Monday, September 14, 2009

What Is HUD and What Does It Have to Do with the Foreclosure Cleanup Business

As an investor, seasoned or new, you will often have to deal with property preservation companies and foreclosure cleanup crews to ready your property for rental or sale. Here's an interesting article that gives a peek at what they're all about and their relationship to HUD:

What Is HUD and What Does It Have to Do with the Foreclosure Cleanup Industry

HUD is the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) is part of the organization.

The FHA provides mortgage insurance to specifically reimburse mortgage lenders if a buyer defaults on their mortgage. Lenders can file a claim with the FHA when they are forced to foreclose on an FHA-insured home because the owner has defaulted on the payments. The FHA will reimburse the balance due on the mortgage and convey title of that property to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, following certain rigid rules and regulations.

Simply put, a "HUD Home" is a residence acquired as a result of foreclosure on an FHA-insured mortgage loan. When these homes are foreclosed on (and it's happening in record numbers), someone has to inspect, cleanup, secure and manage them through the selling process.

With the number of foreclosures on the market today held by the organization, property management has become an incredible task for the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The organization has a need to manage and sell a sizable inventory of single-family homes like never before.

HUD's Foreclosure Cleanup Arms

The organization has arms in the form of M&M Contractors ("Management and Marketing" Contractors). These M&M Contractors market and manage single-family properties owned by, or in the custody of, HUD.

As a foreclosure cleanup business owner, you need to know the M&M's role because their payment guidelines, mandated by the organization, directly affect what you ultimately get paid in your foreclosure cleanup business.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development didn't begin outsourcing the disposition of these properties to the private sector until 1999.

The organization currently has contracts with several firms who provide M&M services in several contract areas throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, the Caribbean, Guam and the Northern Marianna Islands. The organization has an ongoing need for these services and is building on the success of their existing outsourcing program.

The Frontline

The M&M Contractors are part of the frontline when it comes to managing these properties.

The M&Ms report to one of four HUD Homeownership Centers (HOC). HOCs are located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Atlanta, Georgia; Denver, Colorado; and Santa Ana, California. Each HOC is responsible for a designated geographic area.

M&M Contractors are administered by a Contracting Officer (CO) and a Government Technical Representative (GTR) located in the Homeownership Center to which they report.

Remember, as a foreclosure cleanup business owner, you need to know the M&M's role because their payment guidelines, mandated by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, directly affect what you ultimately get paid in your foreclosure cleanup business. Even if you are not dealing with the organization's homes in great numbers now, their pricing guidelines trickle down in the property preservation industry "pricing expectations."

Good luck with your foreclosure cleanup business!



Check back often for leads on Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures and information on purchasing Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures!
Blog by Cassandra Black


Follow Cassandra Black on Twitter: http://twitter.com/foreclosuredirt
Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures


Thursday, September 10, 2009

$2,900 Home in Atlanta (Under 3K!), Whoa!!!



What can you buy for 3K today? A home... wow! Cute little dusty muffin in the West End area of Atlanta. You can best believe it needs some TLC, but for $2,900 you can't go wrong. Here's the scoop:

Price: $2,900
Address: 1114 SIMS STREET, ATLANTA 30310
County: FULTON
Bedrooms: 2
Full Baths: 1
Half Baths: 1
Type: Single Family
Style: Ranch
Year Built: 1925
Tax ID: 014 00870008054
Annual Taxes: $1,155 (2007)

To make an offer, contact Mike below:

Agent: Mike Costigan
Phone: 770-955-3655

Office: COSTIGAN REAL ESTATE GROUP
Office: 770-955-3655

Deal, deal, deal, no matter how you slice it! Go for it!



Check back often for leads on Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures and information on purchasing Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures!
Blog by Cassandra Black


Follow Cassandra Black on Twitter: http://twitter.com/foreclosuredirt
Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures


Wednesday, September 9, 2009

Historic West End Bungalow, 3BR/1BA Only $7,400


What can you get for under 10K in Atlanta? Check out this bungalow in the historic West End area for $7,400. See details below:

Price: $7,400
Address: 956 ASHBY GROVE
ATLANTA 30314
Subdivision: HISTORIC WEST END
County: FULTON
Bedrooms: 3
Full Baths: 1
Half Baths: 0
Type: Single Family
Style: Bungalow,Traditional,Townhouse
Lot Size: Less than .5 Acre
Year Built: 1942
Annual Taxes: $575 (2008)

I know you're thinking about it! Call Gary at 770-493-6662, or send him an email (gary@teamtice.com) to make it happen. I'll be awaiting the Open House invite when it's all spruced up.

Good luck!



Check back often for leads on Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures and information on purchasing Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures!
Blog by Cassandra Black


Follow Cassandra Black on Twitter: http://twitter.com/foreclosuredirt
Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures


Monday, August 31, 2009

Investors Should Tweet-tweet: Tips for Effective Tweeting for Small Business Owners

Twitter, Simplified: Using Twitter to Grow Your Business

Twitter, tweeting? What’s it all about? In a word: networking. Twitter is a simple concept that allows people to stay connected using quick messages that can be viewed at Twitter dot com by pretty much anyone.

Many people have termed tweeting “micro-blogging,” a daily accounting of your doings, but instead of as a blog, in quick online texting. Twitter is unique in that it’s a fast, simple way to grow your database and reach out to your network daily in fast snippets.

The concept for Twitter was created by a gentleman named Jack Dorsey. Jack simply wanted to know what his friends were up to. Not too long after that, a business was built around the concept of asking people one simple question, "What are you doing?"

Some industry experts indicate Twitter has over 14 million visitors and has well over six million registered users, with that number predicted to double by the end of this year and triple in 2010 to 18 million registered users.

Twitter has become a powerful networking tool for small businesses, though Twitter can be used for small business networking, or by individuals simply seeking to stay in touch with family and friends.

When you visit Twitter’s website, you can create an account with a username and password, and you can upload a photo of yourself if you want. You can also list your company’s website address, which, as a small business owner, is invaluable.

You must answer, “What are you doing?” in under 140 characters. Your answer is considered “tweeting.” You can send your answers, “tweets,” via the web, by texting using your cell phone, or via instant messaging.

You can “follow” other tweeters online with the click of a button. Simply search for individuals by their name or business name and click the “follow” button. When YOU get a new follower, you are sent an email saying so-in-so is following you via Twitter. From this email, you can view that person’s Twitter profile with the click of your mouse. You can then click out to their website and get their contact information. From there, you can reach out to that individual to establish a relationship beyond Twitter.

Not only is Twitter is a nice ice breaker in growing your networking list, another benefit is subtle accountability. Once you set up your Twitter account, your small business will have an online audience. If you don’t show up to tweet regularly, your followers may wonder what has happened to you and your business.

The majority of busy entrepreneurs appear to view Twitter as the best thing since sliced bread. However, some users find the site to be overloaded with blatant advertising, which can be distracting.

As a small business owner, try using the personal approach in tweeting. Here are some helpful tips to assist you in effective tweeting:

• List your company’s website address in your formal Twitter profile, NOT in your tweets.

• When possible, tweet between the hours of 7:30 and 10 a.m. EST. (best traffic)

• Use your real name instead of your company name so people can get a peek at you. Why? People tend to do business with “people” they like.

• Tweet “real stuff” instead of business fluff. Here’s a sample tweet: “Online marketing this morning. Heading to park for exercise. Gearing up for long week next week w/new foreclosure cleanup business client.” You can tweet an article or other information every now and then, but, in most part, trying giving people a glimpse of your daily doings.

• “SEO” your tweets. SEO stands for search engine optimization, which is simply using key words and phrases that make it easier for people to find you online. Use popular industry key words and phrases in your tweets that will drive traffic to your tweets, which in turn, will drive people to your website and ultimately your business.

Remember, tweeting is simply a form of networking, getting your or your business’ name out there, growing your mailing list, and letting existing and potential customers and colleagues know your business exists.

Twitter can be a powerful social media marketing outlet for busy small business owners when used effectively. To stay on track, always keep your ultimate tweeting goal in mind: to make contacts and grow your business. But by no means do you have to be stodgy and formal. You can have fun with Twitter.

Happy tweeting to my investors out there!


Cassandra Black, CEO, Foreclosure Cleanup, LLC, Author, Pricing Guide for Foreclosure Cleaning & Real-Estate Service Businesses



Check back often for leads on Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures and information on purchasing Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures!
Blog by Cassandra Black


Follow Cassandra Black on Twitter: http://twitter.com/foreclosuredirt
Cheap Atlanta Foreclosures