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The ONLY 2 Ways To Improve Your Finances

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There are only two ways to improve your financial situation and future.

There are all types of get rich quick hacks out there today. The bottom line though, is that there are really only two ways to fix and better the dynamics of your money situation.

1. Lower Your Expenses

If you don’t have the surplus cash you want each month, then the first step is to lower your expenses. If you aren’t making the bills on time, you just wish you could afford to travel more, or don’t have enough left over to enjoy those small treats for your family after you’ve taken money off of the top of your paycheck to save for retirement or to give to charity, then maybe your bills are just too high.

Ideally your housing expenses won’t take up more than 30% of your monthly income. It’s even better if you can keep that under 25% to create a cushion against rising costs. Then if you can keep all of your other expenses under 25% of your monthly income, you’ll have 25% you can save, invest and use to increase your real net worth.

Maybe you can save by going down to one vehicle, refinancing a car or home, paying off high rate cards, getting rid of an expensive phone plan or leased phone, or replacing an expensive and unhealthy habit with a better one.

Of course, some people are doing really well when it comes to lowering their expenses and yet still seem to be broke. You can really only cut your bills so much. You probably still need a house to live in, need to eat, need internet, and if you have a spouse or family they are going to need some ‘basics’ to keep them happy.

It’s important to remember that you’ll always have bills. Even if you buy a lot in the woods, build your own tiny house by hand, dig your own well, run on solar, and grow most of your own food, you’ll still have bills. You’ll still at least have taxes and property taxes, medical bills, and more. A lot of people aren’t going to find such a minimalistic lifestyle sustainable for the long term either.

We are human after all. Refusing to use any financial leverage or have any expenses can limit your ability to grow your finances as well. Zero leverage can also mean being exposed to even greater financial risks.

Do as well as you can in this area, but at some point you’ll also have to do this…

2. Increase Your Income

The only other way to improve your finances and have more surplus is to increase your income.

You can only cut your bills so far. Then you have to increase your upside. Just don’t soak it all up with new bills that you have to pay every month. Leave a cushion for inflation, economic changes, and for the maximum freedom of what to do with your money.

The two keys here are to prioritize passive income and to invest. This way you can multiply your income at a far greater rate than you can physically clock hours and earn, and you can enjoy a more sustainable income that is independent of your ability to work.

Using some form of leverage in this scenario can also really help to make big leaps and get ahead, especially if you are already behind on providing for retirement and beyond.

So, be cautious in the amount of new fixed expenses you clock up each month, but recognize that creating more passive income is the other half of this sum if you’re looking to really improve your money game.

For More Information:

Find out more about investing in secured debt and real estate, visit our contributor’s website: NNG Capital Fund

Realty411 Launches Daily News and Email Service – Receive Crucial Breaking REI Alerts

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Do you want the latest news and information delivered to your inbox?

Realty411 wants to be your #1 real estate news source.

Our reporting team led by a university-trained journalist will help your team or organization streamline the endless industry news. We bring you only the most-important information in an easy-to-read ezine newsletter.

Don’t waste time scouring the internet, let Realty411 choose the leading highlights of the day.

Be sure to sign up for our email newsletter or RSS feed below, and tell your colleagues, associates and friends about Realty411.

Our daily news service is just what top industry professionals need to stay abreast of the day’s highlights.

This complimentary service is perfect for serious investors and media pros. Be sure to also sign-up your company’s marketing and media directors for these crucial and carefully-selected media news flashes.

|| COPYRIGHT Realty411 Daily. Warning: Intellectual property


Not Your Average Lender – Aztec Financial Unleashes NEW Program

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{ SPECIAL NEWS FROM PRIVATE MONEY 411 MAGAZINE }

Original Article by Tim Houghten, Edited by Lori Peebles

Aztec Financial is not your average lender, far too many lenders attempt to pass themselves off as offering hard money or investor-friendly loans, yet they don’t understand the needs of property rehabbers.  Since 1987, the California-based Aztec has not only offered real estate investors a lineup of attractive programs, but it has designed multiple, flexible and unique finance options just for them.

Currently, Aztec Financial is unleashing new programs with low or no money-down options; they also have a no-payment plan that can provide maximum leverage for more sophisticated rehabbers.

Founder Joel Hoffman explains, “We have a new joint-venture type loan program as well and we even do second mortgages for creative investors.  If the equity is there, we may be able to include 100% of the purchase price, and rehab funds.”

He adds, “If you prefer to use your own rehab funds, then Aztec can do the loan based on between 80% to 90% of the purchase price.”

FAST FUNDING

Aztec Financial doesn’t just offer great loan programs, but hyper-efficiency too. Hoffman says one of the reasons he believes the firm has survived and thrived during many turbulent real estate cycles.

Investors can be confident in trying this lender out because there are no upfront appraisal or broker fees. Borrowers can also expect approvals in just 24 hours, with closings possible in as little as three days. There is no waiting and hoping, or gambling precious working capital; investors get approvals fast, and close fast too.

THE BENEFITS OF A DIRECT LENDER

Aztec Financial is a direct California lender. That means none of the stress that comes with brokers.  Hoffman says this offers great flexibility and the ability to make deals work, with common sense underwriting. Approvals and funding are fast, and borrowers can work with the firm to structure terms that work for their strategy and model, while securing the optimal rates.

In addition to funding fix and flip loans, Aztec also funds commercial and business purpose loans on 1 to 4-unit family properties, multiple residential apartment buildings and commercial real estate. Whether you need money to purchase an investment property or simply need to pull cash out on one of your properties, Aztec can help investors close more deals.

Being a local lender, investors may find that the firm’s creative finance solutions and knowledge of the local market could result in better rates, higher LTVs, more flexibility, and more ease in wielding financial leverage.

Learn About Aztec Financial Below:

In 2017, Aztec Financial unleashed a strong  lineup of new loan programs and progressive terms that leave investors no excuses for not getting their deals done. HOT LOAN PRODUCTS & TRUE HARD MONEY

Aztec Financial ’s current loan product lineup includes:

• True hard money loans fast…without the red tape
• Up to 100% LTV fix-and-flip loans
• 2nd mortgages (Case by Case)
• True stated income loans
• New construction loans
• Spec home loans
• Pull cash out to buy more property or for any type of business purpose

Investors can find out more about loans online at www.AztecFinancial.net, though Joel Hoffman encourages those interested in funding to pick up the phone, call 818.848.8960. Find out just how much better funding with Aztec Financial can be.

Q-an-A with Dani Lynn Robison with Freedom Real Estate Group

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A Question and Article Interview with Dani Lynn Robison, Co-Founder of Freedom Real Estate Group

Dani Lynn Robison is no stranger to real estate.

In fact, she is a member of the esteemed Forbes Real Estate Council and is Co-Founder of her own turnkey investment business – Freedom Real Estate Group in Dayton, Ohio. With her rapid success in real estate over the past 10 plus years, we sat down with her to find out a bit more about her success, what she’s doing now, and the advice she has for real estate investors.

INVEST IN READING THIS ARTICLE, REALTY411 GOLDEN NUGGETS , INCLUDE:

  • Discover how a life transition can result into a lucrative passion with real estate.

  • Find out what it takes to be a turnkey provider in this competitive environment.

  • Get an advantage on how a professional buys and sells real estate investments.

  • How does real estate compare to stocks right now?

  • What does the future have in store for rentals in the Midwest?

Q: How did you get started in real estate?

A: Flip (her husband) and I spent about 10 years of our life after college traveling on cruise ships as musicians and art auctioneers. Once we were back on land, we both wanted something that required less travel and put us in one place.

I decided to pursue and learn three different interests of mine and choose one. First, I tried finance. Didn’t like it. I moved on to mortgages and lending. Didn’t like it either. Finally, I landed on real estate sales. I became a REALTOR® and guess what? Didn’t like it either. Flip and I both became REALTORS® in 2008 at the height of the recession.

It was tough. So we decided to attend an educational seminar put on by Phil Grove. Soon we became part of his expert panel as we were his most successful students. After a few years investing in real estate in Texas, Florida, Arizona and other states, we were turned on to the concept of turnkey investments.

I loved the idea because it is all about helping others create cash flow and financial freedom for themselves, which was exactly what we were passionate about doing for ourselves. Now we could help others do the same and they could benefit from our experience and knowledge. We started doing it and haven’t looked back.

Q: Tell us a bit more about your current business and what you’re doing.

A: My main focus is turnkey investing. Basically, we buy properties, rehab them to our standards, rent them to a tenant, put property management in place, and in turn sell it to a real estate investor who wants monthly cash flow without the hassle. It’s an all in one, done for you real estate investing system.

Most of our clients are busy professionals who understand the power of building wealth with real estate and they want to get involved, but don’t have the time, resources, knowledge or even interest to learn more about it. An added bonus of investing this way is your investment doesn’t have to be local to you. With turnkey, you’re able to select markets with high returns that may be across the country. As long as you’re partnered with a trustworthy turnkey company, your asset should be well taken care of.

Q: Your business is located in Dayton, Ohio. Why Dayton?

A: Dayton is great for generating cash-flowing assets. A few things play into that. One, you can buy property much cheaper here than in a lot of other metro areas like Los Angeles, Miami, and Chicago. Here, a single-family property that has 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms will cost you as little as $75,000. Try getting that in one of those cities I just mentioned. With that $75,000 investment, you’re cash flowing about $730 per month after taxes, insurance, and management fees. That’s a 12% return on your investment. Once you get into properties with two units and higher, the returns can get even better.

We offer some properties with 15% returns. Two, the greater Dayton area has a history of a greater owner to renter ratio. Right now, it’s about 60% home owners and 40% renters. That means there is a solid number of renters in the area needing housing. Three, it’s a stable economy. There is definitely growth happening in the greater Dayton and Cincinnati area. The urban core of both cities is booming. Dayton has some staple businesses that have long been here and will continue to be. For example, Wright Patterson Air Force Base, one of the largest research bases in the military and the largest single-site employer in all of Ohio is based in Dayton.

Q: So why not just do real estate investing and rentals myself?

A: I’ve been a real estate coach since 2010. Over 90% of students fail. Either they don’t have the time, passion, or money. It’s always one of those. Seasoned investors have all experienced failure. It’s part of learning. Failures that have cost us hundreds of thousands of dollars.

We’ve done it. If you want to do it, more power to you. Real estate has a huge learning curve. Plus it’s full-time. If you do it right, if you do it well, it’s more than full-time. With no experience in real estate, you’ll likely find yourself with a money pit of a property, get frustrated, and give up.

Q: How does turnkey investing compare to investing in the stock market?

A: I love the cash flow and asset protection aspect of turnkey investing. Renters will always exist. There will always be demand. Plus, if you decide to sell off your properties, you will always have a tangible asset that has worth. Also, real estate isn’t as volatile as the stock market.

Even if the real estate market crashes, there will always be a recovery. Plus, if it crashes, you fall back on cash flow. It’s rare that rents go down – even in a recession. They may not increase but you will still be getting consistent cash flow every month. It’s just not the same with the stock market.

Q: Speaking of a market crash, how do these assets weather that?

A: When you’re buying turnkey properties, you should be buying for cash flow. Yes there are a few markets that boast appreciation as a selling point. I never advise that. Appreciation is speculative and never guaranteed. If you have a 10-year plan, what happens when the market crashes at 9 years and 9 months into your plan? Not good, right? Buy turnkey properties for cash flow. Appreciation is an added bonus when you decide to exit.

Your goal shouldn’t be to have $1 million dollars in your bank account. It should be to have $10,000 in cash flow coming to your mailbox every month. That’s how you achieve true financial freedom.

Q: What does the future look like for Freedom Real Estate Group and you?

A: I plan on continuing to work on and expand our turnkey business. We’ve been able to meet some great people across the globe. I love it. Especially the wonderful success stories. We plan to expand into some other markets. By the end of 2018, we will be expanding into Cincinnati. We’re hoping within the next 12 months to have a presence in two other markets as well but that is still in the works.

Q: Finally, what advice do you have for someone new to real estate investing who wants to begin?

A: If your passion is real estate, find someone local and learn from them. Always have the mindset of there is something new to learn. I’m still learning. If your passion is different from real estate, as in you’re a doctor, teacher, or dentist, align yourself with a real estate investment professional to define and set your goals. That’s how I approach all client conversations. I want to know your goals so I can put you on the right path to get there. Real estate is a great asset for passive income.

If you’re a busy professional who doesn’t want to quit their job and get into real estate full-time, turnkey investing may be a good option. Eventually, once you’ve built a healthy portfolio, you’re working because you want to – not because you have to. That’s true financial freedom.

For more information on turnkey real estate investments, or to schedule a call with a Freedom Real Estate Group investment counselor, please go to their dedicated turnkey website at: www.TurnkeyOhio.com.

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE LEADERS OF FREEDOM REAL ESTATE GROUP

Dani Lynn Robison, Co-Founder, Managing Partner

Dani has been a Licensed REALTOR®, Distressed Property Specialist and Note Consultant since 2009. She has participated in countless real estate transactions and evaluated thousands of houses. Dani’s joy comes from creating win-win situations that help sellers, buyers, and the community.

Dani grew up in Phoenix, AZ and earned an Music Performance degree from Southeastern University. She’s lived in Florida, Texas and Ohio and traveled on cruise ships for 10+ years where she met her husband, Flip. She and her husband are the proud furry parents to one golden retriever, Tucker and two feisty bulldogs named Spartacus and Rosie.

Eric Jones, Director of Sales & Marketing

Eric is a licensed Realtor and has been an integral part of a marketing team for a large, multifamily property management company for over 10 years. While he was there, he marketed and advertised their properties to achieve maximum occupancy and improve their customer experience to be one of the top-rated communities. He was also responsible for doing company-wide presentations to improve sales numbers and motivate the team.

He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Public Relations and Marketing from Northern Kentucky University. With in-depth experience in the real estate and rental market, he constantly strives to improve the customer experience with every transaction and any organization he is involved with. Eric lives by the quote – “Go the extra mile. It’s never crowded.”

Eric grew up in a small town in southern Kentucky before relocating to the Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio, area for college. Eric currently hangs his hat in Springboro, Ohio, with his partner Matt and his darling step-daughter Lilly. In his free time, you can find Eric working with youth performing arts organizations across the country or jet setting to a warm location with a beach.

 

Key Do’s and Don’ts of Probate Leads: How to Find Motivated Sellers

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By Kristine Gentry, VP of Innovation, US Probate Leads

As the real estate market continues to tighten, successful investors are diversifying their lead streams and trying new sources. One of the most underutilized sources of leads are probate leads. Why are they underutilized?

Primarily because people do not understand the opportunities that are available or how to quickly and easily obtain probate leads. In addition, some investors do not know what to do with probate leads once they have them. If you are considering using probate leads to increase your opportunities, or if you already have probate leads, below are some tips for helping you make the most of your leads.

What Are Probate Leads?

Probates leads include information on property that is part of a legal filing after the death of a loved one. These cases include many types of property owned by someone who has passed away including homes, vacation homes, cars, RVs, businesses, commercial property, rental property, artwork, and other personal property. These cases are listed in each county after the death of a loved one where a probate needs to be filed and are controlled by the local court.

Oftentimes, this property has to be sold in order to pay for medical, tax, legal, and funeral expenses. The court will assign an Executor to handle the sale of the property so that these obligations can be met and the heirs can receive any remaining funds.

As part of an overall investment strategy, probate leads are valuable because they come with very motivated sellers. Executors need to deal with the property that is in the probate filing in order to meet the court requirements. Many times, they need cash in order to pay bills that have been left after the passing of their loved one.

Often, they do not live near the inherited property and simply want to sell it as quickly and easily as possible. If they know the property needs updates, they may not want to have to deal with that hassle and would rather sell the property at a discount. In addition, since they inherited the property, anything they make on the property is extra for them so they are less worried about getting maximum value for the property.

Probate properties may be available for thirty to fifty percent off of the market price and are generally available for a quick closing. So, probate leads are a great way to diversity and increase your lead source. But once you have probate leads, what do you do?

Probate leads are not like all other leads and should be treated differently. Do offer to help the executor/heir. Remember they have recently suffered a loss and are grieving. Since probate leads are generated when probates are filed in a local courthouse after a death, it is necessary to be especially warm and considerate when speaking with executors and heirs. They have recently gone through a very tough time and are probably overwhelmed with the loss of their loved one as well as all the legal and financial issues they are faced with as the executor of the estate.

For some executors/heirs, the last thing they have the time or energy to deal with is a recently inherited piece of property. They may not live near the property and may not have the time to take care of basic issues with the house. For instance, suddenly having another yard to maintain can seem daunting.

You can help by offering to mow the lawn, trim shrubs, or water plants. Sometimes the heir or executor simply need someone to talk to. You can be that friendly person they can speak with. Offer condolences and let the executor or heir take the lead in how much they want to talk about their loved one. Simply asking what they need help with can go a long way. Do continue to reach out to the executor/heir. One mailing or phone call will not be enough.

Unlike other leads sources, it is hard to know when will be the right time to reach out to an executor or heir. In some cases, heirs want to sell property as fast as possible. They may be ready to sell quickly so they can move on. In other cases, heirs are reluctant to sell their loved one’s property.

They may hold onto it for months before feeling pressured to do something with the property. We have learned that it is important to regularly reach out to executors and heirs and recommend doing so for at least a year. Sending a mailer or making a phone call every other month is a good timeline. The important thing is for the executor or heir to have your contact information available when they decide they are ready to sell.

Do be honest about how you can help and why it is beneficial to you both. Executors and heirs have a lot going on. They will know that you are interested in making money and not just a stranger who showed up to help out of the blue. It is best to be honest and explain that you make money by purchasing properties below market value, fixing them up, and reselling them. And that it might be helpful for them to sell you their property below market value so that they do not have to deal with the hassle of fixing up a house to sell and then listing it.

Remind them that you can help them get cash quick, but there are no guarantees of how long it would take for the house to sell at full value.

This is a win/win situation for you and the executor or heir, and you should be up front about that. Don’t forget about historical leads. Heirs often don’t sell right away. New users of probate leads often think that the leads have a short time on the market. However, that is not the case. Generally it takes some time for Executors to get all of the paperwork filed and to go through their loved one’s things before they are ready to sell.

There is also the process of grieving, which can cause Executors to hold onto a property for a time before they are willing to sell it. With these parameters in mind, real estate investors who are looking at probate leads will find that Executors who are selling property may not be ready to sell for twelve months after the filing. In many cases, the leads are still viable eighteen months after the passing of a loved one. This allows for plenty of time for real estate investors to make contact with the Executor. Therefore, a successful probate investing practice should include the usage of historical leads. Don’t try to get leads on your own. Purchase them from a reputable source.

Many investors have attempted to gather leads themselves from courthouse records and quickly grew tired of the painstaking and time consuming process of doing so. Now, there is no need to gather these records on your own. Several companies provide probate leads for you. Most specialize in only a handful of counties – often counties where probates are available online. However, some companies have researchers trained to go to courthouses where these records are not available online, which is the case for the vast majority of counties.

U.S. Probate Leads is a family-owned company that has been in the probate business for over 15 years. We have more experience and offer high-quality ads that include skip tracing for executors and addresses.

Don’t waste your time gathering probate leads. Instead, contact us to learn about why our leads are the best on the market. Get Access to Probate Leads Today. Using probate leads is a great way to find more leads in your area as a real estate investor. With long-term viability and Executors that are motivated to sell, you will see that probates are a way to quickly find discounted properties.

If you are looking for diversity in your lead package, then you can get access to probate leads easily and quickly by vising US Probate Leads. We offer county by county listings of the probate leads listed in your area delivered directly to your inbox. Each county in the United States is covered by our trained team of lead specialists. Our team makes sure that you have the leads that you need in order to make your business grow.

Want more information?

You can visit us at www.usprobateleads.com today and get more information on our lead services or sign up. In addition to our lead service, we also offer seminars, webinars, eBooks, software and individualized mentoring for dedicated investors. Contact us today for more information and learn how we can help you to meet your real estate goals.

Probate Leads Available Now – In Your Area US Probate Leads has access to virtually any county in the United States, meaning regardless of where you live, you can start receiving leads monthly.

Go to the US Probate leads site: www.usprobateleads.com, click on your state and get started. To get a 10% discount, place an order before September 30th. Use discount code “Realty411.” Or you can contact them directly at: (877) 470-9751.

Now is the time to make your mark in this little-known niche – never before have more properties become available than will in the coming years. Becoming a US Probate Leads subscriber could really be the start of a whole new future, a more lucrative career, and an exciting investment opportunity.

– Article By Kristine Gentry, VP of Innovation, US Probate Leads

DOWNLOAD THIS ARTICLE AS A PDF NOW

We Want to Inspire You! Get Motivated & Learn About Real Estate Investing Here!

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DISCOVER HOW REALTY411 BEGAN AND WAS STARTED WITH A MISSION OF PROVIDING KNOWLEDGE & RESOURCES

If you would have told Linda Pliagas, the publisher of Realty411, while she was growing up in her family’s modest mobile home that one day she would be a real estate investor and travel the country inspiring others, she would have thought that would be highly farfetched.

However, this is exactly what happened when Linda left Imperial County, Calif., behind and went to the City of Angels to pursue a degree in journalism. Fast-forward a few decades, and a lot of hard work later, and Linda’s life became a complete transformation being the first in her family to attend college, own a home, begin multiple businesses, and mange rental properties.

Linda became a homeowner by age 24 near Marina Del Rey, California with a no-money down technique: using a combination of private money, a traditional mortgage, plus a second seller carry-back. Her and her husband became landlords thereafter. She is a big believer in home ownership, and has owned a home mortgage-free since her late 30s.

A proponent of long-term real estate investing, she also convinced all her family, friends and colleagues to buy real estate. She is credited with the expansion of several property management companies. Her family and Realty411 network have owned rentals in Texas since 2005 and currently individually manage properties, assisted by local managers.

Linda began Realty411 magazine in 2007. It is known as the original realty investor magazine. She combined her knowledge as a licensed agent with investing to come up with the unique title.
The magazine is complimentary to download. Realty411 is considered the go-to resource guide for those seeking to learn to invest. Realty411 and its sister title, REI Wealth Monthly, has readers in every state of the nation, as well as in Canada, United Kingdom, Israel, Australia, India, Singapore, Malaysia, France and many more.

One of the highlights of Linda’s journalism career has been interviewing some of the most popular real estate investors in the nation, such as Mina Starsiak Hawk and Karen E. Laine, the mother/daughter duo from HGTV’s Good Bones, as well as countless other go-getters.

“I’ve had an incredible opportunity to work with Clint Harp form HGTV’s Fixer Upper, when he was our first keynote speaker, and that was such an amazing experience. We’ve also hosted HGTV’s Listed Sisters at our event in Manhattan. Working with rehab celebrities and interviewing real people who are forging ahead to live incredible lives is such an inspiration. It really keeps me focused and motivated to do more,” she says.

Recently, Realty411’s team were also chosen by an award-winning television production company to assist in the creation and production of a TV pilot, which they named Property Pitch. The project is completed and is in talks with a larger production company to secure guaranteed airtime on a major network – as long as advertisers can be attracted.

Linda’s mission to expand education is the reason that the Lone Star Real Estate Expo is a complimentary event, even after its fourth year of production.

“Realty411 is an extension of my life… it is my past and my future, I really want to share it all with people. I want to motivate and inspire
them because if I can completely change my life with a few good real estate moves, so can they!”

While other producers charge hundreds, even thousands of dollars to attend similar conferences, the Lone Star Real Estate Investor’s Expo will continue to be complimentary, thanks to the generosity of committed sponsors. An incredible day awaits guests of the Lone Star Expo: Life-changing content, topnotch valuable connections, fantastic resources, and so much more.

Registration begins at 8:30 am. Early-bird guests will enjoy complimentary continental breakfast AND lunch. The education will continue on Sunday with a joint bus tour being hosted by Jimmy Reed. For information about the property tour, please CLICK HERE.

Investors will arrive from throughout the nation as well as the local area.

For more information, please call Realty411 @ 805.693.1497 or email [email protected]

SEE YOU ON SEPTEMBER 15TH, 2018!!!

Additional events in New York, Florida, California and Nevada are also on the calendar this year, for further details, please visit:

Realty411Expo.com