National REIA Award of Excellence WINNER

in the category of Electronic Communications

for REIAs with 201-1,000 members

Upstate CREIA is the WINNER of the National REIA Award of Excellence in the category of Electronic Communications for REIAs with 201-1,000 members for our YahooGroups list!

Upstate CREIA won this prestigious award at the June 24th awards presentation at the 2007 mid-year conference in Las Vegas, Nevada. Skip Miller accepted the award on behalf of Upstate CREIA.

Skip Miller, President of UCREIA, said, “We in the Upstate Carolina REIA have known for a long time what a powerful tool our Yahoo Groups messaging service really is. It is gratifying to have the respect of the national association and the recognition of our peers across the nation. And it gives us the opportunity to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our monitors – Mercedes Curry, LeVanza Breeland, and Travis Shultz – who really make the whole thing work.".

Our award winning yahoogroups list

UCREIA has an email list to facilitate our communications with interested real estate investors and to allow them to network with each other.

Our yahoogroups list (UpstateCREIA-a) was started in late 2002 as a vehicle of communication with people interested in real estate investing. We also wanted to facilitate communication among interested parties to make buying and selling properties easier, as well as to allow investors to talk to one another and share information and experiences. Our list has grown to over 2,500 list members with an average of 568 emails posted per month. This makes us the second largest real estate list on Yahoogroups (out of 3,391 total real estate lists) and the number one real estate investing list in activity!

Investors use the list to get referrals for service providers, allowing them to instantly access the best in the service industry and to avoid those who do less than great service. Properties are posted on the list giving instant access when they become available. This speed allows for deals with tighter time frames to occur, where in the old slow days, these deals might have been dropped due to unattainable time constraints. Investors are able to quickly sell properties without having to set up their own buyers lists in advance. This makes it much easier for new investors to hit the ground running.

How our list is different from others

We have seen other REIAs set up email lists in the past with limited success. We feel that the success reflected in the statistics above can be attributed to the following reasons.

First, our list is fully moderated. Every single email that goes to our list members has been reviewed and manually approved by a fellow real estate investor. While we are not able to verify the accuracy of everything stated in an email, we make sure that the email follows the policies set for emails on this list. We obviously filter out all spam, but we also filter out other things that do not fit the requirements of the list, no matter how well intentioned they may be. We reject an average of 30% of the emails sent to the list.

Second, we have a well thought out set of policies for the list that is automatically sent to every person who signs up. This makes sure that every person has the same understanding of how to use the list and what is acceptable and what is not. The policies give examples of how to use the list for a real estate investing business, as well as guidelines on how to minimize fraud. In recognition of the fact that the internet is used by scam artists whenever they can, we also post a monthly fraud prevention reminder to try to alert our members on things to watch for and things to do to protect themselves.

Another big difference in our list is that our list is open to the general public with no requirements that they be paid members of our real estate association. This encourages more people to be involved and opens up many more opportunities to share information and property deals. Due to the value the list has to investors, news of our list has spread by word of mouth to thousands of people. Many of our new members are coming to us from their association with the list! An open membership also creates fresh interest due to new people being referred regularly to the list. This keeps the list growing and up to date with enthusiastic investors.

Success of the list

Before the list was set up, the two main ways to communicate with investors was with an expensive newspaper ad which gives you few words to try to gain their interest. The other popular method of talking to your members is via a newsletter, which is very time consuming to create and expensive to mail.

However, for anyone with internet access, our email list is free. There is no cost to send an email and no cost to receive it. Membership to the list is completely voluntary so we are only sending our postings to people who WANT to see it! We are not spending money to send a postcard or newsletter to someone who considers it ‘junk mail’.

Instead of generating and sending out a newsletter, our members frequently post articles on their area of expertise. The information is current and fresh and may be the result of an activity that took place that day. So there are no delays in publishing. Since it is easy to post, we get frequent contributors. The ‘article’ can also become interactive if someone has a question or a follow up comment to make.

As an educational non-profit, our goals include assisting our investors in any way we can. The list keeps people up to date on the investing trends in our area. Impromptu discussions allow us to find out what the concerns are and to discuss solutions amongst ourselves. Our new investors find instant access to any number of ‘mentors’ by simply posting a question and then reading the responses. It is difficult to find people who are willing (and able) to commit a chunk of their time to train a new person. But many people don’t mind spending a few minutes answering a question via email. So our newer investors get help when they need it without requiring a large commitment of time from any one person.

Testimonials

This communication tool is a big part of my business. I wholesale properties as you know, and due to the massive amount of people I am able to reach with this list, most of the time these properties sell in days. So this is one way I use the list.

Another way I use the list is to collect contacts for rehab contractors, appraisers, pest inspectors, attorneys, etc. all of which are an important part of my business. From this list, I am able to open bidding in order to get the right guy for the job based on quality, experience, professionalism, and cost in that order. It is also possible to collect references on these folks using the list (if done correctly).

Of course a third very useful part of the list, is simply to buy real estate at wholesale pricing. We also hold property as part of our business, and there are deals coming across this list daily. It is much more efficient than calling FSBOs in the newspaper!!

Currently, I market through radio ads, newspaper, and direct mail outlets. This Yahoo list along with my UCREIA membership is as important as any of these other outlets to me.

Also, I want to give some kudos to our moderator. My postings are almost always posted to the list within the hour I send it. You folks also do a good job of keeping the list focused on real estate screening out most other topics which helps everybody.

Sincerely,

Gordon Moore

Moore Houses, Inc.

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I wanted to tell you about the home we purchased with HoneyBees in the wall. I posted here on the list asking for ways to get someone to get the bees removed. I didn't want to kill them because of the needed bee population. The first day I got about 8 names to choose from and we are in process of getting them removed. Thanks to your list it was easy to find someone qualified to do this and save the bees. Not to mention the delicious Honey that was in in the wall. Keep up the Great Work. I appreciate having access to your list.

Thank you for your most valuable time and attention.

Jim Bonham

Bonham Enterprise's

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I've sent out request for referrals several times and always received many responses. My last request was for a quality painter. I had 3 responses within one hour of the post going up and around 10 more within one day. I had to post the following message so people would stop referring painters to me.

Hello,

As usual this group is great. I had at least a dozen responses to my painter request.

Thanks,

Manie

Onward Financial

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I use the list for several purposes:

- To monitor the overall level of activity in the Upstate, including price ranges of various properties and services;

- To contact vendors for purposes of rehabbing my existing properties

– I’ve hired people for work strictly on the basis of this list.

- Possibly to purchase property. I’ve visited a few properties but haven’t made an acquisition yet.

Steve O’Hearn

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1. I've purchased a house off this website. It is one of my 1st rental properties.

2. I've sent out an email asking for advice/direction on Section 8. ...receiving lots of response on what to do.

3. I've hired a lawn maintenance guy that I got off this website. . he is excellent.

4. I've learned about and attended several real estate workshops/seminars that have helped me tremendously in my real estate business.

5. Yes, this website is critical to my business as I continue to learn. . . because I still consider myself a beginner.

Eddie Moore & Libby Spencer

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As a vendor member of the Upstate CREIA we use the list to communicate new programs, specials, and other events. The Yahoo list is an indispensible tool for communicating and marketing to those that have an interest in real estate in the Upstate of South Carolina. The Yahoo list has absolutely contributed to the success of our business.

As an investor, the resources, referrals and behind the desk networking opportunities are amazing. I have bought and sold properties, hired contractors, and resolved problems that likely would not have happened without the list, and definitely would not have happened as fast.

Travis Shultz

REI Bookkeeping Services, LLC

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I have found the group to be most helpful. For example, I had a property where a brand new $2000.00 3 ton ac/heat pump was stolen.

I found a new unit for a great price from this group. I was dreading having to pay for another new unit but with the help of this group I was to get another at a fraction of the price.

Kenny Gagne

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As an Upstate CREIA member who lives 400 miles away, the list helps keep me connected and involved in the market where I have investments (Anderson). In addition to the market, I can keep up with the group and its members since I am able to attend meetings only a few times each year.

It allows me to keep up with trends and developments in the Upstate that impact my business and investments. The various listings for houses wanted and for sale keep me up to date with prices and inventory in Anderson.

The list helps me network without having to be physically present all the time. I have met both other investors and a variety of vendors through the list who have provided services that were greatly needed.

I learn useful information about investing in general, as well as helpful tips and alerts to problems. In short, the list is the most important service I receive from Upstate CREIA and a major reason I can justify remaining a member while not a resident.

Dave West

ParkWest of Anderson, LLC

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This list has been tremendous for our business. We have bought property, sold property, hired service providers, benefited from educational offerings, learned from others who “aired” their questions and experiences and received comments, but most of all we’ve built a team of professionals--many of whom came by way of this list.

Keep up the good work!!!

Thank you,

Bruce Windsor

Lease To Home

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I'm new to the Upstate and to real estate investing so I'm in "learning" mode at the moment. Via this email list, I've managed to meet and network with several knowledgeable people to help me get over some of my learning deficiencies in real estate investing and the upstate area. Also, just by reading the daily emails going back and forth, I'm seeing many interesting deals that could be acted upon when I'm ready to jump in and also building a list of support people that are in the area who I can contact for essential services.

I'm from South Florida and there are several real estate groups down there and none of them have anything coming close to the excellence of this networking tool provided by UCREIA.

Steven Chabotte

Anderson, SC

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First of all, I would like to commend the moderator for how she and her team screen the e-mails and hold accountable the people who use the UCREIA website.

Second, I can't tell you how much information and good advice I get from reading them. And thirdly, I appreciate the leads that have come in that have helped my boys get their lawn mowing up and running. ( no pun intended)

Thank-you again for the professional way business is handled on this website.

Truly one of a kind.

Sincerely,

Susan Nigh

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"As a mortgage lending vendor with the UCREIA email group I have had an extremely positive experience. This group has allowed me to systematically reach my target clientele in a way that I can not do otherwise. My phone rings everyday with members of this group desiring to discuss the services I have available.

It is important to differentiate that this list has not just created activity but instead results. It is not an exaggeration to state that I closed at least 100 loans over the last 12-24 months as a result of my participation in this group. I don't recall another advertising program that has been nearly as cost effective. To further clarify the benefits I have received working with this group; I have easily generated well over $100,000 in commissions over this same period of time. This is in addition to my normal closed loan volume.

Many marketing campaigns require such effort in the form of financial and/or time resources that the benefit becomes watered down. Instead of increasing sales, you simply replace sales from other areas of marketing. The net effect is that you end up with much the same numbers only from a different source.

The UCREIA yahoo list has enabled me to establish very rewarding business relationships and friendships with like minded people from all areas of the country. I expect these relationships to continue to grow and reward me for many years to come.

" Mercedes, thank you for your hard work. Joining UCREIA has truly been A rewarding experience for me!

Nick Williams

Upstate Lender

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This list has significantly helped my real estate business by providing buyers of properties and references for contractors. These items have been worth thousands of dollars and saved me more time than I can calculate. We are really lucky to have moderators who truly care about how this list is used. HUGE, HUGE, HUGE, HUGE THANKS TO OUR MODERATORS!!! This list is what it is because of your dedication and integrity.

Gregg Branham

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