Question: Where are the funding sources for lending products?
Answer: Lending products for successful real estate syndications are available through all of the traditional channels. Banks and real estate lenders are the best providers for these products, but depending on the circumstances, and depending on the nature of the collateral, hard-money lenders might be the way to go. There are many hedge funds in New York and in other places that have tremendous pools of capital that are available for you to tap into. If you do not know how to access these pools, I’m happy to make introductions and recommendations. However, I reserve these for people whom I know well, and for people who come through my programs, because these are prized contacts that I do not want to waste on people who are under-prepared to speak with them in the most sophisticated way.

Question: Where do you get investors?
Answer: This is the hardest part of the real estate game. If you don’t have investors, no matter how great the real estate is that you find, you are going to have a difficult time getting the job done. The best way to accumulate investors is to start small, deal with people you know, and grow your investment opportunities as you succeed and begin to develop an investor pool. There really is a lot of money out in the marketplace, and if you have a great deal, there is always somebody who has the money to fund it. You may have to partner or you may have to share, but the money is out there. So, you never really have to worry that you are going to pass up an opportunity. If you find such an opportunity, call my office and we will talk to you about how to get the job done.

Joel began his career as a CPA with the prestigious firm of Price Waterhouse. During his time with the company’s Entrepreneurial Services Group, Joel immersed himself in the real estate syndication business. After reviewing hundreds of partnership agreements and preparing as many tax returns, he left Price Waterhouse in 1986 to start his own syndication firm, raising several million dollars in three short years. By 1990, Joel had built a property management firm of more than 40 employees with a portfolio exceeding $100 million. Joel continues to syndicate real estate and other assets, as well as counseling other promoters on successful syndication strategies. He is also involved in film financing and invests in early stage companies and other deals. For more information about Joel Block and his upcoming seminar, visit his site at http://syndicatefast.com/

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joel_G._Block

Networking for investors and partners is essential. Without that money, you have to fund real estate transactions yourself and that is not good news. The question is where to go.

Investor forums: A large number of websites cater to real estate investors, both those with money to lend and those seeking funding. I suggest finding 2-3 that have good traffic and active discussions. I particularly like Bigger Pockets, a newer but growing real estate investor’s forum. Post regularly, ask questions and be sure to not spam.

Investment clubs: These local groups are a great source of leads for people with money to lend. Often times there is a membership fee, but if used wisely, they are a great source of leads. Many have both regular meetings and online forums. Be sure to work both of them diligently.

Classified ads & signs: Call ads that advertise that they buy houses, talk with them. A good number of them will be real investors with connections. Some may even be in a position to fund your projects or may have a connection that can.

The key element is to network. Read books and blog posts about networking and put in the work. Talking with people both via the computer and in real life is your key to funding all your real estate deals!

Avoid individuals and organizations which:
- do not have a company website.
- cannot easily lead you to their corporate documentation.
- do not have legal counsel, regulation and guidance
- do not maintain strict client confidentiality standards
- do not perform the KYC check
- do not have a strict and transparent business model to protect the client and themselves from fraud

Legal Counsel – Any reputable organization shall have legal representation to ensure transactions and communications (paper and electronic) meet the strict standards of client confidentiality, the US Patriot Act and other International regulations that may be applicable.

Visit http://www.fincen.gov/ – Financial Crimes Enforcement Network: US Dept. of Treasury
Visit http://insidetradellc.com/ – Source for blacklisted companies and brokers

Any reputable company shall perform KYC (Know Your Customer) checks, which refers to the regulatory compliance mandate imposed on financial service providers to implement a Customer Identification Program and perform due diligence checks before doing business with a person or entity. KYC fulfills a risk mitigation function, and one its key requirements is checking that a prospective customer is not listed on any government lists for wanted money launders, known fraudsters or terrorists.

If preliminary KYC checks reveal that the person is a Politically Exposed Person (PEP), for example, Advanced Due Diligence must be done in order to ensure that the person’s source of wealth is transparent, and that he or she does not pose a reputational or financial risk in terms of their finances, public positions or associations.

In order to meet KYC compliance requirements, financial institutions must:

• Verify that customers are not or have not been involved in illegal activities such as fraud, money laundering or organized crime
• Verify a prospective client’s identity
• Maintain proof of the steps taken to identify their identity
• Establish whether a prospective customer is listed on any sanctions lists in connection with suspected terrorist activities, money laundering, fraud or other crimes.

Gavin Sorensen, FICArb.E, Deputy Registrar – International Court of Arbitration in Europe
Managing Partner – Untad Global – worldwide financing
UNTAD GLOBAL – worldwide financing
(division of Lestrade Law Associates International LLC Group)
Email: gavin.sorensen@untadglobal.co.cc