All Forum Posts by: Mark Ferguson

Actually, rather than go through the trouble of relying on a realtor to bid for HUD homes on your behalf, I've chosen to obtain my own RE license. I understand that as a licensed realtor, HUD pays me commissions even on the properties I buy under my own LLC. I read that I may be able to obtain HUD keys when I sign up as an approved HUD agent.

Your selling agent should be meeting the appraiser at the property to point out the upgrades to the property. He shouldn't be.pressuring for a higher appraisal, but objectively pointing out aspects of the property the appraiser may have missed.

Similar to the stock market, there is no way to predict the answer to your question with sufficient confidence to make a market timing decision. And even if someone could make an actionable prediction, you would not be able to sift through the other, incorrect predictions and pick out the person with a crystal ball. It sounds like you are just looking for people to confirm your own view that the Atlanta market is over priced. 

Sure, cap rates in the desirable in-town neighborhoods for MLS-listed properties trade for sub 5% cap rates. You get what you pay for. Those properties will rent quickly to quality tenants and typically sell quickly at close to market price. You give up potential return for convenience and liquidity. If you want an 8-12% cap in a reasonable school district, you're going to be in the suburbs.

If you want a guess about future prices in Atlanta, appreciation will flatten but a significant dip is unlikely. Interest rates will remain low (on a historical basis) for the next few years. Multi-family real estate is a popular asset right now. Everyone is waiting for a dip to buy more. The homeownership rate has significantly declined and that is unlikely to quickly reverse in the next few years. Fortune 500 companies continue to move to Atlanta and jobs are plentiful. Don't hold your breath for a bust.

This sounds suspiciously like the relevant guidelines for when you want to have two FHA loans at once...

i found 'begin with the end in mind' (Habit 2) of 7 Habits of Highly effective people, helpful.

I am a huge believer in mindset as well! Ask any of my friends and they would say they've heard me say this thousands of times. Although I don't meditate, being positive and having a positive mindset is something I strongly believe will bring me success in my future. I am working on setting long term and short term goals, as well as keeping a daily routine to some extent. 

Great post

@Mark Ferguson  could be.. or if they just happen to be travelling and hear it on the radio in some other market and think  HEY I will try that.

You can speak better to this than I can since I have been out of the retail game for so many years... But sometimes I think when I pop on the wholesaling threads and people are talking about how much money they spend on direct mail etc.. if someone put that kind of money into marketing themselves as an agent.. there is no doubt they would get business and build a career.. where in Wholesaling its much tougher as there is more to it to make a successful deal  IE you MUST buy under market.. Were as a realtor can make a very nice commission AT market .. and their clients are much stickier ,, by that I mean they buy another home through the agent or refer people etc etc. 

Any thoughts ?

And yes I think I first heard the I will buy your home ad in the SF bay area in the late 70's early 80's.

@Adrien C.  I think they are very high volume agents with big teams.

if you click on this link and then look at the team you will see this realtor has 10 or more agents underneath him.

Mark Ferguson in Denver has the same approach vis a vi team building..

in essence one broker is running a company within a company.. and the commissions are shared between the team members with money all funneled up to the top dog.

Very lucrative for the face of the team.. I am sure this is a million dollar a year to multi million a year income for the head guy Rain.