How to Use Google Places for Your Note Business

3 Tips for getting your mortgage note business found online using Google Places and Local Maps.

When was the last time you used a phone book?

Chances are you’re more likely to use it as a booster seat or doorstop than to look up a business. Online search has quickly replaced the yellow pages. In fact many cities like Seattle are looking at requiring opt-outs for phone book delivery.

With about 65% of market share, Google is undoubtedly the “Big Daddy” of search engines and…

they’ve just made it easier for small businesses with Google Places.

Formerly known as local maps, a Google Places page provides a free listing containing contact information for your business. Google uses this information to serve up results for local search and place you as a “pin” on their maps. In fact it’s not unusual to see a Google Places page showing higher in the rankings than a company’s own website.

Steps for Using Google Places for Your Note Business

1. Claim your Note Buyer Listing Read more

5 Myths About the Cash Flow Notes Business

I want to have a very candid conversation about working in the cash flow notes business.

Just what it is, how you may be part of it, and some common myths and facts.

I have been in the note industry for over 15 years. Read more

Free Financial Calculator for Cash Flow Notes!

Is the best financial calculator now free?

If you struggle with calculating cash flow notes on the HP12C , HP10B, or the Texas Instrument BAII then you will want to check out this great offer!

Advanced Seller Data Services (ASDS), a leading provider of marketing lists for seller carried notes, has released a series of free financial tools for note brokers and note buyers.

Here’s a sneak peak at the power behind these calculators from a recent ASDS press release:

Tool #1 – A Financial Calculator to Find the Missing Variable in a Cash Flow Note!

• Greater ease of use and faster than the HP12C or other calculators.
• Allows user to instantaneously confirm information provided by note seller is correct.
• Provides user with feedback on which variable is being solved.
• Gives warning message and possible solutions when inputted variables cannot compute correctly.
• An automatic note quote system to quickly calculate full and partial bids as determined by the user.
• A Net Sum calculator to find the present value of a series of partial payments.

Tool #2 – A “Simple” Amortization Calculator

• Creates an amortization table for straight line mortgages.
• Calculates schedule on exact day or 360 day basis.
• Includes columns to track loan payments and reserves.
• Calculates loan payment for common loan terms for any loan amount and interest rate.

Tool #3 – A “Complex” Amortization Calculator for Irregular Cash Flows

• Allows user to input in any date order:

8 interest rate changes and

12 payment amount changes and

12 bump payments

• Calculates schedule on exact day or 360 day basis.
• Includes columns to track loan payments and reserves.
• Calculates repayment amount for common loan terms.

The only requirement to run the programs is Excel 2007 or higher installed on your computer. An Excel 2003 version is also available by request.

Programming the Excel worksheets with financial calculations is similar to the exclusive proprietary programming ASDS uses to identify seller carry back notes out of millions of recorded documents each year.

“Creating these programs to help our customers become more profitable was a natural progression of the services we offer” said Scott Arpan, owner of ASDS.

You’ll be happy to know that ASDS is committed to keeping these programs available to note brokers and note buyers at no cost.  The motivation?  They would like to have you keep coming back to the site and consider their list services for finding cash flow notes.

These tools may be downloaded for free at http://notesellerlist.com/Free_Financial_Calculators.html.

I’ve already downloaded my version and have been putting it to the test with these examples from Buying Mortgage Notes: 7 Tips for Calculating Cash Flow Notes!  You’ll be glad to know they are matching to the penny!

Finding Bad Cash Flow Notes

No one has ever asked us,

“How do I find BAD note deals?”

The funny part is, that as a note buyer, we see more bad deals than we do good ones.

But isn’t that just the nature of the business? Yes, but it doesn’t need to be so.

When beginners start in the note business they spend an inordinate amount of time on what we consider “bad” (or at least extremely “challenging”) deals.

These are mortgage and trust deeds that will most likely never be purchased. They include things like: Read more

How to Build MIStrust in the Note Business

Sometimes people just make more work of things than need be, and the note business is no different.

I was in the bookstore yesterday. Not looking for anything in particular, but was amazed at the amount of networking books and books in particular about how to build trust among clients and prospects.

For me, it seems easier (and more fun), to simply point out the ways you can build MIStrust.

Want to be a lousy note broker or note buyer?

Here’s how to build mistrust among note sellers and professional referrals in 12 easy steps: Read more

Note Broker Marketing With Note Appraisals

Just What is a Note Appraisal and How Can it Help My Note Broker Business?

I just finished up an Opinion of Value for a real estate note down in South Florida. It was the second request for a fee based note appraisal in the past several weeks, a service that has been growing in demand.

These requests primarily result from our networking efforts and presentations at Real Estate Investment Clubs and Self-Directed Retirement Account educational workshops. Since it is fresh on my mind it seemed a good time to share some insights on using Note Appraisals in your note business. Read more

NoteWorthy Industry Achievement Award Interview

Wondering what it takes to survive in the note business for 20 years?

Read our interview with NoteWorthy Newsletter!

Fred and I have been going through work and personal items in an attempt to control the ever growing amount of “stuff”.  While sorting through the memories there were a few definite keepers.  One of these was the plaque I was honored to receive from Jon Richards, founder of the NoteWorthy Newsletter.  The inscription reads:

INDUSTRY ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Hereby bestowed this day to:

Tracy Z

NoteWorthy National Convention
June 28, 2002

For her willingness to provide leadership, guidance and steadfastness in an industry experiencing turbulent times.  Tracy would have excelled in any industry, we thank her for choosing ours.

Presented by:
NoteWorthy Newsletter
Jon Richards, Publisher

Receiving this award was a real honor. Jon was an inspiration to both Fred and me.  In fact Jon introduced the note business to Fred in the early 90′s and if it wasn’t for that the paths of our lives might never have intersected.

Later in 2009 I was asked to participate in an interview with NoteWorthy Newsletter for a series they were running on successful Note Buyers, Note Brokers, and past award recipients. The focus was how to be successful in the note business and the information is as timely now as it was then.

Interview With NoteWorthy Newsletter

(Editor’s Note: This interview was conducted with Tracy Z. Rewey in May 2009 by Clint Hinman, acting Editor of the NoteWorthy Newsletter at that time.)

Clint: How long have you been working in the note business?

Tracy: I’ve been making my living in the note business since 1988. That’s over 20 years (but if anyone asks I started when I was 12).

What led you to choose this line of work?

The flexibility and creative problem solving make the note business both fun and challenging. It provides an opportunity to work for yourself while also helping meet the needs of the note seller.

Ultimately it was the ability to harness the power of compounding interest and the time value of money that hooked me for good. I was blown away the first time I learned to run a HP12C financial calculator and finally realized WHY investors bought notes.

Tell us about the first job you ever had.

I started out like most kids eager for cash – anything that paid. I took jobs babysitting and cleaning up behind parade horses. But my first “real” job was in 1983 when I started with a local attorney’s office.

Since it was a rural area the law office handled many transactions with owner financing providing my first introduction to the note business. I learned real estate closings, title searches, servicing, and documentation. Eventually I moved to the “big city” and my position with Metropolitan’s note buying division from 1988-1997. Metropolitan provided an unmatched intensive hands-on education in the paper business.

You were part of the production team when Metropolitan was at its strongest. You went on to start your own company, Diversified Investment Services. What is your current focus from a business perspective?

A desire for financial independence led to the creation of Diversified Investment Services, Inc. in 1997. We continue to cultivate our business from a three-prong approach by developing long-term income as a private investor, immediate income as a broker, and educational materials for referral sources.

A primary focus has been adapting to the changing economic environment by developing alternative note funding sources. During the past year we have dedicated significant time and energy to providing educational resources at www.noteinvestor.com.

What was the most significant event in your life?

It was the moment I decided to be the driver rather than a passenger in my own life. To borrow a line from the movies, “You can get busy living or get busy dying!”

Who has been the greatest influence on your professional life?

That is a tough question because there are many that have contributed to the tapestry of my professional life. At Metropolitan I was thankful to both Irv Marcus and Mike Kirk for sharing their investment knowledge and believing in my abilities. My husband, Fred Rewey, has been instrumental in pushing me to embrace new challenges outside my comfort zone, including leaving the security of a corporate job to start my own business. Over the years many other greats in the industry have generously provided their expertise and insights. The willingness to share really is one of the incredible things about the note business.

What do you feel is the single most important characteristic one needs to have to be successful in the note business?

Persistence, persistence, and more persistence. Be ready to adapt and change the approach but don’t give up!

What do you see as the biggest threat to the seller-financed industry? How can we mitigate that threat?

If you had asked that question two years ago my answer probably would have been a few unscrupulous professionals bringing unreasonable regulation. However, in light of today’s economic challenges it seems the seller finance industry became too dependent on the cheap money provided through conventional funding vehicles. With the collapse of the mortgage backed securities market we must come full circle and return to the days of reliance upon independent and private investment funds.

Seller financing is helping to fill the void left in the wake of the credit crunch. As the use of owner financing increases there is a demand for note buyers to help educate the sellers and real estate professionals on the safest and most profitable methods to carry back paper.

What kinds of mistakes do you see new note brokers make? What kind of advice would you give a new broker?

The note industry is similar to most businesses. First, you need to provide a service or product that is in demand. Second, you must effectively market to get your message out to the customer. Third, you must work hard every day to meet, satisfy, and exceed the needs of your customers.

Unfortunately many new to the note business fail to treat it like a long-term business. Frequently this is first evidenced by the failure to consistently implement a proven marketing plan. Growing discouraged many give up. It comes back to persistence, persistence, and more persistence!

You and your husband Fred produced the Personal Profit Series on Notes – how would someone new to the industry benefit from this product?

From marketing and negotiations to funding and investment strategies, we share the knowledge we have gained during our 35+ years of combined experience. The Personal Profit Series allows people to avoid expensive mistakes and profit from the note business. At over 475 pages, it is the most comprehensive system dedicated to the private mortgage business. The goal is to take someone from broker to investor at a price that doesn’t break the bank. (Editor’s Note: This is now an online course entitled Finding Cash Flow Notes!)

What has been your greatest personal achievement?

The creation of a stable and nurturing family environment has been one of my greatest challenges and achievements. My path has not always taken a conventional route but I’m fortunate to have shared it with Fred, a fellow adventurer. This year our daughter is graduating and it is with a sense of wonder and satisfaction that we send her out into the world to discover her own path.

Give an example of something you do every day that contributes to your success.

Making a list of what I want to accomplish each day helps prioritize my efforts. There are always more things to finish then sufficient time to complete. A list helps keep my focus on the best place to expend energy. Oftentimes I’ll start with the least desirable task first and everything else seems seem easy after that! Envision your goals, commit, develop a plan, write it all down, and then prioritize your actions to reach the goal.

Source: NoteWorthy Newsletter 2009

Russ Dalbey’s Winning in the Cash Flow Business In FTC Lawsuit

The FTC and Colorado Attorney General have filed a complaint against Russ Dalbey for allegedly defrauding consumers with his “Winning in the Cash Flow Business” system. You may have seen the TV infomercials with Dalbey claiming people could make big sums of money as a note broker in three easy steps… Find ‘Em, List ‘Em, and Make Money… in just minutes a day.

The claims were backed by testimonials from students that are also being questioned.  The courts are seeking an order to stop any misleading claims and obtain money for refunds.

The Truth About the Cash Flow Note Business

The cash flow business is like any other business.  It takes hard work, commitment, time, knowledge and a strong marketing plan to make money buying or referring notes.  For real answers and straight talk about the note business check out these articles:

Note Brokers: Guru Rhymes With Screw You
Note Brokers: How Much Money Will I Make in the Cash Flow Business?

Reading the recent FTC filings will likely make one think…“If it sounds too good to be true then it probably is!”

Excerpt from FTC Press Release on May 31, 2011 entitled:

FTC Charges Promissory Note Pitchman with Deceiving Consumers Read more

The State of the Note Business

Owner Financed Note Business Increases 56% since 2008!

Why the big jump? More importantly, where is the opportunity for note brokers and note buyers?

Call it a mini “State of the Note Industry” if you Read more

New Finding Cash Flow Notes Referral Program

Just wanted to give you a “heads up” that our new course, Finding Cash Flow Notes, was just approved and listed on Clickbank!

Clickbank is the largest marketplace for selling online products.

Wondering what this means to you?

You can create a free account at Clickbank and get your very own referral link for Finding Cash Flow Notes.

This link can be sent to friends, co-workers, and even posted on Twitter or Facebook.

When people purchase the course using your unique link, you get 50% of the revenue!

Finding Cash Flow Notes is still only $97.00 and we have been getting incredible compliments from our enrollees.

This all new online training contains videos, scripts, letters, brochures, online marketing, and even social media strategies.  It’s a complete step-by-step guide on how to find notes for your note broker or note buyer business.

If you want to promote the course (and make a few bucks in the process) go to Clickbank.com and set up an affiliate account!

All the best,

Fred and Tracy

PS. If you have not seen the actual “product sales page” for Finding Cash Flow Notes, you can check it out here.

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