Sonia Hodgin and Formulaic Inc. Teach Clients 300 Ways to Succeed in Real Estate
Do a quick Google search for how the rich recommend anyone build wealth, and you’ll see “real estate investment” mentioned often. While that is not a new idea, what Sonia Hodgin, the founder of Formulaic Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona, teaches is: 300 formulas. Her revolutionary approach to how properties are traded means bigger profits for her clients, and as her seminars fill up each year, it’s clear the public is taking notice.
“It’s a simple concept,” Sonia Hodgin states. “Conduct the transaction yourself. It intimidates some people because of all the rules and regulations the industry is infamous for. What I’ve done to overcome that is to create 300 formulas that help people succeed at trading their own properties. Once my clients realize that they really can handle their own portfolios, a light goes on. They see that their ability to generate their own income has just gone up considerably.”
To get people started on building more real estate wealth for themselves, Sonia Hodgin structured Formulaic Inc. around four services. The first is a mentorship program. “When they first consider bypassing an agent, that can feel intimidating to them. I sit down with them and go through their portfolio and show them how to change their formulas. It’s really practical advice that they can turn to for excellent results. I like to tell them that there is no such thing as bad real estate, just a bad investor. They are excited to see that becoming a good investor is actually easier that they originally thought.”
For people who need a broader understanding of real estate investments, Sonia Hodgin offers Formulaic 300, a yearly three-day seminar through Formulaic Inc. in Scottsdale, Arizona. “I show them how to invest, do their first transactions, and trade in a forum. I also show attendees how to take a bad debt and change it into a passive asset to cash flow. People finish the seminar confident that they have the knowledge and ability to enter the real estate market. They also understand that they don’t need money to buy real estate – they just need to know the right formulas to use. There are over 300 formulas that can help them up their basis.”
A highly successful service has been Formulaic Circle, the company’s Wine and Dine Trading Circle and an invitation-only event in Scottsdale, Arizona. “Personally, I love going to these because it’s exciting to be around such like-minded people,” Sonia Hodgin says. “Once a month, twelve accredited investors from around the world meet to learn how to truly do a 1031 exchange. The investor/attendee may have a $1 million property; by selling the property on their own with the 1031 exchange formula, they can defer an average of 38% taxation. On top of that, they save on the commission, which can be up to 10% in commercial and up to 14% in real estate in a two-way transaction (selling and buying). That $170,000 remains with the investor.” On any given night, Sonia Hodgin states that there are on average $38,000,000 in transactions. There is no fee for the attendee, as she is there as an investor. “I do not mentor anyone at these events. My attendees show up knowing what to do. They have to be savvy.”
She also started a trading forum, www.formulaicinc300.com. The forum was created in San Francisco by a well-known software guru, Ed Wong. It is for paid members only, and they must pay $10,000/year. Sonia Hodgin explains that they get to trade as many investments as they want with like-minded, accredited investors. “Once again, there are no real estate agents, brokers, third party involvement, or transaction fees. With one transaction, members have a return investment instantly and beyond.” She pauses, then smiles. “I was recently offered $50,000,000 for the forum, but I turned them down.”
Her ability to walk away from such a sizable offer means that Sonia Hodgin is good at forecasting where her company is going. “I can see a strong future for Formulaic Inc.,” she says. “I think I’m just getting started. My company has unlimited potential. People will always buy and sell real estate, and I think they will be interested in learning how to conduct transactions on their own because everyone likes to make a higher profit, especially with 300 formulas.”
While Sonia Hodgin is included in that group, she also has a vibrant life away from the office. “I do turn it off,” she states. “I like to spend a lot of time with my son, my daughter-in-law, and my grandchildren. I love to travel to exotic and glorious places, including out of the country. I love doing things in the water and in nature, like white water rafting. Being outside in the mountains with the trees and such clear water is the best escape and gives me the ability to recharge. People are incredibly important to me, and I always put my family and friends first.”
“People first” is Sona Hodgin’s mantra. “Business would be soulless if it was just about money for me,” she says. “As an entrepreneur, I will never deny the satisfaction I get from watching my business grow. But if that’s what it was all about, I would have quit a long time ago. For me, it’s about the people. With Formulaic Inc., I help my clients understand that they can understand and do far more than they thought they could. They can be their own agents and change their own lives by having financial stability. Nothing is more satisfying than that.”