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

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.

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

  • How does real estate compare to the stock market, get a perspective.

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

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

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