Josh Weidman

    Josh Weidman's Articles

    • Sending This Email Sold My Flip Quickly

      I have a lot of ideas. Some turn out to be a lot better than others. Earlier last week I had what’s turned out to be a very good idea. It’s the kind of idea that will help you sell more houses more quickly.I’ve had an albatross hanging around my neck for the last few months. Laxed management, dishonest contractors and foul weather combined to produce a flip that finished 13 weeks behind schedule. The place looks great and the budget is still within the margin of error. But 13 weeks! It’s embarrassing.To say I’m motivated to sell this place…

    • Is Private Mortgage Note Investing Safe?

      Investing in Private Mortgage Notes are very safe investments. In addition to the mortgage lien, these properties are also backed by Title and Hazard policies. If the property burns down, or if there is a problem with the title, then the investor recoups their money through these policies.Finding Private Mortgage NotesThere are firms that deal with Private Mortgage Note investing, and match lenders with borrowers. These firms will thoroughly investigate the potential borrower, ensuring that the situation lends itself well to private lending. These firms generally have a lot of experience in the local real estate market and can readily…

    • Entrepreneur Is a Tricky Word

      There are fundamental problems with the word entrepreneur. First of all, it’s hard to say. Everyone seems to pronounce the French ending differently. It’s even harder to spell. Why do the e’s and u’s always end up in the wrong place? Even the common abbreviation for entrepreneur, “trep,” is unbecoming.And now for the crux of the problem: the word’s definition. Like watered-down lemonade, the word entrepreneur has permeated business culture to such an extent that it has lost its substance. No one likes a watered-down drink, let alone a watered-down job title.Of course, we can’t forget the spin-offs of entrepreneur, which muddy the term…

    • The 6 ‘Musts’ for any Real Estate Investing Business

      1. Know Your MarketWhen I first jumped into the Real Estate business I found myself trying to generate deals anywhere I could find them. It became obvious very quickly that my opportunity pool was much too large for me to effectively advertise with my limited budget. So instead of mortgaging my first born, I limited my marketing to small specific geographic areas where I could become an expert. I call these areas ‘target markets.’Every Real Estate investment business should have one or more target markets. These are the neighborhoods where you know the types of houses, likely repairs, reliability of…

    • Rental Property Cash Flow Investor Tips

      Most investors look at cash flow real estate, aka rental properties, for its cash flow potential. Each house or unit pays a few hundred dollars per month toward living expenses, savings, investment, etc. If you’re very lucky and very good, you can build a portfolio that allows you to retire and live off the income. That is definitely a plan.But then there’s the Rental Property Fairy.The Rental Property Fairy works a lot like the Tooth Fairy did when you were a kid. She comes silently and fills up your piggy bank while you rest peacefully. There are three major differences.…

    • 3 Challenges Most Real Estate Investors Face

      After being involved in over 1,000 real estate transactions, either on the buy and lending side or rental side, we see very similar things from most investors we talk to. The three leading challenges that most real estate investors face have to do with valuing properties, rehab & construction cost and marketing.If you can overcome these three challenges, you’ll be a successful real estate investor.Comping and Valuing PropertiesMost investors say, “My real estate agent thinks I can sell it for this much,” or “It appraised for this.” They’re not putting their money into the transaction—you are. I’m not saying their…

    • The Risks of Buying Occupied Properties

      I know it’s very tempting to purchase properties that currently has residents for a humongous discount. Usually, when you see publicly listed properties that seem to be very much under market value, there are occupants in there and you won’t be able to know what will occur in regards to getting them out once you buy it. At the right numbers, all deals make sense, but you should take into consideration that there could be some damage done or time before you can occupy the property and do what you want to do.How To Engage Current OccupantsYou’re not really supposed…

    • Buying Auction Properties Online (Resources)

      If you’re not currently purchasing properties via auctions online, you’re missing out on some good opportunities.  Online auction properties became popular a few years ago.  Similar to MLS, a lot of people have access to and are bidding on these properties online since they’re open to the public.  That being said, there’s still some good opportunities available for anybody.The three big online auction companies are homesearch.com, auction.com and hubzu.com.  They all have a lot of free resources available to real estate investors including a knowledge base to learn about pre foreclosures, foreclosures, and REO properties that are currently bank owned. …

    • Happy Days Are Here Again?

      It looks like the recession of the housing industry is in full recovery. Unemployment remains high in many areas of the country and GDP growth is slow. But the housing market is looking good.Higher demand paired with lower inventory has led prices to increase across the board. This limited inventory is mainly due to two factors: years of repressed new home starts and lower foreclosure rates.For the last 5 years, new home starts have been down. 2013 marks the first year since the bust when home builders see promise in the market place. But for five years, building was down.…

    • The Blood, Sweat And Tears Of Real Estate Investing

      My new love is Jiu Jitsu. Learning the sport reminds me of my introduction to Real Estate investing: challenging and painful at times, but very fulfilling.

Are you sure you want
to log out?