You've set your mind on becoming an internet entrepreneur. Good choice. We approve. As with any career, there are land mines to avoid in the beginning. Off the top of our heads, we can think of at least a few hundred but we'll list some of our favorite guidelines for your edification, in no particular order. 1. Forget the "get rich quick" stories. Build your internet business for the long term, like you would any other business, and your chance for success increases greatly. 2. Don't quit your real job right away. In the beginning, use spare time to study various aspects of internet marketing while you get up to speed. 3. Weed out the "get rich quick" schemes by looking for real world addresses and phone numbers on such websites. Send them an email first to see how quickly they respond,... 03/08/2010

Yesterday, we touched on five critical factors to pay attention to in direct mail marketing. For those of you who missed it, you may pick yourself up off the floor now and return to your seat. Yes, we said direct MAIL marketing. Not email. There is a quite lucrative world of profiteering that exists outside the pixilated world of a computer screen. Let’s take a quick look at the final five direct mail marketing tips. 1. Measure the right metrics: Return on investment is all that matters. Keep track of everything about your mailing. If you don’t know your own statistics, you’re not really running a business – you’re just throwing stuff out there. 2. Testing: Something as simple as how many people are in a photo on your mailing can have a profound effect on profitability. You have to cons... 03/03/2010

The real estate industry can be a very tricky one to navigate, especially if you are a newcomer or a first time buyer. As with any other major life decision, it always helps to have guidance and expert advice. However, finding the RIGHT person to provide this for you can seem tricky. Read on for tips on how to choose the right agent and determine if he or she is the best for you.   Finding an agent is not a difficult task, however finding a GOOD agent amongst the many agents you hear about can be a little trickier. A good place to start is with your immediate social circle. Begin by asking for recommendations from people who recently sold and/or bought a home in your area or call a realty office and the manager to recommend an agent who specializes in your type of property and community... 03/03/2010

You read it right. We’re talking about direct marketing the old fashioned way, using a stamp and envelope rather than sending out emails. Don’t laugh. It’s still a serious tool for connecting with prospects, especially in this day and age when 99% of all email we get is pure crap, offering to enlarge certain areas of our body or informing us an unbelievable sum of money awaits us in Nigeria – we have but to disclose our bank account number to access it. Direct mail marketing, however, works as well as it ever did, which is to say pretty darn good. Here are a few tips for the budding direct mail entrepreneur. 1. Make your mailing piece look different or it’s headed straight for the trash bin. Don’t forget, real world mail boxes are clogged with junk too. 2. Your piece should have a singl... 03/02/2010

Most people seem to think that working from home is the best thing in the world. Well, it is but that doesn’t mean it’s easy, especially if you made the transition from a traditional office environment. It takes three things – discipline, more discipline, and yet even more of that discipline stuff. The problem with the home office is there is no boss cracking the whip, passing through regularly to insure you’re not face down on the keyboard in a drooling, snoring sleep, or haven’t decided to devote your life to Facebook. “Discipline is easy,” you scoff, “Give me a chance and you’ll see.” If you’ve ever been amazed by how easy it is to fritter away your time at work, you can’t even begin to imagine how fast it will hemorrhage at home. Work outside regular hours, like when the family is h... 03/01/2010

Call them day traders, scalpers, or hit-and-run investors. The investment world is ripe with strategies promoting short term ownership. Buy it. Hold it until a momentary glitch bumps the price upwards. Repeat. In real estate it’s called flipping. You buy a house on sale in need of renovation, do the work, and re-sell it for a profit. But are you aware that there is also money to be made in flipping websites? For a sharp entrepreneur, this is a wide open field. The truth is, as high falutin’ and fancy as we all think the internet is, the thing is barely a toddler. There are thousands, maybe hundreds of thousands, of people who own a website and have absolutely no idea how to monetize it, which simply means to create an income stream. Maybe they don’t have the knowledge. Maybe they don’t ... 02/25/2010

The Masters Weekend: A Gathering of Experts is almost here. You didn’t forget, did you? This two day powerhouse real estate investing education only happens twice a year and the dates of March 6-7, 2010 are coming up quickly. Go to www.JasonHartman.com to register before March 1 and save 40% off the full rate. With our panel of experts, we’re putting enough real estate brainpower in one room to make Donald Trump flinch. The Masters Weekend is a powerhouse education that can revolutionize how you think about money and wealth. But this year the deal is even sweeter. Due to the proximity of the gathering to the airport, you can attend without the added expense of renting a car, plus Platinum Properties Investor Network has arranged a special rate of $109 at the Costa Mesa Marriott, which i... 02/23/2010

I just spent an enjoyable day at a school about half an hour from peaceful Woodbridge. Mike & I were there to cheer our youngest on, in her first dance competition.As we entered the school, I couldn't help but feel happy that our kids don't have to attend a school where there are signs warning that activities would be monitored by cameras and that that all are subject to search for weapons.I'm not sure what effect the constant reminders of gangs and drugs have on the kids, but I''m sure the signs must be doing some good.Nevertheless, I sure am glad that we don't see signs like these in safe Irvine!!       02/23/2010

As an up and coming real estate investor, there may come a time when two hot opportunities land on your table at the same time. Property A is going to require a full gutting to rehab but you’re looking at a profit of $60,000 when it’s complete. Property B needs only minor work and will yield a profit of $30,000. Which do you choose? Not so fast. Don’t automatically jump on the Property A bandwagon. Seasoned real estate professionals know that any time you gut a house you dramatically increase your risk in the project. The opportunity for an inexperienced investor to make costly mistakes goes up, which means profit can down. In the time it takes you to fully gut Property A, you could have completed cosmetic repairs on two or three Property B type situations, thereby making $60,000 or mor... 02/17/2010

The new appraisal ordering process for FHA loans will have some affect on Orange County home buyers using FHA financing. The details of the new FHA appraisal ordering process were issued in Mortgagee Letter 2909-28.FHA's Version of HVCCin mid 2009 HVCC went into effect for conventional Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac appraisals. HVCC stands for Home Valuation Code of Conduct. While not a popular decision, the HVCC policy took the appraisal ordering process out of the hands of the loan officer. AMC's, or Appraisal Management Companies, are now how appraisals are ordered. The loan officer is not allowed to talk to the appraiser, especially about an expected property value.FHA appraisals have always been ordered through FHA Connection. The lender has been allowed to choose an appraiser who is f... 02/15/2010

It’s easy for some people to choose a web hosting company. They’re the ones born with a keyboard in one hand and a binky in the other. The rest of us looking to jump on the internet train to wealth need a little education. Before you can put up your website and make a single red cent, you need to find a company that will host your nifty new contribution to the world wide web. It’s not hard to do. Almost any random click in your browser brings you to a dozen ads for web hosting companies eager to prove their worth. But what is web hosting and why do you need it? A web host is nothing more than a place to hold all the files that make up your website so they can be accessed by internet users. You could host your own web site but, if you’re reading this post and saying “Wow, this is good in... 02/15/2010

I've got exciting news. Yesterday I joined First Team Real Estate, Inc. in Woodbridge, Irvine!!First Team and I have created a unique partnership wherein all resources, marketing, advertising, and administrative support are at my disposal. I'm already using the internet a LOT for marketing homes and finding buyers, and this isn't going to change, but one of the things I'm particularly looking forward to, is increased advertising in the NEWSPAPERS. Sure, newspaper circulations have dropped a LOT the past few years, but over a MILLION people still get the paper. I thought - why not put my seller's homes in front of these people more than I've done in the past? Our print advertising is now going to be in EVERY major newspaper in Orange County and Southern California with full page color ad... 02/13/2010

We are proud to announce the addition of Maureen (Mo) Mulligan (Irvine, Ca) to our 100% Commission Real Estate team. At Realty Source we hire only the best real estate agents in the market. If you are looking for a seasoned professional, please contact the agents mentioned above. Tired of Franchise Fees? Tired of Office Politics? Tired of Giving Away 30%+ to Your Broker? .....YOU SHOULD BE! The real estate market is changing and the 100% commission plans have arrived! In the current real estate climate, Agents and Brokers no longer need a "Fancy" office with hundreds of cubicles to effectively sell real estate. We are California's #1 100% Commission Real Estate office. We offer plans as low as only $99 per closing! Realty Source is expanding and looking for agents in San Diego, Orange C... 02/12/2010

RE/MAX Homes & Estates Pre-Foreclosure Division (714) 588 -7676 ∙  www.remaxann.com   If you are in a situation where: • You lost your job • Your Medical Expenses are too high • Just went through/going through a divorce • You are behind on your payments • You have no equity • You can't afford the cost of selling your home • Your income has been reduced • You are in foreclosure   WE CAN HELP YOU! It's easy and doesn't cost you any MONEY! Our services are Free!!! WHEN THE DEBT EXCEEDS YOUR HOME'S VALUE... we can help is with a SHORT SALE.   Benefits of a Short Sale: • Avoid Foreclosure • Avoid Bankruptcy • Reduced damage to your credit • Postpone your foreclosure sale date • A short sale will stay on your credit approx 3 years • BE FREE of financial and emotional burdens! We are licensed ... 02/12/2010

What a great income property! I love rental property! This is perfect for the remote investor. I will in CA and have 19 properties all over the US with great cash flow - just like this one! I just had to share!   Click here to view property's proforma: http://bit.ly/btBi83   http://jasonhartman.com/ 02/10/2010

Who Qualifies for the Home Buyer Tax Credit in Irvine California? First-time home buyers who purchase homes between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010. Current home owners can qualify for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit by purchasing a home between November 7, 2009 and April 30, 2010, who have used the home being sold or vacated as a principal residence for five consecutive years within the last eight. To qualify as a "first time home buyer tax credit" the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase. Which Properties Are Eligible for the First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit? The First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops. How Much Is Av... 02/09/2010

With the recently changed FHA rules for condo financing, it has become a little more difficult for Orange County first time home buyers wanting to buy a condo. FHA recently made big changes to the condo approval process while at the same time eliminating the Spot Approval program.First, a little background information on FHA financing and condo's. FHA has, for many years, required that condo projects be "approved" before allowing financing within the project. In the 70's and 80's, and even the early 90's, when a project was being built, the builder pay the expense of getting the new project approved, thus making it easier to sell the finished condo's to homebuyers wanting to use FHA financing. Most condo projects in Orange County were approved and it was rarely a concern that a project ... 02/06/2010

Irvine Company bet that there was an appetite for new homes and it has paid off and they are now their program speeds up the home building.  They bet that new homes would have an appeal in this market and 70 new homes were sold before Saturday's grand opening of two new comunities in Woodbury and Woodbury East neighborhoods.  They believe that with just 10 days they could hit 100 new homes sold. In the whole of Orange County the DataQuick reported an average of 124 new home sales a month.  The Irvine Company got off to a very quick start last Saturday.  The response was so good that they were forced to speed up the new home building.  The Irvine Company is funding the construction of the homes with the builders concentrating on building and selling the homes.  If you wanted to know more... 02/05/2010

Mr. 20% Are you ready for a rule that’s important both in business and life? You may not be a big fan of numbers but file this one away in the grey matter. It’s called The 80/20 Rule and goes like this: 80% of your outcomes result from 20% of your inputs. That’s sort of a janky way to say the following: 1. If you’re a businessman, 80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers. 2. Apply this to life and you’ve got 20% of your activities provide 80% of your happiness. Of course, the ratio isn’t always an exact 80/20 but the big idea is that most of your happiness/sales/whatever come from a much smaller minority of customers/activities/whatever. What can you learn from this? If you’re an internet marketer or interested in work-at-home businesses, make it a top priority to keep your be... 02/02/2010

Mr. 20% Are you ready for a rule that’s important both in business and life? You may not be a big fan of numbers but file this one away in the grey matter. It’s called The 80/20 Rule and goes like this: 80% of your outcomes result from 20% of your inputs. That’s sort of a janky way to say the following: 1. If you’re a businessman, 80% of your sales come from 20% of your customers. 2. Apply this to life and you’ve got 20% of your activities provide 80% of your happiness. Of course, the ratio isn’t always an exact 80/20 but the big idea is that most of your happiness/sales/whatever come from a much smaller minority of customers/activities/whatever. What can you learn from this? If you’re an internet marketer or interested in work-at-home businesses, make it a top priority to keep your be... 02/02/2010