Is Your Real Estate Career in London Ontario Stalled?

Is your real estate career in London Ontario stalled? Stale? Not earning the income you think you should or could? Burned out? Frustrated? Discouraged?



If it is any of the above, who do you blame and why? The economy, the banks, your competitor, that new agency or new agent, the government, your broker, your spouse, or, fill in the blank_________________.

What about you? I am a firm believer that success leaves clues. Whatever income & lifestyle you are living today are the results of what you did 12 months ago or even 6 months ago.

I have heard all the excuses, ( I have even used some myself in the past), but think about it, whatever seeds you sowed 6-12 months ago now are bearing fruit.

When I ask those about why their business is slow, I ask, what did you do 6-12 months ago to grow your business. What are you doing today?

Real estate in London Ontario is changing rapidly, what worked 8 years ago, 3 years ago or even 6 months ago has changed. What has not changed is being a true professional, know your product and clients, get out and meet people and offer the best real estate service in your area.

Being Objective Before Listing A Home For Sale London Ontario

For most people, a home is more than just a financial commodity. It is, instead, an emotionally charged haven- the place you retreat to, a place filled with your belongings, your creative energies, and your memories.



  It is therefore; very difficult to be objective about this process and to look at your home in the same way a prospective buyer looks at it

Because your home is so important to you, when you do decide to sell, you want to be sure that you can get as much as you can for it. So speaking practically, it is very important that you set your emotions aside for a moment and learn how to maximize your results.

I have prepared a series of free reports that will take you step by step through the process, show you haw to save money, questions you should be asking and how to select qualified professionals.

You are under no obligation at any time by receiving these reports and information. Unfortunately, the way many sellers go about selling their home leaves them wide open to the very problems they’re trying to avoid!

How to Become one of the Best Real Estate Agents in London Ontario

Aiming to be one of the best sales representatives in real estate in London Ontario requires work, time, and dedication. What being one of the best can mean many different things to many people. I don't think income could be one of the best as I know many high income earners who are not necessarily the best in real estate. Or the one with their picture all over town, or #1 this or #1 that.

I think one of the most important things you can bring to the table is real life market knowledge and expertise. As you increase your market knowledge IQ, your confidence will grow and you’ll win the trust of your clients.

To do that, you need to know more about your market than the average consumer and average real estate sales representative. That’s more of a challenge than it used to be since consumers can easily find market statistics online, quickly and easily preview listings on the web, and access public records without many barriers.

Clearly, becoming an expert requires effort, more now than ever before. Here are a few things you can do to establish yourself as an expert in your area.

• Select an area you want to become an expert in


• Preview all the homes that come on the market in that area. By attending all the open houses and tracking price reductions on properties in your area, you'll know the nuances that pictures cannot convey…but be careful with your time.


• Track closings and sold prices in your target area so you become familiar with list-to-sell ratios


• Get active in the community by doing things like attending city meetings where changes in zoning and housing are to be voted on, and offer your input


• Write articles and offer your expertise to newspapers and radio stations on trends and happenings in your area


• Start a community blog where you post information and articles that affect those homeowners


• Gather e-mail addresses of people interested in what is going on in the area, and begin a monthly Podcast where you discuss trends and market information.


• Read local and national real estate magazines, articles and blogs to stay caught up with what is happening nationwide so you can compare your market to other similar markets around the country.

Technology is a valuable asset for consumers and agents alike, so find ways to put it to work for you. By establishing yourself as the expert and sharing your unique knowledge through public sources like blogs, print media, emails, and unique approaches like

Podcasts, and public videos, your customers will increasingly look to you as the definitive source. Data is everywhere, so think in terms of how to educate your customers and make them experts so they don’t have to do all the legwork.

By doing so you’ll win their respect and loyalty.

Bottom line: get fully committed to becoming an expert in your chosen career and you’ll reap the rewards.

Why Real Estate Cash Flow Tops The Stock Market, Especially in 2016

Most stock market investors will pay 100 percent of the share price for a stock (investors who don't mind the risk of margin calls can buy many stocks for 50 percent down), while real estate investors typically need to put down only five to 10 percent with no risk of margin calls.

To illustrate, Investor "A" buys $100,000 worth of stock that appreciates an average of 10 percent annually. At the end of five years, Investor "A" would have stock valued in excess of $160,000 - a gain in excess of 60 percent.

Likewise, Investor "B" invests $100,000 in real estate. With 20 percent down, Investor "B" now controls real estate worth $500,000. Investor "B" maximizes leverage by obtaining an interest-only loan and with the property appreciating at six percent per year, after five years the $500,000 property is now worth $670,000.

That $170,000 gain is a result of investing only $100,000 and is therefore a 170 percent return-on-investment (ROI) compared with the stock investor's 60 percent ROI.

In addition to tax benefits, the real estate investor can also rent the property, resulting in monthly cash flow - something even dividend-paying stocks and interest-paying bonds usually can't match.

The practical investor recognizes the benefit of investing $100,000 and potentially earning $170,000 over five years in real estate, versus earning only $60,000 in the same time with the same investment in stocks.

In reality, the stock market does not go up every single year while real estate often does, so that the above comparisons are even more skewed in favor of real estate. And if real estate does decline for a year or two, is that the end of the world?

When investing in real estate in London Ontario, work with all the numbers and if you really want to know the correct numbers to use, work with a quality REALTOR®

Can't Make A Decision To Buy Real Estate in London Ontario?

We all have been there and later say we should have or could have or have heard the stories.

 Here is a Buyer's lament that I feel covers it all:



I hesitate to make a list
Of all the countless deals I've missed;
Bonanzas that were in my grip -
I watched them through my fingers slip;
The windfalls which I Should have bought
were lost because I over-thought;
I thought of this, I thought of that,
I could have sworn I smelled a rat,
And while I thought things over twice,
Another grabbed them at the price,
It seemed I always hesitate,
Then make my mind up much too late,
A very cautious man am I
And that is why I never buy.



When tracts rose high on Sixth and Third,
The prices asked I felt absurd;
Whole block-fronts bleak and black with soot-
Were priced at thirty bucks a foot!
I wouldn't even make a bid,
But others did -- yes, others did!
When Tucson was cheap desert land,
I could have had a hip of sand;
When Phoenix was the place to buy,
I thought the climate much too dry!
"Invest in Dallas-That's the spot!"
My sixth sense warned me I should not,
A very prudent man am I
And that is why I never buy.

A corner here, then acres there,
Compounding values year by year,
I chose to think and as I thought,
They bought the deals I should have bought.
The Golden chances I had then
Are lost and will not come again,
Today I can not be enticed
For everything's so overpriced.
The deals of yesteryear are dead;
The market's soft -- so's my head!

Last night I had a fearful dream,
I know I wakened with a scream;
Some Indians approached my bed --
For trinkets on the barrelhead,
(In dollar bills worth twenty-four,
And nothing less and nothing more),
They'd sell Manhattan Isle to me,
The most I'd go was twenty-three.
The redman scowled: "Not on a bet!"
And sold to Peter Minuit.
At times a teardrop drowns my eye
For deals I had, but did not buy;
And now life's saddest words
I pen"If only I'd invested then!"

As you can see, you are not alone. I can help you through the decision process with facts and research, you are in charge of your emotions. If that works for you, let's get together.
Ty

Becoming A Profitable Landlord In London Ontario

Becoming a Profitable Landlord

When you are buying your first rental property and becoming a landlord, there is much to learn. How do you find tenants? What should I charge for rent? Should I update the places to get more rent? How do I tell the tenants they are late on rent?

 

There has been a lot written about how you have to rule with an iron fist to keep your tenants in line. That may or may not be true; however, I have found that every property is different, as is the tenant.

Most first real estate investment property owners buy something that they would move into themselves as their main factor in the decision process aspect .There's many decisions along the way, and being a potential tenant yourself makes those decisions much clearer.

First off, when it comes time to market your place, you are part of the target audience, so it is easy to find the right place to advertise. Just ask yourself... how would we go about looking for a place? Most mistakenly put costly ads in the real estate section of the newspaper initially, bringing in the completely wrong renters who are completely not interested. If you switch to advertising in places where you would look, 90% of the people who come will be actually interested, the place will rent faster, and the tenants will be happy to be in your place.

That leads to the next reason why buying something you would live in as your first rental property makes the landlord learning process so much easier. The tenants! These will be people that you basically get along with because they like what you like and if you meet them, they will most likely like you, or they would not be renting it. You will make sense to them, and they will make sense to you. When you are at odds with your tenants, the whole interaction and experience can be painful, so getting along helps tremendously.




Why, you say, should I care if my tenants are happy? Everything is easier. They will more likely pay rent on time, respect & keep your place in shape, and stay longer. Believe me, there is nothing like a completely wrecked apartment by a short-term tenant. Sure, you can charge money for damages, but it will still take time and be a hassle to get it back up to a rent-able state. In addition, dealing the whole time with a bitter, angry tenant is no fun either.

How do you make your tenants happy? There are a couple things you can do. One is to allow tenants some flexibility with painting and decorating. 95% of the time, tenants actually do wonders with apartments and leave them with a better style than you could have done yourself.

Many times, you can even get good ideas to carry over to the other apartments to make them more marketable, like some basic drapes & mounted wine racks. You could even have a tenant call us to ask if they could plant some flowers by the porch. Welcome it. It is an indication that they feel invested in the place and feel at home. Of course, you do not let someone remodel your kitchens... It is small things that are easily undone, but make the tenant feel invested and at home.

Another thing to do to have happy tenants is to give them a sizable re-signing bonus when their leases end. And unless it is painfully needed, do not raise the rent, especially if the tenant is someone who pays on time and is easy to deal with. You can offer a $500 re-signing bonus each year with rents at $800. It is almost a free month but the cost of a tenant turnover between lost rent and the make ready is usually around $1200, so it is good for them and you.




Most landlords try to rent out places at the maximum. When you make them a somewhat good deal so that many people will inquire, you will have a better chance of a good fit and that they will be happy and stay long. Do not overcharge because feeling ripped off is one main reason a tenant will leave.

Try to treat your tenants with a lot of respect. Obviously, unless it is an emergency, give them 24 hours notice before you enter their units, and if repairs take an extensive amount of time or hassle on their behalf, give them some rent back. Always answer their issues within a day, at least with a phone call.

Becoming a landlord is definitely a learning experience. Everyone has their own style, and even different properties may prescribe a different style. Just be open to handling your rental property business (which is basically your tenants) with respect rather than the stereotypical overbearing attitude.

I have clients who have very few vacancies if at all, this stuff works!

Houses & Condos For Sale Hunt Club London Ontario

The neighbourhood of Hunt Club and Hunt Club Green in London Ontario  is a mixture of old and new, yet upscale and vibrant.
 

Easy access to downtown London either off of Oxford Street West or Hyde Park Road.This neighbourhood has some great shopping and services for fresh fruit and vegetables, bakery and gourmet foods,  Remark is a chef's delight, Starbucks, Shoppers Drug Mart, Gordon Jewellers and less than 10 minutes to all the big box stores.

Within 10 km there are 9 golf courses, both private and public. There is the Sifton Bog, Springbank Park, Thames River and other great natural spaces nearby.

There are other nice neighbourhoods in London Ontario