The US Department of Transportation has laid out a nationwide road safety plan [PDF] that will lead to cars communicating with each other. The agency is hoping that broadly deploying vehicle-to-everything (V2X) tech will boost its “commitment to pursue a comprehensive approach to reduce the number of roadway fatalities to zero.” The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that 40,990 people died in motor vehicle crashes last year.
V2X enables vehicles to stay in touch with each other as well as pedestrians, cyclists, other road users and roadside infrastructure. It lets them share information such as their position and speed, as well as road conditions. They’d be able to do so in situations with poor visibility, such as around corners and in dense fog, NPR notes.
A US-wide rollout will require an array of mobile, in-vehicle and roadside tech that can communicate efficiently and securely while protecting people’s personal information, the DoT said in its National V2X Deployment Plan. The agency said smaller-scale deployments of V2X across the country have demonstrated safety benefits. Safety advocates claim the tech could prevent hundreds of thousands of crashes and mitigate the impact of collisions that do occur by reducing the speed of impact.
The timeline for the DoT’s plan extends to 2036, by which time it hopes to have fully deployed V2X across the National Highway System, for the top 75 metro areas to have the tech enabled at 85 percent of signalized intersections and to have 20 vehicle models that are V2X capable. In the shorter term, the agency aims to have V2X tech installed across 20 percent of the National Highway System and 25 percent of signalized intersections in major metro areas by 2028.
It won’t be an easy task, as a wide range of stakeholders have to play a part, including the Federal Communications Commission, which the DoT says will have to determine rules about spectrum allocation. Automaker suppliers (which will build V2X-enabled components), freight operators and app developers are also players in the DoT’s vision.
There are some concerns, particularly in terms of cybersecurity and how to cover the costs of rolling out the tech (though the Federal Highway Administration recently announced nearly $60 million in grants related to V2X). But V2X has the potential to prevent thousands of deaths and serious injuries.
“The Department has reached a key milestone today in laying out a national plan for the transportation industry that has the power to save lives and transform the way we travel,” Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg said in a statement. “The Department recognizes the potential safety benefits of V2X, and this plan will move us closer to nationwide adoption of this technology.”
“This plan is a vital first step towards realizing the full lifesaving potential of this technology — technology that could prevent up to 615,000 crashes,” National Transportation Safety Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said. The NTSB has determined that V2X deployments could have prevented many fatal crashes over the last few decades, Homendy noted. The agency has been advocating for the tech since 1995.
As you might imagine, then, V2X is hardly a new concept. Several automakers — including Audi, Toyota and Volkswagen — have long been working on ways for their cars to communicate with each other and city infrastructure, in part because that plays a factor in autonomous driving.
There were efforts under the Obama administration to make vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) communication a mandatory feature of new cars. However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration scuttled that plan during the Trump administration.
The rollout of V2X has been slowed by “regulatory uncertainty,” said John Bozzella, president and CEO of the Alliance for Automotive Innovation, an automaker trade group. “This is the reset button,” Bozzella added, according to NPR. “This deployment plan is a big deal. It is a crucial piece of this V2X puzzle.”
Splitgate 2 is fast. It’s the dominating thought of my hours spent sampling the sequel’s new maps, weapons, loadouts, movement, abilities, and more. Despite the fact that it literally chugged on my PC (my own setup’s inadequacy, not the game’s), everything about it was quick. I barely had time to consider my loadout before I was brusquely pushed into the match. Once the action began, everything became a bit of a blur before coming to an abrupt stop mere moments later. Bullets flew, people spilled out of portals, and within about two minutes, the first round was over before I could even make sense of the changes Splitgate 2 was making to the gameplay I’d loved in the original. – Moises Taveras Read More
For adrenaline seekers and racing enthusiasts, the thrill of the race is not just about speed—it’s about control, precision, and the power of your machine. Enter the 125cc 4-Speed Manual Kick Start Racing Competition Bike, a masterpiece of engineering designed to take your racing experience to the next level.
Engineered for Performance
At the heart of this racing bike is a robust 125cc engine, providing the perfect balance of power and agility. The 4-speed manual transmission offers precise control, allowing you to navigate sharp turns and high-speed straights with ease. The manual kick start adds a classic touch, reminding you of the raw, unfiltered racing experience that this bike delivers.
Built for Competition
This bike is not just about speed; it’s about competition-grade performance. Whether you’re a seasoned racer or an aspiring competitor, the 125cc Racing Competition Bike is built to meet the demands of high-intensity racing. Its lightweight frame ensures maximum maneuverability, while the advanced suspension system provides stability even on the most challenging tracks.
Safety Meets Style
Racing is as much about safety as it is about speed, and this bike doesn’t compromise on either. Equipped with high-performance brakes and reinforced tires, you can push the limits knowing that your safety is in good hands. The sleek design and striking graphics also ensure that you’ll stand out on the track, making a statement with both your performance and your style.
Why Choose the 125cc Racing Competition Bike?
Performance: The 125cc engine delivers a perfect blend of power and efficiency, ideal for competitive racing.
Control: The 4-speed manual transmission allows for precise gear changes, giving you full control over your race.
Durability: Built with high-quality materials, this bike is designed to withstand the rigors of competitive racing.
Safety: With top-tier braking systems and durable tires, your safety is prioritized without compromising speed.
Conclusion
If you’re serious about racing, the 125cc 4-Speed Manual Kick Start Racing Competition Bike is the ultimate machine to fuel your passion. Its combination of power, control, and safety makes it a top choice for racers who demand the best. Unleash your potential on the track and experience the thrill of true competition with this exceptional racing bike.
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It isn’t clear what the original goal of social media was.
No single person, organization, or platform could have possibly decided this. Once the framework of publishing content–in any constantly changing but not always evolving forms–was established, new standards for engagement emerged.
At its best, the primary goals of most kinds of print publishing in the past were sharing ideas (new, unique, credible, propaganda, etc.) and creating revenue.
Social media has made anything simple to publish, which has changed things. For example, ‘social engagement’ and ‘traction’ have become their currency.
There are new scales for knowledge-sharing–one billion vs. 10,000 potential readers, for example) and criteria for the credibility of these ideas.
There are new ‘cognitive needs’—critical analysis becomes more important than ever, considering the sheer volume and ‘velocity’ of ideas.
I wrote most of this 10 or 12 years ago and never published it and now a lot of it is outdated but I’ll share it anyway,
The big idea here revolves around how different digital publishing is from physical printing.
This website may contain affiliate links and advertising so that we can provide recipes to you. Read my disclosure policy.
Zucchini Roll-Ups are a delicious, unique meal that the whole family will enjoy. Thin slices of zucchini are rolled around a tasty sausage ricotta mixture and layered over marinara before being topped with cheese and baked to bubbly perfection!
Do you have a bounty of zucchini to use from your garden? If so, you must try these other wonderful zucchini recipes! Start with easy Grilled Zucchini, then try Zucchini Pizza, and definitely don’t miss out on this light and fluffy Chocolate Zucchini Cake!
Reasons You Will Love This Recipe
Light and Low Carb: Zucchini rolls are a lighter twist on lasagna roll-ups, yet they’re still really satisfying!
So Delicious: This dish is fun and incredibly flavorful. It also has so many great textures, with the joining of savory Italian sausage with creamy ricotta, zesty marinara, and mildly flavored thin ribbons of zucchini.
A Great Use of Zucchini: This recipe uses four whole zucchini, so if your garden is blowing up, this is the recipe for you! Plus, it’s a great way to sneak in extra veggies!
What are Zucchini Roll-Ups?
Zucchini roll-ups have all of the flavors of a classic lasagna, but use zucchini to wrap up all of the deliciousness for an amazing dinner! I love how using zucchini keeps this lasagna inspired recipe light and lower in carbs and calories. Plus, it’s much more rich in nutrients, and the rolls are in perfect servings!
Ingredients You’ll Need
Zucchini roll-ups might look fancy, but they’re actually so easy to make! They also don’t require very many ingredients. Follow the recipe card below for exact amounts.
Zucchini: Sliced length-wise to create the rolls.
Olive Oil: For sautéing the meat, onion and garlic.
Yellow Onion: Sautéed to add depth of flavor to the dish.
Italian Sausage: I like using Italian sausage instead of ground beef because it adds so much zest and flavor to the meal.
Garlic: Infuses the sausage with garlic flavor.
Ricotta Cheese: Makes this taste just like classic lasagna with the creamy filling.
Egg: The egg helps to bind the ricotta mixture.
Parmesan Cheese: Elevates the rolls with a nutty, salty taste.
Seasoning: This recipe uses Italian Seasoning and salt and pepper for major flavor.
Marinara Sauce: You can use store bought or try my super tasty homemade marinara sauce.
Mozzarella Cheese: If you have the time, I recommend freshly grated cheese for better melting and flavor.
How to Make Zucchini Lasagna Roll-Ups
There are quite a few important steps to follow when making zucchini roll-ups. Don’t worry, it’s actually so easy! I will walk you through all of the steps. The pictures really help, too!
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9×13 baking dish with cooking spray.
Clean the zucchini, cut the ends off, and slice it lengthwise into ⅛ 18-inch-thick ribbons. If you have a mandoline, using it is easiest. Place the ribbons in a bowl of water while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute the onion until it’s clear. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook until browned. Add the garlic and saute for another minute. Remove from heat.
Whisk the ricotta cheese, egg, ½ cup of parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Once the sausage mix has cooled, add it to the ricotta mixture and mix well to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
Pour the marinara sauce into the 9×13 baking dish. Dry the zucchini and lay one out in front of you. Spread about a tablespoon of the sausage ricotta filling halfway up the zucchini ribbon.
Roll the ribbon from the filled side to the empty side and place it in the sauce. Continue with the remaining zucchini and filling.
Once the pan is filled, top all the zucchini rolls with the mozzarella cheese mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese browns on top.
Remove the zucchini rolls ups from the oven, let cool at room temperature for at least 5 minutes, and serve!
Tips and Variations for Zucchini Roll-Ups
Here are a few tips and some variation ideas to make the perfect dinner!
Zucchini Slices: Be sure the zucchini is sliced into very thin ribbons that are about ⅛-inch thick. Using a mandoline slicer makes this really easy.
Marinara Sauce: I like to use my homemade Marinara Sauce when I’m feeling ambitious, but you can use store bought.
For the Sauce, if you prefer, you could try using a pestosauce or alfredo in place of the marinara.
Add Spice: If you like spicy try using hot Italian sausage.
Cover with Foil: For the first 20 minutes of baking, cover the dish with aluminum foil. This way,the top doesn’t brown too quickly.
Sprinkle on Fresh Herbs: A sprinkle of freshly chopped parsley or fresh basiladds the perfect finishing pop of color to your zucchini rolls!
How to Store Leftover Zucchini Lasagna Rolls
This dish is best served fresh. If you do have leftovers, here is how you store them so you can enjoy them the next day.
Refrigerator: Store leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Do Not Freeze: I don’t recommend freezing this dish, the zucchini will become mushy after freezing and reheating.
More Delicious Zucchini Recipes
I love how versatile zucchini is! Not only is it a great side dish, like this cheesy zucchini gratin, but it’s also great for baking into desserts and bread. You can also use it as a main course, like these zucchini rolls! Try these other favorite recipes next, and be sure to check out all of our zucchini recipes!
Preheat the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
Clean the zucchini, cut the ends off, and slice them lengthwise into ⅛ inch thick ribbons. Using a mandoline is easiest if you have one. Place the ribbons in a bowl of water while you prepare the rest of the ingredients.
Heat the olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Saute the onion until it’s translucent. Add the sausage to the skillet and cook until browned. Add the garlic and saute for another minute. Remove from heat.
Whisk the ricotta cheese, egg, ½ cup of parmesan cheese, and Italian seasoning in a large bowl. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Once the sausage mix has cooled, add it to the ricotta mixture and mix well to combine. In a separate bowl, mix together the remaining parmesan cheese and mozzarella cheese.
Pour the marinara sauce into the 9×13-inch baking dish. Dry the zucchini and lay one out in front of you. Spread about a tablespoon of the sausage ricotta filling halfway up the zucchini ribbon.
Roll the ribbon from the filled side to the empty side and place it in the sauce. Continue with the remaining zucchini and filling.
Once the pan is filled, top all the zucchini rolls with the mozzarella cheese mixture. Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes. Uncover and bake for another 5 minutes or until the cheese browns on top.
Remove from the oven, let it cool at room temperature for at least 5 minutes, and serve!
We were sad to learn last week that Mike Bisenius, a 2022 graduate of the Master of Arts in American History and Government (MAHG) program, has passed away after a brief, intense illness. Mike was a highly dedicated teacher. Last fall we ran a story about Mike, who’d been named 2023 North Dakota History Teacher of the Year by the Gilder Lehrman Foundation. In memory of Mike Bisenius, we present an excerpt from the story. Written in his own words, it shows his thoughtful, resourceful approach to teaching. Our deepest sympathy to Mike’s family, friends, students, and colleagues.
Because of a refugee resettlement program in our community, our students are aware of the world outside of North Dakota. A number of my students immigrated here with their families from places like Syria, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Nepal, and Somalia. I ask them about their experiences; it helps to put American history and government into perspective for everyone in the class. At one time, I taught a class for English Language Learners (ELL) only. I tried to get their parents involved—I would tell students, on the first day of class: “Ask your parents to describe what government was like in the country you came from. How did the laws work there?” Many came back to class reporting that their parents fled their countries for religious reasons. For example, students from Nepal or Bhutan explained that their families had been promised religious tolerance by the government, then a new government took over and withdrew that tolerance. Other students’ families had gotten caught in the crossfire of tribal wars, because they belonged to neither side of the conflict.
Mike Bisenius, 2023 North Dakota History Teacher of the Year
Occasionally, if I stepped out of my classroom between periods, a fight would break out. Once I entered the room to find a tiny girl lifting her desk, preparing to hurl it at a boy. She had already thrown her shoes and books at him. I don’t know what he’d said to her, but I knew some of my students had grown up in refugee camps where boys had learned not to respect women. This girl probably had been abused. All the students were yelling, in their own languages, and I had no idea what anyone was saying. So, I began yelling at them in the bit of Norwegian I’d learned from my immigrant grandmother. Suddenly they stopped and looked at me, like, “What are you doing, Mr. Bisenius?” I said, “Well, I got your attention.” I sent the boy to the principal’s office and the girl to an ELL room where there were teachers who knew her well and could help her calm down, and then class began. . . .
. . . I hope students leave my classroom unafraid to ask questions—especially to ask “Why?”—the question I so often ask when they state their opinions. . . . Kids may get frustrated when I ask them “Why?”— but later, they appreciate it. A few years back, my family and I were out eating supper. Although I didn’t see him, a former student saw me in the restaurant and paid for our dinner. I wish I knew who that student was; I would love to thank him.
Seasoned salt is one of those seasoning blends that can be used on almost anything. I usually keep a pint or even quart-size mason jar of this homemade seasoning mix in my spice cabinet. It easily goes in soups and stews, on chicken or beef dishes, and even adds some kick to eggs and breakfast foods.
It’s aptly named because it’s literally a mixture of salt (I use Himalayan salt) and spices. It takes about a minute to make (two minutes if you let a toddler help you). Plus it shortens the time it takes to season recipes since it combines many common spices.
My History With Seasoned Salt
It’s hard for me to even type this now, but in college, Lawry’s Seasoned Salt was the only seasoning I had on hand. I used it to make my ramen noodles palatable (cringe-if that’s even possible) when I cooked them in the microwave (double cringe). There are plenty of ingredients in the grocery store version that I now try to avoid!
Instead of mineral-rich sea salt, these blends are made with table salt. You’ll also find GMO cornstarch and anti-caking agents like tricalcium phosphate. And although some seasoned salt blends boast “no added MSG” on their labels, they’re actually hiding a sneaky secret. Flip it over to read the fine print and it says the product has naturally occurring monosodium glutamate from the mystery “spices.”
Thankfully, my taste buds and meal choices have matured quite a bit. Now I use an upgraded version of store-bought seasoned salt and a wide array of much healthier recipes!
How to Make Seasoned Salt
This salt uses natural flavors from healthy spices, no weird mystery ingredients required! It has a flavor profile similar to taco seasoning but without the cumin. I love the universal flavor that goes with a wide variety of dishes, though you can customize it to your liking.
Instead of regular paprika, try smoked paprika for more of a bacon flavor. Some recipes also call for turmeric which adds a nice yellow color and anti-inflammatory benefits. And if you like it spicy add a little cayenne pepper to the mix.
This recipe really is as simple as dumping and stirring the spices together. It’s a great one to make with little kids since dumping and stirring are their kitchen specialties.
Homemade Seasoned Salt
Today, I’m sharing my homemade version of seasoned salt as a throwback to my poor food choices in college and to celebrate my love of real food today. After all, as Erma Bombeck said,
“Once you get a spice in your home, you have it forever. Women never throw out spices. The Egyptians were buried with their spices. I know which one I’m taking with me when I go.”
Homemade Seasoned Salt Recipe
Homemade seasoned salt combines spices and salt for a versatile and easy to use spice that’s great with almost any dish.
Nutrition Facts
Homemade Seasoned Salt Recipe
Amount Per Serving (0.5 tsp)
Calories 9 Calories from Fat 2
% Daily Value*
Fat 0.2g0%
Saturated Fat 0.04g0%
Polyunsaturated Fat 0.1g
Monounsaturated Fat 0.03g
Sodium 719mg31%
Potassium 49mg1%
Carbohydrates 2g1%
Fiber 1g4%
Sugar 0.1g0%
Protein 0.4g1%
Vitamin A 305IU6%
Vitamin C 1mg1%
Calcium 12mg1%
Iron 0.4mg2%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Adjust the quantities in this recipe up or down to make a larger or smaller amount.
Ways to Use Seasoned Salt
Looking for more ways to use your homemade seasoned salt? It adds great flavor to a variety of meat, veggie, and grain dishes. Here are a few ideas of foods to use it on!
Heard of driving for dollars? Wondering if it’s worth pursuing? We say yes!
But don’t do it all yourself. Instead, build a high-quality team of motivated, dedicated deal finders. You’ll enhance your property sourcing and potentially gain access to leads you won’t find elsewhere.
Where do you find deal finders? It’s easy: They’re already all around your neighborhood. Here, we’ll discuss the benefits and methodologies of recruiting local drivers and scouts to uncover high-potential real estate opportunities in various markets.
1. Building a Team of Deal Finders
Driving for dollars has been around for many years, but in the current real estate climate, some investors consider this strategy controversial, arguing it’s not necessarily very lucrative. And yet, real estate veterans still promote driving for dollars as a great tool for investors, especially beginners. Who’s right, and how do you make driving for dollars work in 2024?
For those new to the concept, “driving for dollars” refers to physically driving around a neighborhood in search of potential leads. The idea is that properties that seem distressed may well have a motivated seller, but these properties may not (yet) be available through traditional channels like the MLS. So, the ideal-case scenario is landing a deal with little to no competition by locating a suitable property and reaching out to the owner directly.
Now, the counterargument many people make is that looking for a great deal among these seemingly suitable properties can be like looking for a needle in a haystack. It’s time-consuming, too. If you’re a busy investor with multiple jobs, for example, you’re unlikely to be able or willing to drive around for hours trying to locate one or two properties that could be good leads. Some investors also argue that finding vacant properties with motivated sellers is tougher now than it was, say, in the post-2008 era, when there were a lot of hastily abandoned homes across the country.
Does this mean that you abandon driving for dollars as a real estate investment strategy? Not at all. You just need to update how you use this strategy.Most importantly, you need to reap the benefits of innovations in real estate tech—andyou need to build a team of deal finders who know what they’re looking for.
Consider this: If you have five to 10 people looking for potential leads for you, your chances of closing on a deal increase exponentially. If those people are equipped with an app that helps them get better at finding quality leads, those chances increase even more.
2. Recruiting the Right Talent
Here’s how you should go about hiring your deal finders—and training and equipping them to succeed.
First: Where do you find your deal finders? It’s actually much easier than you think. With the right approach and ability to incentivize people, you can easily find multiple deal finders in your neighborhood. You can, of course, put an ad on Craigslist or Facebook, or you can attend your local real estate investing social group (these are typically pretty active on Facebook).
But you may not even need to do that. Your best bets often are people who already are driving or walking around your neighborhood regularly: your mail person or local delivery driver. You also might be surprised by how useful your local contractor or property manager can be in finding leads.
These are often perfect matches because, in terms of extra effort, they don’t have to change what they do during the day—they just need to be on the lookout for distressed properties and be able to log them. Getting paid a little extra while already doing their job can be a great motivator, and if they’re interested in real estate investing or you can get them enthusiastic about it, even better.
Enthusiasm and cooperativeness are key when looking for the right talent. You also want to hire people who are comfortable learning new technology and have no problem approaching people, as they may need to contact potential sellers on your behalf. This doesn’t necessarily mean you only hire younger people (no ageism here), but if someone outright says they don’t use their phone that much or that they’re not keen on talking to people, you may want to consider someone else.
And while an interest in real estate investing isn’t necessary, it’s a huge plus. Many people start their own investing journey by becoming deal finders; if your potential deal finder indicates they have an ambition or at least a potential interest in becoming an investor themselves one day, you have the perfect candidate. That’s because they’ll be more involved in the process and willing to learn.
3. Training and Equipping Your Team
Now, even with the best team in the world, you won’t get very far if they don’t know what to look for. Training your deal finders to recognize valuable distressed properties is the first step and essential for them to start bringing you quality leads.
However, some of your deal finders, especially your mail carrier or delivery person, may already be highly experienced in spotting the more subtle signs of a distressed property. Boarded-up windows and unmowed lawns are obvious, but they’ll also be able to recognize other clues, like full mailboxes or a notice placed on a door, which can be less visible.
The next—and crucial—step is to train your team to look up the property’s details online. This is very easy to do with the DealMachine app, which will tell you whether the property you’ve located is vacant or in pre-foreclosure and who the owner is.
This second component is what makes a quality lead. Without this information, your deal finder just found an empty house, but with the key bits of information, they have found you a property that may have a motivated seller. Deal finders who understand how important it is to check every property and mark it off in the app will feel more part of the process and improve their skills over time.
DealMachine’s technology is beneficial to your deal finders in making their job easier and more efficient. But it’s also highly beneficial to you, the investor because you’ll be better able to manage your deal finders and track their performance.
Another useful CRM feature is the ability to create a leaderboard for your deal finders, which increases accountability and incentivizes your deal finders to perform better.
4. Incentivizing and Retaining Top Performers
We all know that the greatest incentives for your deal finders will be the income they earn from getting you high-quality leads. There essentially are two schools of thought on how best to compensate your deal finders. Carefully consider which one you’ll choose.
One approach is to pay your deal finders per lead, regardless of whether it turns into a deal you close on. Real estate investor Aaron Anderson posted on the BiggerPockets forums that he pays all his deal finders $10 per lead, no matter the outcome.
“The reason for this is if you only pay per deal, they will be unsure if they ever will get paid because their payday depends on your performance,” explains Aaron. “If you think you can get away with just paying per deal, you are telling the world that you can’t afford to do this business or are just cheap.”
The other approach is only paying for a lead if you close on it but paying more if that happens (say, $500 per deal). This can work for deal finders who are in less of an immediate need of cash and have a more long-term interest in investing themselves.
However, if you do go down this route, be careful to set out terms from the very beginning, explaining that your deal finder won’t be closing any deals themselves. Doing so would technically make them a wholesaler and could result in them asking you for a fee; in some states, it could also technically mean that they’re involved in brokerage, which can be illegal.
If you draw up a very clear contract that outlines what your deal finder will be doing and when you’ll avoid these issues. It’s always best to have an honest conversation with your deal finders in advance about your expectations and which compensation model would work best for both parties. It’s very important to establish trust and allow your deal finder to feel involved; they’ll stick around longer.
5. Case Studies and Success Stories
When the relationships between you and your deal finders are strong, you will often find that they’ll be taking your driving for dollars business further without you needing to be involved. Aaron Anderson went about building his team of deal finders in a very methodical way, even developing a training manual “that covers what I’m looking for, how to find it, and how to market for it.”
This last part is a huge bonus for a real estate investor: Truly savvy deal finders take on the marketing role as well as the finder role. It can be something as simple as sticking a logo on their car or wearing an attractive branded T-shirt while they’re out and about in the neighborhood.
A strong marketing presence may actuallystart bringing you leads passively, purely by people noticing that there’s a cash buyer in the area. As Aaron is proud to say, “You get 5-10 active scouts looking for deals for you, and you will have more quality leads than you know what to do with.”
And by using DealMachine’s technology, your trained deal finders could find you these quality deals within hours, not days. Just watch real estate investor Quentin Flores close on his first try using DealMachine. Imagine the encouragement a deal finder will feel when they’re able to effortlessly bring you a quality lead.
6. Scaling Your Real Estate Investment Efforts
One question many real estate investors have is: Can I scale my operations by having multiple teams of deal finders working for me remotely? You absolutely can.
That’s where having a robust management system like DealMachine is crucial. You can have multiple teams working in multiple neighborhoods, even if they are out of town or out of state. With DealMachine’s driving tracking and property logging features, it doesn’t matter where your deal finders are located. You’re still able to track their progress and communicate with each team member quickly and efficiently.
In fact, this is an advisable strategy for anyone considering the driving for dollars strategy. Your immediate neighborhood will only land you so many deals. To truly benefit from this concept, you will need to expand geographically.
Remember: You are searching for what some consider to be needles in haystacks. The more haystacks you look in, the better your chances of closing on great deals.
Final Thoughts
Building a dedicated team of well-trained deal finders is your first step to making driving for dollars work for you. But the second and even more important step is managing their work efficiently. A management system like DealMachine’s makes your deal finders’ work easier, but it also makes your work easier. You will know how well your deal finders are performing and be able to motivate them by keeping them engaged with the process.
Ultimately, you can close on those coveted off-market deals faster, thanks to your deal finders’ ability to get in contact with a property owner right away. With the right people and technology, you can reap the rewards of driving for dollars—even in a challenging real estate climate.
This article is presented by DealMachine
DealMachine empowers real estate professionals to discover and invest in off-market properties with ease, offering a comprehensive app that guides you every step of the way. From identifying potential investments to instantly accessing high-quality homeowner data for informed decision-making, we make investing simple and effective. Click to start expanding your portfolio today!
Note By BiggerPockets: These are opinions written by the author and do not necessarily represent the opinions of BiggerPockets.
(RNS) — The White House hosted more than a dozen faith leaders Tuesday (Aug. 13) to discuss President Joe Biden’s climate-related goals and how faith-based organizations can benefit from and support the administration’s climate agenda as the presidential election approaches.
One of the meeting’s top priorities was to explain how faith communities can better utilize federal funds for clean energy initiatives.
Houses of worship are eligible to use Direct Pay, a provision through the Inflation Reduction Act that helps tax-exempt entities benefit from federal clean energy tax incentives by issuing payments equal in value to tax credits. The system is meant to encourage nonprofits and other entities to proactively build clean energy projects. Religious leaders in attendance from across the country shared stories of the different ways their congregations have used Direct Pay, from increasing energy efficiency to preparing for natural disasters.
“The main thrust of the whole meeting was to help us religious leaders understand the initiatives well enough to go back to our various communities and share how they can get on board,” explained the Rev. Betty Holley, a presiding elder in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in the Ohio Conference and professor of environmental ethics at Payne Theological Seminary.
Holley said the event aimed to help faith communities “be good stewards of what God has given us.”
“After the meeting, I was ready to go out with a sign saying ‘follow me to clean energy!’” she said.
Attendees of the White House Faith Leaders Convening on Climate, Clean Energy and Environmental Justice event pose together, Aug. 13, 2024, at the White House in Washington. Taylor-Rae West, far left, and the Rev. Betty Holley, fourth from right, were among those present. (Photo courtesy of Taylor-Rae West)
Environmental technology and clean energy organizations also presented at the event to highlight collaborations with faith-based partners and seek more.
Bekah Estrada, Southern California director of Re-volv, which provides solar financing to community-serving nonprofits, spoke about their partnership with Interfaith Power and Light, an organization that engages faith communities in environmental stewardship and climate action.
Taylor-Rae West, an intern at Reworld Waste and AME Church member, said that Reworld reaches out to churches in local communities when power grids go down due to natural disasters exacerbated by climate change. He described various initiatives begun by churches using funds from Direct Pay, such as energy audits and installation of electric vehicle charging equipment, biomass stoves, solar water heating and other energy efficient upgrades to worship buildings. West said that when natural disasters hit, many people are more comfortable “going to their homes of faith rather than a local community center.”
Another example of Direct Pay utilization included battery storage updates, which allow houses of worship to retain energy even when power grids are hit.
“One group talked about how they became a resilient community church. People could come to them to get their phones recharged, to get their medication stored in a battery-operated refrigerated machine, both of which were one of the church’s projects through this IRA initiative,” Holley said.
Holley believes that the initiative has helped level the playing field for many communities.
“I do know for a fact that renewable energy is the way for the future, and if we — the African American community, Indigenous persons and people of color — do not avail ourselves of this knowledge, energy companies will take advantage of us,” she said.
Holley believes that religious leaders should be a “beacon” for their communities in the environmental movement. If someone’s local church is involved in renewable energy, “that’s half the battle,” and parishioners will follow the church leadership.
“We’re looking toward sustainability. How can we sustain ourselves on earth?” she said. “You know, we all have but one home and one future, and we need to be able to get on board now, before we are forced to do this.”
The White House said that partnerships with faith leaders will continue to be a priority for the Biden-Harris administration.
