Val's Journal

no, I still don't have my website up and running-I've been looking at different hosting sites, but haven't decided which one would be the best for me-I will contact you later, because I could definitely use your expert opinion!

thanks!

thank you for visitng my site! it is not a very exciting site, since I'm just keeping track of my journey, but I do it to keep me motivated and on track.

I will PM you because I do have some questions regarding some of the finances that I'm doing...

thanks for your help!

Valerie Just stopped by to see how your doing, catch you later.

thanks for stopping by...I will check in with you in a little bit...

I have been pretty busy at work; today I had to be out in the field (Sonoma County) all day, checking out the site of a future project.

I have to make time to set up my website-need to talk to you about that; it's beyond past due!

you keep me motivated

Looks like you are a busy lady!

I can't wait to see all these deals start popping!

Keep up the good work. As far as your website goes, it will all come together. One step at a time. You are heading in the right direction.

Karen

Karen,

thanks for stopping by... I know, I have been pretty busy, and very nervous -keep waking in the middle of the night with an rei thought, then can't go back to sleep because I'm thinking about it, and too excited about the whole rei thing!
Having lots of fun even though it is hard work!

Talked to Jim last night about the website... will work on it his evening after work

valerie

It's been raining again since yesteday, but today it's pretty cold, so we're expecting snow in San Francisco!
I just got a call from my realtor to inform me that we didn't get the house I put the offer on so, I'm back to the drawing board, looking at some other properites in the area...
I know it's only a matter of time... I will get it!

I just noticed that I got a halo-it means a lot to me; if my little knowledge and boring journal has inspired or helped anyone in any way, I am very grateful, and I hope to continue doing so.
This site is so amazing, and everyone here is so positive and excels such positive energy that it is contagious!

I wish everyone here great success and many great deals in their rei journeys!

valerie

Valerie

They will come just enjoy the journey, if you have to force a deal it probably is not a deal.

Keith and Jim,

I know, I know.... there are plenty of them out there... I think the President holiday kinda got in the way of my offer getting in earlier... at least my earnest money is already there just waiting for that deal!

thanks! couldn't do it without your motivation!

valerie

A new week, new properties to research...
I have been looking at more properties online... it is kinda difficult to buy properties out of state because I depend on my realtor being available to show the properties and my handyman being available to look at them, and then by
the time I mail the EM, and the offer is submitted, it can easily be a couple of weeks... so it takes patience to do this (especially when somebody else gets the house and your handyman says something like "tooooo bad, that was a nice property!)I have 4 properties to look at tomorrow, and go from there-there's one in particular that I like, but I want to have the others as backup...

The short sale in Cali is still moving forward, slowly...I'm looking at different lending scenarios- a conventional one with 10% down, but the lender now wants to do an appraisal on my condo that I own and rent, to make sure I'm not upside down on it... what I don't like is that I have to pay for the appraisal, even if I don't get the loan approved!
the other scenario... I'm looking at HML... I called the SA on Saturday-they told me to shop around, so I shall shop around...

Also have been continuing with the lessons from the SA... currently reviewing Options. I think that by the time I finish I will have to go back and review them all again.

Got my foreign LLC registered last week-pretty straightforwarded... one less thing to worry about when I purchase the out of state property...

My website... hmmmm...... not quite ready yet, but getting there.

Overall, just taking one day at a time, trying to do something related to rei every day, even if it's a small thing.

I know, I haven't posted anything in my journal for a while, but it's not laziness...as someone may have implied..(Keith
I have been busy with other things than real estate, but I'm always doing at least something related to my rei...
It's the beginning of the soccer season, and I don't think I've mentioned this here before, but I 'volunteer' to do the registration for a kids soccer club, and usually the spring season is pretty simple and doesn't take much time, but this season it's been a bit of a chaos, but hopefully by this weekend kids will be playing their games, parents will be happily cheering for their kids, and everything will be ok...

Now, regarding my rei:
the short sale I'm trying to get here in Cali has taken a lot of work... the lender I was working with wasn't doing a very good job, so we've switched lenders... This one is trying to get me approved for a FHA loan with a 10% down-which means I'll have to stay in the property for one year before I can sell it-so that's the plan now. It's the fourth time I've had my credit report pulled in one month!!
Last night I got a bit worried, because the lender asked me if I had signed an occupation certification form when I refinanced my condo (meaning that if I did, there may be a chance that I would not be able to get another loan? oh no!)I was up til 11pm searching through my files, and then all night I was thinking that maybe I should search for a HML for the short sale, just in case... wish Dean had that Private Money program in place! Luckily, I didn't find any forms in my closing documents file, so we're back to the idea of a FHA loan... for now...

Today the lender called to inform me that he's ordered an appraisal for the property;(he was also upset because apparently he had been waiting for me to call him last night to let him know about the form, but I think he felt bad when I told him that I was still looking through my files at 11 pm; anyways, it looks like we're moving forwards...good, good...

My out of state investments... well, there's a couple of properties that I have my eye on, one of them a triplex; my realtor is checking out/taking pictures of the triplex for me tomorrow; she also told me that I can make an offer on a house that I've been waiting for-just need to call my handyman to find out how much the repairs would cost.

As soon as I sort out the Cali property, I'll be able to pursue the out of state ones more dilligently...

Oh, yes, I finished another chapter for the SA... so moving along...

wishing everyone success,

val

that's what you get with when you're dealing with banks and short sales...

well, the appraisal for the short sale came back at 300K; but the bank is now asking for 280K!!! so I told them basically... no deal, and now everyone is not very happy because I'm not taking the offer. I told them to counteroffer at 230K- now waiting game again....

In the meantime, I found this nice REO house for sale 229K; it's a 3/1, plus a 1/1 separate in-law; fmv is 325K; I talked to the agent today and he told me that he had an offer for 260K, but it didn't go through because the house needs about 30K-40K in repairs. He will re-list the property sometime next week at 169K cash offers only; but he is hoping to get a 200K cash offer.
I'm researching some HML here in Cali now...

Keith,
thanks for the starbucks giftcard tip - sent it out today with a nice thank you card

No deals yet, but not giving up... not slowing down either...

Glad to see that you are still pushing forward.

I have been very busy getting all my biz stuff set up. Packing up more junk in my apt and bringing in more office stuff. Should hear back from my LLC filing soon to make sure I have my company name and then I can print brochures and will do a massive mailout.

We need to talk again soon.

Keep it up, Girl!

Karen

Keith,

I'm trying... and I know that it will happen... hopefully soon...

45K three acres property??!! wow!!! nice deal!

how's your deal going??

val

we haven't chat for a while...seems forever!
I do miss hanging out here having fun... I have been so busy with both real estate stuff and my job...

I still need to do my taxes, and also send in the 1st report for my LLC! so much to do, so little time...

I'm glad you're getting your biz set up-that is pretty exciting!

We'll talk soon,

xx

Hi Valerie just checking in to see how your doing. I had to stop and tell Karen where the Capt. Morgan was hiding,you know how she gets when she can't find something to drink.

I just stopped by at 5th street to get some of the Captain too-need it!!!!

this week has been crazy-so glad it's Friday nite... finally... aahhhh...

Enjoyed talking to you tonight.

Sounds like you have a lot of possibilities happening. Just hang in and something good will break.

me too! we'll keep encouraging each other;
a great foundation to your business is critical; once it's all set up, then everthing will be on auto pilot and the deals will be rolling in...
I know we will succeed-it's hard work, but it will be all worth it!

have a great week!

Where do I start??!
The short sale is still going... I knew short sales can take a while but this one is ridiculous! On Tuesday the broker's assistant called me and said that they needed a new appraisal for the house, since the price of the offer has changed, and asked how I would like to pay for it??!!! I asked them to pay for it, and haven't heard back from them since....
Now I've started looking at other short sales in the neighborhood-it looks like there are so many properties in pre-foreclosure!

I've also been researching several houses out of state, and today I asked my realtor to put in an offer for a HUD property that I thought would work... well, she calls me back and tells me that it's been pulled off the market. The other one I like is not available for investors for another week... back to looking at more properties...

... but I'm not giving up... it will happen soon...

Happy Easter everyone!

3 weeks have gone by, and the short sale is suppose to close in two weeks- I won't believe it until it happens...

On the other hand... I have been putting in offers for some REO houses in Ohio, and they have been rejected; then the properties get pulled off the market, the price gets reduced, but they are placed on a 'exclusive' status again, which means that only owner occupied bidders can make offers for a period lasting anywhere from 5 days to 2 weeks. I also lost a couple of properties to other bidders. Very tiring, the whole process.
I have been keeping an eye on a property for about a month now, making offers, waiting again... and today my offer was finally accepted!!! I still have to sign documents and mail them back, which I will be doing tomorrow... can't call it deal #1 yet until I close, but I'm almost there-yeah!

Keith, if you read this... you are amazing! thanks!

I will post more details as this deal unfolds.

as always, I'm wishing everyone success!

Hi,
I've been reading your journal and I'm impressed with your dedication. Your persistence has paid off, and I'm sure it will be the first of many deals. Just keep resubmitting those offers. I hope this one comes to a good conclusion for you.

what a delight to have such a nice visitor to my site! I appreciate your post and your kind words of encouragement.
Yes, I am not giving up, and I hope to be posting some good news soon!

wishing you success as well!

Valerie and I will be stopping in here more often to see how things are going on your side as well. Sounds like you have a lot going on but this is all part of the business but no doubt once it all gets rolling then it should be just like baking a cake.

Shawn

You are on your way! I can't wait to hear all about it! The EDGE energy is contagious! Yeahhhh!

Tammy, Keith, Shawn,

thanks for visiting and your words of encouragement!... I haven't posted about the deal, because as I guessed, there was a bit of a glitch... the bank did not sign the contract because the offer was made under my name and the contract was written as my LLC- as Keith put it: that is BS!; with HUD homes, you have 48 hours to sign and return contract from the moment they appprove offer... well, when you're making deals out of state, 48 hours is not a lot of time, so when you need to change something in a contract within 24 hours, it is literally impossible! so basically, I am about to resubmit my offer and start all over again... if this is not perserverance, I don' tknow what is!
Good thing I read Totally Fulfilled, because I am taking this whole thing quite well, learning as much as I can from every obstacle I'm encountering!
"Love this stuff!"

I will post as soon as I get my deal! working on it!

Keith,

it will happen soon... I know it...

my agent did ask the bank's rep before she submitted the contract, and she told her it was fine, but then she called back after submitting it to the bank telling my agent that they did not approve!

I know... pretty frustrating... had handyman waiting and all....

good to know about your friends-lol

today the house was available for investors to make offers... again....
so, yes, I put in my offer... again! I should hear back by tomorrow.

I also sent out a letter this morning making an offer for a house in my area; the owner has tried to sell it for the last 4 months with his third agent so far, and now he's taken it off the market again. I asked him if he would carry the note, so now I have to wait for his response...

Last night my husband said to me that I am not an investor because I have not made any deals! ouch! that hurt! but it just makes me more determined to keep pushing... I know I will get my deal soon... just a matter of time, no buts or ifs... it will happen.

And now... while I wait, I'm baking some lemmon poppy seed muffins...yummy! As Shawn said... rei will be just like baking a cake!

wishing everyone success!

You are an investor! You are taking all the steps you need to take to make it there. An investor does not just mean 'buy property'. It means to try relentlessly to get a property under contract, put in lots of time and work, for 1 deal out of at least 25. Keep your chin up; you're doing GREAT!