Rina's DAILY JOURNAL: Chapter One - The Beginning

Good to see you back! Hope all is well. Glad to see you're still in the game! And yes, thanks to everyone here, it feels good to have that fear behind me! Thank you for the good reminder. I should not take that for granted.
next live event will be the REI event of the year for all those who can attend. Being at the EDGE and meeting Dean and all the DG members who've been my inspiration was the highlight of my REI career so far. I think even more so than the money I've made, because you can always add more of that. How often is there the chance to be with all your REI heroes at once, right?? Hope to meet you there!!

And I think creating the EDGE kit was one of the most helpful things Dean has done. I hope to hear great success stories from each who dove in to get one.

Best wishes to you and thanks for stopping in. I'll run and check out your journal.

Rina

Taking Rina's advise so if I ramble on please excuse me. Ok, So I started this whole process in April and am just now getting going. Spend 50-60 hours at full-time job. Formed my real estate company, have my mortgage broker, incorporated, joined academy, purchased get the edge, study, study, study and now are out looking for property. Have my first two buyers and will make my first deal this month. I know things are moving forward but I sure wish it would move faster. I have no cash and fair credit and for me to be doing this little bit is AMAZING! To all you slow starters just keep moving forward.

Hi Rina .. My name is Dino , from Kansas City

Hope everything going well for you , i have been reading all your posts and i really love your spirit and everything you doing for the DG family .

I am just starting in the real estate investing life, i do have some ques of course just like everybody just getting there feet wet in RE.

Whats the easiest way to find pre foreclosures?? any websites you advise with ?

I am currently using BidSelect.com to find my deals, any other websites you actually recommend ?

i really hope to hear from you soon ,

Thanks

Dino

Hi Rina .. My name is Dino , from Kansas City

Hope everything going well for you , i have been reading all your posts and i really love your spirit and everything you doing for the DG family .

I am just starting in the real estate investing life, i do have some ques of course just like everybody just getting there feet wet in RE.

Whats the easiest way to find pre foreclosures?? any websites you advise with ?

I am currently using BidSelect.com to find my deals, any other websites you actually recommend ?

i really hope to hear from you soon ,

Thanks

Dino

One reason I like threads like this is you can "go back in time" and see what others were doing as they were getting started with this. Although Mr.CBRpower over there had this on lock down since 2005, lol.

Anyways I'm going to try and spend more time on this site as it's a goldmine of knowledge and the DG family is quite an awesome one to be a part of and very helpful to say the least.
As far as foreclosure sites, an hour or so on google will net you so many different sites you'll be swimming in them and one thing I highly recommend with listing sites is this...
Even if the house you look up is sold already dont forget to ask that bank (or agent) if they have anything else available which 9 times out of 10 they'll be loaded with other properties not currently listed on the web sites.
Best regards,

CAM-

WOW!! Congratulations on taking action!! Sounds like you're really putting your heart into it! THAT is what will keep you on the road to success! Great job!

And thank you for the great advice to the newbies: "To all you slow starters just keep moving forward." So, SO, true.

God bless,

Rina

Hey, thanks for the kind words and congrats on getting started! (I drive past Kansas City quite a bit, on my way to see my girls in Tulsa. I'll wave "hi" next week! )

As far as preforeclosures, CAM had some great suggestions (thanks, CAM!).
Also, depending on your state and it's foreclosure process, your first "signal" might be within your local paper, or at the county courthouse. I know for me, I keep a close watch on the local paper, where the "WI legals" are posted. This is the best way I know of to catch the foreclosures before they go to sale. There are also "listed" properties that are actually preforeclosures trying to sell as a short-sale in one last attempt before losing their home. But one thing I have found in our area is that people often are in denial or just BELIEVE with their whole heart that SOMETHING will work out, and end up going all the way to LOSING(or NEARLY losing) their home before they will consider selling. It's very sad, but that is why I usually wait until farther in the process (or even after) to go for these properties. That may not be true in other areas, though, just my experience (or my perception?).
Dean has the Automated Foreclosure Finder (AFF), too, that might be really worth you checking out. I think there might be a free trial period?
Anyway, lots of resources.. Often word-of=mouth, too, if you get your network going. Just tell everyone you know what you're looking for!

Hope that helps.

Wishing you all the best in your REI!

Rina

Thanks for jumping in!
Yes, I sure agree.. Looking back is quite amazing. And a goldmine of knowledge this site really is!

You know, over the year it's been really cool to watch so many people come on here; just starting.. lacking confidence.. (myself and all the other "top users" included), and see where everyone has come. You know something I've noticed? It's generally the people that come in with a positive attitude that really make it.
Interesting, huh? They can start out with absolutely NOTHING else, and still make it to success. Then you have the opposites. You can pretty much pick up on a person's view of life within the first few posts they make, and when you see those negative people come in, I feel bad because I think "You're right.. It's NOT going to work for you.." They pretty much already made that decision. Not that Dean's programs can't work. They have just convinced themselves it can't. And there's no way to force them to believe otherwise, either. Sad. So much potential thrown away. If only I could sit them down in front of me and look into their eyes and let them know they are cheating themselves and how much more they're worth... Impossible to do in here, though. sigh..

Well, thanks again CAM, and here's wishing you much success!!!

Rina

Goodness are you ever right, Rina. Last evening I came back online after a few days away and found a couple of negative forums or comments. I responded in the positive to those and then wrote in my journal about some of the negativity I've seen lately on the site (just a tiny bit thank goodness, which is always going to happen in a group setting).

I've become much more aware of negativity lately. This morning while waiting for the train to go to work I heard a woman saying many negative things about her job. Another day on the train I sat behind two older gentleman, clearly friends, who sat trading negative stories and making negative comments about what one of them was reading in the newspaper.

It makes me sad for several reasons. For one, constant negativity means the person is hurting in some way. And, being constantly negative limits them and invites more negativeity into their lives. When left unchecked it becomes a vicious cycle just feeding on more negativity.

I have a lot of favorite sayings and this one fits (at the moment I can't remember who said it)--I'm sure I'm paraphrasing it but here it goes,

"Whether you think you can or you can't, you are right."

In closing, it takes a committment and time to be a participant on this site and your participation, Rina, help and guidance goes above and beyond. You and a core group of others on the site are true gems. You are all appreciated.

So I hope you and everyone else who may read this have a wonderful, successful and fun day and week!
Nancy D.

It's like picking up the phone before it rings and finding out it's the person you were about to call! I just made the previous post above to your site when I next saw someone had responded on my journal. That person was you! And the topic was the same as I just wrote about here. We must be on the same wavelength today!

Thank you so much, Rina!
Nancy

LOL. I was just reading YOUR journal and left a note in yours!
Thanks for the encouraging and kind words. If everyone could adopt your attitude, the world might be a better place! Like Dean says, a lot of people would rather drag you back down in the pit than try to get out with you.
Thanks again Nancy, and have a blessed day!!

Rina

Hey Rina , Thanks For your super fast response , That was great , and very useful info.

hmmm... where did I leave off?

Well, life continues to be exciting. Just got back from a week and a half-long trip visiting family and friends in 5 different states. It was awesome. Am really enjoying getting to know some of the DG family better and looking forward to a trip out west that will be coming up soon.

~Have an interested buyer looking for a house in a particular township. We are going to look at a great prospect I know of together this week.
~In the process still of buying the 2 FSBOs. Got the appraisal on one last week. That will help me with leverage at the bank and determining how much to divide the $70K purchase price into each property.
~Posted a "for rent" ad on Craigslist. Have a few prospects lined up.
~Got a voicemail from my realtor of a gentleman looking for a place.
~Signed an offer to purchase yesterday on the sale of a property.

Daughter started college this week.
I bought a new laptop (finally!)
Got connected to Skype. Excitedly answered the first call not remembering I was just about to jump into the shower. yeah, embarrassing...
Looking forward to making a ton of plum jam this week (the tree is loaded).
Been working out a bit, so feeling pretty good, ready to take on the world.
Looking forward to the great REI deals I know are coming this month/this winter!
Catching up on posts and PMs.

Wishing all an awesome week,

Rina

Glad your back in the thick of it, I missed your posts

Cathy

I'm looking forward to the REI meeting next month. We might have a few of the guys from down there going too.

How are things going for you?

Rina

Hey Rina.... Welcome back! I'm sure I speak for everyone when I say we missed ya!

You definately deserved a great vacation and it sounds like it went well.

I know I need to find a way to take one as well...

Have a great week!

Good to see you too! It's always nice to be amongst DG family. Especially when one's own is so far away.
Yes, when are you going to take your vacation?? Let's see, you've got about 3 months before the tax season rolls around (Is that like a swear word to CPAs?? lol). Well, it won't be long and you'll be successful enough in REI you can take a vacation whenever you feel like it.

you have a great week, too!

Rina

Hi Rina, Things are going well, I'm making offers trying to get something going. My bro-in-law who was going to partner with me backed out, cuz he felt it was too much on his plate,(he recently cashed out of market and was looking for investment)so, today I pitched him the idea that he could still get a good return on his money by being my hard money lender. He is open to it and we are discussing terms. Very promising. My youngest is off to kindergarten this year, so I will have more daytime hours for Real Estate. I'm looking forward to seeing/meeting you on the 6th, Are we meeting for cocktails?

Cathy

Sooooooo glad to have you back!!! (I'll bet Jon is happy too!)

Dawn

Sounds like a great prospect with your brother. It really takes a load off when you have access to funding for your deals with someone you trust.
And congrats on your baby starting school (I remember the feeling. ). Uninterrupted time is great and will definitely be an asset.

Very much looking forward to meeting you, too. And I do believe I owe you dinner. Do you know of a good restaurant in the vicinity of the REI Club meeting? Or pick your favorite and we'll head over from there.

Rina

Thank youuuuu!
Yep, he's happy. Me too.
Oh, btw, I did go right past WI Dells (and Portage) on my way back, but I didn't think you'd want visitors at 2am?

Love ya,

Rina

9/11 Hmmm... Let's not forget how blessed we still are as a country. And to appreciate and not take our freedom for granted.

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Well, today I finally draw up the purchase agreements for the 2 FSBOs. After getting the appraisal back last week on the first one, I have decided how I want to structure this. First house will be bought for $50K, second one $20K. The seller is letting me pick up the keys for both today so I can start showing them. I have 3 prospects lined up from my Craigslist ad for the first one, showing it today. Once I have a lease in hand for $750mo(expecting to have that by this weekend), I will take the paperwork to the bank to get financing outright on that property. The second house needs a little work and will be worth about triple after minimal repairs, SO I have a private money lender lined up for the cash to buy outright, fix it up, rent it out for $700-$750mo. Then I'll refinance to pull the money out to repay my private money lender and the $10K down on the first house (which will be in a promissory note to the seller). The seller has been amazing and is making this so easy. It really pays to watch for those little FSBO signs.

Well, got to go pick a bunch of plums (our tree is loaded. Making jam) and do some housecleaning before I head to town. Hope all the DG family has an awesome day!

Rina

Welcome back safe and sound. Congrats on your daughter starting college, hence the reason for the millions. You know how college expenses suddenly begin to escalate. Great job putting in the offers on the two FSBO properties. My Baltimore project is still in the making, I will inform you when everything is completed. As always, you know I appreciate the support and encouragement you have and continue to provide. God Bless.

Sandra

Yum that sounds really good. This is off the REI track but how do you make it? Plum trees grow well in mn/wi? Have a nice weekend.

Cathy

Hi Rina. my name is Rick, I relly enjoy your posts, and need jump start. Iv'e been trying to get the replay of the Aug conference call, but the only one I see is July. Can you help me find it? Also, I have'nt been getting very many emails from Dean, is there something else I need to do to get them? Thank you for your time, Rick

Hey Rick...

I asked the same questions about emails from Dean, but ever since the Blitzkrieg, there hasn't been that many as of late.

I think the last conference call was the Blitzkrieg to be perfectly honest, but not exactly for sure.....

Rina, do I have my ducks in order or am I way off base?

Thank you for the kinds words.
Bomber (Robert ) is right. I believe the last conference call was in July. But there are dozens more in the archives. If you want to listen to some great stuff, go back through. Every conference call Dean has done has been fantastic!

As far as e-mails, the last one I saw was "Christmas in September", last week. Did you get that one? Otherwise, yep, there haven't been quite as many as during the Blitz, BUT be watching because you never know when Dean is coming up with something out-of-this world, and there's always that lull before.....then - BAM!! He shakes it up again.
Also, make sure you watch his blogs every week. He hasn't missed a week since he started them, almost a year now! Wow, time flies!

Rina

thats what i thought, i have just recently went through all the video bogs, wow, so i'm up to date with those. how do i go to other conference calls? also, is there a phone # to call to ask questions on the weekends?, or is this the best way. oh yea, why do these posts start out at the begining? can u see the latest 1st?

To get to the conference calls archive go to "More DG Resources" on the left side of the Home page (or you can probably even see it now), then click on More DG Resources at the bottom, then "Dean Graziosi Conference Calls". That will bring you to all the previous calls.

I don't know about a phone number.. Who is it you're wanting to contact?

As far as the posts, yeah, they all start from the oldest and you have to go to the end to see the most recent. Not sure if they'll change that in the future or not. Sorry.

Hope that helps some, and hope you're having a great weekend!

Rina

P.S. Thanks Bomber for helping out!

Well, I just have to shake my head.. All this time I've been trying to round up local investors to "share" some deals with. With very little success (been giving the deals to out-of-state investors). Then today I go and put a little comment in my Facebook status, and Voila! THREE different local friends I have known for years send me messages that they buy properties, too (I'm sure they had told me at SOME point in the past), and asked what I have? HAHAHA. Was I that blind?? Or maybe it was what I said. lol
I guess offering to "assign" a property does not sound as appealing as offering to sell one of mine that is already cash-flowing. Finding a renter makes that much difference?? Well, OK then. Here we go with another strategy. lol
Gotta love REI!

Here was my comment:
Lorina Krisak: is off to do a little painting and deposit some rent checks in the bank. Anybody interested in purchasing a cash-flow property? Thinking of cashing out on a couple. (Nothing like buying a pre-made money-maker, with equity to boot!)

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9-14-09

It was really warm today. Upper 80s. VERY unusual for Northern WI. Loved it!

Showed the newest house to three more prospective renters today. Got 3 more applications. Showing one more time tomorrow and then I will pick the winner. Then take the lease to the bank, close on both properties and start again.

Went to see a FSBO today. Nice, nice older gentleman. Really wants to sell. His little dog spent the whole time in my lap as we talked. As I walked out the door after our visit and said I'd be in touch, he called out "Please come back again and buy my nice house".
I'm sure I'll go back one way or the other.

Hmm... 5:00am comes early. Should probably go to bed.

Rina