OfflineHello,
My name is Tammy and I bought the Dean Graziosi books on my Thanksgiving vacation. I bought them in audio format as well because I am a stay at home mom to 4, and I homeschool them, so I don't get much of a chance to read these days!(Unless 'The B Book', 'Goodnight Moon', 'Skippy John Jones' and 'The BellyButton Book' count) My children are currently 2,4, 10 and 12. My husband is employed for the county and makes a decent salary, more in flexible benefits.
I have been a REI since 1997, but here I am in 2010 and I have 5 mortgages and my cash flow is pretty poor. I own 5 properties, rent out 3 of them, 1 is my primary home, and we just acquired a sweet divorce sale property in the California mountains. (100K below FMV!).
But, as we secured that sale on our 2nd home, we required a cosigner because of all our mortgages (4 first and one 2nd), and in the end, the bank didn't even WANT us on the loan, despite have a great credit score and proof positive of no vacancies since 1997!!! (Banks will only count 75% of any of your rental income when analyzing income, because they expect you to fail at it; even with 13 years of proven record) My in laws were gracious enough to be on the loan alone while we make all the payments and cover all the expenses. Its unofficially our first PML.
You see, we got traditional financing, secured and guaranteed all these homes ourselves. Our ratios for credit are bad due to having the 5 mortgages, and rental income, so no one wants to extend credit to us. I've never had any lates or collections, and pay on time, there is just a major credit crunch right now and banks unrealistically only counting 75% of our rent income, but 100% of our rent expenses. So now, with the economy the way it is, we were going to have to stop investing, in the BEST market we've ever seen to invest in. I just couldn't accept that and was determined to find something that will work.
After being told by at least 10 people we will not be able to invest in real estate any more, and being stubborn about not accepting that my business was dead, I flipped the channel and found Dean Graziosi. Timing couldn't have been more perfect! (I think God played a big role here, because I rarely watch tv, let alone late at night!) I quickly ordered the books profit From RE right now and Be a RE Millionaire. 
That is where I am and where I started.
I waited 3 months to start posting on this site from my initial sign up, didn't realize what a valuable resource I was missing! Stick around! Its invaluable!
**edited 5/16 to add Edge 2011 photos :P** (I wish I hadn't had surgery the Friday before as I'm still filled with whatever it is they fill you with, but I wasn't going to miss this event for anything! 
)
**edited 1/24/2012 to add my video (recorded March/April 2011)
Here is the video link. http://www.deansmedia.com/play.php?vid=243 I hope it conveys some of the struggle as well as the triumph. This was recorded in March, so I've since done many deals; but it will have to wait for the 2012 video. 
I have also started a new 2012 journal here: http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/99510/...
Hope all of you are turning your ideas into actions and making it HAPPEN! Do it NOW!
Wonderful Tammy! I'm so happy for you......things will go well for you on this....keep on keeping on....I'm looking for number 2!
Grant
You're from Wisconsin too? So am I! And now we're both CA girls.
Where did you grow up in WI?
Cindy
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. - Amelia Earhart
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one." - Elbert Hubbard
That is great! I grew up in Waukesha.
Where are you from?
Wausau. Boy, it's a small world.
Are you writing from home or were you able to make the trip to Phoenix?
Cindy
Life isn’t about waiting for the storm to pass…
It’s about learning to dance in the rain.
The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward. - Amelia Earhart
"The greatest mistake you can make in life is to continually be afraid you will make one." - Elbert Hubbard
Neighbors! wow! I did not get to Phoenix, only because Mr. Negativity said its just a waste of money.
But, I'm on my way with my first deal. Fannie Mae still has 14 more days to either accept or reject the auction bid. I'm preliminarily lining up companies to assess everything that need to be done and lining up people for what I already know needs to be done.
Now, I'm thinking outside the box here. I'm pursuing the property across the street. Yes... the $1M restaurant; just writing that makes me sound crazy, doesn't it? But, it is also very underpriced and I'm seeing if the guy would carry the loan. Here's my thinking. Its on the market, as a SFR OR to sell it as the business it is. I want to acquire it for a few reasons. #1 of course is to make sure it becomes a SFR. #2 is to to split the lot in 2 and sell the land from the split. And, #3 is to split off a private boat ramp and dock for the property I have bought across the street to raise its value by giving it lake rights. Of course, my first step is to check if the city allows all of this. Is this outside the box, or have I completely lost my mind?
you are thinking like an investor! some people think that is crazy.
let's make it a goal for both of us to make it next year to the EDGE.
Linda, Army EOD Mom
you can follow my journal at http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/45351/...
IT'S ALL GOOD AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY FOR ME!
Fear equals:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
You are definitely thinking outside the box and love the creative ideas you have come up with. Not crazy at all, you are determined. I wish you the best with this and look forward to hearing about how this progresses.
Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC
As a Christian we have this phrase we think of when we are determining what we should do. WWJD. What Would Jesus Do? I try to adhere to this, I fail at it, but I try over and over again.
As I ran the idea of buying the restaurant across the street to my husband AND kids, they both told me that was crazy and I must be nuts. Then I rewatched one of Dean's Deal of the weeks. And, I heard on that video some of the exact comments his father and family said to him when he bought that 'swamp' land. Now, what did Dean do in this same situation then?
He went forth and stepped into new territory and went with the unfamiliar, and look where it got him?
So, I contacted the realtor who has listed the restaurant. Now listen to this. He was selling it as a business SINCE 2005!!! Recently he switched it to a SFR sale and his price has dropped from 1.95M to 1M, and there is still room for negotiation! So, I asked the realtor if he would consider carrying a second, and if he knew the benefits of doing so. The response? He could ONLY carry 300K of it..... This is great news! Now, I have to present this to some potential investors. I have to think of everyone I can to give my presentation to to pull this off.
I am calling the county tomorrow to find out costs for rezoning to residential, splitting the lot to sell part of it off as land, and a boat ramp to attach to the other deal I have pending across the street.
My family thinks I am absolutely batty! Thanks for seeing the potential with me Linda & Lea! 
I'm going to call the academy on this soon. 
Darn it, I contacted an agent again when a home was still on the market, looked today and it pending today.
This is the 3rd deal that this has happened to me! 
I'm too slow apparently and my husband is against realtors like no tomorrow because he doesn't trust them and thinks they're crooked; he won't take the courses to see why a realtor is so valuable
. He looked at the dead deal thread on notes and getting 75% and said that Dean is nothing more than a marketing guru and the 75% of a note to payoff is not ethical. Having gone to the edge, I don't know the rest of the details to tell him. 
I need to learn how to burn the audio book to CD so on our trips up to the mountain he can listen to the books with me. Captive audience.
Well, I read my first 'building your business' credit book. I am sure glad I did, because I wasn't told half the stuff I need to know. Sure, I knew about the 5 accounts. But that's about all I know. Right now, I found out that its important to have a business license, even if its not required. So, I'm calling/looking online for the city and county to apply for one. This is one of the first basic steps, that I SHOULD have been informed of by joining a small business building program, but never was.
My second step was to sign in and update my DUNS information (not even the credit portion, just the information!), which had several errors and mistakes in it. SO glad I was able to get all this information!
Yet another deal I'm working on; the friend I mentioned in a few posts, I have found several properties that are a fit. Because he is a dear friend to my husband and I, I am choosing to make bare minimum on this deal. To count towards my 5 deals for he success academy, it needs to be at least $1000 made. So, that's what I plan on making.
And, yet other buyer, I'm watching many properties, but because I don't have a LOI or POF from him, I'm not pursuing that one as fervently.
I got a referral for a RE attorney yesterday and sent an email to him; hopefully I will hear more back on that today! I also have a good attorney for my private money set up that I'm working with. Now, on to find some private money!
you are doing so well and you have so much courage. just keep moving forward, no matter what anyone says. they cannot tell you what is right for you, no matter who they are. i have a little issue i'm dealing with on that too. Chuck thinks i should be a realtor and maybe invest on the side. no, i am an investor who happens to have a real estate license. that is me and no one can tell me what is right for me. they don't have to live my life. just my 2 cents worth....
Linda, Army EOD Mom
you can follow my journal at http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/45351/...
IT'S ALL GOOD AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY FOR ME!
Fear equals:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
Buy a restaurant, pizza shop, nail salon, strip club, single family home, multi-family home, church, synagauge, mosque,whatever makes you money
And no need to say anything to the doubters(family, friends and strangers); they'll know your success by how happy you are.
Every once in a while to keep them on their toes, give them the "i'm smiling because I told you so even though I don't have to tell you I told you so, but you know I know you know this smile says I told you so" smile
Keep doin what you doing
And also think 'WWED' lol
I just sent a message to a multi millionaire who I've never met! And I can't take it back! WOW! Do I feel weird that I got up the courage to do that!!!
you're a money hungry sniper
Keep it up
you're a money hungry sniper
Keep it up
LOL, I don't know if that's a compliment or not!
I think it is more of my determination to show myself I can do this , and the naysayers in my life that I am capable of more than I'm given credit for. But, I do admit, paying off the 2nd, then 2 of the rentals, then the cabin and finally the 3rd rental would give me control over my money instead of the bank. I hate seeing banks make all the profit! {:( Owing money to a bank makes me a slave to the bank and limits my impact on giving in places that matter.
Today is a clean up day in our house. Its amazing the places that toys can end up! I found one in the oven, 3 in the fridge, many in several drawers, in my bed, under the rug, in file boxes and cabinets. Let the fun begin! (not)
and don't forget,....'The Smile'
so not in the mood today to do anything as I walk the streets of Harlem for an upcoming appointment.
Got a text about an upcoming listing an associate has that he's giving me first dibs on before he makes it public. Hope its worth my time
Elix, I gotta go get my license. Should I go get a broker's license or just a sales reps? I've taken the broker's course (a couple of years ago, very rusty, need to brush up and get up to date.... BUT... if you could be a broker, would you do it? The only reason I'd want to is so I could work for myself solely. I know there are many more responsibilities, but would I have to work out of another realtor's office and be at the office for certain amounts of time if I opted for being an agent? That isn't feasible for me.
I have no choice but to work out of my house. I'm sure having 4 noisy kids running around an office would get me kicked out of there pretty darn quick.
I finally have a signed contract with an agent to sell land I own in Pennsylvania. I've decided to offer owner financing with an impound account for the HOA dues and the taxes to give some incentive to get it moving. I got this land on ebay before joining the academy. We'll see how it goes and how long it takes to sell. Goal is to sell no later than August!!!
I got my offer for my auction back from Fannie Mae and they SIGNED it! (If you don't know, many times auctions never get executed through the contract as the price is rejected) so now I am working on getting that property closed. I've decided I will be renting it out.
I'm continuing in my studies for both the academy and my private financing. If anyone wants any information on the private financing, PM me, I'll give you info on what it is. Private financing opens all the doors that were closed to me before because I have unlimited cash coming in for investments for ME to do the deals instead of bird dogging or assigning; and really, anyone in RE investing should learn the ins and outs of private financing. Sure, you still can do the deals without them, but having that option sure is a comfort! Doesn't matter how your credit is! I'm actually going to talk to Dean about this company I'm using to see if they want a reciprocal relationship to recommend each to one another.
I'm in the midst of a huge paper reduction project and have papers everywhere right now trying to get the papers I have organized and filed, and sign up for as many online bills as I can! I'm working on organizing it so I won't forget to pay any of the bills that come in online. I've gotten so accustomed to putting them into quicken and marking PD on them that I have to come up with a new paperless system.
I am also reading my second book about building my business credit, and have written 2 more letters to creditors that denied me yet again. I researched getting a business license... go figure the city I'm in the license is 10xS more than the city next door. Does anyone know if you have to get the business license in the city your physical office is in? I'm looking at $100 instead of $10. I know in a few months I'll laugh at that number when I'm raking in the cash from my deals, but right now, every penny counts.
My next step is to get an actual business loan, pay back all the personal money my business has borrowed from me and my husband. It is only required to have 3 trade accounts open for 3 months to get one, and I'm almost there. That will be a happy day for me indeed!
RE license vs broker... All depends on whether or not I can be an agent w/o ever going to the office. One more thing to add to the many things I'm doing.
Now, to get my websites complete!
Sorry, long winded there!
the whole way. My husband is now calling the realtor to try to GET OUT of my first deal. Nothing like your own husband not standing by you. Because to him it is too risky. *sigh* Now what do I do? This sucks
The way I always look at it if it is meant to be it will work out. I know you probably don't want to here this but you might have to find one were that is not as much risk. I know you will make the right decision, You do have a good head on your shoulders. Just keep moving foward.
randy
www.adeptpropertiesllc.com
I have the contractor, I have contacts and I've now got a realtor if needed. My networking is going great. He doesn't like it because its out of state.
But here in Southern CA, its really difficult. 
*sigh* I even have rental prospects already! 
*SIGH*
I've got my new tenant moving in on Monday in my NC home (the other home my hubby was dead set against because it being so far away, and it is the one that cash flows the best now and I manage it here from CA myself!!), I'm having carpets cleaned and minor fixes repaired this weekend, I got my first rent payment from the new tenants, and I'm still persisting (for 2 years now!!!) on refiing my primary home mortgages to free up some more cash flow.
I'm actively looking for that home for my friend, calling the academy on the best option to do this, as he does not want to be on title to the home. I'm thinking lease option, but not sure; I'm wondering if installment of contract is better, but I know nothing about this and haven't gotten a response to my thread on it, so when I call the academy, I'll ask them about it as well.
I'm still actively looking for a fixer in an area that doesn't have many homes for sale for a retired fellow who wants a project, and I'm contacting RE agents about submitting offers for another buyer in a different area. BUSY! Is a good thing!
you are amazing! you are accomplishing so much. hang in there with hubby. sometimes you just have to keep going and let them catch up.
Linda, Army EOD Mom
you can follow my journal at http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/45351/...
IT'S ALL GOOD AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY FOR ME!
Fear equals:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
when you're the broker you have to know all the laws and procedures. If you have agents working under you and they screw up, take a guess who feels the brunt???
Keep doing what you're doing but start off as an agent
I will support God's plan for you with my prayers. He can do the impossible (like changing your husband's attitude)so put it in His hands and stay focused.
Regina
Keep pushing forward
with the flu... sleepy yesterday afternoon and have been in the bathroom ALL night. This week's been crazy. My older daughter got sick with this Monday, my son Tuesday, my hubby Tuesday evening, my baby girl middle of the night Wednesday morning, my 3 year old Thursday, and finally I get hit with it the hardest. Funny, I take care of everyone else and no one takes care of me. *sigh* It can only get better from here!
i pray for a quick recovery for you and your family!
Linda, Army EOD Mom
you can follow my journal at http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/investing-journals/45351/...
IT'S ALL GOOD AND EVERYTHING IS WORKING OUT PERFECTLY FOR ME!
Fear equals:
False
Evidence
Appearing
Real
That was a terrible flu, it hurt so bad I couldn't be upright or even lay down with out pain! I thought my liver was failing, because there literally was a volcano going on in my stomach! Ouch!
Thought I had a lead on my first assignment, turns out I don't; its a government land lease, meaning its only the home for sale and the land is leased from the government.
Darn, I'll keep on lookin!
Omg It took me 2 days d/t distractions but over the last 2 days I have read your entire journal....and I just absolutely love it and you and what you are accomplishing. My husband and I are praying for your husband God is bigger than anything and He can put a change on your husband's mind and heart regarding the REI business that you are building for him, you and the kids.
More power to you for homeschooling your kids that is a gift handed down for God and know that He is walking with you.
I have so many questions for you I don't know whether to post them here or PM you, which I think I'm going to PM you...I have know made you one of my mentors. And you are right if you can do it....so can I - I don't have one excuse that makes a hill of beans of difference. (even while I'm posting here my 11yr old is doing the shredding to help me out)
You have changed my life just by being you and just know more people are reading your journal then you know it, they just may not post. But I have bookmarked you and I will be reading and saying hello so that you will know I'm here. I also have a journal but I can not recall the title of it at this moment so when I PM you I will list it there so you can take a peak if you have the time.
Much Success to you...Walk in His blessing.
Erika, REI
Brownstone Investment Group
405.748.0734
www.facebook.com/Erika.Coleman
www.twitter.com/brownstoneREIgr
Job 22:21 Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.
Job 22:28 You will succeed in whatever you choose to do, and light will shine on the road ahead of you.
Deut 28:8 The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything yo do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord you God will bless you in the land he is giving you.
Thank you for stopping by and reading my journal! WOW, the WHOLE thing! You deserve a reward for that alone! I still sometimes don't feel like I'm getting anywhere, but when journaling, it really helps you to look back and see where you started and where you are now! And to see someone else has noticed that I've gone somewhere is a good reassurance! There are so many wonderful people on this site, and you are one of them!
I really do need the prayers! The good news is, I'VE SURVIVED MY FIRST YEAR OF HOMESCHOOLING! Yippeeee!!! 5 more days left!!! There were many times I felt like giving up, but I stuck through it and never gave up! It was very challenging because starting in November, my daughter started cutting many teeth and wouldn't take her nap. Then of course, if I was holding the baby while I was homeschooling the kids, the 3 year old would want to be on me at the same time, and I couldn't get in an undistracted lesson until mid February!
Then of course I started with the academy right after that. For the end of the school year here, I've been going to bed at 11-12:00, it feels strange to go to bed that early after getting use to my 1ams!
Its just a matter of time before I will have my second mortgage on my primary residence paid off! I can see it, I can smell it, I can hear it, its as good as done! It is CERTAIN I will succeed!