Fact or Fiction : No Money Down Zero Down Real Estate Investing

No Money Down Zero Down Real Estate InvestingHave you ever seen the movie “Boiler Room?” If not, check it out! One of the best scenes involves Ben Affleck doing a group interview. He works for a less than reputable brokerage firm and tells a fresh batch of recruits like it is. One of the first questions Affleck asks is whether anyone had already taken the Series 7 Exam. When one of the guys pompously raises his hand, Affleck shows him the door saying, “We don’t train old brokers here, we hire new ones!”

When I got started as a real estate investor, I had zero experience in the real estate field. None of my immediate family had ever been an agent. No mortgage brokers, appraisers, or real estate attorneys. I was quite green and had a fresh mind ready to soak up whatever was put in front in me. Having no background, when I first came across the idea of “Zero Down Real Estate Investing,” it was hard to comprehend, but I did not have any preconceived notions to hold my thinking back. I was like the newbie in “Boiler Room.” It is often times easier to learn a new concept when you don’t have to unlearn ingrained ways of thinking and doing.

If you look around at a book store or if you google, “No Money Down Creative Real Estate Investing,” you’ll see an array of information on the subject. I still hear plenty of people refute the claims saying that it doesn’t exist and can’t happen. Anytime I hear something like that I simply say to myself, “Well, they’re right, it doesn’t exist and can’t happen for them.

Most of the time, the people that don’t believe in the “No Money Down” claims are the ones that have been trained in real estate the traditional way. And I can’t blame them. Had I learned the way that they did, I may have the same mental blocks that they have.

One of my next posts will explain several different ways to structure a “No Money Down” deal. But before I go, think on this one. Just because someone says that they have bought property with no money down, doesn’t mean that there weren’t funds required to close the deal.

Often times, “No Money Down” just means no money out of your pocket.

Two of the most famous gurus on the subject are Robert Allen and Carleton Sheets. I will go into more detail on books, courses, and seminars soon.

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5 Ways to Get Real Estate Deals Pouring In!

Ways to Get Deals Pouring In : Real Estate Investing

This is just a primer on a few marketing methods that can get motivated sellers beating down your door. Let’s get right down to it:

1) Bandit Signs

Yes, those oh so beautiful signs that you probably see plastered all over your city (or maybe not if you’re lucky). There is a reason they are there. They work! We always went with the standard, “We Buy Houses,” yellow background and black writing. Our signs were in the shape of a house and had a local # that forwarded to a voice mail system. We found that the local # brought in more calls than having a toll free #.

2) Direct Mail

There are many different types of lists that you can mail to that could have your phone ringing off the hook. Patience is the key though! Sometimes it takes 7 or 8 “touches” with the list you’re mailing to in order to get an appreciable response rate. Here’s a few quick suggestions: out of state owners, expired listings, landlords, properties that have been transfered, etc. The important thing is to just pick a list and get started. The best marketing advice I could give would be to TEST, TEST, TEST! Do more of what works and change what isn’t.

3) “Driving for dollars”

Take a different way home from your norm. Look for houses that could be potential deals. You’ll know when you see them. Grass has grown up over the house. 10 soggy newspapers are in the driveway. Totally lacks curb appeal. Broken windows are almost a sure sign! Write these addresses down and look them up when you get home. Call if you want or add them to your direct mail program. Look for the correct mailing address for the property owner in the tax records so you can get your letter in their hands.

4) Estate Sales

Another great place to pick up great deals. Many times the heirs are left with something that is more of a headache than a blessing, and they just want to get rid of it ASAP! You can also negotiate some favorable financing often times in these situations because they’re just ready to sell it and any money coming in is gravy to them.

5) Internet Classified Sites

There are many Internet sites out there like Craigslist where you can post FOR FREE telling the world about your house buying services. We have done a few deals off of free websites on the Internet just by taking 5 minutes to put a post on their site. This is especially great for beginning real estate investors because the price is right!

Think of more ways to get deals pouring in and put them in the comment area! Let us know what’s working for you . . .

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