Are You Productive – or Just Busy?

Today we have an AMAZING woman who graciously agreed to write a guest blog for business owners and other “busy” people of the world out there that would like to get more done in a day and struggle, perhaps, with the mechanics of it. Marti Woodward is a marketing coach for business owners taking their business to the next level of income. I highly suggest you listen and IMPLEMENT her excellent strategies. Give her a call if you need help with marketing in your own business.

ARE YOU PRODUCTIVE – OR JUST BUSY? 

–by Marti Woodward

Time is the great equalizer. It is the one resource we all have the same amount of in a day. It is also the one resource that in non-renewable. So use it well and with purpose. How you manage time is often the difference between a successful business owner and a struggling business owner. We all have excuses and rationalizations for how we choose to spend our time. But if you are committed to success then stop and look closely at how you are using this precious non renewable resource and what excuses you are giving yourself and others.

The most often used rationalization is that being busy is the same as being productive. Not true! Business owners are often busy, in fact if you are self employed or work in a small business you probably work way more than 40 hours a week. Most professionals are busy.

But what does it mean to be productive? It means taking steps to reach a specific goal and prioritizing your goals so that each action step moves you forward in a clear direction. Being productive involves discipline. It is doing the tasks first that will move you the farthest and fastest toward your goal. It also means not getting side tracked or allowing distractions.

But why, you might ask, do we avoid the tasks that really do bring in revenue or move the project forward? Why do we stay busy with tasks that don’t move us closer to our goals but take up precious time?

We are afraid. We are afraid of doing what will move us forward and still not making the sale, finishing the project, or reaching the goal. We want credit for our efforts not our outcomes. And we numb out with distractions, often losing all track of time. We want the credit of being busy without the responsibility of being productive.

And, it’s a habit to stay busy! Often we don’t know how to prioritize or we were raised that caring for others comes first. I get it, really. So what do you do differently? Here are some ideas and tips, but realize that first you have to decide that you want to be productive and what the goals are you are moving toward.

Schedule times each day to for email.
Allocate 15 minutes in the morning and another 30 in the afternoon. And do something with each email, don’t save it for later. You will catch yourself wanting to stop what you are doing and check – resist.

Resist multi-tasking.

It is too easy to get distracted and move to the next task before that last one was finished. Do one thing at a time.

Use time-blocking to free up your time and give you focus.
Scheduling regular weekly tasks for the same time of day on the same days of the week, from week to week keeps you focused and less prone to distraction.

Create a weekly action list so you know your priorities and then schedule the tasks.
Deciding in advance what tasks will move you forward will keep you from procrastinating and allowing distractions. And then put tasks on your list into your schedule. Having a task scheduled is way more powerful than having it on a list.

Turn your cell phone and email ringers off during focused time.
Unplug and be off line for an hour or two each day. You’ll be happily surprised at the peace of mind and freedom you gain from this one simple action.

Designate your mornings for the task you most resist doing.
Investing just 60 minutes each morning creates the momentum you need to make significant progress. Get accountable to a coach or a colleague who won’t let you slide.
Imagine telling someone every day what you’re going to accomplish and by when. This helps break the old habit and create a new one

Be aware of when others’ priorities are getting in the way.
Whether you need to create a “do not disturb” sign for your door or get a sitter for your kids during work hours, what’s critical is to realize that growing your business serves your family and serves the people you’re meant to help.

Marti Woodward

The High 5 Coach

Marti@thecoachingbiz.com

(719) 575-9191

http://thecoachingbiz.com

Stainless Steel or Something Else?

Fun Friday Real Topics:  A Collection of Random Thoughts and Articles

Thinking about doing repairs before you sell? Here is a report of a “5-Star” Panel (whatever that means) with representatives from Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae, J.P. Morgan Chase and a couple others.

As always, I say you have to run the “benefit-cost” analysis, but usually smaller repairs make sense if you do them correctly.

What are you thoughts? Is the hassle more than it’s worth for extra money?

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In other news, this article made me laugh:

It’s a Wall Street Journal article talking about how stainless steel appliances are on the way out. As a rehabber, I can tell you that Wall Street is, once again, out of touch with Main Street. Stainless steel appliances in our rehabs still help with the “awe” factor when someone walks into an updated home. I understand I am working on a budget and that I work with people who buy $200,000 homes versus a million dollar apartment in New York (not that a million dollars will get you much in New York).

I will say that I do like the slate finish that is in the article…but glossy white?! A Whirlpool press release says white is the stainless.  Or maybe black is the new stainless, as a Wolf appliance release states? Really, don’t people just buy what they like? I remember one of our most difficult buyers, who bought a home for $120,000, said that the stainless steel appliances “were very important to her”.

Maybe it’s true that there will be more diversity in the future, but I don’t think that stainless steel is on the way out any time soon. I am curious to hear what YOUR favorite finish is?

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FINALLY, and most importantly, this headline came from money.cnn.com:

“Bill Gross: Get Used to Stunted Returns”

Really? Having been in the real estate investment world for years, I watch every day as people make 4 times the returns that he talks about in the bond market, SECURED against a property. So I don’t understand supposedly “sophisticated” investors taking a 1.75% return as acceptable when a little bit of effort and connection with the right people can yield much higher returns.

Law of Giving

It has been way too long for a new post, but I was inspired this week – by the importance of giving. My friend & associate in my networking group (Original Springs Power Partners), Emil Rock, owns and runs several businesses including Falcon PC & Tech Support, and spoke earlier this week on education.  It reminded me that there is a Law of Giving as surely as there is a Law of Gravity…

Give – even when times are dark…

The Law of Giving says that whatever you give financially will come back to you in tenfold. And it’s when you say, “I can’t afford to give” is when you need to give the most.

Right now in America, there are many people who are suffering from having lost a job, or are operating a suffering business. It is so easy then for them to look at a waning bank account and think, “I can’t give right now”.

You can give.

Give when it is hard.

Find a charity or cause that you are passionate about. Maybe its Doctors without Borders, the ASPCA, art and culture or a religious based mission, it doesn’t matter. It’s what moves your heart.  (Although, I encourage you to check out your favorite charities on www.CharityNavigator.org to make sure a majority of your money is getting to the people that need it).

Again, my friend Rock had a great idea – Mark in a journal what you donated and when you gave it and track what returns you make back, from unexpected places. It comes back to you in so many more ways.

So if you need more financial blessings in your life, go and be one to someone else.

Our focus and actions are what we reap and the Law of Giving is certainly no different.

Some of my favorite charities are:

• www.HomesforOurTroops.org – Building specially adapted homes for our severely injured veterans
• www.Kiva.org – Micro loans for small businesses around the world
• www.DonorsChoose.org – An online charity connecting you to classrooms in need
• www.PartnersInHousing.org – providing help for homeless families in El Paso County, Colorado

Rent to Own a House

A different path to home ownership

Before the most recent real estate boom, many people couldn’t afford to buy a home. Rent to own homes were one way that they could get into a house and work towards saving the 20% required down payment or improving their credit.

Lenders started handing out loans like candy in the real estate boom and most people didn’t have to worry about this. Lenders would lend up to 125% of the house value because real estate just keeps going up, right?! Ah-hem, maybe not. 

Rent to owns are becoming popular again, and there are some things you need to know if you are considering buying a rent to own. We definitely are seeing a few around town here in Colorado Springs.

Usually, there are two parts to the agreements:

1. Lease

2. Option agreement (sometimes a purchase agreement)

The lease is like any normal lease that you sign if you are renting a house. You CAN be evicted under this lease if you don’t pay or perform as you are agreeing to up front. So make sure the terms that you are agreeing to can be met from your side.

The option agreement gives someone the right to purchase the home at a set price. If property values are going up, typically the homebuyer gets to keep any equity that results from the increase in the value of the home. If prices go down, the seller doesn’t have to sell the house for the appraised value but might be inclined because they know that if they try to sell it the appraisal probably is going to stay put. Make sure, however, that you have a clause in your option agreement setting the terms for what happens if the house doesn’t appraise for the agreed upon price.

A few other points:

• You will pay a premium on price and rent because you have the chance to own the home without a full down payment
• You will need to have cash for option money; this should apply towards the purchase price and be less that you have to finance.
• Rent credits are an amount agreed upon every month that will apply towards the purchase price as well – $1200 per month lease might get $150-200 credit per month towards the purchase price.
• You can improve the house, with certain limitations. On our rent-to-own properties, we will let the tenant-buyer paint, change carpet etc. as long as it’s not taking out walls. We ask that they get permission for this.
• The buyer is treated as the home owner: they’ll be expected to pay for any non-major (i.e. insurance covered) repairs and emergencies. Make sure you have cash reserves to pay for these.
• Working with a credible credit repair company or mortgage broker (AVOID the big banks) to improve your credit as fast as possible and put a conventional mortgage in place because it will save you $$$$ in the long term.

We often have rent-to-own properties that can be viewed on www.PartnersInFreedom.com if you are interested in purchasing a Rent-to-Own home in Colorado Springs or Woodland Park.

30 vs 15 year fixed mortgages

Choose a different path…

There is a conversation that I frequently have with friends about the merits of 30 year fixed financing versus a 15 year fixed rate mortgage. Rates have been at the lowest we’ve seen over the past year to 18 months, notwithstanding some fluctuations up and down. Personally, I believe that once rates start to go up, there will be no turning back to the awesome rates we are at today. As of May 7, 2012, the 30 year overnight fixed average rate is 3.79%. Not the best that we have seen, but pretty damn good…Here’s where I have to throw in my belief in maintaining control of cash and using it to create cash flow. You have heard the golden rule, right?

He who has the gold, rules.

If you take out a 15 year mortgage, you are obligated to pay that higher payment every month whether you have the cash or not.

Let’s say that someone has a $200,000 loan and is looking at a 30 year versus a 15 year:

Loan Term	30 year	15 year
Payment	$1,077.72	$1,638.58
Rate	3.75%	3.28%
Monthly Difference	$560.86

Now, I realize that the most of my friends are able to make that extra $560 monthly payment but what would happen if they didn’t have their fabulous job? How long would that last? Maybe for a while because they are good at saving money. Fair enough. But the other side of the coin is what if they used that $560.86 to invest in something that returns, say a moderate 7% return.

WHAT, where can you get that? Check it out here.

It’s a simple philosophy that I would rather borrow money at 3.75% and make 7% on my money. Banks do it all day long and make money on YOUR money. They just get to borrow from the feds and turn around and then lend it (or NOT lend it) to you. Why not put the same practices into play in your own life? Finally, if you HAVE to have the “security” of paying a house off in 15 years, you can still make the payment with a 30 year loan, but if life does ever go sideways for you, the minimum you have to pay is still $560.86 LESS than you are required to on the 15 year note. This to me creates better security for you, the borrower, than it does security for the bank. Equity, you see, protects the bank, not the borrower. You can’t eat it, you can’t spend it, and it’s difficult to access quickly when and if needed. Again, that protects the bank. Equity in a house does nothing for you.

That’s my story and I am sticking to it!

When Warren Buffet Speaks…

Here’s a blog by Randy King, one of the co-owners of Partners in Freedom.  You can usually find him blogging over at Randy King Real Estate Blog…

“In an interview with CNBC on February 27^th, 2012, Warren Buffet was asked what would be good investments at that time.  He responded with “I’d buy up…single family homes …I think that’s probably as attractive an investment as you can make now….”  Many investors we know are doing just that.  Single family homes are selling at bargain prices, interest rates are low, and the rental market is strong.  Sounds like a pretty good recipe.  And yes, we personally have more than a few rental properties.

Last week, Lauren and I sat down with an individual who wanted to get into investment properties.  He said he could scrape together about $30,000 for a 20% down payment on a $150,000 property that he could then rent out.  Good intentions!  It is wonderful to think about a tenant paying down your mortgage on a rental house.  If only it was that easy…

Randy, presenting at our Private Lending Luncheon
*Photo by Carrie King, The Bella Galleria

Like all easy-sounding ideas, there are some hidden minefields that you need to be aware of.  First of all, he said he could “scrape” up $30,000.  To be financed for a purchase like this, you need to also have six months of payment reserves in the bank.  And even if you have the reserves, you have to be conscious of the finances involved.  For example, even if you can prepare for the potential ills that come with some tenants, you will still have to face eventual vacancy.  Monthly cash flow is a fickle thing.  And a one or two month vacancy can wipe out the equivalent of one year’s profit.  If you have to scrape up the down payment, then this might not be the route you want to take.  And you need to recognize that any money used as a down payment will be sunk for a very long time – you don’t get to take it back out.

But take heart as there is always more than one way to skin the orange!  Many of our rental properties were obtained by first buying a house with no money out of our pockets, renovating the house, and then immediately refinancing it.  That left us with 20-30% equity in the property, and a very low monthly mortgage payment.  Although none of our own money was used, it definitely was not one of those late-night “no money down” deals.

We have also helped new investors get into investment properties by letting them “credit partner” with us on a house… where they own 50% of the equity and 50% of the monthly cash flow with very little money invested.  There is also the opportunity to take advantage of seller financing.  Or perhaps you could purchase a duplex, or fourplex with owner occupied (even VA) financing.  Live in one unit while fixing or renting out the other units.  You don’t have to live in it forever, but you can leave that financing in place when you move on.  And the list of ideas could go on.

The point is, don’t jump for the seemingly simple answer to the pot of gold.  Rental properties can indeed be a wonderful route to passive cash flow.  But the road is not necessarily easy or obvious.  Find a guide for your journey.  Learn from other’s mistakes and successes.  And take advantage of the tremendous opportunities in the real estate and financing world right now!”

I’ve Gotta Guy…or Gal

One of the best parts of our business is establishing long term relationships with really amazing and often, cool, people. I love working with people that really bring a personal touch to their service – who know that the customer has a choice and they strive to actually EARN their business.

Let me introduce you to some of these fine people who have helped us like crazy in our business:

Michelle Bowles is a mortgage lender with Residential Mortgage of Colorado that we have worked with for years and someone who can only be described as truly going above and beyond for her clients. The credit market is difficult to navigate right now and Michelle works miracles in that realm. She has pulled some magic out of hats (and underwriters at times) and made deals happen that other mortgage brokers just couldn’t have handled. If you need a refi or a purchase mortgage, you should give her a call. As someone in our office said, “I love working with Michelle.” Agreed. She can be easily reached via email mbowles@rmcolo.com or her cell 719.492.8858.

Lori Cantu-Jackson is a member of our networking group and a mortgage broker with the Bank of Colorado. One of her specialities that many other brokers don’t offer, especially in Colorado Springs, and a GREAT product for getting a great deal on an owner occupied home is a 203(k) streamlined loan that enables the home owner to get money to fix up a home as part of their purchase. This is a very effective tool to pay less for a nice house and still be able to fix it up to your standards and tastes with the least amount of money out of pocket possible. Lori also has the ability with the Bank of Colorado to help seniors use a reverse mortgage to BUY a house and never have a payment. There has been quite a bit of negative information on reverse mortgages in the media in the past few years but they have changed the rules again and now can really be an effective way to buy a house with no money out of pocket for seniors. Hopefully Lori will write up a little blurb for the RandyKingRealEstate Blog soon on this exact topic and educate us all even further.

Matt Munro is another phenomenal resource for us as investors because we probably purchase 3 – 6 new roofs a year, give or take. His company, Rampart Roofing has helped us out with a whole gamut of roofing needs: everything from repairs, to roof certifications, to insurance claims and of course, those several new roofs that we buy every year. A man of integrity, Matt’s locally owned business helps to support his wife Melissa and their 3 little girls. It’s the best feeling knowing we help a local family, and their employees, survive and thrive!!

Just one more for today, although there are many more to come, is Teresa Abell,  with Capital Title. Most consumers don’t know that when you buy a house or refinance your house that you have a choice in your title company. Most people don’t know that they are paying for the title fee services, either out of pocket, or rolled into their home loan. They are a necessary element in either type of transaction. Many “big” companies charge “junk” fees: overcharges on credit reports, tax escrow service, document preparation or underwriting. Teresa never does this. She accommodates our sellers or buyers and can close at their house, work or nearby so that their downtime is minimized – again without charging the mobile closing fee we often pay to other companies. If you have questions about the process, she has even helped ‘for sale by owner’ sellers and buyers conduct the transaction by steering them in the right direction. I can’t emphasize enough that Teresa has gone the extra mile for us and really is a vital part of our real estate investing team.

Renovations that Pay

Rehabbing magic isn’t really magic. Randy, Matt and I have years of experience of walking in a house and knowing what the finished product will look like.  Maybe it is “standard” to us, but we count on the homebuyer falling in love right away.

A while ago, Claire Boynton with the Platinum Group Realtors asked us on our Facebook page about how to get the best bang for the buck on a rehab.  While there are many considerations, the basics really aren’t too difficult. Picking and choosing what you update versus what you let slide can mean dollars in the pocket.

Perfect, open kitchen

Kitchens rule. If we are going to drop significant money in a rehab, it will be in the kitchen. We’ve added granite and stainless steel appliances in homes that have sold from $115,000 and up.  Crown molding on kitchen cabinets adds a nice pizzaz also.  And these luxuries aren’t just for the $300,000 + crowd any more! Obviously, our job is to do full rehabs – you may not need to do this. If your house already boasts nicely tiled countertops or a single element countertop, you probably don’t need to touch it.

Great Rooms. Many older homes were built with the kitchen intentionally hidden from the living and dining areas. Apparently the “magic” that happened in the kitchen wasn’t fit for viewing! Now, flash forward 40+ years!  Today’s preferred layout is one of openness – a “great room” where the kitchen, dining and living room flow into one large living space. Sometimes removing a wall or putting in a “window” or “pass through” to connect the living spaces can easily achieve this feel. It may be too tough of a renovation for most homeowners, but if you are looking to make a huge impact, this is a definite item to consider.

Master bedroom/bath. The master bedroom and master bath suite are often another area that can really sell a house. Perhaps it has a view of the mountains (or other views if you aren’t in mountain country), a HUGE walk in closet or a gorgeous 5 piece bath.  By all means, make sure the carpet is cleaned and stretched taut, and the paint on the walls is neutral, leaning towards the lighter side. The bathroom may benefit from updated brushed nickel fixtures and bath accessories, because if you have 1980s bright brass, it’s going to scream “dated”.

Paint. As in the master bedroom, lighter is better.  If you loved a certain shade of hunter green or dark burgundy twenty years ago, it is probably time for an update! A couple hundred bucks at Home Depot or even $600 for a professional painter to update the main living areas and the master bedroom can really go a long way. As this professional stager points out, you can update dark paneling inexpensively in older homes. And don’t forget the outside of the house – if you have peeling paint, you definitely need to remedy it before selling.

Curb Appeal.  It’s easy to overlook, but don’t forget the old saying, “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”.  If a potential buyer pulls up and doesn’t even want to get out of the car, you need some help. As I mentioned above, start with paint. If your house is small, a lighter body color is best to make the home appear larger. Landscaping and lawn maintenance need to be addressed as well. Since it is spring, right now could be time to plant some outdoor color in the way of bright flowers or shrubs–either in the ground or an attractive pot. Red helps attract the eye, but color overall is appealing. Just make sure you are prepared to maintain it – dead shrubs are not appealing.  The front door, if you are thinking about a color, can benefit from a darker, muted shade of red also. Again, it attracts the eye and gains the attention of passers by and potential buyers.

Well presented outdoor living area

Prep and staging.  Probably the least expensive improvement will be to remove excess personal items, excess furniture, knickknacks and tchotchkes, and design or “stage” the space.  There is an unbelievable industry built around this.  Less clutter means a larger looking space.  As I mentioned in my previous blog on staging, you also want the buyer to walk through the house and imagine themselves there, and not your family. This applies to everything from the front porch to closets. Yes, you might even make money by renting a storage space – pack up the family photos, salt and pepper shaker collection and extra 2 chairs stashed in the corner for extra guests.   They get in the way of a buyers’ imagination. It can be a frustrating line between too little and too much, but it really does help. And of course, make sure the house is as clean as clean can be.  As you don’t want to walk into another person’s house and experience their dirt, and neither does the potential buyer of your home. This may sound simple but it’s very true. If you hate cleaning, then having a weekly cleaning company come in might be the ticket. Again, small amount of money well spent.

Other considerations. We know that buyers’ inspectors are going to object to certain things ahead of time and we usually will do our best to neutralize it or just offer it up in the listing the right away. Here are some examples and TRUST ME, they will get asked for (unless you are at a rock bottom price.) You can fix these upfront, give a credit or fix and pay out of closing:

• Oldach windows are a wood framed window that used to be manufactured in Colorado Springs and ended up part of a class action lawsuit.
• Federal Pacific “Stablock” electrical panel have known arcing problems and usually get asked to be replaced
• In older homes, if the whole house is 2 wire, you may get a request for upgrading.
• Galvanized pipes cause a problem with water pressure because of the buildup inside the pipes.
• Roofing issues – sometimes the insurance won’t cover
• Old water heater
• A furnace that needs to be cleaned and serviced

These are some simple suggestions.  Do you have questions about some specific upgrade?  I’d love to hear your questions on this – whatever kind of upgrades you are curious about!

Staging that “Pinterest” Look

What happens when you combine the evil genius that is Pinterest with the onset of spring?!  I get the uncontrollable desire to organize my house, to try and make it more “magazine” looking…which means I plant seeds, organize my medicine cabinet and dream about a pantry with enough space and beauty to look like this or this.  It’s actually become something of a serious fantasy for me.

And isn’t that what is so great, so compelling about Pinterest?! The visual aids, seeing other people’s ability to get “stuff done” and dreaming that we, too, could accomplish something similar?  That by merely looking at the beauty of other people’s worlds that we can be reminded of the potential within our own homes?

Maybe that’s just me…

I’ll admit that doing a rehab house gets a little boring.  We have set “packs” of what we buy at Home Depot – neutral paint colors, white trim, brushed nickel finishes.  Building isn’t the time or place to follow design trends…In fact, the only real design creativity comes when we stage a house, and Pinterest (and blogs) are great resources for finding beautiful staging ideas.

Because really, the point of staging a house is to make it appear more livable, to help someone else imagine themselves and their lives filling up the house.  So we work to paint that picture for them – to create the feeling of a “Pinterest” picture or magazine photo that allows them to see how it could be if it was their home. Perhaps the pink baby clothes in the empty closet reminds them of when their child was an infant…or helps them dream of a baby that is still to come…or reaffirms their relocation to be closer to a sweet new grandchild who will grow up too fast.  Maybe the arm chair with a beautiful blanket draped over it whispers a dream of relaxation, as the side table and open novel beckons the avid reader to spend a snowy winter afternoon getting lost in a book.   The basket of fresh linens in bathroom takes on the hushed feel and colors of a spa, where someone else has to do the cleaning. Hey we can all dream, right?

We took those dreams with us as we staged our latest house, a beautiful 4 bedroom-2 bath that will be on the market soon in Pueblo, Colorado (182 Marian Drive, to be exact…Click hereto preview it on our website!). As you can see in the pictures, we added a small amount of pillows, books, baby outfits, etc to help someone picture themselves living there…to make the idea of this house as their dream house feel more real.

And, yes, there are definitely better people out there than me to help you declutter and stage your house. We have the advantage of starting with a blank canvas – an empty house. Starting with a lived-in house is definitely more difficult.  It’s an ongoing joke among real estate agents that when people set out to sell their house, and start to unclutter and stage it, they often fall in love with the house all over again and choose not to sell it after all.  Just proof that it can be done, that maybe we can all have that “Pinterest” home we dream of with just a little bit of staging…

Feeling inspired?!  If so, check out some of these resources:

Staging a bathroom: http://www.imperfecthomemaking.com/2012/04/home-staging-101-part-4-staging.html?spref=fb

15 Secrets to Staging a Home: http://www.hgtv.com/decorating-basics/15-secrets-to-selling-your-home/pictures/index.html 

Real World Staging and Staging Expert Advice: http://www.homestagingexpert.com/blog/

A New “Financially Responsible”

One of things I’m known for in the office is looking at things from a different financial perspective – being creative in how you approach financing a transaction.  But I feel this out-of-the-box thinking also applies (or should apply) to personal finances.  So much of what we are taught about how to be “financially responsible” isn’t actually what is best for our overall bottom line.   The tenements of most financial reasoning has been created by banks, lending institutions and financial advisers…and almost all of these people stand to make money off your money.  So are they really the ones we should listen to?

Which leads me to the point of this short post – to share with you a book I’ve been reading, a book that I’ve now bought for my partners to read as well.  It’s called “Killing Sacred Cows”, and no, it’s not about vegetarianism (which is what our marketing person thought when she first saw it). The tagline to the book probably describes it best – “Overcoming the Financial Myths that are Destroying your Prosperity”…and I promise you, it will challenge what you’ve been taught about how to gain (and keep) wealth.  This is definitely part of my passion for investing, which you’ll of course hear more about later!

So I’m inviting you to read along with me, if you’d like. But most importantly, I want you to really think about how you want your money to work for you – and how to get the best return on your financial investment, even if that’s not the traditional routes.

And speaking of getting a good financial return, I know a great real estate investment company in Colorado Springs that can get you 8-12% on your money…