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How to Survive – Even Prosper in 2011



Let’s face it, the Real Estate Market is in the worst shape any of us have ever seen! The banks aren’t lending any money, buyers and sellers can’t agree on values, increased competition is worse than ever, and deals are extremely scarce.

Simply put, the real estate business today is getting harder than ever unless you discover the secrets for easily, effectively, efficiently, and affordably attracting bank asset managers and BPO companies to work with you, and give you endless BPO assignments and Bank REO Listings!

What is a BPO? BPO stands for Broker Price Opinion and many banks, lenders and financial institutions order these from qualified real estate professionals when they need a quick summary and valuation of a property. There are numerous reasons a lender may need a BPO. The property could be partially developed, distressed, delinquent, in foreclosure or could even be a perfectly fine performing property where the lender is simply looking to sell the loan.

Whatever the situation, BPO’s are being ordered by lenders at a furious pace and BPOs have become a lucrative niche in the real estate industry for those Professionals who are poised for them. Just last week, I received an order from one client to perform 60 BPO’s. The price is $400 for each one so as you can see, performing BPOs has become a reliable source of either supplemental income or the sole source of income for many Professionals across the country.

The BPO Industry is a thriving niche in the Real Estate Industry and is poised to grow. Mr. Obama may think the recession is over but he is sadly mistaken. There are still hundreds of billions of dollars in adjustable rate mortgage resets coming which will still result in a Foreclosure Landslide that will take as many victims with it as possible.

BPO companies and banks REO Foreclosure Departments now more than ever need Broker Price Opinions to help value all the properties they are repossessing now, and will be repossessing in the future. These foreclosed properties have to get new BPO valuation opinions from local agents so that the bank can list the properties for sale on the market.

Real estate agents across the country are starting to catch on to this demand and are making $60k to $100k per year just by completing BPO’s for the banks. The best part is that typically after completing a number of BPO’s for the banks, the agent has an opportunity to work towards getting the bank REO property listing assignments.

Right now this is where the gravy train is riding strong for many. The bank REO properties are usually priced to move making for shorter and more profitable transactions for real estate agents. Get into the BPO game or be prepared to get out of the business. This is a nationwide opportunity, don’t miss the boat!

Is a Home Based Business in Your Retirement Plans?



Many who retire at the age of 65, do not feel ready to just put their feet up and do nothing. They probably have a good many years of living left and are not prepared to just sit back and watch the grass grow!

Besides, many cannot rely on their pension to allow them to live as comfortably as they might have when in employment.

A home based business is the ideal choice. It can be done part-time, so you can do all those other things you vowed to do once you retired: the charity work, travel, gardening etc.

The chances are that as a mature person, you will have valuable skills to bring to your new enterprise. You will know the importance of patience, communication and hard work. With a home based business such as network marketing, people skills are crucial. A more mature person is more likely to have developed these than someone in their early twenties. And, the mature person is less likely to freak out when some of his/her downline inevitably leave the business.

You may be a little apprehensive about using the computer. Most business today have a presence on the internet. If you are new to using the internet, there are many free training articles and videos on you tube to help you.

Also, most MLM companies are fairly aware of the importance of the internet and will have some kind of system for you. Or, you could look for help from your sponsor or someone else in the company.

The beauty of a network marketing business is that it is in your sponsor’s interest to help and support you. By helping you be successful with your home based business he/she is also going to benefit financially.
Many ‘Golden Agers’ are joining home based business companies to supplement their income and to do something exciting and rewarding.

Small Business Software Solutions



When it comes to small business, it’s never enough that you have the motivation and even the expertise. It’s also not enough that you have the right core staff who can help you manage the different aspects of your enterprise. You also need good small business software, which will allow you to automate your business, speed up the entire business process, and assure more accurate and fresh data that you can utilize.

Choices for Your Business

Today, there are a lot of small business software that you can select from, each having its own distinct functions. However, because of the uniqueness of your enterprise, not all will be useful. You only need to pick those that you think will be highly essential.

To give you some idea, you can start with the following small business software:

CRM Software. This software is important for contact management. You can easily manage information that is related to your customers, such as personal information. You can also easily determine the products and services they have purchased or enquired about, which then provide you data on what sells the most and what doesn’t amongst your line. Furthermore, you can keep track of your marketing campaigns generate reports and much more.

Lead Management System. When you are looking for prospects, you need to have a dependable lead manager. A lot of them are affordable, so you can get hold of them quite easily. The lead management system can help you keep track, score, and prioritize your leads. Also, lead managers can be customized according to the needs of the business and the industry you’re in.

Accounting Software. There are various types of financial applications that you could get for your business, but you may start with the accounting software since you want to determine the actual income and expenses of your business. However, unless you have solid or at least inkling of how accounting works, it would be ideal if you can pick an accounting program that is very easy to use. To know which will suit you it is advised you read online reviews.

E-mail Platforms. E-mail will be one of the best tools your business can have. You can market products and services through it, and you can communicate with your staff. With e-mail, you may want to stick with Microsoft Outlook, but remember that your valuable customer data will be housed in multiple computers and multiple email accounts.

It is important to understand that sometimes less is more. Try to implement the minimum number of solutions as they will require expensive integration to function effectively. If possible look for 1 sales system and 1 accounting system.