Friday, December 18, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: What Did You Learn This Year!!!!! Will you become ...
LASH COMMENTARIES: What Did You Learn This Year!!!!! Will you become ...: I am sure that I am not the only Real Estate Investor asking themselves "What did I learn this year and how can I make a difference nex...
What Did You Learn This Year!!!!! Will you become a Titan?
I am sure that I am not the only Real Estate Investor asking themselves "What did I learn this year and how can I make a difference next year." This is the time that we all spend time with our families and realize why we work so hard to make a difference in their lives. Every parents hope and dream is to secure a future for their children and future generations to come. Yes a legacy! You know like Ford,Vanderbilt, Carnegie, JP Morgan and many more Titans that built this nation. Now I just want to make sure we are going to be financially secure for the future retirement, College education and all those pesky costs that come with living your life. I definitely do not plan on being a Titan of Industry, but the lesson is in these men who came before us. What made them who they were and how did they become the Titans. Was it luck or mindset? I believe it was mindset and knowing when to seize an opportunity. Actually when to recognize an opportunity.
I believe that each of these men combined several traits that lead to their success in business. The first trait I see is Vision. Each one of these men had a vision so futuristic that no one thought they could achieve it. They knew if they were willing to follow through and see their vision to the end, that they could control their future. Their belief in what they envisioned drove them with a passion to see their dream come to life. These men were good negotiators and often controlled business, social and government circles to ensure their success.They traveled in circles of influence and learned from the men who knew how to succeed. So what can I take away from the Titans of Industry? What can I do different next year to make my business a success and secure my legacy.
I need to get a Vision of exactly where I want to be and break it down into goals for my business. What is it that my business is to become and how do I put a plan in action to get there. Some good old soul searching and brainstorming to determine what it is that I want to achieve. What is it that I have to do to get there and how long will it take. These are the scary questions we really do not take the time to answer, so in turn we haphazardly try to run a business unwittingly turning it into a hobby or worse yet a full time job. Can I really remove myself from the business and make money. At what point can I quit that full time job? People do not plan to fail. They fail to plan.
So this year I Plan to Plan. Success is the only direction I am taking this year. I have learned this past year, that I can overcome great obstacles and survive under extreme pressure. I believe that I will succeed and that is s half the battle. Mindset is the key factor in any success. If you believe you can do this, then you can. I may never be a Titan, but I can be successful in business.
What I learned from last year is that it is in the past and I only have the future to look forward to.
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: What Are You Thankful For
LASH COMMENTARIES: What Are You Thankful For: This is the time of year we all should be thankful for all the blessings we have in our life. I am thankful for all the incredible people I ...
Monday, November 23, 2015
What Are You Thankful For
This is the time of year we all should be thankful for all the blessings we have in our life.
I am thankful for all the incredible people I have been blessed by in my new investing career. Brokers, Lenders, Mentors, Sellers, Buyers, Wholesalers, Contractors, Realtors and yes even city officials. I have found everyone to be a great source of energy and support in my journey as an Investor.
I am thankful for an incredible job that I really love and the awesome coworkers I have had the opportunity to work with.
I am thankful for my family that has been the foundation of my life. My beautiful daughter who is pursuing her dreams and blesses me everyday. I only hope she knows how much I love her and how very proud I am of her.
Most of all I am thankful to God for blessing me with all the people in my life and always has my back. Without God I have nothing.
So take some time this holiday to let someone know how thankful you are for being blessed with them in your life.
Happy Thankgiving!
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: Hard work and High cost of living don't Mix
LASH COMMENTARIES: Hard work and High cost of living don't Mix: You work hard and try to pay your bills on time and prices keep going up. Housing costs are increasing everyday and everything goes up but ...
Hard work and High cost of living don't Mix
You work hard and try to pay your bills on time and prices keep going up. Housing costs are increasing everyday and everything goes up but your income. I think the plan was to wipe out the middle class, because poverty is barking at the heels of a lot of hard working individuals with no end in sight. I would like to know how they come up with all those charges on my gas and electric bill, because if I read it correctly I only owe them half of what they charged me, but I need to keep the lights on and heat the house.
Then when did we start paying for TV. Geez I have an antenna, but then I would miss all the cool stuff like Game of Thrones and American Horror Story. How could I cut off the Dish and survive. Then I fought the cell phone trend, but started a business and all of the sudden I have another bill I can't live without. Do not mess with my I phone. I feel so connected to the world. I get it now. Then there is the trash, the lawn care, the snow plowing and all the things that come along with the joys of home ownership. Oh and I almost forgot the internet bill and of course I live in a vortex so it is not cheap and I have to buy extra data all the time. I guess the distance is the reason. I don't understand it, but I pay the bill, because I can't get my work done unless I have it. Yeah then the taxes are due, I am sure it is all allocated to the proper public units, but why are they closing down schools and cutting back all the time. Taxes are going up and education and infrastructure is in the toilet.
Then there is the health insurance scam, yes I said scam. This is ridiculous in the United States. Every American should be able to have a basic health plan tailored to their specific needs and be taken care of. We should not be struggling to pay our annual medical bills in this country. Maybe they are just plain charging to much.Then there is the Auto insurance scam. My goodness why are the prices so astronomical for the new drivers and why don't you give them a break at 21 if they have been driving since 16. No lets make them pay 3 times more because they are already broke and they can live at home forever just to pay their car insurance. What on earth are we doing in this country. We need to stand back and streamline some things to make the economy level out. You do realize that the rich are getting richer, the poor are getting all the benefits and the middle class is paying for it all. Seems a little out of balance to me. I say we all need to work smarter, not harder.
Wednesday, September 23, 2015
Monday, September 7, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: Cash Buyers Wanted
LASH COMMENTARIES: Cash Buyers Wanted: Isn't that what we all want Cash Buyers for those great deals that we find, because we can't rehab all of them. My question is. Wher...
Cash Buyers Wanted
Isn't that what we all want Cash Buyers for those great deals that we find, because we can't rehab all of them. My question is. Where are all the Cash Buyers in my area hiding? So I am putting a request out there to anyone who may read my blog. If you are interested in properties in Grand Rapids, Battle Creek or surrounding areas of Michigan please place your name on my Buyers list at http://www.lashwholesalers.com/
I would love to do business with you.
Laurie
LASH COMMENTARIES: Contractors needed in Michigan
LASH COMMENTARIES: Contractors needed in Michigan: Okay we have all done the rehab and flip program and how does it get done? two words money and Contractors. Both of which are not as easy to...
Contractors needed in Michigan
Okay we have all done the rehab and flip program and how does it get done? two words money and Contractors. Both of which are not as easy to find as it first appears. Yes you can got to those websites like Angie's list or home advisor. You can always check at the local building supply stores and hope they will give you a name, but they don't do recommendations for anyone. It is maddening. The best place to find Contractors is at the gas station. You heard me right. They are there every morning on their way to the site and eager to give you a card. You get a chance to meet them in person and are on a more personal level with them when you call.
Make sure you get at least 3-5 bids on the job and look them over closely. The cheapest guy may not be covering everything and may do low quality work. The highest guy maybe overcharging for your area, but the guy in between is usually the guy giving you the best value for your buck and he takes pride in a job well done. Make sure you have set your parameters with them of what needs to be done and when. A job site can become very haphazard and disorganized if left without someone to oversee the process. How were they supposed to know you are tearing out a wall or adding a room, etc.
Have a general contractor or yourself oversee the process. If you are working full time at another job you do not need someone calling you for money or questions during work time. I have found that Contractors work on their own schedule and it is definitely not normal business hours, yet somehow they are never there at 8 am and never there past 5 pm. So when do they get all that work done? Oh well as long as it gets done on schedule, what do I care.
So I am looking for reliable contractors in Michigan. Primarily Grand Rapids, Battle Creek and surrounding areas. If you are a reliable contractor of any sort I would like to add you to my list for future projects. You can email me at lashpropertiesllc@gmail.com.
Friday, July 10, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: Real Estate Investing are you CRAZY!!!!!!!!
LASH COMMENTARIES: Real Estate Investing are you CRAZY!!!!!!!!: You know how it goes. You go to a 3 day work shop on how to rehab houses and it is so inspiring you can't wait to get home and start lo...
Real Estate Investing are you CRAZY!!!!!!!!
You know how it goes. You go to a 3 day work shop on how to rehab houses and it is so inspiring you can't wait to get home and start looking for that UGLY house and fix it up. You spend money on this great CRM system and they set up your website and you are reading everything you can get your hands on. You go to some more 3 day workshops and there you are in the investor world thinking yeah I can do this. It is not that hard. I just have to keep talking to people and get more software and sign up for all the latest and greatest programs. How hard can it be. I have watched all those fix and flip shows. I know it can be challenging, but what could really go wrong. I am invincible. Wonder Woman. Yes I said Wonder Woman of real estate.
You find the perfect little flip and you have it all planned out. In and out in 3 weeks. SOLD!!!! But wait the city has some stupid inspection and it is free of course, but now it is 2 Months later and they still have not gone to your house to inspect it. Then your construction crew is busy working on the new mall (Who obviously is paying them handsomely for the work) and now we have to figure out when we even have time to apply for the permits that the city finally gave approval for and all the time you are paying for the house, materials and the appliance package which is taking up your parking spot in the garage. Boy I wish I had stainless steel.
Well not to worry the city made sure to send you the 2,000 tax bill for the rehab house that they drive by everyday and have a key to, but can't seem to check the pipes on their way to or from work. Now the perfect flip becomes a never ending story you do not even want to talk about. Not to mention you work 40 hours a week and spend 2 hours on the road just driving back and forth. Forget the fact that you were up late trying to rank on Google. Oh yeah SEO. I know all about it. Can you say brain overload and then of course there is all the marketing. Yeah go ahead and send out 1,100 postcards to Absentee Owners and watch the phone blow up and it is impossible to answer and return all the calls.
So you start thinking. Maybe I am not cut out for this. I was so sure that this was it. This is my road to freedom and not checking in or punching a time clock. This is the way out of the rat race. Was I mistaken. Did I make a bad decision. Maybe my market does not have the deals I am looking for. Maybe I am crazy and this was just some silly pipe dream and it is finally over. Real Estate Investor. GEEZ what was I thinking. Better just quit now and save face on this one. It is just to much.
Are you kidding I grew up raising and training horses and you know when they buck you off, you get right back in the saddle and ride the horse. So Quitting is not an option. You know we Real Estate Investors all have one thing in common. We just want to be free. Free from the rat race and free from making someone elses dreams come true. I am not getting any younger and I may be crazy for trying this real estate investing. But I do know one thing. I am not going to quit and I am not going to whine and complain. We all have to pay our dues at some point in this business. I am sure my little problems which seem big to me are small in comparison to some of the great Real Estate Investors of today. They all have a story and they all stuck with it until they achieved their vision of freedom and financial security.
So yeah Real Estate Investors are a Little CRAZY and that is why they are successful. Rational people don't get us!!!!
Tuesday, June 30, 2015
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Sunday, June 21, 2015
Wednesday, June 17, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: City management their own worst enemy
LASH COMMENTARIES: City management their own worst enemy: What is the deal with abandoned and vacant properties. Cities often have a silly rule of inspecting them for safety. Now as a Real Estate I...
City management their own worst enemy
What is the deal with abandoned and vacant properties. Cities often have a silly rule of inspecting them for safety. Now as a Real Estate Investor this can definitely put a monkey wrench in your well thought out rehab. You have everything set to go. The property closes and your contractors are scheduled. You have already bought the supplies. Three weeks and we sell this property. giving back to the neighborhood as a beautiful home for a family.
Well it did not go that way. What we live in the good old USA. Freedom and all the great things that go along with that. The city says you cannot get water, because this house has been empty for a year. Okay I can comply with that. It is now 5 weeks later and still no sign of the people who live and work and probably drive by your property everyday. Well your first thought is money. They want money, but yet they are not getting any money until they do the inspection and issue my permits. So what is it all about.
Some cities deliberately cause this nightmare in particular areas in order to bulldoze off old neighborhoods so hedge funds can come in and develop new businesses or homes and neighborhoods.
I wish I could say this was my case, but it is not. In my case the management of the city is just behind the 8 ball. They don't seem to be able to get anything done due to the shortage of staff. If the city cannot afford adequate staff to take care of rules they have imposed, maybe they should be fined for the loss of funds to the homeowner. Shouldn't they have some restrictions on their inspection requirement. Like if we cannot do this in a week the homeowner is free to turn on the water and move in or get permits to do repairs. Why is the city not held responsible. Don't we pay their salary. Why are they making our life uncomfortable and seem to bear no responsibility for the loss to taxpayers.
Some cities just seem to run the city into the ground to the point they cannot get anyone to invest or buy property in their area. I believe that most people elected or placed in city positions just should not be there. They somehow got in office and really have no clue how to manage a city. The point I am making is that city management need to become public friendly, after all they are public servants and should work with our best interest in mind.
I suggest that city employees all think about the fact that we do pay for their lifestyle.. We put them there to work in our best interest and keep the city running smooth.
Sunday, June 14, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: Real Estate in on the move. What will sell?
LASH COMMENTARIES: Real Estate in on the move. What will sell?: Our Country has seen the best and the worst in real estate trends in the past decade. The large wave of bank foreclosures and unemployment ...
Real Estate in on the move. What will sell?
Our Country has seen the best and the worst in real estate trends in the past decade. The large wave of bank foreclosures and unemployment seem to have faded in background. We now have a new group of home buyers. Eager to buy the perfect house. Yes I said perfect house.
Our young upcoming home buyers have been watching the Property Brothers for sure. They expect the whole layout. Open floor plan. Luxury spa like bathrooms and of course the ultimate in a Chef's kitchen. Yes the celebrity life style is on the move. California is trending into the markets in Michigan.
My recommendation for anyone selling a home in this current market is to fix it up or face a very low price on you investment. Now that being said. Since the hedge funds have bought up all the REO property so us little guys can't get to ii, we have a slight housing shortage driving prices up on the current available homes. Good news for sellers at the moment. Sell, Sell, Sell if you want to get out. You will more than likely get your price from a first time home buyer.
I predict the next wave will be the remodeling of every home that investors can gett their hands on. You know with both people working they don't have the time or often skills to do the work themselves. They want that picture perfect no maintenance move in ready home and investors should be prepared to put in the upgrades.
Stainless steel appliances, tile floors, granite counter tops etc. You are not going to be able to cheap your way with this young group of buyers. they will have a discriminating tastes we have never seen the likes of in the Michigan market.
If you have a home go ahead and splurge on that upgrade, You may as well enjoy it now and reap the benefits later. Make sure you are maintaining the home to keep the major repairs down at the time you decide to sell. A bad roof can cost you a lot more at the selling point than if you had replaced it. so protect your investment and care for it well. It may be worth it to move out update and then sell. This will be a sellers market for quite awhile. So take a few thousand and maximize your profits on your equity.
Wednesday, June 10, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: Real Estate Investing. Are you ready to take the P...
LASH COMMENTARIES: Real Estate Investing. Are you ready to take the P...: Real Estate Investing is impossible! So we may say to ourselves, but is it really? All those big Hedgefunds and all their money and in...
Real Estate Investing. Are you ready to take the Plunge?
Real Estate Investing is impossible! So we may say to ourselves, but is it really? All those big Hedgefunds and all their money and infinite resources are sucking our markets dry. Not to mention the avalanche of online real estate Gurus and their internet prowess from anywhere in the world. Can the little guy make it big in this crazy real estate world.
I say yes. You just have to have a solid plan and take advantage of all the wisdom and knowledge available on the internet. Go to some seminars. Read some books. Absorb the millionaire mentality and snatch it for yourself and your future. Lets face it. What do we have to lose. A 9-5 job that will never support our retirement, if we can retire in these economic times. We need to figure out Why? Yes I said WHY? If we know the WHY in our life we can forge ahead and make anything possible.
The journey to being Real Estate Investor is an exciting and challenging path. You will encounter all your fears, but if you feel the fear and do it anyway you can achieve anything. Each and every day and each and every deal will present challenges. You learn to adapt and change to accommodate to create your world. Yes your world, not the bosses world, but your world. Wow what an amazing adventure when your world comes alive because you had faith and believed that you are in fact an Investor.
That first deal is the ultimate achievement. The one you can't wait to get and can't wait to finish. Yes you know the one. The one that you thought was gonna take 3 weeks and a month goes by and you still can't get into the property, because of some silly city inspection. Yeah you know the deal. time is ticking and you really had no warning or idea that this could even happen. Yes live and learn the investors motto.
I do believe that if you want something bad enough, you can do it. Now if it were easy everyone would do it. So don't get me wrong. You will spend tireless days working at your 9-5 to get the paycheck that barely pays the bills. Then late nights and weekends looking at broke down properties, just to see if there is a deal there. Then how are you going to finance it? Hard Money? Not sure, but you don't have it in the bank. Creative financing becomes your friend. What can I juggle to get the deal and then after a couple of deals, maybe someone will notice my achievements and loan to me to do another deal.
You then realize how many things you need to run a successful business. Help. I need Help. SEO what the hey is SEO. Well the method to even get noticed on the internet is in depth and complicated. So many programs to offer you help in so many different ways. It is almost impossible to choose. Then what do I do about taxes and liability. What type of legal entity do I create?
Wow there are more questions than answers, but not to worry there are plenty of Real Estate Gurus out there just pick a program and go for it.
Monday, May 25, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: Tax sale foreclosures in Michigan
LASH COMMENTARIES: Tax sale foreclosures in Michigan: I answer a lot of questions about the tax foreclosure process in Michigan. I thought I would share with you the process her...
Tax sale foreclosures in Michigan
I answer a lot of questions about the tax foreclosure process in Michigan. I thought I would share with you the process here in Michigan as opposed to some other states. Michigan used to sell the delinquent taxes and they were bought by individuals who had a lien on the property for the tax amount. When the property owner paid the taxes, then the lien holder would be paid with interest. Thus the tax lien process, still used by many states and purchased by many real estate investors to get a quick ROI.
Michigan is what is called a tax foreclosure state. Once the property owner has failed to pay the local municipality for their property taxes and falls delinquent for 2 years, then the taxes are turned over to the County for collection at the beginning of the year 3. This is a judicial proceeding very similar to any other foreclosure. There are legal guidelines that must be followed to ensure the foreclosure.
First someone must go out to the property and do an inspection. This inspection is just to see if the property is vacant or has a home on it etc. The property gets posted and a picture is taken to attach with the inspection affidavit. This is required by law and the County has no choice but to have the inspection done.
Each property is researched to find all parties of interest of public record and first class mail is sent to each party. Then there is certified mail that goes to each and every party of interest. Newspaper publication is also required for all parties of interest and is published 3 consecutive weeks in the newspaper for that County.
This process takes a year to execute and a lot of people who research public records, state records and skip trace to make every effort to find the owners and interested parties involved. If the taxes are not paid by the March 31 deadline the Judge issues a foreclosure judgement to the County or State, whichever is the Judicial foreclosing unit. The County or State will sell these properties at auction in the summer and fall months.
My advise to anyone facing a tax foreclosure is to contact your County Treasurer and work out a payment plan. There are many programs available like Michigan's Hardest Hit and others that can help get you back on track. The County and State do not want to foreclose on people's homes and will make every attempt to help the owner get a hardship extension or payment agreement set up.
So call your County Treasurer as soon as you can and get those taxes dealt with. It will give you a little more peace of mind and save your home
Saturday, May 23, 2015
LASH COMMENTARIES: What I know
LASH COMMENTARIES: What I know: I know that most people are unaware of what real estate documents are, let alone how each document functions in a legal sense. I have be...
Thursday, May 21, 2015
What I know
I know that most people are unaware of what real estate documents are, let alone how each document functions in a legal sense. I have been in the land and title industry for approximately 20 years and have seen about every kind of document error and legal mistake that can be made by lawyers, lenders, surveyors, title companies and yes the do it yourself owner documents.
Oh yes I am the person you never see, but I know a lot about you. The title examiner that sits at her desk and seeks out information about you and your property. I do know that when most people are going about their daily lives thinking they have everything under control, something changes in their life that requires my skills. A death in the family, a divorce, a move or many other life changes that cause them to deal with a real estate transaction.
My advice would be this. Make sure you have all you real estate transactions go through a title company. The price you pay is well worth the insurance that you have clear and equitable title to the property. There is nothing worse than to find out you have bought ocean front property in Arizona.
Be sure you have consulted a lawyer that deals in elder laws and estate planning before something happens. Once someone dies or is mentally incapacitated it is very costly to hire an attorney to go to court and clear things up. You are already under enough financial, physical and emotional stress already, so ask the tough questions now and be prepared for the future. i know that fee the lawyer wants for the estate package sound high, but hind sight is 29/20. Pay the small amount now or later they will take it all in litigation.
Last for today is to enjoy your life and just take time to make sure you know a little bit, you don't need to know it all. Just be aware of the pitfalls of real estate and how it can affect you and future generations.
Laurie
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