My Journey In Becoming A Billionaire

This won't be the only learning experience but its what will have you flipping properties left and right once these little problems are safe guarded. The best way to learn is on the fly in situations like this. I wish you good fortune in being able to find a buyer and having the time extended to work things out if possible. Thanks for sharing!

Things I did today.

10am= Woke up

10am-12noon- Cooked some breakfast and deleted fake cash buyers phone numbers from my phone and their emails (i got them from from my ghost ads on craigslist). I didn't screened them properly at our first initial contact. (I want to avoid having a fake cash buyer on my list who thinks they can wholesale my property behind my back)

12noon- 3pm- Back on DG.com. Looked for deals online on (craigslist and lisitngbook.com) for my two REAL cash buyers in miami that matches their criteria and watched the US Open tennis on tv with my room mates. Also I look at the listing I had an agent in miami pulled up for me last week tuesday 08/13/2013. At our initial first conversation I told her to send me listings in an area where one of my buyers wanted to buy a property and she did send me like 4 listings that matches my criteria.
ME- So I remember telling her I want her to send 3-5 offers a day
The AGENT- she was like she cant do that because in a situation where all my offers gets accepted I wouldn't buy all
of them at once.
MY REPLY- I will assign the other properties to my partners (The mistake I did being a newbie LOL) and she never sent
me the contract which I requested her to send to me on tuesday night 08/14 because of that lol BUT guess what who cares. As long as I got the property address I'm good. I will call up another investor friendly agent tomorrow 08/19/2013 and let them know I'm a CASH BUYER (Never let them know I'm assigning the deal) and send my offers in:)

3pm- 4pm - Back on DG.com (getting new ideas from top users such as Carol) I learnt something new today and I
took notes on how to reply back to cash buyer from my ghost ads on craigslist.
According to Carol when these cash buyers call me from my ghost ads I will be like: I am interested in doing business with them and I am waiting for the contracts to be completed on my investment properties. I will tell them Imma forward the information to them as soon as the property is ready for resale. This way I'm staying honest and they will be waiting for my deals. Then send them everything that you lock up in the future. get their information, phone number, what type of properties they are looking for and how soon they can settle. Then I WILL GO FIND THEM WHAT THEY WANT!!! Yayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy:)

I feel like they are so many deals out here in Miami (locally in my area) for me to be stressing myself on that Pennysylvnia deal lol.

"Start Where You Are! Use What You Have! Do What You Can! Never let failure dominate you. Never let the mistakes of your past Lord over you.Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams. Live the Life You Have Imagined."- Henry David Thoreau

“Don’t worry about failures, worry about the chances you miss when you don’t even try.” – Jack Canfield

"Each day do one thing to get you closer to your dream because if you do today what others are not willing to do, then tomorrow you can do those things that others are only dreaming about doing"-Joe and Stacey

CONTINUATION OF THINGS I DID TODAY.

4pm-4:30pm:My phone rung and was On the phone with my cousin who lives in Houston, Texas and works for a petroleum company. She's like 30 years old. She asked me what have I been up to and I told her how I quitted my job to start investing in Real Estate. She sounded like I was crazy LOL..

My Cousin: How did I start REI?
Me: I basically told her what I do I wholesale properties.
My cousin: She couldn't believe how I got to know all this info at a young age. (Remember I was trying to bring back her senses into my crazy world lol).

Long story short she was supportive of what I was doing. She even told me how she has been trying to get started in Real Estate but didn't know how to.

NOW she wants me to look for commercial houses for her and she gave some specific zip codes in houston where she wants the property to be located at ( I will look for deals for my cousin during mt leisure time tonight after I'm done looking for deals for my REAL cash buyers here in my local area(miami).

4:30pm: 8:29pm: Looked over some listing I had a RE agent email to me last tuesday 08/14/2013 even though she didnt do what I told her to do. I TOLD HER SEND ME 10 LISTINGS OF STANDARDS SALES (no reos or short sales) that matches my criteria etc Lol she did completely opposite of what I told her to do. She only sent four listings 2 reos and 1 SFH and I mobile home(never told her I was interested in mobile homes lol).. So basically looked over the listings and I was only interested in the 1 of the properties as follows

SFH
ASKING PRICE: 122,900K
MARKET VALUE: $260,000 (based on houses sold in past 7 months)
MY offer which I place: $98,000

8:30pm - 10pm- Received a call from a detroit wholesaler who I got from my ghost ad last week friday 08/16/2013. I screened and qualified a REAL CASH BUYER.
He asked me if the ghost ad property was still available
My response: The contracts to yet to be completed on my investment properties and as soon as they are completely I will send the information to him. He was like end of this week and I told him hopefully (i didn't want to promise him anything but he seem desperate and I love it)

When we spoke on friday 08/14/2013 he gave me the criteria of his cash buyers (price range and specific location in detroit) So I made a deal which was that if one of his buyers buy my property we would split the assignment fee 50/50. He was eager to do business with me.

10pm - 12midnight -BAck to DG.com (its like my home lol). Then I Cooked some dinner (Chicken noodles with fried eggs lol) and I Did my laundry.

12 midnight- Went to bed

"Start Where You Are! Use What You Have! Do What You Can! Never let failure dominate you. Never let the mistakes of your past Lord over you.Go Confidently in the Direction of Your Dreams. Live the Life You Have Imagined."- Henry David Thoreau

Things I did today

5am-6am Woke Up and back on DG.com

Wrote down the potential deal info which I got last night. There was only one picture on the listing. My plans today is to send in my offer on the property and then set up an appointment to view inside and take pictures. I also wrote the 2 comps info so when I lock up the property I will blast it out to one of my REAL cash buyer.

Will keep you guys updated

6am-8:47am Posted up to 5 ghost ads on craigslist hoping to add some potential buyers to my least.

I found a property on craigslist.
ASKING PRICE- 60K
MARKET VALUE -(based on the comps)
I called up the fsbo and asked if his price was flexible and he told me no and said someone offer $58,000 last week
I was like ok fine I will do my research and get back with him. The owner is an investor and the property is rented out.
He didn't sound desperate.
he must be out of his mind LOL but its all good tho. I will keep the property in my radar and check up with him like next week. Meanwhile I'm to the NEXT ONE LOOKING FOR MORE DEALS.. SO MANY DEALS OUT THERE!! ITS all about taking actions!!!!

8:47am-11am : I called up an agent and ask her if that potential deal which I saw last night was still available she told me no its no longer available (its pending).. So I told her I'm a CASH BUYER and I emailed her my property criteria. She seems like the investor friendly type of person. (lol who knows let me see how it plays out)

11am-12:12pm Added another a desperate REAL CASH BUYER to my buyers list from my ghost-ad on craigslist..

KNOWLEDGE!
-Read some journals on DG.com

ACTIONS!!
-Created my buyers website and birddog website
-Found a pennysaver ad today and the owner is having a garage sale so I took down the address and search on the public record but didnt see an lien or back taxes. So I will try getting his number from www.zabasearch.com and see if he wants to sell his huse.

ACTIONS!!
-Looked for some FSBO online

KNOWLEDGE!!= Read Some Journals on DG.com

ACTION!!=
-Deleted a fake buyer who signed up on my buyers website after I screen him he didn't qualify as a REAL cash buyer
-Called a seller I found on craigslist in FL and took down some info about the property. Should be making an offer tomorrow
-37 Property Locators added to my Bird dog website
-Found a seller on CL in Miami, florida. Left a voicemail and emailed him. I hope to hear back from him tomorrow

KNOWLEGDE!!=
- Re-Read Fast Track Buyer List on 30 days to Quick Cash

ACTION!!=
- 5 Property Locators added in my Birddog Website
- Emailed one of bird dog in Maryland
- Received a call from one of my bird dogs and he told me about the house(vacant) his mum was selling in Bero Beach, FL. I got the seller (His mum) number and left a voicemail. I'm hoping she will call me back today.
-Called a REAL cash buyer who added herself to my buyer list on my website from my ghost ad I posted on CL. I got her property criteria and price range

1 week Goal- 14 Properties under contract
30 days Goal- $100,000

I think it's great that you're putting your diary on line for us! You will succeed - as you said it's all about accountability and action!

Thanks Charles!! I wish you all the best REI:)

No offers= No Deals...No Deals=NO Money

KNOWLEDGE!!
-- Watched weekly wisdom #251 Part of the solution http://www.deangraziosi.com/content/weekly-wisdom-251-part-solution (I'm ready to work on solutions to my problem and try not to blame others (my RE agents) for my problem. I'm going to build a much better relationship with my RE agents, sellers, and most importantly my buyers.
-- Watched weekly wisdom #4 http://www.deangraziosi.com/content/dean-graziosis-weekly-video-blog-4 (I learnt not to be in category of people who talk forever but never take any ACTION!! I'm going to got out there and TAKE MORE ACTION. Also learnt to never surround myself with dreamstealers, and push away negative people from my life)

ACTIONS!!
--Emailed an offer to a seller in miami
--Received a vacant house in AR from my birddog in Arizona who submitted it on my website.
--I got 40 birddogs signups on my list
--I got 14 vacant properties lead from my birddogs in Florida and Alabama. I will take a look at them tomorrow
--I emailed on of my birddogs who I had problem login info
--I called a investor friendly REA in Miami to work with and I told him my criteria of one of my cash buyer. I told he I want to buy, fix, and flip. I want to make a profit of $20,000-$25,000 and I loved his response. He was like I won't have a problem doing that in Miami. Inventory is very low for homebuyers which want moderate clean residences and he said If I wish to finance them he has plenty of buyers who will buy refurbished residences. I Will be taking a look at them tonight.

I week goal- 14 properties under contract
30 days goal- $100,000

1 week goal- 14 contracts under contract
30 days goal- $100,00

Knowledge
-- Read Journals on DG.com and read some articles on www.reitips.com
--Read the Sandwish lease purchase option.

ACTIONS!!
--Told my agent in Miami to pull up the comps and CMA of the listings he sent to me.
--Emailed a couple of my birddogs
--Got at least 20 birddogs signups

I week goal- 14 properties under contract
30 days goal- $100,000

KNOWLEDGE!!
--Read some journals on DG.com
--Re-Read the sandwish lease option on finding sellers on CL and listing agents who have listings.

ACTIONS!!
--Posted ghost ads for Lease Option for sellers
--Received a property lead from one of my birddogs in Fl. The property is vacant, and my birddog thinks the owner is dead his 76 years old... I look him up www.zabasearch.com but I found his phone number but no answer when I called. WHO CAN PLEASE HELP ME WITH THIS?
--Added a Lease option buyer to my list
--Called up three for rent signs ads on CL in my town (sellers market) but they were agents
--Emailed a lady who was looking for a house to rent and hoping she emails me back so I can know her criteria..

KNOWLEDGE!!
--READ Karen Griffin Journal and wrote down her ghost ads she uses to attract L/O tenants/buyers

ACTION!!
--Checked up some of my buyers that I told them how I'm still looking for some more properties but didnt find any ne that came up this week.

--Received a call this morning from a tenant/buyer who I emailed her last night. I found her on CL. She was looking for a home in my town. I got her criteria.
--Emailed one of my birddogs who ask she having a problem accessing the rear of a vacant property to take pics because it is fenced and I told her she should take pics of she can LOL
--Got two birddogs sign ups today (one from cape coral, FL and KEy West FL)
--Got an email from a wholesaler in my town from my ghost ad for buyers. (he wants me to market his properties to my buyers and I told him I will work on the numbers and if it makes sense and my buyer buys the property we would have to spilt the assignment fee 50/50 and he agreed)
--I received a call from one of my bird dogs in Mobile, Alabama and he told how he can help me locate vacant properties. He was like he inspects properties for a company and he comes across alot of properties which are vacant and I was like OK cool.
--Called Up a rent ad on CL in Alabama and it was the property manager who I spoke with. I told her if the owner would consider selling it and she was like she will email the owner today and I should back up with today at her lunch break at 2pm.
--Called up a seller I found on CL in Alabama
--Found a seller in Alabama and called him aup. His property was vacant and hes asking for $28k.. ARV-$55k. He owns the home free and clear. I told him I would do my research and get back to him. Looks like a potential deal. I'm about to offer him $15k tomorrow.
--Added another cash buyer in PA from my ghost ad Ion CL.
__________________________________
My favorite quote for today "You are never too old or too young to start investing" - Wendy Patton

Knowledge- Read some journals on DG.com

Actions:
-COntacted one of my sellers
-Added one L/O option tenant/buyer
-Screening a fake cash buyer who called me from my ghost ad on CL and he didn't qualify as a real cash buyer. I posted a ghost ad on CL and he was asking me of the address and I told him I will forward him the info when the contracts are being completed. Then, I was like you have to put down a non-refundable deposit of $5k at contact signing and he was like he doesn't have it and I was like ok. I was like when you get your money straight give me a call LOL

I have read your posts and journals. I must say I am impressed!! I am new to this but I am eager and tenacious. Please could you help me some advice?
How should I handle getting and keeping bird dogs? Like what should I offer that is within reason? Also am I bound to compensate them?

I usually use word of mouth. I tell people that if the know anybody who are selling their property and I buy it I will pay them $1000.

I post ghost ads on craigslist : COULD YOU USE AN EXTRA $500 a month? Call (xxx-xxx-xxxx)

HOPE THIS HELPS

WOW! You have really jumped in with both feet! I'm very impressed and will be looking to see how everything goes for you. It definitely looks like you're on your way!

I'm new to this and wanted to see how other newbies are getting into it and I must say thank you for being so transparent! It truly helps!

Kim

Its all about TAKING MORE ACTIONS!!

I didn't take much action from 9/1 - 9/4. My computer broke over the weekend and I dont have any other choice than to go to the library each day to make use of the computer.

KNOWLEDGE!!
--Read some journals on DG.com
--Watched the weekly wisdom http://www.deangraziosi.com/content/weekly-wisdom-252-too-far-gone

ACTIONS!! 9/04/2013
-Placed 6 offers on mls properties on 09/04/2013

-DELETED a fake cash buyer who called me off my ghost ad on CL and was like
CALLER: is the property still available
ME- I'm still waiting for the contract to be completed so once its done I will forward all the info to you. Whats your price range and where are you looking to buy a home
CALLER: The price range doesnt matter.
I told her I cant do business with her.

-Received a call from one of my cash buyers who I had on my list. Lol she called about my ghost ad and was like I have spoken to you before and I was like yeah I'm still waiting for the contracts to be completed. I got her criteria and she was glad I till remember what she was looking to buy off my head.

-Built a relationship with my agent. HE is willing to be putting in 5 offers a day. He told me he got buyers wit big pockets and I was like if any of your buyers buy any of my investment properties I will give him 15% of my profit and he was cool with that.

-Looking

So how do you get away with not paying these Bird Dogs? It seems a little shady to me.

KNOWLEDGE!!
--Visited DG.com

ACTION!!
--Found another agent who I will send my offers this afternoon. I dont want to limit myself to one agent sending my offers. The agent who I thought would work with me in Miami is really slow. I sent him my 6 offers on 9/04/2013 night and he contacted me yesterday and was like he is having problems with mls and it should be fixed momentarily. He was suppose to send me the review contract so I so esign them but I havent heard back from him since yesterday. I will still keep my relationship with him open for the main time.
--Went to the store and bought 3 yellow note pads( 1 for my sellers list, buyers list and knowledge gaining list)

--Went to a shop where I will be ordering my " I BUY HOUSES IN ANY CONDITION" business cards this afternoon.

--ADDED ANOTHER BUYER TO MY LIST. I Went to Publix store and spoke with the grocery manager who was on duty last night. I told him I'm an investor and I asked him if he knows anyone who is trying to sell their property (if I buy it I will give him $1000) and he was was like no. Then he was like I'm an investor myself and I said GREAT. He buy houses around kendall area in miami and rents them out. I got his price range which is $100k max. I got his phone number, email and his property criteria. I gave him my business card.

@Buyer239: I have a seperate contract which I give them and they get their money at closing

KNOWLEDGE GAINED!!!
---READ Dallin post http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/marketing-buyers-and-sell...
---READ a couple of great journals on DG.com and took down some notes

ACTION I TOOK TODAY!!
--Recieved a call from one of my cash buyer who I had on my list since July. Basically he told me he finally bought a house and I told him congrats and he was like thank you very much for your time. In my mind I was like damn I wish I acted fast to find a house for him even though for the past three weeks I have been trying to call him to keep in touch with him but he never answers his phone. At least he called me back this morning and that shows he cares and wanna still keep the good relationship that we have I guess lol. I learnt to act fast whenever I put a new cash buyer on my list because you never know how desperate they are to buy a house. LESSON LEARNT

--Called my brother who's 20 years of age. He lives in Parkville, MD and I have been motivating him to start investing in real estate. I introduced him to Dean Website. He seems motivated in REI and he created a facebook page. I told him since hes new to the game he should focus on the building his sellers list and I will help in with buiding his buyers list and then email the buyers list I got to him.

ACTIONS I DIDNT TAKE TODAY!!
--Didnt Order at least 30 bandit signs (wheich I will write I BUY HOUSES IN ANY CONDITION my website and then my google number)
--Didnt Order at least 250 business cards (which will say I buy houses in any condition) I plan on distributing it in thrift stores, dollar stores etc
--Didnt go to Brickell area in Miami where I found FOR RENT SIGN and a house which seemed to be vacant which is close to my ex girlfriend house lol( i will get the address search for the owners on the county website and then search for their phone numbers on www.zabasearch.com or send post cards to their current address)
--Didnt Search online for houses that matches my buyers criteria and send the mls number and my offers to the three agents who I got and will be using to do my 25/1 strategy offers.

12am to 6am: Went out to party lol ( I need to work on my time management)

7:30pm- Came back to my house and slept till like 2 pm

2pm-6pm:
-Went to the store to buy some groceries foods
-Cooked some lunch to eat
-Wasted my time talking with my roommates about something which wasnt relevant. **NEVER GONNA DO THAT AGAIN**

6pm-11:45pm
- Went to the library to use the library since my computer is no longer working.
-Checked my email and realized my agent sent me a contract I was suppose to sign last friday 9/6/2013 ( I definitely need to work on my time management for real #TimeisMoney) so I signed it. I only made two offers last week including the contract offer he sent to me.
-Met up with a guy who was interested in buying my broken old iphone which I wanted to sale and I posted it on CL. It was a iphone 4s 32Gb and I sold it for $40 just for quick cash so I can have enough money to order my bandit signs and more sellers business cards tomorrow.
--Spoke with my mum in Maryland and she told me my aunt who visited my family back home gave $150 and I told my mum to keep $100 and send me $50. Hopefully I get the money to tomorrow. I plan on using it to order more bandit signs and business cards for my brother and I.
--Emailed back my agent to send me the other contract so I can make my offer on this property

THINGS I DID TODAY!!

ACTIONS I DID TODAY
--Checked my email to see if my agent emailed me
--Created my sellers website
--Visited DG.com (like Dean always says if we wanna speak french we gotta hang around french people and if we wanna succeed in Real Estate we gotta hang around investors.)

THINGS I MUST ACCOMPLISH TODAY
--Order business cards
--Order Bandit sings

Hey Igwilo!! I've been following you for about a week now and I see that you are staying on top of things. Just keep going!! Don't stop and don't let life get in the way. You got this!!

In the past I got stuck on calling the realtor but today I called a few realtor's offices! No one was in but I still called and tomorrow I'm going to talk to someone and get some things moving! We're going to do this!!! I'm rooting for ya!!

Thanks for the encouragements. We got this for real. I ordered my bandit signs for the first yesterday. The feeling I had was priceless lol.
_____________________________
TC
Miami, FL
My Sellers website: http://www.selltoigwilo.com/
My Buyer Website: http://www.igwiloproperties.com/
My Birddog website: http://www.igwilohousefinder.com/

CHECK OUT MY JOURNAL (Welcome to my World): http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/144538...