I want to share my experience with everyone especially those people who may be a bit skeptical or maybe those who are not confident that they can succeed using Dean's strategies. It has not been easy, but I just got the paperwork for my 1st accepted offer!! I'm buying a bank owned property with absolutely none of my own money or credit. That's a good thing because I've been unemployed for the past 9 months so I have no money and my credit is fair at best. I have another offer that I expect will be accepted in the next day or two in addition to about 15 other open offers. How?? It's a long story, but I'll try to keep it brief. I purchased Dean's book in early May of this year, read it twice and joined the success academy at the end of May. Joining the success academy was a big deal for me being unemployed without much savings and a family to support. For the next couple of months, I did a lot of the coursework, studied this site for hours every day, looked at properties and tried to figure out which direction to go. Then, another setback. August 19, I had open heart surgery to correct a valve problem and an aneurysm which could have killed me at anytime if not discovered during tests. Upon my release from the hospital, I decided it was time to do something that I've read about and heard Dean talk about hundreds of times. That was to TAKE ACTION!! I had nothing but time as my activities were limited as I recovered and regained my strength. What better time then now? I called a real estate investment club close to my house to inquire about their meetings and membership, etc... Much to my surprise, the person I had contacted was an officer in the club and his wife was the VP. We talked awhile and I told him of my situation and what I wanted to do and I still cannot get over his response. He told me to bring him the deals and he would put up the money and we'd split the profits. He went on to say that if he didn't want my deals, he has at least 8 other buyers that he could pass the deal along to. Ok, so now I had a buyer's list and it only took one phone call! By the way, I joined the REI club and will probably become an officer when elections are held next year. You cannot have too many friends like that!! Next, I found a realtor by using the agent interview questions discussed in Dean's book and info on this site. I decided to target bank owned properties and HUD properties and spent September looking at homes and researching values and developing an offer strategy. I started making offers in October and quickly learned that HUD properties probably weren't for me as they usually go for amounts higher than their listed price in my target areas (suburbs of and select areas in Indianapolis). I incorporated Matt Larson's 25:1 idea and started making offers on bank owned properties. In the last 3 weeks, I've placed approximately 35 offers with 15 of them still open, one accepted and another very close. Two of them have gone back and forth with counter offers from the banks and me resubmitting my original bids. We get closer each week, but unless I can acquire a house for 35% off FMV less the cost of repairs, then I pass on the deal. I plan on continuing with my partner for 3-5 deals until I build enough capital to finance my own deals. My first deal will net me about $10K-$15K. If I get the 2nd as I expect, I will net approximately $20K. My goal that I set for myself at the beginning of October was 5 deals before the end of the year. I'll keep pushing and keep 15-20 offers on the table at all times. When I achieve my goal, I will be "retired" from the work force forever. REI is like a freight train...Once you're rolling, it's tough to stop! I apologize for the length of this but I just wanted to show everyone that regardless of your financial situation, you can succeed by using Dean's strategies and TAKING ACTION!!
Bill
Very insperational, great job. I to am unemployed and lovin the time I have to focus on my newley started business.Thaks for sharing It helps the confidence.
Make an effort, Not an excuse.
Shane
Im still working on my 1st deal and I know I shouldnt be...but Im scared of the unknown. But reading your story help lift me up. THanks for the details in your post. I love it!!!
Bill,
I like your style! Like they say,"You've got to turn lemons into lemonade" Your story was truly inspirational. My wife and I are also going the route of hunting down REO's and making offers as these kind of deals will not last forever once the economy starts to recover.
Hope you are on the way to good health and prosperity and keep up the good work!!!
Merlyn Jarman
www.seindianaproperties.com
"We cannot change yesterday. We can only make the most of Today and work with hope and inspiration towards a better Tommorrow."
I just want to thank you Bill, for your encouragement. First of all I wish you a fast full recovery. I can relate so much with your story. I am a disable retired veteran and unemployeed. I am having a lots of problems with my back right now. In August my wife got a promotion as a manager at her work. We decided for me to stay home and take care of the kids, but the following month my wife got fired in a mischivious way. We've being considering going back to a catalog business we once did, but some how we were stuck. One night I could not sleep and saw Deans infomertial and without hesitation I ordered the books. I have not much money on my account but took a leap of faith. I have watched his commercial many times before, but I have order two other real estate courses before but did not do much with it. Some how deep inside real estate was always a passion. I have not credit or money but I am standing on Deans foundation and little by little trying to build the walls. I have made couple of offers but I have been terrified and excited at the same time. I am dealing with a realtor who sends me mls listings, but I am more passionate about driving around and find ugly houses. I have four on the same street I live. On my first offer the seller look at my disclosure and said that it was too much money for me to be making on assigning the property. I have not heard from him yet. I have not call them either. I am trying to follow my heart. Any how I am sorry for the long message. I just need to share that with some one. I am tring to enroll on the academy but it seens impossible right now.
Again best wishes.
max
Oklahoma
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Prov. 16:3
"I am talented. I am creative. I am greatley favor by God. I am equipped. I am
well able. I will see my dreams come to pass."
Joel Austin
Congrats! You have overcome incredible obstacles on all fronts and have come out victorious. I believe your story is living proof of what determination and a belief in yourself can do! You believed you would make it happen and attracted the right people to you to bring your vision to life! Excellent job - and welcome to the DG family! Look forward to your future posts!
www.adeptpropertiesllc.com
my story:
http://www.deangraziosi.com/node/10404
That story is great Bill! Congratulations! I will doing some wholesale deals this month. I too lost my job and my funds have ran low, but I know GOD is delivering me! WE just have to have faith! I'm going to my area's CREIA meeting for the first time this upcoming Monday. Hopefully I'll be able to get mentoring in the right direction in bringing in immediate income! Again congrats and wish me luck!
-WE CAN DO ANYTHING THAT WE SET OUR MINDS TO!
-IF YOU ALWAYS DO WHAT YOU'VE ALWAYS DONE, YOU'LL ALWAYS GET WHAT YOU ALWAYS GOT!
I'M SO AMBITIOUS!
I'm so happy to see that you were able to make it happen despite having all the obstacles come your way. You've done an amazing job. Keep up the good work Bill!
Bill,you help me remind myself it can be done threw action.I find it hard to get going but when I read story's like yours its going to be a great day,I just know it.THanks again Bill and the DG family!
Dare yourself to fail!
God Bless You Bill and all DG family,lets try hard and overcome our fears....we can do it.....
Michelle
Do you assign the contracts to the investors or they help you finance the properties.
max
Oklahoma
Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
Prov. 16:3
"I am talented. I am creative. I am greatley favor by God. I am equipped. I am
well able. I will see my dreams come to pass."
Joel Austin
Congratulations on stepping out and getting it done.
With everything that we've seen, read & heard, a real live example is the best thing in the world!
Continued good health & success.
Kathy
Great job. Keep up the good work and make those offers.
"If you cannot do great things, do small things in a great way.”
Napoleon Hill quote
When we cast our bread upon the waters, we can presume that someone downstream whose face we will never know will benefit from our action, as we who are downstream from another will profit from that grantor's gift.
Buy, Sell, Rehabilitate, and Manage Properties...
-PEACE OF MIND PROPERTY SOLUTIONS, LLC.
AMEN!
Buy, Sell, Rehabilitate, and Manage Properties...
-PEACE OF MIND PROPERTY SOLUTIONS, LLC.
With drive and tenacity you have shown that we can do what ever we set our minds too. Thanks for the inspiration through your story.
Kim D.
If this is not a story for Dean's book, I do not know what is. We expect to see you on one of those blogs soon. What an amazing story of encouragement to your fellow DG brothers and sisters, as well as your inspiration and determination to be successful. You are certainly following the strategies set forth in Dean's books. All success in your upcoming deals and I cannot wait for the next story line. 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.
Thank you for the motivation, Bill. I hope I do as well in real estate as you have so far.
You have inspired me even more to push in real estate investing. I'm currently looking for a property to put under contract then assign to another investor. I can't wait to put my success story on here very soon! I'm so glad you allowed that surgery to motivate you even more and strengthen you to go after success rather than detour you from it.
God bless you and your family on a daily basis![Smiling Smiling](http://mail.deangraziosi.com/modules/smileys/packs/example/smile.png)
Your story really does show that all we need to do is take action to succeed. Thanks for sharing it with us. I'm pleased to know they found the aneurysm in time and that the valve has been repaired. I'm also glad to see you recovering so well. Now you are starting an exciting and successful new chapter in your life. It's wonderful that your wife will be able to pursue teaching, we need more teacher who are truly passionate about their profession.
Bill,
I really enjoyed reading this post because I noticed it is really hard for the area I live in to find Real Estate Investors, Not a lot around in the part of Central FL were I live in. Because I am in a very similar situation were my credit is in the low 600's and I don't make a lot of income from my current Job; But I have been on the search everyday for Investors and More Properties and I believe I also found The Real Estate Agent that is willing to help me out with doing this as a Career Full Time once I build up my buyers list and find more properties then what I already have.
Jason
Never Give Up On Your Dreams
Very Inspiring Story.. Actually I've recently been advertising seeing if there are investors who would finance Good deals and share some of the profits with me..I think there are seasoned investors out there willing to do that, and your story is proof..
I have one QUESTION though on how you submitted your offers...
Were the offers submitted to the banks under your name, or your investors name??
In your story it sounds like YOU (not the investor) managed making all the offers, handling negotiations, etc..I ask this because I know the banks require a submission of a pre-approval letter along with the offer. And as you mentioned, you're not currently able to get pre-approved or finance the properties yourself..
So how did you manage making the offers without a pre-approval??
AGAIN, Contratulations and I wish u continued success...
Jordan
"You gain strength, courage, and confidence by every experience in which you stop and look fear in the face. Do the things you think you cannot do. Tough times never last, but tough people do"
All I can say is, when YOUR time came up, you TOOK it and ran with it. Now look what has happened? You deserve a the success your finally taking action for. I really trully wish you all the best oing forward. You have the inate drive in your belly now, so it's going to be tough to turn this thing around now!!
Thank you for your inspiration Bill.
Good luck and God Bless!
Robert M. Burkett CPA
Stay Active & "WORK IT OUT!!"
Get your "Daily Dose" & check out my journal at the link below!! I would love to hear from you as well!
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/27368/...
Way to go !!
That is awesome how you keep moving and never give up..
I too just got my first accepted offer last week on a short sale that needs a little rehab..
To everyone out there on DG.com -- IT CAN BE DONE !! Do not quit under any circumstances...
The world is now a whole new place and life is becoming something totally different for me -- something MUCH BETTER !!
God Bless everyone at DG.com
Randy
Congratualtions on your first deal, way to go! It can be a numbers game and the mor offers you make, the more opportunities there can be for another deal. Keep up the good work nd we look forward to readign about your continued progress and futur deals. Believe and Achieve!
- Joe
YOU TUBE CHANNEL - Follow me on my You Tube Channel at Joe Jurek Real Estate Investing Adventures
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCiko62V79zLKX_owbirAYNA
TWITTER - Follow me on Twitter at Joe Jurek CPA
Joe Jurek CPA
https://twitter.com/JoeJurekCPA
Bill,
That's wild. You started studying Dean's material in May, underwent open heart surgery in Aug, and you just kept on going and now you are closing your first deal in Nov. That's absolutely wild and reminiscent of tales of the old west when they got snake bit, slit open the bite, sucked out the venum and kept on going, or when they wrestled with a bear or a mountain lion, won the fight and then sewed up their own wounds and continued their quest, or when they got shot, took a swig of whiskey and let the doc dig out the bullet, then the next day rode off into the sunset to continue what they were doing.
Bill, you're awesome. I hereby dub thee, WILD BILL!
Keep it up.
Mike & Mary
Wonderful to read about your success story and hopefully your fears and obstacles are behind you now. You give great inspiration for others to move forward. Good luck on your future deals.
Chris
Thanks for the encouraging post Bill. I'm still working towards my first deal as well. I'm getting closer, I can feel it.
Bill!!!!!!! You Da Man! I'm loving it! You have to take care of yourself though! Do what the doctors tell you. No shortcuts man! To deal with your health situation and still get out there to make deals! Bravo! Keep it up man. I'm just so bombarded with info. I'm having a hard time getting started. Continued success dude.
Just wanted to say a BIG THANK YOU for your post and very happy for you and your family that you were able to come through your setback ok. Keep us up to date on your future deals.
Thanks again.
Thanks 4 your story Bill. I wish you the best on all your up & coming deals.
Stay healthy.
God bless,
Serena