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How to Profitably Exploit Zillow and Trulia to Find Deals (No, Seriously!)

Joe McCall | Deal-Getting
" We all know that Trulia and Zillow stink… …but Joe McCall is a tough guy who doesn’t put up with slack from anyone – not even Zillow and Trulia! In fact, legend has it that Joe is “The Chuck Norris of Real Estate”. As you might suspect, based on Joe’s previous lessons about investing and technology, he has found a way to judo chop these troublesome websites into useful, money-making weapons. And today he’s going to tell you how it’s done. But first, let’s commiserate for a moment, shall we?  Sometimes it is healthy to just vent with somebody who cares, and Zillow and Trulia have caused much grief for numerous Mogul members (like you?)… Zillow and Trulia are Not “In” with the Cool Kids It is no secret… For the past year, real estate blogs have been blowing-up with complaints about the numerous inaccuracies within Trulia’s and Zillow’s websites. Thousands of investors warn their comrades not to use these frustrating sites, and here is why: #1. Zillow and Trulia properties are often posted late! Their listings can be posted up to nine days late (whereas the MLS takes only a few minutes). By the time you find a lead, there are probably other offers on the property – or even worse, it could already be sold! #2. Trulia and Zillow listings are often unreliable!  Approximately 36% of the sites’ combined listings are actually off-the-market. These properties have already been sold, or are no longer available for sale. #3. Trulia and Zillow listings are never comprehensive!  Trulia only lists 81% of all properties that are actually for sale, while Zillow only lists 71% of available properties. #4. Trulia and Zillow listings use valuation estimates from Mars!  Only 33% of Zillow’s estimated property values are within 5% of the actual sale price, and only 50% of the site’s estimated property values are within 10% of the sale price. What’s that?  You don’t believe me?  Click here to check-out Zillow’s data for yourself.  (I’m not playin’…) So… How are can these frustrating sites be helpful to you? Despite their flaws, Joe McCall knows some helpful Chuck Norris moves that will turn Zillow and Trulia into your newest weapons for making profit!  (BAM!) What Makes Joe Tough: He Takes a Fist to the Competition In today’s competitive market, you gotta fight to stay in the game.  That’s why Joe is exactly the right person to demonstrate all the right moves: Joe has a black belt in the special niche of Wholesale Lease Options. It’s not easy to develop a masterful skillset in this area, but Joe mentors numerous students across the country. After developing his unique investing methodology, Joe surpassed his full-time income as a civil engineer and switched to full-time investing after just 3 months! (Double BAM!) Most recently, Joe has spent the past five years totally kicking a** (and taking names) in wholesale investing. He averages approximately $3,000-$6,000 a pop. So put on your protective gear and jump in the ring with Joe today.  Let him teach you a thing or two about maximizing your usage of Zillow and Trulia… …but beware of his deadly roundhouse kick! Watch Joe McCall in action, and learn from the master… {Mogul Elite: Download a transcript and MP3 of this lesson in the Power Pack tools for this lesson.}   "
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Super Awesome Way to Screen Tenants Online

JP Moses | REI Tech
" Renters – gotta love ‘em. If you’re lucky, some are responsible, considerate, and pleasant. However, on the other hand, some are less than model tenants. Some have criminal records… Some leave for months at a time without paying rent… Some skip town altogether… And some are just learning to play the drums, at all hours of the night – every night. (Where’s the Tylenol, eh?) The thing is, finding a solid tenant who has their shi… I mean stuff… together can be quite challenging, to say the least. But the next time you need to lease a property, enjoy protecting yourself and your property with a nifty website called My SmartMove, from TransUnion.  This online screening tool can help you do your due diligence on prospective renters, in order to help you get the right tenant – from the very start. Unsurprisingly, this website was recently referred to us by the one-and-only Joe McCall – who is one of our most tech-savvy Mogul advisors and a prolific contributor to numerous tech-related Mogul lessons. According to Joe, “This is the best one to recommend [for screening tenants online], because they don't have to do a huge background check on you. The tenant actually pays for the report, and then TransUnion sends the report to you.” Quick Sidenote #1:  For those who don’t know, TransUnion is one of the “Big Three” credit companies, so you can feel perfectly safe and secure using their My SmartMove service. Quick Sidenote #2:  If your tenant demographic doesn’t typically use computers (or if their legal status may be “questionable”), then this online screening process isn’t for you. But keep reading!  You may (hopefully) find yourself with a better set of tenants sometime in the future, and you‘ll definitely want to take advantage of this super cool tool whenever that time arrives. More Glowing Recommendations for My SmartMove As it turns out, Joe McCall isn’t the only one raving about this My SmartMove service.  Indeed, a few landlords got together to create this short and sweet YouTube video about the product, so I’ll let them speak for themselves before I breakdown some of the website’s key features. Check-out the rave reviews from these satisfied customers… The 4-1-1 on My SmartMove What is My SmartMove, and How Does It Work? My SmartMove is an online screening service for independent landlords and their rental applicants, created to help landlords make educated leasing decisions.  This service grants you (the landlord) access to the same tools for renter screenings that larger property management companies use. When someone want to rent your property, they can kick-start the application process by sending an email to you (or by finding some other way to share their email address with you). Here’s the simple process: Once an applicant shares his/her email address, the landlord submits a renter screening request to My SmartMove. At this point, both the landlord and the applicant are logged-in and active participants of My SmartMove. The applicant then receives an online application request through email, and can either accept or decline the screening. (Fingers crossed for his/her acceptance!) Once the applicant accepts the online application request, the applicant releases his/her credit history and criminal records to the landlord through My SmartMove. By the way, no personal information (including Social Security number) is released to the landlord, regardless of whether the applicant accepts of declines. The process is completely secure and private. (Note: SmartMove can only process applications for renters with valid U.S. Social Security numbers.) The landlord will then receive the credit history and criminal record information – and a customized leasing recommendation from My SmartMove – in order to help with the landlord’s decision-making process. The applicant is ultimately informed of the landlord’s decision. My SmartMove provides instant results, as soon as the renter has (i) confirmed his/her interest in an online application process and (ii) passed the website’s identity authentication requirements. The only delays would result from either party’s failure to complete the necessary information. Everybody Wins with My SmartMove Unlike other renter screening services, the applicant is the one who actually initiates the release of his or her credit history and criminal records with My SmartMove. This is a win/win for both the landlord and applicant or consumer, because it eliminates paperwork and lengthy approval processes (yay for landlords!), and it qualifies as a “soft inquiry”, which doesn’t impact the applicant’s credit score (hooray for tenants!). What Both Parties Need In Order to Get the Ball Rolling So what do you need in order to work the My SmartMove system? Just two simple things, my friend: Access to the Internet Individual email addresses (It’s important to note here that if there is more than one renter on the applying, each renter must have his or her own email address.) Will You be Able to Make an Informed Decision About Your Property? Yes, indeed, you will. My SmartMove combines TransUnion’s powerful data and analytics to give you quick, reliable results. You will get all the information you need to make informed, educated decisions about your applicants – in less time – and My SmartMove empowers you to screen effectively without compromising the privacy of the applicant's personal information. Good Stuff for Independent Rental Owners & Smaller Property Management Groups My SmartMove is such a valuable screening tool for independent owners and smaller management groups (who may not need daily, weekly, or even monthly access to their screening solution). Management firms who daily screen a larger number of applicants must also expend extra time and resources (ie. “more money”), in order to offer custom screening solutions.  But that’s not your game, right? My SmartMove offers web-based access to the same data and analytics used by those larger firms – with cost-effective pricing, quick and reliable results, and customized leasing recommendations. The Bottom Line: Get Smart with My SmartMove! My SmartMove offers property owners like you a smarter way to screen potential tenants. Unlike other background check providers, My SmartMove keeps the screening process clear, simple, and fast. They provide quick background checks, customized leasing recommendations, and a secure, private screening process. My SmartMove provides peace-of-mind (and a little slice of heaven?) for property owners who are sick of deadbeat renters. And the best part may be that My SmartMove packages cost only $25 to $30, depending on your interesting receiving full credit reports from applicants. This is a certainly small price to pay for such a time-saving (not to mention “sanity-saving”) tenant screening service.   "
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Give Your Phone a Secret Identity

JP Moses | REI Tech
" It’s hard to argue against the benefits of using virtual phone numbers. In addition to helping your business grow larger and more sophisticated, virtual phone numbers can also enhance your market-specific credibility in the area codes where you invest the most. Yes, having a virtual phone number (ie. a “secret identity”) can give your company a boost and a more established regional presence, no matter where your actual home-based business is headquartered. So I’ve got one word for ya – Vumber. What is Your Phone Number’s Secret Identity? Here’s the skinny about that “secret identity” stuff…  A Vumber is a virtual number (ohhhhhh), and with Vumber you can simultaneously enjoy several virtual numbers, or secret identities, on the same phone. Simply choose the area code on which you want to focus and link it to your home, cell or work phone. Your private phone number will be concealed while still allowing people to call your phone. Pretty cool, eh? And the best part is you can control how you handle incoming calls.  Here’s what I mean… When a call comes in, you can: Answer it (duh) Send the caller to Vumbermail (ie. voicemail for your virtual phone number) Give them a busy signal (“Talk to the hand,” if you will) Tell them the number is out of service Create a custom message for your caller Get Your Vumber in Three Simple Steps Setting-up your private Vumber number (fun to say!) is easy as falling off a log. (1) Sign-up with your selected area code. (2) Use Vumber’s fast and easy online tools to connect that number to your home phone, cell phone, work phone or other number. (3) Decide how you want to control incoming calls and SMS (see above list). Yep, seems pretty basic to me.  And with your Vumber, you can make and receive business calls without revealing your personal, private number. You can also: Add a business line to your personal cell phone Choose numbers in any U.S. area code Change your number as often as desired Call from your Vumber by dialing your Vumber then the recipient number Block anonymous callers Personalize your Vumber voicemail greeting(s) Setup your free 14-day trial instantly without complicated installations or downloads We’re all about awesomeness here at Real Estate Mogul, and I can say with confidence – as can my fellow investor and Mogul advisor Joe McCall – that Vumber is one super cool app oozing with awesomeness… Not only does Vumber let you make and receive calls and SMS from multiple numbers directly from the iPhone app, but they’ve even got bad cell reception covered. With Vumber, you can call out of Wi-Fi – and even 3G – and people can hit you back on the same number! A Real Game Changer for the Real Estate Investment Biz So Vumber sounds pretty cool, but can it improve the look, feel and success of your business? Many are saying “heck-to-the-yeah”, and here’s why: Your Ever-Changing Business As your business morphs and grows, you can use virtual phone numbers to simply point your phone number in different directions, rather than changing it each time your market changes. And as your business changes, so do the daily operations and systems you have implemented to keep your business operating like a well-oiled machine. With Vumber, you can change how your number is used, in order to make it more functional for you and your business. That’s much easier than changing your phone number time and again, right? Virtual Investing Renting a local number makes you look, well…local. And if you look local to the key players in your market, then suddenly you appear more knowledgeable, trustworthy and credible in their eyes. For example, if you live in LA but flip houses in Memphis, it would make sense to rent a local number in Memphis (“thank you, thank you very much”). Even if you can’t be local, you can at least appear local. Eliminate Awkward First Impressions We’ve all been there… Someone calls you but doesn’t leave a message, leaving you unable to discern the nature of their interest. Where they calling about business? Or where they calling about something else? If you don’t know, it’s challenging to greet them and introduce yourself for the first time upon hitting the “redial” button. But with Vumber, you will know it’s all about business, so you’ll know how to respond appropriately. Be in Control Vumber keeps your phone number private, which means you’re protected and in control of your communications and your identity. Plus, people can’t automatically Google your Vumber number, in order to find social media pictures of you, or other personal information. I mean, no potential business partners need to see pix of you from the bar last night, right? ;-) Track Your Response Rates With Vumber, you can easily assign different phone numbers to different marketing channels, in order to track different market-specific response rates.  This is especially helpful for virtual investors. Do you know which Mogul faculty member (and fellow virtual investor) is a big fan of this strategy? You guessed it; the aforementioned tech advisor, Joe McCall. Joe rents numbers in different markets and tracks his response rates in each one, in order to (i) keep his finger “on the pulse” of each market and (ii) better guide the direction of his investment business. Getting to the Bottom of Vumber Now, I know what you’re thinking; Vumber sounds a lot like Google Voice, right? Not so much. With Google Voice, you can only have one phone number per Google account, so you would need multiple Google accounts to accomplish what Vumber can do with just one. And with Vumber, you can change your number like you change your clothes. Plus you can get it cheap for both Apple and Android devices! After your 14-day free trial, you can continue using Vumber for only $10/month as a low-risk “no-brainer” real estate investment that could change how you and your business are perceived. With Vumber, you get a virtual phone number that is flexible, private, portable, and disposable – in addition to a private Vumbermail voice mailbox – without saying “goodbye” to your existing phone number (or the calls that go to/from that existing number). Moreover, you can enjoy peace of mind, increased credibility, and enhanced control over your own unique communication strateg(ies).   "
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Leveraging Agents When Wholesaling Lease Options

Joe McCall | Investing Strategies > Wholesaling
" Hey Moguls, Joe McCall here… Let’s quickly run things back... We’ve talked about wholesaling in previous lessons. We’ve defined lease options. Then we took it a step further and confused you even more (naaah) by discussing on a recent training call one of my favorite real estate investment strategies – wholesaling lease options. In short, you’ve acquired the knowledge to now fully grasp the thoughts I’m about to share with you. We’ve come full circle, and it’s time to build upon what you’ve already learned. Let’s get into this thing known as leveraging agents when wholesaling lease options. I know, I know. It’s a mouthful and a brainful, if you will, but I get questions all the time about working with Realtors when it comes to flipping lease options and how to best leverage those relationships. So, let’s get into it, shall we? First Thing’s First One of the main things I teach in this business is that you should either get your license or work with a Realtor who is licensed for marketing and selling your properties. That’s kind of a prerequisite to getting started, right? So what kind of responsibilities and assignments are you going to give that agent to do for you, and why even work with an agent? Bottom line is there are issues with brokering without a license, as we’ve often talked about. When you’re finding a property for another person, you become a principle in that transaction with equitable interest. My suggestion? Play it safe every time.  If you’re working lease options, and you’re flipping lease options, either get your license or hire a Realtor to market and sell the homes for you. You with me? So what part should your Realtor play? How much should the Realtor actually do? It’s simple. Everything. Make a to-do list of everything that needs to be done… At some point, you’re going to ask yourself, “How the heck can I get someone else to do all of this for me?” Don’t panic! Having your agent do all the behind-the-scenes work is the name of the game, so run with it. Your agent will become your master marketer, posting Craigslist ads, displaying bandit signs, taking calls, managing your website and collecting application deposits…just to mention a few responsibilities. Pay your agent one month’s rent or half of a month’s rent, whatever you feel is most appropriate. (Heads up regular wholesalers, because these are great tips for you as well.) Check Your Check List Be sure you checklist has 3 must-have columns: Your responsibilities Your virtual assistant’s responsibilities Your Realtor’s responsibilities Sometimes there’s a fine line between what you need to do and what your agent should be doing. Should you provide your Realtor with signs? Of course. Should your Realtor prepare and distribute them? Absolutely. Clearly define what each of your roles is, and you’ll stay on track. When to give up the Digits Let’s talk about virtual numbers. This one is really about personal preference... In my experience, using a virtual number that sends callers right to an informative voicemail is best. It’s a great way to answer common questions and drive buyers and sellers to your website without having to constantly intercept live calls. But it’s not for everyone.  Some people prefer to eliminate the middleman and the incessant game of phone tag by using their personal number. So if your agent rocks at follow up, then the virtual number might be an option for future reference. Prescreening in Moderation If your agent takes calls from tenant buyers, they should pre-qualify those buyers only to confirm they are actual rent-to-own buyers. It’s important to differentiate between a regular rental property and a house that someone intends to eventually buy. With that said, try not to pre-screen or pre-qualify callers too much. Massage the screening process when it’s necessary but always remember that your ultimate goal is to get them in the house, to see the house, period. Keep it Real If you’re going to work with an agent – and you should – be up front. Tell your Realtor that you have properties under lease options and that you’re either going to find tenant buyers, keep those properties for yourself, or wholesale them. It’s your call. After all, you’re going to rely on that agent for all the behind-the-scenes responsibilities, right? The process will flow much smoother if you’re sincere and forthright. Remember, your Realtor represents you NOT the seller. Here’s my final tip: If the property is listed with a Realtor already, it’s a done deal. Pass! Talk to Me Got any thoughts to share about your Realtor? Talk to me in the comments section below.   "
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