I read recently that more than $2 billion is spent annually in the US on real estate investment education. With so many people willing to pay big bucks to learn about real estate investment, I am embolden every now and then to slip my real estate investment software into the rotation of free real estate investment information this site provides.
It seems like a fair tradeoff: hours of free real estate investment information for an occasional 2-minute plug about real estate investment software. (Hey, it sounds like television).
This segment lets you in on how it all started.
ProAPOD: The Untold Story
In 1996 I determined to build my real estate business with multifamily properties and purchased a real estate investment software program for $350. It was magical. The idea that calculations and reports needed for multifamily presentations generated automatically simply amazed me; though it was not aesthetically pleasing or an easy software program to use.
Without a point of reference, however, and given we were all still learning about computers, the fact I needed to call the developer about 10 times that first day (and numerous times after) didn’t set off any alarms; it seemed normal to struggle with software. Of course looking back, it’s like having confronted a dinosaur and living to tell about it. Though, oddly, that particular real estate software is still being sold (at a higher price) and seemingly hasn’t changed a macro-pixel.
In 1999 I purchased my second real estate investment software for just under $500. Head and shoulders above that first program, the problem was that it was overloaded with stuff beyond multi-family analysis while lacking more of what should have been included. As a result, one year later I developed my own Excel-based spreadsheet by gleaning from the best of both programs; and then added what I deemed important. ProAPOD was conceived, but not yet a glimmer in my eye.
It wasn’t until other real estate agents begin asking to obtain my spreadsheet that I considered the idea of converting it into true real estate investment software. Six long and grueling months later ProAPOD Real Estate Investment Software was born and, as they say, the rest is history.
Over the past six years, I am delighted to say, my real estate investment software has become a major player in a very competitive software market. Foremost, because ProAPOD (as originally intended) is easy to use and does provide all essentials required for cash flow, rate of return, and profitability analysis on rental income property. It came to national attention in May 2003 when REALTOR®Magazine featured it as a “Cool Tool,” and since has become the real estate investment software of choice for real estate agents and investors nationwide.
I am also glad to say that no one has ever demanded their money back (an unfounded fear when ProAPOD’s first copy sold), and ProAPOD real estate investment software continues to remain a bargain. Or as one user said, “ProAPOD is the best and most affordable software of its kind on the market today.”
Good words about real estate investment software that all the while, throughout those late nights and early mornings in development, was meant to be good.
