Vote Online for Charity to WIN $10K to Transform Neighborhoods -Time is Running Out

Transform a Neighborhood is a non-profit start up designed to improve lives and neighborhoods. Many of our neighborhoods today are suffering as a result poverty and crime,and these problems are being exacerbated by the foreclosure crisis and houses sitting empty. In many of these neighborhoods, it is nearly impossible for those empty houses to be sold because lenders do not want to lend in these neighborhoods. Unless there is a collaboration of residents, governments, charitable organizations, and investors, this problems will only become worse. Transform a Neighborhood's mission is to facilitate that collaboration, as well, as take an active role in the neighborhoods by bringing volunteers and investors. You can visit the website where there are a couple of videos if you like http://www.transformaneighborhood.org/ .


Transform a Neighborhood has been entered in an idea contest to WIN $10K, which will provide start up capital for the organization. Your vote can potentially help many many lives and neighborhoods!

Yesterday I was reading Bruce Wilkinson's Prayer of Jabez. Bruce talks about the part of the prayer where Jabez pleas for more territory. This part of the prayer is where you ask God to enlarge your life so you can make a greater impact for Him. I love the next part as Bruce writes, "...we can see that there was more to his request than a simple desire for more real estate. He wanted more influence, more responsibility, and more opportunity to make a mark for God."

I have always prayed to be given the opportunity to positively impact lives and am thankful that I have been given the privilege to do that personally and through my profession as a coach and speaker. Transform a Neighborhood is bigger calling and it's definitely about more than a simple desire for more real estate. It's about answering the call to do something bigger and helping change lives in a big way.

Winning the Ideablob Contest would jump start this organization and mission, but there's a stiff competition to win the $10K. Today we are in 2nd place, we were in 2nd a few days ago and then fell to 3rd and then went back to 2nd. We only have until tomorrow, Thursday 8/21 to receive votes to help the idea to the finals. Every vote makes a big difference. This week has been so incredibly exciting as friends, family, colleagues and clients have not only shown their support by voting but many have also spread the word to their other contacts. It is fun watching the votes roll in over email as the days progress. Every time I hear the email sound, I say, "Hope it's a vote." Wow, there's one now -just as I write this.

I'd appreciate your vote and/or advice on Transform a Neighborhood, which you can give at
http://www.ideablob.com/ideas/2927-Transform-a-Neighborhood-TAN-

There's a quick email and user name sign up required but the company does not send you a bunch of junk email. However, if we make it as one of the sprint winners this week then we will make it into the finals. I believe that if we make it to the finals, you will get an email next week letting you know to vote for your favorite finalist.

Thanks to everyone for your support!

Foreclosures -What's Right & What's Wrong about Foreclosure Information

Foreclosure.com sent me this interesting article from Inman News

The Impact of Fraud & Foreclosures on Real Estate Investors

Fraud and foreclosures have a huge impact on investors. On one hand, foreclosures as a result of mortgage fraud and the sub prime fall out create huge opportunities for investors to buy at deep discounts. This is low hanging ripe fruit. On the other hand, the reality is that there are numerous negative ripple effects from fraud and foreclosures, which is causing the tightening of standards on investors and making it harder to do business. This is the rotten fruit; and it really stinks!

Certain zip codes have really been hit hard with fraud and foreclosures creating issues for neighborhoods and for real estate investors. The neighborhoods are sitting with vacant and boarded up houses. Normally, this would be great for some investors, who love to buy these types of properties; but the problem is that due to all of the fraud and issues around values of these properties, lenders do not want to lend in certain zip codes. Ethical quick turn investors and wholesalers sit with an inventory of properties in these areas with no means of their clients obtaining funding for them to move the inventory unless they take a loss. Neighborhoods with high vacancy rates and boarded up houses usually have issues with criminal activities such as break ins, theft, drugs and prostitution. How does this change when there are no funds available for these certain zip codes to begin repairing the problem?

Another big and growing issue is identity theft, which has an impact on landlords. With all of the identity theft, the big credit reporting agencies are now requiring tenant screening companies to perform a much more thorough inspection on any company or landlord who applies for tenant and credit screening services. The tenant screening company must now check your credit before providing services and perform an inspection of your office to ensure that you have the proper security measures around applicant’s credit information kept in your office. By the way this inspection is done at your expense.

Fraud and foreclosures displace tenants, causing agencies such as the Atlanta Housing Authority (formerly Section 8) to require more paperwork and thorough investigation of landlords. In addition to all the former requirements, now requirements include an authorization to release information regarding the mortgage on a property (to verify that the mortgage is good standing), proof of incorporation if you are incorporated and/or using a management company that is incorporated, and authorization to check your credit as a property owner. Although this is a reasonable effort to protect tenants, it seems a little invasive for landlords.

Legislation is another issue for investors. Unscrupulous investors using creative investing techniques in unethical ways are taking advantage of people. These people end up in court and the next thing you know, states are trying to outlaw the creative investing techniques all because they have been used in an unethical manner. This is unfortunate especially considering the fact that these same techniques are great when used properly.

For real estate investors, the ripple effects of fraud and foreclosure are long and wide. Although there are negative effects, there is also a very positive side and an opportunity. The key is in being prepared. Prepare your investing business for the rotten and the ripe fruit, the costs and the benefits of today’s real estate investing market. “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” ~ Elmer Letterman