Articles by Robert Shumake on ArticleSnatch.com

Robert Shumake: On Education

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:59:23 -0400

I seized the opportunity to play sports, and it taught me something I didn’t expect. By learning to work hard and stay focused on my running regimen on the Edwin Denby High School track team, I also learned to stay focused on my studies and work hard to succeed in all aspects of my life. Participating in high school athletics is what taught me the value of teamwork, dedication, perseverance and discipline. Now that I am a successful businessman (I am the CEO of a private equity firm called Inheritance Capital Group), I try to inspire the young people of the next generation. One of my efforts is tied to my love of running. The Robert S. Shumake Scholarship Relays (held every April in Detroit) represent my way of giving back to my community and helping young athletes achieve their dreams – not only on the track, but in life as well. I am so proud of this event because we highlight academic achievement right alongside athletic ability. Top academic scholars on each school’s team are given special recognition and awards. We also award scholarship money to all qualified high school students from participating schools. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake: The Double Bottom Line

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:57:12 -0400

Earlier this year, Bill Gates and Warren Buffett announced their Giving Pledge, in which they asked the world’s billionaires to give away the majority of their wealth within their lifetime. That’s essentially the same sentiment as my double bottom line theory – if your success in business brings you monetary gain, you have a moral obligation to use that money to make the world a better place. And while I’m no billionaire, I have had a fair amount of success. Inheritance Capital Group is fortunate enough to manage a portfolio of 3 million square feet of office and warehouse space worth more than $200 million. Our clients include GM, Lockheed Martin, Lufthansa, UPS, Reichold and Eagle Ottawa. As I always say, “We’re not your traditional real estate company; we buy corporate America.” So, I’m still in the process of gaining my fortune, but I definitely believe in giving a lot of it away. I think we all can find it in ourselves to give back, whether it be monetarily or just volunteering in your community. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Giving Pledge

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:54:59 -0400

Well, I’m not a billionaire. But I have had a good amount of success in business. My company, Inheritance Capital Group, manages a portfolio of 3 million square feet of office and warehouse space worth more than $200 million. Our clients include GM, Lockheed Martin, Lufthansa, UPS, Reichold and Eagle Ottawa. And we’ve been 100% occupied since the day we made our first deal. As I like to say, “We’re not your traditional real estate company. We buy corporate America.” I believe anyone who is fortunate enough to achieve monetary success has a moral obligation to use that money for the greater good. This is what I refer to as the “double bottom line” – the idea that if you make a profit, you have a responsibility to make a difference. And that is exactly what I’m trying to do in my hometown of Detroit – an area that seems to fall two steps back for every hard-fought step forward. Every single dollar that Inheritance Capital Group makes has an impact on the Greater Detroit community, because I am insistent on adhering to that double bottom line. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Geneating Alternate Income

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:53:39 -0400

Instead, they should be looking beyond the hope to make a few dollars and see their investments as a way to have money they may need in the future. Here are just a few of the eventualities that could make you really appreciate you have been investing on the side. Unemployment What if you were to lose your job? For many people, this is happening regularly lately. If you are one of those people, you will want to make sure you have money to fall back on while you try to find a new job, right? How much do you have in savings? Is it really enough to keep things up and running for months at a time? If not you may have to look other places to find the money you need to pay your bills. While it would be sad to lose your investment portfolio, those REITs and real estate mutual funds can be sold just like any other stocks or bonds on the stock market and put much needed cash in your hands to keep paying your bills. Retirement We all want to retire eventually, right? **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Thinking Positive about REITs Investing

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:51:12 -0400

Have you ever heard of the power of positive thinking? The idea behind the power of positive thinking is that if you have a positive mindset about things, you will bring positive things to yourself. Think about the people that walk into situations where the cards are stacked against them and don’t realize it. Often they are more cool and collected in what should be a stressful situation and shine. Sometimes they even come out better than anyone could have imagined. Meanwhile, someone who walks in thinking they are going to fail and have a horrible outcome usually get just that. The reason for these two outcomes is their mindset. The person who is positive and thinking in a positive light is sending that positive message out and they are getting positive results. On the other hand, the negative person is generating a negative atmosphere around them and drawing negative results to them. This not only relates to the person who is the subject, but also the people around them. Think about it. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

REITs Expert Robert Shumake says Obstacles are Natural

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:49:36 -0400

That is not the way real investing works. Real investors know there are always failures and setbacks. The key is to holding yourself together through them, making the best of the bad times, and using what you learn to do better in the future. Holding it Together The past few years have been a great example of the kinds of things that can go wrong and make a mess of your investment portfolio. Between real estate crashes, credit crashes, stock market crashes and the country dipping into a recession, it has been a rough time. Sadly for many investors it was made worse by the fact that they did not really know what they were doing with their investments in the first place. These investors got into investing because they thought it would be a fun, can't lose proposition that they did not study before throwing their money blindly. So, as everything failed they either pulled their money out, swearing never to invest again or watched all of their money disappear. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake REITs Expert Tips: Learn From Results

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:48:52 -0400

If you were to take a little time to watch your investments and learn from what is happening to them, you may be able to key yourself in on what is happening in the investment market and be able to make wise decisions that can help you make even more money to enjoy in the future. Watch Your Portfolio. If you want to know what is happening to your money and know how you may be able to make more of it, you need to know what is going on in your portfolio. Once upon a time it was a world where the only way you could really keep an eye on what was happening with your investment portfolio was to wait for monthly or quarterly statements to come in, or call your broker and ask. These days there is a much easier way. Most investment portfolios can be monitored online. Investors can log into their account any time to access up-to-date information on their investments. Know Your Investments The next thing you need to do is understand the investments that you are involved in. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Formula for Success Visualization + Education

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:47:22 -0400

These are two very different parts of the decision making process, and together can help you make wise decisions, if you use them properly. Emotional While you may think investment decisions are all based on money and math, there is much more going on in your mind when you decide whether or not to purchase a real estate investment trust or real estate mutual fund. The more you understand about the process and know how to use it, the more helpful it can be to your future investment decisions. Have you ever heard of mind over matter? In most cases this phrase is used when someone has an illness that doctors say cannot be cured, but miraculously, though the power of positive thinking, they are healed. Ever wonder what that is all about? Well, it is a testament to the power the mind has over the things we do. While you may not initially think this has anything to do with your real estate investments, you need to think again. In the same way that positive thinking can help someone be healed from an illness, it can also help to create a money-earning environment for you. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake REITs Investing: The Comfort Zone

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:46:24 -0400

Many people get into the same rut when they are in the world of real estate investing. These are people who purchase certain REITs or real estate mutual funds that they know and trust and hold on to them. Day after day their portfolio stays the same. Even if there are bad days, they don’t want to change anything because it is more comfortable to stay where they are. This is not how millionaires are made. Those who really make a lot of money in the real estate investment markets are willing to take gutsy steps on Wall Street and step out of their comfort zone in order to see greater returns. Initially this may sound foolish. Why do something that is uncomfortable? Well, we are not advocating stepping blindly into something new, that you don't understand. Instead, you need to get out of what you know and move into an area of new possibilities, and then find ones that will help you thrive. Education The first step in doing this is to educate yourself on the opportunities and options out there. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Keys to REITs Investing

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:45:35 -0400

Real estate investment trusts and real estate mutual funds are a more specialized portion of the investment world. Think of these as large real estate portfolios that can have a number of things inside of them from stocks to bonds to any of a number of other real estate offerings that are offered on the stock market. While you could study up on these on any number of investment websites, the difficulty comes in finding just the items you are interested in. If you are looking into real estate investment trusts, this is a more specialized market. You could spend hours going through regular websites just to find a few pieces of the information you really need. Instead, why not choose a site that is specifically geared towards your investments. Robert Shumake has created a site that is specifically dedicated to REITs and real estate mutual funds. This means you will not have to wade through page after page of information on the other investments out there that are not a part of your portfolio. Here are some of the things you need to be looking at: News – News regarding your industry is always important. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake REITs Investing Expert says Know when to Sell

Thu, 07 Oct 2010 02:44:48 -0400

While this seems like a common sense trio of options, you may be surprised at the number of people who have a tough time deciding which one to do and when to do it. The most common problem comes when deciding whether or not to sell. Many people who have made an investment want to stick with it hoping that the end result will be profitable; however, it things go sideways, they wantt to avoid holding onto a losing investment. Perhaps it is a fear of failure that leads to this situation. Maybe somewhere in their head they really do think that it will turn around and pick back up if they just wait out this tough time. Or maybe they are just not able to see the writing on the wall and ignore what is happening to their hard earned money that has been invested. No matter the reason, there are many people who just don’t know when to stop the bleeding from an investment. Instead of keeping items in your investment portfolio when they are failing or not working for you, you need to regularly look at your investments and ask yourself some questions. Is it making money? **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Real Estate InvestingTips

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:10:04 -0400

If you think of the major investors who have made millions and made a name for themselves in the investment world, you may notice that they are not just people who put their money on the line, but also people who talk to anyone and everyone in their field, trying to get a pulse on what is coming and what may happen next in the industry. The main reason you want to make sure to build up an investing network is to make sure you know what is coming (or about to go away) in your industry. One change in the real estate market in on sector often will translate to changes in all of the other nearby sectors, which in the long run can have a major impact on all of your investments. The sooner you see something coming, the sooner you can react and possibly save yourself a loss or set your self up to make a great profit. So where do you find this network of people? **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

Robert Shumake Discusses REITs Investing

Fri, 10 Sep 2010 07:08:17 -0400

According to Robert Shumake if you want to be a successful real estate investor in the stock market, bonds or real estate investment trusts, you can't just go in and spend money willy-nilly right and left and just hope to make a profit. While there are some people who choose this method of investment and luck out, making money, for the most part, this type of investing is about as wise as tossing your hard earned money in the fireplace. Instead you need to have a plan before you begin investing. Know Your Goal It is vital to have a goal and to keep it in mind when you start investing. What is the purpose of your investments? Be specific. Do you want to save up $500,000 for your retirement? Perhaps you want to save up $60,000 for the kid's college tuition? Maybe you just want to see how much wealth you can amass by investing $1000 a month into the real estate market. No matter what your goal, you have to know what it is and keep it in mind throughout your investment life. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â

5) Dr. Robert Shumake Clears up Myths about College Scholarships

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:45:31 -0500

Myth: Scholarships are only available to high achievers Truth: A lot of students are discouraged because they do not have a 4.0 GPA. Many people believe that you must receive all A’s in order to be considered for a scholarship. Though one of the most popular scholarships is an academic achievement scholarship, there are other factors that are taken into account. Students with B and C averages can also get scholarships. Myth: Scholarships are only for the poor Truth: Many institutions offer scholarships for the under privileged; however, there are scholarships that do not fall into this category. Many scholarships are awarded to middle class people and individuals who can afford to pay for college. Though most scholarships are based on need; some are based on merit. Myth: It cost money to apply Truth: There are groups and institution who charge a fee to do the work for you. They will search for a scholarship that fits your needs and process your application. Be careful working with these types of services as some of them are scams. Myth: You can only apply for one type of scholarship Truth: This is not true; **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> real estate tips]]> protect themselves]]> mortgage fraud]]> housing loan]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal

3) Robert Shumake Scholarship Relays and other Scholarship Opportunities

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:43:45 -0500

The most well-known type of scholarship is the academic scholarship where applicants must meet the requirements of the sponsor. Those who apply for an academic scholarship are highly proficient and maintain good grades. Also well-known is the athletic scholarship for applicants who possess athletic talent. Since there are so many applicants for this type of scholarship, competition is high. The annual Robert Shumake Scholarship Relays takes place in Detroit, usually around the last Saturday in April. This is the largest independently sponsored High School track meet in Michigan and they have received strong political and community support from political leaders in Detroit and Pontiac. Prizes, trophies and scholarships are awarded to students for academic achievement and athletic abilities. Colleges and universities offer both academic and athletic scholarships. There are many other types of scholarships available to those who cannot afford to go to college. Institutional scholarships are offered by sponsors who are committed to providing students with opportunities to go to college. There are institutions that grant scholarships to minorities, women and disabled people. There are those who offer free education based on a specific field of training such as business, law, science, or medicine. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> real estate tips]]> protect themselves]]> mortgage fraud]]> housing loan]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal

Financial Aid, Grants and College Scholarships

Tue, 10 Nov 2009 06:40:44 -0500

Financial aid and scholarships can be paid directly to the student to cover tuition, books, fees and other expenses. In some cases the education financing is paid directly to the university or college. There are many agencies that award scholarships including government, community groups, clubs and charities to name a few. Most high schools provide information about applying for college scholarships and financial aid. Let’s clear up a myth about college scholarships; many believe that scholarships are only available to students with high GPAs. The fact is, almost every student can be eligible for a scholarship depending on their abilities. Scholarships are not only available to high school students who plan to go to college, but also to students at all college or university levels. Students can apply for scholarships for a number of reasons, including academic ability, sports, field of study or even for those who follow a certain religion or live in a particular city or state. The process of applying for scholarships and grants can be quite a task. Begin by doing internet searches to find out what is being offered and what you are eligible for. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> real estate tips]]> protect themselves]]> mortgage fraud]]> housing loan]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal to inform the public on how to protect themselves from being victims of this crime.â Robert Shumakeâs mission is to inform the public about mortgage fraud and real estate scams and to provide tips on how to avoid being a victim. âSometimes people will commit identity theft to obtain a housing loan, sell someone elseâs house or take over someone elseâs property,â says Shumake. âIt is my goal

Use the Economic Downturn to Your Advantage

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:03:35 -0400

So what is an investor to do? for many people the answer is to run for the hills. They are taking whatever money they have left out of the market and hoping to make their profits some other way. Sadly, this is the complete wrong answer in this situation. In many sectors you should be doing just the opposite. You should be investing. One such market is real estate. Let's take a look at what has been happening in the real estate market in the past year or so. The value of real estate has dropped, occupancies in commercial real estate has dropped and with it the value of REITs (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and real estate mutual funds. In many cases, these investments are at an all time low. That means a wise investor will be pooling his or her resources right about now to start a buying spree. For some reason most people think that when things are going great on the stock market is when they should buy. They hear the market is booming and that everyone is making lots of money on the market and that's when they buy in. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

Look For REITs with the Green Seal of Approval

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:03:13 -0400

When you are investing in REITs and real estate mutual funds, how often do you really think about where the money is going in the long run? You think about your investments in a manner of what will make you profit, right? But why not think about if the companies you are giving your money to are working to be as green as you are? While you may think this is a great idea, how do you know if a REIT or real estate mutual fund is really green? anyone can say they are environmentally friendly, but can they prove it? One thing you may want to look for is those REITs and real estate mutual funds whose buildings have a good green rating. What you need to be looking for is a LEED or Energy Star rating. LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. Both of these rating systems take a look at a lot of aspects of construction projects. From being energy efficient to conserving water and building with sustainable resources, there are a number of ways real estate entities can be ranked in these rating systems. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

Going Green While Buying Real Estate Investment Trusts

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:02:44 -0400

First and foremost you know you want to put your money into real estate. You are confident about real estate and think that is the best place to allow your hard earned cash to grow. You started your research into the real estate investing market by looking at stocks, bonds, mutual funds and the other investment options on Wall Street. If you are like a lot of people, now that the research is done, you are pretty focused on two categories - real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate mutual funds. REITs and real estate mutual funds are essentially portfolios that you can purchase into. By purchasing a share of a REIT, you are in fact purchasing shares of a number of different investments in the real estate arena. But beyond just knowing you are purchasing into real estate interests, you may also want to know that you are purchasing ethically wise investments. For many people today, knowing what are environmentally friendly decisions to make is very important to them. So, how do you make sure your investments are environmentally sound? **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

3 Tips for Finding A Good REIT

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:02:16 -0400

Annual Report The first thing you need to do is get your hands on a prospectus or annual report for the REIT. Just like anything else you are going to put your money into, you need to know more about the investment and what it has done in the past. If you think about it, you do this in many aspects of your life. If you are going to buy a car, you look up it's reviews and history of performance. Why wouldn't you do that when you are investing money in REITs? You should! Once you get the annual report, take a look at the performance for the past year (or longer if it's mentioned). Remember to take into account the market conditions overall in the past year when you look at the numbers. Management Team The next thing you are going to want to really take a look at when it comes to REITs is the management team behind the REIT. Do your research and get to know who is going to be making the decisions relating to the money you have invested in your REITs. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

What To Know Before You Invest In REITs

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:01:36 -0400

There has been a lot of talk about REITs in recent years. They are great investments that many get involved in as a way to have their small piece of the real estate pie, while not having to purchase property and deal with all of the hassle that goes with that route. But what do you really know about REITs? Before you invest, you owe it to yourself to know as much as you can about the investment you are going to put your money into. After all, we are talking about taking your hard earned money and putting it on the line. Donâ€™t you want to know what the chances are you will see that money grow rather than go away? Before you begin your investment into REITs you need to get to know the history of a REIT. Take that REIT name and look it up. There are plenty of places to do this, but if you want to save yourself a little time, try using the same place you will be buying and watching your portfolio. In the world of REITs the place for this is REITBuyer.com. REITBuyer. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

Top 5 Advantages to Investing in REITs and Real Estate Mutual Funds

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 06:00:48 -0400

While a lot of people think that REITs (real estate investment trusts) are nothing different than those other investments, the truth is there are some major differences and major advantages to real estate investing through REITs. Professional Managers Unlike when you do your own stock market investing and you rely on your thoughts and research to decide when to buy, sell and change your holdings, when you are working with REITs, you will have professional managers working for you. Generally those who are managing REITs are considered the best of the best in investing and are known for bringing great returns to their clients. Liquidity While many other real estate purchases you may make will have you bound to a literal piece of property and a lot of paperwork, REITs still let you get into the real estate market without all that hassle and hold up. That means if you need your money, or think there is going to be a turn in the market, you can pull your money out quickly, as it's as liquid as other stock market investments. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

Gaining Diversity Through REITs and Real Estate Mutual Funds

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:58:00 -0400

By their very nature, REITs and real estate mutual funds are diverse. Instead of purchasing one stock or bond at a time, by purchasing the REIT or real estate mutual fund you will be purchasing into a number of stocks, bonds and other offerings at the same time. But this still may not be as diverse as you think it is. While in theory this sounds like a great idea, you really need to know what is inside those REITs and real estate mutual funds to find out if you have in fact diversified. For many people who purchase REITs and real estate mutual funds, they find out later that all the diversity they thought they had was really a lot of very similar REITs that had their money all in essentially the same place with often 7 or 8 of the top 10 investments being in the exact same places. More Than a Name When you are first looking for REITs and real estate mutual funds, there is more than the name of the fund you should be looking at. Donâ€™t get me wrong, the name is important. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

Understanding Changes in Your REITs and Real Estate Mutual Funds

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:57:23 -0400

These are both a good way to get yourself into the real estate market without having to be out tens of thousands of dollars or more. REITs and real estate mutual funds are portfolios of stocks, bonds and other Wall Street offerings that are specifically geared towards real estate. Really, they could be nearly anything from construction companies that build new buildings to the real estate interests that are going to manage those buildings once they are built. For most people the process of getting into REITs and real estate mutual funds is easy enough. They log onto a website like REITBuyer.com and look at all the offerings out there. If you know what you are doing it will not take a lot of research to find a REIT that is right up your alley and make a purchase. While you can do this on any website, if you donâ€™t want to wade through pages and pages of investment information that doesn't apply to you, you may want to stick with a site like REITBuyer.com. The reason for this is that REITBuyer. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.

Getting to Know Hotel and Resort REITs

Mon, 05 Oct 2009 05:56:51 -0400

While you know you donâ€™t have the cash on hand to purchase pieces of property outright, you also know you can take the money you do have and invest it into some of the real estate interests out there. This may have brought you to discover real estate investment trusts (REITs) and real estate mutual funds. These are portfolios of investments that are especially targeted to the real estate industry. But did you know you could get REITs that are even more specialized? Down to the type of real estate industry they invest in? In this article we will take a look at hotel and resort REITs. Just as the name implies, hotel and resort REITs have their money focused into hotel and resort offerings. Hotels and resorts can be big money. After all, most people who want to escape the regular 9-5 donâ€™t think so much about what they are spending on a vacation get away. As a matter of fact, they tend to go into a vacation knowing they are going to splurge and spend more than they had planned and are ready to deal with that when they get home. **End Summary** Topics: mortgage fraud]]> Real Estate]]> Mortgage]]> real estate scams]]> re]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> R. M. Maupin is a college instructor and investor with over 20 years experience as a real estate professional. He has bought and sold over 3,500 residential and commercial properties using many techniques including lease options, land contracts, hard money and conventional mortgages. In addition Mr. Maupin is also an internet marketing professional who teaches courses and provides the service to businesses in many market areas in the US.