3 Things Lifestyle Entrepreneurs Focus On And The 5 Steps Towards Becoming One

lifestyle entrpereneur

1. Freedom Of Location: The ability to work where you want and when you want.

2. Low Fixed Costs: The ability to start, grow, and scale your business with low overhead.

3. The flexibility of Time: The ability to manage the business with as little time invested as needed. It’s about being able to do what you want when you want and to be able to do those things with the people you love and care about the most.

Again I’m not special, anyone can do this. I’m just passionate about living life on my own terms and want to encourage other people to do the same.

So with that being said…

Ever dreamt of spending your work day at the beach?

At one time that may have been more a fantasy than viable option, but those days are in the past.  Imagine running a business that worked around your life rather than the other way round.

As a lifestyle entrepreneur, you can take your work with you anywhere and enjoy life according to your own terms and talents.

5 Key Steps Towards Becoming a Lifestyle Entrepreneur

Here are five key steps to get you started.

1. Make a Plan

“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” -Benjamin Franklin

Despite what some may initially think, some passions simply do not translate into a profitable business plan.

Because of this, it’s important to take an honest look at the interests and talents you possess and analyze which of those can actually be used to develop a successful business.

If what interests you most is watching movies, for example, you may struggle to find clients willing to pay you just to sit on the couch.

But, if you have talents for writing and humor, you can take that movie-watching love and turn it into an awesome movie-review blog.

2. Set Realistic Goals

You’ve probably heard the old adage, “it takes money to make money.”

Well, unfortunately, it’s true.

This being said, it’s important to recognize that even with a substantial financial investment on your end, the odds of you making a million that first year are not very high.

Still, with realistic goals and an excellent daily work ethic, you can become a successful lifestyle entrepreneur in less time than you may think.

Just remember to set SMART goals.

  • S- Specific
  • M- Measurable
  • A- Attainable
  • R- Relevant
  • T- Timely

3. Determine Your Niche

With billions of individuals in the world, creating one business that appeals to all of them is virtually impossible.

Luckily, this is not necessary to be a successful lifestyle entrepreneur.

In fact, doing the opposite may be more likely to aid your efforts.

By this, we simply mean choose a niche.

Finding a narrow demographic that finds value in what you have to offer is much more likely to lead to success in business.

Create a solution or service that particular niche truly needs or resonates with, and your business or service can become indispensable to them.

4. Raise Awareness

You could have the most amazing product or website on earth, but it will do you little good if people don’t know it exists.

Having a robust marketing and social media strategy to gain exposure and reach your target audience is more than just a good idea if you want to become a successful lifestyle entrepreneur.

It’s an absolute essential.

Use everything from social media to podcasts, to affiliate marketing, to guest blogging.

5. Provide Value and Charge for It

If your free content provides enough value, potential customers will not be satisfied there.

They will continue to seek out your services or products.

Be sure to consistently create and offer free content that’s more valuable than what other companies are charging for.

Then, when it comes to your premium services/products, don’t undercut your self.

Becoming A Lifestyle Entrepreneur

Now that you’ve got a spot on the inside track on the 5 top ways to become a lifestyle entrepreneur, it’s time to get started.

For more help building your business, check out our blog post on how to successfully market online, you’ll be happy you did!

The Ultimate Lifestyle Entrepreneur Opportunity

Build a business around the lifestyle you want to live, instead of building a lifestyle around your job or business.  I want to invite you to attend a free training that will break down the simplest way I know to get started. This is an entire business model that anybody can use no matter if you have any experience or even if you’re technically challenged. You’ll learn how to get everything set up quickly so you can begin “living the dream life”.  Click below to discover what’s truly possible for you.  Watch Now <<

Real Estate Investing 101: What You Need to Know

real estate investing 101

real estate investing 101

Real estate is a popular venture, especially among those new to the realm of investing. On the surface, it seems like an easy route to take; capitalists just need to fulfill regular landlord responsibility.

But, of course, it’s not that simple. Investors have to consider several variables that can impact their ROI. This includes real estate investment trusts (REIT), as well as property type (i.e. commercial, residential, industrial, etc.)

Consider this your guide to Real Estate Investing 101. Before committing to a property, do your research to make sure this is the right opportunity for you.

Types of Real Estate Investment

Here are 7 common types of real estate investments. Understanding their differences can help you decide which option is best for you.

  1. Residential- Standard landlord/renter terms; renter agrees to pay investor based on a preset rental agreement
  2. Commercial- Investor is paid by business owners who rent units from a multi-purpose property
  3. Industrial- Properties are typically used to fulfill the needs of large-scale businesses; think: firms, warehouses, distribution centers
  4. Real Estate Investment Trust– Investing in shares of corporations who already own property; best for those who aren’t looking to be involved with property management
  5. Retail- Retail storefronts with several tenants; think: shopping malls, plazas
  6. Mixed-Use- Can be a combination of residential, commercial, industrial and retail investing (diversification is advantageous in real estate investing)
  7. Fixed Income- Purchasing an existing property and then lending back to the tenant; best for long-term tenants, such as banks, hotels, etc.

How to Get Involved in Real Estate Investing

One common way new investors acquire property is taking out a mortgage. This allows them to build their property up before leasing out and making more money. Also, it’s a great option for those who can’t afford to pay off the entire property (a.k.a. most).

However, if you’re among the few who can pay off at once, go for it. Once you build up your investment portfolio, it’s much easier to pay upfront.

Putting the mortgage in your name is a real estate investing 101 no-no. Rather, opt for an LLC or limited partnership to hold your investment through. This minimizes your own risk and allows you to protect your assets.

Other Real Estate Investing 101 Tips

Here is some other advice to follow before making a property purchase:

  • If able, team up with others you trust. This will help reduce costs and risks associated with lending.
  • Don’t make an offer unless you’re ready to follow through.
  • Be diligent. Don’t take or make offers unless both parties fully understand the proposed terms.
  • Document everything. Written contracts will save you big time if problems arise down the road.
  • Don’t be a penny-pincher. This will come back to bite you in the butt, especially if a tenant grows unsatisfied.

Looking for More Info on Real Estate Investing?

It’s not enough to just find a deal and invest. You need a plan-of-action to dictate how you run your investments to garner the most profit.

If you’re looking to enter the world of real estate, you’re in the right place. I educate new investors so they can maximize their ROIs, particularly in the digital landscape.

Contact me today to learn more about investing, as well as best tips and strategies.

How to Get Started In Real Estate Investing

how to get started in real estate investing

The sub-prime crisis of 2008 dealt a fatal blow to many homeowners and institutions but there is a silver lining.

Over-inflated property prices have settled, creating new opportunities for future home buyers. The market is flooded with foreclosed homes, vacant properties, and unfinished projects.

There will always be value in real estate.

In this article you will learn:

  • How to get started in real estate investing
  • Types of properties and their return on investment
  • Ongoing pros and cons of real estate investing

Roll up your sleeves. We’ve got work to do!

The Basics of How to Get Started in Real Estate Investing

Investment properties often outperform stock investments with an average 9.5% return on residential property versus the average 8.6% one may find through trading stocks, bonds, and funds.

You’re welcome to start with a small property to test the waters. Remember it requires research and allocation of resources regardless of what area you’d like to explore with real estate.

  1. Determine your budget
  2. Explore the types of properties (see below)
  3. Research and practice due diligence with offers
  4. Watch trends, read reports, and follow authority figures in the markets
  5. Decide which is the best option and make a move
  6. Prepare for the worst but hope for the best

Properties fall into two categories: commercial or residential. Either choice takes time and resources to find investors or buyers.

how to find motivated sellers
Learn How To Find Motivated Sellers

Your motivation will be one aspect — finding capital can be sourced via:

Once capital is secured, it’s a matter of creating a funnel to drive interested parties and leads to investment properties.

At the heart of this process is developing a great real estate website

Web sites create a variety of benefits:

  • Properties sites can be tweaked and optimized to appear higher in listings
  • A professional presence can attract investors
  • Create an inbound funnel for real estate investors to sell leads

After having bought (or invested) in a property you are at liberty to increase the price of the property to generate a profit. Other alternatives include repairing and flipping or subletting (such as with AirBnB).

Consider stabilizing the rent until the mortgage is paid in full which provides extra, profitable opportunities.

Sound interesting?

Here are the types of properties you should know more about when learning how to get started in real estate investing:

Basic Rentals

Your typical property found on the market. These properties may include apartments, houses, and commercial real estate.

You make a bid, close the deal, and then take on the responsibility for its maintenance and upkeep. You’ll also be responsible for attracting tenants which can be done through Web-based strategies, local listings, advertising, or working with a broker.

Research is key: consider the location of the property, proximity to desired staples of life, amenities, and trends in the market.

Adjust the rent based on a mortgage calculator along with factoring upgrades and repairs along with local job earning averages.

Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS)

REITS are when investment companies own many pieces of property and offer a part to investors. In a sense — it’s stock investing but with real estate — through mutual or exchange funds.

This type of property investment lowers the financial risk because of the diversification of the portfolio.

Swings in the market may increase profitability but they’re also susceptible to large crashes such as the one experienced in 2008.

Real Estate Investment Groups

This form of real estate investing is like REITS but property ownership is a small group of individuals instead of a large investment company.

The management of the property is done through the group. This reduces the overhead you’d find in a basic rental setup.

The downside is the difficulty in gauging the commitment others may have in these investment properties.

Crowdfunding & Sharing Economy

The explosive growth of the sharing economy has changed real estate investing. The sharing economy for real estate is well-known through services like AirBnB. It gives a home/apartment owner the ability to rent a property on a micro scale without setbacks found with long-term tenants.

Crowdfunding is another opportunity like REITS and investment groups. It uses crowdfunding platforms and a very wide pool of investors to buy, manage, and distribute the wealth of a property.

On Going Demands of Real Estate Investing

It’s common to gloss over the ongoing demands when asking how to get started in real estate investing. Real estate requires upkeep.

There are always problematic issues with real estate:

  • Emergency repairs
  • Maintenance
  • Tenant relationship
  • Legal liabilities

Those jumping into real estate investing for long-term gains are seeking to keep the property as part of their portfolio. Yet, there will be repairs and maintenance which should be factored into the investment.

Another aspect is the tenant relationship. It can be difficult to judge character. Be aware of tenant rights and be cautious of who you do business with. 

Legal liabilities should be an ongoing concern. Failure to do proper maintenance and repairs could harm the tenant which gives them grounds for legal dispute.

Those inexperienced with property management should seek professional guidance and services.

The Reality of Real Estate

Investing in real estate creates a well-rounded, diversified portfolio if it’s paired with investments in stocks, bonds, and funds.

The investment opportunities are lucrative though a drawback could be the time and resources needed to start.

Despite this — the returns are well worth the time and resources.

Now you know the basics of how to get started in real estate investing.

Get started now

Register and explore our free training to help build a hungry list of potential buyers before you make the first investment. Go in knowing you’re already on track for a large return on your investment.

Real Estate Investing With Cash Buyers

Real estate investing with Cash Buyers is the key to building a leveraged and successful real estate wholesale  business.

real estate investing with cash buyersIt’s all about finding quality over quantity.  You want to work with the “real” players in the market…the guys who are buying deals month in and month out.  Establish those relationships by being yourself, setting yourself apart from your competition and by doing what you say you are going to do (bringing them great deals).   Find out what these buyers are buying, where they are buying, how much they can spend, how many deals they can handle at once, etc, etc.   Once all this is established, you can go shopping for exactly what these buyers are looking for.   Start marketing to motivated sellers with direct mail, SEO, and PPC.  Analyze your leads carefully, negotiate a great deal and put the property under contract.

Remember the MAO (Maximum Allowable Offer) formula…

ARV (After repair value – what the property would sell for fixed up in top condition)

x .70 (this number can go up or down depending on competition and if it’s a sellers or buyers market)

Minus repairs

Minus your assignment fee (what you want to make on the deal)

= Your Maximum Allowable Offer!

So…if my ARV is 200k. I multiply that by .70 and that equals 140k.  Let’s say my repairs estimate is 30k. Now I am at 110k.  Let’s say I want to make 10k on this deal, I subtract my fee to get a maximum allowable offer offer of 100k.

The MAO Formula is a guide that can help you to quickly calculate what you can offer for a property.  There are more detailed calculators available and you can find them on the internet.  However, this formula works just as well when you know your market and your numbers.  Memorize it, study it, use it!

*I get a lot of students who ask me how to assess repairs.  The key here is practice.  Go out on a few appointments with a couple rehabbers or speak to some local contractors to get your numbers together. Attend your local REIA or Meetup.com and bring up the topic.  Immerse yourself in the process.  Start with the entry level type house in your market and learn the most common repair items first.  For example: roof, windows, boiler or furnace, paint, flooring, kitchen update, bath updates etc.   It won’t be long before you have this down to a science.

[pullquote align=”normal”]Cash Buyers are the secret weapon to your success and will help you work smarter not harder – Dave Brown [/pullquote]

This process of finding buyers first before marketing to sellers is called Reverse Wholesaling.

Typically, most investors look to secure properties and market to motivated sellers right out the gate.  This can pose a real problem, especially if you are new.  If you happen to get a property under contract what are y0u going to do to move it?  Who are you going to sell the contract to?

Traditionally someone would get a deal under contract with a seller and then they would then have to hustle and scramble to find a buyer for it.  This can be very stressful, especially when the clock is ticking to get the deal done.

[pullquote align=”normal”]It’s easier to find a house for a buyer than to find a buyer for a house. Remember that! – Dave Brown [/pullquote]

Reverse wholesaling just makes more sense.  It doesn’t work all the time but it works most of the time. You’ll have a lot more confidence knowing you already have a buyer when you go negotiating with a motivated seller you want to get under contract.

Build your buyer’s list first.  Seek out the investors and rehabbers in your area who are closing on deals each month and get them on our VIP Buyer’s list.  Screen them to find out what and where they are buying, then go out secure exactly that.  Take and fill orders…it’s that simple.

Real estate investing with cash buyers very powerful concept and it’s going to change the way you do business.

If you are looking to streamline this process so you can build your cash buyers list quickly then you need to check out this system.   This is the exact system I used to generate most of the cash buyers in my market and you can use it in your market or any other market across the country.

No Gimmicks, No B.S., No Tricks.  Just a simple and effective strategy to build your buyer’s list fast.  This is how you stand out from the competition, take over your market and change your life for the better.

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Get The Reverse Wholesaling Book From My Good Friend And Mentor Kent

This Book Will Reveal Exactly What You Need To Do To Give Yourself An Unfair Advantage Over Other Investors By Showing Your How To Shortcut The Process Of Matching Buyers To Sellers… FREE!

>>Click Here To Download For Free <<

Find And Flip Houses For Fast Profits – Wholesaling

Have you ever been interested in real estate investing, wanted to flip houses, and/or wholesale houses? Are you currently a real estate investor or wholesaler who is struggling to close deals?

Look I get it!  I’ve been there….

I’ve been in the real estate business for over 15 years, having made this leap shortly before my daughter was born.  At the time I held a demanding position in the restaurant business, and I realized that position would significantly limit the time I would be able to spend with her.  I knew I had to choose a different path.  A path that didn’t require late nights and working every weekend.  That’s when a friend of mine talked me into getting my real estate license.

I was always interested in real estate.  I dreamed about where the business would take me and I was excited about the prospect of investing and flipping houses for profit.  But I had never felt the time was right to take the plunge until that moment.  I leapt right into the real estate world, anxious to realize my dreams. However, as those of you who have also taken the plunge know, it is not as simple as it can seem.

Flipping Houses For Fast ProfitsOnce you go through the process of getting your real estate license you soon realize that the moment you hang your hat with a brokerage it becomes all about the “retail” business.  Brokers and agents all pushing you and training you on how to list houses and drive buyers around, etc.  Don’t get me wrong…I had great success as a Realtor.  I did over 50 short sales, was an REO broker for a couple years and worked with a ton of clients but I never felt satisfied.

Over that time period I began researching how to get started in real estate investing.  I found some great info online about flipping houses and doing rehabs.  One of the things I stumbled across was a real estate investor lead generation system.  I immediately signed up for my exclusive territory figuring it would be the answer to all my prayers.  Haha, boy was I wrong.

I tried to learn all I could about how I could do my first real estate deal.  I was very optimistic at first but then the frustration set in and the reality of actually doing that first deal seemed daunting.  I was strapped for cash and credit, I really wasn’t sure how I was going to pull it off.   The first real doubts had just settled in when I got an email that changed my life.

The email was from the owner of the real estate system I signed up for (let’s call him Mr. K)  He emailed me and my partner at the time thanking us for being a customer.  I was surprised and impressed by the personal touch and follow up.  Mr. K noticed that on our sign up form we mentioned that we were Keller Williams agents.  That piqued his interest because he was currently working on expanding his customer base not only to other investors but to agents too. And since Keller Williams is a very investor friendly brokerage it seemed like a great place for him to start.  I completely agreed and saw an opportunity, an opportunity to surround myself with someone who could be my mentor.  A little advice, always remember that the fastest way to success is modeling successful people!   That was 8 years ago and since then Mr. K has been instrumental in my success…not only as a coach and mentor but also as a good friend.

It was about 7 years ago that Mr. K came to New York to speak at my local real estate investor association….I’ll never forget it because it was a turning point in my business.  We were sitting in the lounge of the Hotel killing some time before Mr. K was going to speak to the Real Estate Investor Association.  I was explaining to him the challenges and frustrations I was having with doing my first real estate wholesale deal. That’s when he interrupted me and said….

“You know what your problem is?”  I was really taken back by such a direction question and replied with a chuckle… 

“No…No I don’t”

Mr. K immediately replied with…

“Your problem is that you THINK like a Realtor.”

What he was trying to tell me was that I was so wrapped up in being a real estate agent that it was holding me back from becoming an investor.  I was thinking like a Realtor, not an investor.  I had blinders on and was missing the bigger picture, the bigger opportunity.  I had to change my thinking.  I had to start thinking like an entrepreneur, like an investor.

The truth is that most of society goes through life very much the same…regardless of their job or career path.  We live in a society that encourages you to work to live, instead of living to work.  A society that teaches us to get a “secure” job an540_293_resize_20121001_b4d3eb83efcc17e6827ea522e4c33594_jpg-1d to work hard – on someone else’s schedule, to make someone else successful, until you can finally retire someday and enjoy life.

That may work for some people but it doesn’t work for me and it doesn’t have to work for you either.  I didn’t want to follow the status quo.  I wanted more than that and I quickly realized that if things were going to change I had to to change, too.

If you are reading this, it’s reasonably safe to assume you’re one of the “weird” ones too.  Do you wake up every day wishing that there was something else or waking up unsatisfied because you want to be doing something else?

Well that just means that you were meant for something else…you were meant for something BIGGER!

If you CHANGE YOUR THINKING TOO, challenge the status quo and have faith in yourself, a whole new world will open up to you — a world of true inner independence.  It’s always been there. You just had to want it bad enough.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tauz5iJKxHs&t=8s

Discover the exact system I use to flip houses for fast profits!

[thrive_link color=’blue’ link=’https://davebrown.net/rei/fmsn/’ target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ align=’aligncenter’]Instant List Of Motivated Sellers[/thrive_link]

It was only a few months after that encounter at the REIA meeting that I did my very first deal.   A motivated seller found me online by googling “we buy houses” and about 30 days later I wholesaled my first real estate deal for a whopping $35,000 profit. Since that time I’ve dropped my real estate license and now do this business full time.

You Too Can Flip Houses For Fast Profits Too

flip housesBut having the right training and systems is absolutely critical to your success.  Over the past year I’ve been coaching and helping people achieve success and freedom through real estate estate investing and marketing online.  In addition I”m currently a business coach at the premier real estate investor education community in the country.

Our team’s mission is to teach people how to find and flip houses and properties for profit.  We teach you how to build a real business, one that can create generational wealth for you and your family.  It doesn’t matter if you are brand new to this business, you can get started flipping houses in your spare time and contrary to what you might think you don’t need a license or that much money to get started either.   If you are experienced and are already doing deals, then the system I’m going to share with you will naturally take your business to the next level.

If you’re brand new to this world, this system will help launch you.

The founder of this organization is my mentor who came to my local REIA 7 years ago. Since that time Mr. K and his team have built the absolute best turn-key marketing system and community available in the real estate and real estate investing industry. A system that will allow you to win in real estate no matter what the conditions are in the market.

It all boils down to 2 things. Strategic Marketing And The best Real Estate Training available.

Flipping houses can be very profitable when you have the right strategic marketing systems.  Systems that are built to take you…the real estate investing entrepreneur,  through a “natural progression” for success. These are the same systems I’ve used to grow my business and they are the same systems our students use to grow theirs too.

Our team and our students have access to the single greatest tool to build a cash buyers list quickly and effectively, which allows us to flip the hottest deals in record time. We’re able to find the hottest deals right in our local markets.  We can find vacant houses, and high equity motivated sellers that everyone is desperately searching for at the click of house.  Not only that but we even have access to a semi-secret back door to private lenders who are currently funding real estate deals on a regular basis. These are private money lenders who could fund your deals too.

Yes, our systems are groundbreaking but our training is equally important to your success.  Taking advantage of this opportunity to learn the ins and outs of real estate investing from a team like ours will change your life.  Our community is world-class and there is nothing more comforting than knowing that everyone you meet is willing to SHARE with and HELP their fellow investors.

Our real estate training can dramatically increases your chances of success. Having personal knowledge is important, but being able to leverage the knowledge and networks of literally hundreds of fellow investors is priceless.

These systems and our community have become such a HUGE part of my success and now they can become a huge part of yours too.  I’m a passionate about helping people discover that they can absolutely work and live on their own terms.  With that being said, I believe that real estate is the single greatest opportunity for you to do just that.

[thrive_link color=’blue’ link=’https://davebrown.net/rei/fmsn/’ target=’_blank’ size=’medium’ align=’aligncenter’]Instant List Of Motivated Sellers[/thrive_link]

How to use SlideShare for more traffic

Are you looking for an awesome way for you to get start getting more targeted real estate traffic using SlideShare.

linkedin-buys-slideshareSlideShare is the world’s largest community for sharing all types of presentations (not just PowerPoint’s). It gets over 50 million monthly visitors and is one of the most visited 250 websites in the world. SlideShare content spreads through blogs and social networks such as LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

The key here is learning how to create viral traffic (word of mouth) because it is the best traffic you can possibly get. Why; because it spreads like wild fire by getting read and shared and re-shared via email, social media and bookmarking. Here’s a little trick to get tons of eyeballs on your presentation. At the end of the presentation make sure you have a link to your blog, squeeze page or offer- whatever you want. Remember this site gets 50 million views a month so for you not to leverage that free traffic is bad marketing and business. That’s like ignoring the power of Facebook; makes sense right?

It’s quite simple to leverage the power of SlideShare.

Simply create a detailed presentation on a topic in your niche (buyer topic).  In this case you would do a presentation on real estate investing or how you can help motivated sellers.   Make it pretty with pictures and be very detailed. Be creative! Just make sure it’s packed with valuable information. If you don’t engage the reader then you’re wasting your time and that means losing money!

Now once you’ve completed your presentation just upload it to SlideShare. Once you do that you can share your new presentation with all the major social networks like Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. You can share your presentation on your main wall on LinkedIn and in all the groups your apart of – this is powerful and will get many visitors to your presentation. Then tweet it on Twitter and post it on Facebook. This alone will get you lots of traffic. But, there is a way you can really kick it up a notch and that’s having your presentation get “featured” on the home page of SlideShare. You can do that by simply having the most views in the say top 10 of presentations for that day.

So you crank up the heat by creating a blog post about it and then you mail your list to check
out your new blog post. To put the final nail in the coffin you can then pay for a little traffic; maybe some Google ppc, a Facebook ad or pay for pay for thousands of visitors for very cheap at QVisits.com

This will get you 1,000’s more visitors to your SlideShare presentation and if you follow this method to the T you will almost every time get “featured” on SlideShare.. Once you get featured on SlideShare then you double your traffic instantly which means more traffic to your offer and more money back in your pocket.

Make sure you actually take action on this as this is a solid gold nugget and start applying it in your real estate business…it’s a powerful marketing tool.