Michigan Landlord Magazine: Special Edition Conference Guide 2022

FEBRUARY 2 022 | rpoa onl ine. o rg

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Thank You VredevoogdBrummel Risk Management & Insurance for Being This Year's Conference Underwriter!

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FEATURES 4

WELCOME NEW MEMBERS!

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MEMBER-TO-MEMBER DISCOUNTS

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UPCOMING COURSES AND EVENTS

ARTICLES

Vredevoogd-Brummel Risk Management & Insurance is the underwriter for our annual Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo on February 24-25, 2022 in downtown Grand Rapids, MI! Click here to register.

Vredevoogd-Brummel Risk Management & Insurance's unique approach to the insurance purchasing process helps you to have a better understanding of your unique needs, and meets those needs with planning and policies that both fit the situation and the budget. Their mission is to help protect the assets and financial futures of their clients while being a source of stability for their team and community.

You can learn more about VredevoogdBrummel Risk Management & Insurance by visiting their website at insurancewestmichigan.com or give them a call at 616-797-9988 to get a quote today!

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UNCENSORED INTERVIEW WITH NICK SIDOTI

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FINDING MORE REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT DEALS ON THE HIDDEN MARKET BY TONY YOUNGS

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THE ACTIVE REAL ESTATE INVESTOR VS. THE PASSIVE REAL ESTATE INVESTOR BY ROBYN THOMPSON

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CONFERENCE PROGRAM GUIDE

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WHY I LOVE NOTES BY DONNA BAUER

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DON’T JUST SHOW YOUR APARTMENTS—SELL THEM! 18 GREAT TIPS FOR AN OPEN HOUSE

BY JEFFREY TAYLOR

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WHERE DO I FIND GREAT DEALS ON APARTMENTS? BY ANTHONY CHARA

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TOM KOETSIER MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP

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NEW RENTAL LISTING FACEBOOK GROUP EXCLUSIVELY FOR RPOA MEMBERS!

VOLUME 58, ISSUE 2 www.rpoaonline.org The MICHIGAN LANDLORD magazine's goal is to provide a forum for real estate investment and rental property ownership and management ideas and news.

Our articles, columns, and other features should not be construed as investment advice, nor does their appearance imply an endorsement by the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County or the Real Estate Investors of Michigan of any specific real estate investment or management strategy. An investor’s and manager’s best course of action must be based on individual circumstances.

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WELCOME NEW MEMBERS! Adam Gordon

JK Property Ventures

Bio-One West Michigan

Joseph McCann

BRG Management LLC

JTK Property Solutions

Brian Rockwell

Linda Verlin

Certified Millionaire Maker, LLC

Locker Professional Cleaning Services

David Bueche David VanSweden Distinct Asset Management Donald Campbell ecojiva, LLC Encantada Ventures LLC Ferpa & Associates LLC Greg and Sabrina Emmorey

Mareike Korn Marilyn Moore Mary Gallagher Mary Griffis Richard Gamble Rysa Partners, LLC

Holli Reyes

Shree Ghanshyam Inc

Imperial Homes

Steve Mietelka

Jared Prevost

Susan Jackson

Jay and Barbara Ralphs

Symmetry Bookkeeping LLC

Jim Cook

Ty VanWingen

www.westshorepropertymanagement.com

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Mak Krzeczkowski

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RPOA Member-to-Member Discounts GREAT LAKES ACE 10% discount on all purchases.

Some restrictions apply. Offer valid at our two Grand Rapids stores, 1234 Michigan St. NE and 1205 Fulton St. West and our Walker store, 4300 Remembrance Rd. BENDER MAINTENANCE & HOME IMPROVEMENT 10% off hourly rate for RPOA members.

Property maintenance, general repairs; prepare property to rent at acquisition; inspection compliance for Section 8, City of Grand Rapids. General Contractor, Certified Lead Renovator, RPOA Member.

(616) 885-0132.

BERGSMA PLUMBING Bergsma Plumbing is offering a 15% discount to RPOA members when they mention seeing this listing on the website. Members must provide their RPOA member number to receive this discount.

COMPASS REALTY RPOA exclusive discount! Free 1 hour real estate consultation. Call Allison Koetsier at 616-6339445.

CONSUMERS ENERGY AC Peak Cycling Program: Join the movement, choose clean and cut costs for you and your tenants. Enroll in Consumers Energy’s AC Peak Cycling program to save energy and receive $25 for each rental unit where a device 6

is installed. (Ex.: 100 units is $2,500 for you!) Tenants also receive $25 in addition to earning up to $32 in bill credits each year from June to September.

DISCOUNT HOME IMPROVEMENT RPOA members: receive 6% off your order. (616) 451-3600.

FOUNDATION SPECIALIST Foundation Specialist is offering to waive inspection fees and give free estimates for customers who mention they are a member of the RPOA when scheduling. (616) 438-0551.

GRAND RAPIDS CARPET & FURNITURE CLEANERS RPOA members receive 4th room free! Call Dave at (616) 4535368.

HD RECOVERY HD Recovery is offering free impound service for abandoned vehicles. Call Jordan Morren at (616) 3255751 with questions!

INDOOR CLIMATE SOLUTIONS Offering all RPOA members Grand Rapids heating inspection stickers for $50.00 each and a 5% discount on repair or replacement of any HVAC equipment. Over 40 years experience servicing and installing furnaces, boilers, air conditioning. (616) 891-HEAT (4328).

JB HARRISON INSURANCE AGENCY Independent agents repre­senting several companies (Auto-Owners, AAA, Citizens, Hastings, Hartford, Pioneer State Mutual, Progressive). We do the shopping for you. Group discounts available for RPOA members. Call Mike Murphy at (616) 868-0050 for details.

J R MORTGAGE SERVICES LLC Free appraisals for 1 to 4 family unit homes with closed loan application for RPOA members only. Call Jim Riley at (616) 292-4491.

THE HOME DEPOT Sign up for the Home Depot rebate program through the RPOA and receive a 2%* rebate on all your purchases—no matter how small or big. Call the RPOA office to get your rebate program started now! (616) 454-3385.

KABINET With a Kabinet Business Plan, add one property to your account and get the second property free for the 1st year (a $39.99 savings) with code “RPOA”.

Kabinet is a secure digital platform allowing you to keep track of your entire real estate portfolio in one place, anytime and anywhere. kabinethome. com

*2% OF TOTAL PURCHASES OVER $5,000 SEMI-ANNUALLY.

LAKE MICHIGAN CLEANING RPOA members receive $20

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Take advantage of these great RPOA member-only discounts!

off per vent. Contact Dudley Larson at (616) 240-0682 for more information.

MODERNISTIC CLEANING & RESTORATION Protect your investment! RPOA members, call for special pricing. Need something other than carpet cleaning? We provide FREE ESTIMATES on all of our services: air duct and dryer vent cleaning, tile and grout cleaning, and flood/fire/mold restoration. Call the simple & quick cleaning and restoration experts! (616) 531-1666.

OFFICE MAX/OFFICE DEPOT Office Max offers special discounts on expensive supplies like ink cartridges.

More than a vendor or a supplier…they’re your strategic partner, your ally, your advocate. To access this discount, contact the RPOA office. (616) 454-3385.

PRIORITY PAINTING LLC Priority Painting LLC is offering a 7% discount to RPOA members. Contact David at (616) 893-7932.

RENTAL HERO Accounting software for rental property owners. RPOA members get the first year for only $79 then pay only $7.95/month, billed annually at $95 after that. Free 30-day trial. To sign up, visit rentalhero.io/rpoami.

RMS LLC Towing of abandoned and improperly parked cars

on your property. Offering to RPOA members at no cost. Free signage for RPOA members if required by State of Michigan laws. Call (616) 730-2058.

shopping for you and special RPOA member discounts are available. Call Joel Emerson at 616-797-9988 for more details.

SHERWIN WILLIAMS Sherwin Williams offers a 30% discount on paint products and also offers a 30% discount on paint sundries. Applicators are discounted 35%. Other pricing is very competitive within the local market.

WEST MICHIGAN AIR DUCT AND HVAC Offering all RPOA members an exclusive 10% discount on all service repairs, installs, and tune ups. They also offer a pricing tool on their website at quotemyhvac. com that gives immediate furnace, AC, and water heater replacement estimates. Call David Mellema at 616-4215610 to learn more.

SIMPLIFYEM SimplifyEm is an easy-to-use property management software designed by real estate professionals​. They are offering a 25% discount for a 1 year subscription and a 50% discount for a 3 year subscription. Contact Bert Foreman at (510) 876-7070 for more information.

VREDEVOOGD-BRUMMEL RISK MANAGEMENT & INSURANCE Independent insurance agency representing multiple insurance companies. Always providing home and auto insurance but specializing in rental and vacant property insurance. We do all the

THE WILLING VESSEL The Willing Vessel is offering 50% off first freight hauling within the city of Grand Rapids to RPOA members. Contact Nathaniel at 616-824-2280 or nathaniel@thewillingvessell3c. com.

ASSOCIATE MEMBERS WHO WOULD L I K E T O PA R T I C I PAT E I N T H E DISCOUNT PROGRAM SHOULD CALL THE RPOA OFFICE AT 616-454-3385.

"The promotion of offers, including discounts, rebates and other such benefits, goods, and services provided by the Rental Property Owners Association of Kent County (“RPOA”) members and advertisers within the Michigan Landlord magazine (collectively, the “Offers”), are for informational purposes only and are not an endorsement or recommendation. The Offers are not made by the RPOA or the Michigan Landlord magazine and the advertiser/member is solely responsible to you for the delivery of any goods or services. Your correspondence or business dealings with, or participation in the Offers or promotions of, advertisers/members found in the Michigan Landlord magazine, including payment and delivery of related goods or services, and any other terms, conditions, warranties or representations associated with such dealings, are solely between you and such advertiser/member. Neither the RPOA nor the Michigan Landlord magazine guarantees the existence or continued existence of any Offers, which may change from time to time. You agree to waive and release the RPOA and the Michigan Landlord magazine from and against any and all liability, loss or damage of any sort, incurred as the result of any such dealings with, or as the result of the presence of, any advertisement or promotion within the Michigan Landlord magazine.”

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NATIONAL

SPEAKER

NICK SIDOTI

Three Times the Market Rent with Special Needs Housing Thursday, February 24th at 10:10am

Uncensored Interview with Nick Sidoti Article By Tom Zeeb, President, Traction REIA

Tom: So, what are you going to be talking about when you are here Nick?

Nick: How to get 2 or 3 times more rent and much better tenants without section 8.

Tom: Obvious question, why is this important?

Nick: Income is the main reason and benefit for investing but, real estate has a very big drawback: “bad tenants”.

I’ve heard all the horror stories and the warnings from other people who say: “don’t ever be a landlord it will make you crazy” or “the day I sold my properties is the best day of my life” or “tenants will break everything” or “tenants don’t pay their rent, steal from you, and skip out on you.”

Tom: It’s happened to me.

Nick: It used to happen to me too. But I can fix that for you.

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: NICK SIDOTI Tom: How? Nick: Look, most tenants stay a year or two, pay their rent between the first and the fifth most of the time, and most of them left the rental in okay condition. “okay” meaning I still had to clean up after them, clean up their junk, paint the units, and strip out and replace all the carpeting. Then there were the tenants that were very far from being okay. They did not pay their rent on time; they were slobs that destroyed my property. The old saying is true, “one rotten apple spoils the whole barrel.”

It wasn’t long before these rotten apples caused me to get burned out. I was spending my time managing, also known as running adult day care centers, and no longer looking for deals and investing in real estate. Real estate investing is a game. It is all in the numbers. If you want to be financially independent, you have to keep buying properties and building your portfolio. But the more you buy, the more tenants you have, and the more chances you have of getting the “tenant from hell.”

You asked me “how.” Rather than get burned out by landlording the plain old regular way, I decided to become a housing specialist with a niche of providing housing for those in need.

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: NICK SIDOTI Tom: Explain that.

Nick: I developed a system of getting much better than okay tenants, in fact I get great tenants and, more money.

When I say more money, I am talking about a lot more money, doubling or tripling my cash flow without buying more property. The system I am talking about is “the landlord’s guide to special needs housing.”

Tom: Special needs housing?

Nick: Yes, guys coming out of the VA hospitals. They get placed by their social worker, have respect for your property, are happy to be there, and the government pays you their rent.

Tom: Interesting. Sounds like a great niche.

Nick: It is. You can get 2 or 3 times more rent and much better tenants.

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: NICK SIDOTI Tom: But things ain’t what they used to be with the pandemic and the federal eviction moratorium. Does a system like yours still work in today’s crazy world?

Nick: Think about it Tom, there is more and more need now because of covid. Veterans’ hospitals and other agencies have found that people in large groups produce higher rates of infection, so they like my small group setup even more now.

Also, l have been able to collect 100% of the rents because the government keeps paying no matter what. They don’t run out of funds.

Tom: Now we know what you’re going to be talking about.

People should know to be ready for an absurdly high-energy presentation. You definitely know how to entertain.

Nick Sidoti will be presenting at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo in Downtown Grand Rapids at 10:10 am on Thursday, February 24th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F. Register now!

Nick Sidoti will teach you the secrets to turning your rentals into tremendous cash flow generators and triple your rental income with special needs housing. You will learn how to market your rentals to special populations—college students, veterans, government agencies, and others—as well as which tenants to choose that will make you very wealthy...these customers will pay you BIG bucks (2 or 3 times more than market rent) for a little extra convenience. NO, this is not Section 8 and YES, you will be blown away by the increase in profit!

Nick: Be ready! Don’t miss it!

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NATIONAL

SPEAKER

TONY YOUNGS The "Hidden Market"

Thursday, February 24th at 1:10pm

Finding More Real Estate Investment Deals on The Hidden Market Now this hidden market real estate investment has a lot of moving parts. At one point tony just gave up on getting the deal. Remember, it pays to meet the neighbor and build a good relationship with them.

There was a run-down house with code violation signs on the doors. Tony noticed the house on his travels and stopped. He kept knocking and leaving a note, but the man would never answer the door.

Talking To the Neighbor to Get the Story He reached out to the neighbor and learned that the mom and dad had passed away. All the man’s siblings had passed away. He was all that was left. The neighbor shared that the man was sick with diabetes and that he was blind.

The neighbors were all excited for tony to buy and clean up the eyesore. But the man would not answer the door or the phone or any letters. Tony gave up on ever getting the house.

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: TONY YOUNGS Then one day the neighbor calls and shares that the man had passed away, with no will and no immediate heirs. The house was going to end up going to the state. Good thing the neighbor wanted tony to buy the house and fix it up.

Research & Skip Trace So tony got busy and pulled up his skip trace program and found the owner’s, mother’s 70-year-old sister in Colorado.

He informed her that everything was going to go to the state. However, if she would be willing to be named the personal representative in the probate, he would buy the house from her. The 70-year-old sister was afraid of covid,

Each week we discuss topics, tips and techniques designed to make you a more confident and successful rental property owner and real estate investor.

Our guests include buy and hold investors, flippers, wholesalers, property managers, brokers, legal advisors, insurance providers, mortgage brokers— you name it; we’re talking to some of the top names in the real estate investing business in Michigan.

Top 100 Podcast on iTunes in the Business/Investing Category.

Listen On

rpoaonline.org /podcasts AND :

Our host, Brian Hamrick from Hamrick Investment Group, is a successful investor in apartments, self-storage, and non-performing notes. He has bought and sold over 450 units in West Michigan.

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: TONY YOUNGS didn’t want to fly and actually do anything, and really didn’t want to have anything to do with it. Tony gave her three probate attorneys and asked her to call them and find out want was involved if she were to be named personal representative, and she actually did. Tony made her an offer of $126,000 and she took it, the wrote a contract and got the probate process started.

Going The Extra Mile Tony took the time to help the seller out and keep her on board with sticking with the contract and only working with him. He cleared up all the over gown bushes and kept the yard mowed. He cleaned up the outside of the house.

He cleans out the house and removed all the belongings. And he helped her sell the cars. She didn’t have to do a thing and the house was ready to be renovated as soon as probate could be completed and he could buy the house.

By going the extra mile there was no way she was going to work with someone else. It gets better.

The Crazy Market As we moved into the new year, we were enjoying a great economy and real estate was booming. It seems that overnight, everything changed. The coronavirus took us by surprise. You may be asking yourself, what now? What do we do as real estate investors? We simply adapt to the changes. How? The basics of acquiring money making deals is the same. Your exit strategy is the main difference. Should we wholesale? Should we rehab and flip? Should we buy and hold? Consider this: do people have jobs, are banks giving mortgage loans, are the homes that are for sale going under contract, are pending sales actually closing, are values going to, or are they decreasing. We should also pay close attention to the rental market. Will there be rent control?

The answers to these questions will help to successfully adapt to your own market.

The good news is this, if you know how to adapt, you will make some very interesting money in 2022 real estate.

Just remember, everyone needs a place to live in these uncertain times. You and I are the ones that can meet that need for them and make plenty of profit by doing just that.

In my 30 years as a real estate investor, this is my third time of going through a crisis in the real estate economy.

I know exactly what to do and I will be teaching how to prosper in the situation we are in. I will take away your uncertainty and give you clear cut directions that you can apply right away.

When tony made the offer of $126,000 the comps in the area were around $375,000. But by the time he got it

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: TONY YOUNGS rehabbed and sold, the house across the street had been purchased and rehabbed and sold for $500,000. So, when tony listed this one, he listed at $450,000 on the advice of his agent and it sold.

Let’s Build Something Together!

On May 7th, 2021, tony walked away with $228,000 net profit, but a large chunk of that was due to the crazy market. The 70-year-old aunt who would have not been involved if tony had not tracked her down. She retired with the $126,000 from the house plus the funds from the cars, furniture, and cash in the bank. She walked away with $250,000, just because tony reached out and helped her.

Sound Like a Real Estate Deal You Would Want to Do? So, what about you…what are you doing? Want to get better and systematic about finding real estate investment deals on the hidden market and taking action on them? This stuff works in a hot market. It is killer in a slower one.

Tony Youngs will be presenting at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo in Downtown Grand Rapids at 1:10 pm on Thursday, February 24th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F. Register now!

One of the toughest nuts to crack when getting into real estate is finding a property to buy! Finding distressed properties and owners is one of the best ways to make deals happen. Tony Youngs has mastered the art of tracking and acquiring properties in every stage of the foreclosure process from pre-foreclosure to REO. He has perfected his own unique system, strategies, and techniques for acquiring foreclosure and hidden market properties and can teach you how you can do it too!

#1 Seller of West Michigan Multi-Family Properties Over The Past 10 Years!

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Looking for passive income?

Need help deening your investment goals?

Want your portfolio evaluated?

Is now the best time to buy or sell?

Call for a Free Consultation Allison Koetsier 616-633-9445 AKoetsier@Compass101.com

TeamKoetsier.com FEBRUARY 2022

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Noel Selewski Agency, Inc.

R E N TA L P R O P E R T Y O W N E R S A S S O C I AT I O N

Insurance for landlords and residential real estate investment properties

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NATIONAL

SPEAKER

ROBYN THOMPSON Rehabbing Houses Creates Big Paydays Thursday, February 24th at 3:30pm AND

Building Massive Wealth with Vacation Rentals Thursday, February 24th at 7:00pm

The Active Real Estate Investor Vs. The Passive Real Estate Investor Are you an active or passive real estate investor? This is the magic question that all real estate investors should ask themselves on a regular basis, whether they know it or not. Let me explain.

Many beginning investors want to focus 100 % on wholesaling and rehabbing so they can make the fast cash and big checks. They don’t want the headaches of toilets, trash and tenants. After all it feels good to take a rundown house and flip it to a rehabber and make a quick $5000 or $10,000 in a few hours or better yet tear it apart, fix it up and sell it to a first time buyer who will call it home for many years to come and you can make $25,000or $30,000 plus in just a few short months.

Active investing can be addicting and a real adrenal rush. Ask me how I know that. My nickname is the rehab queen FEBRUARY 2022

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: ROBYN THOMPSON and I have been rehabbing and flipping as an active income producing investor for over 17 years. I have done over 350 properties and those quick one-time paydays have been great. But...

This one-sided thinking is flawed. I missed the boat for the first decade and a half of my career. What you really want to be is not a wholesaler, rehabber or a landlord. The best choice is to become a transaction engineer.

A transaction engineer is a savvy investor who can create deals that no other real estate investor can do. A transaction engineer knows that some properties are more profitable to keep than to flip. A transaction engineer can make multiple offers to the seller not just low cash offers at MAO (maximum allowable offer: after repaired value x70% - repairs). A transaction engineer can make offers at market value and still make huge profits. The transaction engineer understands the power of getting terms, amortization schedules, discounts for early pay off and maximizing appreciation.

A transaction engineer will focus on creating a wealth plan that will incorporate both active and passive investing because the older you get the more passive you want to become. Let me give you a real-life example. We will use me as the example.

At the beginning of 2013 I noticed the us economy starting to improve. Real estate prices were at the absolute bottom in many parts of the us. I had been watching prices tank for nearly seven years and as warren buffets says, “buy low and sell higher.”

I was bound and determine to not miss the next appreciation run up. After all, I had moved to Florida in 2007 at the height of the market. Prices were climbing as much as $1000 per week in some neighborhoods and I wanted to ride the wave upwards. I no sooner got settled in Orlando, Florida and was ready to jump into the hottest market in the us went it sank like the titanic.

As prices hit rock bottom in 2013 and then stabilized as low as $27 per ft, I was ready to jump in and create some massive passive wealth. I was approaching my 50th birthday and realized that retirement was approaching quicker and quicker.

I wanted to make money even if I couldn’t get out of bed. I wanted to buy and hold some really nice homes in golf course gated communities, in great school districts where tenants could afford to pay premium rents. I wanted the type of properties that would appreciate the fastest.

I had enough of the low-end section 8 nightmares in my younger years. I had my share of bad tenants wrecking my

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: ROBYN THOMPSON houses, not paying rent, having to hire attorneys and evicting tenants, being at the mercy of the courts to get the dead beats out. I promised myself never again.

So, I jumped in full force and started marketing for desperate sellers with beautiful homes in beautiful neighborhoods so I could purchase enough real estate for the rents to take care of me, my farm and my horses for the rest of my days.

I bought over $3 million in properties during 2013. All of the properties were purchased with seller financing as low 0% to as high of 3% interest.

Yes, that is right many were at zero percent interest! The entire payment all goes to principal.

Here is an example of one property: I bought an estate sale on Hugh St in Port Orange that was listed for 4 months in the MLS at $139,900. No other real estate investor saw the deal. They are not transaction engineers.

The house needed paint and carpet which was $5,000 in repairs. I gave the seller three offers. She picked the third

Is it time to check your

Install a smoke detector in every bedroom of your home and in the hall that leads to one or two bedrooms, and make sure there is at least one on each floor of your home, even in your basement.

Smoke Detectors?

Smoke alarm safety is very important!

Having enough smoke alarms and keeping them in working condition are important fire safety steps you can take to save lives in your home and in the homes of your renters.

Test your smoke detector each month and replace it if it doesn't work or if it is already 8 to 10 years old.

Replace your smoke detector batteries at least once a year and especially when you hear the warning signal that the battery is low.

Grand Rapids - 1234 Michigan St. NE * 616.451.0724

1205 Fulton St. West 616.233.4711

Walker - 4300 Remembrance Rd. 616.453.7741

Rockford - 643 Northland Dr. 616.866.9155

WE’RE HERE TO HELP MONDAY - SATURDAY 8AM - 8PM, SUNDAY 9AM - 6PM

*OPEN AT 7AM MONDAY - FRIDAY

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: ROBYN THOMPSON offer which was $130,000 purchase price with $30,000 down (this came from a flip), and I would pay the remaining $100,000 at $1000 per month for 100 months.

I rented the house out for $1250 per month which covers the taxes, insurance and the $1000 per month I owe the seller. Every month I make her a payment, the loan reduces by $1000. It all goes to my net worth and none to a bank. You do realize that the house will be paid for in just 8 1/3 years, not 30 years!

I have owned this house now for just 34 months and my loan is down to $66,000. The house has appreciated, and the current value is $155,000. I have made $59,000 in principal reduction and appreciation in just 34 months.

The great news is the numbers get better every month! This house will continue to pay me for the rest of my life whether I get up and go to work or not.

So let me ask you a serious question. How many of these do you need before your golden years would truly be golden? Is it 5, 10 or 15?

My plan is $25,000 per month after property taxes, insurance and maintenance. The $25,000 will cover me, my ranch and all 30 horses in a lifestyle that is more than comfortable.

All my properties will be free and clear within the next five years by the time I am 55. The best news is this income is all passive.

So, the moral of the story is you wholesale/rehab to keep. You flip to keep. You flip to keep, and you flip a few more to keep.

You are both an active investor and a passive investor. This process will make your golden years truly golden.

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Robyn Thompson will be presenting on wholesaling at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo in Downtown Grand Rapids at 3:30 pm on Thursday, February 24th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F AND at 7:00 pm on Thursday, February 24th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F. Register now!

Robyn Thompson, “The Queen of Rehab”, has integrated her highly successful rehab program into a new buy and hold investment strategy— providing more flexibility for rehabbing for flips or for holds. Robyn will teach you how to map out all of the hurdles, pitfalls and paydays when renovating for profits and building passive wealth!

In her second presentation, she'll also teach you how to analyze vacation rental markets, convert your rentals to vacation rentals, optimize your vacation rental listings and more!

W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I N V E S TO R S A N D L A N D L O R D S G O F O R S U C C E S S

When protecting your Rental Properties, the

EXPERIENCE MATTERS. We have multiple carriers to fit your needs.

• • • •

Apartments Complex Condos Complex Multi Family Single Family

• Student Rentals • Vacation Rentals (VRBO & Airbnb) • Renters insurance

Call Jeff Lamborne today!

Proud landlord for over 20 years.

(616) 447-0274 | jlambor@fbinsmi.com 4976 Plainfield Ave. NE, Grand Rapids

F E B R| ULake A R Y 2 0Estate 22 M ®ICHI G A N L A ND LO R D Auto | Home | Life | Business | Farm

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NICK SIDOTI: Three Times the Market Rent with Special Needs Housing | Thursday, February 24th at 10:10am ​ ick Sidoti will teach you the secrets to turning your rentals into tremendous cash flow generators N and triple your rental income with special needs housing. You will learn how to market your rentals to special populations—college students, veterans, government agencies, and others—as well as which tenants to choose that will make you very wealthy...these customers will pay you BIG bucks (2 or 3 times more than market rent) for a little extra convenience. NO, this is not Section 8 and YES, you will be blown away by the increase in profit!​ TONY YOUNGS: The “Hidden Market” | Thursday, February 24th at 1:10pm ​ ne of the toughest nuts to crack when getting into real estate is finding a property to buy! Finding O distressed properties and owners is one of the best ways to make deals happen. Tony Youngs has mastered the art of tracking and acquiring properties in every stage of the foreclosure process from pre-foreclosure to REO. He has perfected his own unique system, strategies, and techniques for acquiring foreclosure and hidden market properties and can teach you how you can do it too!

ROBYN THOMPSON: Rehabbing Houses Creates Big Paydays | Thursday, February 24th at 3:30pm AND Building Massive Wealth with Vacation Rentals | Thursday, February 24th at 7:00pm Robyn Thompson, “The Queen of Rehab”, has integrated her highly successful rehab program into a new buy and hold investment strategy—providing more flexibility for rehabbing for flips or for holds. Robyn will teach you how to map out all of the hurdles, pitfalls and paydays when renovating for profits and building passive wealth! In her second presentation, she’ll also teach you how to analyze vacation rental markets, convert your rentals to vacation rentals, optimize your vacation rental listings and more!​ DONNA BAUER: The Original NoteBuyer’s Master Guide System | Friday, February 25th at 10:10am​ Note buying is a super-hot investment strategy and Donna Bauer knows how to do it—and do it right. As the nation’s most recognized authority on note buying and founder and president of NoteBuyer, Inc., her strategies on note buying and short sales have had tremendous results for her student investors. Note buying is one of the most versatile strategies available in real estate today. If you aren’t taking advantage of the great opportunities in notes, you are missing out on the fastest, easiest, safest way to make amazing profits in this market place. Learn how Donna’s tactics can help you take your real estate investment to the next level!

JEFFREY TAYLOR: Take Your Cash Flow and Rental Business to the Next Level | Friday, February 25th at 1:10pm​ Jeffrey Taylor will share his many ways of increasing rental income—without increasing the rent. Jeffrey is one of the most creative landlords out there. He’ll show you how you can easily increase your cash flow by the thousands with simple tweaks to your current business strategy. His presentation is not only one of the best landlord teaching moments on the circuit but—without a doubt—one of the most entertaining.

ANTHONY CHARA: Increase Your Wealth Exponentially with Multifamily Properties | Friday, February 25th at 3:20pm Why buy 1 when you can buy 10 or 20 or even 50? Learn the how’s and why’s of buying and investing in apartments and multi-family properties with Anthony Chara. Anthony will let you in on the secrets of why buying and investing in apartments and multi-family units can be a big money maker in today’s market. Learn how you can increase your net worth and build a successful portfolio with this informative course.

W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I N V E S TO R S A N D L A N D L O R D S G O F O R S U C C E S S

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 24TH

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER NOW!

S C H E D U L E

7:30 a.m. Registration Opens River Overlook Area (upper level near escalators) 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Exposition Open Check out the offerings of over 30 exhibitors!

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Breakout Sessions: ▪ Short-Term Rental Strategies, Expert Panel River Overlook A - B ▪ Note Buying, Expert Panel with Donna Bauer River Overlook C - D ▪ Michigan Real Estate Legislative Update with Tabitha Zimny from Karoub Associates River Overlook E-F 9:10 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. Main Sponsor Presentation & RPOA Annual Meeting River Overlook E - F 10:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Donna Bauer, The Original Note Buyer’s Master Guide System, National Speaker River Overlook E - F 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Lunch & Visit Exhibitors! (concessions available near escalators) 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Deal Room, Bring Your Lunch River Overlook C - D 1:10 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Jeffrey Taylor, Take Your Cash Flow & Rental Business to the Next Level, National Speaker River Overlook E - F 3:20 p.m. – 5:20 p.m. Anthony Chara, Increase Your Wealth Exponentially with Multifamily Properties, National Speaker River Overlook E - F

C O N F E R E N C E

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7:30 a.m. Registration Opens River Overlook Area (upper level near escalators) 8:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Exposition Open Check out the offerings of over 30 exhibitors!

8:00 a.m. – 8:50 a.m. Breakout Sessions: ▪ Vacation Rental Strategies, Expert Panel River Overlook C - D ▪ Amazing Number of Ways to Do a Deal with the Same Property with Justin Workman River Overlook E-F 9:10 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. Paul Isely, Economics Professor, GVSU, 2022 Real Estate Economic Forecast River Overlook E - F 10:10 a.m. – 12:10 p.m. Nick Sidoti, Three Times the Market Rent with Special Needs Housing, National Speaker River Overlook E - F 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Lunch & Visit Exhibitors! (concessions available near escalators) 12:10 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. Ask the Experts, Bring Your Lunch River Overlook C - D 12:30 p.m. – 1:10 p.m. City of Grand Rapids Lead Grant Program River Overlook A-B 1:10 p.m. – 3:10 p.m. Tony Youngs, The “Hidden Market”, National Speaker River Overlook E - F 3:10 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. Meet & Greet with Exhibitors & Sponsors!

3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. Robyn Thompson, Rehabbing Houses Creates Big Paydays, National Speaker River Overlook E - F 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Concessions Open for Dinner, Onsite (upper level near escalators) 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. Robyn Thompson, Building Massive Wealth with Vacation Rentals, National Speaker River Overlook E - F

As of February 11th, 2022. The schedule is subject to change.

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1 Kent County Housing Commission 2 Family Promise of Grand Rapids 3 Get the Lead Out! Grant Program 4 Grand Rapids Housing Commission 5 Short Term Rental Association 6 Green Property Management 7 Farm Bureau Insurance/Jeff Lamborne Agency 8 Grand Slam Investigations 9 Paradise Group of Businesses 10 Noel Selewski Agency 11 The Home Depot 12 National REIA 13 Simple Property Management 14 Compass Realty Services 15 Allen-Hope & Associates Process Servers 16 Culver CPA Group 17 Risk & Associates 18 Shield Insurance Agency 26 Consumers Energy Home Energy Analysis 27 Synergy Appliances 28 The Junkluggers of Grand Rapids 29 Mercantile Bank 30 1lasteye LLC | North End Notary 31 Northpointe Bank 32 Lake Michigan Cleaning 33 Compass Property Management 34-35 Vredevoogd-Brummel Insurance Agency 36 United Bank

37 38 39 40 41 42

Velo Law United Properties Certified Millionaire Makers Locker Professional Cleaning Services Westshore Property Management RCB & Associates

43 Real Property Management 44 Sherwin Williams 45-46 Place Property Management 47 Ecojiva 48 LeaseGR Rental Property Management 49 Boathouse Commercial Funding Group

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CONFERENCE UNDERWRITER

GOLD SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

Boathouse Commercial Funding Group Compass Property Management Compass Realty Services Culver CPA Group LeaseGR Rental Property Management Shield Insurance Agency The Junkluggers of Grand Rapids

1lasteye Allen-Hope & Associates Process Servers Mercantile Bank Real Property Management Westshore Property Management

Locker Professional Cleaning Services

Short Term Rental Association

Consumers Energy Home Energy Analysis

National REIA

Synergy Appliances

Ecojiva

Northpointe Bank

The Home Depot

Grand Slam Investigations

Paradise Group of Businesses

United Bank

Green Property Management

RCB & Associates

United Properties

Lake Michigan Carpet Cleaning

Risk & Associates

Velo Law

PUBLIC SERVICE TABLES Get the Lead Out! Grant Program

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Simple Property Management

Certified Millionaire Makers

Family Promise of Grand Rapids

&

Grand Rapids Housing Commission

EXHIBITORS

Kent County Housing Commission

S P O N S O R S

PLATINUM SPONSORS

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UPCOMING COURSES & EVENTS REAL ESTATE INVESTOR & LANDLORD NETWORKING BREAKFAST Every Friday Morning (except holidays) @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am The Friday morning REI investors roundtable is an open, informal networking session for vendors, lenders, landlords and investors who are invited to share their haves and wants. Attendance is usually 30-45 investors and vendors.

SHORT TERM RENTAL ASSOCIATION MEETUP

even jail time. An update on possible changes in state law regarding lead and other laws will also be covered. Join us for this two-hour course on the specifics and hear stories that will help it all make sense. Taught by Matthew Stout from Stout Law, PLLC. Click here to register!

RENTAL PROPERT Y MAINTENANCE AND HOUSING CODES March 9 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

March 2 @ 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm

2 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals

Are you interested in learning more about short-term and vacation rentals? Have you wondered about the success of Airbnb and similar rental marketplaces and how you can incorporate that into your income? Join hosts Kim Post, Ed Bodman and Gary Hall as they discuss Airbnb-style rentals, short-term and vacation rentals and more. Come share your thoughts and experiences, learn from other like-minded investors and network with people in the industry!

Join over 80 real estate investors through the West Michigan REI Club. RPOA has partnered with the club and is sponsoring the event to offer more networking opportunities for investors and landlords. Find the group on meetup.com for more information.

Click here to register!

MICHIGAN LANDLORD TENANT LAW: AVOIDING FINES & PENALTIES March 4 @ 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm 2 Hours Legal CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals It’s a fact: you don’t know what you don’t know. Most buy and hold investors (even experienced ones) are shocked to find out all of the laws, ordinances, rules and guidelines regulating the residential rental industry. This course will cover the most relevant Federal, State and Local regulations that every landlord/buy and hold investor needs to know.

Not knowing them can lead to huge fines, penalties—and

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Click here to register!

R P O A M O N T H LY N E T W O R K I N G BREAKFAST (VIRTUAL NETWORKING) March 11 @ 8:00 am - 9:00 am In addition to our weekly in-person Friday morning breakfast networking events, the RPOA has decided to add a monthly virtual networking breakfast on the second Friday of each month for those who are either unable to attend the weekly in-person event or just prefer to network remotely.

Click here to register!

E X I T S T R AT E G I E S & T R A N S I T I O N PLANNING March 15 @ 10:00 am - 12:00 pm

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REGISTER ONLINE AT RPOAONLINE.ORG / EVENTS 2 Hours Legal CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals

March 29 @ 8:00 am - 5:00 pm Earn EPA RRP Renovator Certifications

It’s never too early or too late to think about how you’re going to build wealth, plan for retirement and leave a legacy of which you can be proud.

In this course you’ll learn proven strategies to turn your real estate investments into a reliable stream of income that will last a lifetime and avoid the cataclysmic results of being unprepared.

The EPA requires all contractors, landlords and property managers performing RRP activities on pre-1978 rental properties to use lead-safe work practices and be certified under the new RRP rules. In this EPA-approved certification course, a certified lead-safe work practices trainer will teach lead-safe work practices in a comprehensive session.

Click here to register!

Course instructor: Haley Clough, attorney with Warner Norcross and Judd.

EPA RRP REFRESHER COURSE

Click here to register!

March 30 @ 8:00 am - 12:00 pm

BUYING & SELLING REAL ESTATE FOR PROFIT March 24 @ 10:00 pm - 12:00 pm 2 Hours CE Credit for Licensed Real Estate Professionals Buying and selling rental and investment property can be very profitable—if done correctly. However, there are many problems that can arise during real estate transactions.

Learn the correct way to handle real estate deals and how to avoid complications while saving money in the process and improving your return on investment.

Take this 4-hour refresher course on how to work safely in housing with lead-based paint and comply with EPA’s Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule and HUD’s Lead-Safe Housing Rule in order to maintain your RRP certification. You must complete a refresher course every 5 years, before your certificate’s expiration date to maintain RRP certification. If you do not take a refresher course before your certificate’s expiration date, you will be required to retake the initial 8-hour course to get recertified.

Click here to register!

Join Allison Koetsier, experienced buy and hold real estate investor and broker, as she eliminates the mystery from purchasing rental and real estate investment property.

Through his class you will learn how to keep it legal and profitable as you negotiate inspections, title work, transfer taxes, and other important real estate transaction nuances.

Click here to register!

EPA RRP CERTIFICATION TRAINING

(616) 235-2600 | landlord@grhousing.org

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NATIONAL

SPEAKER

DONNA BAUER

The Original NoteBuyer's Master Guide System Friday, February 25th at 10:10am

Why I Love Notes I’m Donna Bauer, The Original NoteBuyer®. Over the years, I’ve done all types of real estate transactions: buying, selling, leasing—virtually everything having to do with real property. I’ve also done all types of note deals: performing, non-performing, seller-financed, and everything in-between. I can tell you, without a shadow of a doubt, that given a choice, I will always choose note deals over dealing with real property. I believe that once you learn about notes, you’ll love notes, too.

The secret to carefree, successful real estate investing is to control the real estate without owning it. When you own the real estate, you own all the headaches that go with it. If you’re investing in notes, then, instead, you’ll have the security of the real estate without any of the headaches.

Security Of Real Estate Without Any Headaches The reason for this is that you never actually own the property. You own the note. And since you don’t own the property, you don’t have to deal with tenants, trash, toilets, or termites ever again. You also don’t have to deal with repairs, rehabs, contractors, or even liability claims. You don’t even have to worry about carrying costs such as 32

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: DONNA BAUER

taxes, insurance, utility bills, or HOA fees. In other words, you’ll have no negative cash flows, unexpected expenses, or headaches when you’re dealing with the note instead of the real property. Are you beginning to see why I love notes? I enjoy all the security of a real estate investment without any of the hassles!

One of the most common questions I’m asked when I talk about the security of notes is, “what happens when the borrower doesn’t pay?” You might come to an agreement with the borrower to accept the deed to the property in lieu of foreclosing and jeopardizing their credit. Otherwise, you’ll simply go ahead and foreclose, where one of two things will happen: either you’ll be paid off at the foreclosure sale, or you’ll wind up owning the property. At that point, you will have to deal with the property, but if you have used my evaluation process, you can often sell it for extra profit, keep it for residual rental income, or even move into it if you want.

Notes Offer Phenomenal Rates of Return Without the Risk Notes offer the opportunity to safely earn rates of return that you won’t find elsewhere. Today, you can easily purchase seller-carryback notes on the open market for double digit returns, but if you avoid the middleman and market for

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culver | group CPAs & Business Advisors

616.456.6464 . culvercpagroup.com . 1419 Coit . Grand Rapids

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: DONNA BAUER mom and pops who are looking to cash out of their life-long investments, it is not unusual at all to lock-in initial rates of return of 20 to 30%. But that’s not the half of it.

Since you purchased the note at a discount, when it pays off early and you suddenly realize your profit from the discount, your rate of return can easily skyrocket to unbelievable returns of 60, 70, 80% or more. And all the while, your investment is fully secured by real property. It doesn’t get any better than that!

Notes Are the Ultimate Passive Income Passive income is another one of my favorite benefits of notes. After you’ve sealed the deal, the heaviest lifting you’re going to do is lifting those check-laden envelopes out of your mailbox. If that isn’t sweet enough, you can choose from a variety of scenarios as to how you want to receive your payments.

For example, many seller-finance notes are written for up to thirty years. These will give you a steady income for a very long time. But if you prefer to earn your residuals over a shorter timeframe, you can simply select a balloon note instead, or even buy a partial. That’s one of the beautiful things about doing notes—you get to formulate your own game plan to fit your specific goals.

And again, for the duration of your residuals, your investment is secured by real estate. You’ll earn double-digit returns without the risk of stock market investing. In fact, I routinely earn much higher rates of return on my notes than I do on my traditional real estate investments.

No Cash? No Problem!

It’s very difficult or almost impossible to flip real property with no money in the bank. Repairs, rehabs, and contractors don’t come free. It’s much easier to flip a note with no money down. If you’re just starting out and need to use other people’s money, then I recommend you start with notes.

Another major benefit of notes is how they offer something that real property cannot: liquidity. If you end up needing cash, then notes are much easier to sell than real property. Let’s face it: life happens. You get married. You get divorced. You want to travel. Medical issues arise. The kids are ready for college. You decide to retire earlier than you initially intended. If you’re receiving payments on a note and you need cash, all you need to do is sell those payments to another investor for cash. You don’t even need to sell the entire note! You could just sell part of the payments to get the cash you need.

Notes Are Very Versatile

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: DONNA BAUER As I mentioned earlier, notes give you the ability to tailor-make a game plan to fit your personal situation and your personal goals. Notes offer much more flexibility in your goal planning than traditional real estate investments ever could.

What are some scenarios where different note strategies can help you the most? Let’s say you suddenly needed to come up with $10,000 because there was an emergency with your children. How could you accomplish that with notes? By flipping a note for quick cash!

Let’s say you’re looking to supplement your regular income to increase your monthly cash flow. How could you accomplish that goal with notes? You would flip notes to get lump sums of money, and you’d then invest those lump sums in a note to build up your mailbox money.

Let’s say you want to build a portfolio of properties. There’s no better way to acquire properties at huge discounts than to buy non-performing notes and use them as a back door to acquiring the property. You’ll get properties at much greater discounts than you could anywhere else—even at the auction.

The bottom line is that note buying is the fastest, easiest, and safest way to make huge profits in real estate, and that’s why I love notes. I hope this article has encouraged you to consider adding notes to your portfolio. Why deal with headaches when you can deal with notes?

Donna Bauer will be presenting at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo in Downtown Grand Rapids at 10:10 am on Friday, February 25th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F. Register now!

Note buying is a super-hot investment strategy and Donna Bauer knows how to do it—and do it right.

As the nation's most recognized authority on note buying and founder and president of NoteBuyer, Inc., her strategies on note buying and short sales have had tremendous results for her student investors.

Note buying is one of the most versatile strategies available in real estate today. If you aren’t taking advantage of the great opportunities in notes, you are missing out on the fastest, easiest, safest way to make amazing profits in this market place. Learn how Donna’s tactics can help you take your real estate investment to the next level!

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JOIN US FOR THE RPOA'S ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING AT THE CONFERENCE!

at DeVos Place, River Overlook E - F.

RPOA ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING

We will introduce our board members, provide an

River Overlook E - F

The RPOA invites all current members to attend the annual membership meeting at the annual conference on Thursday, February 25th at 9:10am

update on the RPOA's financial statement as well

FEBRUARY 25TH 9:10AM

as give and overview of 2021 and what we have coming up in 2022.

Hope to see you there!

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NATIONAL

SPEAKER

JEFFREY TAYLOR

Take Your Cash Flow and Rental Business to the Next Level Friday, February 25th at 1:10pm

Don’t Just Show Your Apartments—Sell Them! 18 Great Tips for An Open House In a competitive environment, the way you “sell the value” of your properties, not just “show” your properties, is critical. I often get asked by landlords who are frustrated, “why can’t I get it rented?” The landlords believe their properties are in excellent condition, they even include wow factors. But they show their rental and few, if any, fill out an application.

It is important to understand that while your properties may be in showcase condition, the “wow” factor in any sales environment, first starts with you, the salesperson. Yes, being a landlord, like any other business, involves selling.

And the better salesperson you are, the more effective you will be at renting properties.

If you find that very few are filling out an application when you show the rental, it may not be that the property is not great, it may mean that you are not an effective salesperson. If that is the case, may I strongly suggest that you have someone else show your rentals who is a better salesperson, perhaps your spouse if she or he is involved in your rental business, hire a leasing specialist or, you begin reading and learning how to be a more effective salesperson.

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: JEFFREY TAYLOR In today’s economy, you must be able to demonstrate effective selling techniques.

I’ll now share some key sales principles and suggestions. First off, here’s what you don’t do if you want to rent the property fast. You do not tell prospective residents to drive by and call you if they are interested. It’s human nature for people to look for a reason why they should not rent from you. It therefore makes no sense to decrease your odds of success by hoping that people will like the place without any input from you. I understand that everyone will not fall in love with your rentals, but you can bet that if I have a place sitting empty and I have very few prospects calling, I’m going to be right there when the prospective resident shows up to point out and “sell” all the positive reasons why my place is a great place for them. No, I won’t persuade everyone. However, if ten people were to simply ride by my rental over the next week, and ten others came when I was there, I guarantee you more of the second set will fill out a rental application by the end of that week and my place would be rented.

Now, if you have tons of folks calling you for the one place you have vacant, sure, have everybody simply go by your place, and call back if interested. In that scenario, even if only a small percentage call you back, you will most likely still be able to rent your place. My focus is on filling vacancies within 72 hours and how to “increase the odds” of getting property rented in the shortest timeframe possible!

Advertisers In the same way you don’t want prospective residents to simply drive by the property and leave it up to their imagination of how great the property may be, you also do not want to simply open the door and ask prospects to walk through and see what they think. That’s the problem, you do not want people to have to think and leave it up to their own thought process to persuade themselves. You are there to do the persuasion and influence them of the value of renting that particular property. You, as the landlord, need to be proactive and provide them reasons why they do want to rent this property from you.

Providing information means much more than just providing basic information, like number of bedrooms and price.

When selling value, you don’t simply lead the prospective resident through the home saying: this is the kitchen, this is one of the bedrooms, this is the bath… Duh, that will not help persuade the prospective resident to rent from you.

You need to sell by building value as you communicate information.

How Do You Build Value?

1) Build interest in the property until you get a commitment. Do you have a website that you utilize in your rental business? Directing prospective residents to a good website with lots of great pictures, selling points or even

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: JEFFREY TAYLOR testimonials about your property is one way to build interest even before prospects get to your property. When talking to prospective residents over the phone, you can build interest and excitement by simply saying to the resident, remind me to tell you about the move-in gift that we give to all new residents.

When prospects come to your rentals to see what you have, if you also create a competitive environment, that will influence the interest level of the prospects. Aim to always have at least two prospects at any showing at the same time. When people believe something is desired by others and that there is a limited supply of what’s available, that adds interest and value to whatever is being sought. When more than one applicant is present, prospects will be far more likely to take action immediately and fill out the rental application at the time of the showing.

2) Secondly, you need to build trust. Trust is first established by how you personally communicate. Your smile, your enthusiasm, and a neat appearance all builds trust, makes an impact and helps to establish a positive rapport with the prospects. Share any personal credentials: i.e., the fact that you have been servicing the community for many years, that you are a “certified” professional landlord or manager or any other professional designation or resident testimonials. Regarding the property: provide additional “bonus” handouts beyond the basic elements info, like records of low utility bills, information on resident rewards programs or maintenance guarantee offered.

3) Build a connection with you and the prospect and help connect them to the property. Use the prospect’s name often in the conversation, discover what the prospect is looking for in their home. Tie in what the prospect is looking for whenever possible to what your property offers. Point out the unique amenities of the rooms, i.e. Spacious walkin closets. Help the prospect visualize moving in by asking where certain pieces of furniture will go. Share the top three rental or neighborhood aspects enjoyed by other previous residents.

All three of the above elements, building interest, building trust and building a connection with your prospective residents are all vital elements that will help you to build and sell the value of your rentals, so that you can rent your properties far faster.

616-855-5402 | allenhope.com

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: JEFFREY TAYLOR 18 Great Tips to Implement When Conducting a Rental Open House 1. Put signs with flags on busy streets. Put several signs and flags in the front yard.

2. Lock your purse in your trunk.

3. Don’t forget to check out the cars of prospective residents.

4. Have plenty of applications on hand along with extra pens.

5. Try to get all prospective residents to sign a visitor sheet or guest cards.

6. Market like a crazy person — the plan is to get as many bodies in there as possible.

7. Use multiple signs, streamers, balloons, etc.

8. Have property flyers and informative sheets to hand out. If they leave with nothing, you have not done your job.

9. Don’t worry about getting a flood of prospects. All you need are a couple of good applicants.

10. Have the place rent-ready–super clean. A good rental must say “welcome!” From the curb.

11. Have the place smelling great. We just use plug-ins. You can also buy scented candles at the dollar store that have a cookie smell. A Christmas cookie, cinnamon, or vanilla scents are good choices. It’s often better than having the real messy thing. If you do bake cookies, no chocolate chip! The chocolate goo can get on your carpet!

12. Advertise on craigslist. Have someone with you for the open house.

13. Have either you or a helper take pictures of the visitors because you may get some shady folks. You never know.

14. Put out your open house signs a day or two before the actual open house.

15. I make sure the neighbors know beforehand that I am offering a rental open house. Pass out at least 50 flyers in the neighborhood. Offer a referral fee as people prefer to live next to people they like.

16. Have the associated costs on the table on a sign so everyone knows how much they will be paying. I only negotiate up, not down.

17. When people respond to my craigslist ad, if there is an excessive number that respond, I’ll stager the times the house is being shown. That way, I won’t have everyone show up at the same time. For example, I’ll tell the first 10 people that the open house is between 10:00 am and 11:00 am. The second set gets the times between 11:00 am and 12:00 pm. Everyone wants to be there when I first open the door. This way, they all get their way.

18. Under most circumstances, I tell everyone the same thing.

It won’t be so crowded that you cannot talk to them and when they see that others are interested, this breeds a little “get it quick before it’s gone” attitude. I would say “open house at noon” and they all came then. It’s usually over in about 35-45 minutes.

Jeffrey Taylor will be presenting at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo in Downtown Grand Rapids at 1:10 pm on Friday, February 25th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F. Register now!

Jeffrey Taylor will share his many ways of increasing rental income—without increasing the rent. Jeffrey is one of the most creative landlords out there. He’ll show you how you can easily increase your cash flow by the thousands with simple tweaks to your current business strategy. His presentation is not only one of the best landlord teaching moments on the circuit but—without a doubt—one of the most entertaining.

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(616) 229-9877

W H E R E R E A L E S TAT E I N V E S TO R S A N D L A N D L O R D S G O F O R S U C C E S S

NATIONAL

SPEAKER

ANTHONY CHARA

Increase Your Wealth Exponentially with Multifamily Properties Friday, February 25th at 3:20pm

Where Do I Find Great Deals on Apartments?

I get this question a lot, especially, during or just after a presentation showing an apartment complex illustrating a ‘cash on cash’ return (COCR) in excess of 20%. If you went to a commercial broker and told them you were looking for properties with a 20% COCR, they’d do one of two things; 1) they’d tell you they would buy the property themselves if they ever found one with a 20% COCR or 2) they’d hang up on you because they’d think your expectations are unrealistic. You probably won’t find an apartment complex advertised with a 20% COCR. Just like the broker said, if it fell into their lap, they’d buy it. However, you can increase your chances of finding some great deals by doing a few things differently.

First off, there’s no big secret in ‘finding’ apartment complexes for sale. Start by using the same vehicles most investors use. For instance, you can search through loopnet.com or go to any of the major or regional commercial brokerage web sites such as Marcus & Millichap (marcusmillichap.com), CB Richard Ellis (cbre.com) or Sperry Van Ness (svn.com) just to name a few. There are many more out there. You can also peruse local newspapers in the market you’re interested in. Remember that not all papers are created equal. Some newspapers will advertise

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: ANTHONY CHARA commercial properties in the business section, not the classifieds. Another paper no one thinks about is the wall street journal. They have both national and local properties advertised for sale. Another way to find apartments for sale is to ask property managers or commercial financiers that work in the area you’re looking to purchase in.

Often, they know owners who are looking for another property and have to sell their first one to move on or they know someone who’s just ready to retire. Your local title company might also have contacts like this.

These are just a few of the sources I use. More are given in my workshops and boot camps. The key to getting great apartment deals may start with the information above, but it ends with the information I’m about to share. Like I stated already, there’s no big secret in finding apartment complexes for sale. The key is to find a great deal and here’s how I do it: the first thing I decide upon is a market in which I want to purchase. I may determine the market based on economic factors such as job growth or an expanding economy in that area. I may decide upon the market just because it’s a place I’d like to visit on a regular basis. The next step is to interview at least 3-4 good commercial brokers in that market and create a long-lasting, mutually beneficial relationship with at least one or two of them.

Here’s what I do and how I use my research. Preferably, I want to find a commercial broker that has a CCIM designation. CCIM stands for certified commercial investment member. Most CCIM’s will list this designation in their internet and newspaper ads. CCIM’s have gone thru extensive training on commercial property, plus, they must have a proven track record of closed deals or consultations showing extensive commercial knowledge and they must pass a comprehensive examination. I consider a CCIM equivalent to a PhD. By the way, you can also find

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: ANTHONY CHARA CCIM’s at www.CCIM.com too. It’s estimated that only 6% of the roughly 125,000 commercial brokers out there have a CCIM designation.

Once i find 5-6 brokers in a given market, with or without the CCIM designation, I call them to introduce myself. I ask them about the market conditions, recent sales in the area and their own experience as a commercial broker.

It’s amazing how much information you can get when you ask the right questions. You also get a pretty good feel for the person about whether or not you see yourself having a long-term relationship with them.

Once i have a good feel for 3-4 of the agents I’ve spoken with, I give them the criteria I’m searching for in a complex.

My criteria will include number of units, unit mix, minimum cap rate, price range, the quality of the complex (a, b or c) and area of the city. I may even mention that I’m looking for the owner to do some or all of the financing. I follow-up my phone conversations by emailing or faxing my contact information and criteria to the brokers. Then, I phone or email the brokers every 1-2 weeks to stay in contact with them. Since the brokers know exactly what I’m looking for it makes it easier for them to find something that fits my criteria. The ones that bring me deals I take care of. Obviously, they get their commission, but it’s the extra little things I do that I believe makes a difference such as sending them a restaurant gift card to take their spouse or significant other out for a night on the town at my expense or maybe tickets to a local sporting event or bottle of wine. That way, I am always in the front of their mind anytime a good deal comes across their desk.

You’ve probably heard the term ‘pocket listing.’ well, I want to be a ‘pocket client.’ when the broker gets a new listing, I want to be one of the few clients they call first, sometimes before they even release the details to other brokers in their own office. And that’s the key to finding great deals.

If you think about it, everyone out there has access to the same sources for deals, but it’s the people who have nurtured and cultivated their relationship with the broker that reaps the bumper crop! They will even tend to go to bat for you with the seller if you’re looking to do something other than just put down a traditional 20%-25%. They

(616) 419-8880 | rpminv.com

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NATIONAL SPEAKER: ANTHONY CHARA will be in your corner helping you explain to the seller why it would be better financially for them to carry-back some or the entire purchase price then to just sell the property outright and make you bring in new financing.

Even in the commercial world, it’s about relationships. Once you have those relationships established you have a much greater chance at turning an average deal into a great deal.

A 10% COC return into a 20% COC return. That relationship just helped you double your cash flow. How much is that worth to you?

Anthony Chara will be presenting at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo in Downtown Grand Rapids at 3:20 pm on Friday, February 25th at DeVos Place in River Overlook E - F. Register now!

Why buy 1 when you can buy 10 or 20 or even 50? Learn the how’s and why’s of buying and investing in apartments and multi-family properties with Anthony Chara. Anthony will let you in on the secrets of why buying and investing in apartments and multi-family units can be a big money maker in today’s market. Learn how you can increase your net worth and build a successful portfolio with this informative course.

Tom Koetsier Memorial Scholarship Tom Koetsier was an integral and invaluable part of the RPOA family for 20+ years. Tom always found time to help members with their personal real estate questions and to assist the RPOA staff by answering technical questions. Many investors in the community acknowledge Tom as their mentor and friend— responsible for, to some degree, their success in the business.

In his honor, the RPOA has established the Tom Koetsier Memorial Scholarship.

Anyone who has never been a member of the RPOA is welcome to apply. The scholarship will cover one (1) year of RPOA membership as well as our Real Estate Investor Mastery courses for one (1) year.

The application can be found here. Completed applications should be emailed to RPOA director Clay Powell at clayp@rpoaonline.org. Please use the subject line: Tom Koetsier Memorial Scholarship.

Applications must be submitted by 12:00 p.m. EST on Friday, February 25th, 2022.

The scholarship recipient will be announced at the 2022 Michigan Landlord & Real Estate Investor Conference & Expo at DeVos Place on Friday, February 25th just before Anthony Chara's 3:20 p.m. presentation in the River Overlook room E-F. Please call the RPOA office at (616) 454-3385 with any questions you may have.

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New Rental Listing Facebook Group Exclusively for RPOA Members!

The RPOA has created a new Facebook marketplace group page for rental advertising exclusively for RPOA members. Members can request to join the MI Rental Guide group, and once approved, can post their listings to the group. Under the ‘Buy and Sell’ tab of the page, members should click ‘Sell Something’ and then select ‘Home for Sale or Rent’ (please note: This group is for rental listings only. If you have a property to sell, please post it in our other Facebook group: Michigan Real Estate Investor Haves & Wants Forum).

Members will be able to add photos of their rental and add property details and a description to the post.

When creating a listing, there is also the option to share the listing on Facebook’s general marketplace and in other groups to get more exposure. The MI Rental Guide group and all group posts (including posts in the ‘Discussion’ section) will be visible to the general public.

Members should now post their rental listings in the MI Rental Guide Facebook group instead of through RentLinx. The RPOA will still be printing the listings to put in the box outside of the office for walk-in prospective tenants. Please call the RPOA office if you have any questions about this change.

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Sign Up for The Home Depot Rebate Now! The RPOA's membership in the National Real Estate Investors Association (NREIA) makes RPOA members eligible to receive this extremely valuable rebate.

Sign up for The Home Depot rebate program through the RPOA and receive 2% back on all your purchases*— no matter how small or big.

This rebate is on top of any other discount or sale price, including contractor rates!

Call the RPOA today and start saving!

616-454-3385 Please note: If the credit/debit card for the HD Pro Account is changed, please make sure the NREIA code is also added to that account in order to continue to get the discounts. DO NOT delete the old card from the account. * For semi-annual purchases over $5,000. Rebate checks are sent out semi-annually, usually in March and August.

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BOARD OF DIRECTORS

RPOA MEMBERSHIP Can’t Afford it? Think Again.

Justin Workman, President Kevin Wright, President-Elect Kim Post, Past-President Mark Troy, Secretary Gary Hall, Treasurer Haley Clough Joel Emerson

$289.90

1-Year* Starbucks Tall Coffee

$219.00 1-Year RPOA Annual Dues

Which is Going to Make or Save You Money? * 26 Weeks, 5 Days per Week, Plus Tax

Jeremy Garcia Brian Hamrick Bert Heyboer James Loftus Rob Minch Sharon Olson Jon Smith Nick Wyma

RPOA STAFF: (616) 454-3385 Clay Powell, Director Email: clayp@rpoaonline.org Heather VandenBos Email: heatherv@rpoaonline.org Kathy Bartnick

Email: kathyb@rpoaonline.org

Kristina Kyle

Email: kristinak@rpoaonline.org

MAGAZINE EDITOR Clay Powell (616) 454-3385

Email: clayp@rpoaonline.org

MAGAZINE DESIGN & LAYOUT Kristina Kyle (616) 454-3385

Email: kristinak@rpoaonline.org

AD SALES Kathy Bartnick (616) 318-3503 FEBRUARY 2022

Email: kvallie@aol.com M ICHI G A N L A ND LO R D

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A PUBLICATION OF THE RENTAL PROPERTY OWNERS ASSOCIATION 1459 MICHIGAN STREET NE, GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49503 PHONE: 616.454.3385 EMAIL: CONTACTRPOA@RPOAONLINE.ORG