The Journal of the Daily Adventures of Indiana-Joe

....The day started out with taking a drive to the local grocery store. I wanted to beat the holiday rush. Christmas Eve is the busiest grocery shopping day of the year. I remember back in high school when I worked at a grocery store we could not keep the shelves stocked. It was unbelieveable the amount of business that store did on December 24th. Every empoloyee had to work on Christmas Eve.

I made another offer on a property that was rejected. I waited 3 weeks and made the same offer. We will see if the seller is a little motivated to move the property. I also called another realtor to check on our Wednesday offer. We had to wait to submit offers until the owner occupant offer period expired. My realtor will submit my low offer on Wednesday. This property needs work but if I can get it for my price it will be a deal.

I contacted a few more asset managers today. They were eager to share what they had available. One even told me about some vehicles that also had. You never know what you may find as you continue in search of that next deal. I also have been getting several calls about owners selling vacant parcels of land. This is a hard property to purchase becuase it can be very speculative, usually does not generate income but has expenses.

Make sure you get your shopping done. There is only 2 days to go! Make more memories this holiday that will be cherished for years to come. The key to a happy holiday begins with you! Make the most out of this holiday. Good luck wrapping up that next deal. Look for the motivated sellers with the big red bow. It is the time of season to give many offers and you may receive a deal in return. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"Christmas is not a time nor a season, but a state of mind. To cherish peace and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy, is to have the real spirit of Christmas." - Calvin Coolidge

Merry Christmas and the Happiest of New Years!

Karen

....Thank you for stopping by my daily adventure journal. We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2011! We hope Santa brings all the things that were on your list this year! - Joe

.....Merry Christmas 2010 and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year 2011!

...Friday is here and so is Christmas Eve 2010. All the countdown an all the preparation and the Christmas holiday is almost here. Remember when we were young what anticipation we had. We could not even sleep over the excitment of Christmas morning. Be sure to put out those cookies and cocoa tonight!

I did some last minute shopping and the malls were packed wall to wall. I also wanted to do a little rela estate shopping too. I called about a new listing. A realtor was going to show me the proeprty howver his wife in the background was screaming at him for be willing to go out on Christmas Eve to show the property. Therefore, like a scolded child, he said I will have time early next week. I wished him a Merry Christmas and stated that he needed to tell his wife Merry Christmas from me and don't lose sight of the holiday spirit. She laughed when he told her. Sometimes people get too caught up in the doing rather than taking the time to relax, rejoice and celebrate the season!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday. Make the most out of today because tomorrow can be whatever you want it to be. If you hear that "thunk" on your rooftop, it is not your tv attenna, be sure to not spring out of bed right away because you may miss out on some goodies from Santa. Good luck locking up that next deal. Believe and Achieve! HO HO HO from Indiana-Joe!

Quote of the Day:
"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year." - Charles ****ens

Another year in the books and a year wiser when it comes to life and real estate. May all your Christmas and Birthday wishes come true as the adventure continues into 2011. You are an inspiration to all whom know and love you. Best Birthday Wishes! Love :0) - Stacey

"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be, the last of life, for which the first was made." - Robert Browning

"May you live all the days of your life." - Jonathan Swift

“If you can dream it, you can do it.” - Walt Disney

I didn't know today was your birthday. HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!

Lea

Indiana Joe and Merry Christmas to you and yours!

AND HAPPY BIRTHDAY JOE !! well wishes and continued success in the yr to come to both of you .You should be getting DOUBLE the presents joe !! thank you both for all the inspiration and knowledge you share with all of us.WE cant wait to see you at the edge !!
jay and family

.....Thanks so much for the Birthday wishes. As I get older it always feels like the year goes by faster. At least by being an active memebr on DG.com I know each year I will become wiser with real estate. I hope each of you had a very Merry Christmas. Have a great last week and a new year! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...It was a White Christmas in the Midwest as we awoke to about 4 inches of fresh white snow that blanketed the area including the shimmering, glimmering snow covered trees and bushes through the sunlight. As you walked outside the "crunch" of fresh snow under your feet and the quiet and stillness of the air. Most people were inside and probably sleeping in so there was no hussle and bussle this morning on the local streets.

As I made it to the tree, Santa did make his annual stop in the Midwest. There is nothing like Christmas morning. I had a glass of Eggnog, a few Santa cookies and we topped it off with a chocolate Fannie Mae Pixie (Fannie Mae's version of a chocolate turtle). As the Christmas oldies played on the radio it was a picture perfect morning.

Later in the day we had our turkey and all the trimmings. We gatehred with some friends and family and enjoyed telling stories of Christmas past. I feel like every year there is so much more to share. I celebrated another birthday as I often think about how Christmas must have been for my Mother years ago. Each year I reflect on that year and wonder what is ahead for the upcoming year. This year has been filled with some ups and downs but I am truely grateful for the new opportunities and friendships that have come my way. I have had the good fortune to meet many new real estate investors while helping others along the way.

The holidays are such a wonderful time of year. Each year you can make the most out of anyday, the choice is up to you. I hope everyone had a great holiday today. Be sure to jump back into your real estate activites on Monday and get a jump on the "to-do" list for 2011. The new year will bring tidings of comfort and joy! Are you ready for that next opportunity? Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others' burdens, easing other's loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of Christmas." - WC Jones

This is a beautiful post, Joe! I was right there with you tasting the egg nog and cookies.

I know that you had a lovely Christmas and a Happy Birthday and for that I am thankful.

Here's to a monumental 2011 for all of us (lifting the glasses of egg nog, clink, clink)

Salut!
Karen

...The holidays are a great time of year with family, festivities and fun. It is always nice to have family and firends around to celebrte Christmas and my birthday. Today is going to be more cake and fun. Looking forward to the new year! Wishing you a wonderful new year filled with many new opportunties and deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

We hope you had a happy day.

God Bless you and your family Joe.

Bears over the Jets good stuff.

Steve and Veronica.

OMG...had no idea your birthday Joe! Happy belated birthday!

Happy New Year also to you and Stacey! Thanks for being a friend and for inspiring us. See you in May!

...Thank you for the Birthday Wishes, I appreciate it. The afternoon was just as good as I saw the Bears game and they moved one step closer to a first round bye for the playoffs. This is going to be a good week! Have fun and hope to hear more about your future deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

i didn't realize we shared a Christmas birthday. Happy belated Birthday and i'm glad you had a wonderful birthday/Christmas. i had someone tell me i am double blessed because my birthday is on Christmas Day. so you must be too!

...Thank you for stopping by my journal and for the Christmas and Birthday wishes. It is a true belssing to be born on Christmas. Sometimes you get birthdasy gifts wrapped in Christmas paper but thats ok. Hope you have a wonderful new year. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

My baby brother was born on Christmas and he seemed to always get more gifts then everyone else. Being born on Christmas has great benefits! Hope you had a Happy Birthday Joe, and love reading your adventures.

Starting fresh and with a new attitude in 2011.

joe,

This year I found out that my family (McCaskey's) actually own the Bears! Maybe I can put a good word in for you!

Chris

It was exciting to watch your interview with Dean and now I see why you two are so successful. Dedicated, hard work, creative thinking and offers by the numbers! Good Job! Will be checking out your craigslist/eBay book..I'm really overwhelmed by all the computer can offer, but for now I'm lucky I can send an email..that's progress for me. Semper Fi D-LO

Tried to check out the last page of your Journal on this site and it just came back to your first page...page 2 took me back to the same page, too. Am I doing something wrong or did you get so busy you stopped journaling at this time and started up again somewhereelse??? Please PM me..just in case I can't find this site again. Thanks!

...Thanks for the birthday wishes. It is always fun to think back about being young and getting all those gifts from Santa and birthday gifts too. It is usually nice because I often have my birthday off from work. Thanks for stopping by the daily adventure journal and good luck with all your deals in 2011! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

...Thanks for the insight. Sometimes in life its just like real estate its not what you know, but who you know. So, will my Bears 50 yard line playoff tickets be under "Indiana-Joe" or " cbrindamour" at the Bears will-call window? Or should I look for tickets to a Sky-box? Have a great week! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

........Thank you for stopping by my daily adventure journal. One of the keys with real estate is to find other power team embers to assist you. If you are having a little trouble with the computer find others that can help./ Most realtors can assist with hard copies of listings, etc. Just try to do and learn a little each day. You can do it, just work on a system that works best for you.

In regards to the journal entries, each page always shows my first #1 post. When you scroll down from there each post is numbered. There are more than 40 pages on my journal with over 1,300 posts. I hope this helps. Good luck with real estate investing. I look forward to reading about your progress. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

.....Can you believe Christmas is over already? WOW, all the preparation and anticipation and it is over already. Well, at least we have the New Year to look forward to. I often would think when I was younger that there should be more time between the Christmas and New Year holidays. They come so fast and go so fast. However, this is the year! Right? A time for goals, chaneg and achievement! It all starts with you.

On Sunday I drove the area and called a few listings. i realized that many realtors take off between the Chriostmas ands New Year holidays. I could not get any realtors on Sunday. I guess I am just ready to jump back into action. I just need to find some realtors that want to answer their phone.

Later in the afternoon I followed on some rpevious emails. I found a for sale by owner. I got there email andemailed thme a few questions. It was ironic becuase they wanted $70,000 for their home. I did not email thme back and they dropped to $60,000. Over the weekend they stated their rock bottom price would be $55k! Wow a $15,00 price reduction in a matter of days. I believe this seller is just the mnotivated selelr I am looking for. I will go take a look at thier proeprty on Monday. I am looking forward to it.

It's year end and I keep getting more emails from REO managers in the gretaer Chicagoland area. I will spend most of the week screening, sifting and sorting through these properties. I also will be submitting an offer on an REO for around $55k. I keep on submititng the smae offer each few weeks and they keep counting $3 to $5k lower. Hopefully, I can lock this one up by the end of January. I hope everyone has a great week. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Quote of the Day:
"Flaming enthusiasm, backed up by horse sense and persistence, is the quality that most frequently makes for success." - Dale Carnegie

I continue to network with people here on the DG site and on **** and a few other sites. Found two more cash buyers today. Found 6 vacant houses in Moline alone just in a 3 block radius. I am working with my wholesaler in Rhode Island. He is lagit. Just found 2 more potential wholesalers. I think this is what I am going to focus on first to get some cash built up for using as earnest money on my own deals in the future. I want to get into some buy and holds so I can have that constant cashflow each month to fund future deals I do. Keep my work paycheck to pay my bills with and use my REI profits to fund my REI deals.

Where do you want them? I will see what I can do.

Hey Joe,

I hear you are training at REI clubs in Ohio. Want to head further east?

...It sounds like your off and running to a great start. The key is keep doing it and the deals will happen. Each day if you do a little to help your real estate business you will see the long term results. Buy and holds are a great way to build wealth as long as they cash flow. The stream of income generated from buy and holds can fund your early retirement. Good luck on your future real estate deals. I look forward to reading about your progress. Believe and Achieve! - Joe