The Journal of the Daily Adventures of Indiana-Joe

...I had the "Monday Morning Blues" as the weekend flew by. This was going to be a busy week as I have 3 meeting today and need to prepare for an out of town meeting. The day went by super fast as it was meeting to meeting and before I knew it, the day had almost past.

The weather has been decent in the high 60's so it is noce to be out for lunch when I can. Today was a day that I did not get out until after 5:00 PM. The drive home was not too bad as traffic moved along at a faster than a snail's pace.

When I got home I had to mow the lawn because this is the time of year that every 5 days it is ready for another cut. When I was young, I use to mow lawns for people in the neighborhood and I enjoyed April-May because the grass grew so fast, the green was a great scene!

I looked on the MLS listings on-line and sent an email to my relator and a few others. I enjoy keeping up with the local market each day. I hope everyone is having a great week. Good luck finding that next deal! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary.” ~ Steve Jobs

....Tuesday was here before I realized what even happened to Monday! I drove into work and had 2 meetings for today. Today is also election day in Indiana so after today all those election signs they will be thrown away could make great badit signs! Rememebr the key in this business is see things as to what they can be, not what they currently are.

I had another whirl wind day as I got throug hthe day and left early to vote. You should vote to have a voice and change things when needed. If you don't vote its hard to express concern over what happens in your area. .

I hope everyone is finding a good lead that will become their next deal! Be sure to drive your local area, network by word of mouth and be sure to follow-up with your realtor on any new listings that meet your criteria! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“Optimist: 1. Person who travels on nothing from nowhere to happiness” 2. “Optimist: Day-dreamer more elegantly spelled” ~ Mark Twain

....The day started out extra early as I woke up around 4 AM to catch an early flight out East. My employer requested that I attend a training conference in New Yory City. I headed to the airport and made pretty decent time. The airport is one place that you have to give yourself plenty of time and not be too surprise by "sticker shock" of parking prices or snacks/beverages. It is almost as though movie theaters, ball parks and airports compete to see who can charge the most for snacks and beverages!

The flight went by rather fast as we landed on time and I grabbed a taxi to the conference. The conference was for three days and the information was packed from start to finish. I checked in and barely had time to grab a bite for lunch. The day was long and by evening I took a walk to get a bite to eat, and I also got a little exercise walking around a Central Park.

I headed back to call it a day and was surprised my laptop was having connecting issues. Thus, it was going to be a week free of emails, but I also had internet whithdrawal because I could not keep up with the DG.com website and my other favorite sites! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“Let your mind start a journey thru a strange new world. Leave all thoughts of the world you knew before. Let your soul take you where you long to be...Close your eyes let your spirit start to soar, and you'll live as you've never lived before.” ~ Erich Fromm

...The Conference was moving like clock work and each hour we learned more information. As the sunlight came through the windows I could feel the outside just calling. I decided to go out for our lunch break and I found a local pizzeria. They had tasty pizza, not as good as most Chicago pizzerias but still pretty good.

The day went by as we headed into early evening. I decided to venture out to grab a bite to eat and walk around the area. I walked around Tiomes Square and did a little window shopping. I stopped at the M&Ms Store in Times Square as they were passing out free M&Ms with pretzels in a blue bag. These were very fresh and rather tasty.

I grabbed a bite at a local restaurant and pub. This time I opted for the healthy fish dinner. It was almost as tasty as those Pretzel M&Ms. To my surprise I looked at many of the free books on the corner and could not find any of the free real estate books/magazines. Once again the day flew by and night was upon me. I headed back to the hotel and wanted to get ready for the final day of the conference Friday! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“A great leader's courage to fulfill his vision comes from passion, not position.” ~ John Maxwell

..Friday was here and it was the last day of the trainign conference. The day moved by quick but by the end of the day, the traffic was anything but moving. Chicgao has bad crawling traffic however here the taxi moved so slow down the side streets I thought the cabby would need to feed the meters because he was parked more than he drove!

I was able to get out of the airport at a decent time and made it back to Chicago by late evening. The week was over but the weekend would be here before I knew it. I was glad to be back in Chicago as I knew tomorrow dinner would be Chicgao pizza. Unfortunately, there was some bad news and each day can be brighter but there always seems to be challenges and struggles which is part of life. You just have to do your best, even when you face a small challenge or a mountain of pain.

I hope everyone had a great week as we head into the weekend. Don't forget that Sunday is Mother's Day and make it a special day for all Moms! Do your best and make this a happy and special weekend! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.(Christopher Robin to Pooh)” ~ A. A. Miln

Sorry Indiana-Joe, didn't write down the password for the pdf, and had to submit some of my info again to get it. Hope it doesn't mess up your stats. Should be finished reading the book today, and on my way to setting up the Craigslist and E-bay accounts. A great read,and practical guide, btw. Lets see what happens when I put it into action. I don't have much of my own items, to auction. I'm always dropping off boxes and bags, at the Salvation Army, City mission and other places. I'm a chronic Spring, Summer Fall and Winter cleaner, lol. My family is always complaining I toss everything out. And I have to admit, now that I realize I could be making money with old stuff, it has given me pause. I don't keep anything, lol, but now I can at least learn to try selling before tossing.

..The only items I've kept over the years, is a rocking horse from the 80's and a small box of toys and baby clothes. ...Think they're worth anything?

Do you recommend the premiere paypal account be set up in the business name?
Does paypal allow for you to set up more than one account?

Here's to a new adventure!

Kim

could you send a little bit of your "don't keep anything" my way? i'm so bad about pitching stuff and my honey is even worse. he doesn't throw anything away.

Thank you for taking the time to read my new book and offer feedback. I apprecite it. In regards to stuff to sell, you never know what others may want. It is always worth the effort to see what sells. The expression of "one person's junk could be another treasure" is often so true.

As you find what you enjoy selling and what sells best for you will probably become your niche area. As you network with family and friends, you may find even more resources of items to sell. In regards to Paypal, I think it may be best to start with a regular account. This helps you become familiar with the process and then over timne you can explore the other options based on your internet business and the volume. Good luck with you new adventure. Buy Local and Sell Global! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...That just means you have access to a potential treasure trove of items to sell on E-bay;) !

I'll be hunting for treasure, but it'll be fun, finding out if I can achieve some level of success with Craigslist/E-bay.

Much success!

Kim

I just have to give you a very big thank you for sharing your strategies. I contacted an asset manager yesterday and he told me they'd rather sell properties without using realtor but have to get the properties off of their books quickly (2 weeks or less). The property I had called about that they owned was already sale pending which is how we got into the rest of the conversation. They have more properties but I was driving and pulled over to write down his email so last night I did send a follow up email requesting more info on the properties that are available and such. I didn't go into asking if they would finance back to me yet but we'll see. I just thought I'd share here so others can learn and follow as well. So anyone this is possible and all you have to do is make a couple phone calls. It wasn't bad at all.
Thank you and I am so so excited to meet you at the Edge event.
Blessings,
Cathy

...With Paypal the choice is up to you to have more than one Paypal Account. Paypal's User's Agreement allows for only one regular Paypal account and a second Paypal account is only allowed foir a busness. Thus, you cna setup a regular account and a Premier or Paypal Business Account. If you do this you should have 2 different email accounts and 2 different bank accounts (personal and business). One for each, your personal and your business. More information can be found at:

https://www.paypal.com/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=p/gen/terms-outside

I hope this helps. Good luck with the internet business! Buy Local and Sell Global! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...Thank you for sharing yoru recent experience with the Bank Asset Manager. It is so ture that so many banks have properties and they are eager. Can you imagine, I bet there are even banks out there hoping for a call! The thing is, other people need to take the first step and contact the lcoal banks in their area because what if a bank in your local area is waiting for your call?

Keep up the good work and keep building the rapport with the bank asset managers. I look forward to hearign about your future deals! Contacts today can lead to great deals tomorrow! Looking forward to meeting at the EDGE! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....Saturday was here rather fast as I returned homefrom out of town. There were many things that needed to be done and it was a long and at time stressful weekend. Sometimes in life there are things you can control and other you just have to find the best way to deal with them. I often think about the movie Forrest Gump where Forrest says his mama told him that life is a box of chocolates and you never know what you are going to get.

A really great part of my weekend though was to share my new book with everyone! I am so happy about having the opportunity to write the Craigslist and eBay Profit from Home Book for people. I believe this book can truly help change your life! If you are looking at making extra cash, this is a great option! Be sure to get your free copy of the book before time expires! I want to thank Dean for his encourgement and inspiration to write this book and for helping me get it into your hands! I look forward to everyone's feedback and comments. Good luck to all with the contest!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Don't forget about Mother's Day on Sunday. I hope it is a terrific day for all especially all the Mothers out there. You are a role model and a hero to your children! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"Life's a box of chocolates, Forrest. You never know what you're gonna get." ~ Mrs. Gump

...Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms! Your day is never done and sometimes you wonder when will it end, but you know you are a huge part of what gets the family through those tough times. Moms, keep up all the good work!

Happy Mother's Day to my wonderful wife, Stacey, and my wonderful Mom who helped guide me to the person I am today. My Mom has been in heaven for many years but will always be remembered.

Make sure you make Mother's Day special for all the Moms in your life! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"Mothers hold their children's hands for a short while, but their hearts forever." ~ Author Unknown

"We never know the love of the parent until we become parents ourselves." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

"The mother's heart is the child's schoolroom." ~ Henry Ward Beecher

"Who is getting more pleasure from this rocking, the baby or me?" ~ Nancy Thayer

"Mother - that was the bank where we deposited all our hurts and worries." ~ T. DeWitt Talmage

...The week started off with having to take care of some things thta at tiems you wish you did not have to do. The best thign you can do during times like this is keep the faith and keep moving forward. Sometimes in life we face challenges and do not understand some of the uphill battles we face. The bets thign one can do is keep the faith and keep moving forward.

The day yesterday was a very long day even thoguh it was only 24 ours, it sure seemed a lot longer. I know that tomorrow will be another day and a fresh start. Whenever you have a bad day, think about making tomorrow your do over or fresh start.

I hope everyone is having a great Monday as we head into Spring the weather has been funny. The temperatures have been around 40 degrees i nthe evening so my furnace is still running a few late nights. Good luck finding that next deal! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“When you have come to the edge Of all light that you know And are about to drop off into the darkness Of the unknown, Faith is knowing One of two things will happen: There will be something solid to stand on or You will be taught to fly” ~ Patrick Overton

...It started off as a very cold dreary day around 42 degrees! Later in the day the sun came out and so did a few lawn mowers in the neighborhood. It always seems like a little rain this time of year makes the grass grow a whole lot!

I called a few potential elads back on soem rela estate proeprties but nothing materialized. I did have a few property offers rejetced but I will keep these homes on my radar. I believe after the Summer there will be even more opportunities. The key is watch the market every few days to see what and where is selling and for how much.

I am excited that so many people have enjoyed the free Craigslist and eBay book. I hope you were able to download your FREE copy. The contest has kicked off and I can't believe there will be one lucky winner on their way to the Caribbean! Wow, not only an opprotunity to make some extrat cash but a free trip to fun in the sun!

I hope everyone is having a great week. Keep up the good work! Keep making offers and good things will happen. You cvan do it and that next real estate deal is right around the corner! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“What do you first do when you learn to swim? You make mistakes, do you not? And what happens? You make other mistakes, and when you have made all the mistakes you possibly can without drowning - and some of them many times over - what do you find? That you can swim? Well - life is just the same as learning to swim! Do not be afraid of making mistakes, for there is no other way of learning how to live!” ~ Alfred Adler

...RAIN, RAIN GO AWAY, COME BACK ANOTHER DAY!
It has rained and rained and rained the past few days as the lawn is soaked and the rivers are rising. We are looking forward to a little sunshine. I like great weather and sunshine because when it rains more people decide to look at property rather than have fun on the weekends.

I put up a few bandit signs this past weekend in my local stores. I really enjoy meeting and talking with new people that might be looking for a property. The more people yo ucan network wih the better! Always remmeber that everyone you meet knows someone that can probably help you with your real estate business.

I am getting ready to go to a few garage sales this weekend. It is great becuae I can network with people, find deals for eBay and occasionally a lead on a property. This is multi-tasking at its finest! It is not more work, just more efficient use of the 24 hours we all have.

I hope everyone is having a great week. Keep moving forard and keep learnign each and every day. The benefits will be there as long as you work hard, work consistent and believe! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"I believe that being successful means having a balance of success stories across the many areas of your life. You can't truly be considered successful in your business life if your home life is in shambles." ~ Zig Ziglar

Joe,

I wanted to be the first to wish you congratulations on your journal celebrating its One Year Anniversary on May 14, 2010! (Can you believe it has been a year already?) Who would have ever thought in one year how much we would learn and share about real estate. I enjoy reading your Adventure Journal just as much as many of the other DG Members. Keep on reaching for the stars and inspiring others along the way! We are very proud of you! Carpe Diem! :0) - Stacey

Hi Joe,

Took your advice when scouring the neighborhood looking for FSBO. Also kept my eyes open for good trash thats set out for garbage day.
Came up with a 6.5 HP self propelled Scotts lawnmower. Looks like it needs routine maintenance. Had oil in it, somewhat clean, had a few squirts of gas in it, hit the primer and after 2 pulls it started up.
I will now drive neighborhoods on their garbage days and look for FSBO's

"There's gold in them there garbage cans"!

...Thanks for stopping by my journal and sharing your story. A lawn mower is something you can always use. I often find old storm doors. What I like from the storm doors is the windows, screens or the handles, these types of items usually break and it is good to have potential spares for the rental units. Keep up the serach for the next deal or the next gem on the curbside. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....The day staretd out with more rain and cold; however by the end of the day it was almost 80 degrees! The jumps in the temperature is amazing as we are experiencing up and down weather in May. The mornign can start with a coat and by the end of the day you are enjoying the warm breeze and the rays of sunshine.

As the grass grows, it is now easier to spot vacant hoems with for sale signs. A vacant home may indictae the seller could be a little more motivated to sell it as they experience monthly carrying costs. If you see long grass with a for sale sign, it coudl lead to a deal. If the sign is a for sale by owner, call and see what you may discover.

After several days of rain it is also good to be out and about in your neighborhood. Many neighbors are mowing their lawns so it can give you an opportunity to network and meet people, The more you network, the better the odds at finding more leads to more deals! Thus, keep building and expanding that network!

I hope everyone is having a great week as you prepare for the weekend. Be sure to check-out those new listings in your lcoal target market area. If homes are selling or contingent before you found out about them, you need to step up your efforts to know what is happening in your local areas. Good luck finding that next deal! Belieev and Achieve! - Joe

“Home is a place you grow up wanting to leave, and grow old wanting to get back to” ~ John Ed Pearce

Just wanted to congratulated you on your journal's 1 year anniversary. Also congrats on your book. Much continued success to you.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

...Thanks for stopping by my journal and the congrats, I really appreciate it. I can't belive it has been One Year with my Daily Adventure Journal. Time does fly when yoru having fun! Thanks also about congrats on the new book, "Creating Profits Using Craigslist and eBay as a Home Based Business". I am fortunate to have the opportunity to share what I have learned and I look forward to a brighter future for all DG Members! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....I just had a big piece of cake, ice cream and all the trimming to celebrate my Daily Adventure Journal's One Year Anniversary!

Believe and Achieve! - Joe

.....I finally got more sunshine after a few cloudy days! The weather was picture perfect on Friday as it was sunny and near 70 degrees for most ofthe day. It was a pleasure to be outside and have the bility to soak up the sunshine!

I took the day off and decided to go to a few garage sales and cruise the neighborhood for new real estate listings. I did not find too many properties I had an interest in but it was still nice to drive the area and be able to go out for lunch.

I made the rounds posted some bandit flyers, left some busienss cards at the usual places and picked up the latest Free home books. This will give me some good reading material for the weekend!

I hope evryone had a great week as we head int othe weekend. Be sure to get out and explore your local area for any potential deal. You can make it happen! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“As you begin changing your thinking, start immediately to change your behaviour. Begin to act the part of the person you would like to become. Take action on your behaviour. Too many people want to feel, then take action. This never works.” ~ John Maxwell

Look how far you and Stacy have come!

I have a deal I want to make and offer on to a small local bank, I am so nervous! They have told me that they will entertain any offer.
This is 3 houses owned by the same bank form the sam forclosure. They are brand new construction and 2 are rented out,which rent for 875/mo. The list price is 160 each, which is too high.
My concern is not making the offer but that my credit fair, my debt to income is terrible. Do I have a chance here?
What I was thinking about offering is 100% financing and 30yr am for all three senarios; 6% interest rate with a purchase price of 180K(60k each) or 4% rate with purchase price of 210K (70k a piece)or 3% rate with a purchase price of 240k (80k each. What do you think??

...Thank you very much for the congrats, we really apreciate it. Sometimes we can't believe it! We owe so much to Dean, his books and programs because they do really change lives! Believe and Acheve! - Joe

....You want to make sure the numbers work for the deal. You might want to try to back into your offer amount. By that I mean you know that you will be receiving $875 in rental revenue each month. Based on your insurance, property taxes and other expenses, annualize this out to a per month cost. Then see what is left over.

For example, if you taxes, insurance etc are $375 per month, this will only leave $500 for princpak and interest. The bank should understand this concept so you can offer a high interest rate at a lower purchase price or a higher purchase price at a lower interest rate. Net - net it works out the same but the bank may prefer one over the other. This is the max you could go on a mortgage for principal and interest. You want at least a break even cash flow but prefer a positive cash flow. Since the homes are new they should not need too much in repairs. I Hope this helps. Good luck on this triple deal! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....I decided to get up and finally get my winter gear cleared out of my car trunk. I had a 50 pound bag of rock salt for additional weight and my snow brushes and a shovel. I figured since I am in Mid-May I am more than clear of snow and ice.

I took a ride becuase the weatehr was great and saw various new areas. Soemtimes when the weatehr is nice and sunny it feels good to be out and about. I stopped off for some lunch and made the round of erands through town. I was reading about the Indianapolis 500 Time Trial and practice starting today for the Big Race on Sunday during Memorial day weekend. I have never been to the time trials so I figured I would go this year. Later in the day it started to rain so I put off this plan until Sunday.

I hope everyone had a great week and is enjoying the weekend. Get out andabout an locate that next deal. I hear it in the air. Can you hear it? ....GAIN THE EDGE 2010!!!..... Its almost here! (Oh-YEAH!!!) Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“If it’s not scary in qualifying, you’re not going fast enough.” ~ Buddy Rice

(2004 Indianapolis 500 pole and race winner Buddy Rice talked about the challenges of qualifying for the legendary race.)