The dreaded after repair value! How in the world can you determine the ARV for a potential investment property when you don’t have access to the MLS?

For many new investors, this can seem like an insurmountable problem with no solution. Wrong! Let me explain a simple process for determining a close estimate of what a house is worth. This will allow investors to at least be able to determine if a deal is worth pursuing.

In the end, will you need to get comps from the MLS? Yup. But how? At some point, you’ll need to find a broker (or agent, depending on the state you live in) with whom you can build a working relationship. Remember, real estate investing is not an individual sport. You need to have team members that can help you build your investing business. I’ll cover that in another post. For now, let’s get on with how to determine the ARV for a property using common online tools.

I’m here to tell you not to lose faith in yourself. You can do it. You can homeschool your child all the way through high school if that is what you truly want to do. With new technologies and curriculums available today, there is no reason to think that you can’t succeed. What is the payoff? A high school program tailor made for your child that can focus on his/her interests, skills, and talents. Another payoff is less peer dependence. I mean, really, can a bunch of teenagers with little life experience really provide competent guidance in any area of life? Yet, this is what happens in most other school settings–despite the best efforts of teachers and other adults in those settings.

The number one reason I hear from homeschoolers as to why they don’t think they can “do” high school is a lack of confidence in their ability to teach higher math or lab sciences. There are several ways to handle this, and I’m currently working on a Pre-K through highschool curriculum that can provide multiple pathways through the important teen years. Watch for it coming out soon!

Blessings!

Enjoy!

A successful man is he who receives a great deal from his fellow men, usually incomparably more than corresponds to his service to them. The value of a man, however, should be seen in what he gives, and not in what he is able to receive.

—-Albert Einstein

Although I’d always recognized this fact at some level, this was the first time I’d seen it spelled out–the difference between success and value. So often in our society success is measured by the amount of money and/or power a person has. True success, true value, goes deeper. It’s based in what we contribute, in whether or not we’ve made a difference.

This quote gave me a bit of a perspective shift today. How will it affect me moving forward? I’ll try to remember that value is measured in what I give to others, to the contribution I make, to the difference I can effect.

Something else I thought about and have noticed to be true is that those who provide true value to others in the marketplace are also those who are successful.

What did you learn from Albert today?

Blessings,

Cindy

How much is an hour of your time worth? Really?

Perhaps you immediately think of how much you make per hour in your job or with your business. But is that really an accurate value for your time?

I think not. Think about this–time once gone can never be gotten back. Every moment that slips by poorly used can never be used again. In reality, your time (and your health) is infinitely valuable. Too often, though, we take our time for granted.

I’ve gotten into the habit of asking myself throughout the day, “Is this the absolute best use of my time?” If not, what will I do about it? Hire someone else to take over the task? Delegate it to someone else? Or, simply stop doing the activity (quite often one of the better alternatives)?

For example, let’s say you’re sitting down watching television and you remember to ask yourself that all important question, “Is this the best use of my time?” Your answer might be yes (if the show is teaching you something you need to know or are interested in) but a more honest answer would be no. What else could you do with that time?

1. Start a part-time online business.
2. Read to your children.
3. Spend time with your significant other.
4. Pursue a hobby.
5. Perform marketing functions for your business.
6. Look at and make offers on investment properties.
7. Do a workout and get in better shape.
8. Check in on an elderly neighbor.
9. Volunteer for a cause you feel strongly about.
10. Go to a city council meeting to stay informed about what’s happening in your town.
11. Network with positive, energetic, enthusiastic people who are interested in the same things you are–building your business, investing, building a better community, etc.

The possibilities are really endless. It’s up to you to decide the best use for your most valuable asset–your time.

I promised to tell you what my answer was to the person that wanted to know what my time was worth. Here it is: “An hour of my time is infinitely valuable and should be spent as wisely as possible.”

Stop taking your hours for granted–get out there and use them wisely.

Blessings,

Cindy

It’s been a long time since I was the victim of “redirection” as I call it. It resembles bait and switch in the retail arena. So, I endured 2 hours of a topic I had minimal interest in. Why? Partly because I’m polite. Partly because you never know when you’ll learn something new that might be of value to you. I did actually pick up a couple of ideas so that the whole evening wasn’t a total waste. I also got a chance to stretch my thinking and to challenge the thinking of the presenter–always good for the gray matter LOL.

Remember, even when things don’t turn out to be what you thought they were going to be, there’s still the opportunity to learn something new–or to at least practice stretching your thinking and wrapping your brain around someone else’s point of view. Both great things to keep you from becoming stuck in a rut.

Blessings,

Cindy

Those aren’t always comfortable questions–especially if you just walked through your normal routine like a zombie. Most days, though, if you’re open to new ideas and are honest with yourself, you’ll realize that your day was far from ordinary.

If, however, you have been walking zombie-like through your days, just surviving, just doing the minimum to get by, just gettin’ through, then it’s time for a wake up call. Each moment is precious–passing into eternity never to exist again.

What really woke me up to how much I was missing of what goes on around me was when I ended up in a walking cast after partially tearing a ligament in my ankle. I didn’t have much sick leave, so I made my way slowly the half mile from the train station to work each day in downtown Chicago. I had to stop frequently to rest along the way. Things I had just zoomed past when I was fully mobile gained my attention now that I moved so slowly. People and places I had simply walked past without noticing captivated me and drew my attention away from the pain I was feeling. Complete strangers would stop to offer me encouragement along the way.  I realized that this was simply a passing inconvenience for me, but was a daily reality for others that I now took notice of. I found myself wondering how I could have missed so many interesting things–things I went past every single day (twice!). I missed them because I was just zipping through my routine, rushing along my way to somewhere I had to be, becoming a robot in the midst of wonder.

That experience woke me up. Brief as it was, it had a definite affect on my outlook. I find myself often remembering those slow, wonder-filled days, and remind myself to stay awake, alert, and attentive to all the fascinating people and things around me every day. Wake up, pay attention, soak up new ideas and experiences.

I want to encourage you to make the most of your time and energy. Wake yourself up. Pay attention to what’s going on around you.  Look for and take advantage of opportunities to learn something new. Look for and take action on things you can do to make a difference to those around you. Live life excited, energetic, expectant!

Blessings,

Cindy

For example, someone purchasing their first home most likely doesn’t have a whole lot of knowledge about how the process works. They may not even have a lot of knowledge about the town they’ll be buying in. Instead, they’ll have to rely on the knowledge their real estate agent, mortgage broker, insurance advisor, and the title company personnel bring to the transaction. The combined knowledge of the team is what gives the individual the power to complete that real estate purchase.

The good news is you don’t have to be an expert at everything in order to wield power. The bad news is you have to be careful who you have advising you. You must have the ability to surround yourself with a skilled team composed of trustworthy people. Sometimes, that’s easier said than done. Seek out recommendations for professionals you need to have on your team, whether you’re wanting to start a business, change careers, buy a house, or attain any other goal you desire.

How will you develop your knowledge and your power today? In which direction do you wish to move? What do you want to accomplish? Remember, you don’t have to know everything before you begin to take action but you must have a team around you who can augment your knowledge.

“Power is the faculty or capacity to act, the strength and potency to accomplish something. It is the vital energy to make choices and decisions. It also includes the capacity to overcome deeply embedded habits and to cultivate higher, more effective ones.” George Bernard Shaw (1856-1950)

Blessings,

Cindy