Niman @TReXGlobal.com

Real estate investors are the most active buyer In the current markets. They account for more than 1 out of every 5 real estate transactions,and 75% of their purchases are single family homes, condos, and townhouses.

What are you doing NOW to grow your business with investor clients, and what actions can real estate professionals take to make investor clients want to do business with them?

I think it's important to put yourself in an investor's shoes, and think about how you can solve their pain points. When you provide investor clients with solutions that address their needs, they see that you have their best interest in mind, and you will become the person that they choose to work with.

So without spending any money, what kind of services can you provide that an investor wants? We're holding a 25 minute webinar this upcoming Friday at 11AM PST on "How to Market to Real Estate Investors," and I think you will find it pertinent. It will cover:

1. Why are RE Investors important to me?
2. How can I be successful with them?

You will also have an opportunity to participate and ask questions. Register by clicking here!

I read an excellent post in Monica O'Brien's "Resourceful Marketer" blog and I think everyone should check it out, "4 lessons from the food industry on how to make money in a recession – Hint: it’s not by cutting prices".

It’s too bad her insights can’t be found in textbooks! I think she had some really good advice that totally hitting the nail on the head. I agreed that cutting back in a recession is not always the way to go, and we can learn from other industries and apply that knowledge to our own.

Just the other day, I went to Home Depot - and it made me think about her post. Has anyone been to Home Depot lately? How do you think they are handling the recession?

I’m not sure how they are doing at the corporate level (had to shut down their Yardbirds and Expo Design Centers, etc), but this is what I noticed at the local HD I went to:
#1 Not Busy at all
#2 Way more sales associates than needed
#3 Everyone lined up, very nice, and ready to help

This was the first time I’ve ever gone to a Home Depot and WANTED to shop there. They were so helpful… and I bought so much stuff…

And it made me think - a person like me would normally avoid Home Depot (long lines, too many people, inconvenient, poor customer service, etc…) - and it is the current conditions at HD that is causing me to shop more there. I wonder how much this is the case for others… It wouldn’t surprise me if HD’s sales are up (in comparison to Lowes for example), because through employment of a better customer experience, HD is actually encouraging more sporadic spending from consumers.

Had Home Depot slashed its work force, I can’t imagine receiving the same level of service that I did, and I couldn’t see myself spending as much money as I did there. I think the average consumer would tend to have a similar reaction - and so in this case, it is clear to me that NOT cutting expenses (more layoffs) in a recession might actually be helping Home Depot survive.

Had I not read Monica's post before going to Home Depot, I probably would not have made the observations that I did – and so I thank her for her insights, because they get me to think about things differently!

Can’t wait to read her next post, and I definitely think you should all take a look!

Utilize your Network, and Get to Be Known!

Real estate investors know what they want, where they can get it, and they don't have much difficulty finding it. Very often, they will rely on their network and referrals to provide assistance when they are in need of help. Obviously, you want to be a part of this network that they will use – and so the million dollar question for today is, “How do you get there?”

You certainly won't make it very far if no one knows about your business, so the first step for any agent is getting to BE KNOWN in your area. In order to be known, you must UTILIZE YOUR NETWORK and employ resources that are readily available to you. Try building a relationship with local business owners and group leaders. Contribute to local organizations and participate in venues where you can volunteer your services. The more people who know about you and the service you provide - the better off you'll be.

Over the years, you will work with many different individuals who are involved in the real estate profession - like attorneys, mortgage brokers, property managers, stagers, and title officers. It is important to build a relationship with a team of talented people who you can rely on when you need access to resources or information. Utilize this network, because a good relationship with these individuals can lead to synergistic opportunities in the future. For example, a title company is a valuable resource for real estate agents, because they can help agents market to absentee owners in their area zip codes they specialize in.

The bottom line here is that when a client is looking for a service in a certain area, you want to be at the top of the list of known individuals who can provide it. Think of this as SEO (search engine optimization) - but in real life, not just Google. When an investor wants to purchase property, they will search through their network first before consulting with other resources. That’s why you should utilize this network that they are using to search, and be known within the first set of results.

We're holding a 30 minute webinar "How to Market to Real Estate Investors,”on Friday, May 1st at 11 AM Pacific Time. The presentation will focus on why real estate investors are important in the current markets and how to be successful with them. Click HERE to register.

The presentation includes the following:

* "Why are Investors Important" - This segment illustrates the size and buyer behavior of the real estate investor market based on recent studies and NAR data

* "How can I be Successful with Real Estate Investors" - This segment discusses investors' pain points, and how agents can create opportunities by helping to solve these pain points.

The webinar is free for ActiveRain members, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. You can register by clicking here.

Last Minute Tax Tip - Real Estate Taxes

Taxes paid on property assessed by a local government or other taxing authority are deductible when paid.

Common fees include taxes paid to your city, county, or school district.

If you have a mortgage, usually the total amount is reported on your mortgage interest statement (IRS Form 1098). In addition to real estate taxes, the interest recipient may use box 5 to give you other information, like the address of the property that secures the debt, and insurance paid from escrow.

Real estate taxes get reported on Schedule E if it's an investment property. Generally, the amount will not include taxes charged for local benefits and improvements that increase the value of your property. For example, real estate taxes connected with assessments for improvements are not deductible when paid. Instead, they are added to the cost of the land.

Last Minute Tax Tip - Hire Family Members to Manage Your Properties

Property management fees are fully deductible, so consider hiring someone that you don't mind paying, like a family member.

Obviously, the expense of your own labor cannot be written off, but that doesn't mean your spouse or children have to work for free.

By hiring family members, it won't bother you to pay management fees because the expense is fully deductible, and the money stays within your family :)

Keep in mind you'll have to withhold Social Security and Medicare taxes for the income you pay.

AND of course, hiring a professional is always a good idea. Your teenager might not be the greatest candidate to collect rent :)

Everyone's tax situation is different, and this information should not substitute professional advice. Taxpayers should always consult with their tax advisors to consider specific factors that might affect their situation.

Click here for the other tips. To learn more about saving money on taxes, try the property management software and other money saving real estate software from TReXGlobal.com.