BCRELLC NEW JOURNAL

Saturday before the storm hit I went house hunting according to my buyers wants, I located 2 homes that fit my main buyers criteria, Today I researched them in order to find the owners, one looks like its been taken over for taxes and the other looks like it may be a probate property. kind of exciting to me that i found these 2 homes that i may be able to get really cheap. the tax lien one from what i can see was filed in August, so i am hoping i can contact the owner and give them some money to take over their rights to the home and pay off the back taxes, then sell it to my buyer for a nice profit. I wrote a letter to the owner and now have to mail it and hope they get it and respond.
The other one , I noticed a attorney's name on the doc, this home by what i see was left to a serviving family member in 1968. I think they must have passed also and the house is just boarded up,but located in a decent neighborhood. I have to look into how i find out about that one.

good luck to all.
Richie.

Congrats on your new journal and your new direction. I wish you the best! Maybe you already know but just in case you can check with the court house to find out who the rep is for the probate property and contact them directly.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Thanks Lea for the suggestion, And the same to you on your success.

B.C. I love your way of thinking, using several paths to realize one common goal of real estate success. I pray that God will grant you your desired success soon. God Bless.

Sandra

Thank you Sandra, that was very nice of you.
I have missed seeing you and Laburtha on here lately. I hope you are busy doing deals.
Wishing you the best for the holidays.
Richie.

12/22/09
Mailed out letters to both properties tonight. Now I need to find out who has paid the most recent taxes on them in case they are being controlled by someone other than the owners i found.
Listened to Deans call tonight with JJ, As always it was awsome, I picked up 2 things that i will try in order to get more buyers. While I was on the call I recieved an e-mail from an investor I sent an e-mail to about 2 months ago, She said she forgot about me for a while but will call me after the holidays about working with her. So thats cool, I check all sites each day looking for investors that may advertise on that day. It worked a few times, and i also went back months in the postings once, and that is where I found my best buyer. SO if you do the work you will succeed.
good luck and god bless. Enjoy the holidays1
Richie.

Tonight I did 3 hrs of going through profiles on LT and sending e-mails to potential cash investors, man my eyes hurt ;( I even came across a good friend from here and sent her a message
I am hoping to get replies from the letters i send out, but I have to go into another area to find properties that my buyer wants. probably will do that after the holidays. Anyone that would like to get their feet wet bird dogging for me in Brooklyn please contact me. I will tell you the area's i need. I will pay 500.00 for each deal any of my buyers close on.
Richie

Ok, holidays are getting in the way the last 2 weeks, I have done a little here and there but not enough. I did receive one of my letters back marked undeliverable as addressed ,I dont know if they mean it was the wrong address or that there was no forwarding address for the property.
I als have recieved 2 more e-mails from investors, I dont even remember sending them anything recently. I guess I sent so many e-mails that some people are just opening them now and responding every day i continue to build my buyers list a little at a time. I cant tell you how many hrs i spend on different sites looking for investors advertising. I have planned to attend a few REI meetings again. but more importantly i need to get some properties under contract for my current buyers.I will hit the streets after this weekend since i am going away for 3 days.
( the trip I cancelled a while back ).
I also spoke to a woman at work about a propety next to her that is vacant because the owner passed away 2 yrs ago. the property was in the owners brothers name and he passed away before she did, so i am not sure on how to get this one. I know there is no mortgage on it. Well as I promissed myself I am going to be the old me, the guy that never gave up until he accomplished what he set his sights on. So I am moving forward with a full effort and not excuses as to why i didnt or can't do something. sometimes that old theory of looking yourself in the eyes and asking yourself what is wrong with you, really wakes you up.
never give up on your dreams.
You can have anything you want in life as long as your willing to work for it because no one is ever going to hand it to you.

Ok, I am back and ready to move forward, I set myself up to go property hunting again this Saturday in my investors desired area's, they are not very safe areas' but that is where he wants to buy. I will get in and out early in the morning while most people are sleeping. The day light thing really kills my searching because when i leave for work its too late to go looking and when i get off its already dark, so that leaves me the weekend which is when i usually spend time with the family, So i have been getting up early on Sat & Sun and going out and am back before anyone is up besides my daughter.
I havent been able to find the owners of those 2 properties i found earlier, but i will ask a few people i net work with if they have any idea on how to find the controller for the properties. The woman from work never got back to me about the house next to her , I think she doesnt want an investor to get it, she was saying her mother was going to try to buy it and rent it out.
going to 2 REI club meetings this month to start networking some more. I am still undecided if I want to join the one Laura is in.
good luck to all, I hope to have some progress to report soon on those 2 homes and some others.

Congratulations for starting your real estate journal it is a great way to stay focused and share your effort, insight and knowledge with other DG Members. It sounds like you have been busy with several activiites. I have some ideas for you on the investor area that you want to check-out. If you have limited time to view the properties during the day see if you can find some bird dogs to spot home for sale.

The bird dogs could include cable tv installation people, meter readers, phone land line installers, or one of the best is the local utility company in your area. Usually the same people doing turn on for new service and shut of or lock-offs of old service. Most of these people see everyday what is goign on in the area you wan to target. I hope this helps and good luck on all your future real estate deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

I found another part of the city web site but not what i am looking for, but i did find out that i had the wrong zip code on the letter that came back, so I just put it in another envelope and am sending it in the am, I also found out that that house is a legal 2 family. I searched the web and picked up another 6 leads for possible investors, recieved a call today from a guy but i think he is just starting out, he kind of admitted he was advertising like he was an experienced investor then told me i can learn from his guru for a price. I told him no thanks that i already am involved and don't need to do that. But i told him to keep in touch and maybe we can network on a deal or more. always good to keep the book open.
Joe, thanks for the tips, I think I may ask my neighbor to keep an eye out, he turns off the gas lines on houses and commercial buildings all over the city,so i bet he see's alot of vacant homes in his travels. thanks.
Richie.

Sat morning I got up early while the family was still sleeping and went out on my house hunt. I took my GPS and a printed map of the area's in case I got lost. I spent about 2 hrs driving up and down blocks in the neighborhoods my buyers want to do business in. I located 4 properties that were closed up. Went home and pulled up the info on them, I printed out letters to all of them and tomorrow will mail them to the addresses on some and to the owners on the ones i found their adresses to. Sent a e-mail to my buyer just to let him know i have located properties and will contact him as soon as i get them under contract. They are located in a tough Brooklyn neighborhood, but i can see its a busy area as far as renovations are concerned. I also took a phone number off a house that was being renovated, The sign said we buy houses, So i assume the people renovating are investors.
Do the work and you will succeed.
RICHIE.

Mailed out my letters tonight, I also just recieved an e-mail from a cousin I havent seen in a while and she asked me to talk to her bank about doing a SS on her home. She hasn't lived in it for yrs, her and her husband live on their boat, the house is actually around the corner from me, I know its in good shape but I am not a short sale person. I told her I would call and hook her up with some of the SS connections I have. I may be able to get a fee from them on it.
I am waiting for a response from a few i sent messages to.
you can have anything you want in life, as long as your willing to work for it.
Richie.

Mailed out my letters tonight, I also just recieved an e-mail from a cousin I havent seen in a while and she asked me to talk to her bank about doing a SS on her home. She hasn't lived in it for yrs, her and her husband live on their boat, the house is actually around the corner from me, I know its in good shape but I am not a short sale person. I told her I would call and hook her up with some of the SS connections I have. I may be able to get a fee from them on it.
I am waiting for a response from a few i sent messages to.
you can have anything you want in life, as long as your willing to work for it.
Richie.

Mailed out my letters tonight, I also just recieved an e-mail from a cousin I havent seen in a while and she asked me to talk to her bank about doing a SS on her home. She hasn't lived in it for yrs, her and her husband live on their boat, the house is actually around the corner from me, I know its in good shape but I am not a short sale person. I told her I would call and hook her up with some of the SS connections I have. I may be able to get a fee from them on it.
I am waiting for a response from a few i sent messages to.
you can have anything you want in life, as long as your willing to work for it.
Richie.

Has been a while since i posted. Well not much progress lately, I have sent letters to all the abandoned homes I found that fit my buyers criteria but still havent heard from anyone. But I have been keeping busy adding buyers to my list every day. It is actually becoming fun getting replys from buyers.
I recieved 2 more yesterday and now am feeling the presure to get something under contract!! I just need one reply from those homes i found. On another side I have been working on that SS with my cousin but a terrible thing happened after i spoke to her Tues night and set her up with my RE attorney for representation. So i will have to put that on hold until she is ready to move forward again. But I know she did promise to sign a PA with me as soon as the bank gives her the price. I already have buyers interested in it. I also had a HML call me yesterday but i missed his call. I am calling him back today to see what his lending perimeters are.
thats all for now.
moving like a turtle, but still moving
Richie.

Remember Louisa's post on the Tortoise and the Hare. LOL. You're gonna make it! You're a winner!!

I subscribed to your journal when you started it, so I've been reading all the posts in my email. I didn't realize I hadn't come in to post yet! Sorry! You're one of my favorite buds, so I have to keep my eye on you!
Great job with all the time you're putting in and on building that buyers list!

You might want to try calling the owners now of those vacant homes. Or, if they are within driving distance, maybe pay them a visit. You know what they say, sometimes it takes hearing something 7 times before a person takes action. I would at least try sending out another letter, maybe on some colorful stationary, and hand-written?

Again, congrats on all the action! Good luck wit the SS, and keep us posted.

your friend,

Rina

Hey, friend. My problem is I cant find the owners, I tried the google thing but maybe i am doing something wrong with it. I will take your advise and send another letter. I thought the same thing as you and hand wrote on the envelope figuring it may catch their attention,especially since i have the worse handwriting in the world. I think what I really need is to get a day that I can go to the court house and find out who paid the taxes on them last. Its just hard because my 9-5 hrs dont allow me the time to get there before they close. but I just now got an idea, maybe I can hire someone for a day to go pull them for me. hummmm your rubbing off on me Rina I will have to look into what they would have to do in order to get me the correct info.
thanks.
Richie.

Give me one of the addresses. I'll see if I can find any "tricks" to help you out. I'll donate a little time to a 9-5 guy. (ONLY you though. lol)

Rina

That's a good idea about hiring someone to help you out. If it really bothers you about your handwriting (I don't think it would bother anyone else, just as long as the PO can read it ) maybe you can ask someone with good handwriting to write the envelope? Somewhere along the line I've heard that 4 letters should be sent. At 1st it sounded silly but we have received calls at the 1st, 2nd, 3rd & 4th letter (Rina I never heard about the 7 times hearing something before it sinks in - good info, thanks.)

Take care,
Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Yea Lea, I just sent out new letters to 2 houses and I have to write new ones for the other 4 and send them out this weekend. thanks for the reminder about sending a letter more than once Rina, sometimes you forget some of the little things. I think I may hire someone for a day to go to the court house and look up the taxes and see who paid them last. I want to get atleast 4 other houses for them to look up so its worth me hiring them. I know a few college kids that I can hire. puts some money in their pockets and helps me get the info I need. win/win
I am Going to talk to 2 FSBO I found in my neighborhood this weekend to see if I can get them under contract for a decent price and sell to my buyers. I promised myself I am going to do this. My buyers are asking for homes and I have to come through for them.
oK, I went to lunch and drove to the house Rina was trying to help me find the owners on, grabbed a slice of pizza across the street and knocked on the neighbors door, first one no one home,second one a young guy answered, I asked him if he knew who owned the house next to him, but he said he doesnt know. That was a little uncomfortable for me but I did it.

On my way to talk to the FSBO in my neighborhood, Definately is not my cup of tea because I am usually quiet and not aggressive, but I know what I want and this is the road I have to take.
SO today I am going to talk to those owners and then I have some family duties to take care of that will take up the rest of my day, But I promised myself to do something each day even if its getting more buyers on my list.
good luck
Richie.
you can have anything you want in life as long as your willing to work for it.
No one is going to hand you anything.

went and spoke to one of the owners on the 2 FSBO I found.The other was not home. The guy I spoke to wants 1.2m for his house. Its a 2 fam beautiful spot waterfront with the manhattan sunset in the back yard,the house is awsome and very well kept. But 1.2 is kind of crazy for my town, SO I spoke to his neighbor to see what he heard and he said that he has like 200k in liens against him from the DEP. So i am guessing that is why he is asking so much ,so he can pay off the liens and make a profit. In this market I would say 700k is a good price for it but he wants his price. Went to a meeting last night 1 1/2hr drive in traffic. I wanted to see if I could add more contacts through it. I didn't stay too long but met a few people and left my card. they will be mailing me a list of everyone that attended so we can network. another letter that i sent out came back undeliverable, so back to the drawing board on that one. I have been a little idle this w/e with a death in the family and now a friend yesterday, but I will be picking up this week. I sent an e-mail to my agent kind of asking him to decide to either be aggresive and work with me or let me know If I need to find someone else. He has some properties that I would like to bid on that are forclosed but have been on the market for over 90 days.
So that is another end I need to sew up. I have to lock something up to feed to my buyers because they keep contacting me.
I decided to follow up with the woman at work and asked her why she didnt want to give me the address of the vacant home next to her, She said she forgot and gave me the address on a paper!! I looked it up and it shows its on a tax sale document. I now have to see how I can find out what happened to it. I know there wa no mortgage on it ,so this could be a gem.
good luck,
without action there is no result.

First of all I'm sorry about the loss of your family member & your friend. I will keep you in my thoughts and prayers.

I commend you for talking to the FSBO owner (and attempting the other one) even though it isn't your cup of tea. Even though the price is high you must feel pretty good about that. And heck, you never know what may happen with the other one

I wish you the best with the vacant property.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Thank you Lea for your prayers, It has been a tough week, but I have to refocus and move forward.
I am really excited about the one from the lady at work. I think I found something on it already and am going to have my wife follow up while im at work. I still have 2 more FSBO to call that i found today when i was going to lunch with my work friends.
I will update you when I find something on these homes.
Richie.

Wow Its been a week since I last posted!
Well I have been busy,I went back to speak to the guy with the house on the water and asked him what he would accept if it was cash and he said 850k. I gave him my card and asked him if he would send me pics of the inside and the layout description so I could advertise it. He never did it so I am not sure if he is really that serious about selling or if he is hiding something.
Moving forward, I went house hunting in Brooklyn for my buyer looking for vacant properties that are not on the MLS, I found about 10 and just finished writing letters to the owners. I spent last night researching the properties to find the owners. Went to the post office for stamps and picked up more envelopes, letters will be mailed in the morning. It was a wild day searching for the properties, I drove into a swat team in action !! scared the hell out of me lol. They even had the tower up in the air with tinted windows so you couldn't see in. I am not use to seeing cops with m-16 rifles or what ever they had running down the street. So I got out of dodge and moved on a few avenues away.

good luck to all and never give up on your dream.
Richie.

I've got a mental picture of you driving really fast through the streets to get away. WOW!

I'm looking forward to hearing about how it goes with the 7 letters you sent.

Take care,
Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Damn Richie you've been in my backyard all of this time and I did not even know! Shame on You! LOL Man you dont know how excited I am to know that a serious REI guy like yourself is right here in the same stomping grounds as me. You are also in your "Fight for the First". "Man we are really about to get it poppin!," as they say in those tough neighborhoods of Brooklyn I have been reading up on in your journal entries. Before its all said and done I think I could show you how to dip in and out of those quesitonable spots of BK that your investor are so interested in with ease, and you could introduce me to those Million dollar water front properties you have been working with.

Long story short Richie, its nice to meet you under these circumstances, and I think I was just saying in one of my entries about how I love building relations with other RE professionals because you never know where its going to take you. I did not even have to go far to find you. Dont get me wrong Richie, if you were some fly by night, wanna-be REI, I would not even waste my time reaching out to you, because in this life we live, and in this REI game that we play, and of course in this Fight for the First, time is to precious to waste on individuals who are not willing to do what it takes to make it happen. BUT you Richie, since I ever made contact with you interactions on this site, I always felt like you were an expericed investor weather you had done no deals or 100 deals. And what really stands out about you after reading you journal is your preserverance. Its like you read an enrty to your journal, and as it goes sometimes in the nature of life we have those rainy, snowy, hurricaney, earthquakey,(you get the point) DAYS, AND as I read I always wonder, how is Richie going to react to that (I read and paid special attention to you, because you are knocking on the same doors that Im knocking on! lol) and of course Richie you come back and keep on fighting. I mean someone like you I rather fight with than against because with the fight we have, we both would end up in the hospital. Its probably just a NY thang. LOL NO pun intended to my other DG Family across the land. LOL

Just to think.....Laura said I should check you out because she thought you were in my neck of the woods, but for some reason I thought you were in Connecticut or something. Well to cut a long story short (Sometimes I get happy with my fingers.) ITs nice to know that any given moment I could just happen to run into you viewing a house or something. As a matter of Fact if you ever see a shiny tow truck that says "Reggie's Towing" with a young kid inside, bopping his head to the music, 9 times out of 10 thats me. lol WE will definately have to put our heads together and take advantage of all of these opportunites we have right here in NYC, and I have a feeling that you are the perfect person for the job.

Best Regards,
Shane Gore

I recieved a pm from some one about a week ago asking me what happened to a letter I posted that I wrote to potential investors. SO here it is.
The one for buyers I will post also.

letter:
Have you ever thought about investing in real estate? Real estate is the best and safest way to invest your money,especially in the current market. The stock market is a scary place to put your money these days and the bank doesnt give much in return. Why not make you savings earn high interest in a short time. Your return will be incredible in a short period of time. I am currently adding cash clients to my list of financial resources that want to invest in a high return market.
In the agreed upon time frame you collect your money with your profit on top.
I will pay 10% interest only on a monthly basis on the money invested.
within a 1-year period I will cash you out. That is a lot more than your money is earning right now sitting in the bank collecting 1-3% interest.
Will you make 10% monthly on your money during a 12 month period in the bank?
( the amounts loaned are obviously negotiable)
PLAN: My plan is to buy REO homes 50% below FMV ( Fair Market Value) using the strategies I learned. I will then fix up the homes and resell them below the going rate on simular houses in that area for a profit.
Some homes I will buy and hold for cash flow, in which case I will cash you out within the 12 month period. I am also offering partnership on projects where we will split the profits.
This is a great opportunity for both of us to make a lot of money over the next few years with no sweat or effort on your part!
About me: I have been a student of Dean Graziosi's, he is a self made real estate millionaire.
I am up to date on all the new buying technics and strategies that Dean has established and teaches to his students.
Over the next 3 years I will be making more money than ever before by buying and selling property I get at low prices and fix and flip for high profits.
I will of course work with promissory notes and use the property as collateral with you as first lien on it so you are secure in getting your money back.
If you are interested in making high profits on your money please contact me.
XXXXX

XXXXX
feel free to use and tweak it as you see fit.
I hope this helps someone.
Richie.

lol Lea, it was funny after I got out of there, and it turns out It was 10 properties in all, I forgot I found some in the news paper that are going to auction. I sometimes am not sure if I did the right thing putting my biz cards in with the letters because I don't know if the owners are getting them or someone in the neighborhood opening the mail because the home is vacant. oh well I guess I will see.
I have to say it does feel good when I get home and look at how many properties I found each time out. I am sure it will pay off eventually.