What’s up with the antiquated laws in Massachusetts? Kelly Catallo, a REALTOR® of 27 years in the Boston area, is shocked that there are still real estate laws that were put in place to reduce venereal disease. You heard that right! Listen in to hear all about it, plus hear some other crazy shit that you’ll never forget (although you’ll want to!).

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:30 – Introducing Kelly from the Boston area
• 00:45 – She’s been in real estate for 27 years and has owned her company for 10 years; they deal with everything
• 01:08 – She was a hairdresser before she worked in real estate
• 02:30 – Kelly’s CSIRE story
• 02:40 – They get many antiquated places in Massachusetts and have many crazy laws; if you aren’t married or next-of-kin you can’t own property together
• 03:50 – Boston is more liberal but more expensive; a Section 8 voucher for a 3-bedroom is $3,000
• 05:28 - The law was created to reduce the spread of venereal disease; you can’t rent, even today, for this reason in that area
• 06:16 – She got a call from an attorney who is putting a lawsuit together that this law is a violation of our first amendment right
• 07:50 – Another CSIRE story
• 08:07 – She walked in on an owner of a property having sex with another man on the tenant’s dining room table; he was married and with four kids
• 09:05 – The tenants were at work; he lost everything and is no longer married
• 10:30 – What Kelly has heard about a fundraiser
• 10:55 – Leigh’s Realtor Relief Foundation had a big fundraiser in November; it’s for people who need gap assistance until insurance payments come after disasters
• 12:16 – The United Way is the worst organization; most money goes back into the overhead and not the cause
• 14:00 – How to reach Kelly: by phone (781)844-5457, her website kellycatallo.com, or www.cosmopolitanrealestate.net

3 Key Points

• Know your real estate laws!
• Research the organizations where you choose to donate your money.
• Check out the Realtor Relief Foundation.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Are you interesting in real estate investing? Reed Goossens, a serial entrepreneur, real estate advisor, speaker, and author, gives us some straight talk about what to consider when investing in real estate. Listen in to learn the strategies he implemented to improve cash flow, protect investments, and build his American Dream.

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:50 – Introducing Reed, a serial entrepreneur, real estate investment advisor, author, and public speaker
• 01:05 – Controls $150 million-worth of multi-family commercial real estate; he left Australia to chase his American dream seven years ago
• 02:40 – The barrier to entry is lower in the U.S. than in Australia; he realized he needed to buy more low-income properties to make more of a profit
• 04:05 – His strategy
• 04:30 – If he was going to be on the lower end of the market, he needed a larger portfolio; his property manager was able to manage the portfolio, not just one property
• 05:22 – Cash flow vs. equity advancement
• 06:45 – You can improve cash flow by upgrading units to get more money and better tenants; always look for value-adds
• 07:45 – On how value-adds have changed
• 08:15 – They’ve changed across the country and are sustainable; it’s important to lean into amenities as square footage average lessens
• 09:00 – On deals, investors, and partners
• 09:30 – He works with partners and 3,200 different investors
• 09:55 – He finds investors through his podcast, connections, and referrals; they have a partnership or share in particular LLCs
• 11:30 – It’s important to ask better questions about investment real estate; it’s got many legal implications and complexities
• 12:45 – How to contact Reed: You can find his podcast, books, and contact information on his website

3 Key Points

• Know your attorney and tax advisor when getting into real estate investing.
• Consider cash flow and equity advancement.
• Working with the right team will make you successful.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

It’s not often that someone has to kick down the door of their own home! Toria Brown, a REALTOR® of three and a half years in Shenandoah Valley, VA, had to do just that when her property was incorrectly listed as foreclosed. Luckily, she had a great network and support system and was able to clear things up with a lawyer – and still flip the property quickly! Tune in to hear Toria’s advice on what to look for when searching for your agent, lender, and inspector dream team.

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:30 –Introducing Toria, her journey, and why she loves the show
• 01:00 – The show reminds her that she’s not alone in REALTOR® crazy town; it’s an amazing industry with variety and adventure
• 02:30 – She has learned to pre-game people on the home inspection
• 03:15 – She lives in the Shenandoah Valley in VA with an office in Augusta County; she’s been in real estate for three and a half years
• 04:20 – She is a farm wife and her mother bought and sold shithole houses when she was a kid; her cousin told her to get into real estate
• 06:00 – Toria’s biggest piece of advice for new REALTORS®: Find an office with a strong support system and helpful mentors
• 08:15 – Toria’s CSIRE story
• 08:30 – She’s encountered trashed homes with beer bottles, a marijuana odor, and guns; she’s also walked into a home with an unexpected naked person
• 09:05 – She and her mother bought a house to flip; she got to the house and there was a foreclosure sticker on the front, she couldn’t get ahold of anyone
• 10:10 – She kicked her own door in and the place was trashed; she wondered what would’ve happened if someone planned to live in that home
• 10:45 – She called the cops and a lawyer to clear that the house was hers and they were foreclosing the wrong house
• 15:35 – It ended well and sold quickly, 4 days above list
• 13:15 – On choosing who to work with
• 13:30 – Find people who will answer when you call, including your agent, lender, and inspector
• 14:40 – How to reach Toria: by cell phone at (540)460-3246 or at her office (540)943-0085 ; her email is tbrown.odrva.com 

3 Key Points

• There’s still everything to learn after you get your real estate license.
• Find a brokerage that is supportive and happy to mentor you.
• Nothing’s ever perfect.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

If it’s not icicles inside a flooded house it’s a tricky sale with a prejudiced client! Bill Hamburg, a REALTOR® in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is back on the show and ready to share another story and some more crazy shit. This time around, he’ll share how he talked someone with a “For Sale By Owner” sign to let him list their property – not without some hiccups, of course! Tune in to hear how Bill marketed a house on a highway, handled a prejudiced client, and overcame a failed septic inspection.

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:30 –Bill’s last CSIRE story: “The Icicle House”
• 01:30 – He went to a property and heard a “waterfall”
• 01:50 – Water was gushing from the second floor onto the first from a broken pipe; it was February, the owner had left the water on and there were icicles everywhere
• 02:20 – Introducing Bill; a REALTOR® out of Horsham, PA who is associated with both RE/MAX and Keller Williams
• 03:15 – They started with Keller Williams but a few years ago it made sense to switch over to RE/MAX; in New Jersey they’re new, so they’re still with Keller Williams
• 04:50 – Bill’s CSIRE story
• 05:00 – In 2007 when he was in the business for a little over a year, he saw a “For Sale By Owner” sign
• 05:55 – Realtors know contracts and keep their clients out of court; FSBO sales are tricky and can be difficult
• 07:00 – Bill called the number on the sign and the man said he didn’t need a realtor; Bill convinced him to let him see the house to diagnose why it wouldn’t sell
• 07:35 – He was trying to sell during the downturn; the house was in a good address and was a rehabbed home
• 08:12 – The guy was asking $300,000 but it was too high and on a highway; Bill offered some marketing ideas to improve his chances of finding a buyer
• 09:10 – He talked the guy into letting him list the property and he listed it for $315,000; he got showings and an offer
• 10:40 – The man said he couldn’t sell the property to that person; the septic system failed inspection and the buyer was coming back for repairs
• 12:00 – The agents were the ones who should manage expectations and get the transaction to close
• 13:05 – In the end it worked out; he didn’t really care who moved in
• 13:35 – If the house had been sold FSBO, it would’ve been sold with a failing septic system; this raises concerns of the law
• 13:45 – The lesson
• 14:00 – It shouldn’t matter who buys your house; all that matters is if the money’s green
• 15:00 – A REALTOR® is there to mediate the transaction and ensure everything is done properly and fairly
• 15:20 – How to contact Bill: by phone (215)206-1980 and email bhamburg@pahouselink.com

3 Key Points

• For Sale By Owner is not a good idea!
• It shouldn’t matter who’s buying the house.
• The job of a REALTOR® is to facilitate a smooth transaction and keep the clients out of court.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Are your assets, LLCs, and investment processes a “Royal” mess? Scott Smith of Royal Legal Solutions, a firm that provides asset protection for real estate investors, shares why his inspiration for building his business stemmed from his own need. Listen in to learn why he uses a series LLC, how he scaled quickly, and what he created so he could work smarter – not harder.

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com. 

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:50 – Introducing Scott, an asset protection attorney and long-time real estate investor; he bought his first property in law school and flipped it to pay for school
• 02:00 – He had problems getting through his first ten properties, so he created a system and team that works; now he helps others do the same
• 02:30 – He worked in litigation for two years before turning towards real estate; he learned a lot about asset protection, insurance, and loopholes
• 04:45 – Scott’s business
• 05:00 – He went in on an auto body repair shop with a friend and there began his journey to entrepreneurship
• 06:45 – He ran into real estate investing problems when he got into single family home investing; he started focusing on pivotal leverage points in investing for simplicity
• 07:20 – He started using a series LLC and that helped him scale quickly and without more work; he holds his assets anonymously and has no extra paperwork
• 10:00 – How he realized this was the best way to invest in real estate
• 10:25 – He has a background in legal and tax, so he knew he needed to protect himself
• 10:52 – It’s not hard to do; people don’t know the risks they take and how easy it can be to streamline operations and keep everything safe
• 11:35 – Time freedom is created when you streamline processes, so you invest time now to have time freedom moving forward
• 13:00 – He works in all 50 states but can’t appear in court for you; his price point ranges by client, but all get a roadmap during the consultation
• 15:00 – He has a free LLC program available for a limited time at RoyalLegalSolutions.com; you can contact him and download his e-book there, too

3 Key Points

• It’s important to keep your assets safe.
• By streamlining processes you create time freedom for yourself.
• Work with people who know what they’re doing – especially when it involves the law.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder