From This Day Forward-Kareng's Journal

Whatever it takes!

Well, if anyone is looking for a good REI Club in Los Angeles, PM me.

I went to the one in Beverly Hills tonight and I was SO utterly impressed with the man who owns it! He ABSOLUTELY oozes and radiates charisma and love and spirit and caring and on and on and on... He is so extremely positive and anyone who knows me knows that that is something that is an uppermost priority to me.

He is gearing this club very heavily on education and networking which is what they are all supposed to be, I think. But what ends up happening at so many is they bring in all these "gurus" who then try to sell you all of their very expensive products that 95% of the people who purchase them never use.

Sam (the head guy) brings in successful people from the club and they teach and share their methods for what they are actually doing here in this area that is working and have panels that answer your questions, etc. It is also not a huge, huge group so it is easier to not get intimidated in your networking efforts.

This is definitely somewhere where I will be spending a lot of time. It also was so very inexpensive! $10.00 and that covers the valet, too! (I mean, it IS Beverly Hills! Even the Kinko's has valet.)

Love it! Love it! Love it!

Looks like you found a great club Karen.

I just love the clubs that are all about education and networking and the price is right too!

I can't tell you how many clubs I have been to that are all about sales pitches.

Hey one more thing....Merry Christmas!

Thanks for the support, I thought I would stop by your journal. I see Jen has taken the jump to leave her JOB. My date was before the cruise, guess I better hurry.

Talk to you later

Judi

Guess you beat me. I STILL have yet to do another bandit run! You're showing me up so, guess I'll have to kick it up a notch!!!

Great attitude and dedication. Way to take action and persevere....it WILL PAY DIVIDENDS; trust me!!!

Keep the faith and have a very Merry Christmas.

Talk to ya soon!

It is so good to see you! I've missed you!

Merry Christmas to you and your family also!

Karen

I am glad to see you back also! I know you have been through a lot lately. I saw your name on the list for the cruise after all. Hurray! It will be fun to meet you in person.

Yes, Jen has done it! She is a great motivator! You and I need to kick it up a little. I am definitely doing that!

Keep pushing on!

Karen

I just read your novel on your journal! You have got some stuff going on! Can't wait for them to start closing!

That is what is so great about this site. We all motivate one another. i REFUSE to give up! It actually never even enters my mind. Just keep pushing on.

We WILL do it!

Merry Christmas to you also.

Karen

Karen

I get so jealous when I see the responses you guys get with your bandit signs! Not bad jealous, just can't figure out why this state is such an oddity. People here just need SO MUCH more to make them respond to anything! No problem! I will give that to them

I have gotten one call from my signs from last week. A guy called about a 9000 SF house he wants me to buy and lease to him. He works in the entertainment industry here and has a lot of contacts. He wants to lease the house from me and then, in turn, will rent it out for day shoots to the adult entertainment biz. (Just in case you are a little unclear on that--for porn movies to be filmed there). He will then not only pay rent, but split the rental fees he would receive from the filming. (sigh)

Yes, RE in California is definitely a different animal than what I read on everyone else's journals.

I did get a L/O lead today from my post cards that I mailed last week. I have to work up numbers and get back with her. If this works out, you guys will be among the first to know!

A twist on the normal holiday greeting-I wish you all a "Merry Everything and a Happy Always"!

Karen

Boy....what an interesting phone call. Not sure how I would handle that one?

Merry Christmas to you!

Just keep on keeping on and it will happen for you, I just know it will. Your light shines too bright for you not to be a gaint success. I love reading your posts. The WWJ(en)D was too funny.

Girl, you have been busy!! good for you!!!

You are so right about this state being an oddity! even if some of your leads don't end up in deals, they are great entertainment while the real deals roll in... I know it's only a matter of time, but it will happen; you are making it happen!!

Valerie

Update on my lead from my post card mailing. I sent numbers to the woman and had not heard back from her. I tried calling her and the number had been disconnected. I emailed her again and told her I was not being connected on the number and pls let me know she had received my numbers.

Finally, this morning, I received an email from her. She explained that her email had been down for several days and she had just gotten it. She liked what she saw. Was interested in talking because, naturally, she had additional questions. In this email she gave me a different phone number. I assumed maybe this was her cell and the first (disconnected) number was a home number.

I called her and we talked for an hour. I addressed all her questions and she was very happy. She wanted to know how she can ck out my company. (her due diligence). This is where my training with John Jackson in TX is coming in very handy. I am able to refer her to him as a partner and use his history with the BBB, etc. until I can establish my own.

At the end of our call I asked her if this number was her cell and she said, "Yes. It is the only number I have."

I said, "What about the 6263 number? That is the one I was calling that was saying 'Disconnected'."

She said, "I don't know how you got that number. I haven't had that one in years!"

At first she was insisting she never gave me that one. I finally said, "How would I have known that was a number you had yrs ago if you hadn't given it to me?" I know, I know. Not worth arguing the point, but SERIOUSLY...

THIS IS LOOKING LIKE IT MAY DEVELOP INTO A SERIOUS DEAL!!!!!

Fingers are crossed. Not just mine, but all of yours also! Thank you.

Karen, Yeah, I would have a hard time myself on making a decision on that lead you received. Leads for possible lease options are so hard to come by in our area (N.Ca.)
also, but my ethics (and my wife) would cancel out that one.
Happy New Year!
Andrew S

Hope you and yours have a Happy and Prosperous 2012!!

Good luck with the upcoming deals.

Michael Mangham
MD Home Acquisitions LLC

Thank you for the update. Can not wait to hear the results of the potiential deal. Best Wishes in 2012!

PS - Please hurry and post agian I have everything crossed waiting on your post

I have a woman who really wants to do a Co-Op L/O with me.

Problem is, she is very nervous because she has a very nice house with all hardwood floors and a gorgeous pool, etc. and she is afraid it may be damaged and then the T/Bs will back out.

We have just about everything settled but she wants more of the option fee (I can do that) and she wants me to put half of the portion of the option fee that will go to me in escrow and that I will not receive it until the house closes at the end of the 36 month term. This I don't like.

I have told her that even though this is a co-op L/O and I have no fiduciary responsibility after it is assigned, I will continue to work with the buyer helping them do what they must do to get approved. She wants something to tie me to that commitment.

But...if she has already gotten the amount of the option fee that it says in the contract she gets and the option fee is non-refundable, even if the T/Bs back out and we "fall out of escrow", wouldn't that money (my 50%) go to me anyway? The contract will have that amt added to what I had 1st received as MY FEE.

Am I not getting it here? Or are her "advisors" confused? I am not really seeing the benefit for her. In actuality, if they fall out of escrow, I would get my money sooner. Am I the one that is confused?

I would not let her put half of your option fee in escrow; you can tell her that if the tenant buyer doesn't work out, you can find her another one for a small fee for your expenses and not take the entire option fee the second time around.

The lease option is assigned back to the seller, so I don't see where you would have any obligation whatsoever...

nothing comes easy, huh?
Valerie

Long time no talk! I had to laugh at the porn guy, but if he wants a 3700 sq ft house with views galore I actually have one he could use. Co wholesaling and co L/O works here in CA... CA is all about networking and working with other investors I am finding. But, seriously, I do have a house that he may like. But I could NEVER tell my husband what he's doing with the house or my husband may just have to go check out the house and make sure its being maintained every week, several times a week. LOL

I also have many TBers. I have one in Huntington Beach, if you want the criteria I can send it your way. I am finding one person finds the seller, the other finds the buyer, there is plenty to share doing RE here in So Cal!

Allthe best!

PROBATE NOTICES FOR THE COUNTY ARE IN THE LEGAL NEWSPAPER OF RECORD FOR THAT COUNTY. YOU CAN GO TO THE OFFICE OF THE PRINTER OF THAT PAPER TO GET A COPY. THEY ARE USUALLY NEAR THE COUNTY COURTHOUSE. ASK A LAWYER OR SOMEONE AT THE COURTHOUSE WHER TO BUY THIS PAPER.

PROBATE RESEARCH IS EASY TO LEARN BUT THE REAL ESTATE AGENTS AND INVESTORS ARE COVERING IT. IT WILL BE HARD WORK TO FIND A GEM THAT WAS NOT PICKED UP.

jamesbrian

Hi Karen G,

Thank you sharing your story.
I too am just starting REI again and this time because I have no other options.

I need the money and as you said do not want my children doing anything for me but give me love ,Grands too.

I wish I could say support as well (They think working for someone is the thing to do and at my age no one is hiring me, I am still trying)Love is great.

I know I can do this i now have the drive,motivation and plus Age is just a number and like fine wine gets better and better with age.

When reading your post Karen G I realized I too can do REI,why not. I have all of these RE books too I bought and a few new ones, I must do something .

Before I figure I could not do REI by myself and got very discouraged especially when i tried to find mentors to model myself after (which I am still looking for)who could help me reach my goal,but what i got were mentors more concerned about me paying them than being a great teacher(Such a shame because someone taught these people how to invest in RE), now you have to paid for them to even consider helping you,so I am on my own .I have to try this now with out a mentors knowledge or help.

I went to one of Dean's semimar in the beginning of this year,it was great although I could not afford to be in his apprentice group( boy I wish I had the money that day)I was able to get a lot of great information like Dean's books on REI ,audio's, this website etc,which has a lot of information on everything i need to know updated. Your blog which I found today ( everything happens for a reason) motivates me and to see someone with similar issues I can identify with is a help indeed,also that's great you have a daughter who wants to work on REI too,that is so great look I said it twice ( : .

Thank you again Karen G for sharing, I am following you like twitter lol.

In peace,Jannah

Hi Kareng,
I like that saying (winking )" fake it to you make it shoes" . I using that ,thank you.

In peace,

Jannah

Finally got caught up on reading your journal, took some time though.now three are others I have to get caught up on as well. I have given l/o some thought and am working on this since there are a lot of ppl here where I live have been inquiring about this with an agent I know but nobody wants to sell their property this way. Will have to do some work on this.

I am still around!

It has been so incredibly long since I have posted on this journal. I am not a good one for structure, so I suppose that is why I probably quit writing on here. I have still been extremely active on the sight trying to share all the things that I have worked so very hard to learn about REI, but just not writing in my "diary".

I have now done a number of deals all over the country and every day it just gets better! I refused to quit and eventually the Universe just threw up her hands and said, "Enough already, do these darn deals!" And so I did!

In case you don't know, I am an expert on L/Os and have been partnering with people all over the country setting up deals. I have now also had extensive training in wholesaling, having completed two different four day boot camps and a Master's class in it.

I am in the middle of a deal in SC, one in RI and hoping to do one in MN soon. I have been involved in deals in MO, NY, OR, WA, KY, PA, TX, SC, RI. Think that covers it. I have given moral support and advice to many more.

I am packing my boxes and moving to SC to partner with a fellow DGer as soon as I can coordinate it all and I CAN"T WAIT! I lived in SC for 20 years before moving to SoCal 11 years ago, so it will be like going home.

Because SC tops the list of highest percentage of mobile homes as main residences (18%), I have now started diligently studying mobile home investing. I NEVER thought this would be an area of RE that would interest me, but you just never know what will happen in this biz. NEVER say NEVER! I have become a Dawn Ehrling groupie. For those of you who do not know Dawn, she is the Queen of Mobile Homes! (LOL! We are very big here on titles and badges!)

VERY IMPORTANT TIP!!!!! Choose one area of investing at a time to learn. Learn it inside out and upside down! That is how you will learn to think outside the box and be able to look at a deal most will pass over thinking it is impossible and you will make it work! That is what Matt Larsen means when he says, "You don't find a deal. You make one!"

Become known as the expert, as I am in L/Os and then when someone needs help, you are the "go to" person! That can help you make money while you are helping someone else make money. It is a major win-win!

I spent the last couple of nights reading through this whole journal. It was SO much fun to relive all this! If you have read through here you can see what fun we had. I have always said, "We take our work very seriously but not ourselves!" These people have become some of my very best friends! We spend hours together on the phone, texting about deals, emailing and even visit each other. Without them, I would not be here still. They helped me through the bleak times. And there will be many of them. But, hang in and there will also be many highs! And they are AMAZING!!!!

Karen

I knew you'd rock the house with your deals! so happy for you that you are making it happen for you!
...as far as wondering if you were around.. not in the least! ha! don't think you could stay away even if you wanted to... we've been here too long to give it up! and yes, we have helped each other along the way; we've also laughed, stressed, chuckled, doubted ourselves, pushed ourselves, and above all, shared the joy of the the sweet victory of making a deal!!!

to our success! to our friendship!

We have sure been a through a lot and, hopefully, much more to come.

I just wanted to bring this back up so that new people can see that we all started where they are now and that the light at the end of the tunnel isn't a mirage!

Also, to tell them to NEVER lose your sense of humor!!!

Karen

All all of what you have accomplished so far and hope more of the same in SC. Glad to hear you got your dog back as my cat took off and never made it back from its journey and that after all the times it went through lots of hard stuff dragging itself home barely able to walk. We had it since he was 4 Weeks old and was a very good cat too and we all miss him still cause all our animals are like a part of the famiky.

Ba

I know that your day will come!

Keep at it!

I am speeding up my packing now!

I have two deals that I think will possibly be closing this week. If that happens I will be giving my 30 day notice at my apartment in Los Angeles and heading back East. Doesn't mean I have to stay here for 30 more days, just pay the rent.

I have been trying to pack a couple of boxes every day, so I have already made a pretty big dent. But, oh my goodness, there is still a LOT to do!!! My biggest problem is I am running out of space to put the boxes once they are filled. Whatever! Like everything else, I will figure it out!

If that is the worst problem I have right now... And, actually, it is!

Karen

Hi Karen I see you are moving out to SC. I am happy for you. I want to move to FL but Veronica is not ready yet. I think we could do so much better with REI in FL than CA. WE still have out of state deals but I would like to be in a area were I can have feet on the ground doing deals. Plus I want to retire in FL and work at Disney World part time for fun.

Take care Karen

Steve.