The Journal of the Daily Adventures of Indiana-Joe

....The day started out with a little rain but was nice and sunny by the mid-afternoon. I started the day with an order of pancakes as I needed a little energy to get going. I decided to drive to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway to see the time trials and practice for the upcoming 2010 Indiapolis 500 Race in a few weeks. It was a great time as you saw the race cars zip by going in excess of 220 MPH!

I spent most of the afternoon seeing the sights and had an overall great time. This was my first time at the Speedway and it was pretty thrilling. I would highly recommend this, for the mere price of $5 a person which included parking. Now that was my best deal of the week!

I stopped off at a local gas station to fill up and picked up some Free home books. I always enjoy looking at different areas as I drive through them because you never know when you may see a deal in that area in the fuutre. If you have a sense of the areas you want to invest in, you will not tie up too much time in the areas that are not on your radar.

I hope evryone had a great weekend. Remember to check the Sunday paper, check Craigslist and look for any new real estate listings in your target market area. Good luck finding that next real estate deal. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"Success is where preparation and opportunity meet.” ~ Bobby Unser

..... The rain made another appearance on Monday morning as I drove into work. Whenever it rains it makes traffic that much more interesting. I knew Monday was off to a slow start as I inched into the city on the interstate with all the other commuters. I hoped traffic would be better on the way home, but it wasn't. This is always motivation to do a little more with real estate as I dream about getting home from the day job.

As I left work I had several errands to run but I always find time to drive a little, each night, around my target market area before I head home. This helps me to see if any new FSBOs (for sale by owner) properties that hit the market. A tip is each day of the week drive a little in each direction of your target market area because you never know what you may find!

Good luck finding that next real estate deal. Keep up the search and keep networking because good things will follow. Sometimes you have to just believe. As I heard in the air late last night....

THE EDGE IS COMING!.....
..................THE EDGE IS COMING!.....
....................................THE EDGE IS COMING!.....
......................................................THE EDGE IS COMING!.....

The can't miss real estate empowering of capabilities event for 2010! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"A single event can awaken within us a stranger totally unknown to us. To live is to be slowly born." ~ Antoine de Saint-Exupery

......The day started out quiet as I headed into work at 5:00 AM in the morning. I did not realize there was still traffic at this hour of the morning. At least the day was bright and the rain appeared to have passed. The high temperature for the day was near 60 so all was not too bad. As I walked downtown I could pick out tourists in coats and hats as many of the commuters went coatless.

As the day had passed, there was much to do and little time. I had 4 meetings today and I had to address some issues. I could not believe how time had passed and at 7:45 PM I called it a day and headed out. As I drove home, I decided to get a pizza for dinner. Thiswould make the drive home more enjoyable. I decided not to drive the neighbor considering it was late.

When I got home I did check-out my favorite zip codes and target areas on the MLS to see if anything had listed or went contingent. The night is still young so I will probably be on-line for a few hours. Its like the new Wall Street Movie: "Money Never Sleeps". I can't believe the first Wallstreet was released in 1987! Wow where did those 23 years go? Have a great week. Good luck finding that next deal! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Memorable Wallstreet (1987) Quotes:

"I'm tapped out Marv. American Express' got a hit man lookin' for me." ~ Bud Fox (WallStreet Movie 1987)

"Man looks in the abyss, there's nothing staring back at him. At that moment, man finds his character. And that is what keeps him out of the abyss......The main thing about money, Bud, is that it makes you do things you don't want to do. ~ Lou Mannheim (WallStreet Movie 1987)

"When you've had money and lost it, it can be much worse than never having had it at all!" ~ Darien Taylor (WallStreet Movie 1987)

"The most valuable commodity I know of is information." ~ Gordon Gekko (WallStreet Movie 1987)

"Everybody tells you they hate the upper East Side. They wanna live on the West Side. But believe me, when it's resale time, the East Side moves all the time. I mean what do you got on the West Side? Sean and Madonna? ~ The Realtor (WallStreet Movie 1987)

....The morning started today at 4 AM as birds were chiorping and it appeared that Spring was getting a little closer in the Midwet each day. I logged on to my computer and read a feew articles on-line as I began my day. I guess it can be true that the early bird gets the worm.

Sometimes when you start the day a little early or work a little later that little extra time can add up over time. The effort will pay dividends as you ,ove a little closer to your goals and dreams. The more you have a system in palce for what you do, the less time you have to worry about planning on what to do.

Later today, I may even drive the neighborhood before work and see what I miught have missed last night. Think of this as you morning "financial work-out". Some people get up early to jog. Well, us savvy real estate investors may get up early, but its to drive the neighborhood looking for that next deal. Good luck woth your drives around your local target areas. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“A dreamer is one who can only find his way by moonlight, and his punishment is that he sees the dawn before the rest of the world.” ~ Oscar Wilde

.....The day started off in the 80's as I prepare to go for a little breakfast. I went for some waffles and had a little orange juice by the pool. The weather felt great, but I knew the hot late afternoon air is coming. This is probably the most ideal time to be in the pool. However I went to a smal little local railway park and had a good time seeing the sights. As the temperature rose it eventually hit 101 degrees (that's hot)! We decided to catch a movie.

I could not resist driving the area and looking for some for sale signs. some of the signs surprised me but I saw an ample supply of residentail homes and a few commercial homes. A van was even parked at the end of a mini mall parking lot that said "condos for sale." It seemed like they were properties for sale down every street!

We went to get a great steak and had some "beef and brew with a view" tonight. It was a lot of fun. Later in the evenign we had enjoyed the nice weather by the pool and had time to speak with Randy, Julie, Rich and Rina. It is always great to talk real estate with like minded investors. Good luck finding that next real estate deal! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“All men dream: but not equally. Those who dream by night in the dusty recesses of their minds wake in the day to find that it was vanity: but the dreamers of the day are dangerous men, for they may act their dreams with open eyes, to make it possible.” ~ T.E. Lawrence

....I was up by 5 AM and the day started off in the 80's with sunshine. I decided to take some time and drive the local area. I noticed a great number of properties for sale but the thing that was different was the style of signs that were used in this area. They were not like my area and if you did not read them you may have easily missed they were for sale. I did stop at the local Albertson's and picked up a few of the free real estate books. I always enjoy looking at various markets.

Later in the evening it was time for the meet and greet that began the EDGE. The excitement grew by the minute! It was fun to meet so many people around the resort from the DG family . Randy (Terry V.) kept an eye out by his new mobile office just off the pool and it was fun to check-in to get the latest information and updates. Randy also told us about some great contacts he made. One of the keys is network, network, network. Great job Randy!

Chris started a Gain the EDGE 10 page on facebook, be sure to visit:
http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=lf#!/group.php?gid=124274734267236
Great job Chris! Keep up the good work!

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. The tieme is now to take action. You can do it! Be sure to look at some potential deals this weekend! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“Knowing is not enough; we must apply. Willing is not enough; we must do.”
~ Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

.....The day started off with sunshine and birds chirping a joyous song. It was the first day of the EDGE and people were lining up to enter the conference room with anticpation and joy. You could just feel the positive energy through-out the room as we waited for the BIG EVENT to begin.

We found our seats and were able to get a good view of the stage. I did not want to miss a word of what Dean or any of the speakers ahd to say. I really enjoyed the day as I have even more ideas now to take action with real estate investing.

I hope everyone is having a great weekend. Be sure to take action this weekend and see what others might not see as you look at some potential deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

“Action is the real measure of intelligence.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Hey Joe,

Just wanted to drop by and tell you how much I enjoyed meeting you at the reception here at the Edge the other night. You and Stacey have so much positive energy, and so much joy, it is really awesome to be around you guys! I can't even imagine a "down day" at the Jurek household.

I look forward to jumping back in on the REOs and building relationships with local banks, and thank you so much for the help you've already given me a few months back in working towards a deal.

CONGRATS on your awards yesterday!! For those who aren't here ----Joe and Stacey along with Rina received awards for all their contributions, success, support and giving back on DG.com! So glad you all were recognized for your significant impact you are having in changing lives here!

Can't wait to hear you share and speak today!! Will be AWESOME!! Best of luck!!
Louisa

Since Louisa spread the word about your award I just want to congratulate you. You deserve it! You continue to help folks on this sight over and over again.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

just a note to say thank you for making me feel welcomed into the Dg family.It the E.D.G.E event was all you said it would be times 20.You really got me jacked up to start putting my action plan together on the plane.I'am going to hit the ground running.

Thank You for all your help
Snelson

...Thank you for stopping by my journal. It was very nice meeting you at the EDGE Meet and Greet on Friday evening. As we become friends with many DGers on DG.com it was so great to finally meet in person. The power of sio many like minded people working together to get to that next level is such an awesome and inspiring feeling. We want to wish you continued success with real estate investign and we look forward to reading about your future deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...Thank you for taking the time to wish us congrats, we really appreciate it. The dg weboite and the EDGE events are just so tremendous. We had the pleasure of meeting and spending time talking with Louisa and so many other DGers. We look forward to reading about eveyrone future success. Thanks again for the kind words and good luck on your future deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...Thanks for taking the time to visit my journal. It was great to meet you at Dean's Gain the EDGE event. Thanks for sharing all the stories and spending some time with us after the daily sessions. Based on your strong work ethic and do whatever it takes attitude, you will be able to succeed with real estate and take it to any level you want! We look forward to reading about your future real estate deals! You can do it! Believe and Achieve! Your friends, - Joe and Stacey

Congratulations!

...Thanks for the congrats, we appreciate it. Good luck on your future real estate deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

It was a great one in fact one of the best for sure at the EDGE especially coming from somebody so positive and energetic like you and Stacey.
It was a pleasure meeting both of you. I learned so much from both of you and I will get my plan going right away.
Thank you so much.

....It was a pleasure meeting you at the Gain the EDGE event. Thanks for the nice comments we had a great time presentign at the event. This is the time to take action and work the plan for success. Good luck on all your future deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Congratulations on the award. Its well deserved. It was an honor to meet the both of you. Louisa is right; you both have such positive energy. I don't think you stop smiling ever. I wish you the best. Cheers to REI.
Blessings,
Cathy L

I just got back home from the Edge weekend and I am still flying on adrenalin!!! It was an amazing weekend and an incredible event.

I am so glad that I got to meet everyone in person. You are all so awesome!!!

This is truly going to be the year of the DG family. LET"S TEAR IT UP IN REI!!!!!!!

.....Thanks for the nice comments, we appreciate it. I would have to say that Dean's positive energy is contagious and is a real inspiration. It was great meeting you. Belieev and Achieve! - Joe

...Sunday began day 2 of the Gain the EDGE 2010. It was just as amazing as Day #1 and I learned additional new concepts. We had the pleasure of speaking on day # 2 and it was a tremendous amount of fun. We enjoy sharing our experience with others and really look forward to all the new contacts and friends that were made at this year's EDGE event. We look forward to hearing about your future real estate deals (and also Craigslist/eBay deals) on DG.com. As we spoke to so many at the event, these 2 businesses often go be run hand in hand!

I know everyone is trying to do their best with real estate and through action we can all move closer to success. Today is the day that will begin the tranformation of your life. Good luck finding that next real estate deal. You cna do it! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hey Joe,

I really enjoyed the ideas that you presented at the EDGE. I especially loved the deal that you pulled off where the bank gave you a loan on 1 of their REOs and all the additional terms that you recieved per just simply asking. If you never ask for what you want then the answer is always a No. I am going to apply the same strategy on a Mansion that I watched sit vacant for quite some time. It is bank owned and I know that the bank is losing a HUGE amount of money on it. They are asking $3.8 million for it, so my lowball offer should be fun. I couldnt help but drive over and look at it in the dark last night after leaving the Edge Event. I am starting my research into finding out which bank owns it. Then today I couldnt help but go back and show it to my Fiance' in the daylight. I just know that there is a way to make this deal work, maybe I can get a couple hundred grand at closing for rehab and make no payments for 6 months too, you never know unless you ask.

Thanks for the inspiration. You really lit a fire under me on going for REOs. I bought a business on June 1, 2009 in AZ on seller finance and am now extremely excited to apply the same strategy to Real Estate, both Residential and Commercial.

Thanks again,

Dave

Like I told you at the EDGE, I would love to bring you two home with me! Like so many of the other people you were saying "Hi Chris" before I could even get my hand out. It was amazing how down to earth you both were.

On another note, my notes were a little hard to follow from Bill O'Rafferty, I can't write as fast as he can talk. So I e-mailed him to fill in a few of the blanks. He got back to me within the hour, again amazing! My own Realtor doesn't get back to me that quickly! Hmmm...maybe I need a new one.

.....Thanks for the nice comments we appreciate it. Stacey and I had a great time at Dean's EDGE event meeting new investors and sharing our stragegies. It is so true in today's market those motivated sellers include the banks as well. Banks can be just as eager to wheel and deal. Another option on this REO is if they don't want the low offer, you can offer more of their asking price at 0% to 2% interest. Banks can do what they want and you don't know unless you ask! One good deal with a bank can lead to more future deals. Please keep me posted on this deal and your futre deals, I always enjoy hearing about good real estate deals and enjoy hearing the details of the deals. You can do it! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...It was great chatting at the Gain the EDGE event. It was great to network with you and so many of the other DG Members. Keep up the good work. We look forward to reading about your future deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe and Stacey

....The Wild Wild West!....The Wild Wild West!....The Wild Wild West!

"Heading for the nineties living in the eighties....
screaming in a back room waiting for the big boom...
give me give me wild west".... ~ Escape Club

Well that is just a song form the 1980's but I have to say that this year's EDGE event in Arizona was...Wild, Totally Awesome, ACE, Big Time and SWEET! (Since I am in the 1980's mood)

The EDGE event this past weekend was tremendous and I am sure we will be reading about the after success effects for the next several months. It is just so cook to think the impact this event had on so many people. Good luck with your future real estate deals! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

I contacted one of the partys involved with the property last night and am going on a deeper information hunt as you speak. I need to know who gave the laon on the property so that I can get around the RE Agent and talk directly to the bank about the property. It has been on the market for @ 16-17 months and they were asking double last year on the initial listing compared to what they are asking now. The property is 10.5 acres which they stopped caretaking for quite some time agao as the landscaping/grass is quite brown now. It has more amenities then I could list, but I see these as more things that I could use against them in my offer because it is more that they have to look after and/or repair.

I will keep you in the loop

Dave

...Information is key here so yoru hunt should pay off. The more you have available on a proeprty the better you can structure an offer or a counter offer. Good luck with this potential deal. You are a solution to the bank's problem and you can create a win-win deal for all parties. You can do it! Believe and Achiev! - Joe

...Attention holiday shoppers there is only 7 months until Christmas so start planning early. With any good plan the more thought and time you put into it the more results you hope to achieve by it.

I am getting back into the daily grind as I returned home form the EDGE event. The power of information is still runnign through my veins. I often sit and write additional ideas as I reflect back on the event. I have to say that I am so excited to get back and jump into real estate investing again. Anything is possible as we reach for the stars! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...It was back to reality as I headed into downtown to start another day. The heat and humidity were still lingering as I had my air conditing runni9ng all the way into work. The temperature at 7 AM was in the 80's! It was going to be a hot and humid day.

I called on a few new listings and saw a few homes bounce back onto the market. I called and inquired about them. Soemtimes when a home goe contingent and falls through can then mak the seller a little more lotivated. There is nothing like anticipating a close form a seller's point of view then it falls through.

I hope everyone is having a great week as we head into a long holiday weekend. Make this weekend count and work your action plans. Good luck finding that next deal! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

"One isn't necessarily born with courage, but one is born with potential. Without courage, we cannot practice any other virtue with consistency. We can't be kind, true, merciful, generous, or honest." ~ Maya Angelou