From This Day Forward-Kareng's Journal

Hope it turns out great! Keep me updated.

Thanks so much, Judi. Dean's books and this site are so amazing at teaching us. And, of course, all our guardian angel friends on here that watch out for us and guide us.

I am really looking forward to talking to you. I never know what your schedule is to call you.

I am always up late. Seems like that is when we are all on here. Until V E R Y late. Right Val, Tammy, Jim, Bill, Michael? We burn up lots of late, late night phone lines.

Zion Properties wrote:

Lets get this party started quickly before I lose my sanity!

Whoops! Too late!!! But we can still party anyway!

Yeah, it has been too long since we have talked.

up late... don't know how Jim and Bill keep up! actually, Jim already told us that he doesn't sleep much...

Karen,
I want to buy in SC too... we'll have to do a deal together over there, maybe a girls deal

Val

I want to wait until more toward the end of the year and have some cash built up from my L/Os. Then we'll talk to my good looking hottie realtor there!

I am starting to get some responses from my mailing. Of course, I am getting the heart wrenching pleas for help from people in foreclosure that are afraid of losing their homes and being homeless.

I have one lead that may be very good. He has had his house listed for three months and has received not one single call. (This he didn't tell me until the second call) In his initial call, he was quite rude. (yes, he DID call me) He stated I WILL NOT put a sign in the yard and I WILL NOT put a lock box on the house. I was very cheery and told him we could work around that. E

Even though he was extremely rude during that entire first call, he ended up telling me he has other houses and may consider L/Oing them also. He gave me the addresses for three additional ones and said, "We'll start with these and see what happens." These are not for sale right now but have tenants that he would have move out if we can get a t/b.

I have worked up numbers for him and will get them in the mail tonight or in the morning. I give my sellers a portion of the Option Fee. (usually equivalent to one month's rent). I am offering him about three times that amount on each house ONLY if he lets me option all four houses. (Cross your fingers)

I had another woman call asking if I had any house available down in the Orange Co area. How did they hear about me SO FAST!?!?

Hopefully, things are starting to move...

YAY KAREN YAY YAY YAY YAY ? ) I AM SO EXCITED FOR YOU

News travels, plus those are some pretty impressive brochures:) Still waiting for my copy LOL hint hint wink wink LOL

PM me with your email again. I'm sorry, I haven't sent them to Jim or most of the other people i was supposed to send them to either.

I am going to finally visit my #2 daughter in NY in October. She has been there now for 2 1/2 years and I have not been able to visit her before now.

Going October 20-28. I have already alerted Jim to mark his calendar. My daughter is letting me borrow her car for a day so I can meet up with the notorious Fifth St!

I would love to connect with other DGers in that part of the world.

Karen,

you do get around-don't you??!! (just a bit jealous-that's all!)

I am so excited for you that you are getting responses from your brochures-way to go!!! wooohoooo!!
I'm glad you're sticking to L/O- it makes total sense!!

Makeba- I did get a brochure! lol

Val

Valerie,

You got yours because I hand delivered it! If I had had to mail it, you'd still be waiting, too. Bill got one because I met with him and hand delivered also.

But Makeba's and Jim's are going out today!

You caught up!!!
The following is a partial quote of yours from back up a piece.

I am always up late. Seems like that is when we are all on here. Until V E R Y late. Right Val, Tammy, Jim, Bill, Michael? We burn up lots of late, late night phone lines. Laughing out loud

In my case late night air time . Both phone and internet. No wires (cell type only), except for power, not available.

Now if someone could tell me how to get a 5-2+ rent-to-own in Van Wert, Ohio for my daughter (who is on this site once in awhile)in the next few days that'd be awesome. She is being transferred from IL store, just finished manager training and no time for arrangements. Eeek!

Karen,

did you have to tell Makeba how I got my brochure???!!!! I wanted her to think that I was 'special'

oh well, the secret is out...

Val

Bill does L/Os in Ohio. Have you asked him? I don't know if he is in the area she needs but can't hurt to ask.

How can you get any more 'special' than hand delivered?

Karen, Have you had any luck with the seller (with the 4 houses) yet? Keep it up you are almost there!

Andrew S

Liane & I found her a place to rent temporarily. Bill isn't answering back. I finished the classwork for the S.A. and final exam. Must have passed, they didn't send me back to redo it again. Now to make it all work! Finally found a couple properties my Broker type agent says is worth going after today. He was shocked at what I wanted to offer until I explained. Said it was so low that it'd be a waste of time at first.

Said I'd bring up out of the archives, again. Thank you for the pleasant phone conversation awhile ago.

Kareng or that anybody has a ("Affidavit of Liens")contract that can share with me.

Thanks
Ernesto G.

It has been quite a long time since I have posted on here. But that does not mean that I have not still been busy working my RE.

I am still pushing forward working on specializing in L/Os.

The first mailing that I referenced back a ways did not give me a lot. But that is what I expected. I was forewarned by my mentor in TX that it usually takes 3-4 mailings before you start rolling pretty well on this.

I have not gone back and read what I had posted before so forgive me if I repeat myself.

My graphic artist was doing a crap job so I had to ax him and find a new one to design my postcard for the latest mailout. Like they say, talk to everyone and tell them what you are doing and what you need and things just appear.

While talking to one of the guys I have been working with for a while selling cars, turns out he was in advertising in his previous lifetime! AND HE does graphic artwork!!! DING! DING! DING! Jackpot!!!!

I asked for samples of his work and liked them very much. I hired him and he was more than happy to get the extra work. He also reworked my logo that the first guy had done and I am much happier with it. He gave it a much "cleaner" look.

I decided instead of brochures like I sent out in the first mailing that postcards would be much easier to prepare for mailing and more streamlined for my message delivery. (The cost is actually the same per piece in my bulk mail, which I thought was interesting)

Those are all ready to go out tomorrow. (2,000 pieces)

My next postcard which I will send to the same addresses in January has been designed already. I have to make a few tweaks and then will send it to the printers. My new graphic artist actually found a new printer (new to me) who will print 5,000 cards for $150. Both sides-full color. I have a sample of their work and they look very good. I will use them for this next card.

Here's hoping this mail out goes well!

The guy who had the four houses was a MAJOR jerk! He kept calling and I think he was very interested in doing the deals.

But, he was determined that HE was running the whole show! Told me I was not allowed to put up signs in the yard (which I could have worked with) and rules about all kinds of things.

I worked up his comps and he wanted to sell them for much higher (of course). When I explained that he would be setting the buyer up for failure from the beginning by putting the sale price so high that they would never be able to refinance, his response was "That's their problem. I'll just take back the props then."

Even though I could have found tenant/buyers for sure and made a LOT of money on the deals I REFUSE to put my buyers in a situation like that! I ended up sending him a letter telling him that he was not a good prospective client for my company.

My integrity is not for sale.

Just thought I would chime in and say HI.

Got my mailing out on Wednesday. After all the problems I had the first time, I was extremely detailed on everything, hoping that all would go very smoothly this time. Silly me!

When I got to the PO, there was a sign saying "The Bulk Mail Area at this branch is closed from Nov 28-Dec 9. Take all mailings to Van Nuys. But they will not take your cks there so you must have the money deposited in your account here first." OK, fine.

So I went to the front area of the PO to add $$ to my acct. This is a small branch and only has one clerk. The line was out the front door. Took an hour just to pay into my acct.

Got to the Van Nuys office and when I gave her my paperwork, etc, it turns out the way the "original" guy had had me do it was not even correct. But, thank goodness, this woman was very helpful and I got in and out fairly quickly.

To get the lower rate I take the majority of my mail after cking in and paying to the sorting station about 20 miles from here. I wait until about 10pm and go there because the traffic is much lighter. (I live in Los Angeles)

I have also contacted another DGer who specializes in SS. In marketing for L/Os, I get a number of calls that do not qualify for my program, so taking MichaelMangham's advice I am setting up my network to refer the SS prospects out. SS are an area that I have no interest in working but it will be good to be able to still help these people in some way.

So far I am getting no responses from my bandit signs that I put up in Los Angeles area. I spent one Friday night from 11pm-4am putting up signs. ( I am sure it will get faster, the first time we were trying to analyze "best" spots). I did get one call from a woman who could not speak English but finally concluded that she was looking for a house "to rent".

I have decided to try putting them up further out of town. Last Friday I traveled about an hour out of the city and was plastering up signs inside the exits of all the subdivisions. We will see what comes of that. This was tough since I got 2-3 hours sleep on Thurs, worked all day Fri, then spent 6 hours on sign placement (including 2 1/2 hrs travel time) and had to be @ work @ 8:30 the next morning. No problem! Whatever it takes.

I have ordered more signs. I don't think I will put them up on Christmas and NY w/e but will start hitting every Friday night after that. I have arranged to hire a guy @ work to go out with me on Fridays when my daughters are not available. I will not be at their whim on this. I AM going EVERY Friday from now on! (this I have picked up from MichaelMangham)

of a successful rei! that's great that you are taking action and putting up your bandit signs! can't wait to hear about your phone ringing off the hook!

Couldn't get a better advisor than Michael M.- got nothing but admiration for him!

Keep it up girl!

xxx Val

Karen, Glad to see your integrity is good. Yes, the sandwich lease is supposed to help both sides.

Andrew S

My newest twist on the bracelet that so many people were wearing for a while: What Would Jen Do? (BamaGirl)

And IT WORKS!!!!

There is a REIC meeting tonight in Beverly Hills that I have been wanting to attend. I just saw the notice and at first thought, "it's just a couple of days 'til Christmas, so much to do..." Then WWJD? I will be there!!!

Next. I had determined I will put out bandit signs every Fri from now on. But this Fri is the night before Christmas Eve and next Fri is the night before NY, so I will start the Fri after that... Then WWJD??? I AM putting up my signs starting THIS Friday!! The night before Christmas Eve and the night before NY!

Thank you, Jen!

Karen

PS But when my alarm goes off at 4am, I am still sure that I will say, "The H$LL with what Jen would do!"

Karen,

I love it!!! that is such a great idea!!! very funny too!! (and I don't blame you for the 4am decision!

Valerie

Hey Karen, love your new slogan! But who is Jen?

Wanted to stop in, let you know I was still alive and wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.

WOW!!! You HAVE been gone for a long time! Jen is Jen Gray (bamagirl6730). She retired from her job as a CPA on 12/16. She is now a full time REI. I think she is the female Matt Larsen!

Thanks for the holiday wishes. I wish the same to you and your family.

Thank you so very much for stopping in.

Karen