Professional Negotiators.

We are all negotiators and some of us are better than others because of experience.  My children are some of the best negotiators I have encountered.  Different people react in different ways to different offers in real estate.  You can level out with good negotiators by realizing their techniques and being prepared for any negotiation that involves bringing in a lot of money.

Remember the expression that a Penny Saved is a Penny earned?  This was wisdom from Ben Franklin. He was an amazing negotiator.  He realized that saving a penny when you buy is the same thing as earning the same penny and that was even before we had income tax.  Today when you save a penny or even $ 10,000 because you buy a property at a below market price, you saved more than the discount.  To pay another dollar to buy something, you first have to earn that dollar plus the additional tax .  Saving $1,000 when you buy something is the equivalent of earning the $1,000 plus tax.

There are many secrets that top negotiators use to get to an agreement.  An agreement doesn’t mean winning.  Unless both sides in a negotiation receive a benefit, even if it is initially agreed upon, it will usually fall apart with one side failing to perform as agreed.

If you are going to buy, sell and manage real estate, then you need to learn to negotiate.  As you become good at it, you will make a lot more money.  Negotiation is probably the most valuable skill that you can acquire.

Income versus Wealth

As consumers we are programmed to buy depreciating assets. Advertising messages urge us to buy doodads or things such as cars, furniture and clothes that will go down in value. Whether you have the cash or not, retailers are happy to extend credit or take your credit cards. This results in a pile of debt and useless items that would be sold  for much less if they had to be liquidated.

Having a large income doesn't necessary translate to wealth. Without understanding financial strategies that wealthy people use, people buy cars that are too expense and houses with payments beyond their means and try to keep up with their neighbours.

It is not about the amount you make but what you do with it that counts. If you invest in depreciating assets you will be digging yourself into a big hole that is hard to climb out of.

When debt is used to buy things that increase in value and generate profits, a person is thinking like a wealthy person.

True wealth comes from financial independence  and living within your means with most money coming from passive sources.