Carol Stinson's Journal... From Rags To Riches! Well almost...

Carol,
I really enjoyed seeing you and meeting you. Your presentation really touched my heart and made me determined to be on stage next year. I could feel your emotions and quietly in my chair was joining in to all you were feeling. Keep on and get to that point where you are feeling really free indeed! Thank you!

Tim

Hi, its been for carol,that has had my ears to her stuff on all the posts,with avice,andstuff....well its good to know your out hear,and willing to tell your story. thanks for the e-mailes,your web site.info.and not giving up...thanks again....jjay

My first rehab that I purchased is almost finished and ready to go on the market this week...YEY!!!

I just put an offer in on my second rehab.

Neat story...

This rehab is located next door to my current rehab. It is an REO and much larger than my rehab. I put in an offer on it in March for 110k and was turned down. So I decided to keep an eye on it for a while and continued to rehab mine.
My realtor called me last week and said that the property had been reduced from 135k to 99k.
When I went to put my offer in for 85k the agent said she was not taking offers the property was going to auction.

OH NO IT"S NOT!!!!

I contacted Indiana Joe and asked for his help in tracking down the bank.
He immediately replied with the bank info and a phone number.

Long story short I was able to contact the asset manager for the property, he gave me 24 hours to put in an offer. I put in an offer for 75k (35k lower than my original offer). THE ARV on the property IS 220k.

I find out tomorrow if it was accepted... Keep your fingers crossed

Be Determined to get what you want at all times!!!!! LOL!!!

Carol, this is why I keep coming back to your journal. Your tenacity is astounding and infectious! You are one of my DG heroes and I need you to know that. BTW, I am meeting with the seller of that duplex we discussed later this week. I'll pm you to see if you are interested or have any more nuggets of wisdom to share. Much success to you. Make us proud--er!

Ogal

that is so awesome! thank you for reminding me to

Thanks for an insight into tne life of a new REI. You've been taking a lot of action since day 1 and your experiences are very enlightening. With your determination and willingness to learn as you go..you are bound to reach your goals! Since I'm reading this, sort of after-the-fact, I know how successful you've been and am encouraged to start my own REI adventure. At 82 yrs of age, a widow with lots of debt. no money or credit, needing to work from home..and a newbie with computers as well..I do have a few challenges. But, I'm looking forward to concquering them. Now back to reading your Journal. Can't wit to see what you'll be up to next. U'm not even sure you will get this comment, Semper Fi! D-Lo

D-Lo I wish you the best of luck in all you do! To your success!!!!

During this holiday weekend, I decided to devote time to reading the journals of a few members that have touched me. I read Dean's book in January 2010. I've been PLANNING every since (currently paralized with analysis). Carol, I'm inspired by your determination to succeed but moreso with your openness to share your vulnerabilities. The icing on the cake, is the many messages of encouragement from fellow believers. TOTALLY AWESOME....just like our Father!

This weekend I start the creation of my buyers list and hopefully my own journal.

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts, heart and wisdom with all of us.

Theresa (newbie)

Carol,

Thanks for this great journal! Seeing you now it is so amazing to read how much you really DIDN'T know in the beginning! This is wonderful!

I am going to start mine today! It is my birthday, so I figure what better time to begin?

By the way, love your new pic!

Hugs to you,
Karen

I want to thank you for your kind words. Happy Birthday!!!!

Yes it is true I knew nothing about Real Estate when I started. But I kept reading and learning every chance I got and with 7 children that often meant late at night or in the wee hours of the morning while they were all sleeping.

I am glad you enjoyed my journal. It truly documents every step of my journey. I am glad you are starting yours, I will look forward to reading it.

My best wishes for you

Hi Carol

With everything going on....I started reading your posts from the beginning and see that you had some of the same questions we have now. It's so exciting to see how far you have come since 2008. It gives hope to everyone. Job well done. Keep up the great work!

I can't wait to close my first deal and share the details with everyone.

Geri
NJ

Hi Carol,

I have read and re-read your posts. I'm here to tell you that success really does leave "footprints". You are truly an inspiration to all. Keep doing what you do best...helping and sharing the knowledge that you have gained to help others learn and grow and overcome their fears. It's wonderful to see how far you have come! God Bless you and continued success.

Geri
NJ

Carol,
Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us; I've read your realwholesaling.com website as well-it's chuckfull of great information. All I can say for now is that you totally inspire me!
For the last couple of months I've been quietly reading and 'watching from the fence', too intimidated to make a move, but after reading your journal I feel empowered-I will take action!
many many thanks,
Valerie

I am glad that you got off the fence and decided to join us It is a pleasure to meet you and welcome to the DG family.

Wishing you much Success!

Hi Carol,

The subject line above says it all for me. A hero and role model as a Mom. Obviously to most of the other folk that have participated in your thread.
I'm a little mift at myself for not taking action earlier since I had bought Be a RE Millionaire 3 years ago. However, no sense living in the past. Which brings me to you. As I read your story and watched your Video, I was so taken by the decisions you had to face. As well as the moves that ended up defining you as the Hero/Role model. I know from experience. My Daughter, now 17 had Arachnoidal Cyst which is quite rare so the Drs. here had a hard time diagnosing it. When it got so bad that she started acting like Linda Blair (The Exorcist). We had to go to Portland Oregon to see a specialist. Long Story Short, after 3 procedures she has gotten better but must still be monitored.
This is where I am going. LOL I wish you were running a case study/Questions and Answers on working from home. You speak about it almost in passing that you use the internet and hook interested parties together and collect a finders fee. Please let me know if you have a more detailed journey or thread with the trials and tribulations of the real time events or was it just magic and poof your making $$$. You did qualify this by saying you work with a partner/partners I'm not getting any younger and I know you are working on a similar project with the EDGE if memory serves. Well, I'll thank you in advance for your consideration and directions to finding the information that is not in the book. Real life scenarios.

Blessings to You and Yours,

Daryl Mau

Daryl,

As a mother of 7 I faced more trials and tribulations than I can even write in a thread. I was determined to make this work not for me but for them. In order to do this and succeed I have to rearrange my entire life to make time for Real Estate and still be a mother and wife.

For the first year or so I was seriously FRAZZLED! I was trying to juggle it all at the same time. Making calls while changing diapers and stirring pots for dinner. The kids would start fighting and screaming while I was on the phone with buyers and sometimes the buyers would even hang up on me... no kidding! I tried locking myself in the bathroom a few times to find a quiet spot to make a call only to have a child banging on the door, that was no biggy to explain I simply told the buyer my property was being renovated so please excuse the banking...LOL

I had to recreate myself, meaning I had to change the way I spent my time. I began to organize my time and schedule a time for work and a time for the kids. And as I began making money I began to pay my 16 year old daughter to entertain the little ones long enough for me to make phone calls, MONEY TRULY WORKS WITH TEENAGERS

As I began making money I was also able to purchase some educational toys and games that would keep the children busy and quiet while I worked, I made my computer room a toy room as well and purchased a lap top that I could take out in the yard with me while the children played.

I have also structured my time so that weekends are family time, we go to dinner together, shopping etc... NO CALLS on those days! Well sometimes I sneak a few in... Then Monday through Friday is still sometimes a challenge with school work, guitar practice etc... Is it all exhausting at times? ABSOLUTELY! But if your determined to make a better life for your family you somehow make it all work.

So you see I truly have my challenges as well but as I began to make money and get organized things got easier and more productive. I still talk to buyers or sellers while stirring dinner but I make sure my family comes first even if that means I miss out on a deal... there are always more down the line

As far as my husband goes he just goes with the flow. He supports me in everything I do and goes to every property with me and every real estate event and meeting. Was he always like that... NO! My husband started to believe what I was doing was actually working when he began to see the money come in. He was skeptical at first but once the money started coming in BOY was he supportive!!! LOL

You have to prove to everyone that you are not giving up. That you believe in what you do and are determined to make it work. Some will laugh and mock you but stay persistent because when they see that you are actually making more money then them they will suddenly be supportive

Absolutely speechless. My warmest appreciation for your candid, honest, and felt as though there was a lot of passion in there. So You haven't lost that lovin' feelin.
I'm 57 and time is running short. I married late. 3 children but I only have two arms , two eyes, and two ears. I couldn't even imagine 7.
You now seem to have a calm and peaceful disposition that I feel in your writing opposed to the video where you looked stress and maybe a little cranky LOL!
Well, I'll keep it short for now and Blessings for taking the time to reply to my comment. I now know that you aren't just a Hero/Role-model but a kick butt Super-Hero.
I can also tell that your hubby is very, very, proud of you, not just supportive. As I am proud to have made your acquaintance.

Your Friend,

Daryl

For every adversity you can find an equal or greater benefit Just take the time to look.
W.Clement Stone Author The Power of OPM (other peoples money)

ps: I also have been structuring my time it helps me focus better. I'll be looking through your site tomorrow. Anything in particular you'd advise me to pay attention too?
Blessings and Thanks again

I have been reading your journal comment by comment. You have grown by leaps and bounds. I'm finding most of what I had asked of you right here and it was sitting under my nose the whole time. It takes a great deal of SAND to face a foreclosure and instead of crying and whining you took action. Perhaps one day I will have the Privilege and Honor to meet you in person at a seminar. Will be starting the success academy soon. have a reo list of 102 but need now to work on my buyers list. So Glad You, Elena, and Rina found chemistry from the beginning. Before you even received your book! Now, who would have thunk that? You ladies are the BOMB! Ok, if I seem lost in the space time continuum the last two comments were re: journal entry:Posted on: Tue, 09/30/2008 - 17:28 #39 and entry: Posted on: Sun, 10/19/2008 - 03:49 #45
Not Bad. Not Bad At All

Daryl,

I had just lost my mother a few weeks before I made the video so I still was not quite myself but the video had to be in by a certain date for the contest so I had to do the best I could. I actually lost both of my parents that year which made me want to just climb into a hole and die myself. But I had to keep pressing forward for my children.

As I said I had many trials and tribulations, many of which should have quenched my REI fire.

Thanks for your kind words

Carol, It was a real pleasure meeting you today at Philly's local Edge Event. Hearing on line and seeing on TV are great, but does it really happen to real people? You answered that question for me today. I'm sorry you had to give your card out. I promise I'll only contact you on line. Congratulations on three in college. It's a real trip how fast all that money goes out isn't it? I'm glad you'll be able to put them to work for you. It's nice to have friends in buisnesses you use and need. I wish you all the best of luck in your investing, although I really don't think you need it. Keep up the great work, and please keep up the posts and help. Thanks again and God bless. Johnnym66

I didn't mind giving my card to you, it was when the other 50 people wanted one I got concerned lol But it is all good Maybe I can help one of them become successful and change their life. After all isn't that what it's really all about.... Helping others?

It was a pleasure meeting you as well. Send me that email so we can connect here in Philly. I can always use more hands here in the city.

You give me inspiration to keep fighting the good fight. I have had 8 children, but not all at once. Right now I have the youngest and she is 14. We have been through a toxic 5 years and I have felt at times like giving up. You and others on this web site have kept me fired up and have kept me going as well as my daughter. Thank you for your inspiration and encouragement to keep working the REI. I felt your emotion at Edge 2010 event. I sat only 3 rows back from you on stage. You are doing GREAT!

Tim

I started my REI career on 8/30/10. I am waiting for the signed assignment contracts in the mail from a seller. I have no clue what I am doing and upset my first prospective seller so much that he hung up on me, just because I was trying to act like I knew what I was doing and must have said all the wrong things.

I e-mailed the seller the IEE contract, offer to buy and disclosure statement. I downloaded them from this website, but couldn't change them, so I just e-mailed them as they were. I have no idea, if that is how it's done. Even with the two books that Dean wrote, this website and many other websites I am still totally in the dark of what I have to do.

I am writing the DG family for advice, but they are either too busy to answer or don't know themselves.

I put a **** ad on craigslist and my buyers' list is getting bigger and bigger from that.

I also make offers to sellers online all the time. I just divide the sales price by 3 and then substract that from the sales price to get to a 33% discount. When people get back to me, I do my homework to see, if it' s a good deal.

I don't have any fear and I love to take action, I just wished that it wasn't like pulling teeth to get the info I need on how to do assignments. Since nobody is answering my questions, I just take my best guess.

So right now it's like a Pinyata. I am blindfolded and trying to get to the candy.

I know I will be successful, it' s just a shame that even though Dean and all of his successful students already learned by trial and error, and I still have to figure it out by myself.

I wished I knew someone who has done assignments and would answer my questions.

Once I figure this out, I will have a website that is for all beginners that dont have any money. I will charge a monthly membership fee of $3 and answer each and every question. It will be my legacy to help others to get out of their slump.

I will keep digging and I will hit water, it' s just a matter of time.

My husband thinks it's all a scam and that it will never work. People laugh, when I tell them that I will be a multi-millionaire. I believe that if people dont laugh at your dreams then you are not dreaming big enough.

I came to this country as an illegal immigrant with $5 in my pocket in 2004, I am determined to live the American Dream!

My daughter Katya is 3 and I will do everything in my power to secure her financial future.

I wish each and everyone a fantastic journey. I am not scared and I do not fear, because I love challenges. It' s more a thrill than fear that I feel.

God bless you all,

Anja

Hi Carol, John Mahoney(johnnym66) here. I just had to tell you that I've just joined The Success Academy! I just finished posting in my journal, but I can't stop reveling in it. Oh, before I get too far, I'd really like to say what an honor it was to meet you Saturday. You're an inspiration and a real class act. You handled that man that demanded your phone number extremely well, and as promised I'll only contact you here and not by phone. I still haven't been able to find where you explained how to get in touch with the cash buyers in the SFL system, and I'm more determined than ever now, seein' as how I'm the 4th family member in college now. Sorry, it just hit me again. My computer skills are stil pretty,no,very lame,but that'll change over time. I really want to wish you all the best and please keep the info rolling in. Thanks again, johnnm66.

Hello DGers,

I am new at real estate and shaking in my boots.

My finances are in pretty bad shape. I live from paycheck to
paycheck. It would be a miracle to use this vehicle to turn
my situation around.

I am reading the book. Profits in Real Estate.

I have been collecting addresses from properties low on up keep.
I am eager yet fighting so much doubt.

I am learning a great deal from the site and the comments.

Hello DGers,

I am new at real estate and shaking in my boots.

My finances are in pretty bad shape. I live from paycheck to
paycheck. It would be a miracle to use this vehicle to turn
my situation around.

I am reading the book. Profits in Real Estate.

I have been collecting addresses from properties low on up keep.
I am eager yet fighting so much doubt.

I am learning a great deal from the site and the comments.

I am a newbie, and I am trying to find out how to down
load the book by Dean to my mp3 player or laptop.

If anyone know how than your help would be greatly appricated.

Kjnnn

I have a couple of properties that are vacant and I was wonder what the website is that you can go online and find the owner name and phone # so
I can give them a call to see if they would like to sell or what there plans on for the property.

I live in Tucson, AZ and I know I need the Pima County site but which one--Iam looking for the one where you put in the address and all the info come up.
Thanks for you help

Diana in Tucson

I'm from central nj and I've read a few articles on your website and I have a question about the type of agreement used between the buyer of the shadow inventory & the wholesaler. I've found 3 properties on my jogging route with stickers in the window just sitting there. I'll definitely be calling the finance company soon but want to make sure I do the right thing to get paid. Thanks for giving so much to us all!

As I approach 2013 I am reflecting at all that I have accomplished over the past years so I went back to this journal. As I read through my journal I had to chuckle at a few of the questions that I asked and posts that I wrote. I was so wet behind the ears and truly had no clue what the heck I was doing...lol

But I pushed and I pushed and I was determined to make it happen! If you read my posts in this journal you will see that I was just like many of you, new and scared.

Reading this journal and seeing where I come from and where I am now has encouraged me that... YES IT CAN BE DONE!

If I can do it so can you! GO ROCK IT IN 2013!!!!