Robert:

I knew what you were asking. And my answer still applies because they are the same techniques. They are merely applied to a different area.

And yes, you read that right... techniques... plural. We use at least 19 different techniques to come up with the ideas for The Great Ideas Letter. And writing about them would be a book in itself.

Some techniques require brain power and thinking. Some techniques are an acquired skill. And some techniques require certain first hand experience.

And while some techniques could easily be stated in five words or less (such as "identify problems to be solved"), the application of the technique (the HOW - how do you identify problems) is another matter. And the answer to that is less so straight forward and can require a certain mind-set coupled with "in the field" experience.

And then there is the identification of elements of the idea that can be enhanced - a new twist - to improve it, or make it uniquely yours.

Regarding your niche - real estate timing in relation to the rise and leveling off of prices - it appears to me your targets are the buy and holder investors. Not the "Subject To", L/O, or Wholesale crowd because how the price fluctuates over the years isn't as great a concern to them as cashflow is. Maybe even those who think negative gearing is a good thing. Or those just interested in increasing their knowledge about real estate investing in general.

Whatever. I think your product does solve a problem. And there's a fair bet you saw this problem because you were in the market. Maybe even experiencing the problem first hand. Or as a real estate agent/broker you had clients ask the question of you or express concern over buying at the wrong time.

Funny thing is, the real estate timing problem seems to also be a problem for stock traders - timing the trades.

Other real estate problems I see are:

• Selling your house fast without giving it away
• Not being taken to the cleaners by agents/brokers
• Getting the house "ready to sell" on a low to non-existant budget
• Getting good bang for your advertising buck
• Getting near on full asking price without stressful negotiating - when you're the seller
• Getting the seller to let you buy the house at a huge discount - when you're the buyer
• Doing real estate transactions without applying for a bank loan
• Doing real estate transactions without having a huge supply of your own cash
• Finding "good" escrow people - lawyers, etc.
• Finding ideal tenants
• Getting rid of trouble tenants
• Getting tenants to pay on time
• Keeping good tenants
• Turning negative gear property into positive gear property
• Being able to spot "problems" while doing an initial inspection on a property and without needing to hire a $200 an hour "inspector"
• Finding non-bank money lenders quickly and easily
• Do repairs without spending a fortune

and this is just the tip of the ice-berg. And these are just based on problems *I* see the budding real estate investor experiencing, or at least wanting to know the solution to.

Granted, some of these problems already have solutions. But the problem is... WHERE is the solution? I need an easy-to-use reference guide to point me in the right direction. Or at least someone (Robert C, perhaps?) I can pay a nominal monthly fee to, to be allowed to ask them WHERE I might quickly find the answer, or who could quickly provide the answer without me having to read pages and pages of stuff or having to buy their stuff first.

This give you some ideas?

Michael Ross

P.S. Robert, read this post a number of times. There is a hidden idea spotting technique buried within the text.

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