Tammy's journey to refinement and FREEDOM. GREAT THINGS ARE HERE!

Be sure to ck Bill O'Rafferty's post today. Might be of interest to you.

Thank you! Went over to take a peak. I went over to your blog today and it is smoking! You have been buuusssyyy! PS. I sat in Jim's chair.

So I'm working with my lender and at the very beginning I told him I WILL NOT escrow taxes in insurance for any reason, had a lengthy conversation about it and told him NOT to bring me documents escrowing taxes and insurance. Why? I did this ONCE, and lesson learned. It is NO FUN getting a tax lien off your credit, getting the bank to pay the late fees due to their negligence of NOT paying the taxes, and months of headache through the whole process. This happened before I had kids. If I had to deal with something like THAT right now with 4 kids and all the other stresses of day to day life I would go CRRRRRAAAAAZZZYYY!! I will NEVER allow a bank to escrow taxes and insurance if at ALL possible for this reason. I trust myself to make those tax and insurance because I have 5 properties, whereas a bank has 100,000s of 1000s of them and I'm the lucky one who gets to deal with the consequences of them not making the payments to insurance and the assessor for taxes. I've never made a payment on them late. So... what does my lender come back with...

On one of my rentals, oh, you need to escrow taxes and insurance. #&^%@#! So, I'm waiting on the outcome to get that changed. Nothing can ever be easy! And so, we wait. Also still waiting to see if the appraisal on the other property will be looked at. We have a good case that the appraisal is not representative of the area of the city the home is in. Especially since its a track home and an identical one sold for $50K higher than the appraised value. (but it can't be used as a comp because it is from August ). We'll see.

This morning I read the Good Book and turned to Proverbs, and wanted to share this great chart. The Bible I'm reading is a Life Application Bible, and it has great organized lessons, and this one was on Diligence and Laziness. I realize in many things I've been very diligent, but there are a few areas I have been a little lazy that I need to improve upon. I have to be honest with myself and ask 'am I being fully diligent?'
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"Diligence: Being willing to work hard and o one's best at any job given to him or her

The Diligent...........vs................The Lazy
Become rich..............................Are soon poor(10:4)
Gather crops early.......................Sleep during harvest (10:5)
.........................................Are an annoyance (10:26)
Have abundant food.......................Chase fantasies (12:11)
Hard work returns rewards (12:14)
Will rule................................Will become slaves (12:24)
Prize their possessions..................Waste good resources (12:27)
Are fully satisfied......................Want much but get little (13:4)
Bring profit.............................Experience poverty (14:23)
Have an easy path........................Have trouble all through life (15:19)
.........................................Are like those who destroy (18:9)
.........................................Go hungry (19:15)
.........................................Won't feed themselves (19:24)
.........................................Won't plow in season (20:4)
Stay awake and have food to spare........Love sleep and grow poor (20:13)
Make careful plans.......................Make hasty speculation (21:5)
.........................................Love pleasure and become poor (21:17)
Give without sparing.....Desire things but refuse to work for them (21:25,26)
...................................Are full of excuses for not working (22:13)
Will serve before kings (22:29)
.............................Sleep too much, which leads to poverty (24:30-34)
Reap abundance with hard work.....Experience poverty because of laziness (28:19)
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OMG I love Proberbs my Pastor always says that business women and men should read a Proverb a day....I try really hard to do that it is full of wisdom and knowledge.

Thanks for sharing!

I hope things are going better for you and your family now.

Thanks for the Proverbs.

Steve

Tammy! Stick to your "guns" for as long as you can on no escrow for taxes & insurance. There are worse things than it being on the credit report that can and do go wrong.
Hope all else is improving!

Thanks for posting the Proverbs.

It certainly does apply to REI!

Karen

Wow ,you have the drive of ten investors!!! Amazing determination that you show day in and day out.I hope you and hubby work together to accomplish the same desired goal of both retireing young and spending valued time where and when you wantwith your children.tremendous drive you have and are an inspiring real estate investor !! Keep hitting the rei pavement you rock!!

Jay

I just want to say I am impressed at how much you have done since thanksgiving. you have kept at it with an impressive amount of vigor, and it has got you so far. I see the daily frustrations you have had and when you look back on them, you pushed past them and stayed focused on your goal. I want to say to your husbands support issues he always seems to step up and do what is right for you. We all say things out of stressful situations that are not what we really want to happen but may feel in the moment to be an easy solution to the stop the source of the stress. Don't stop believing in him because he is there for you. In the end your goal seems to be to get this success for both you and your family, and without him you don't have a family. Keep up the outstanding work, and thanks again for your inspirational journal.

I haven't read my journal, I see there are some replies, but I need to really narrow the time I spend reading here, so I am designating specific times to reply I have to !

So, I've done a lot this week. Looking for properties for several people, met and FOUND and actually INVESTOR friendly agent (who happens to be broker). He actually was very impressed with my knowledge and asked me why I wasn't a broker. I told him I took the course several years ago but never pursued it due to the conflict of interest with investing and he did say he understood, but that it would only stop some deals from happening. I'll have to consider it, but I know there are a lot of fees associated with being a broker and I don't know if I'd have any agents to cover the costs, and getting the time to be an agent and an investor.

Listened to Rich Dad, Poor Dad, what an awesome book! And, completely redid my website content and added many pages. I am just finishing up the foreclosure part. Check it out and let me know what you think (www.zionpropertiesandinvestments.com); There are a few pics of my rehab progress under 'properties for rent' (The Chino property), but I really need to get a wide angle lens and learn how to do a virtual tour of the house. I have a digital camcorder, would that be the right thing to use? I can't even get my videos to upload on youtube because they're too large. I will have to figure it out somehow.

Have had a lot of response from the sign at the Chino house; hope to have it rented by Feb 1st! Still fighting the impound accounts tooth and nail!

All the best, it is certain we will succeed!

Erika, Karen, Jay and Steve (and Veronica). I am glad you enjoyed the proverbs. Jay, your encouragement always helps to give me a boost! Hope you will check out my NEW AND IMPROVED website at www.zionpropertiesandinvestments.com . I've added so much to it and also have links to my other sites!

Does anyone know how I direct one of my other websites to this website? I am a total amateur here on building websites, so any feedback would be very appreciated! Thanks!

Michael, we are pushing it hard, but it looks like we're not going to win. I may try for a loan modification instead. THe lender is telling me I can contact them to remove it after we close the loan, but has yet to give me anything in writing.

James, welcome to DG, it looks like you are fairly new here! Thanks for the acknowledgment of my hubby, he really does come through, but he can be a pretty pessimistic and stubborn Scot!

Now, seems to get more traffic in here I need to open some kind of shop, have a special chair, have a game night, or sell stuff. Elix loves his cigars (and recapping the daily 'As the DG Turns), Karen sells cars, Bill is hooked on pies, Jim likes to play with cards, and I have become a dull girl (all work and no play). Hmmm... I will have to devise something of interest. I did an online virtual tar and feather of people online with a friend (she literally ended up getting married to one of the people we tar and feathered that night in private messages, who was a total stranger in another state ((TRUE STORY!)). Not too appropriate for a site like this, but it was great at Pyroto. (Awesome intellectual game I used to love to play!)

Hey I do understand, I have had to reduce my time of hanging out on the site b/c I get so caught of readying and not doing.

So I am working on a weekly schedule for me I am going to try it for 2 wks and re-work if needed.

I am going to check out your site....Now I will let you know what I think i know it is fab....I need to add that to my to do list, I need a site. I am working on my logo now along with 2 other logos and the site for our basketball team and our home repair business....Once I get them out of the way then I will make a move on REI site....

I see you were upgraded to Superstar also.

I hope every thing is going well for you and your family.

Steve.

HI Tammy you know now I have to find a new chair right!!!

I checked with the auction people regarding bringing the kids and unfortunately they said "Adults Only".

Karen

Karen, That seems to be my situation with everything. I also can't go to the event Dean has here because they don't allow children. I really need to find a trustworthy, reliable babysitter!

Now, Jim, I told you I didn't fart in your chair, that would be so wasteful! You're starting to sound like Archie Bunker who won't share his chair. At the very least, you could donate it to the winner of the EDGE contest.

Erika, I know what you mean about this site consuming a lot of time. I've cut my time here down significantly. In fact, I'm sure I've missed many poker games at St. Jim's, and many wonderful Ralph's pies. Now, if the pies start flying at St. Jim's, I may have to come around and spend some more time here because I have been missing out on all the play.

Steve, family is doing good, the smaller kids are wonderful, I have no more kids in diapers, and the older kids seem to have a headstart on the teen years. AHHHHHHH!

FINALLY really have my PA land under contract; secured that this weekend, have started a partnership with another DGer, am still working on those refis, not sure what is taking so long, were supposed to get documents for the rehab property Friday and pull some cash out of it.

The My lender is contesting one of the appraisals for a refi on another rental I have because they took all the REOs and used them as comps and didn't use the regular sales or the property that is an identical model to mine in that area that sold for $240K because it is 4 months old; ended up with an appraisal for that one at $190k! So the value has dropped over $50K in 4 months according to the appraiser.

My other rental in the same city came in above expected, so that refi will go through.

Been finishing up the rehab (my second deal) and while we were there I showed the property to a couple of tenant buyer's. I believe I met the tenant buyer that will be buying the home; she's already fixing her credit. But, nothing is in writing yet, so I am still pursuing that.

My CL ad for my rent to own in GA keeps getting flagged and removed. Its the only ad I have there and I'm not violating any terms (already checked with CL) and it must be competition. It sucks because it takes time to get it posted over and over again.

Looking to buy a wide angle lens for my camera so I can take some good looking pics of my property. ALso, trying to figure out why my sellpoint isn't blasting correctly, if I'm doing something wrong or something. I need to call SFL to get some help there. I still need to select my counties so I can start getting some leads from there as well. I've used bits and pieces of the SFL system, and really need to find the time to get it fully operational! I still have to watch all the training videos.

Looking for some properties for some buyers, I'm not having too much luck, especially one who wants them to not show on the MLS.

I have all but 2 classes for the success academy finished, am going to try to complete them by the end of February. I believe February 8th marks my 1 year with the academy, so I should be done, but I'm not because I'm juggling so many things. I am hoping to get one more deal in and get the Evansville, IN properties closed before the 8th. Its going to be tough and hubby will still be very angry if I don't get the money back, so I have to try to get those deals complete.

God is great, and has been with me through this journey! It is CERTAIN we will SUCCEED!

My next post I"ll come back and update this one. I don't know why I seem to get these posts, it seems to happen when DG.com locks up when I post.

Tammy, I just finished getting caught up with your journal (again). I was wondering, isn't renting out one of your properties considered a deal in itself? Wouldn't that count toward your five deals? I thought so, anyway. I really need to start making deals. I've been in the RESA for four months already and have not done one yet! Eight months to go, I think I can do five deals in eight months... I must!

Great things happening for you, it's only going to get better, I can feel it! Take care and looking forward to hearing more from you (((((Tammy)))))

I really need to get to bed and get some sleep!!!!!!! It's after 5 am

It really was a good thing not to have taken the kids that day though. I was there for FIVE HOURS! That would have not been doable with kids.

I am amazed at all you get accomplished with them! You are amazing!

Karen

Yes, it does so long as it is over $100/month (and mine will be). I haven't heard back from her; I wasn't really ready to talk to her when she came over and I hope I didn't say something wrong. I'm going to try calling her tonight, otherwise I have a huge stack of prospects I've been waiting to call back on. That's my job this week, along with calling everyone who entered the EDGE 2011 give away. Yes, I'm calling everyone, because I know some people's forte isn't writing. I called 6 people yesterday; hoping to call as many today. 5 a day to 30

Karen, yes, 5 hours, was it all trying to get you to buy something? Was there anything that they taught you can do w/o buying the program? Were there ANY auctions there at all?

Spoke with the DGer I've partnered with, looking good to get another deal done before the 8th.

Haven't heard anything on the contract with my PA land that I finally sold last weekend; he was having his lawyer look over everything, but is gung ho on buying the land which is a big relief! Land is a TOUGH sale!!!

I am brand new to this and am feeling like a kid in a candy store. I have dreamed about this for so long. Just yesterday i finally bought my my beginning with Deans school. I was also able to get the tax lien course. That is how i plan to get my start in RI. I am so excited to be going to my first workshop next weekend. I have such a small amount of capitol to start with that i hope will get me the first deal. I am just thankful to have got this far. It has only been for the grace of God i am here. For which i am ever so thankful. I want you to know you are one of the sources of my inspiration to go forward with this. Thank you. I will continue reading your journal and learning from you as i go forward. I'm sure I will be starting my own journal soon and i hope it will reflect success like yours does. God bless you and your family, good night.

It was all selling. It was very interesting listening to the presentations and talking to other people.

Nothing was taught that you could do w/o the programs.

No auctions at all. I reread the invitation after I got home. It was a VERY creative twist in describing what was there. (shrug)

Keep it up! It is a struggle but you are showing progress. Better days>>>> Keep smiling.

Well, Its been tough getting my journal updated this week. I've called a lot of the EDGE contest entrants, but did not get to all of them regrettably. This week I started another loan for the cabin, so we had an appraisal done this weekend there.

Been working with some other DGers on deals and finished all my success academy courses. Only have the final test left. Rehab on the property in Chino is about done, only a few minor things left. I heard from the woman who I thought would be the one to do the rent to own, she is definitely still interested. I have about 35 other inquiries on it as well.

My refis haven't gone through yet. The cash out on the rehab home will be my first 'paycheck' and we're supposed to sign the paperwork tomorrow (heard that before though). The one that didn't appraise will now appraise because another one closed in the last week for what I knew ours should appraise for and its smaller, in the worst part of town; BUT, it does prove that the appraiser was WAY off on his appraisal and that the property value hasn't goene down $50K in 4 months (IDENTICAL one to mine sold for $50K higher than his originally appraisal just 4 months ago).

I'm closing on my land sale on the 8th. I have SEVERAL properties I'm looking to put offers in on. Found out the one I missed putting the offer in on in Covina sold for EXACTLY what I was going to offer, I really WISH I had an agent to help expedite my offers. I miss out on a lot, but after going through 8 of them now I'm stuck doing what I'm doing until I find one that is going to submit several offers at once. I have several buyers to buy for and have a couple of FSBOs to follow through with that I'm going to pursue L/O of. I will respond to all your posts in my next posts later this evening. Took me almost 1/2 hour to do this post due to interruptions.

I enjoyed reading your post and I want to thank you for sharing, and I am learning from your stories

Today, I went by the house we talked about. Turns out the realtor was there so I went in and I have lots of notes.

I don't know what time you are putting the kids to bed, so I didn't want to call and interrupt that.

Karen

I'm up late, so if you want to call, I'll be up until about 1am.

lots of irons in the fire. you are doing fantastic! congratulations.

About 5:30pm your time. No answer. I'll try to call you tomorrow. Have lots to talk about.