All Forum Posts by: Lazar Hausman

I've been sending about 30-40,000 direct mail pieces a year for the past 2.5 years ( to absentee and owner occs).  I'm looking to add probate or inherited home leads to my mailings.  Is there a good third-party source that provides these lists (I'm in Bexar county).  I'm not interested in saving money by doing anything myself.  Just want to pay for a list that is accurate.  If anybody has any helpful information, please let me know, thanks!

Any update on this subject?  I am a one-man shop with seller-financed properties as well.  I do have a master amortization in excel that calculates the basic payments for me, but I need something where I can enter extra principal payments when the borrow pays extra.  I am aware that I with a few small modifications I could do this within the excel sheet I currently have, but I'd prefer to use software if there is something out there that is reasonable.

I am looking for an alternative to list source, so I'd also like to hear what others people are using.  Listsource just deleted my account type and changed the pricing on me.  I buy a large list (last purchase was 18,000 leads) about once a year and then a few smaller (2,000 or so) another 1-2 times a year.  I was paying .08 a lead, so the 18,000 lead list cost me about $1,500.  Now, they are only offering me an option where I pay $4,200 for the year for up to 20,000 leads (.26/lead) or $4,000 for the year for up to 50,000 leads (.08/lead).

I buy absentee, over 65, and a few other types of lists.

Does anybody know an expert in the area of UBIT as it relates to these SDIRA's?  I'd like to talk to one to find out if I should expect to be taxed based on the specific transactions I undertook.

Thank you everybody for responding.  This is great information. 

Great, that's what I'm trying to figure out.  Any advice on what the threshold is for being considered a "dealer?"

Unfortunately, I lost my Mom a few years. As a result, I have a beneficiary roth ira. This is a great asset because any profits are tax free and distributions are not penalized or taxed. It is currently self-directed and Quest IRA is the custodian. I have wholesaled a few homes using this IRA account and am concerned that if I do anymore this year, I could trigger some sort of self-dealing flag.

With the exception of 1 assignment last year, I've closed every deal with Quest as the custodian. They sign the contracts, documents, etc, wire the funds, and receive the wire proceeds. I don't touch any of the money - all I do is fill out forms to give permission for the transactions and sign to approve legal documents Quest is signing on my IRA's behalf. I've asked Quest whether or not I'm toeing the line on self dealing, but they won't provide much input because they don't want to get into giving legal advice. Below is a short summary of what I've done this year.

-I've done 3 transactions this year where the IRA bought a property, closed on it, and then sold it within a couple of weeks. A true wholesale.

-I've done 1 transaction where the IRA bought a property, somebody invoiced the IRA for some minor repairs (they paid via check), and sold it 3 weeks later. Close to a wholesale, but some "investment" time.

-In the 5th transaction, a property was bought, the owners are staying for 6 weeks and paying rent. When they move some minor clean-up and repairs will be done and the property will be sold.  Probably about a 10 week turnaround total.  An investment or close to it.

Currently my IRA only owns the one property referenced in the 5th transaction. I have another opportunity to buy a property that will require some clean up and minor repairs before being put on market. It would probably be a 6 week turnaround buy to sell. I could hold the property a little longer before putting it for sale if there is a "recommended" holding time before selling.

I admit - I do not know anything about what constitutes self dealing and what does not.  It seems to me that there would be a difference between 1) the first 3 transactions (buy/sell no repairs - a true wholesale); 2) the transactions where there is a purchase/repairs/sale (closer to an investment); and 3) the transaction where there is a purchase/renting or holding period/repairs/then sale (an investment).

I was thinking I was going to do maybe 2-3 more of the buy, hold, repair, then sell transactions this year.  But I do not know if that is toeing the line too much.  Any advice from experts would be greatly appreciated.

@Jeff B.  @Jon KlausThe hhbsa.com is my current site.  What I was trying to buy was SAhomebuyer.com.  Ended up registering HomebuyerSA.com for like $10. It is a very basic landing page with the sole goal of getting conversions.  Traffic is being driven there with my direct mail marketing.  I don't have any results yet because the page and my marketing just started this week.

Hey everybody thank you for replying.  I actually found a very similar one that I like better, but still figured I would see if I could get this one also.  I offered him $200 and he emailed me back saying his webmaster said he should ask $200,000.  LOL.  

I'm interested in purchasing a domain name that is already owned.  I want to attach it to future marketing campaigns (mainly direct mail). I have a domain already - www.hhbsa.com - but this domain name is more industry specific (webuyhouses type) and is easier to remember.  I found the owner within a few minutes and he said he'd be willing to sell it.  We spoke very briefly and he called me the next day to see if I had given any thought about making an offer.  I could not get a number out of him, so I'm going to have to offer first.  I have never done this before and I have no idea what to offer him.  Of course, this depends on a number of factors - but mainly, what it's worth to me and what it's worth to him.  The analysis is below.

When I type the domain name in, it re-directs to this gentleman's realty website (i.e. he is not actually "using" the domain name). He is not in the investment side of the business - it appears he is trying to attract retail buyers and sellers. He is an older guy, at or near retirement age and he appears to be a one man operation or mom and pop office at largest. I looked in the MLS - in the last year the office has sold 1 listed property, has 1 active listing, and represented buyers on 2 purchases. All of these transactions were in his name. He doesn't seem to do a whole lot of business; and since he is at retirement age, I don't imagine he has any future plans with the domain.

Given that info, I don't think the domain name is worth that much to his business.  But he may not think that.  When I talked to him the second day, I could tell he knows it is worth something - I'm just not sure what. 

So what is it worth to me?  I really want to get it for $1000-$1500, but at $2500 I would still be happy.  I see the value of having this domain long-term, so I will go up to $5000, but I will not be very please paying that much at this time.

I'm not sure where to start with an offer on this guy.  I don't want to insult him or have him think negotiations are pointless if I offer too little - like $200 - but I don't want to pay more than I need to either.  We're all here because we like to make good deals right?  :-)

Thoughts?  Thanks Everyone!