hi I am fairly new to this however i believe i have done all the steps that dean talks about on his books. however i dont seem to be able to find a investor friendly Real Estate Agent. i did the cold calling with RE offices, i even put up a few ads on Craigslist. they all sound great in beginning but as soon as i mention 25-50 offers a month, one purchases, i even walk them through the fact that i will do all the hard work of research, i get the same responds:
"SO ARE YOU OFFERING BELOW 80% OF ASKING PRICE?"
AND then boom they drop like fly and act as i am crazy of something.
Any way I know there are friendly Real estate agents but how can i find one who understand how we work?
I would appropriate all help i can get
Thanks
Kathy
Kathy M.
I read the posts and I want to encourage a couple things. Haven't checked what area you are from, but the REI CLUB, is more than worth it. There you will meet investors, attorneys, quite a few agents, people who do rehabs, contractors, mortgage brokers,title searches, PML people and then you meet other women who may be new also. This is so important.
Our REI started a WINGS group, just for women. We meet once a month about 40 of us, and we have lunch at the title company, where several of the women work and this is their lunch hour.
Put out an ad, asking for other women investors. Don't be shy to ask.
I have two excellent agents and just met another. One if from Keller wms, and the one from Shorewest, is so nice.
When you get an agent, they are to work and represent you. They are not representing the seller. This is where you must use good judgement on the agent. Find one that will work with you, and are not representing the seller. This will help you get established. My agent gives me good tips when we walk through and when I want to write up an offer.
I called about a property in foreclosure with United Country. And came right out and said, I need something to flip that will be around 50% on the dollar.
On Thursday we are looking at 4 of them. THIS is a new agent for me. These are foreclosures, and I find those agents are more willing to move that property faster, not caring about my offer.
So don't give up.
And put out ads looking for a distressed home or motivated sellers. If the seller calls you, they already know you are looking for something cheap and can bring a win win for both of you.
Let them know you want a situation that will help them, and give you reason to want the property. Advertise to bird dog on CL for investors, I did and rec'd calls not just for bird dogging but others who are interested in learning about investing. Ads can be free, in a store, on CL or just pass out business cards. And don't be afraid to step out of your area.
Good luck and remember, just be upfront with everyone. But don't make it sound to someone who calls you about their home that you haven't done anything. If nothing else, tell them that you work with a few other people and if it doesn't work for you, that you can ask the others if they are interested.
Sandi
I have had my share of challenges, not of anyone's doing, but my own foolishness that has created bearers to my success. I have after that contacted two real estate agents, the first, I chose to drop because he was not as vigilant as my real estate agent I have now (Elix). Since I met Elix by being on this site, he has been very forthcoming in his advice to me about investments and the road-map for their achievements. He informed me about the changes that is evidence in order to make my success in this business a reality. Elix does not mix words in telling you what is necessary on your part. Like it or not, he will tell you. It is only when someone is honest enough to let you know the time of day and you are resilient enough in accepting the wisdom and knowledge that is shared, will success be derived. When everything is said and done, I will relate my entire ordeal for encouragement. Remember, we learn from our mistakes and those of others. Kathy, the dawn of each new day brings new opportunities, embrace it. Leave the past in the past in order that the future will be what it is, the future;that is, success to you. You just have to meet the right real estate agent and everything else will fall in place. Change you thoughts and believe that REI for you, will happen. Stay positive, welcome to the DG family. God Bless.
Sandra
"You can never get to the top, if you are not willing to climb. Do not look at the difficulty of the climb, only anticipate the view from the top."
"Can't even walk without you holding my hand." (Song)
"Is anything too hard for the Lord ..." Genesis 19:14
"In all things, wait on the Lord."
"Think not of your own deliverance, but trust in God who will give in abundance."
"When you are down to nothing, God is up to something." Unknown
"Our lives begin to end, the day we become silent about those things that really matters." Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Thanks Sandi, I appropriate your great feedback.
Thanks again
Kathy M.
I now get that you have to adjust your offer to what the market you are working in is doing. But at what point do you walk away from deals because there isn't enough profit? All the agents I have talked to said that the average profit is around 7% now where I am.
Glad to hear you made some really great connections at your REI Club, Kathy...I've joined 2 myself recently.
I was wondering what "WINGS" stands for...It's awe inspiring to have met up with all of those women REIs!
Thanks for sharing your experiences in your buyer's agent search. Persistence pays off.
Happy Prospering! ~Kat, Liberty Residential Investment Acquisitions
• "To every thing there is a season, & a time to every purpose..." ~Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
• "Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy!" ~Dale Carnegie
• "Begin, be bold, and venture to be wise." ~Horace
• "Never, never, never give up." ~Winston Churchill
• "Whatever you do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius and power and magic in it." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Thanks for sharing your experience. Just remember to stay determined. Everyone's journey is different, but one common thread of the successful is not being willing to give up.
There will be people who will be unable and/or unwilling to help you (even when you get further along this will still be the case). But, I don't care if it's other investors, family, friends, or even an agent, don't let anyone discourage you from achieving what you want.
I am always hesitant about listening too much to people who only seem to tell people why something ISN'T working. If they can't or won't give me input as to how it CAN work, then I limit or eliminate my time around them.
Remember, people have done things throughout history that others said couldn't be done... until they did it.
See you at the top,
Stephan Roberts
"In absence of clearly defined goals, we become strangely loyal to performing daily acts of trivia!"
Here is a FREE property analyzer I've found:
https://tvallc.infusionsoft.com/go/RehabLite/sroberts/
It's a great tool to use to help analyze your deals (and did I mention it's FREE)! But, you really should spend the $97 and get the full premium edition! IT'S AWESOME!!
OK, folks. I don't see too many posts here as to people actually hiring the agent, and that is what Dean talks about. If you don't offer to cut the realtor in (sign a buyer's representation agreement with him), and he is representing the seller, he has the seller's best interest at heart.
Also, you don't have to have a buyer's agent representing you. If you're wanting to present low ball offers to sellers and not pay a buyers agent then do so. Write up a contract like the one Dean has and present it to the seller's agent, yourself.
Yes, buyer's agents have to present all offers to sellers, but if you haven't hired them, you're not presenting earnest money with your offer and your offer is extremely low, it's kinda' hard for us agents to take you seriously. Most of us realtors have paying customers, including investors with real cash. If you're sitting there with no cash, a contract that is not a standard one, and you're not paying for the agent's time, you don't look so good.
I deal with investors every day, including today. Most investors have cash, and they can write a check for the property, like Dean, and I know they have money. Most will show me their bank statements and even tell me how much their earning (with their business, other investments, etc) without me asking.
Dean and other gurus teach techniques that work with really motivated, distressed sellers, but a lot of times when people get to that position, they've already visited with a broker or realtor who has cash buyers in their pocket, and people that aren't cash buyers like most of the posters here are harder to take serious.
I don't want to rain on everyone's parades here, but I'm sitting in my office right at this moment. If a distressed seller walks through my door, I'll pick up and sell his house in less than a day to any number of local investors. There's no need for a bird dog, wholesaler or middleman other than myself.
I know it's not necessary, but if investors really want to be taken seriously, they need to have cash, or they need to be agents or brokers.
Why does everyone here think they need agents, if they are trying to act like agents themselves? If you want to act like an agent, get the training and license. It's not like you're having to get a master's degree or PhD.
...climbing down off my high horse and getting back to work, now.
"Rick in Amarillo," Realtor
Rick Allison, Realtor
Amarillo, Texas USA
Find comps, private lenders and cash buyers nationwide: www.TheRealEstate.PRO
Foreclosure and pre-foreclosure search engine: http://tinyurl.com/b6w7h6o
The People Helping People Movement: www.greatEPXsite.NET
I can understand your argument. I especially zoomed in on "they need to have cash, or they need to be agents or brokers". Those of us struggling to get this off the ground need some suggestions. I don't know how those of us who want to get done their first deal but can't seem to -close the gap to become one of the investors who have the cash. That's why we've found our way into real estate-we need a new start for various reasons. If I had cash I wouldn't be wholesaling in the first place. I sunk too much cash(the credit card interest is killing me) into the SA and frankly am not interested in plunking down more to go to real estate agent school. What do we do? CL, driving around, signs, REI club is not turning up deals. I want to be one of the investors who will take one of your new listings cash-but I don't know how to get there. It feels like a shell game at times. You chase the 25-1 method or spend a lot of time cold calling people but never get anywhere. I have a list of buyers I (in good faith) promised to find deals. I feel so guilty that I haven't produced anything. I got the message from my "investor friendly" realtors that I was a bum and stopped contacting them. I am an honest, broke,getting rapidly discouraged person who needs a solid direction to go in because I feel like I'm chasing the wind.
How about working with thorn from this network, that way there isn't a lot to explain.
Best Regards,
Anita
(Licensed Realtor-Military Vet-9/11Vet)
****
A self-directed realization for 2014 is to:
Live life as if always on vacation and have all the good health, time, & wealth to enjoy it.
Work, only when and IF desired. Helping others do the same. It Pay$ To Connect!
Always In Gratitude.....
Kim:
I wouldn't go on a guilt trip over this if I were you. I've never done a deal for myself, either, and I work with investors every week. Like I said, they're the ones with the money, not me. I know I'll get there, though. Hell, I'm a renter! I can't even get a VA guaranteed loan with their great terms.
I've also taken probably every guru's course out there over the last 25 years, and I've never found a program that actually works FOR MOST PEOPLE MOST OF THE TIME. I'm going to one of Dean's seminars here in town this evening, but I'm not going there to listen as much as I am to meet people...prospective clients. It's a free marketing opportunity.
The attitude I've taken is to just start trying to build some business credit, so I can purchase a house with by business credit when someone comes through the door of my office and then flip it. Also, I would then have money to solicit distressed sellers, but I don't think that works so well here, because there are so few in my market, and so many people like us are competing for them. I'd want to buy elsewhere, like Dean does, where he doesn't live. I'm sure he buys all over the country.
Also, as far as my family's personal housing needs are concerned, I would like to find some private money with veterans terms until such time as I can get a veterans guaranteed loan. But, most investors and private money lenders aren't willing to provide their money on veterans terms, because their trying to make money. I know many local millionaires. They charge 12% interest on a loan they carry, not 1% below normal rates like a veterans loan would be. They also want a down payment. They're not interested in helping a disabled veteran, just like most people are not in society.
So far as marketing is concerned, I don't think that bandit signs would be all that helpful here in my market, either. Besides, they cost money and get stolen. I do have a few ads (tear sheets) up on a few free, public bulletin boards, and I will be doing some online advertising, because I will be doing that, anyway. You and I both should probably do some advertising on free classified Web sites like AdLandPro, CraigsList, BackPage and others.
Rick Allison, Realtor
Amarillo, Texas USA
Find comps, private lenders and cash buyers nationwide: www.TheRealEstate.PRO
Foreclosure and pre-foreclosure search engine: http://tinyurl.com/b6w7h6o
The People Helping People Movement: www.greatEPXsite.NET
Thorn?
Rick Allison, Realtor
Amarillo, Texas USA
Find comps, private lenders and cash buyers nationwide: www.TheRealEstate.PRO
Foreclosure and pre-foreclosure search engine: http://tinyurl.com/b6w7h6o
The People Helping People Movement: www.greatEPXsite.NET
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