence, it is best to provide them the things that they need. In return, once you have provided people with the necessary things that they want, you can easily lure them to buy these things, such as properties, from you. And one way to attract and compel them to buy is to give them a reason to do so.

Such that, when they see your house is appropriate to what they have called for, then, they will definitely buy the house from you.

In fact, statistical reports show that almost 56% of the people who have plans in buying a house usually use the Internet to search for probable houses. Among these people who use the Internet as their primary source of housing information, 70% of them contend that using virtual tours had been the most effective tool in searching a house. This is because virtual tours let them save time and enables them to have fewer expenses because they have fewer trips to the actual site.

Hence, virtual tours are considered to be one of the most important marketing tool for a realtor. It’s an effective means in generating good real estate leads, which, can be converted into actual homebuyers.

However, when you want to use virtual tours in finding real estates leads, it is best if you will consider some factors first that can make or unmake the probability of your business to generate more leads.

Here is a list of some tips that you need to know:

1. Be Wary On The Images That You Will Use

The most important part for a virtual tour to be an effective tool in marketing is that you should use crisp and detailed areas of the house that you are trying to sell.

Keep in mind that the pictures of the house are one of the most important information that a customer wants in order to decide whether they will buy the house or not.

The problem comes when your pictures are not clear enough. In this case, the customer will have the tendency to look and find other virtual tour sites that provide clearer and crisper pictures.

2. Be Particular With Details

The key to an effective virtual tour is to have comprehensive description of the details of the house. This means that you have to specify everything even up to the tiniest and most obvious details.

The key here is to never assume that a particular area is already obvious that’s why you thought it is okay not to include that on your descriptive article.

Keep in mind that the tiniest detail that you might take for granted to include could definitely make or unmake your property.

Indeed, virtual tours can absolutely generate real estate leads. Just remember to use appropriate shots and pictures in order to attract more customers and generate more leads.

Tips On Generating Real Estate Leads Online

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:34:00 +0000

The use of the Internet has spawned into an unimaginable feat. From home buying needs, mortgage, to selling and buying land and other valuable properties, all of these can be transacted in the Internet.

In a study conducted by Jupiter Research, it shows that more than 80% of homebuyers have utilized the Internet in their home buying needs. Internet users have begun to show incredible and renewed confidence in conducting their mortgage and other real estate businesses online.

Although the Internet has become a monstrous portal to handing matters concerning home buying and selling, one can assume that there are countless possibilities that one will be able to find chances of getting buyers and sellers online which meets their interest, preference and needs.

The following information provides useful techniques in capturing leads in the Internet and how one would be able make use of this information in generating sales in your chosen area of interest.

The following prospecting tools are designed to collect or gather information that will be used by properties or real estate agents and mortgage brokers in tailoring their strategic marketing offers and get them into buying the product of their individual industries.

- Call Capture System – One popular way to collecting potential client information is through telephone contacts. Dedicated phone numbers are listed for each site to answer for inquiries about real estate matters.

Through this system, specific caller information such as phone number, name, and even address are gathered in a complicated process of electronic media information transfer. These same information are kept as lead index outputs and are used for other marketing matters.

- Referral Marketing Tools – The consolidated efforts of call capture, newsletter, and other subscriber system tools are kept in a database and serves as a database for leads. This information is then transferred to other marketing industries and will be used as an effective lead prospect.

- Newsletters – Online newsletters are the second most popular lead catcher in the wonderful field of marketing. This opens up more opportunities to convert non-profitable members into money-generating sources through subscription-fee basis services or other purchases.

Apart from its effectiveness, it will help you to stay organized all throughout the course of your service promotion and help you trace your earnings from each respective client.

- Direct E-mail – Customer service-oriented direct e-mail resources are another utilizable machinery in assembling your syndicate of leads. These tools are very popular for they serve as a vital component for industries catering for customer support.

You may sit back and watch your leads coming in as your installed e-mail media in your website generates leads for you.

4 Success Tips For Building Wealth In Real Estate

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:32:00 +0000

1. Find out who offers foreclosure properties in your investment area. Contact each of the following: (a) Banks offering real estate loans. They will usually have foreclosures they want to put in the hands of ambitious people such as yourself; (b) Your County Clerk's office where they usually have foreclosure properties listed for sale, and; (c) Federal Government offices (IRS, FHA, VA) that have foreclosure properties you can acquire at low cost.

Get all the free information from these organizations that you can. They'll be glad to put you on their mailing list, plus they'll supply you with a packet of their current data. Study what you receive - it could give you a quick "college education" in the foreclosure situation in your investment area.

Since there is a wide range of quality of foreclosure properties, you must develop a sense for the good vs. the bad. Do this by visiting a number of foreclosure properties offered to you. Make notes about each. Be completely frank with your notes because they're for only your eyes - no one else's. If a property is in awful condition, make a note of that. If a property is in superb condition, note that also. You'll soon know the good from the bad!

2. Work with foreclosure sellers who will pay all closing costs for you while providing the needed legal counsel free. Banks often offer to pay all your closing costs while having their attorney act as your counsel. You can trust such an offer because the bank does not want the property back. Instead, the bank wants to see you successfully operating the property and making your mortgage payment on time, once a month. If you're nervous about the bank's attorney representing you, hire your own attorney to check the work done by the bank's counsel.

In general, your attorney will approve the bank attorney's work. And the fee your attorney charges you will also be small - say $100 to $300 - because no new original work is being done. Taking over foreclosures from banks can get you started in real estate on almost zero cash.

3. Learn bidding techniques before you make an actual bid for a property. You will have to bid on foreclosures offered at County Clerk sales and Federal Government (IRS, FHA, VA, etc.) sales because their rules require public open bidding. In making a bid you will usually be competing against others who also want to buy the foreclosed property that appeals to you. Since open bidding is based on raising the price of the offered item to the highest level possible, you must be careful not to over-bid by getting caught up in the give and take of the process.

4. Flip your foreclosure properties to make fast money without owning the property too long. You can of course hold onto foreclosures and rent them out. But many times you're better off flipping foreclosures - that is, selling them for the highest price you can get, shortly after you buy the foreclosure. Why is this? Because many foreclosures will require repairs and cosmetic work before they are suitable as rentals.

3 Hot Tips To Picking The Best Real Estate Deals

noreply@blogger.com (Hopefully Useful) — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 01:20:00 +0000

You now have a wealth of data about local foreclosures and about yourself which you accumulated using the tips just given. You're ready to mine the golden lode of the world of foreclosures. Your success formula should give these key numbers for every property you'll consider:1. Pick a price level beyond which you will not go. You must control your investments so you have a secure future. You'll often hear stories of how people broke the rules and made millions. But, you must follow the rules until you've built a strong feel for properties you can easily sell quickly or rent at high levels in just days. The best guarantee of success for you is to plan and carefully follow what has worked for thousands of others buying foreclosures in their spare time. 2. You must get an income from your foreclosure properties. If you don't, there's no point in buying them. Your income can be either in the form of rent from units you lease to tenants or in the form of profit you derive from the sale of units you take over in foreclosure actions. Either way, you must come away from each deal with profit that you can spend for yourself and loved ones, invest in other properties, or save for the future. Remember that real estate is a business and as such, it must give you an income. If it doesn't, get into another business!3. Every property you deal with that's in foreclosure will have expenses associated with it. It's rare that any property will have all possible expenses. But most will have some so you must be ready to pay them. And the way you get ready for those expenses is:a) Know how much you can afford to spend on your investments and,b) Analyze (in advance) your probable expenses. While this may seem like work, it really is fun, especially when you go to the bank to deposit your income or profits checks!3. You must have a positive cash flow from every rental property you own, no matter how you bought it. People sometimes think that if they get a property for a low price, it doesn't need a positive cash flow to make money for them. Not so! You must have a positive cash flow for every property - even if it costs you only $25 to take over. Why? Because a negative cash flow property can drain your resources, leading to financial ruin. So avoid such properties like the plague. It's better to take longer to find the right positive cash flow property than to jump into an investment that gives you nothing but grief.