OfflineYesterday marked my 7th day with the program. My budget is worst then tight, more like non existant. I don't own a car or even a computer so I work at the library or career center. I spent rent money just to get the program because I believe I can do this. I'm working hard putting all my time in to it and I also work a job at a grocery store but it does not pay enough to make ends meet. Thus far I have...
1. talked to real estate agents and found one to work with
2. found a title company that will do double closings
3. joined a REI club and Started one of my own (1st meeting was last night but only 1 person showed). He was a Financial Advisor, how ironic.
4. Set up two websites www.ibuyhouses.webs.com & www.smartinvestor.webs.com (webs.com is FREE).
5. I have to build up enough money to get signs but doing emails on craigslist until I can afford signs.
6. I have 1 Buyer on my buyers list so far & I'm looking for a deal to make an offer.
I'm Telling everyone I'm a real estate investor but most people I know just laugh or make jokes because they know my financial situation. I want this to work. I need this to work! There is no quit in me! I'm pressing on. I'm open to any suggestions.. Thanks!
TC
Tony,
All I can say is WOW! You've done a lot in a week and you should feel a great sense of accomplishment. I'm also working on week one and you've put me to shame
with what you've done, I makes me want to work even harder. I can definitely relate with the money issue, the wolves are knocking at our doors but we've decided to fight back. Whenever I feel down I read the posts on this site and I feel soooo much better. Today your post has been my favorite, take pride in what you've done. Also thanks for the website info, I've been looking to see where I could set up a free site (suffering from fundsarelow disease).
Please keep sharing your progress, that is how we help ourselves and others on this site.
Live Abundantly!
Jean
Jean Maestre
The Maestre Property Group, LLC
"Our deepest fear is NOT that we are inadequate, Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure"
"Do or do not, there is no try"
"Every adversity, every failure, every heartache, carries with it the seeds of an equal or greater benefit"
While browsing other forums saw someone who used trulia.com
to find buyers. Could also use to find sellers?
Let me know how you're doing.
Yes I must say that you have done a lot my friend.....It motivates me to excell...I'm going to Dean's siminar tomorrow and then I'm going to get very busy! keep it up because if you succeed we all succeed...this is a family so as your brother I encourage to to persevere!
Gary Hicks
I love that you are telling everyone that you are a real estate investor. Speak it into existence! I told my sister tonight what I was researching and what I was planning on doing with it. She called me a sucker but then said if I can get it to work I can tell her "I told you so" and if I don't make it (which I am going to) she promised she would NOT tell me "I told you so". She is a good sister. This is day one for me so it is nice to see how much can be achieved in one weeks time. Keep up the momentum and great job!
Rebecca B.
You're making progress.Keep that determination and you will make it happen soon enough.
That a Boy!!!! Keep up the good work and i'll see you at the Top!
David Boisvert
Tony, keep it up and keep at it. Let NO ONE bring you down! Pressing forward, you may have a bit more work cut out for you but there are always creative ways to get around it!!!
I'll be tuning into watch your progress, keep coming to the DG Forums as much as you can, always good advice and never a naysayer. You'll show them one day!!!
Kristen
Keep doing what you are doing... your alter Tony will be talking at you at times, but don't listen and laugh with your friends-- haha, I know it sounds comical, but I'm going to do this!
Keep it up and keep finding ways around the obstacles. You're already a Super Star!
Oh, and don't stop coming to our Happy Place here on DG!
- Tina
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
Go Tony! Your mind is set! Nothing can stop you! You have done so much in week one I can't wait to hear what you accomplish next week.
Gina
Its about 2am and Im tired but I promised myself I would have an ad posted on craigslist. Its a small thing but I got it done. I will also try trulia as it was suggested. As I have limited access to a computer it was motivating to log on and see the supporting comments. Thank you all. It matters! I now have 4 people on my buyers list. And saving to get signs within a week or two. It says at Supersigns.com I can get 25 for $59 bucks including shipping to my area (CA Bay Area). I'll make that happen soon. It will be 2 weeks in the DG family on Thursday. Will update again then.
TC
you can go to a dollar tree or something like that and get a foam board for a $1. cut it in half and you have 2 signs for a buck. if you're really tight get some tar paper nails and post them to poles or you could get grade stakes from lowes. your price for signs isn't bad at all, but if you don't have an extra $60. right now you may have an extra $10. get out there. you're doing great. keep doing something r.e. related everyday. it sounds to me like you have the biggest obstacle covered.....fear.
keep moving forward, rob
whether you think you can or you think you can't, you're right.- Henry Ford
keep moving forward, rob
Tony, great start to your real estate investing career!! Don't stop or let anyone or anything get in your way!
Raymond
You can pour someone a glass of water when your pitcher is full. Keep up the attitude and motivation and it will remain full.
Jimmy
Great start Tony ! As one newbie to another, keep up the hard work ! There is power in numbers, and in just the last few days, I have noticed an influx of new blood, success seekers. Which is great for all of us. A small part of a big pie is far better than a big piece of a small pie.
Never Stop Believing !
Sidney H. Moats Jr.
CEO- FreshStartREI
Great job and excellent job in taking action.I wish I would have came out of the blocks like that.
Good luck
Curtis Fillers
(Charlotte,NC)
Tony, ditto on Rob's recommendation vs saving and paying the $60 for the pre-made signs, and here's another tip:
Since the Bay Area in Spring can get pretty wet, I fear poster board or even foam board will be ruined quickly. Coroplast is the ideal substrate, but a coated stock will do. I looked up a few things for you (don't worry, I've been in the Sign business for 24 years). Go to VictoryStore.com ph. 866-241-2295 They have weather resistant boards, cheap. A 10 sheet minimum, which is fine and good. It looks like you can get 14X22 blanks for $.15 ea, or 22X28 blanks for $.94ea. (the math is not working for me, so call them. It should be .30 for the larger if the small one is .15). Anyway, I think these will hold up better and they ship in 1 day, then all you need is a fat marker. Use SHARPIE MAGNUM (office max or wal-mart) for weather resist.
If you want to get really fancy, make yourself a light table-- super easy!
- Find a piece of glass (about the size of board you'll use) from a large picture/piece of art that you or a friend may have.
- Find a cardboard box just smaller than the glass at least in one direction.
- Find a small lamp, remove the lampshade, or any light bulb with a cord.
- Set the lamp in the box
- Set the glass over the cardboard box with the light in it
Once you've created your first sign, put it on your glass light table, put a blank over it and trace.
- Repeat!
You can do the same thing with the first sign taped to a window if the sun is bright enough, but it's a little harder to handle vertically.
Git 'er done, good good job Tony!
-Tina
keep moving forward, rob
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
Still here.. was nervous but all that is going away. 25 to 1. I have about 20 more offers to go. got about 29 on the buyer list and growing. trying to find a way to account for down payments/earnest money deposits to lock up properties. I do not have stashed cash to do this so ideas are welcome. Im getting closer to closing. thanks to everyone for the positivity and knowledge sharing.
Nustarttony
TC
I now can find deals but seem to be loosing them to other investors because of the following. The Agent for the seller wants Earnest Money Deposit + Down Payment and to show Proof of Funds when submitting the offer. I have no cash for any of these. I've lost a few deals by showing them to the investor without locking them up first. You live and learn right? How can I navigate through this to do the assignment deal I am going after now and any others I find? I'm open to partnering or anything I need to do to close my 1st deal. Once I get over this, I'm rolling. Someone please help me roll. I'm in the San Francisco, Ca Bay Area. Thanks.
TC
Hi Tony, I am sorry I did not bookmark and come back to your thread (in MAY for goodness sakes)--
1. Have you been able to do signs yet?
2. You have 29 BUYERS??? OMG! Great....
have you qualified them? ie., how fast can they close? (this tells you if they are liquid or if they are wholesalers [too] or they use Hard Money.
3. I see, as of today, you have lost (or not gotten far with) the offering process, so....
a. I'm surprised you haven't gotten a POF form Coastal. Go to the 30 days quick cash thread and STUDY! Get your POF.
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/everything-else/86517/30-...
b. make a COPY of your check and sign the COPY, submit that as Earnest Money, (your agent or you can fill in the date and amount as needed),then.....
4. Go to as many of your BUYERS as possible until you find the ONE that believes in you-- give them your heartfelt "I CAN DO THIS" enthusiasm, don't whine, but present the FACT that not having the EMD is keeping you from getting deals locked up. Show them the deals that got away-- all the facts on the deal.
Look/listen for the Money Guy to crack the door of opportunity and gratefully enter; let him know you will draft and sign a side agreement with him/her if you can go to him to submit the ACTUAL EMD once a deal is accepted. You do NOT have to actually submit a Cashier's Check EMD until 24 hrs after an offer is accepted. The copy of the check fax'd or scanned/emailed will suffice until then.
Let us know how you do!
Bookmarked now and I will check in on you.
-Tina
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
Find a sign shop OR student....
Offer them $250 for ANY deal that you close on that comes from a sign they made and put out....
Present them with the How To and/or my home made way posted earlier on this thread. For a few bucks invested they can make money if you make money. Offer to show them a weekly tracking of the calls and results.
Also, let the know if they come to you with a FSBO that you close on they will get $250-$500. That will keep them in touch and it costs them nothing.
No cost to you at all.
-Tina
Never, Never, Never Quit, N3Q
"Nothing happens until you place an offer."
"Skip Deal #1, go straight to Deal #2; it's so much easier."
"There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all." — Peter F. Drucker... so, "Don't sweat the small stuff." -R.Carlson. "The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one."~E.Hubbard, The Note Book, 1927...so, Do it for the right reason and "Do it with a headache!" - Dean Graziosi, Weekly Wisdom #176
You have done Great,keep up the Great work!!
Ok though Coastal I've gotten my POF covered. My most recent offer was not turned down due to amount but because I had no EMD. I tried to submit a note for the emd but it was not accepted. I tried to partner with another investor for the emd but they backed out and just contacted the owner directly once they had the property info. It seems In order for my to do business and close any deal I've got to overcome this issue. I'm now pretty awsome at finding deals but have yet to successfully lock one up do to no EMD. I'm opening up my efforts to not just CA but any State. If anyone out there is willing to put down EMD I will find great deals in your area, lock it up and assign to you or co-assign. I'm just trying to get my 1st deal done. I am open to all suggestions. Thanks to all who have helped me get this far.
Tony
TC
I was able to get a counter offer with a note for the EMD. Unfortunately the property's zoning was advertized improperly so I backed out but it is as close as I have come thus far to successfully locking up a property. Therefore Motivation.. I guess it depends on each agent or seller as to what they will accept so to all who run into this EMD issue, consider it a non-issue and just keep trying. A big Thanks to Tina1 and all others that have helped me get this far. Never Quit. Dean, the milk will be worth it.
Nustarttony
TC