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Beware: Unmasking the Vacant Land Property Scam — A Call to Vigilance for Real Estate Licensees

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By Stephanie Mojica

SACRAMENTO – In the wake of a recent statewide consumer alert on identity theft and rental properties, the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) is once again sounding the alarm. This time, the focus is on an emerging false identity scam targeting vacant land and unencumbered properties. With a surge in real estate fraud involving identity theft, law enforcement agencies and District Attorney’s offices across California are urging more than 434,000 DRE licensees to stay vigilant.

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The scam entails fraudsters scouring public records to identify properties without mortgages or liens, especially vacant lots, long-term rentals, or vacation homes often owned by vulnerable populations such as the elderly and foreigners.

Posing as the property owners, the criminals contact real estate agents, seeking assistance in selling the properties that they do not actually own. They lure agents with offers to list the properties below market value to generate quick interest, while ensuring no “For Sale” signs are displayed. They prefer cash buyers, demand rapid closing, and evade in-person meetings by relying on email, text, and phone communications, refusing video calls. To add another layer of deceit, they employ their own notary, who provides falsified documents to title companies or closing attorneys, insisting that proceeds be wired directly to them.

Detecting this scheme can be challenging, but real estate agents must exercise due diligence by verifying the property owner’s identity before accepting a listing. To protect themselves and their clients, agents are advised to:

1. Request in-person or virtual meetings with proper government-issued identification.

2. If an in-person meeting is not possible, require the use of a third-party identity verification service.

3. Conduct thorough online searches to verify the owner’s identity, including checking for recent photos and contact information.

4. Send a copy of the electronically signed listing via overnight mail to the property’s address on record, asking for confirmation from the actual owner.

5. Obtain a copy of a voided check with the seller’s disbursement authorization form from the property owner.

6. Use a wire verification service to ensure that wire instructions match the account details provided on the seller’s disbursement authorization form.

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DRE strongly encourages brokers to establish written policies regarding listings for properties where the licensee and seller have never met in person.

Should any suspicious real estate fraud cases arise, agents are urged to report them to local law enforcement or their District Attorney’s office. If another real estate licensee is potentially involved in the fraud, the information should be provided to DRE through its Enforcement Online Complaint System.

Vigilance and proactive measures can help thwart these scams and protect both real estate professionals and property owners from falling victim to such deceptive practices.

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

Tips on How Podcasts Can Make Money

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By Stephanie Mojica

When entrepreneurs think of getting into the media, they often think of magazines, newspapers, TV, and radio.

But podcasts are a growing, and still often-overlooked, form of media that can dramatically benefit all types of entrepreneurs and experts.

According to Buzzsprout, only 22 percent of American adults in the early 2000s knew the term podcast. Currently, the estimated number is 78 percent.

For those who don’t know, a podcast is generally a series of audio-only episodes surrounding a central theme. It’s sort of a mix of blogging and radio, though there are some distinct differences.

For example, podcast interviews are evergreen. Meaning, they last forever. Podcast hosts tend to publish their episodes on multiple websites and apps dedicated to this medium, including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Audible, Google Podcasts, Blog Talk Radio, and many more.

I’ve been on podcasts where the hosts also livestream the interview (including the video) to YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

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Examples of Making Money Through Podcast Interviews

While many people produce podcasts or do podcast interviews as a hobby, there are ways to monetize both ends of the spectrum.

For example, I had an interview with the Yeukai Business Show (a podcast based out of the United Kingdom that is in the top three percent of globally ranked podcasts). The host, Yeukai Kajidori, immediately introduced me to someone he had recently interviewed who was hoping to write a book. She and I had a conversation and she enrolled in my 90-day intensive. She finished her book during our time together and is having it published.

My company had another client, I’ll call her Anne, who sold 400 books from a single podcast interview. Since her royalties through Kindle Direct Publishing are $9.72 per book sold, she made $3,888 from a single interview!

Yet another client, I’ll call him Don, sold an $8,000 consulting package to someone who heard him on a podcast.

The list goes on and on. Podcasts, when used well, are an amazing tool to gain more sales…and you don’t even need a book to do it (though a book always helps you get interviews and have something to offer listeners right away)

Tips for Monetizing Podcast Interviews

While we’ll go deeper into the process of getting these opportunities in a future article, it’s fairly easy to get started with podcast interviews. Facebook groups and Clubhouse rooms dedicated to find a guest, be a guest abound.

While you should do more careful targeting later on, it’s fine to do a few interviews with any show related to your expertise just to get started and become known. Many of my recent podcast interviews came from referrals from other podcast hosts, so getting in the game so to speak is key.

Each podcast interview takes about 30 to 75 minutes of your time. Depending on your schedule and goals, you should aim to do at least one a month. Many folks, including myself, try for one a week. If you’re launching a book or a course, the more interviews the better.

When pitching yourself to a podcast or speaking on a podcast, avoid hard sales pitches. I think you know what I’m talking about. Do not basically order people to buy your product or service. I’ve heard of podcast hosts not publishing episodes where all the guest does is try to sell to the audience.

Podcast listeners want value. They are dedicating their time to listen to you. While they’re aware that you’re in business, they don’t want to hear sales pitches the entire time.

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Tell Stories About Your Clients

Answer questions about yourself honestly and in an engaging manner.

Weave in ways they can get in touch with you. For example, I’ll say something like, “I go deeper into this in my free eBook” and mention the title and website.

Always say any web addresses twice and speak slowly when giving them.

Use headphones and a good microphone to avoid background noises that can render your episode unusable.

Most podcast hosts will let you put links in what they call show notes. Some have limits; others don’t. If you’re limited, I recommend a link to a free offer where listeners can leave their email address (aka they opt in), your LinkedIn profile, and your most popular social media profile or your Facebook group. I still wouldn’t give 50 links; as one of my mentors, Ali Brown, once said in a virtual training class, “A confused mind says no.”

Keep in Touch with Your Hosts

Not everyone will mesh well, and that’s okay. But most of the time, you’ve started a relationship that’s worth continuing — and you need to nurture it.

Keep in touch with the podcast host. Most are happy to accept your friend request on social media. See if there are ways you can bring them more value.

In October 2021, I hosted a 30-plus speaker summit called The Visible Authority Virtual Event — Be Seen. Get Heard. Get Paid. Alex Villacis, host of Do I Need School to… invited me to do an Instagram Live with her to help drive members of her audience to my summit. This was only possible because we kept in touch after my interview with her about the book editing side of my business.

Another host, Heather Zeitzwolfe from the Get the Balance Right podcast, invited me to be a speaker on her Zoom networking event. People signed up for my free Business Book Blueprint five-day challenge as a result. I’ve also introduced potential virtual assistants and mentors to her.

I’ve referred multiple clients and business associates of mine to these podcasts as well as other podcasts. The key is to treat every host you meet with respect, bring plenty of value to their audiences, keep in touch, believe in the power of your message, and just get started.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

Mortgage Rates are Rising Again

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By Stephanie Mojica

Mortgage rates are rising again, causing the average homeowner to pay $800 a month more than they would have just a year ago, according to REALTOR.com.

The interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.54%, while the rate for a 15-year fixed mortgage is 5.75%, per Mortgage News Daily. Even Veterans Administration (VA) loans aren’t getting much relief, with the 30-year fixed rate coming in at 5.95%.

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While these numbers aren’t as high as they were in November 2022, they still present significant financial hurdles to would-be homebuyers, REALTOR.com reported.

Because prices are high, people need to borrow more money than before. Hence, people who could ordinarily buy a home are choosing to rent instead; this is good news for real estate investors.

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The last time mortgage rates were this high was 2008. With housing prices 42% higher than they were before the COVID-19 pandemic, this is a serious situation for many aspiring homeowners.

Investors and traditional buyers alike are encouraged to shop around for concessions, special programs, and to explore multiple lenders. However, some investors believe that the state of the economy will once again cause mortgage rates to increase.

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

Why Media-Savvy Real Estate Brokers Should Write a Book

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By Stephanie Mojica

The entrepreneur world has grown massively in the last 5 to 10 years. As someone who’s been in the field a long time, I’ve learned that there are so many ways to grow as an entrepreneur online. Something that I do is help entrepreneurs write their books in order to market themselves and their services.

A well-written book can dramatically increase the number of people who say yes to your product or service as an entrepreneur — and licensed agency brokers fall into this category.

A published and popular book can be huge for marketing in your field, because you can have the financial joy of standing out as an expert in your field rather than just being another number in the crowd. There are many reasons why entrepreneurs should write books. But I’m going to go over some of the most important reasons you should as a business owner.

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Clients Get to Know You

As an avid reader, there have been many times that I’ve discovered someone new in the entrepreneur world simply by picking up their book in the store. By writing a book, clients can get to know you before your pitch. They hear your story and come to see how your expertise can help them achieve what they want in life. Being a published author helps create trust between you and your potential client. In the long run, writing a book will help you have a great return on investment.

Expert in the Field

Social media is where entrepreneurs go to sell their services and market themselves as the experts in their field, but this can be altered and manipulated. However, having a book can help really set you apart in your field because it shows you care enough about the topic to write about it. This again creates trust between you and your potential client, because it shows you know what you’re talking about and you actually have the expertise and knowledge to back it up.

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Visibility in the Crowd

There is a whole world out there in the book and publishing community that might not be on social media, and this is where you can find a whole new crowd of clients. Writing a book in your field can be very beneficial, because there can be so much good marketing for you. If the media ever needs an expert on a topic like yours, they will come to you because they trust experts who write books. By having a book in your name, getting media marketing can be so easy.

Get a Book Coach

If you’re looking into writing your first book as an entrepreneur and are not sure where to start, check out some of my amazing resources as a book coach. Having a book coach makes it easy to get started and get organized for your future successes!

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

More Homebuyers are Experiencing Challenges Making their Purchases

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By Stephanie Mojica

A growing number of homebuyers are exhausted with the nuances of acquiring a property, leading some to continue renting, according to REALTOR.com.

Jenna and Gil Watts in Savannah, Ga. have been looking for a home since October 2020, but have lost out to buyers who can pay cash for a property. Several offers of theirs have been rejected because people from the Northeast and the West Coast had recently sold their homes and made all-cash offers, the couple told REALTOR.com.

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When the Wattses relocated to Savannah, they only expected to rent for about a year. They have seen over 50 homes and are still not homeowners. Gil Watts was born and raised in Savannah, and both husband and wife are exhausted and disappointed.

“When I see new listings, I don’t get excited anymore,” Jenna Watts said. “I feel burned out. Sometimes I feel numb to the whole process because it’s been so repetitive, and it just feels like things are stagnant and there’s no light at the end of the tunnel.”

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Only 17% of respondents to a February survey from Fannie Mae said they thought it was a good time to buy, while 59% said they thought it was a good time to sell.

Danielle Hale, chief economist for REALTOR.com, said this problem is common and is affecting buyers and sellers. The current situation has created a “nobody’s market,” Hale noted.

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

5 Reasons To Write & Publish Your Book — Build Credibility and Passive Income

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By Stephanie Mojica

Do you have real estate knowledge that you wish to share with other investors? Or, would you like to build a passive stream of income with sales of books you’ve authored?

Let’s talk today about five reasons why you should write and publish your book instead of thinking, “Oh, maybe later.”

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1. You can get your message out to a lot more people than you ever could through one- on-one work, networking groups, speaking, etc. It’s just really been beneficial to my clients, to have hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands, or even millions of people exposed to you, your message, and your story. A book is just an incredible way, and a very affordable way, to get that message out. Because more people are willing to invest $9.99 or $14.99 in a book than $100 or thousands of dollars in your course, your service, etc.

2. When you write and publish your book instead of just thinking about it, you get to enjoy the reputation and credibility builder of being a published author. Clients have told me that they decided to work with me because they don’t want to keep seeing “Author of…” in everybody else’s bio, especially when they were speaking on live or virtual stages. And writing a book really shows that you’re in the game for the long haul, that you’re not just a one-trick pony. With the pandemic, a lot of people started calling themselves coaches, consultants, and other experts. And we don’t know if some of those people will go back to their day jobs or jump on the next trend. So, writing a book just shows that you’re in the game for the long haul. Your business isn’t something you just decided to do, especially because of the pandemic.

3. You’ll have that sense of accomplishment that I and others have experienced after writing and publishing a book; that feeling is indescribable. Most of the population has not even attempted to write a book. And of the people who try to write a book, less than 5% finish it and publish it.

4. People seek you out a lot more when you have that published book out there. The opportunities include media interviews, speaking gigs, and podcast interviews. Having a new book is a great way to increase urgency among people booking such opportunities because everyone wants to be on top of the news.

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5. Waking up to passive income is another benefit of finally writing and publishing your book. While many of my clients make money from new clients that come in through their book and the increased publicity surrounding them, some people that I’ve worked with have made five and even six figures from book sales. It’s great to make money when you sleep, especially with rents, mortgages, and everything throughout the world on the rise.

So, write your book. Don’t just sit around thinking about it and end up on your deathbed wishing that you did it. Just do it. I promise you — especially if you get the right support. It will not be as painful or as difficult as it sounds.

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

The Ins and Outs of Seller Concessions

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By Realty411 Team

Home sellers need to be more willing to make concessions in a challenged real estate market, per Yahoo! Finance.

Lower asking prices are not enough anymore, so sellers should be more willing to negotiate deals. Helping with closing costs and giving an interest rate buydown concession (where the seller gives the buyer a credit, essentially lowering their monthly payments) are just two examples.

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Repairing the property, allowing a closing period of 45 days, and offering a home warranty can also sweeten the deal for buyers.

However, sellers should avoid certain types of concessions. For example, making home improvements (which are different from repairs) or giving things like a “carpet and painting” allowance.

While the days of simply posting a “For Sale” sign are over and creativity is more important than ever, sellers still need to protect themselves.

Some concessions are particularly risky, such as allowing the buyer to move in before closing or allowing the deal to be contingent on when the buyer sells their current home.

Flexibility is important, but so is avoiding gullibility.

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Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

Bank Failures Cause Mortgage Rates to Drop

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By Stephanie Mojica

In the wake of recent bank failures, mortgage rates have dropped, according to REALTOR.com. During the week of March 13, 2023, mortgage rates have been between 6.57% and 6.75%.

The rates are anticipated to continue to fall, giving renewed hope to many traditional homebuyers and real estate investors.

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Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and Silvergate Bank have all failed, which has caused some would-be homebuyers to become nervous about getting a mortgage. There are concerns that other banks could collapse as well as anxiety about the general economic uncertainty in the world, Ali Wolf, chief economist of the building consultancy Zonda, told REALTOR.com.

However, Wolf noted that all the drama will probably lower mortgage rates even further. If rates go down by even .50 percent, the average housing payment would be lowered by $100 each month.

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The good news in the bank collapse situation is that the U.S. federal government is covering people’s losses from Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, which will surely assuage some people’s fears. Because Silvergate Bank handled cryptocurrency such as Bitcoin, the feds are not able to recoup customers’ losses.

REALTOR.com recommends that people in the market for a mortgage to check rates at least once a day and stay in close contact with lenders.

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.

6 Things to Keep in Mind When Selling Your Home

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By Stephanie Mojica

During the first two years of the COVID-19 pandemic, investors and traditional homeowners enjoyed a true seller’s market. But as COVID-19 slowly fades from the news and global financial challenges persist, sellers no longer have the same advantages.

The good news is that the majority of homeowners can still get more than they paid for their property, but the bad news is that more planning is required. To that end, here are six things to keep in mind when selling your home, per REALTOR.com.

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1. Set the right selling price from the get-go.

Pricing your property above market value is a recipe for disappointment. Also, don’t count on the bidding wars that were everyday occurrences at the height of the pandemic.

2. Do not try to sell your property “as is”.

People just aren’t buying homes in need of TLC nowadays. While it may feel unfamiliar and even irritating, repairing your house before it hits the market will heighten your chances of making a quick sale.

3. Help your buyer as much as possible.

Interest rates are at historic highs, causing lenders to offer their customers less buying power. As a result, concessions such as sellers helping their buyers with closing costs are now a bigger part of the game.

4. Don’t expect any property to sell quickly.

The times of a home only sitting on the market for a few days seem to be gone; the current national average is 50 days. The good news is that this is still less time than the pre-pandemic average of 68 days.

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5. Invest time and money into home staging.

An empty house doesn’t appeal to buyers the way it once did. In fact, homes that are tidy and staged sell 88% faster (and at 20% higher prices) than non-staged properties.

6. Consider when to sell your home.

During the peak of the pandemic, it was okay to list a home anytime. But nowadays, spring and summer are the best buying seasons.

Stephanie Mojica

Stephanie Mojica, writer of How One Writer Shifted From Settling for $12 an Hour to Prospering at Over $90 an Hour and shorter books such as Quick Answers to Frequently Asked Credit Questions, is an award-winning journalist with publications such as USA Today, The Philadelphia Inquirer, San Francisco Chronicle, and The Virginian-Pilot, among many others. She helps executive coaches, business consultants, business owners, attorneys, and other decision makers generate more money online and become the go-to expert in their field by guiding them step by step through the process of writing and publishing a book.

San Francisco Home Prices Are Dropping — Could This Happen in L.A.?

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By Stephanie Mojica

Homes are selling for less than the asking price in San Francisco, and some experts speculate that the same thing could happen in Southern California, per the Los Angeles Times.

The report stopped short of calling the San Francisco Bay Area a buyer’s market, but labeled it a buyer-friendly market.

Before the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, massive tech industry layoffs, and high mortgage interest rates, homes in the Bay Area sold for 113% of the asking price.

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As of December 2022, the sale-to-list ratio was 99.8% — the lowest it had been in nearly six years.

The usual figure is 105% in Los Angeles, but that has dipped to 98.5% for the first time in over four years.

Experts interviewed by the Los Angeles Times believe that this trend will continue in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. The stock benefits that tech employees often use for down payments have significantly less value now. Also, the increased trend of remote work is leading people in multiple industries to seek cheaper housing options in cities such as San Diego, Sacramento, and Phoenix.

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Learn live and in real-time with Realty411. Be sure to register for our next virtual and in-person events. For all the details, please visit Realty411Expo.com or our Eventbrite landing page, CLICK HERE.