REOPro Launches www.MatherNetwork.com for Investors

Friday 2/8/2013, REOPro, the nation's largest foreclosure network of agents, asset managers, attorneys, property preservationist and others, launches a sister site, www.MatherNetwork.com, focused on self directed real estate investors.

As with REOPro, the Mather Network has blogs, forums, real time live chat, video sharing, event calendar, group creation and much more however, it's soon launching a new tool to put the investor and investee together.

InvestConnect will give investors the ability to advertise what type of real estate investments they are looking for as well as give investees, those with deals, the ability to come on and search for potential investors. The best part of the InvestConnect tool is that it works in reverse as well. The tool allows investees, those with deals, to advertise their opportunities while investors, those with money, can come on line and search through the different opportunities. Making the network much more than a social media tool but more of a "E-harmony " or "Match.com" for investors and investees.

InvestConnect is on schedule to launch towards the end of March however, current membership of www.MatherNetwork.com and those who join before the launch of InvestConnect, will get access to the tool for the first 12 months free, at no cost. When REOPro's founder, Jesus "Jesse" Gonzalez was asked about how much the tool would cost he explained,

" As always, membership to the network itself will be free however, this new tool comes with some cost and that cost must be paid for. REOPro has built a reputation based on adding value and keeping cost low....or non-existent all together and, I expect the Mather Network to maintain this strategy by working closely with advertising partners to keep InvestConnect cost low. At this time, I don't have an exact figure however, I assure you, it will be highly competitive to other tools on the market and best of all, as the network grows, as membership in InvestConnect grows, we can use increased funds to put towards R&D to make the tool better. Our biggest advantage is our low cost of operation and I will use that advantage to its fullest potential by keeping cost low, providing excellent value and ensuring our members are not just satisfied but, become our raving fans."

REOPro is proud of the Mather Network and looks forward to it becoming a valuable resource for its members with education, advocacy, social media and wealth building tools. For more information on the Mather Network, you can visit their site at www.MatherNetwork.com or contact Jesse Gonzalez Directly at JGonzalez@RealTracs.com

5 Ways to Spot a Home with Hidden Potential
Trulia | August 23, 2012
Remember metal detectors? When I was a kid, they were all the rage, holding the emotional rush of a game with the a potential real-life treasure chest at the end.

Half of Homeowners Under 40 Are Still Underwater
The New York Times | August 23, 2012
The less time you’ve been in your home, the more likely you’ve accumulated little equity and seen the value of your property fall since 2005.

Short Sales vs Foreclosures: The Banks’ Preference
The KCM Blog | August 23, 2012
For months now, we have been letting everyone know that banks were going to begin shifting their focus when liquidating distressed properties. They would start supporting short sales over foreclosures. There is no longer any doubt this is now the new normal.

New Home Sales Up 3.6% in July, Matching Two-year High
The Los Angeles Times | August 23, 2012
Sales of new single-family homes rose to a seasonally adjusted annual level of 372,000 units in July, matching a more than two-year high for total sales, the Census Bureau said.

US Home Prices Make Big Quarterly Jump
FOX Business | August 23, 2012
Home prices rose 1.8% in the April-June period compared with the first quarter of the year, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said Thursday.

Some States Rank High on ‘Housing Misery’ Index
REALTOR Mag | August 23, 2012
Are some housing markets still suffering from the blues? Trulia’s Housing Misery Index takes into account the percentage of change in home prices from a state’s peak during the last decade compared to today as well as the percentage of mortgages that are either severely delinquent or in foreclosure.

Household Income Drops Sharply
The Washington Post | August 23, 2012
Inflation-adjusted median family income fell to $50,964, below where it stood before the recession.

Lost Decade for Shrinking Middle Class
The Wall Street Journal | August 22, 2012
The middle class — defined as households with between two-thirds and double the nation’s median income — has shrunk considerably over the past few decades, a decline that has been greatly exacerbated by the recession and housing bust.

I just wanted to past this one along to ALL of my fellow Professionals....Please give feed on this one.

P.S. I think this comapny can HELP with it: Halo America LLC-Housing Solutions 4 America!!!

Ratio: 3.5 Million Homeless and 18.5 Million Vacant Homes in the US

Diane Sweet
Crooks and Liars
December 31, 2011

The National Economic and Social Rights Initiative along with Amnesty International are asking the U.S. to step up its efforts to address the foreclosure crisis, including by giving serious consideration to the growing call for a foreclosure moratorium and other forms of relief for those at risk, and establishing a housing finance system that fulfills human rights obligations.

New government census reports have revealed disturbing information that details the cold, hard numbers of Americans who have been deeply affected by the state of our economy, and bank foreclosure practices:

In the last few days, the U.S. government census figures have revealed that 1 in 2 Americans have fallen into poverty or are struggling to live on low incomes. And we know that the financial hardships faced by our neighbors, colleagues, and others in our communities will be all the more acutely felt over the holiday season.

Along with poverty and low incomes, the foreclosure rate has created its own crisis situation as the number of families removed from their homes has skyrocketed.

Since 2007, banks have foreclosed around eight million homes. It is estimated that another eight to ten million homes will be foreclosed before the financial crisis is over. This approach to resolving one part of the financial crisis means many, many families are living without adequate and secure housing. In addition, approximately 3.5 million people in the U.S. are homeless, many of them veterans. It is worth noting that, at the same time, there are 18.5 million vacant homes in the country.

The stark realities that persist mean that millions of families will be facing the holidays in temporary homes, or homes under threat, and far too many children will be wishing for an end to the uncertainty and distress their family is facing rather than an Xbox or Barbie doll.

Housing is a basic human need and a fundamental human right. Yet every day in the United States, banks are foreclosing on more than 10,000 mortgages and ordering evictions of individuals and families residing in foreclosed homes. The U.S. government’s steps to address the foreclosure crisis to date have been partial at best.

The depth and severity of the foreclosure crisis is a clear illustration of the urgent need for the U.S. government to put in place a system that respects, protects and fulfills human rights, including the right to housing. This includes implementing real protections to ensure that other actors, such as financial institutions, do not undermine or abuse human rights.

There is a link available at the Amnesty International website for anyone who is interested and would like to join the call on the Obama administration and Congress to urgently step up efforts to address the foreclosure crisis, including by seriously considering the growing call for a foreclosure moratorium and other forms of relief, and establishing a housing finance system that fulfills human rights obligations.

Respectfully Given,

Dennis Ford Jr.

President

Halo America LLC

dfordjr@haloamerica.com

281-914-0502-Direct

www.haloamerica.com

Freddie Mac starts new First Look Program which allows homebuyers 15 days to purchase a HomeSteps REO home before investors can write an offer.

In addition to owner-occupant buyers searching for their primary residence, Freddie Mac’s First Look 15-day window is open to buyers who are part of HUD’s Neighborhood Stabilization Program (NSP), as well as groups affiliated with the National Community Stabilization Trust (NCST).

For the full article from DSNews click here - First Look

MARCH MARKETING MADNESS - Investor Marketing Tips A-E

Starting March 1, investors can once again own and finance up to 10 individual properties and get Fannie Mae backed loans. The limit had been previously reduced to 4. This meant that an investor with 5 properties, great credit, and documented income could not finance an investment property without bringing in a partner or resorting to creative financing methods.

Undoubtedly, we will see increased activity from investors who had been halted by the limit.

In lieu of March Marketing Madness (a stimulus plan aimed at connecting agentswith these emerging investors), to help agents grow their business with realestate investors - every day I will post a new tip that can help you with yourinvestor clients and prospects.

Click here for tips A-Z

ADD VALUE to the service you provide.

To retain clients, gain referrals, and increase recurring business - you need to do something special to set yourself apart from your competition. There are many different ways to ADD VALUE to the service you provide for your clients, and providing resources is one of them.

Owning rental property is tough, and real estate investors have a lot of pain points - like finding a handyman and other good resources. One easy way to ADD VALUE to your services is by helping solve these pain points. You can stand out from other real estate professionals by learning about your clients' wants, identifying their obstacles and pain points - and then pointing them in the direction of resources that can help. ADD VALUE to your services by educating yourself, becoming more knowledgeable for your clients, and by exhibiting a "how can I help" mentality that will keep clients coming back to you.

BE KNOWN in the areas you want to serve.

Make it your priority to BE KNOWN in your area - you won't get very far if no one knows about your business. Get to BE KNOWN amongst all the local business owners and group leaders. Contribute to local organizations and participate in venues where you can volunteer your services. The more people who know about you and the service you provide - and the better off you'll be.

Real estate investors know what they want and don't have trouble looking for it. Very often, they will rely on their network and referrals. When a client is looking for a service in your area, you want to be at the top of the list of known individuals who can provide it. Think of this as SEO (search engine optimization) - but in real life, not on Google. When an investor wants to purchase in your area, they will search through their network first, and use the recommendation that comes their way. You want to BE KNOWN within this network that they are using to search for results.

CREATE TAB to attract Investors

Many real estate agent sites are limited because of their "for buyers" and "for sellers" appearance. CREATE an INVESTOR TAB with resources that aren't focused on an immediate real estate transaction, it will help you connect with clients on a long term.

DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS to last a lifetime.

Your relationship with clients and prospects should go far beyond real estate. When you DEVELOP RELATIONSHIPS with your clients to let them know they are more important to you than just a real estate transaction, the business opportunities will last a lifetime.

EDUCATE CLIENTS to make good decisions.

EDUCATE CLIENTS, so that they can make good, informed decisions. Turn yourself into an asset by providing valuable information that helps your clients make their decisions. This is a fundamental strategy you must use to keep them coming back to you.

Clients need your help to make their decisions - they don't want you making decisions for them! A good decision is the result of having the right information and making the correct choice. Investors are long term repeat clients who know what they are looking for, and they need you to provide the right information so they can make the right choice. If you don't provide investors with information that can make them feel confident about the choices you have available, they don't have a reason to be confident in yourservices. So its important to EDUCATE CLIENTS, because providing them with good information lets them know that you are there to help them make the decisions that are right for them.

Click here for tips A-Z