The Journey to Freedom

Hi Lea, thanks for the post and info. Thank you I was going to write my own and WalMart had some plastic signs with the stakes but like $4.15 for 1. So I appreciate your time in sharing the link and I will check it out.

I knew Greg Murphy made his own with like some wiring stuff but I'm not that talented, lol.

So anyway thank you and off to go to the link.

Cathy L

A new day, a new month, and last month of the year. Well finally talked with the loan officer at the bank about the house and there was something wrong or not completed with the title work. They said they would call me so that's good. I had a nightmare that my credit score went into the crapper as Greg Murphy states it and the bank wouldn't give me the loan. Man how your mind can play games with you.

Realtor called me and she has a couple that for some reason, didn't ask yet about it, but their credit score dropped and so lost qualification for some of the gov't loans and such. So realtor asked if through our group if anyone is doing rent to own or lease option is what I call it. I was driving and asked her to email me some of their criteria so I can find them a house to lease. The thing is they don't really have money for down payment necessarily but after they do taxes which may work out because I don't have a house yet and it does take some time to close on a property. So this could be an awesome opportunity for me. He has a good long standing job and the credit score is 600+ so it's not too bad.

I called my mom last week on my way home from something and I just told her I have to do something that I don't like my job anymore and my emotions sometimes have more control over me than I do over them and I teared up. That isn't massive action is it and won't get me to my goals and/or dreams so I have to replace that frustration with action, I know.

The thing is I have a 'good' job meaning it pays well, flexible hours (I don't have a certain start or end time to my day; this can be good and bad). I'm kind of a floater right now traveling from building to building and don't always know where I'm working on some days. I have to drive quite a bit too. So I need to put massive pain to my real job which is why I think I get upset about it. I know there's something better, freedom! And massive pleasure to real estate investing and invest more time into it and take action. This is my focus and I need to tell myself this everyday.

I am driving to Atlanta, GA for a business seminar and stopped overnight at a motel. It will help me with real estate. And I don't know but got introduced to another home business and I want to do both but don't know if I should. My thought is to get it started and then my daughter can help and possibly take it over with me supervising and such. Another thought is not everyone wants to do real estate so maybe this will give them another avenue; I don't know.

Also at Thanksgiving talked with my brother in law and his brother. They might be interested in getting more properties so I need to get their criteria and be the wholesaler and help them at the same time and maybe be partners on some properties. They did one property and have it rented out currently.

Well this is a long one but alot on my mind that is now off of my mind because it's in this journal.

Blessings Cathy
You are Amazing Girl!
CAthy

Happy Saturday! I'm at a business training in Atlanta, GA. Very exciting and meeting new people, networking.

I met a gentleman who is a pastor and business owner. But we had a great conversation about what his church is doing in ND. The church is buying properties and renting out or using for their own needs too. Their market is opposite of most of the country, not enough houses due to the oil industry and more workers in the area. It was really cool to talk to someone about it and learn about another part of the country's market.

Well that's about all for now. This is an amazing event and will help me to increase my income, improve my relationships, and have fun doing it through a proven, successful system! Woohoo!

Cathy L

Well. Called the bank on the accepted deal but hasn't closed yet. It's very close the lawyer was getting all the title work and everything together and lender should call me this week for closing day so we'll see. Next there's a new investore in our area just getting started, Lane, and he's a go getter so watch out for him and I wish him great success!

Tomorrow night is our REI meeting with a special guest; I can't wait to see who it is and that will be the highlight of my week.

Then recently an idea popped into my head. You see I work a PRN job and it's not every week just when they need me to do evals or some extra help. But I have the idea to quit doing that and jump out in faith to trade that extra 'money' to trade for the time I'm investing in it and put it towards my REI business which in the end will result in more money and better use of my time. After that thought another light bulb lit up brightly to tell me to drop to 4 days a week at my full time. I talked to my regional director and she thought it would be okay as long as I talked with everyone else. This would open up my time tremendously; my only fear is that I would waste that precious commodity but I have people that can keep me in line.

Then something else came up; I had been introduced to this other home business and this was the third time in 2-3 years. Even though I do ask God; he's the one that brought it to me and I keep hearing him to do both and I asked him, How? Haven't heard back yet.

I am excited and nervous about this house that I'm rehabbing and then rent out. I haven't done either one of these yet so lots to plan and do.

I have to get organized and Focus!

You Can Do It Girl!
Cathy L

I am so, what's the word...oh yes - STOKED about our REI meeting tonight. I wish it was earlier to have more time to talk with the guest speakers. Work is crazy. Cloudy, rainy day after snowfall yesterday. I just truly want to thank all of the DG staff and members; it's just awesome to have this site to keep us on the right track. Hope all are getting their Christmas shopping completed and presents wrapped and food prepared.

Merry Christmas to All!
Cathy L

...Glad to hear things are moving along as each day is a day to accomplish more and make progress. It sounds like your maximizing your time in real estate and coming up with creative ways to get more time out of each day. Keep up the good work and have a great time at your real estate investment club meeting. It is always so much fun to network with other real estate investors. Happy Holidays! Believe and Achieve! - Joe

....It was very nice to see you again at the Quad cities real estate investment club meeting on Tuesday evening. You have a great group of people and Greg is an awesome group leader. We are so happy for you on your recent REO deal, keep up the good work. Each day you are getting closer to your dreams. 2011 will be an awesome year! We wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a happy, healthy and prosperous New Year! Keep up the good work! Believe and Achieve! Your friends, - Joe and Stacey

Joe and Stacey,
Thank you so much again! It was so nice of you to take that time to speak to us and the drive too. 2011 is the year! You both are an inspiration to many. I cannot wait for the Edge 2011! I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Blessings,
Cathy

Cathy,

Just stopping by to say hello as it has been awhile for me! Thanks for commenting in my journal awhile back. New baby has taken my online time away from me (but is totally a blessing of course!) so I've been working at it the past month, but haven't had a moment to report here!

I hope you are feeling better about the frustration about your job. I have TOTALLY been there and feel for you. I was able to step out of the 9 to 5 last year and get a "coffee shop" job for a little while to focus on real estate more, but even that....when you start mopping floors, you think....seriously? Am I really doing this day in and day out!? (especially when you are 6 months pregnant...ha!) Real estate really paid off for me in a big way this past year, and I know that you are determined, and still at it, and have such great things around the corner....just a matter of time before more and more deals will happen for you and you can say goodbye to the J-O-B!! Can't wait to celebrate with you at an Edge conference when you do!

So glad you got to be inspired the other night by Joe and Stacey...how awesome!!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours!
Louisa
p.s. I hope your daughter is doing well! Don't know where she ended up in college but she has continued to come to mind due to her singing and all we talked about!!

I just wanted to stop in and wish you and yours Merry Christmas! Also wishing you a happy, healthy and prosperous new year!

Lea

Louisa,
Thank you so much for taking the time to stop by. I do have one deal pending and waiting for closing date, but in the meantime I am looking at quite a few REOs and such.

Thank you for thinking of my daughter! Very interesting you asked I just emailed her not too long ago about like 3 places that I thought she might be good for her to attend and believe it or not she was thinking of 2 of the 3 anyway. But I told her the Carolina's when in reality I was thinking of, excuse me if I spell it wrong, Centenary, in Louisana. So I emailed her back and sent her the website so she can check it out too. I actually had to go back into my old pm's to find your response. So thank you for the information. She is enjoying her time in Germany. We are planning to skype with her Christmas Day and see her open presents we sent to her. So that will be fun!

Thanks again for your encouragement! I, too, realize it's a matter of time and diligent work and not procrastinating. Work is work and right now is paying the bills or at least most of them, haha! I am so happy for you to have that gorgeous baby boy, Zachary, he is adorable!
Take care,
CAthy

Thank you Lea! I wish you a very Merry Christmas and Joyful New Year! And to many many many more deals!

Thanks always for the encouragement and support! This is my extended family for sure!

Blessings,
CAthy L

Let's see went to my cousin's house for the evening for a bit. It's a beautiful snow globe day in the Quad Cities. I think it's still snowing but gorgeous. No word from the bank so wait til Mon.

Well so much on my mind but don't know how to express it tonight! I just plainly love my God, Jesus Christ, and I celebrate Him everyday not just Christmas as so many others do too. He's been so gracious and kind to me and I think He is best at patience because He is wanting me to succeed in a big way! It's up to me to jump off in complete faith and not by sight!

Merry Christmas to all!
Cathy L

Hello. It's another cold, cloudy day here in the midwest. I hope all my DG friends in the east survived the blizzard storm and are okay.

No word from the bank as of yet on closing on my 3rd deal. My short term goal is to close an assignment deal in the amount of $3,000 minimum for month of January.

Steps I need to take:
completed finding some properties through automated emails from realtor and wrote down info.

-research on internet using www.totalviewrealestate.com the properties FMV, etc
-look on county site to search last sold value and tax info and also who is owner of property
-set up day to look at properties (min of 5); wanted it to be tomorrow but have to call realtor as she may be out of town
-I need to fill out application for a different credit union that I've had for weeks now and haven't completed it to get proof of funds, I know I can use coastal funding too. I want this done by Fri.
-put in offers and then wait

I have set goals before and not achieved them so disappointed in myself for that. But I know goals are important but I think I did what Dean talked about in his video blog that I made these huge goals and then didn't take any action to achieve them. I will give update as I achieve these short, small baby steps.

You can do it! I believe in you!
As IndianaJoe says:
'Believe and Achieve!
Cathy

Well I missed to register as a tax buyer at the local county tax sale which is okay because I haven't researched this area long enough yet. The sale is tomorrow at 9 am. But I would like to go to see who is buying the properties and just expand my networking. There's a dilemma with my full time work schedule though so not sure if I should attend tax sale or pass until next year and be more prepared, etc. These are the times I wish I had someone to consult with to figure out what to do. I do have a flexible job schedule but yet do have some obligation to make sure I get everything done and I have no idea how long it will take and I have about an hour's drive to work.

uggh!!
Cathy

Would your flexible job schedule allow you to work out of your home at least once in a while? This could save you 2 hours of drive time that you could devote to REI.

Were you able to attend the tax sale? If so how was it?

Try to be gentle with yourself about the goals you haven't reached yet because you WILL reach them. I know you are keeping your eye on the prize. Believe me I know where you are coming from when you say this. I used to think the same way but thanks to Dean I've changed that. Do you have the Edge 2009 Video? If so it is worth taking the time to watch it. Dean talks about entrepreneurs having the tendency to focus on what we haven't accomplished isntead of what we have. We all know that you have what it takes

Lea

Lea thanks so much. You have no idea what your words mean to me. Yes I have the 2009 Edge and need to go back to it as I don't think I watched everything so thank you for sharing. I am putting it in right now as I type this!!

No I can't really do my job from home. I work as an occupational therapist in long term care settings and most are about an hour one way. I do have to give up this prn job I have as I usually do it on Sundays and I did it for the extra money but without realizing the time it's taking away from REI. I just don't know how to tell them because I don't like leaving someone in a bind but I guess I need to just stop caring what other people think all the time.

Thank You again Lea.
I will keep my eye on the prize. Actually today I decided to reread Your Town Your Profits and I'm redoing the 7 levels and will compare with my earlier post on it. I know 2011 will be an amazing year for us all.

Oh, no, I didn't make it to the tax sale.

Blessings,
Cathy L

Can't wait to hear your thoughts on the Edge 2009

I thought you would appreciate hearing that my neice is moving to Germany this year I think in May. Her work schedule didn't allow her to be with us during the holidays and then she lost her job recently. She lives across the state.

I'm sure it will work out with your job the way you want it too. If you give them enough notice they'll be OK. It is important to be fair to those you are working for/with but you also have to look out for number one.

Lea

4 days into the new year. I emailed bank about closing date; some issues with the title work so I guess it's worth the wait to have a clear and clean title. In the meantime I did ask to see if I could get into property this week to make a game plan on the repairs and what needs to be done and also to make sure nothing has changed since the first time I walked through.

We had our REI meeting and that was very good. Got another idea about finding buyers using the 'ahrn.com' website. It's through the government for those that are in the service and civilian workers too that need housing. I'm sure it's been mentioned on here but you can see who has properties for rent and contact, etc to place on your buyer's list. I got inspired too as one couple has 3 pending deals and one they got for $5,000 through a private referral; then another couple has 2 lease options and they had never done that before; both sellers just wanted out and the buyer (in our group) just took over payments and has tenants in place or will have anyway. I just thought I'd share that things do work out. It just built my belief more. It's a great place to network, etc.

You go girl and get that $3,000 assignment fee; keep your eye on the prize (thanks to Lea for that one)

Cathy L

Today this am on Jan 5, 2011 I reviewed email from realtor about a couple that she referred to me for a possible lease option. So now tonight I am going to look on internet for homes that will meet their criteria. Also I am going to library tonight after work to research other properties to meet goal for $3,000 assignment fee. At home there are too many distractions and to be honest I get lazy so I need to do something differently.

Also I sent email to realtor about the couple and she offered me to come to her home and work from her office so will schedule that too.

Blessings,
You Are Worth It!
Cathy L

Check for going to library and looked up 13 properites I had in mind.
Check contacted realtor and going to set up looking at some properties on Fri (I'm taking day off of work, regular job that is)
Found some really good possible deals if that makes sense. I have to go back and think like Matt again and repeat my May 2010 deal but make it better, haha!
I thank Lea as you are such an inspiration for me to keep my eye on the prize and Lane for making me realize or at least renewing that prize.
Oh I had more to say,
My daughter and the legacy I want to leave them is the prize and that they don't have to struggle the way I am or did.

Library closing so got to go.

Blessings,
Cathy

I still consider you way ahead of me because you have deal(s) under your belt. I am taking action everywhere else but there. I need to get a deal in the works!

Thank you Lane. However you are more like Matt in taking the massive action that needs to get the job done. I also know though I am not Matt; you are both driven by focus and action and goal oriented. I'm sure it wasn't always that way but once you make that decision things happen.

I sometimes forget or put down what I have accomplished so thank you for reminding me.

WE both will get that deal this month I just know it.

Blessings,
Cathy L

Wintery day, cloudy, with chance of snow I hear or looks like. I don't really watch the news; my mom will usually tell me the big stories or the weather, etc.(using someone else's time, haha).

Talked to realtor she said the couple is in a home and she recommended to them to stay put for now so I am going to put that on the back burner for now. My goal continues to be $3,000 assignment fee; originally I thought $5,000 but I'm still a newbie and want to build a good reputation.

I did research 13 properties on internet at library last evening and found some great possibilities. Actually 1 (well more than that)but this 1 would be a good buy, fix, and flip for my extended family (brother in law and his brother) because they already bought 1 and renting it out. Also they said they would help me with my property when it closes. It would be great if down the road to set up a LLC for us as a family. But need to stay on a straight path right now for assignment deal.

I did find something interesting and kind of irritated me but I don't know how the government works. There were 2 properties that when I looked at totalview it had the sold value from different date that assessor page and then on county assessor's page it had a sale date in 2010 for a price way over the value of the property. Well here is what I found on these 2:

HUD home: 2BR 1BA Totalview last sold price is $63,000 on 7/16/2007 and estimate price is $60,594, LP is really low.
Okay tax assessor page last sold on 8/2010 fro $82,005.00 (I don't get this other than taxes, fees, etc. so maybe that's where all that printed money is - going back to the government)

FannieMae (gov't): 2BR 2BA this one wasn't as significant but still high. Totalview last sold $83,500 on 10/06/2006; and estimate from Totalview is $86,090 and tax assessor last sold 5/2010 for $88,045 and LP is low but not like the above example. What the h___ is our government or those in control up to anyway. Those who have the gold make the decisions. Only thing is our country is probably out of gold. Boy I think I'm getting way off track and opening up a whole can of worms that there's really nothing I can do but go get that deal.

Just thought I'd share what I saw and see what others might know about it.

I did send email to my realtor with the listings I was interested in to see if still on market or what and also DOM (days on market).

My plan is on Fri to look at as many as I can; do my numbers and finally submit my offers by Sat or even Fri via email and/or have realtor do contract; she has blank ones with my signature so makes it easy to fill out.

I also would like to stop by Greg's most recent acquisition, duplex, that he's repairing so we'll see. The best birthday present would be to get some counter offers and a property locked up by end of next week; makes me nervous even saying this but anything is possible for my Big G God. I've done it once and i just need to repeat that like Richie told me.

Blessings to anyone reading this.

Love Ya Girl; You are Worth it!

Cathy

Off to Bolingbrook today and Woodfield mall in Shaumberg (near Chicago). I had a great birthday yesterday.

I got to look at the property I'm going to buy, fix, and rent and the bank let me keep the key even though we haven't closed yet. Found out that there was a title issue from the 70's on it that needs to be cleared or something. Anyway I wasn't able to look inside houses but found a few that would be good ones to buy and flip. And 3 looked good to buy and hold but... not sure of funding on those others so could possibly assign them.

I also stopped at Greg's duplex he bought and is fixing up; it's a complet gutting job; huge as it's 3BR and 1BA both parts.

Well got to get on the road. I did stop at a bank to get an app too and it's electronic as well so started on that and will finish Sun.

That's it for now.

Goodbye! Stay warm; it's cold here, brrrr!

Cathy L

Good going on the properties! You've got good things going on! I'm looking forward to hearing more about this.

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY!!!!

Lea

Hi Lea.

Thanks for checking in on me. It looks like you and Denny are making progress and meeting lots of new cash buyers, etc. Way to go! I truly appreciate your support as always,

Cath L

Almost 1/11/11.

Let's see. Oh Met my investor friends, Wanda (mom-worrier) and Molly (daughter-numbers, deal maker); they had an amazing year last year adding 4 properties to the 2 they had from year before so total of 6 and 4 are college properties with students, woohoo! We had talked about in the past doing a buy, fix, & flip but didn't go any further than talk. Now we met last night to discuss doing one and looked up properties that I had driven by and some they had marked. We are going to look at 1 on Thurs in afternoon; very excited about it working out. We'd split it 3 ways and I hope it all works out in the end.

Nothing new yet on my house that hasn't closed. My realtor said it can take months to clear title work so I don't know all I know is I need to not wait for it but move on to get my assignment deal. Wouldn't it be great to do the assignment deal, get a house under contract with Wanda & Molly to flip, and get my other house closed by end of Feb. That would be awesome.

Dean's blog was great. I have to get that assignment deal as most of my credit cards are maxed out, yikes, mostly for business education and training on them. I know I will get them paid off by end of this year.

I don't understand why some nights I'm ready at 7 pm to go to bed and other nights my mind is racing and I just don't feel tired at all. I think I'm going a bit crazy right now, haha.

It's been strange these last 4 months without Autumn home. I missed her horribly especially over the holidays. Lane has been very helpful in making that my why part to get moving faster in REI. I do want to visit her and I think it would be about $5,000 to do it for a few weeks as I want to go to London too and see my cousin which we could stay with him.

I guess I need to get to a travel agent to plan it and find out the cost and make that my goal right away.

You are Worth it, Cathy

Love ya Girl!!!

You could be on your way to see your daughter if you just did one or two assignments! Get it done! I know you can and want it bad!

Thank you so much and yes I do want to visit badly. Keeping my eye on the prize. I did talk to my realtor about my plans for doing another assignment deal and using the transaction lender's proof of funds letter and funds if needed. I'm very excited. Much to do tonight but worked later than usual and won't be home until like 7:30 so better leave work as I punched out and wanted to quickly check in so to speak.

You Go Girl!
Cathy L