Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Thursday, September 17, 2009

Saturday, September 12, 2009

Letter of Intent - Order

This is the basic outline of the Letter of Intent (LOI) to submit for an order that you are interested in knowing more about. Most sellers will not discuss details without the LOI. Plus submit on your company letter head.


Letter of Intent – Order

(Submit on company letterhead)

Date: (Date order submitted) Expiration Date: (two weeks from order date)

SUBJECT: Letter of Intent – Reference # (file #)

FROM: (Name of Buyer or Buyer’s Mandate who has legal written signatory authority.)

To: Whom It May Concern

Please accept this letter of intent to purchase.

The outline for the initial order is as follows:

Preferred Geographical Location: (Example – Specific states included, or excluded; you can also list specific counties)

Property Type: (Example - SFR, Commercial, Multifamily-2, etc…)

Property Condition: (Example – zero to light, zero to medium, any)

Order Amount: (Example - $500M Purchase Price – Please ensure it is in purchase price amount, not BPO)

Purchase Price/LTV: (Price Point: Example 37 – 45 + 3) Negotiable contingent upon package quality

Price Range for Properties: (Example – $150K-$800K)

Additional Criteria:

Funding Method: (Example – Bank Wire)

Earnest Money Deposit: Negotiable

Fees: 3%

Due Diligence: Buyer shall have 5 days from the opening of escrow and the receipt of all documents in seller’s possession to complete physical contingences to closing.

Proof of Funds:

Contact Information: (Name of Bank or Escrow Company, Point of Contact, Tel #, Email, Address, and Reference Number)

Buyer Name:

Mandate Name:

Mandate Attestation: In the absence of disclosing the buyer name, I attest that I have legal written signatory authority on file with the buyer for transactions of this nature.

Company:

Address:

Email:

Phone Number (s): Mobile - Other -

Signature: ________________________________________

Date: ______________________

(LOI must be signed)

California , Arizona & Florida - Files #256 - #261 - SOLD

Gone

Arizona & California - Files #250- #255 - SOLD

ALL PROPERTIES SOLD

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

10-plex in Phoenix, Arizona - SOLD

SOLD

National portfolio #184 - SOLD

SOLD

Florida portfolio #182 - SOLD

SOLD

Arizona Portfolio #183 - SOLD

SOLD

All Arizona properties in this portfolio - file #183
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Buy one or all
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ADDRESS CITY ZIP SALES PRICE AVG. RENT beds/baths SQ FT LOT SIZE YEAR BUILT TAXES 2008 NOTES COMP(SQFT/SALE)
5233 S 14th St. Phoenix 85040 $38,500 700-750 3 / 2 1040 10346 1987 907 South Mountain Vista / 14th St & Roeser 5234 S 13th St sold 6/15/09 for $180K; 1080 sqft
6826 N 44th Ave # 2, 3, 4, 6 Glendale 85301 $65,900 500? maybe? each unit 2 / 1.5 980 1972 520 Tracy Condos - 43rd ave & Glendale
3601 W Hubbell St Phoenix 85009 $38,900 3 bed / 1 bath 945 6534 1958 1170 Encanto North / McDowell & 35th ave 2117 N 37TH AVE sold 6/11/09 for $26K; sqft 945
2927 N 38th St 4-Plex Phoenix 85018 $80,500 500-625 1/ 1 2,810 1964 1,692 Citrus Acres Sub; No HOA, 10-12k rehab per kev no comp
3434 W Danbury Dr #A202 (17211 N. 35th Ave) Phoenix 85053 $58,500 2/ 2 1,174 1981 938 PHOENICIAN PINES Sub; HOA $193 no comp
1336 E Mountainview Rd #102 Phoenix 85020 $33,900 2/ 1.5 885 837 1985 1,036 Casa De Sierra Vista Sub; HOA $235 no comp
4401 N 36th Dr Phoenix 85019 $41,000 3 bed 2 bath 1,328 1960 1,139 Hideaway Lot Active: 3620 W ROMA AVE $43K; 1363 sqft
8202 n 21st #1104 Phoenix 85021 $43,500 650 2 / 1 792 1980 855 Royal Palm Village / Northern & 23rd Ave 8202 N 21st #2014 sold 5/22/09 for $32,500; 792 sqft
921 & 927 S 35th Ave 10 Plex - Multi Family Phoenix 85009 $255,000 see website 4 studios / 6 One bed 3,908 16,390 1950 2,711
7032 S. 40th Pl Phoenix 85042 $85,850 1050 - 1100 2 bed 2 ba 1,370 6,504 1982 1,167 Cimarron AMD, HOA $75 month 4127 E CARTER DR sold 4/29/09 for $123,600; 1370 sqft
18626 N 34th Ave #5 Phoenix 85027 $50,900 900 2 / 1.5 840 1984 914 Granville MCR / 35th Ave & Union Hills no comp
3518 W. Dunlap #169 aka: 3526 W Dunlap Phoenix 85051 $38,000 $700 2 / 1.5 1,212 62 1974 603 Dunlap Condominiums / 35th Ave & Dunlap HOA $210/monthly includes water, sewer, garbage collection, maint in common area
11640 N 51st Ave #127 Glendale 85304 $59,502 2/ 2 945 866 1984 759 Cactus Flats Condo; HOA $110 no comp
5915 W Golden Ln Glendale 85302 $40,900 2/ 1 924 658 1972 715 Olive Green Villas Sub 5933 W Golden Ln sold 5/19/09 for $27,500; 924 sqft
4318 W Maryland Glendale 85301 $40,936 3/ 1 1,408 1,603 1963 848 West Plaza 1 Sub; HOA $182 6761 N 44th Ave sold 5/26/09 for $21K
7820 N 47th Ave Glendale 85301 $45,900 700-750 3/ 2.5 1,656 2,065 1971 1,032 West Plaza Townhouse 3 Sub; HOA $163 4745 W Northern Ave sold 5/29/09 for $36K; 1656
4310 W Solano Dr Glendale 85301 $39,500 750 2 bed/1.5 ba 1,248 1973 746 VILLA CHARME FIVE TOWNHOUSES/ HOA $138/ 43RD AVE / BETHANY HOME RD no comp
5618 S Seely St Laveen 85339 $126,000 1,195.00 4 bed 2.75 ba 2,462 6,050 2005 River Walk Village HOA$126 Quarterly,some repairs in Kitchen, partial painting,clean carpets - $2500? 5116 W Chambers St, sold 10/2008 for $154,900 2463 sqft
10536 W Pima Avondale 85323 $95,500 1000-1050 5/ 3 2,228 6,341 2004 1,746 Estrella Park Sub; HOA - $45 10640 W Sonora St sold 6/2/09 for $80K; 2228 sqft
746 S 1st St Avondale 85323 $55,900 4 / 2 1,416 6,750 2003 1,058 Litchfield & Western 915 S 2nd St sold 5/12/09 for $32,500; 1344 sqft
12649 W Warner st Avondale 85323 $33,500 1000 3/2/2009 1,404 1984 1,011 12637 W Illini St sold 5/29/09 for $32,500; 1440 sqft
25788 W Gibson Ln Buckeye 85326 $85,900 900-975 4/ 3 2,485 6,648 2005 2,752 Westpark Parcel; HOA $50 no comp
1813 S 113th Dr Avondale 85353 $71,000 $950 3 bed / 2 ba 1,297 4,200 2001 1,272 Field Crest Subdivision / Avondale & Buckeye
12637 W Illini St Avondale 85323 $43,500 3bed/2ba 1,440 8,803 2001 1,211 Active:3608 S 124TH DR $58,900; 1371 sqft
3120 N 67th Ln #14 Phoenix 85033 $29,900 500 2 / 1 700 1,372 1983 569 Raintree Gardens subdivision / 67th Ave & HOA is $72/month includes maint, roof replacement; blanket ins
4232 N 69th Dr. #1308 Phoenix 85033 $31,000 725 3 / 2 1,208 957 1987 934 Hallcraft Villas West / Indian School & 67th ave
10813 W. Joblanca Avondale 85323 $89,000 1,000.00 4 /2 1,621 5,400 2002 1,381 Littleton Manor; 107th Ave. & Buckeye; HOA $360 10762 W JOBLANCA RD sold 4/8/09 for $60,900; 1621 sqft
410 n 98th st mesa 85207 $53,500 850 3bed/2ba 928 12,545 1957 656.52 Desert Air subdivision; University & Crismon No HOA
8055 e thomas rd #e101 scottsdale 85282 $50,000 675 1 bed/1 bath 659 45 1972 391.16 HOA doesn't allow dogs, according to MLS. Woodland Springs condo; Thomas and Hayden roads; HOA is $145 month; pays exterior & common area maint; water, sewer & garbage.
3228 W. Glendale Ave.#120 Phoenix 85051 $43,000 $700 1,188 806 1985
424 W Brown Rd, #122 Mesa 85201 $38,284 2 bed/ 2ba 902 1972 463 Concorde subdivision; HOA $132 424 W Brown Rd, #205 sold 5/2/09 for $47K, 902 sqft
35959 W Velazquez Maricopa 85238 $56,850 3 / 2 1,392 2006 233 Tortosa NW Parcel 10; HOA $56 no comp
99th Ave & I-10 VACANT LAND LOT Tolleson $365,000 50,246 CONSIGNMENT PER ALAN; Industrial Land, close to I10 and Loop 101; City of Tolleson: Industrial Flex Space Building; all utilities, new streets, net acreage
Attached is a list of wholesale properties in Arizona. Buy as many as you want - one or all. Let me know if you have any questions.

buy one or all

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Please contact Thomas tstalker@tx.rr.com
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To be notified of properties like these or to have your properties featured here, please visit our website to be added to our list: Half Moon Bulk REO

Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Nationwide REO - SOLD

SOLD

Sun Trust - SOLD 08/14/09

Gone

Arizona Portfolio - SOLD

SOLD

9 Flagged Hotel Portfolio - SOLD

SOLD

Luxury Lofts - SOLD

Gone

Residential Portfolio #161 - SOLD

SOLD

File #161 - National port.: Az,Co,NM,Nv,Tx
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Status ADDRESS City _State _UPB Original Appraised Value
REO 2801 N 34th Drive Phoenix AZ $122,632 $197,000
REO 508 E 30th Street Tucson AZ $74,307 $122,500
REO 4431 North 85th Ave Phoenix AZ $75,168 $109,000
REO 1429 South 10th Ave Phoenix AZ $77,171 $120,000
REO 8018 W. Mariposa Dr. Phoenix AZ $79,495 $200,000
REO 818 W Calle Garcia Tucson AZ $79,882 $135,000
REO 9019 W Elm Street, Unit 1 Phoenix AZ $84,247 $130,000
REO 371 W Pima Street Phoenix AZ $85,652 $132,000
REO 8248 South Calle Azteca Guadalupe AZ $87,315 $130,000
REO 1557 Circulo Sombrero Rio Rico AZ $89,055 $135,000
REO 4709 S 36th Drive Phoenix AZ $89,853 $140,000
REO 5706 N 43rd Drive Glendale AZ $94,775 $147,000
REO 1726 E Almeria Road Phoenix AZ $97,017 $195,000
REO 30 E Saint Anne Avenue Phoenix AZ $97,749 $140,000
REO 1970 N Hartford St Unit 34 Chandler AZ $103,829 $163,000
REO 5526 S 13th Avenue Tucson AZ $104,613 $175,000
REO 2701 S Castle Drive Tucson AZ $104,809 $150,000
REO 733 W Calle Lerdo Tucson AZ $105,106 $151,000
REO 4690 West 17th Lane Yuma AZ $109,012 $198,800
REO 5311 W Monte Vista Road Phoenix AZ $109,229 $190,000
REO 4628 N 80th Avenue Phoenix AZ $109,594 $185,000
REO 3108 E Carver Avenue Kingman AZ $109,784 $159,900
REO 1821 W Rue Du Fleuve Tucson AZ $110,295 $171,000
REO 733 W Santa Rosa Street Tucson AZ $112,391 $161,250
REO 16061 N 26th Circle Phoenix AZ $113,122 $166,000
REO 5118 N 42nd Drive Phoenix AZ $113,529 $165,000
REO 2532 W. 21st Pl Yuma AZ $115,507 $166,000
REO 8230 W Monterey Way Phoenix AZ $116,770 $195,000
REO 5741 W Turney Phoenix AZ $119,401 $199,000
REO 3920 S Snapdragon Street Tucson AZ $119,602 $181,000
REO 1637 N 52nd Ave Phoenix AZ $120,164 $172,000
REO 1835 N 38th Avenue Phoenix AZ $120,921 $192,000
REO 3957 E Dover Stravenue Tucson AZ $121,199 $173,500
REO 3144 N 39th Avenue Phoenix AZ $121,769 $207,000
REO 3716 W Fenton Way Tucson AZ $122,132 $178,000
REO 7956 W. Minnezona Ave Phoenix AZ $123,199 $195,000
REO 5608 N 31st Avenue Phoenix AZ $124,504 $200,000
REO 1637 W Cinnabar Avenue Phoenix AZ $125,667 $210,000
REO 1806 E Willetta Street Phoenix AZ $125,878 $215,000
REO 1606 E Sunland Avenue Phoenix AZ $127,050 $181,500
REO 4132 N 74th Avenue Phoenix AZ $128,100 $188,000
REO 7002 E. Mitchell Flyer Rd. Tucson AZ $129,761 $186,000
REO 1142 E Pierce St Phoenix AZ $129,874 $200,000
REO 6925 N Starshine Drive Tucson AZ $130,797 $188,000
REO 6438 W Devonshire Avenue Phoenix AZ $131,562 $220,000
REO 3034 W Lawrence Lane Phoenix AZ $132,013 $203,000
REO 1411 E Chipman Road Phoenix AZ $132,258 $210,000
REO 5233 North 67th Drive Glendale AZ $132,957 $216,000
REO 3732 W. Mulberry Dr. Phoenix AZ $133,682 $202,000
REO 2606 N 50th Lane Phoenix AZ $135,899 $197,000
REO 7830 W Fairmont Ave Phoenix AZ $138,247 $213,000
REO 3916 W Solar Drive Phoenix AZ $138,727 $215,000
REO 24919 W. Vista Norte Ct Buckeye AZ $139,260 $200,000
REO 4782 E Whitehall Drive Queen Creek AZ $139,307 $200,000
REO 2822 West Coolidge Street Phoenix AZ $139,710 $200,000
REO 730 E. Calle Chulo Rd. Goodyear AZ $141,010 $217,000
REO 2680 W Sunset Road Tucson AZ $141,341 $225,000
REO 5830 N. 62nd Dr Glendale AZ $142,045 $204,000
REO 4202 W Lewis Avenue Phoenix AZ $143,438 $206,000
REO 9421 S 8th Avenue Phoenix AZ $144,465 $221,000
REO 10306 E Calypso Avenue Mesa AZ $145,374 $240,000
REO 1744 E Granada St Phoenix AZ $145,708 $225,000
REO 3810 W Red Wing Street Tucson AZ $145,868 $228,000
REO 3565 N Castle Drive Prescott Valley AZ $146,559 $210,000
REO 950 Via Puebla Rio Rico AZ $146,696 $210,000
REO 12132 West Scotts Drive El Mirage AZ $148,206 $230,000
REO 3514 E Yale Street Phoenix AZ $149,370 $230,000
REO 3735 W Firehawk Drive Glendale AZ $151,698 $224,000
REO 302 E Butler Drive Phoenix AZ $154,696 $250,000
REO 10412 N 73rd Avenue Peoria AZ $154,865 $235,000
REO 4723 N 79th Ln Phoenix AZ $157,029 $225,000
REO 7608 W Cheery Lynn Road Phoenix AZ $157,216 $230,000
REO 204 W 6th Ave Buckeye AZ $157,725 $226,000
REO 2724 W Temple Street Chandler AZ $158,347 $245,000
REO 9919 W Meadowbrook Avenue Phoenix AZ $159,739 $237,000
REO 8735 W Earll Drive Phoenix AZ $159,814 $230,000
REO 8845 E Fruit Tree Drive Tucson AZ $160,022 $230,000
REO 957 E Desert Moon Trail Queen Creek AZ $160,406 $230,000
REO 9342 W. Mission Lane Peoria AZ $160,667 $230,000
REO 14117 N 125th Drive El Mirage AZ $160,738 $230,000
REO 723 S Spur Mesa AZ $162,888 $233,000
REO 3430 Mockingbird Drive Lake Havasu City AZ $163,951 $235,000
REO 11538 E Contessa Street Mesa AZ $164,820 $236,000
REO 5937 E Norwood Street Mesa AZ $165,149 $236,800
REO 5222 S 8th Drive Phoenix AZ $166,988 $245,000
REO 10305 E Emelita Ave Mesa AZ $167,549 $245,000
REO 10536 W Via Montoya Drive Peoria AZ $175,749 $252,000
REO 10768 West Elm Lane Avondale AZ $176,447 $253,000
REO 30235 W. Belleview St. Buckeye AZ $176,876 $255,000
REO 8714 N 53rd Avenue Glendale AZ $178,500 $255,000
REO 3316 Baysinger Drive Lake Havasu City AZ $181,454 $260,000
REO 3433 E Rubio Lane Yuma AZ $181,456 $260,000
REO 3823 W Grandview Road Phoenix AZ $182,211 $263,000
REO 6433 W Colla Street Glendale AZ $182,500 $265,000
REO 561 N Piedra Mesa AZ $189,164 $265,000
REO 1331 E. 12th Street Casa Grande AZ $189,562 $272,000
REO 3804 W Dailey Street Phoenix AZ $191,800 $275,000
REO 5294 N. Paseo Del Arenal Tucson AZ $193,898 $300,000
REO 10124 E Capri Ave Mesa AZ $201,083 $290,000
REO 3344 E Oriole Drive Gilbert AZ $202,463 $304,000
REO 1975 S. 159th Avenue Goodyear AZ $203,500 $292,000
REO 10308 East Meandering Tr Lane Golden Canyon AZ $205,665 $295,000
REO 4828 W Sunnyside Avenue Glendale AZ $209,829 $310,000
REO 2543 W Bloch Road Phoenix AZ $212,863 $299,000
REO 1560 W Park Court Chandler AZ $214,056 $330,000
REO 2631 South 84th Glen Tolleson AZ $215,154 $308,000
REO 15204 W Riviera Drive Surprise AZ $216,647 $310,000
REO 12511 W Solano Drive Litchfield Park AZ $245,040 $351,000
REO 12929 E Wild Horse Corral Drive Vail AZ $261,844 $400,000
REO 3983 E Simpson Road Gilbert AZ $263,435 $378,000
REO 6627 N 183rd Ave Waddell AZ $308,374 $442,000
REO 7338 E Keim Drive Scottsdale AZ $379,254 $575,000
REO 3201 W Willow Avenue Phoenix AZ $133,822 $233,000
REO 14133 N 149th Drive Surprise AZ $163,014 $235,000
REO 4133 W Meadow Drive Glendale AZ $180,013 $271,000
REO 2836 S El Dorado Mesa AZ $188,443 $271,000
REO 1828 E Denim Trail Queen Creek AZ $188,565 $270,000
REO 6431 W Crown King Road Phoenix AZ $209,693 $300,000
REO 2426 W Weldon Avenue Phoenix AZ $170,723 $252,000
REO 45 Grays Peak Ct Walsenburg CO $74,629 $215,000
REO 16438 W 13th Lane Golden CO $287,000 $410,000
REO 16478 W 13th Lane Golden CO $287,000 $410,000
REO 9901 E. Evans Ave. #27B Denver CO $77,744 $116,000
REO 1639 Jay Street Lakewood CO $85,203 $122,000
REO 1633 Jay Street Lakewood CO $85,203 $122,000
REO 1632 Ironton Street Aurora CO $85,232 $135,000
REO 3011 Race Street Denver CO $118,740 $175,000
REO 9927 Milwaukee Street Thornton CO $124,000 $172,000
REO 3674 Lafayette St Denver CO $128,210 $190,000
REO 6280 W 45th Avenue Wheat Ridge CO $132,363 $190,000
REO 306-308 Broadway Pueblo CO $145,397 $245,000
REO 919 South Salida Street Aurora CO $149,282 $218,000
REO 1659 Quebec Street Denver CO $225,000 $305,000
REO 4211 Alcott Street Denver CO $231,866 $334,000
REO 7088 WCR 102 Wellington CO $385,000 $550,000
REO 5354 Big Bear Road Loveland CO $402,963 $630,000
REO 5775 W 56th Avenue Arvada CO $408,514 $630,000
REO 7084 WCR 102 Wellington CO $420,000 $600,000
REO 1365-1381 Kalamath Street Denver CO $523,467 $840,000
REO 1503 West 20th Street Pueblo CO $850,000 $2,000,000
REO 1335 Dallas Street Aurora CO $69,509 $135,000
REO 9700 E Iliff #27 & 9725 E Harvard #428 Denver CO $74,671 $240,000
REO 1563 Clinton Street Aurora CO $67,000 $90,000
REO 10101 N Washington #113B Thornton CO $76,735 $110,000
REO 204 La Vida Nueva Del Oeste SW Albuquerque NM $34,101 $60,000
REO 2901 VISTA GRANDE Northwest Albuquerque NM $94,756 $140,000
REO 1820 Cedar Avenue Las Vegas NV $97,857 $140,000
REO 1804 David Avenue Las Vegas NV $104,601 $195,000
REO 5221 Del Rey Avenue Las Vegas NV $151,254 $233,000
REO 5424 Alpaca Circle Las Vegas NV $153,038 $225,000
REO 4203 Paramount Street Las Vegas NV $155,280 $230,000
REO 2021 Valley Drive Las Vegas NV $157,296 $225,000
REO 3600 Brant Street Reno NV $157,296 $225,000
REO 2024 Houston Drive Las Vegas NV $158,473 $227,000
REO 216 Hillcrest Drive Henderson NV $166,370 $240,000
REO 4893 Monterrey Avenue Las Vegas NV $171,911 $270,000
REO 765 Lassen Way Gardnerville NV $200,000 $330,000
REO 216 Toasted Almond Avenue North Las Vegas NV $252,000 $360,000
REO 10340 Mountain Lodge Place Las Vegas NV $260,000 $405,000
REO 3635 Storrie Court Las Vegas NV $262,194 $375,000
REO 6025 N Grand Canyon Drive Las Vegas NV $349,060 $530,000
REO 3908 Hampton Grove Court Las Vegas NV $192,159 $277,000
REO 3523 Morning Mist Avenue Las Vegas NV $205,845 $295,000
REO 3752 Avila Circle Las Vegas NV $251,159 $360,000
REO 5529 Banting Way Dallas TX $82,204 $125,500
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Purchase Price $14,500,000 value $41,412,750
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Contact Thomas tstalker@tx.rr.com
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To be notified of properties like these or to have your properties featured here, please visit our website to be added to our list: Half Moon Bulk REO

Commercial Portfolio - part 4 - SOLD

SOLD

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Five Steps to Self-Confidence

Five Steps to Self-Confidence

  1. I know that I have the ability to achieve the object of my definite purpose in life; therefore, I demand of myself persistent, continuous action toward its attainment, and I here and now promise to render such action.
  2. I realize the dominating thoughts of my mind will eventually reproduce themselves in outward, physical action, and gradually transform themselves into physical reality; therefore, I will concentrate my thoughts for thirty minutes daily, upon the task of thinking of the person I intend to become, thereby creating in my mind a clear mental picture.
  3. I know through the principle of autosuggestion, any desire that I persistently hold in my mind will eventually seek expression through some practical means of attaining the object back of it; therefore I will devote ten minutes daily to demanding of myself the development of self-confidence.
  4. I have clearly written down a description of my definite chief aim in life, and I will never stop trying, until I shall have developed sufficient self-confidence for its attainment.
  5. I fully realize that no wealth or position can long endure unless built upon truth and justice; therefore I will engage in no transaction which does not benefit all whom it affects. I will succeed by attracting to myself the forces I wish to use, and the co-operation of other people. I will induce others to serve me, because of my willingness to serve others. I will eliminate hatred, envy, jealousy, selfishness, and cynicism by developing love for all humanity, because I know that a negative attitude toward others can never bring me success. I will cause others to believe in me because I will believe in them and in myself. I will sign my name to this formula, commit it to memory, and repeat it aloud once a day, with full faith that it will gradually influence my thoughts and actions so that I will become a self-reliant, and successful person.

“Think and Grow Rich” page 57-58

By Napoleon Hill

“The law of autosuggestion, through which any person may rise to altitudes of achievement which stagger the imagination, is well described in the following verse:

If you think you are beaten, you are.

If you think you dare not, you don’t.

If you like to win, but you think you can’t,

It is almost certain you won’t.

If you think you’ll lose, you’re lost,

For out of the world we find,

Success begins with a fellow’s will –

It’s all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are,

You’ve got to think high to rise,

You’ve got to be sure of yourself before

You can ever win a prize.

Life’s battles don’t always go

To the stronger or faster man,

But soon or late the man who wins

Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!

“Think and Grow Rich” page 59

By Napoleon Hill



New Property Ports - SOLD

SOLD

Saturday, August 1, 2009

Saturday, July 18, 2009

Kids

Back to "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki.

"One dad said, 'The reason I'm not rich is because I have you kids.' The other said, 'The reason I must be rich is because I have you kids.' " page 15

Sounds like my dad:
"Do you think money grows on trees?"
"Do I look like I'm made of money?"
"You kids don't appreciate any thing!"
"We can't afford it."

All negative thoughts.

I decided early in my life that I wouldn't have any kids until I was wealthy enough to give them a better life than I had growing up. I don't mean that as harshly as it sounds. My parents did their best with the knowledge that they had.

They were from that old school thought that to make money, you had to work harder and longer. My dad worked in a factory making parts for GM. At one point, he also had two part-time jobs as well. Once, when the United Auto Workers (UAW) union went on strike against General Motors, he had to go down to apply for food stamps. Even though I was young, I remember the look of shame in his eyes every time he went to a grocery store and had to pay with those food stamps.

Working so much finally caught up with him. He got sick one winter, but kept working. He finally ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. He was in the hospital for about a month. I remember a huge fight that he had with my mother after he came home from the hospital. One of the earliest memories that I have of them arguing. Mom wanted to go to work and dad didn't want her to. As I said, he was old school. He felt that it was the man's place to work and the woman's place to stay home and take care of the house. Mom won that argument after pointing out that he would only get sick again (or worse) if he kept working so many hours.

But even with both of my parents working, we weren't that well off financially. We had a nice little house and food on the table, but my parents bought many of clothes from Good Will. I don't mean to knock that charity, either, so don't send me hate mail! They do a wonderful job. But wearing hand-me-downs and second hand clothes caused me a lot of teasing in school. We couldn't afford to buy the latest trends and styles, so many of the other kids chose to pick on me and treat me like dirt. And I hate that school to this day, but that's another story.

When my dad started at the factory, he worked in the plastics department making fan blade cowlings. It's that big hunk of plastic that goes around the fan blade in front of the radiator, for those with older cars. Newer cars had the engine sideways and don't have that big cowling. Anyway, the combination of breathing melted plastic fumes, years of heavy smoking, the scarring from the pneumonia, and just being over worked and over stressed took it's toll on my dad. He died about a month and a half after his 49th birthday.

So I decided that I wasn't going to be like my dad. I wouldn't bring a child into this world until I was financially secure. Silly me. Life has a way of laughing at foolish statements like that! We were doing alright financially when our daughter was born, but we weren't wealthy by any stretch of the imagination. But my wife had been saving her money, so she bought a small tobacco shop. It's not making the kind of money that she thought it would, but we get by.

We've also been discussing buying investment properties. So many people that we know are making extra money by buying new houses to move into while renting out their old houses instead of selling them. I have formed joint ventures with two different real estate investors and we're currently looking at properties. I plan to make some offers this week.

Point is, I'm not wealthy, but I will be for the sake of my child. It's a mind set. Do you sit and complain about not having money, or do you go out and do something about it? Change your way of thinking and you can do wonders.

Problems of a Home Based Business

The biggest problems with a home based business is getting people to take your work serious. My thinks that all I do all day is play on the computer. I can't get her to understand that I'm working.

Really. I am.

Honest.

Ignore the Peggle game currently on the screen.

The other day, I spend the afternoon on Yellow Pages making up a list of Realtors that I wanted to contact. I had the office address, the Realtor's name, and when I could find it, the Realtor's phone and email address. I had to call the office, in most cases, to get the fax number. Spent most of the day doing this, so it was after 7 PM when I decided that my list was large enough.

Okay, so maybe I should have been contacting people as I found the numbers. But I went with the massive response approach. I emailed about 30 Realtors on my list with the type of properties that my partner and I are looking to purchase. I then faxed the same information to the office in hopes that other Realtors that I missed with the email would see my information and contact me.

I said, essentially, "I have a joint venture with nationally known real estate investor Pat Martin. We have a $55 million line of credit and we are looking for distressed properties that have little or no equity that are in need of a short sale with a minimum value of $420,000.

"We are cash buyers. We can provide a proof of funds letter from an attorney and title company with our offer. We guarantee your 6% commission if we purchase the property. Our team of former loss mitigation specialists will do all the negotiating on the property.

"Since we are buying the property in cash, we would then ask you, the Realtor, to find a buyer for the property at the price we decide, which will be well below market value so that the property will sell quickly."

Great, huh? Who wouldn't want to close more deals and make more money? Especially in this current market?

Apparently no one.

Not one call. Not one email. Not even from the Realtors that personally know.

So now I have to spend another following up with phone calls to find out if anyone received my messages. If so, why didn't I receive any responses? Was it just another piece of junk mail to them? Did they like the offer, but didn't have a line on any short sales? Or have they just heard it all before?

Back to my story. When I finished with the emails and faxes, I went over to Realty Trac and looked at some bank owned REO properties. For those that don't know, REO means Real Estate Owned. These are properties that the bank has foreclosed on, they went to auction, and since no one made a minimum bid, the bank was forced to buy the property back. They now own the property. The bank is in the business of lending money, not owning property, so they now need to sell these properties. Local Realtor's then get the listing to sell these properties.

Sometimes, an investor can get the REO properties below market, depending on how long the bank has owned the property and how willing the bank loss mitigator is to get the property off the bank's books. With the flood of foreclosures and about a ten month supply of homes, many banks are willing to negotiate.

But my wife thinks that I'm just playing on the computer. If I'm not out of the house and at the Post Office, then I'm not really working. It's all just play.

Let's see how that tune changes when I get paid!

Asset vs. Liability

"One believed, 'Our home is our largest investment and our greatest asset." The other believed, 'My house is a liability, and if your house is your largest investment, you're in trouble.' " page 15
"Rich Dad Poor Dad"
by Robert T. Kiyosaki

I listen to a lot of investment shows on the radio. Last weekend I heard a guy talking about this on his show. It may have been Steve Davis with Lifestyles Unlimited. The talk show host was explaining the difference between assets and liabilities.

Assets put money into your bank account.

Liabilities take money away from your bank account.

So he asked the question, "Does your house put money in your pocket every month or does it take money from your pocket every month? It takes it away, doesn't it? So your house is a liability, it's not an asset."

And as most of us know now, that is what helped get us into our countries current financial situation. Too many people thought that their house was a great way to get rich quick. Buy as big a house as you can with a low interest only loan with a balloon payment, a low introductory adjustable rate mortgage, or some other hybrid loan, and sell a year or two later when the price had appreciated before the balloon payment came due.

Then the top of the roller coaster was reached and home prices started on the downward slide. Now too many people are upside down on their loans, owing more than the current value of the property. They can't refinance to avoid the balloon. The people with the adjustable mortgages can't refinance to get a better rate. Very few, if any can sell just to break even, much less make a profit as they hoped.

A home is just a place to live. It was never intended to be an investment, though it often turns out that way when you sell after living in the property for years. Common wisdom states that a property doubles in value every ten years.

Let me say that again, properties, on average, double in value every ten years.

That's it. We, as a nation, should have known that we were in trouble when speculators started buying properties in hopes of selling them in a few months to make a profit. And for some, that worked out well. But now, just as with the Savings and Loan fiasco of the 1980s, too many speculators just walked away from properties that they couldn't sell. They let the banks take the properties back and they wrote a loss in their balance sheet.

While regular people just trying to get ahead got the shaft.

I say that last statement because, yes, some people jumped on the speculation band wagon and got burned, but many people just bought a house they could afford. Now with the financial shake out, most businesses are cutting jobs, downsizing, right sizing, going out of business. Too many people that had no aspirations of making a killing in the market, but just wanted a nice place to live are losing those houses because they can't afford the payment any more because they don't have a job because too many loans went bad.

Banks have to borrow money to lend money. I know, that sounds crazy, but it's true. Banks borrow money from the government and other banks to lend to consumers. But with so many bad loans on their books, they can't borrow any more money. So they can't lend money. If businesses can't borrow money to run their business, they have to cut back or close their doors. Which leads to unemployment, which leads to people that were laid off missing their payments, which leads to foreclosure, which leads to more loans going bad.

It's one huge Catch 22.

Um, I was rambling, as I so often do. What was my point? Oh, yeah. Your house is a liability not an asset. Sure, you get a break on your taxes for the interest paid. And there is appreciation when you eventually sell. But think about all the other expenses involved with owning that house, mainly repairs. The air conditioner/heater needs to be replaced, the water heater needs to be replaced, broken windows, roof, painting, siding, plumbing, electrical, the list goes on and on.

Live in your house, don't use it to increase your wealth.

Friday, July 17, 2009

Taxes and New Policies

The investors that I have partnered with in our joint ventures have given me the homework assignment (yes, even adults get homework) of reading "Rich Dad Poor Dad" by Robert T. Kiyosaki. I just finished reading the introduction and the next few posts are just some thoughts about what he has to say.

The issue that I have has a copyrighted date of 1997, but what I am reading seems current and would apply to events happening today. This appears to me to be proof that truths about money and investing are eternal for those that know them.

"Money is not taught in schools. Schools focus on scholastic and professional skills, but not on financial skills. This explains how smart bankers, doctors and accountants who earned excellent grades in school may still struggle financially all of their lives. Our staggering national debt is due in large part to highly educated politicians and government officials making financial decisions with little or no training on the subject of money." Page 14

"My two dads had opposing attitudes in thought. One dad thought that the rich should pay more in taxes to take care of those less fortunate. The other said, 'taxes punish those who produce and reward those who don't produce.' " Page 15

"One dad believed in a company taking care of you and your needs. He was always concerned about pay raises, retirement plans, medical benefits, sick leave, vacation days and other perks. He was impressed with two of his uncles who joined the military and earned a retirement and entitlement package for life after twenty years of active service. He lived the idea of medical benefits and PX privileges the military provided its retirees. He also loved the tenure system available through the university. The idea of job protection for life and job benefits seemed more important, at times, than the job. He would often say, 'I've worked hard for the government, and I'm entitled to these benefits.' "
"The other believed in total financial self-reliance. He spoke out against the 'entitlement' mentality and how it was creating weak and financially needy people. He was emphatic about being financially competent." page 16

Okay, I'm not a very political person, but some times I get on my soapbox. It's true that our national debt has risen probably beyond the level that we can ever hope to pay back. The last administrations policies only increased this burden. But the current administrations plans to increase these debts even further without plans to harness or control those debts is scary at best.

My wife owns a tobacco shop. Neither of us smoke and when she said that she wanted to buy this shop, I asked, "why?" It made no since to me. She was doing nails at the time and she said that in times of financial trouble, people stop getting their nails done, but they don't stop drinking or smoking. Nice thought.

Not being smokers, we had no idea that the state of Texas has put a $10 a carton tax on cigarettes, which is $1 a pack, on January 1, 2007. We bought the store in April 2007. The previous owners showed us their sales and they were pretty even for the three years of records that they showed us. After we had been in the shop for a few weeks, I finally figured out how to access the computer records and I estimated that sales had dropped about 24% after the tax went into effect. I then went on the internet and found out that sales across the state of Texas had dropped about 22% because of the cigarette tax.

So when the Obama administration said that they were going to increase the State Children Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP) with an increase in tobacco products, and the increase in taxes to the affluent or rich, she had a fit, to say the least. I was surprised at first, because she doesn't seem to pay attention to the news or even notice what the government is doing.

For those who haven't read my bio, my wife is Vietnamese. She was born and raised in Hai Phuong, just outside of Hanoi. She spent her whole life in a Communist country before coming to America in 2002.

She wanted to know why the government would increase taxes at a time when sales in most businesses were down and many businesses were struggling to stay open. She expected another drop in sales from the tax, but what really surprised me was what was really upsetting her was the government's insistance on increasing benefits to people.

I thought she was upset about the tobacco tax increase, which was concerning me, but it was the increase in taxes to wealthy people that was setting her off. To be honest, we are not wealthy. Not by a long shot. Her tobacco shop is barely breaking even and I figured that this last tax increase would kill us, but we're still making ends meet. Barely.

No, what was bothering her was the government's insistance that the wealthy had a "moral obligation" to take care of those that aren't wealthy and were planning to punish people for trying to improve their lives. She said that if the government just gave people things, why would they go out and work to get those things for themselves?

If you know that the government is going to tax you for making money, why make more money? Just make enough to pay your bills. Why open more businesses and create more jobs when the government is just going to punish you for it?

It must be from growing up in a Communist country, but she had a pretty good perspective on the situation. She said that when governments take from the rich and give to the poor, everyone gets lazy and stops working. The rich don't want to be punished, so they stop producing. The poor have no reason to work because the government will take care of them and usually takes away their benefits for making money over a certain threshold.

Okay, that's a long way to explain that Robert Kiyosaki nailed it when he said, "Taxes punish those who produce and reward those who don't produce." This statement could be applied to today's financial situation just as much as it was over ten years ago when he wrote it. Granted, ten years isn't that long, but we've gone through a market collapse of tech stocks in 2000 and the current mortgage crisis and the government is trying to play Robin Hood in the middle of it all. As I said, I usually don't get involved in politics, but it seems to me that the government should reign in the budget and focus on decreasing the debt, putting the country on a better financial footing before taking on all this new debt that can only lead to more taxes.

And when you are totally reliant on the government for every need, you have people standing in a swamp after a hurricane yelling at the TV cameras, "Where FEMA?"

Okay, I'll get off the soapbox before someone shows up with a rope. I don't know about you, but it makes me want to say the heck with it and go back to bed. Maybe my wife is right about people getting lazier...........


"Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and the Middle Class Do Not!" by Robert T. Kiyosaki

Thursday, July 16, 2009

The Game Plan

To get any where in life, you need a plan. Life should be played like a game. Why take it so serious? So here is my game plan for financial independence:

1. Start an LLC to buy and sell real estate.
2. Start out flipping properties, buying wholesale and quickly selling wholesale, to generate cash reserves.
3. Buy multi-family properties to hold and rent for monthly income, also known as cash flow.
4. Mature into apartment buildings and complexes where the serious money is made in real estate.

Okay, that's the plan. Step one is complete, as you will notice from our name, Half Moon Investments, LLC. Every journey begins with the first step. Now I just have to take the next step....

Oh, people have asked why Half Moon Investments? My wife, Nguyet is Vietnamese. Her name literally translated into English means Moon. She is my partner in business as well as life, so the business is half hers, or Half Moon's. And since we're investing in real estate...........