Main Line Real Estate - Christopher Benedict

With the turbulence of the stock market, people are interested in a solid safer growth of money rather than slow growth or high risk fast growth. Instead of saving all your income and using it for your post-retirement life, you can invest your income in a judicious manner to multiply it and earn much more from it. Buying investment properties is a hot option for that kind of a plan. Investment property is a property that is not occupied by the owner, usually purchased specifically to generate profit through rental income or capital gains. There are lots of convincing reasons for you to realize the benefits of investment properties.

Buying a property investment is where you make a small investment into a property, typically one still being built, which is known as an off plan property and then go on to rent it out to get good dividends, and then once raised in price, you can sell it to gain a profit or to purchase more property.

No investment today offers the stability and simplicity along with the excellent returns offered by investing in property. The stock market can offer high returns, but it is a very volatile and unsteady place. This is especially true for non-professionals and there are so many external factors that can effect your financial investment. Not to mention the fact that the major stock markets have generally been underperforming and property investment stands head and shoulders above other forms of investments. There are a lot of options when it comes to investing in property, as you can choose the option of investing in commercial property such as industrial/offices, hotels, apartments, retail shops and the list goes on. It can be a residential property; you can buy it and sell it at a higher rate for capital gain or rent it for regular dividends.

Property is now the wise investor’s weapon of choice. No other investment allows you to purchase with other people's money (Equity partners) and then pay this back with other people's money (the rental income from tenants), and hand off the day to day operations to a qualified property management company. Also, if you own a property, you can release equity against that property. Although there is no guarantee that states that your property will increase in value year on year, it is accepted that a well maintained property in a reasonable area will appreciate in value, because as rents rise, so does the value of that property to an investor who may want to purchase it.

Here are some points which are sure to make you flabbergasted about the profits of investment properties:

50% of individuals mentioned on The Times Rich List made their money through investing in Property.

A property worth just $15,000 just 30 years ago would be today worth around $300,000.

Equities or Stocks can be volatile, as with the .com crash, whereas a property is historically stable.

It is well documented that on average the value of a property doubles every 7 years.

As a Main Line REALTOR, I have had the opportunity of showing clients the benefit of investing in a property. I have taught them the value of working with a property management company and that it is imperative that you remove the emotion from the purchase and look at the property as an investment vehicle. The common misconception is that property owners are landlords, and that is simply not the case for many educated investors who put together a solid management team.

Branding involves the use of creating symbols that potential fans or "targets" will associate with you or your product.

Those symbols, when combined and attributed to your brand, are then known as your brands identity.

Personal Branding is reflected in everything you do or say as a business owner or REALTOR. The pictures you take, your signatures, your name, logo, interviews, logo art and anything audible or visual should all be taken into consideration when developing your brand identity.

If your business brand is still young (under five years), be careful of everything you do or say in public.

Build your own brand Identity - don't let the public do it for you. Compare your brand, to the branding of a musical group. Recently, Arctic Monkeys sold over 300,000 using only the internet to market their music. Arctic Monkeys came out of nowhere with their CD "Whatever They Say I Am, That's What I'm Not". Arctic Monkeys got lots of free press but not the kind they would have liked. News articles and radio features about Arctic Monkeys all said the same thing -"we don't know who they are or what they stand for". Well that's no way to build a brand.

With all of the free press Arctic Monkeys have received you'd expect them to be on every American teens lip's. Not so. Most American Teens don't even know Arctic Monkeys exist. Arctic Monkeys allowed the press limited access to their brand and the press did what they do best when the details are missing - they fill in the blanks with speculation.

If you are a young business brand don't let this happen to you. Tell the public what to think and say about you through press releases and brand building activities.

Let your brand account grow before you take deposits out of it.

With branding, consistency is builds equity. Once you have built your brand identity and start to get some good attention, leave it alone and let it create value for you. Consider your branding efforts as putting money into an interest generating account like a 401K. The more you put into the same account the more interest you'll get. The more interest you get the more money you'll get. Get it?

It took me years of wondering if my website name was too hokey. As a Main Line REALTOR in Pennsylvania, I coined the phrase and website, AskTheBigGuy.com. Partly because I am a “Big Guy,” but also because I dreamed BIG, I thought BIG and I wanted my business to be BIG! Over time, people grew to like the name, the fact that it was unique, and easily memorable. After a few years, people began to remember it like they remembered a cool piece of music or a hip new coffee shop….in other words, I grew a “fan” base. Now people call me out as, “Hey, it’s the Big Guy!” I even had a person call me five years after I sold their friend a property. They didn’t remember my name, but they remembered my brand!

Of course, much like artists and musicians who change their brand identity often, you won't have much success establishing a solid brand identity and will have a much more difficult time getting people to remember who you are or why they should buy your brand.

What you are shooting for is brand presence.

To have brand presence, you'll need to pick a target market, you'll need to build the associative symbols that represent your brand, you'll need to handle your young brand with care, you'll need to limit where and how you market your brand, you'll have to tell people what your brand symbolizes, you'll have to invest in your brand and let it grow for you without changing it.

As you follow the steps above you'll see your brand grow and give you a return on your investment.

Buying rental properties can be a great way to build your wealth. However, as in most real estate investments, it is sometimes difficult to know if you've found a good deal - especially the first time, and if you aren't working with a good property management company. Here are some things to look for to be sure that rental is a great investment.

Location. If traffic is heavier, rentals are easier to rent. A sign will often pull more response than an ad in the paper. If it is a nice locale, it will usually rent faster. This is also true of places close to amenities.

Numbers. Run the numbers. Get every last expense figured into your calculations, and be sure that you will have positive cash flow from the start.

High home prices. Look in towns with high home prices, as this creates rental demand. What do people do when they can't afford to buy? They rent.

Low maintenance buildings. Avoid cedar-shake roofs, and wood-sided buildings. Look beyond current expenses to how much maintenance the building will need. Low maintenance means less headaches and more profits.

Good rental history. Ask to see the rental history. Note how long residents are staying on average, and how well they pay on time.

Below market rents. Buying rental properties with below-market rents means you get to raise rents. Raising rents means you immediately raise the value, because rental property values are based on income.

Complies with zoning and fire codes. Have it inspected, and ask local officials if there are any problems.

Less than 20 years old. This is somewhat arbitrary, but if you limit your search to newer buildings, you will be less likely to have building code and maintenance problems.

Owner/manager that is out of state. These properties are often the best deals, because it is tough to manage a property from far away. An out of state seller is often more concerned with a quick sale than a high price.

Neighborhood is stable or improving. Stable is okay, but if you can buy in a neighborhood that is improving, you'll rent the units more easily, and therefore get automatic appreciation in value with time.

And of course, have in place a good property management team in place. They can reduce your headaches, and keep you out of the landlording business!

Paoli, PA, March 25, 2009 - RE/MAX Main Line - Paoli is pleased to announce that REALTOR Christopher Benedict, also known as the "Big Guy," has received his real estate broker's license for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. He will continue to specialize in residential and investment property sales in the Montgomery and Chester Counties, while expanding his property management services into parts of Delaware County.

"I am excited that Christopher has taken this extra step to acquire additional knowledge to deliver positive results in today's challenging Philadelphia and suburban real estate market," said Stephanie Benedict, Chris' wife and business partner. "Chris is a positive, confident REALTOR who puts people before profits, and strives to offer the best services to his clients."

Thom Toole, Broker of Record, of RE/MAX Main Line Real Estate is thrilled to announce that Christopher Benedict has just received his Brokerage License. "Chris has been a leader in the office and affords all his clients professional service both in Real Estate Sales and Property Management."

"The whole point in obtaining my Brokers License was to be able to offer our clients the highest level of customer service with knowledge and experience," said Christopher Benedict. "We at www.AskTheBigGuy.com put an emphasis on growing and part of growing involves learning and continual education."

Benedict just successfully completed extensive training and licensing through several learning options, including Polley & Associates in Newtown Square, as well as taking several intensive online courses through CareerWeb.com. To complete the Broker Course, you must be a fulltime agent for a minimum of 3 years, have completed 40 plus transactions, as well as complete all required courses. To sit for the state exam, Benedict had to complete 240 hours in courses that includes training in real estate law, management and commercial brokerage.

RE/MAX International Inc. (www.REMAX.com) is one of world's largest residential real estate sales organizations, with over 100,000 agents in over 7000 offices. 2009 RE/MAX International Inc. RE/MAX Is A Registered Trademark Licensed To RE/MAX International Inc. An Equal Opportunity Company. Equal Housing Opportunity. Each RE/MAX Office is Independently Owned and Operated.

Christopher Benedict, Broker-Associate - RE/MAX Main Line
Visit: www.AskTheBigGuy.com
Chris@AskTheBigGuy.com
610-935-3200 (office)
610-680-3688 (fax)

As the housing market cools, homeowners are looking to renters to fill their unsold homes. Many of these owners have little or no knowledge about being a landlord and the legal issues it entails. Philadelphia suburban REALTOR Christopher Benedict is seeking to help those dubbed, "accidental landlords" by offering free advice and tenant placement.

Paoli, PA (PRWEB) 5, March, 2009 - Rather than kick homeowners when they're down, RE/MAX Main Line REALTOR Christopher Benedict offers to aid the "accidental landlord". These are people who cannot sell their personal residences and are seeking to rent their vacant or unsold properties. Home owners can find more information or contact Mr. Benedict through his portal, http://www.ThisAgentWorks.com.

As more properties remain unsold, owners are becoming landlords by accident, many of whom turn to property management companies or real estate agents, rather than deal with the headaches of being a landlord themselves. While agents can find the owners a tenant, once the lease is signed, the owners are often on their own. These newly minted landlords often have little or no knowledge about tenant-landlord law, fair housing issues, or local ordinances.

Most real estate brokerages charge a fee for tenant placement. Property management companies charge a tenant placement fee, and then take a portion of the rents as commission to manage the property for the owner. Neither of these options may be suitable to a distressed owner. That is why Mr. Benedict is offering to assist in tenant placement fee-free, so more owners can afford to take advantage of having their property properly managed. This is an ideal situation for owners on a tight budget who are dreading the thought of dealing with tenant issues.

For additional information on the news that is the subject of this release (or for a sample, copy or demo), contact Christopher Benedict or visit http://www.ThisAgentWorks.com.

About RE/MAX Main Line REALTOR Christopher Benedict:
Christopher Benedict coined the brand, Ask The Big Guy in 2001. Something of a maverick on the ritzy Main Line, Christopher is developing a network of young, high-energy professionals who share his "Strength In Numbers" philosophy. Christopher Benedict specializes in working with investors, as well as continuing to provide real estate services for buyers and sellers on the Main Line and the greater Philadelphia region.

Contact:
Christopher Benedict
RE/MAX Main Line - Phoenixville, Paoli & West Chester
610-935-3200
http://www.AskTheBigGuy.com