Friday, October 9, 2020

Use Donald Trump's Tax Reduction Tools So You Will Pay No Taxes

 It has been reported in the news lately that in recent years, Donald Trump paid only $750 in taxes to the IRS.  How can this be?

Would it surprise you to learn that interest paid on a mortgage is tax deductible?  How much is the annual interest on four hundred million dollars?   Trump pays mortgage interest.  He does not owe tax on the money he pays as interest.  If you owned some rental property, and if you were paying interest on a mortgage on that rental property, those interest payments would be tax deductible.  

Do you know what is better than tax deductible interest?  DEPRECIATION, the real estate owner's ultimate tax deduction.  Interest paid on a mortgage is tax deductible.  Trump probably pays twenty million a year in interest.  He does not have to pay taxes to the IRS on that money.  He does have to have income to pay that interest.  

Depreciation is better than that!  If Trump owns five hundred million dollars worth of real estate, he can write off (as an expense) depreciation of about thirteen million per year just as if he is paying the thirteen million to someone.  Who is he paying it to?  Nobody!  What a loophole.  

Let  me help you pay less taxes.
You do not have to be Donald Trump or General Motors to benefit from this wonderful tax benefit called depreciation to keep money in your pocket instead of paying it to the IRS.  

If you are a forty year old employee earning $100,000 per year salary, you are probably paying taxes to the IRS.  You could buy  yourself a duplex for $250,000,  You could put $25,000 down and get a $225,000 mortgage.  The rent could make the payments.  Time and inflation would cause the property to increase in value.  As you made the payments with the rent money, your equity would grow every month as your principal payments reduced your mortgage amount.  The interest would be tax deductible.  

Just like Trump, every year you could write off about $7200 in depreciation.  You could tell the IRS that you had this depreciation expense.  Who are you paying the $7200 to?  Nobody.  It works for Trump.  It will work for you.  

If you are currently paying money to the IRS, there is no better way to reduce your tax bill than writing off some depreciation on rental property.  Call me, Ron Climer, Realtor at 828 755 6996.  I will help you buy your first rental property.  Real estate is the ideal investment.   Watch this short video.   

If you do this when you are forty, thirty years later you will be seventy.  You will ask yourself," Where did the time go?".  Now, your first investment property is paid for.  It is free and clear.  Not only that, it has doubled in value.  The rent has also doubled.  Owning real estate is wonderful.  What a retirement program!  

Friday, July 31, 2020

Old Realtors, Please Quit Bullying Young Realtors

     There are so many aggravations that occur in real estate that are unnecessary.  Many of these small irritations can only be described as old Realtors and listing agents telling new (young) Realtors how things have to be done.

     Learn what has to be done and why.  Zig Ziglar told a story about a young man that went to his family gathering.  His young wife asked her mother in law why she cut the end off the ham before she put it in the oven.  Her mother in law told her that was the way her mother always did it.  The new wife asked grandma why she cut the end off the ham before roasting it.  Grandma said her mom had taught her to do it that way  The new wife went in the other room and asked great grandma why she always cut the end off the ham.  Great Grandma told her it was because her roasting pan was too small.

     If you learn that some aggravation or chore is unnecessary, don't do it Don't suggest that your client aggravate himself complying with a nonsense rule.

     For instance, it states in the listing that, "cash offers must be be accompanied by a "proof of funds"  letter.  Who made that rule?  The seller or some Realtor that heard about this technique at a seminar?

     Would you advise your seller to accept this offer?  $300,000 price, $40,000 escrow deposit, no finance contingency, we close in ten days.  No accompanying "proof of funds".  Would you?  If you did, you would likely be sitting at the closing table ten days later.  OR you could suggest to the seller that we NOT accept this offer without a "proof of funds" letter.   

     Would you advise your  client to accept this offer as it is or would you demand a "proof of funds" letter?  I would advise my client to take the offer.  Ten days later, he will either be closed or he will get half of the forfeited deposit and I will get the other half.  With a $40,000 escrow deposit, this transaction will very likely go to closing.  If it doesn't close, we have wasted ten days.  Who cares?  I still have the listing.  I know that the seller will accept $300,000.  The seller has $20,000 in his pocket and so do I.  The buyer knew all along that he did not have the financial wherewithall to close.  Who is he mad at?  Only himself.

    The original purpose of a "proof of funds" letter was so the buyer's agent did not waste their time showing property to a buyer that did not have the ability to buy.  In many instances, it should be a concern to the seller that the buyer may be unable to close.  Not always.  Very few rules are always.

     What if the listing agents says, "We will not submit your offer without a "proof of funds" letter?  First, why would a listing agent say such a thing?  In Florida and almost all states, the law requires the listing agent to PRESENT ALL OFFERS to the seller unless they have written instructions to do otherwise.  Mr. Young Realtor, let Mr. Old Realtor know that if your offer is not presented to the seller, he should be prepared to defend himself to the Real Estate Commission investigator.  This may seem harsh.  When you deal with a bully, the bully needs to know that you don't like being bullied.

Quit putting up with bullies.  Call a prospect today. 

Wednesday, July 8, 2020

No Climers at Climer School of Real Estate

In 2014, I (RonClimer) sold Climer School of Real Estate in Orlando, Florida.  My wife, Kathy,  and I moved from central Florida where I had lived since high school to western. North Carolina.  When retirement got boring, I opened First Real Estate School in Hendersonville.  The new owner of Climer School of Real Estate did not run it the way I did.  That is fair.

My daughter, Karen Climer, has opened her own real estate school. She is an excellent real estate instructor.  She should be.  She was practically born in a real estate classroom. In those days, I was teaching real estate classes all the time.  Karen's mother was also teaching real estate classes.  The name of Karen's real estate school is Demetree School of Real Estate. www.demetreerealestateschool.com She teaches in the Keller Williams Realty office on Bumby Street in Orlando.

Karen's biggest problem is a confusion about her name.  When people hear of her reputation as an excellent teacher, they Google her name or just assume that she works at Climer School of Real Estate.  She does not work for Climer School of Real Estate.  She is a competitor to Climer School of Real Estate.
Karen Climer can be reached at 407 493 3974

If you want to contact Karen Climer, she can be reached via phone at 407 493 3974 at Demetree School of Real Estate.  If you need help passing the Florida Real Estate Exam, contact Karen at www.demetreerealestateschool.com.   Here are the pass fail stats from June http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/re/documents/FREAB%20Meeting%20Documents/2019/0819FREAB/ExamPerfSummJune_2019.pdf   If you are soon seeking a real estate license in Florida, call Karen.   You will be glad that you did.

Karen has several videos to help any students with the very difficult math that is ten percent of the Florida real estate exam. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=erGSsTBXatc  Check them out.

Who teaches your real estate class can make a tremendous difference in your experience and perhaps your real estate career.  No matter where you attend real estate school, ask who the INSTRUCTOR is going to  be.   Google that person.  See if they have authored articles or posted You Tube videos.  If not, ask yourself why not.  Take your pre license real estate class at Demetree School of Real Estate. You will be happy with the result.

If you do not ask who your instructor will be, caveat emptor .  There are NO Climers at Climer School of Real Estate.


Wednesday, June 24, 2020

The More Prospects You Talk To, The More Listings You Get

The most basic rule of salesmanship is, "The more people you talk to, the more people you sell.".  If you want to list ten houses in a month, you likely need to make ten listing presentatons.

Many new Realtors only see two prospects per month.  Then they wonder why they are not listing five houses per month.  Here is the rule.  You have to get face to face eyeball to eyeball belly to belly with a prospect to get a listing.  You have to sit down at Mr. and Mrs. Seller's kitchen table and tell them why they should list with you.  In today's world their kitchen table might be a Zoom meeting.  Face to face is still best.

If you do this really really well, maybe eight out of ten will list with you.  If you are average, five out of ten will list.  If you are mediocre, two out of ten will say yes.  How many presentations did you make last month?  If your answer is two and none listed, here are your choices.
Make more listing presentations.  You will get more listings

Make a lot more presentations per month or improve your presentation or learn to live on a strict budget.  Please start thinking in terms of " How many listing presentations have I made today?".

If you will make one listing presentation every day to a seller, you will make a nice living in real estate.  Do you suppose that you might get pretty good at making listing presentations with all that practice?  Do you reckon maybe you might get good at answering objections? If you need help answering objections, watch this.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L7KlVi2Ic8Y&t=1222s 
The good news is as your presentation skills improve, you will hear less objections.  Pretty soon, your most common question will be,"Where do I sign?".

Choose to make more listing presentations.  To whom do you make presentations?  SELLERS!  Lots of people woke up today in your marketplace and decided to sell their house.  Will they call you?

If they received your "just listed" postcard last week that you mailed out when you listed their neighbor's house two blocks away, they probably will call you.  Maybe it was seeing your new sign that prompted them to think about moving.  Why would any Realtor anywhere list a house and NOT mail out two hundred "just listed"postcards to the neighbors?

Why wouuld any Realtor anywhere sign a bilateral contract between a buyer and a seller and NOT mail out two hundred "just sold" postcards to the neighbors? Why indeed?

Why would any Realtor anywhere leave a closing and NOT mail out two hundred "just sold" postcards to the neighbors again?  Could it be because...... Well I can not think of a reason but please leave me your excuse in the comments.  Ron, I did not mail out "just sold" postcards to the neighbors because..........

If you do mail out "just listed  and "just sold"  postcards to the neighbors , someone will call you and say," We have been thinking of selling.  Can you help us?"  This s called prospecting or lead generation.  The person that called is called a prospect.  What is a prospect?

A prospect is "someone that needs or wants your product,the services of a Realtor, can afford it, and will likely buy it from you or your competitor within aa reasonable time period".

What if you also mailed out a similar postcard to all the EXPIRED LISTINGS in your MLS every day?  Would they call you?  Are they prospects?  Well let's see.  They need the services of  a Realtor.  Their motivation has increased since they listed with Nogood Realty six months ago.  They are now living five hundred miles away.  They are making payments on their new house.  They are still making payments on their old empty house.  Will they call you?  Yes indeed they will call you.  They will ask you, "Can you get my house sold?".  Can you take it from there?

Mr and Mrs. Out of Town Seller are called red hot prospects.  If none of them are calling
 you now, it is because you are not investing fifty cents to mail them a post card.

If you are not listing,at least, two houses per month, you need to be making more presentations.  You need to be prospecting more.  This is top priority.  This is more important than the Board of Realtors luncheon.  This is more important than you child's  soccer  game.  This s more important than your club meeting  Call a prospect today.

If you live in central Florida and need to get a real estate license or take a post license course, check out  https://demetreerealestateschool.com/  When you call, guess who answers the phone. 

Wednesday, June 17, 2020

Where Did You Learn Your Racial Bias?

I went to my daughter's house last week.  We try not too talk politics.  She had a sign in her front yard that said, "Where did you learn your racial bias?

What a great question!  I was raised in south Georgia near Jeff Davis county in the 1950s.

Could I have learned racial bias from my my mom?  I don't really remember us talking about it.

Maybe I learned it from my teachers in elementary school.  Schools were racially segregated then.

Maybe I learned it in Baptist Sunday School.  We went pretty nearly every Sunday.  We did not have any black people in Sunday School.  We did not have any Methodists either.  I remember that song we used to sing:  Jesus loves the little children
                            All the children of the world
                            Red and yellow black and white
                            They are precious in his sight

Where does all this racial bias come from?  It has been illegal since 1968.  Many people reading this article were not even born then.

Our parents and our teachers  and our Boy Scout leaders and coaches must be the culprits that taught us all this racial bias.

Now our children and grandchildren tell us that they were wrong.

I wonder what else they taught us that was wrong.  My mother taught me to respect the police.  I have never been hit or shot at by a police officer.  I have had plenty of traffic stops.  I have never never never been rude or physical with a police officer.  Only a dummie would do that.  Don't you agree?  Even if you are Chuck Norris or Bruce Lee, you can not whip a cop.  Reinforcements are on the way.  Why try?  The consequences are dire.

I remember studying the Civil War in the fifth grade.  We learned that Robert E. Lee was a great general that was worthy of our respect.  Jefferson Davis'  birthday was a state holiday.  There was no school.  Now I am wondering what else did I learn in school that was debatable but taught to me as fact.  Was General Sherman https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sherman%27s_March_to_the_Sea really as bad as we were told?   Was Col. James Doolittle really a hero?  What about Davy Crockett?
The Government made the "Stars and Bars" part of our state flag when I was a boy

When I was in the third grade, the government changed the Georgia state flag to include the Confederate battle flag.  Everyone in the state was proud to display the "Stars and Bars" on our state flag.  Today NASCAR says displaying the "Stars and Bars" runs contrary to our commitment to providing a welcoming and inclusive environment for all fans, our competitors and our industry.

Maybe one day the "Stars and Stripes"will get the same treatment.  Who knows?  We learned to stand in respect for the American flag and the national anthem. It was that same group of teachers and parents and coaches and aunts and uncles and preachers that taught us that.   Maybe we should be kneeling or sitting or squatting or texting.   Maybe we should not respect the national anthem but use it as an opportunity to display our displeasure and protest to something else.  Maybe Emily Post didn't really know much either.  Who appointed her queen?

There is lots of new stuff  to learn before I go to meet Saint Peter at the at the Pearly Gate.

How can we know if what we are learning today is correct?  Because today' info comes from an authority figure.  That will not pass the litmus test.  I had never heard the word defund as in Defund the police until I saw a teenager carrying a sign that said defund the police on TV.   I see on the news that the city of Minneapolis' city council has voted to do this.  I also saw on the news that the city council has hired private security to protect them from angry constituents aka as VOTERS.  I don't think their mayor or the city council will need protection after the next election.  They will need a new job.  How do we know who to learn from?  Is mob rule better than the system we have now?  It certainly works faster than petitioning the government.  When the mob decides they want a statue down or a Wendy's removed, it happens fast. 

The city of Washington, D.C. and the city of New York and the city of Orlando has painted the phrase "Black Lives Matter"  on the street in great big letters.  Is there a connotation there that black lives matter more than other lives?  Is there a connotation that only black lives matter?   In forty years will the mayor's grandchildren ask these questions of their parents?  Maybe the mayor's grandson will ask him, Why didn't you paint All Lives Matter on the street?".  There are no eight year olds in my household.  Maybe the kids are asking these questions already.  I just don't know it.  Have you seen the emperor's new clothes?  Maybe Hans Christian Anderson saw something back in the 19th century that we all need to see today. 

I notice in the news that there is a push to take police out of schools to create more racial equality.  Who came up with the brilliant idea of putting police in the schools in the first place?  It was probably the same group that believes we can not trust a teacher to possess a gun in a locked desk drawer.

Maybe we don't need a bunch of new laws.  Maybe we need more love and more thinking and a better attitude.   We certainly don't need anymore looting or burning of other people's property.  We don't need mob rule.  I think spray paint and lighter fluid should be declared a lethal weapon and require a permit to be carried in your backpack.  Pray tell, who would qualify for such a permit?

We are certainly living in trying times.  If there was ever a time when you need to vote and think before you vote, it is 2020.  If you don't vote, you are a big part of the problem.

I respect the police.
I do not need a law to tell me to wear a mask during the Covid crisis or stay at home. 
I don't like mob rule.
I think looting is morally wrong.
I think the American government is the best government in the history of the world.
I think Socialism or Marxism  is not even a close second.
I respect the American flag and the national anthem.
I believe that if you want a statue removed, you can petition the government. That is how prayer got removed from school.   
I love my family
I believe that  David Dorn's life was just as precious as George Floyd's life.
I love the first amendment. You should have the right to free speech. You don't have the right to burn my property or harm me if I disagree with you.
I love law and order.  I am wondering how much we will all be paying for private security in the future.  When you dial 911, will the first question be ," What is your credit card number" ?
God bless America.  




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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

A Letter To My Recent Real Estate School Graduates

As a recent real estate school graduate, you have an abundance of choices where you start your real estate career.  Your best bet is probably Keller Williams Realty. 

Ask yourself why did you choose to get your real estate license.  I will bet that the answer to that question is to make more money.  Another answer to this question is to have a more flexible schedule.  If you currently work at a JOB where your boss tells you to show up at 8 and stay until 5, that is not very flexible.  Your kids tell you about Mr. Johnson that comes to all the soccer games.  You have never been to one of your kid's afternoon soccer games.  As long as you have that JOB, you never will attend a game.  Also, you have to work every other Saturday. 

At Keller Williams Realty, we call it quality of life.  You decide your schedule.  You decide how much money you make.  You decide which customers you work with and which ones you don't.  You take more control of your work decisions. 

It is not a JOB.  It is a business opportunity.  At Keller Williams Realty, we have some real estate agents making $200,000 per year in income.  Just a few feet away in the same office  is another real estate agent making $25,000 per year. 

We know the difference.  We know how to help you understand the difference.  Keller Williams Realty has the best training in the real estate industry. 

Most of us that have been here a few years believe that it is not the money or the training or the advanced technology that creates a winning atmosphere at Keller Williams Realty.  It is a combination of many things that we call "culture".

Imagine a real estate company where there is a true incentive for agents to work together and care about each other.  Every real estate agent is valued the same because of the KW pay structure.  That is Keller Williams Realty.  It is a wonderful system. 
Call me.  Let's talk about your new career. 

If you are soon to interview with a real estate sales manager and choose a real estate company to align yourself with, please call me and let me introduce you to the team leader here in Hendersonville or at a Keller Williams office near you.  My phone is 828 755 6996 and my email is ronclimer@yahoo.com.  Contact me.  At every Keller Williams Realty office in America, we receive an incentive for helping the company grow with new productive people.  Over time this can turn into a significant amount of passive income for you.  This opportunity will be available to you the first day you are with the company. 

Good luck and study hard for your state exam.  You have to pass that before anything else starts to work.  Expect a phone call from me unless I don't have your number. You have to call me.  Please do not underestimate the state exam. 

If you are in North Carolina, read the "comments".  https://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=iaPLEyKzX24

Learn the math.  It is 10% of the exam.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bMdJ-2iHepM 

Listen to the CDs

Read the textbook

Take the chocolates.

Pass the exam the FIRST time @ $164 per opportunity. 

Watch these study tips.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wbQJqrPOmfU

Sunday, March 22, 2020

North Carolina On Line Real Estate Class in Hendersonville.

The bad news is the good news.  The bad news is Corona virus is making it impossible to teach live in person real estate classes.  The good news is that, under an emergency rule, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission www.ncrec.gov is allowing First Real Estate School in Hendersonville to teach a on line "synchronus" real estate class via ZOOM. 

If you are not familiar with this, the instructor teaches the class to an empty classroom.  The student is at home with his computer and his link to the instructor.  The student can raise their hand and ask a question.  The student can see the teacher and the teacher can see the student. This is not recorded.  It happens in real time. 
Join us for our first on line real estate class

First Real Estate School www.firstrealestateschool.com  in Hendersonville will teach their first pre license class starting April 7, 2020 at 6 PM until 10 PM.  The tuition is $300.  This includes a textbook.  If you want to get a real estate license but have been hampered by babysitting problems or you live seventy five miles from the nearest real estate school, here is the solution.  You could live in Miami or Maine and take this course.  As long as you have the MUTE button turned on, no one will care that your child is with you. 

Check out First Real Estate School.  Read our Google reviews.  If you are considering attending real estate school, join us.  This is a temporary emergency rule change that may or may not continue when the crisis is over.  If you have questions, call 828 440 1064 . 

Selling real estate is such a wonderful way to make a really nice living.  You can make your own schedule.  You can create passive income.  You can work hard or not so hard depending on your needs and desires.  Call me.

Sunday, March 8, 2020

How Much Does It Cost To Get A North Carolina Real Estate License in Hendersonville?

First Real Estate School's tuition for the required seventy five hour pre license real estate course is three hundred dollars.  Their website is www.firstrealestateschool.com .  After you graduate from this class, you will need to apply for your real estate license to the North Carolina Real Estate Commission.  This costs $164. The North Carolina Real Estate Commission's website is  www.ncrec.gov .
Get your real estate license.  Change your life. 

You have to pass the North Carolina real estate exam.  This test has a fifty fifty pass rate.  It is important to you to attend a real estate school that teaches you to pass this difficult test.


After you get your North Carolina real estate license, you will need to find a broker to work for.  I work at Keller Williams Realty in Hendersonville.  It is a wonderful place to work and it is an extraordinary place to start your real estate career.  Please call me at 828 755 6996.  I will introduce you to a Keller Williams Realty team leader near you and help you get started. 

Monday, March 2, 2020

Real Estate Class in Hendersonville, North Carolina in April, 2020

First Real Estate School in Hendersonville, North Carolina will teach a 75 hour pre license real estate  class beginning on April 7, 2020 for people that want to get their North Carolina real estate license.  This class is approved by the North Carolina Real Estate Commission www.ncrec.gov .
Next  real estate class is April 7, 2020


This real estate class will be held at 404 S. Main Street in Hendersonville starting on April 7, 2020.  It will meet for two nights per week (Tuesday and Thursday) until June 9 .  The tuition is $300. Ron Climer is the instructor.  If you need more details, call Ron at 828 440 1064 or check our website at www.firstrealestateschool.com

Earning a living selling real estate is such a wonderful way to earn a living.  The bad news is you earn all of your income on commission.  The good news is you earn all of your income on commission.  Some people earn a mediocre income in real estate.  Some people earn an extraordinary income in real estate.  It just depends on what you want to do.

If you are looking for a career change, join us.  Get your real estate license.  Start earning an extraordinary income in 2020.  

Friday, January 3, 2020

Ron Climer to Teach Florida Real Estate Exam Preparation Course in Daytona Beach in 2020

Ron Climer will teach a Florida 2 day (weekend) state exam review course in Daytona Beach, Florida.  This course is not for credit.  This real estate course is for someone that has already graduated from real estate school either online or in person. The first class will be January 11 and 12 in 2020.  That is Saturday and Sunday.  On Friday night the 10th of January, Ron will teach a FREE real estate math class.

If you are soon taking the Florida real estate exam to get your Florida real estate license from the Florida Real Estate Commission,  http://www.myfloridalicense.com/DBPR/     you need this real estate class.  Forty five out of a hundred real estate license applicants that take this test fail at least one time.  Many real estate license applicants fail it more than once. At $31 per try, passing the Florida real estate exam the first time makes sense to me. The tuition for this real estate class is $100.
Take the Florida Exam Prep Course.  Pass the first time. 

The Friday night real estate math class is free.  If you don't know how to compute documentary stamps on the deed and mortgage OR how to compute balance of an amortized mortgage after two payments OR how to compute number of acres in a lot when given the dimensions OR how to compute the real estate commission of a net listing, you need to learn before you attempt the Florida real estate exam.    Here is a link to that last one. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTh4Ml0rXbQ 

If you can not do the math that is on the Florida real exam, you need to know that the math is ten per cent of the Florida real estate exam.  It is easier to pass with a ten point advantage.  To take this class in Daytona Beach or to get more details, call Ron Climer at 386 236 9280.  To take the class in Orlando, call Karen Climer at 407 493 3974.

This two day exam prep class will prepare you for the Florida real estate exam.  Join us.  Bring a classmate with you.  The tuition includes the book.  

Please join me.  Pass the first time.  If I can help you or answer any questions, contact me at 386 236 9280 or www.firstrealeestateschool.com