The Journal of the Daily Adventures of Indiana-Joe

Keep it up Joe! You seem to be having alot of fun with this. AWSOME!

Thanks for the positive words, it continues to motivate us to find the next deal. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Way to go Joe. I'm very happy for you and your success. Good job and now keep it rock and rolling...

Lloyd

Thanks for the congrats and positive comments. It really motivates us to key our eyes open for the next deal. Thanks again and good luck on all your deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

The days are getting a little longer with daylight so it makes it more time to do what I like...Real Estate. It reminds me of the old saying that if you are doing something you really enjoy, then it is not work.

Thus, after my day job, the night time is great to spend with my family and the late night to spend on the search for the next deal. I still have several offers out there and waiting patiently to see if they get accepted, rejected, or countered. I have to run a few errands after work and will drive a different way to look at another community area and see if I spot any FSBOs (for sale by owner) on the way home.

I hope there is still enough time to get the lawn mowed because the grass has really grown due to the rain. I also hope to be getting a few more tax deeds in the mail in the next few weeks or hopefully days. I will keep everyone posted. I hope everyone is enjoying the Spring time and having fun with their real estate search. Good luck on all your deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hooray for friday! The weekend is almost here. Yesterday evening was a catch up on offers day for me. I had the broker offer from 5 weeks ago finally declined by the bank, I had 3 other offers declined and confirmed, I have a Bank President call about an REO we were discussing financing about 4 weeks ago. So, it was nice to bring some pending offers to closure an update other properties on the radar. Today, I will call the Bank President and later review some proeprties on-linbe to plan my event for the weekend. Good luck on all your deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Well I hope it will be a Super Saturday today. I am going to have some fun today and they, mow the lawn and do so yard work, if it does not rain! I hope everyone is enjoying the Spring time and looking for the next deal that will "pop up" for you. I am going to look for some FSBOs today and meet a new real estate agent that has a listing I would like to see. Later tonight I will be back on-line to enhance my REI knowledge. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

enjoy reading your posts keep up the great work!! just as many have said you motivate others as you post what you are doing.after reading some of your comments about doing what you love such as realestate i could not help telling you about a book i just read "wishcraft" by barbara sher " that you may enjoy.it just made me think of you lol. keep the faith joe good luck on all your deals NEVER give up !!
jbtoggs

Thanks for the positive comments. Sometimes we all want to be somewhere else and have to decide what it may take to get there. I will check out the book you had mentioned. I believe you can never stop learning. Good luck on all your deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

The weather was rain on and off today. Therefore, I was able to dance between the rain drops and get the lawn mowed and picked up some paint that I needed for a fence. The weekend always seems to go by a lot faster than the weekdays. I had an opportunity to stop and look at a few open houses in the local surrounding areas. I really like the properties from a buy and hold standpoint. They are discounted about 15-20% and are in a nice area that are good and solid for rentals.

However, I do not want to try to come up with the 20% down to go conventional with these. However, the buy and hold on these units have potential since the area is nice and when the market rebounds they should appreciate in value. The problem is in neighboring other communities I am finding better deals at least 30-40% off and I continue to look for those deals for 60% or more off FMV.

On Friday, I let a good home in another community kind of slip away. I only offered $20k and the asking price was $49k. Another offer hit the table the same day as mine, they came back with the famous "best and final offer" scenario and I stayed firm at $20k. They took the other offer. Thus, I felt it was not meant to be and I pressed on (not looking back) for the next deal. (hopefully the next "gem of a deal") I hope all the other DG Members had a great weekend and found a few deals. Good luck. Believe and Achieve! _ Joe

Another work week begins and I hope the week will go by quick. I have several offers out there and I am waiting to hear the seller's response. I continue to look at new properties each day in hopes of finding the next gem of a deal. Some friends had extra baseball tickets and I was able to go to the Chicago White Sox game yesterday. The White Sox lost the first game to the Detroit Tigers 5 to 4. They had a late game but we did not have tickets for the late game. Thus, it was a late night anyway. Good luck to everyone on their real estate investing. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

I enjoy reading your stories good job.

Thanks for the positive comments. As Dean states now is the time to take action. Thus, I look forward to hearing about everyone's latest deals and tips. Thanks again and good luck on your deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hello DG Members,

The rain continues in our area and the grass is growing and growing and growing. I feel that I am mowing the lawn every 5 days! Well, I had an opportunity this evening to take a ride by 2 new REO listings. I like to check out the area and the home from the outside to get a pulse of the community and the block they are located on. I may make an offer on the one building that is a 2 unit. I believe it may need some work but could be a good rental property.

I do have to follow up on a few other offers. I have one REO home I like that I offered $45,500 and the asking price is $105,900. I like the home but want to ensure enough margin for good cash flow. Thus, this is a home I have had on my radar for the past 4 weeks. I am hoping for a price drop and I will make another offer. Have to run off to the day job. Good luck on all yoru deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Had another productive day on Wednesday. I made two new offers via the email and follow-up on a third from the other day. I like this home but the Bank wants about 80% of FMV and I will not offer more than 50%. I hope time makes them more flexible.

I spoke to the Bank President on the other Bank REO I have been tracking for the past 5-6 weeks. It looks like I should have a deal fianlized in the next few days with bank financing (Deal #6?). I want to encourage everyone that this can be done, so look in your local areas for the same type of REO bank deal. All I did was follow Dean's tips and techniques and it gave me the ability to "think a little different". I never would have tried this in the past, but thanks to Dean, he gave me the courage to try and it may pay off! How cool is that?

I even went to the theater to see the new Disney/Pixar children's animated movie "UP". It was a very good story and even the adults enjoyed the movie. I had to laugh because the main character bought an old /boarded up home and renovated it to live in. Thus, there are even bargain homes that the movie characters are finding! So keep your eyes open for the next deal!

I hope to hear about more similar deals through other DG members. Keep the faith. Good luck on all your deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Joe you are doing amazing deals now all the time. Momentum is really on your side. For an up and coming (begginer) investor like my self you are trully an aspiration. I am excited for you. Keep them coming!!!

your friend,
Shawn

Thanks so much for the nice comments and congrats. We really aprpeciate it. Anyone can achieve the same things we are doing. Just be sure to follow the information, tips and techniques in Dean's books and you will soon be on the path as well.

The key is to know your area, look for a lot of potential property deals, make a lot of offers that make sense and hopefully good things will follow. The first deal can sometimes be the most difficult but the confidence and motivation you get is great. I think of myself as a rookie football player in the NFL who scores a touchdown. You then want the ball and you want to score again and again! Dean is giving you the ball, so be sure to get in the game! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

The traffic in the Chicago Loop is heavier than normal due to the Summer festivals being in full swing. There are street closures so this causes delays in the city. Last Night, I had followed-up on a few offers and hope to find out more news in the next few days.

I hope everyone is finding some deals and will share the good news on-line. I have 2 offers i nthe works that look like I should get a reply. A REO small home around 1,000 sq ft needs a toal rehab but if we get it for uynder $5k the numbers will make sense. I also have an offer on a duplex that is part of an estate sale. I hope and all cash (low) offer with entice the heirs for a quick close cash deal. I will let everyone know how these deal work out. Also, I hope to get my DSL line back by the weekend. No at home internet service for almost a week. Good luck and have a great weekdn. - Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Aloha Friday,

As the locals say in the Hawaiian Islands! Or "Hooray it's Friday" as we say on the mainland! The weekend is what we all live and work for. I am excited becasue this weekend will be the best yet. I will have fun with my family and find a deal or two. I left work today and the Chicago Blues Festival was in full swing at Grant Park.

It looked like a fun and great event to attend, but driving around it took an extra 45 mintues to get to the open and almost clear roads. In any event, it is the weekend and time to take more action with the REI and have some fun. No update on deals or offers yet, so I hope to get some news in the next few days. Have a great weekend. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Good Morning DG Members,

It's Saturday morning and time to have some fun and find some deals. I am happy that my DSL line after almost a week is finally running again. I felt lost for the past week. It almost feels like when you realize it is the last day of a vacation and you have to go back to work. Well, I now feel connected again to the world via the Internet. I am going to look at a few homes today and drive another new neighborhood. I want to expand to a few new areas to cast my net a little larger for more possible deals in affordable family communities. Thus, I hope to find some new potential deals.

I also have to go to Home Depot to get some ideas of new lighting fixtures, doors, etc. I like to see what is on the market and then as I look at a future property, I may have an idea of something I may change like a door, lighting fixtures, etc. Sometimes the quick fix is so easy and can save both time and money (so be sure to always "think a little different").

Quick Fix Tip:
The property we recently acquired (deal # 1) had a problem wall by the back door. The wall by the back door had small holes and a crack. I could have patched the wall and repainted it, etc. But I found a long wall mount coat hook fixture for about 4 coats for under $5 (dollars)! Thus, 5 minutes and under 5 dollars made the wall look great...no patching....no painting....no mess. Have a great weekend and good luck finding those deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Well, the weekend is over and it is back to work on Monday morning. Somehow it always feels that there are less than 48 hours in a weekend? I had a great weekend looked at a few properties today and they were a little higher than I might be willing to offer. The rain finally stopped so I was able to mow the lawn and do some tree trimming. I will spend a few hours on the DG website and I will be learning more great things about REI. I hope everyone had a nice weekend and found a few new deals or potential deals to keep on the radar. Good luck with your investing. Believe and Achieve. - Joe

Hi Joe,

I always enjoyed reading your daily posting and see what you have done lately. I am always learning something new everyday.

God Bless You !!

Paul

Thanks for the nice comments, I appreciate it. That is the great thing about the DG website, there is so much great information. I forgot to leave a tip of the day, so here it is....Monday is always a busy day because new listings may be entered that the real estate agents have received over the weekend, so be sure to check the on-line listings tomorrow to see any new properties that were just listed. I do not like my job on Mondays, but the new listings for REI Monday is always a good day of the week. Good luck with REI. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hopefully something will happen sooner or later.

Paul

Well it was the back to work blues. Mondays can be the most difficult day of the week. I was able to go make it to Home Depot after work and pick up a few evergreens for the yard. I also contacted my brokers on the pednign offers and there was no updates. I hopeto hear something in the next day or two. I like a duplex that is listed at $49k. It needs a lot of work, but I think the location has potential. I offered $22,900 but there are looking for the low 30's. I will keep this one on my radar. Good luck with REI. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hi Joe,

Where is your journal for the day ? Looking forward to read your newest information.

Paul

Well, the rain is back in the area. The grass is so green and growing so fast, I can not believe the weather this Spring. The Chicago Blues Festival ended this past weekend so the streets in the Loop have reopened making commuting times a little better.

I drove by a new REO in an upscale neighborhood this evening. The asking price is around $160k and the home is probably worth around $180k. I will probably watch this one and if the asking price drops, I may come in with an offer of around $80k to $90k.

I am also watching another REO that is listed at $95,500. I have made several offers between $30k and $40k because the home has been on the market for a while. I hope to get this home for under $50k but I will wait another week or so and maybe raise my offer to $42,500. I enjoy having several properties on my radar, thus I do not get emotional about having to have any one property. I just want a good deal with good numbers for cash flow.

I emailed the broker that I wrote an offer for last week on the REO house with the bad roof that need to be gutted. I offered under $5k and the broker stated he still did not receive a response. Thus, tonight I will be looking on-line for any other "diamonds in the rough". Good luck with your REI. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

P.S. Do not forget to save the date for Dean's conference call on Thursday, June 18th at 9 PM (e.s.t.)

Your journal is very inspiring to read thanks for sharing.

Just curious...when you make these offers are you planning on assigning them, holding them, or flipping them?

thanks,
Vern

Your busy it looks like Joe and I can understand trying to keep up with the grass growing here. The rain just hardly ever stops and I got a note from my HOA about being behind alittle on that. This Indiana weather is always changing.

You have a great journal going but for some reason I always in the background hear that Indiana Jones music when reading it.

Indiana Joe and the Raiders of the Lost REO's or something like that.

But what is your take on age with the house?

My first house was a 1927 2 bedroom I bath bungalow with a full basement unfinished. Which cost me some to update which I am now selling to my brother. But this has put me on a don't buy anything old as you could get caught in a moneypit. My other houses are built in the 1990's but still wonder if the deal is good am I missing something?

Take care and keep up the great house buying!

we just read the books from Dean.
I want to know how to get homes for no money out of pocket.
we live in fl.
please help
thank you have a great day