Author View (Barry Lenson)

The property you’re considering looks good. The price is right. It’s just what you’ve been looking for, and you’re about to make an offer. But think twice, because you need to do a little due diligence to make sure the deal doesn’t contain any hidden pitfalls. Here’s a list of easy-to-miss deal-killers. They represent very good reasons to walk out of a real estate deal and continue your search for other properties: Property Deal-killer #1: The local government makes it impossible to get work permits. The town will make you wait three months for a permit to put in a new sidewalk more...

Are you eager to get a start in real estate, but short on cash? Don't give up. These strategies can get you started with minimal investment: Barter your professional services. You could be a contractor, landscaper, accountant, attorney--whatever. Offer your services in exchange for a percentage of the sale. Collect a finder's fee if you can find investment properties for a developer. One great strategy is to run a newspaper ad in another state that says, "Attention Developers! Distressed properties available in [your state]. Call XXX-XXXX now." Being a remote agent for developers is a good way to generate interest--and commissions. Where will more...

Lets’ face facts. Only a small percentage of real estate ventures generate as much profit as the investors were hoping for. And many investments actually lose money. When ventures lose money, the problem is usually that the investors failed to work the numbers carefully. And working the numbers is not all that difficult. Let’s take a closer look.    First, consider this investment that lost money: An investor named Joan bought a pre-foreclosure property for $180,000 from a seller who said, “Houses like this in this neighborhood should sell for $300,000.” So Joan spent another $50,000 on renovations, then discovered she could sell the house more...

If you want to get started in real estate development without spending a cent, why not develop a property that your family already owns? It could be a house belonging to an aging relative who is about to go into assisted living, a cabin that you and your siblings inherited but never use - or a vacation condo that your uncle owns, but hasn’t visited in years. Many families end up owning more unused properties than used cars. If you can pinpoint some, your next step is to structure a real estate development deal that works for you and all relatives who more...

First, how not to write real estate ads. Take a moment to think about this real estate ad that appeared in a suburban newspaper recently: A babbling brook runs through the back yard of this spotless cape with new furnace and cabinets. Asking $350,000. Sellers anxious. Call 888-8888 today. I don’t know how that ad strikes you - it describes a brook, a furnace and the agitated psychological state of the current owners. But I think that you will agree that it does very little to get the house sold, for one very simple reason: It fails to address the desires and needs of more...

A smart older real estate investor once told me, “In lean markets, buy raw land and hang onto it. Land can’t burn down. Nobody can steal it. If you’re patient, its value always increases. And you don’t even have to insure it.” That’s wise advice. Yet undeveloped land isn’t the only smart real estate investment for lean times. Here are some other investing options that can generate self-sustaining income while they increase in value. Buy rural or suburban land where you can build and operate a self-storage facility until the market strengthens. Self-storage facilities are great “placeholder” businesses that generate income from land more...

Jesse Maschmeyer was born in Salinas, California in 1976. Jesse played the violin as a child, and in high school he developed a love of woodworking. But in the years that followed, those passions took his life in an unexpected direction. He went to Parma, Italy to study to become a violin maker. After three years of intense study, he returned to America to practice his craft. Today, Jesse restores antique instruments for one of the most prestigious instrument shops in Boston. At the same time, he builds violins and sells them to professional musicians. A great life?  Yes. But at the same more...

If you love Celebrity Apprentice, be sure to visit Trump University's Celebrity Apprentice Blog today - and every day - for the latest news about your favorite show. We've already posted some very useful lessons we learned from the show  last night - practical lessons that can get your career on the right track. Plus on Monday, we'll be posting a special commentary by Andrea Lake about last night's episode. You remember Andrea. She was the stylish-but-tough contender who fought her way into the topmost ranks of Apprentice candidates two seasons ago. So click here and get in on the action. It's a more...

Be sure to watch Celebrity Apprentice tonight. There are some terrific lessons to be learned. One of my favorites reveals the power of taking your time when negotiating. I can’t reveal the details until after the show airs, but I can say that during a negotiating session, two of the male celebrities are trying to pressure two of the women to make a snap decision. The women stall, and that allows them to get exactly what they want out of the deal. That reveals one of the fundamental principles of powerful negotiating that Donald J. Trump often writes about . . . When more...

NBC launches Celebrity Apprentice on January 3rd. If you are ready to get the most from every episode, make The Trump Blog your first stop. Here's just a small sample of the Celebrity Apprentice coverage you'll find here . . .  Weekly commentaries from Stefani, Sean, Kendra, Kelly, Stacey, Troy, Andrea and lots of other Apprentice stars!  That's right. They'll be here every Monday to comment on every episode.  The Trump Blog is the only place to get these insights from tough contenders who know what life is really like on the inside of your favorite reality show. Another season of our critically acclaimed Lessons Learned advisories is about to go live. For the fourth season in a row, the more...

We don't suffer from false modesty at  Trump University.  Our courses  and live events provide the best real estate training available anywhere.  But when we find a good source of information elsewhere, we feel duty-bound to let you know about it. So be sure to check out a useful blog roll online, The Top 50 Real Estate Marketing Bloggers, compiled by International Listings.  It offers an especially good collection of links to real estate blogs. Trump University does not endorse the experts whose blogs are listed, nor do we recommend all the strategies they offer.  But we also know that the more we all know about real estate, the better we will all do. Have you noticed that smart, educated people usually create opportunities for more...

An interview with business-planning guru Tim Berry When Trump University was searching for the best business plan software to integrate into our Entrepreneurship Mastery Program, we found a blockbuster program in Business Plan Pro. Little did we know that it was the brainchild of a business-planning guru named Tim Berry - a man who has spent nearly three decades helping successful entrepreneurs bring their dreams to life.  So if you are scared of writing a business plan, worry no more. That will all change when you read this conversation between Tim and Trump U’s Executive Editor Barry Lenson . . . Barry Lenson: Why do people get paralyzed at the thought more...

Today we showcase Ivo Verhaegh, a student from the Netherlands and his winning question. Many students submitted questions for Mr. Trump, but the judging committee selected Ivo’s as the most interesting. Let’s take a closer look. Ivo’s winning question . . . “I’m 16 years old and come from the Netherlands. I’m very ambitious and I really want to be successful. I want to start my own company, I have several good ideas. Do you think it is better to go to university first to gain more knowledge and life experience? And if I should go to university, which education/course will fit best more...

With today’s blog post, we showcase a winning question from our recent Ask Donald J. Trump contest Let's meet James Kayui Li and learn from his winning question. About James (in his own words) . . . “I am happily married and self-employed. My interests are reading, real estate, excercising and continous learning. “I am a fan of The Apprentice and Mr. Trump is my teacher and a role model for me. My aim is to create great wealth and joy in life. As Mr. Trump knows so much about real estate and wealth creating, who better to learn from than Mr. Trump himself? So I read his books and listen more...

Today we showcase Mohamed Shedou and his winning question. About Mohamed . . . Mohamed is a brilliant and extremely accomplished man. His blogs are beautifully written and full of stimulating insights and opinions - many about what it means to be ambitious and new to living in the United States. But let’s allow Mohamed to tell you about himself in his own words . . . “I grew up in a small industrial town in northern Egypt, in a highly respected family with a reputation of solid morals and bright intelligence. We had a business and all my brothers were involved in it, so I was exposed more...

With today’s blog post, we showcase a winning question from our recent Ask Donald J. Trump contest Today we showcase Vinay Menon and his winning question. About Vinay (in his own words) . . . “I am 34 years old, originally from Calgary, Alberta. My passions are cars, computers, and business.  I am co-founder of the car photo Website, MadWhips.com.  “I live with my wife in Hamilton, Ontario, from where I implement manufacturing software, build web sites, and trade stock. “My current car is an SVT Cobra, my next is a Porsche 911 Turbo. The only TV shows I really watch are Mad Money, Formula more...

The Donald Trump blog is in the running to win the “Best Celebrity Blog Award” in the 2007 Weblog Awards. And don’t you think we should win? We certainly do. The problem is, voting ends in a few days and some other celebrity blogs are ahead of us in the poll. But not for long! You can help us close the gap and win by CLICKING HERE to cast your vote for the Donald Trump Blog. So please take a moment to help us - and Donald J. Trump - win. Thank for you helping to make your favorite mentor the king of the blogosphere! more...

With today’s blog post, we showcase a winning question from our recent Ask Donald J. Trump contest Today we showcase Joe Comeau and his winning question. About Joe . . . Joe Comeau lists his previous occupations as “Banker, limo/taxi driver, travel agent, food services worker, construction, retail sales, online sales . . . should I continue?” Currently, Joe is an international recording artist who has recorded eight studio albums, played on various other recordings and has toured extensively throughout the world. His main genre is Heavy Metal.  “It is in my blood and it fuels that which I do,” Joe says, “always has and always will!” But more...

When you turn on your TV this week, you're going to find lots of scary movies. When you travel around your  neighborhood, you'll find cobwebs, skulls and lots of other decorations designed to give you those fun goosebumps that go with the holiday. Yes, it's fun to scared on Halloween. But let me ask you a more serious question . . . Are you scared during the rest of the year too? When you go to work, are you scared that you might get fired? Are you scared of your boss? Or scared that a crooked colleague of yours is going to steal your ideas? Are you scared that you aren't earning enough to pay your more...

With today’s blog post, we showcase another winning question from our recent Ask Donald J. Trump contest  About Rajesh . . .  A native of Nepal, Rajesh Kumar Shakya is the three-time winner of The Best Entrepreneur in Information Technology Award, one of the prestigious Boss Top 10 Business Excellence Awards in Nepal. Rajesh is an entrepreneur, trainer, motivational speaker and consultant for many businesses, e-governance and IT projects. He holds a masters degree in computer engineering (with honors) and is on the visiting faculties of various universities and colleges including Kathmandu University and Kathmandu College of Management.  As a consultant, Rajesh currently more...

Claire is a winner in our Ask Donald J. Trump contest! Today we showcase Claire Huckfeldt of Colorado and her winning question. About Claire (in her own words) . . . Claire Huckfeldt enrolled at Trump University in July 2006 because she immediately recognized and wanted to team with the elite mentor for wealth building, entrepreneurship, and real estate investment education - Donald Trump. She was not going to miss the golden opportunities he and his experts offer at Trump U. Claire also enjoyed a close relationship with an amazingly wonderful parent - she credits and treasures her mother for her successes just as much as Mr. Trump more...

An Interview with Dee Colwell, the power behind Trump University’s new Live Events Trump University has already gained recognition as the world’s fastest growing institution of electronic and interactive learning. So why is Trump University introducing an equally fast-growing series of live seminars and workshops? Barry Lenson, our Executive Editor, talked with Dee Colwell, Trump University’s Director of Operations, to learn more. Barry: Why is Trump University, a center of online and interactive learning, moving into live events? Dee: There’s no doubt that interactive learning is powerful and flexible. But to take advantage of certain areas of hot opportunity like foreclosures, people need knowledge more...

Ricardo Bellino’s new international enterprise is vast in scope. Here’s how to apply his thinking to your next success. If you are a regular reader of The Trump Blog, you already know Ricardo Bellino. He is the gentleman who needed only three minutes to convince Donald J. Trump to partner with him on a major real estate project in Brazil.  Ricardo recently sent us news about his newest business venture, Casas Brasileiras. He also agreed to let the Trump Blog explain the thinking behind the enterprise. We’re sharing the news here because we believe that all the members of Trump University can more...

I have to admit that I made up that number of vacuum cleaner engineers that I have never heard of - 5,992 is just a figure I invented. But then there’s the one vacuum cleaner engineer I have heard of. And you know about him too. He’s James Dyson, the guy who decided that working for someone else’s vacuum cleaner company wasn’t going to get him the kind of life, or the kind of success, that he wanted. So he started his own company, because that is what people do when they decide it is time to stop giving their best ideas away more...

Nobody ever accused the Broadway play “The Color Purple” of being a masterpiece. After it opened its doors in New York in 2005 and got lukewarm reviews from the critics, it soldiered on like many New York shows do,  attracting audiences of suburbanites, tourists and conventioneers. Enter the Star Then Fantasia Barrino came along and stepped into the lead role of Miss Celie. You remember her - the charismatic, sandpaper-voiced dynamo who won American Idol a few seasons ago. Suddenly there was real star power in the cast. The show’s producers, much to their credit, didn’t wait for the world to beat a path to the more...

I had a conversation last month with the programming director of a radio station in Boston. He was complaining about how difficult it is to convince companies to advertise on his station. “Why is it so tough?” I asked. “Because we have no way to document how many people actually hear the ads we are trying to sell,” he replied. “So when a company advertises with us, they have very little idea what they are buying. There’s a missing link in our business, which is the direct and measureable connection with listeners. Cable TV has it, the Internet has it, but we don’t.” He more...

If you’re eager to learn more about marketing without spending a cent, I’d urge you to visit Marketing Maestro, one of Trump University’s family of blogs. Created and moderated by Josef Katz, Trump University's Director of Marketing, Marketing Maestro goes where wimpier blogs fear to tread. I'm not kidding! One recent post explored how a small company called TerraCycle, which makes a fertilizer that contains worm poop, is using its blog to do battle against a giant competitor, Scotts Miracle-Gro. You’ll learn a lot from Marketing Maestro. Free and fun, it’s another part of Trump University’s efforts to make useful, profit-maximizing information available to our members.  more...

Very few first-time real estate investors have a lot of money to get started. So to gain a foothold, they buy single-family homes and hope to expand from there. Sounds logical, right? Maybe yes, maybe no, because there are many reasons why investing in smaller multi-family homes or apartment buildings offers a better way to start, provided you know how. There’s a very simple reason: Leverage It’s the near-magic principle of letting other people's dollars work for you. Let’s take a quick look at some advantages of multi-units: They provide multiple income streams and enhanced cash flow. If you analyze the rent roll and fixed expenses on the properties you’re more...

A recent article in Forbes highlights the risks of using other people’s money to leverage personal success. Using other people’s money (or “OPM” as slangsters like to say) can be extremely risky in the corporate world - especially if you drain the corporate coffers to fund initiatives that don’t work out. But in the world of real estate investing, where it is possible to apply leverage in all kinds of different situations, it can be a very smart thing to do. I recently spoke with one real estate developer, for example, who leveraged his way into owning a lot of property by more...

An interview with Patricia Gaylor During the last 25 years, interior designer Patricia Gaylor has achieved just about everything that anyone in her profession could want - prominent exposure at showcases and industry events and a steady stream of well-to-do clients who can afford to invest in her innovative ideas. So why did she decide to transform her business to “green” by specializing in environmentally responsible interior designs? So much so that she was selected to create environmentally responsible interiors for BASF’s Near Zero Energy House, a state-of-the art green building in Paterson, New Jersey. When we saw Ms. Gaylor present her interiors more...

To highlight the great contribution that small businesses make to the U.S. economy, the United States Small Business Administration has proclaimed this week Small Business Week. The SBA is hosting awards ceremonies and other events to honor America’s entrepreneurs. What benefits can Small Business Week offer to you, our entrepreneurial members of Trump University? Here are two useful resources we found on the SBA’s Small Business Week page: The Small Business Administration’s List of Top Lenders is short, with only seven lending institutions named. But it is worth a look anyway. We all need to be on the lookout for lenders that are more...

I’m writing from Washington, DC. Two nights ago, my family and I had dinner at a terrific Georgetown eatery called Martin’s Tavern. This morning, we went back for breakfast. And if we were staying another day - you guessed it - we’d be going back for lunch.  It has been a long time since I’ve come across a restaurant with that much “pull,” as marketers like to say. In part, it’s due to the fact that Martin’s delivers great food, attentive service, spotlessness and all the other make-or-break restaurant essentials. But that’s only part of what has kept Martin’s going strong since more...

“Should” is a dangerous word. If you use it in sentences like these, it could be doing you a lot of harm: “The house I’m renovating should sell for $450,000.” “My new product should make me $50 million a year after I bring it to market.” When you start to use “should” that way, you’ve probably fallen victim to false optimism. It’s highly seductive. You want so much for that house to sell for $450,000 that you start to believe it really will. Or you want your new company to generate $50 million in annual sales, so you start to count on that happening. It’s more...

If you’d like to connect directly with Apprentice winners Randal Pinkett, Kendra Todd and Sean Yazbeck, your wishes have just come true, thanks to Trump University’s new Apprentice Winners Speakers Series. Space is limited for these free phone-in teleseminars, so click here now to register. On March 22, Sean will tell you how to sell successfully.  On March 29, Kendra will explain how she built riches in real estate - and how you can too.  On April 19, Randal will share powerful advice about becoming a successful entrepreneur.  Again, these events are free. I wanted to get the news out today via this special post more...

  Five years ago I interviewed the man who founded a rather famous brand of outdoor clothing. Actually, he is pretty famous too, because his company grew out of his own activities as an explorer. During our interview, he talked at great length about his company and his products. All his employees, he said, were hikers, snowboarders, sailors and explorers of other kinds. They wilderness tested every product before it went on the market. That was why every detail on his company’s garments worked so well. The special zippers could be opened and closed with your gloves on in a blizzard, for more...

Back in 1997, a copper pipe burst in the wall of one of my properties. My plumber and I tore the wall open. He patched the leak. I let the hole stay open for about a month before I closed it up again. I repainted the room and moved on to the next job. Then a few of my friends started asking me questions. Had I left the wall oven long enough to let the area behind it really dry, they wanted to know? Had I sprayed behind the wall with bleach to kill mold spores? Why didn’t I get an expert more...

Here’s a marketing strategy that’s literally too good to be true, because . . .   You can master it in an afternoon. It costs you nothing - literally zilch. It performs as well as expensive advertising. It is renewable, meaning that with just a little ongoing effort from you, it will keep producing good results.  I am talking about writing press releases. If you spend just a little time reviewing the information in this post today, you can achieve the results I describe above, or even better. Plus, you can get started today.   What You Need to Know   What are more...

  One week ago today, this blog ran Part I of a two-part, in-depth interview with Trump University Professor Richard Parker, developer of Trump University’s The Art of Buying a Business course.  In that interview, tackled many of the questions that need to be asked before buying a franchise. Today, Richard Parker talks more with Trump University’s Barry Lenson and brings the issue into even sharper focus.  Barry Lenson: If you own a business, you can deduct the costs of advertising, signage and other expenses. Is that also true with a franchise? Is there an advantage one way or another?  Richard Parker: The expenses can be more...

An interview with Trump University's Professor Richard Parker Today we bring our readers the first installment of a two-part, in-depth interview with Trump University Professor Richard Parker, developer of Trump University'sThe Art of Buying a Businesscourse Should you buy a franchise? Does owning one offer a viable way to achieve entrepreneurial riches and independence? In this recent conversation Trump University's Barry Lenson, Professor Richard Parker brings the issue into sharp focus. Barry Lenson: Many people believe that owning a franchise minimizes the risks of owning a business - that there are systems, policies, and procedures in place that will minimize the hazards. So is more...

Entrepreneurial wisdom from Apprentice finalist Andrea Lake We kick off our extensive coverage of the new Apprentice season with this interview of one of last season's top contenders. Be sure to watch the first episode of the new season this Sunday on NBC, 9/8c. On the last season of The Apprentice, Andrea Lake was the cool, confident, self-possessed competitor who made it into the final six. In real life, Andrea is a highly successful entrepreneur who had already founded highly successful companies before the showbecame part of her life. In this conversation with Trump University's Barry Lenson, Andrea talks openly about what she more...

Thank you for all the positive comments and feedback about the Trump Blog during 2006. Today I would like to return the favor by publishing a list of some of the most popular, most powerful Trump Blog postings of 2006. The posts that I list below contain well more than $1 million worth of success-building advice, and that's a very conservative estimate. I'd urge you to invest some exploring and clicking, because there is a lot for you here. (Please note that when you click on the name of the blog post you would like to read, it will open in a more...

I've had some horrible bosses over the years. I bet have you have had some too. My personal life list includes a control freak, a classic bully and a "Jekyll and Hyde" lady who was my best friend one day and a screaming monster the next.Why did I put up with these people? Because I needed a paycheck and I couldn't just walk out the door. But I finally did escape. If I did it, you can too. Here are some strategies that can help you keep moving toward your own goals, even if your boss is a psychopath, a tyrant, more...

An Interview with Carbonite's David Friend I stress about losing computer data, don't you? That's why I have tried a number of online backup products in the last year. Most of them stank. They were impossible to set up and didn't perform the backups I scheduled. So a month ago I decided to try just one more, Carbonite.The Carbonite Website answered a lot of questions, had a friendly "feel" and didn't ask for my credit-card info before letting me take a test drive. So I signed up for a free trial. I was pleasantly surprised. The product, as promised, backed up more...

Success-building secrets from The Entrepreneurship Mastery ProgramI recently spent an evening listening to classroom activity in our Entrepreneurship Mastery Program. What a session! Students were calling in. Tim Goertel, Vice President of Strategic Insight for Reed Exhibitions, was helping them determine whether their business ideas could make it in the marketplace. And Beth Polish, professor for the course, was using her keen mind to move the discussion along. It was such a great session that I started taking notes that I will share with you in this post.So, can your business idea make it in the marketplace? To understand your chances more...

You can give your next speech or presentation without fear While I was writing my book Good Stress, Bad Stress two years ago, my phone started ringing. People were asking me to do radio interviews, give talks at corporations, speak at churches and appear on regional cable TV shows. Man, was I in trouble. Why? Because I was a very nervous public speaker. And it was a very bad idea for me, Mr. Stress Expert, to appearin public with sweaty palms and knocking knees. I needed help, fast. The problem was, I knew from experience that the usual advice about beating stage fright did more...

As Executive Editor at Trump University, I watch "The Apprentice" every week on NBC and write the weekly "Lessons Learned" articles for NBC's Apprentice page. I have now watched two seasons and analyzed every episode from a business journalist's perspective. And even though I don't know the name of a single Apprentice candidate in the season that kicks off next January, I'm here to predict who the winner will be. Man or woman? People tell me that a woman is bound to win next season, because Randall and Sean won the last two seasons. That's bunk. Next season's winner will again be someone more...

A week ago I heard the comedian Tim Allen say something that has been on my mind ever since. He said that he uses three lists to organize his life: List one contains the greatest goals he wants to achieve in his life. List two contains the things he needs to do this year in order to reach his life goals. List three contains the things he needs to do today in order to reach his life goals. Of course, Allen's three-list system offers only one way to set goals for your life. If you visit a bookstore, you will find dozens of books that more...

"Location, location, location" is one of the most overused (and misunderstood) phrases in the real estate business. Sure, when it comes to real estate, a property in a great location can seem like a no-brainer investment, but where do YOU fit into your investment decision? What role does entrepreneurial vision and imagination play in deciding what and where to invest your time, energy, and money? For real estate entrepreneurs, like other entrepreneurs, seeing possibilities where others might see problems is the name of the game. Entrepreneurial real estate investors look beyond the obvious to discover or create value on their own. In the more...

Contributing Editor, Trump UniversityOf all the problems people face on the job--difficult customers, a heavy workload, ringing phones--what is the one that drains the most joy from life? The answer is a difficult boss, or, as many people say, "a crazy boss."The classic crazy boss is a bully, but difficult bosses can also be belittling, burned-out, controlling, insecure, micromanaging, namby-pamby, or paranoid. The real question is, what kind of boss do you face when you get to work? And what can you do about it? In this new forum, we will tell our stories and share the solutions we have found more...