Sunil Tulsiani PIC Investor Spotlight One Bogdan

The 2nd installment of our Private Investment Club's Investor Spotlight series that focuses on member deals. Tap into their insight as they openly discuss their recent results in real estate investing and also talk future deals. Sunil Tulsiani's ultimate dream of realizing one hundred PIC millionaires is well underway. 

Sunil Tulsiani PIC Investor Spotlight One Bogdan by SunilTulsiani

Sunil Tulsiani - Wanna Sell Your House This Spring? Follow These Tips

Just because there are slim pickings at the start of this spring's housing season doesn't mean sellers are in the driver's seat entirely. Today's home buyers are a nit-picky, recession-scarred bunch, and they want to get serious value for their hard-earned cash. Sellers need to not only price their homes carefully, but prepare their homes thoroughly for the process. Here are some tips:

Curb appeal

First impressions matter, and this is a first date you don't want to end up paying for. Clean up the landscaping and freshen up the flowers. Take down your tacky tidbits and decorative flags, and consider some color updates. One new coat on the garage can make a difference.

Depersonalize

Nobody wants to see how you live and with whom you live. Take your babies off the walls and trade them for fancy-free, faceless photos that make potential buyers better able to picture themselves in the home. If you have seriously un-generic taste in art, put it in storage. It doesn't matter how pricy the pieces, buyers aren't art experts, and taste is entirely individual.

Clean up

Don't just make the beds, but de-clutter and minimize. You might like the stack of magazines on the table, buyers don't. They don't want to know what you read. They might not agree with your fun pillow sayings. A little work and a big trash bag can make a huge difference. If your house is empty, you might have a professional come in and stage your home with rented furniture and design sundries.

Small projects = big returns

Don't do major renovations. You won't get the money back in the purchase price. Do choose some updates, especially in the kitchen and bath. Maybe you re-grout the tile, maybe it's a new countertop or backsplash. If you can, add space where it doesn't exist, like refinishing the basement. Believe it or not, a new front door offers one of the highest returns.

Check for cracks

Big cracks. In your foundation, in your stucco, in any structural area. Inspectors will come through and red flag this to potential buyers. Odds are it will cost you a lot less to fix it now than later, and you don't want buyers negotiating repairs into the purchase price.

Keep it cool

Don't turn up the heat on your buyers, especially if it's still cold out. They're coming in coats, and the hotter it is inside, the more they're going to want to leave. Warm doesn't always mean welcome.

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Sunil Tulsiani: 10 Secrets From a Real Estate Agent

Buy and sell your house successfully with 10 tips from a real estate professional.

With the economy on a slow rise back to normalcy, many are still unsure of whether they should be buying or selling a home. Despite the uneasiness you may feel, you don’t necessarily have to stay put, explains Linda Turner, a real estate agent with Royal LePage Meadowtowne Realty in Mississauga, Ont.

For people looking to buy, now is a very good time, she says. "With the all-time low mortgage interest rates, it is the perfect time for first-time buyers, investors and existing homeowners who are looking to upgrade to purchase a property." Interest rates are predicted to rise in the coming months, and with the new HST looming, you'll want to move fast.

We got Linda's best advice for weathering the still unsteady economy. Whether you're a buyer, seller or both, check out these 10 tips for navigating the real estate market successfully.

Tips for buyers

It's all about location - Whether you're a first-time buyer, investor or existing homeowner, you need to understand the best locations for your investment, Linda says.  "Buying the smallest house on the best street versus the largest house on a less preferred street will reap big rewards when it comes time to sell." As an investor, a condominium that is near public transit or a university is a good move.

Think about a condo - There's a surplus of inventory in the condominium market, so your realtor should be able to negotiate a good deal for you when it comes to buying a condo, Linda says. If you're buying as an investor, rather than a first-time homebuyer,  you will want to consider leasing out your suite for the next four to five years before selling, she explains. "It's been suggested that the condo market should be in an upswing by 2013."

Know your credit rating - It's best not to just assume your credit rating is in order. To avoid getting any surprises before you meet with a lender, check your rating first so you have time to resolve any issues that might stand in your way of buying. You can call either Trans Union of Canada at 1-800-663-9980 or Equifax Credit Information Services Canada at 1-800-465-7166. 

Know your price range and stick to it - Meet with one or more mortgage lenders to obtain a pre-approved mortgage before you start house hunting, Linda says. Once you know how much you can spend you can narrow down your choices. It's safer to buy within your budget, no matter the economic situation.

Head out of the city - It's booming in Milton, Ont., for example, Linda says. Young families are heading there to buy affordable and newer resale homes. Sometimes it pays to go further afield depending on what you're looking for. If you want more space and more property, but have a budget to stick to, a downtown location won't do. You have to widen your circle of prospective locations. 

Tips for sellers

Refresh and beautify - Getting your home ready for sale is crucial. Linda suggests considering a consultation from a professional stager so your home's potential is maximized when potential buyers see it. Think about getting rid of clutter, adding stylish accents to tired furniture and tidying the yard for curb appeal.

Upgrade and update - You don't have to completely renovate your home, but consider updating areas that are tired, such as replacing a kitchen counter and sink or replacing worn carpeting. Adding hardwood to a room or two is also helpful as this upgrade is becoming very popular to buyers, Linda says.

Make sure the price is right - Price your property right the first time, according to the current market conditions in your area. Some sellers believe that if they overprice their property, they have more room to negotiate or they can always reduce it later, Linda says. "This strategy can really hurt the seller." Prospective buyers will search for homes within their price range. If your home is listed too high, buyers may skip over it. 

Don’t worry about a closing date conflict - If you receive a great offer on your home but the closing date is up to 30 days later than the closing date of the property you already purchased, don't sweat it, Linda says. Most mortgage lenders will approve bridge financing for approximately 30 days, if all conditions have been removed and you have a firm sale. For peace of mind, speak to your current lender prior to listing your property to confirm this, she suggests.

Get the best representation - Your home is most likely your largest investment so you'll want to feel comfortable when you go to sell it. Start off right by selecting a real estate agent who you feel you can trust, Linda says. Find someone who has a solid marketing plan plus a proven track record of successful negotiated sales. 

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Top 5 Places to Buy Real Estate by Sunil Tulsiani

Top 5 Places to Buy Real Estate by Sunil Tulsiani by suniltulsaini

Investing in Hot Markets

Frequently, I am approached by investors throughout the country who think they cannot invest where they live because it’s a hot market. Currently, I live in an area ranked as the third hottest market in the country and am still finding great deals. And not only do great deals exist, but they keep getting better! 

So what am I doing differently? I’m focusing on doing fewer deals and selecting projects that will result in higher profit margins. Opportunities that will net in excess of $100,000 for rehabbing and at least $20,000 for wholesaling are most desirable. In the past, the average retail value of homes I purchased was about $75,000. Now I purchase homes in the $250,000 range or higher in order to achieve my desired margins.

To achieve these types of margins, I’ve begun pursuing the following types of deals:

Commercial Deals: Although buying, rehabbing and reselling commercial is not my top interest, high margins can be made by buying, improving and holding, or just wholesaling commercial deals. In hot markets there are always people looking for profitable commercial deals. If you don’t have the money to buy the commercial property yourself, consider wholesaling it to someone who has the money.

Land Deals: In hot markets, land is always a wise investment and is usually easier to sell than a home. This is primarily because there are many cash buyers waiting for land to build their dream home. In purchasing land, I look for properties that either have the potential for subdivision or have large parcels of land where a lot or two for new homes can be built or sold to a builder.

Obsolete Homes: In the 50’s, there were many homes built and a significant number were small, one bathroom ranchers. It was the American dream! Unfortunately, many people now believe ranchers are insufficient and worthless. This is a good thing for investors. In areas that are hot and have a number of these homes, investors are usually able to buy these ranchers for less than the value of the lot itself. In purchasing this type of home, I will either tear down the rancher and build a new one or build modern additions to make it more attractive to buyers. The key thing most buyers want is a minimum of two bathrooms. When I buy one of these homes slightly under or at market value, I can usually get about $2 back for every $1 in renovation and additions. If I buy a home for $200,000 and put $70,000 into it, getting $350,000 or more for the home isn’t uncommon. Another obsolete and hot item is a house on the water. Recently, I’ve been seeking small cottages on Baltimore’s waterfront (a.k.a. Chesapeake Bay) with the intent of tearing them down and putting up new homes. I’m able to occasionally buy an outdated cottage for $250,000, put a new home up for $200,000 and retail it for $600,000 or more. 

Condos: Builders and buyers can’t build enough of them. Taking old apartment buildings and doing condo conversions is hotter than ever. Do a nice job and make them luxury condos, buyers will be lining up for them. Of course, give consideration to location because condos are more desirable in some areas than others. For example, the Manhattan market demands condos. Everyone wants one. However, many are outdated with old kitchens, antiquated bathrooms and horrendous decorations, especially the wallpaper. Although condos in this area frequently sell for over $1 million, they are small and renovations are only needed to the inside of the units. That’s the bonus for investors – no exterior renovations. An AWESOME renovation will cost about $30,000-$40,000 and sell for $150,000 more in many cases. 

Pay Full Price and Still Make Quick Cash: There are always hot spots within hot markets. These are areas where people are lining up and waiting for homes to come available. There are more buyers than available inventory. People will make full price or higher offers the day listings come out, regardless of what the home looks like inside. They just want to get into the neighborhood. In pursuing these deals, I would do mailings in these hot neighborhoods and let people know that I’m looking to buy a home, am willing to pay them full price and can save them the realtor’s commission. I would sit back and patiently wait for the sellers to call. Because it’s a private sale, I would tie the homes up with very small deposits and then look to assign my contract to a retail buyer who is willing to pay more than I am to get into the neighborhood. Since no realtor is involved, I would negotiate a fair price with the sellers and get the benefit of the savings plus whatever the buyers are willing to bid over list price. When dealing in markets where homes sell for $400,000 or more, a $20,000 markup or more isn’t that big of a deal. When getting upwards of a million dollar home, $50,000-$100,000 is almost irrelevant to a motivated buyer.

The good news is this - there are opportunities everywhere, everyday. Think outside of the box and approach deals a little differently. With my focus on higher profit margins and the type of deals listed above, four deals now can net me $1 million or more. Before, I had to do about 100 deals to make that amount of money. For those of you who are ready, there is a ton of money to be made in high-end and hot markets. Don’t let a hot market stop you from doing deals – they’re actually easier to make money in than anywhere else. 

This article was originally published on REIClub. See it here

8 Surprising Real Estate Tips

Looking to buy a home? It’s better to be on a “Way” than a “Street,” pick a female real-estate agent and try to be close to a Starbucks.

That’s the advice of Spencer Rascoff, CEO of Zillow.com, who collected statistics from his site’s database of 110 million homes to find trends in real-estate pricing. Along with Zillow economist Stan Humphries, he has written “The New Rules of Real Estate” (Grand Central), out Tuesday. Some of his findings:

• The Starbucks effect. Take two identical homes sold in 1997. One near Starbucks would have sold for an average of $137,000, while the same home without a Starbucks would have sold for $102,000. Fast-forward 15 years: the average US home appreciated 65 percent to $168,000, but the property next to Starbucks skyrockets 96 percent to $269,000.
• All renovations are not created equal. The greatest return for your investment is a mid-range bathroom remodel, a $3,000 job that returns $1.71 for every dollar spent. The worst home improvements for value are kitchen remodeling and finishing a basement. A top-of-the-line kitchen reno will cost you $22,000, and you’ll only get about $0.51 back for every $1 you spend.
• Use the right words in a listing. Avoid “unique,” “TLC,” “investment” and “potential” — these could lower sale prices by as much as 7 percent. But words like “luxurious” for bottom-tier homes and “captivating” for top-tier homes could add 8.2 percent to your home’s value. Longer, more-detailed listings often sell for more.
• “When” is as important as “how much.” In New York, the worst time to sell is the second week of December (listings sold for 2.8 percent less than average). The best time is March, when homes sold faster and for 2 percent more.
• Seven is an unlucky number. Homes with “777” as their address sell for 2.1 percent less than their estimated value; house numbers that just include 777 (such as 17779 Main St.), sell for 1.8 percent less. Oddly, houses with just 7 as their number sell for 1.8 percent more than the estimated sale price.
• Psychological pricing works. Listings with a nine in the thousand digit ($450,000 vs. $449,000) sell anywhere from four days to a full week faster.
• Female agents tend to sell homes faster and for higher prices.
• What’s in a name? A lot of cash, according to Zillow’s data. Homes on named streets tend to be 2 percent more valuable ­nationwide than numbered ones (unless you’re talking about New York City, where it’s a wash). But Main Street homes garner 4 percent less than America’s median home value. Street names with Lake or Sunset will sell upwards of 16 percent higher. Suffixes also matter. Avoid “Street,” which has the lowest home values of $183,120 nationally, and find a “Way,” which has the highest home values averaging around $312,000.

This story was originally published on NYPost. See it here

10 Best Kept Secrets for Buying a Home

Get the most out of your money with these handy home-buying tips.

• Keep Your Money Where It Is - It’s not wise to make any huge purchases or move your money around three to six months before buying a new home. You don’t want to take any big chances with your credit profile. Lenders need to see that you’re reliable and they want a complete paper trail so that they can get you the best loan possible. If you open new credit cards, amass too much debt or buy a lot of big-ticket items, you’re going to have a hard time getting a loan.

• Get Pre-Approved for Your Home Loan - There’s a big difference between a buyer being pre-qualified and a buyer who has a pre-approved mortgage. Anybody can get pre-qualified for a loan. Getting pre-approved means a lender has looked at all of your financial information and they’ve let you know how much you can afford and how much they will lend you. Being pre-approved will save you a lot of time and energy so you are not running around looking at houses you can't afford. It also gives you the opportunity to shop around for the best deal and the best interest rates. Do your research: Learn about junk fees, processing fees or points and make sure there aren’t any hidden costs in the loan.

• Avoid a Border Dispute - It’s absolutely essential to get a survey done on your property so you know exactly what you’re buying. Knowing precisely where your property lines are may save you from a potential dispute with your neighbors. Also, your property tax is likely based on how much property you have, so it is best to have an accurate map drawn up.

• Don’t Try to Time the Market - Don’t obsess with trying to time the market and figure out when is the best time to buy. Trying to anticipate the housing market is impossible. The best time to buy is when you find your perfect house and you can afford it. Real estate is cyclical, it goes up and it goes down and it goes back up again. So, if you try to wait for the perfect time, you’re probably going to miss out.

• Bigger Isn’t Always Better - Everyone’s drawn to the biggest, most beautiful house on the block. But bigger is usually not better when it comes to houses. There’s an old adage in real estate that says don’t buy the biggest, best house on the block. The largest house only appeals to a very small audience and you never want to limit potential buyers when you go to re-sell. Your home is only going to go up in value as much as the other houses around you. If you pay $500,000 for a home and your neighbors pay $250,000 to $300,000, your appreciation is going to be limited. Sometimes it is best to is buy the worst house on the block, because the worst house per square foot always trades for more than the biggest house.

• Avoid Sleeper Costs - The difference between renting and home ownership is the sleeper costs. Most people just focus on their mortgage payment, but they also need to be aware of the other expenses such as property taxes, utilities and homeowner-association dues. New homeowners also need to be prepared to pay for repairs, maintenance and potential property-tax increases. Make sure you budget for sleeper costs so you’ll be covered and won’t risk losing your house.

• You’re Buying a House – Not Dating It - Buying a house based on emotions is just going to break your heart. If you fall in love with something, you might end up making some pretty bad financial decisions. There’s a big difference between your emotions and your instincts. Going with your instincts means that you recognize that you’re getting a great house for a good value. Going with your emotions is being obsessed with the paint color or the backyard. It’s an investment, so stay calm and be wise.

• Give Your House a Physical - Would you buy a car without checking under the hood? Of course you wouldn’t. Hire a home inspector. It’ll cost about $200 but could end up saving you thousands. A home inspector’s sole responsibility is to provide you with information so that you can make a decision as to whether or not to buy. It’s really the only way to get an unbiased third-party opinion. If the inspector does find any issues with the home, you can use it as a bargaining tool for lowering the price of the home. It’s better to spend the money up front on an inspector than to find out later you have to spend a fortune.

• The Secret Science of Bidding - Your opening bid should be based on two things: what you can afford (because you don’t want to outbid yourself), and what you really believe the property is worth. Make your opening bid something that’s fair and reasonable and isn’t going to totally offend the seller. A lot of people think they should go lower the first time they make a bid. It all depends on what the market is doing at the time. You need to look at what other homes have gone for in that neighborhood and you want to get an average price per square foot. Sizing up a house on a price-per-square-foot basis is a great equalizer. Also, see if the neighbors have plans to put up a new addition or a basketball court or tennis court, something that might detract from the property’s value down the road.
  Today, so many sellers are behind in their property taxes and if you have that valuable information it gives you a great card to negotiate a good deal. To find out, go to the county clerk’s office.
  Sellers respect a bid that is an oddball number and are more likely to take it more seriously. A nice round number sounds like every other bid out there. When you get more specific the sellers will think you've given the offer careful thought.

• Stalk the Neighborhood - Before you buy, get the lay of the land – drop by morning noon and night. Many home buyers have become completely distraught because they thought they found the perfect home, only to find out the neighborhood wasn’t for them. Drive by the house at all hours of the day to see what’s happening in the neighborhood. Do your regular commute from the house to make sure it is something you can deal with on a daily basis. Find out how far it is to the nearest grocery store and other services. Even if you don’t have kids, research the schools because it affects the value of your home in a very big way. If you buy a house in a good school district versus bad school district even in the same town, the value can be affected as much as 20 percent.
  

This story was originally published on HGTV. See it here

Sunil Tulsiani: Ex-Cop Becomes Real Estate Mogul

Police officers have a unique sense of perception. They use this unique sense of perception to analyze information and identify threats before they become dangerous.

This unique sense of perception has helped former cop Sunil Tulsiani rule Toronto’s real estate world.

The Toronto-based real estate investor has risen to prominence over the last few years. Over the past decade, Sunil has invested in hundreds of successful projects throughout the greater Toronto area. He has also released multiple bestselling books and founded the distinguished Private Investment Club in Toronto. Today, he’s a respected advisor in the world of real estate investment.

Before investing in real estate, Sunil Tulsiani spent 15 years as a police officer with the Ontario Provincial Police. He served throughout the Greater Toronto area.

In 2005, things changed: Tulsiani realized he had a passion for real estate investment. Despite having no business background and no real estate connections, Tulsiani began to invest in discounted investment properties.

That year, Tulsiani took an unpaid leave of absence from the Ontario Provincial Police and started his journey as an investor. It didn’t take long to see results.

After just one year, the results were astonishing: Tulsiani had invested in a total of 77 properties and was the first cop in the Toronto area to become a real estate millionaire. He was generating more income and spending more time with his family than he ever had as a police officer.

Tulsiani was hooked.

Amazed by his success, a friend told him to become a teacher. Tulsiani wanted to be more than that. After 15 years spent working as a police officer and a distinguished career as a detective and platoon sergeant, Tulsiani began to work full-time as a real estate investor.

Today, Sunil Tulsiani enjoys his newfound freedom. He spends equal amounts of time managing his investments as he does writing books, consulting other investors, and being a family man.

The Toronto Private Investment Club

One of Tulsiani’s proudest achievements is founding Toronto’s Private Investment Club (PIC). Founded in 2008, the PIC meets quarterly in the Toronto area and has hundreds of paid members.

The main goal of the PIC is to learn and connect with other local investors. Pooling knowledge and research together encourages – in theory – a more intelligent investing strategy.

Those who wish to join the PIC can attend a single meeting for free. After that, attendees pay to attend each successive meeting.

Bestselling author of multiple award-winning books

Sunil Tulsiani’s speeches were widely praised at Private Investment Club meetings. Encouraged by this support, Tulsiani decided to funnel his knowledge, creativity, and passion for investment into writing.

Tulsiani has published a number of books since 2005, including Cash Cow Properties, Make Big Bucks with Discounted Properties and The Secret to Winning Big. All of Sunil Tulsiani’sbooks explain how to analyze real estate investments to minimize risk and maximize return.

In 2012, Tulsiani reached new highs as an author. Tulsiani co-authored The Success Secret with other industry leaders from across Canada and the United States. The book was published by leading business book publisher CelebrityPress and quickly catapulted to the top of the bestseller list. On Amazon.com, The Success Secret achieved bestseller status in seven different categories, including Business Skills, Communication Skills, Direct Marketing, Marketing and Sales, Best Entrepreneurship, Marketing, and Small Business & Entrepreneurship.

After spending 15 years as a distinguished police officer and nearly a decade as a successful real estate investor, Sunil Tulsiani is proud of his achievements. Today, Tulsiani enjoys spending time with his wife and two children while continuing to experience investment success throughout the Toronto area.

This story was originally published on The Ottawa Star. See it here

Private Investment Club Reveals Five Best Places To Buy Properties In The Usa

Private Investment Club discloses five exciting places to buy real estate in the U.S. and generate huge positive cash flow.

Private Investment Club, the largest real estate investment club in Canada, has recently released a video where the company unwraps the five top places to buy real estate and maximize profits.

In the video released recently, which can be seen here, http://suniltulsiani.com/, Sunil Tulsiani shares his views on what he believes are the top five real estate investment spots in the U.S. that can help investors make massive amounts of positive cash flow.

The first place on the list is Tampa, Florida. According to Sunil Tulsiani, Tampa offers lots of real estate investing opportunities that can create huge amounts of positive cash flow safely.

The second place Sunil Tulsiani suggests is Youngstown, Ohio. This is especially amazing for Investors who are looking to generate huge amounts of positive cash flow and have access to completely fixed-up, three-bedroom, detached house for about $35,000.

The #1 best-selling author and real estate investment expert also suggests outskirts of Kansas City Missouri as the third top real estate investment place in the U.S. to invest.

“Atlanta, Georgia is the fourth of the hotspot for real estate investment,” says Sunil Tulsiani in the video. “The place has an impressive population and there are positive developments taking place all over, which can significantly boost returns on real estate investments made now.“

Lastly, Sunil Tulsiani suggests the outskirts of Detroit, Michigan as the fifth hottest real estate investment spot. Good properties are available for around $50,000 to $60,000 on which investors can get rentals of around  $800 per month. There are huge houses available here at below market prices that can fetch exciting returns.

Read more: http://www.abnewswire.com/pressreleases/private-investment-club-reveals-five-best-places-to-buy-properties-in-the-usa_15197.html

Top 5 Places To Buy Real Estate Today

Sunil Tulsiani : I recorded this quick video on our last PIC Event. We plan to use it for different purposes, so John put some music under it and made it look official. Hope you’ll like it!