Nov. 2, 2008 - Annual Convention Less Than 30 Days Away, Register Now!

Annual Convention Speakers Address ‘How To Raise Capital’

Discover what you need to know about finding money for your business in 2009 By Ken Channell Matt Scott The 2008 Annual Convention will feature two presentations about how to successfully raise funds for your HVA business. The first is a presentation by Matt Scott entitled Raising Capital Funds. Scott comes highly recommended by several of our franchisees who have attended his workshops about raising money. He will discuss a proven strategy for finding, recruiting, approaching, and working with private individuals who are willing to loan money. This session will be presented Tuesday, Dec. 2 at 9 a.m. Topics covered in the presentation will include: Mistakes in raising money that lead to civil and/or criminal actions (with real case studies) The truth about advertising for investors SEC regulations made easy How to leverage the SEC to raise funding Why repositioning to attract investors is essential Reasons to avoid the mom and pop investors How to attract the affluent investor and what turns them off The one secret to deal structuring that appeals to investors How to fund your company to acquire long-term portfolio properties Why my private REIT or my private funding co-strategy greatly increase your funding process How to build your own private list of affluent investors Why marketing for investors is unique and what you should do John Adams You will also hear from John Adams, often called “Atlanta’s most trusted voice in real estate.” As a sophomore at Atlanta’s Emory College in 1973, Adams was assigned a class project to study the feasibility of a run-down apartment complex. He located a tired 38-unit property, bought it for a thousand dollars down, received an “A” for the semester and has never looked back. Today, Adams owns and manages close to 50 residential units, including houses, apartments, condos, resort properties and two commercial buildings. Adams said he sees the current flood in lender REO property as the opportunity of a lifetime for any investor looking to build long-term wealth, and he knows this because he’s done it successfully for more than 30 years. He is a founder and director of Decatur First Bank in DeKalb County, and writes a weekly column about real estate for the Sunday Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Adams is a 20-year veteran of Atlanta talk radio, where he can be heard weekends on 920 AM WGKA. As Adams says: “For most Americans, owning real estate is the best investment they have ever made.” Adams will make two presentations on Thursday, Dec. 4. Locating funding for your business will be one of the greatest challenges in 2009. Be sure to attend these two presentations so that you are prepared to raise the capital you need to make 2009 your best year ever. …Ken Channell is vice president of team development. He can be reached at Ken.Channell@homevestors.com.

Vote Daily In Ugliest House Of The Year Contest

Voting continues through Nov. 15 at www.theugliesthouse.com This November the voting competition isn’t just between Republicans and Democrats, but also among the 10 ugliest houses in America. And unlike the general election, you can vote early and vote often through midnight on Nov. 15. Each person is allowed to vote once per day.  Vote Early! Vote Often! The 10 finalists for the Ugliest House of the Year contest are: Ann Mullikin of ABC Home Services in Richmond, VA Eddie Gant of Advantage House Buyers in Houston, TX Ian Mendelson of Allied Property Group in Atlanta, GA J.D. Asbell of CityScape Properties in Kansas City, KS Nick and Jessica Cifaldi of Cifaldi Property Investments in Philadelphia, PA Patti Robertson of PTR Investments in Norfolk, VA Scott Gottlieb of SNL in Chicago, IL Sheila Konecke of K2NC in Washington, D.C. Val Swensen of The Home Liquidator in Milwaukee, WI Victoria McKune of Kingsgate in Brevard County, FL The winner, along with second and third place finishers, will be announced Dec. 3 at the Annual Convention at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas. First prize is a $10,000 advertising credit, second prize is a $5,000 advertising credit, and third prize is a $2,500 advertising credit to be used in Q1, 2009. Voting is under way now through Nov. 15 at www.theugliesthouse.com.

Transition A Full-Service Franchise Into An Associate Franchise

Is it the right move for you? By Leah Templeton HVA recently awarded its first associate franchise (AF) to Scott Arnold, of Dallas, TX. As an AF, Arnold is able to operate from home with less overhead, buy fewer properties than full-time franchisees and enjoy a career with HVA on a smaller scale, while still maintaining another job.  HVA's first associate franchisee Scott Arnold (left) with John Hayes, John Cantleberry and Chas Carrier, Arnold's DA. The AF program is expected to rapidly grow the HVA brand and open possibilities not only for new franchisees, but existing franchisees as well. In fact, the program has generated a lot of excitement from current franchisees… and a lot of questions. According to David Hicks, vice president of Operations, and Jason Killough, vice president of Franchise Development, full-service franchisees are asking about the AF program and how they can transition into that role. If this is a move you’re considering, take a look at these frequently asked questions with answers supplied by Hicks and Killough: Q: Why would a full-service franchisee want to become an AF? A: It depends on the goals of the franchisee. The transaction fees are higher for an associate franchise, so if a franchisee has a goal of buying 20 or more houses a year, they should remain a full-service franchisee. If the franchisee has goals of buying less than 10, it makes sense to become an AF. Depending on the market, and the price of houses in the market, somewhere between 10 and 20 houses is the point that the fees are equal. Q: What does it cost to transfer? A: There is no cost for a full-service franchisee to become an associate franchisee. Our goal is to help franchisees stay in the system, whether it’s as a full-service operator or as an AF. Q: Can a full-service franchisee make the switch if they currently owe HVA money? A: Yes, but we'll need to work out a payment plan. Q: What are the transaction fees for a full-service franchisee that becomes an AF? A: The AF will pay a transaction fee that includes both the buy and sale, with a minimum fee of $1,050 plus the $250 Marketing Fund fee. In addition, there’s an assistance fee paid to a Development Agent (DA) in return for training and supporting the AF. Q: Will the full-service franchisee who becomes an AF work with a Development Agent? A: Yes. And it’s up to the AF to select the DA of their choice. DAs have a right to accept or reject an AF. All AFs will work with a DA—that’s part of the strength of this program. When there’s no DA in an area, HVA will provide a DA for the AF. Q: Is the assistance fee 50% of gross profit for each property sold? A: It will be for some AFs, but not all. A new AF with little experience will need more training and support than a veteran franchise. New AFs will split up to 50 percent of the gross profit on each sale with a DA.. However, depending on the experience and support required, the assistance fee will be reduced accordingly. The assistance fee is not static, it is set between the AF and DA and is dependent upon the AF’s experience and skills. The more service needed, the higher the fee. Look for an article in the Nov. 15 issue of The Vestor’s Voice® that discusses why making the transition into an associate franchise could be an ideal move for some full service franchisees. For more information about becoming an AF contact David Hicks at David.Hicks@homevestors.com or Karen Mann at Karen.Mann@homevestors.com. …Leah Templeton is an account executive at BizCom Associates, HVA’s public relations agency.

Six Franchises Named Development Agents

These franchises can now train and mentor Associate Franchisees By Leah Templeton Leah Templeton HVA recently awarded six franchises the title of Development Agent (DA). These new DAs join Stieferman Investments of Tulsa, OK, the first franchise office to receive this status. In addition to the benefits of belonging to Team HVA, these franchisees can also sell HVA’s new associate franchise (AF) opportunity and then train and mentor AFs. The DAs are compensated through an assistance fee paid to them by the AFs. The new Development Agents are: Sheila Konecke of K2NC in Washington, D.C. Cal and Robin Wilkins of The Real Advantage in Dallas, TX Chas Carrier and John Cantleberry of C&C Residential in Dallas, TX Patti Robertson of PTR Investments in Norfolk, VA Terry and Jody Turbyfill of Home Solutions of South Florida in Fort Lauderdale, FL Barry Watts of Springfield Property Management in Springfield, MO “We appreciate the enthusiasm of our DA community,” said John Hayes, president and CEO of HVA. “The DAs will help us expand our franchise network so that we can reach a greater market share and provide our much-needed services.” …Leah Templeton is an account executive at BizCom Associates, HVA’s public relations agency.

Veteran’s Day Marks Franchisee’s One Year Anniversary with HVA

VetFran program helped Rene Aubertin open his franchise a year ago A dash of salt. A pinch of pepper. Simmer at just the right temperature. A well-prepared delectable dish requires just the right ingredients and preparation. Rene Aubertin HVA franchisee Rene Aubertin of Atlantic Regional Development in Boston, MA should know. The student of culinary arts took his high school cooking talents to the United States Marine Corps and ultimately to Okinawa where he was in charge of food services for the military base. Aubertin points to his years as a military cook and the following years in the mortgage business as foundational training and preparation for his opportunity now in real estate. Aubertin served in the Marine Corps from 1979-82, stationed at Okinawa and then at a base in California where he was a cook in the chow hall while serving as property manager for the facility. Following his service with the Corps, Aubertin did not pursue a career in the restaurant or food service industries. Instead, he joined General Electric on a turbine assembly line. But an injury to his back forced him to miss eight years of work. Undaunted by that setback, Aubertin’s determination instilled from his training and service in the Marine Corps served him well. He went back to school and earned a business and finance degree in 1996. A 12-year career as a mortgage broker followed. A year ago, with one eye on the ever-changing mortgage business, Aubertin began looking for other opportunities. “I saw the mortgage business coming to an end at least for me,” Aubertin recalls of his decision to find out more about HomeVestors. “I would get a headache just trying to deal with banks. So I started looking at all of the Top 50 franchises and analyzed each of them. HVA was the best and it was what I knew.” Aubertin knew he was ready for just this sort of challenge and knew he was well prepared. The regiment of the Marine Corps, the knowledge and experience from the mortgage business, and training and advice from friends and family had all been necessary ingredients on this chef’s menu to put him in position for this opportunity. “I learned a lot about real estate from a neighbor of mine and from my father who was in real estate,” Aubertin said. “Working in the mortgage brokerage business helped so much, and after looking at HomeVestors, I thought this was my thing.” Then the assistance of the national VetFran Program made it even better for Aubertin to join up. “The VetFran program has been great for me,” said Aubertin. “I don’t think too many companies offer to do something like this. It is a tremendous benefit. And it is the perfect time to be in this business. We can help a lot of people.” This October marks the one year anniversary of Aubertin as a HomeVestors franchisee. And the Bostonian couldn’t be happier about it. “I was ready to do something like this,” Aubertin said of his decision to search Boston neighborhoods for ugly houses. “It’s perfect for me. I just love it and wouldn’t want to do anything else.”

VetFran Leads Franchisee Cory Harrington To HVA

Thanks to the VetFran program, Harrington is one of HVA’s newest franchisees Cory Harrington Cory Harrington, owner of United Real Estate Ventures in San Antonio, TX, once had visions of getting into the medical field as a career. But, the Air Force reservist took a bit of a detour and has never looked back. Now, in his first year as an HVA franchisee, Harrington is busy diagnosing the best buys of ugly houses in San Antonio, TX. Harrington served as a surgical technician in the Air Force Reserves from 1996-2003. His military experience helped him get into a veterans program while working with AmeriCorp. The program allowed Harrington to work 30 hours at a Veterans Administration medical clinic while earning his salary. He graduated with honors from the University of California-Berkley. “I owe it all to my reserve status,” Harrington said of the benefits of the veterans program. “This helped me further my studies while I was working. I would have not had that if it were not for my military experience.” Harrington worked in commercial real estate in the Sacramento, CA, area following his Air Force service. But he was aware of the company that had made a name for itself with those unusual billboards that read “We Buy Ugly Houses.” “I had tried to get involved about two years ago and was trying to open in Sacramento with HVA,” Harrington recalled. “But the market just wasn’t ready at that time there, so I just kept focusing on commercial real estate.” Still, Harrington’s determination did not stop there. A year later, again he tried to start a franchise in the Sacramento market. “I was looking at all the financing options of how to get going and how to cover the operating expenses if we did open a franchise,” said Harrington. “Someone told me about VetFran at HomeVestors. So I researched it on the Internet and began looking into the possibilities. I found that it wasn’t as difficult of a process as I thought it would be. HomeVestors handled most of it for me.” Endorsed by the International Franchise Association and supported by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, the Veterans Corporation and the U.S. Small Business Administration, VetFran includes participating franchisors that offer financial incentives to military veterans not available to other franchise investors. Harrington began researching real estate markets across America to get a better view of the top locations and liked what he saw in San Antonio. Following a trip to Texas to investigate first hand the housing industry in the Alamo city, Harrington packed up his family to move to the Lone Star state and opened his franchise in August of this year. “VetFran helped me raise some extra money to use if needed,” Harrington said. “The program is a considerable benefit and helped me do some marketing at the outset. This sort of marketing investment has already given me a nice return. This kind of commitment from HomeVestors has allowed me to put more into marketing and not just the franchising fee.” Harrington applauds HVA for offering veterans programs like VetFran. “I researched HomeVestors a lot before I decided to do this,” said Harrington. “If I was going to put capital toward anything, I wanted to know if the company was battle proven, not only in that particular market, but for anyone who applied it anywhere. All the kinks have been pretty much ironed-out by HomeVestors. It is a very consistent program and, if applied properly, will make you money. It has been everything I had hoped it to be and the VetFran discount has been great because every penny matters.”

Buyer’s Boot Camp Teaches Techniques To Increase Buys

Learn proven buying methods at December’s Annual Convention By Kimberley Sweet What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you hear the following phrases? Up Front Agreement Solidify the Decision Find the Pain If the three essential steps of the Buy Presentation didn’t immediately pop into your head, you absolutely have to register for the next Buyer’s Boot Camp! And if you can’t fit in another trip to Dallas this year, then good news! We are conducting our last Buyer’s Boot Camp for 2008 at Annual Convention in Las Vegas. The class is scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 6, and Sunday, Dec. 7, at Caesar’s Palace. Camps usually sell out, so register now. Buyer’s Boot Camp, conducted by the Sandler Sales Institute, is designed to improve your effectiveness with each seller, thus improving your buy ratio. This crash course will take you step-by-step through the Buy Presentation, outlining the process by which your sellers will actually ask you to give them an offer. Want to buy more properties? Improve your acquisition skills? Boost your closing ratio? Then Buyer’s Boot Camp is the perfect training for you. Franchisees and buyers are encouraged to attend. The cost of Buyer’s Boot Camp is $750 per person. To download the registration form, go to the Training and Events section of HomeVestors.com. You may also register by contacting Leroy Sturgis, HVA’s training coordinator, at 972.619.0082 ext. 135. If you have not signed up to attend convention, please register now and make hotel reservations at Caesar’s Palace. If you have questions about Annual Convention, contact Norma Rodriguez at 972.761.0046 ext. 164. …Kimberley Sweet is the event content coordinator for HVA. She can be reached at Kimberley.Sweet@homevestors.com.