hit roadblocks, so whats next to keep moving forward***unofficial journal***

have somebody else show interest in the other property that trying to assign or wholesale...So both properties def have some interest in them...Hopefully we can find a serious buyer, and put some money in our pockets...

meeting with somebody who is interested in one of the houses we have locked up...

checking out a home later that the seller is willing to get creative, so hopefully will be able to work something out...

meeting up with the tenant of the multifamily home again and all that later...Meeting a potential friend of his that wants the apartment next door to his...so that could work very nicely...

gotta get a game plan together as far as talking with banks, and buying REO's...could be a gold mine

One of the hardest things about this real estate business I think is staying motivated, and not letting yourself slip back into the normal everyday crap. Even when things are going well, it is so easy to let things slip...

One of my biggest goals is to keep buying properties...I def slacked off after closing my first property...which I can't figure out why...I would think it would push me to keep going and to pick up the pace...Anyways, that is the hardest thing right now...keep going!!!

I would love to find a bank(s) that would finance with little out of pocket money for down payments/closing cost...But around me, they are all "bigger banks" and they all have specific guidliness they have to follow...Which stinks...

I have even thought about lease options and all that, but that is still money out of pocket up front...Which in a lot of cases, is difficult to come up with...So I think I keep those limiting thoughts in my head, and am beating myself down, which isn't cool...I know there is alot out there, and there are many ways to make things work, but I just gotta get back into my original phase when I started...I LET NOTHING slow me down or stop me...

So time to stop messing around, and get back to business

Totally agree with you, once you get one, you should push harder. We are here for eachother. Don't let anything stand in your way. Keep on moving ahead!

Jeremy

I have not seen you on here and I wanted to check up on you to make sure that you have not lost your motivation, or better yet you are so busy with all of your deals you have not had time to get on DG.com!

Jen

hey jen,

been doing a little here and there, but def not like I should be...I need the kick in the butt...I NEED to seriously start looking for deals again...If I can do 1 deal, I can do more...and doing what I am doing right now isn't going to get me out of a job/life I don't want...I appreciate you checking in

I am so happy for you though...believe me...

You know you have what it take to move forward. In life, there are times we needs to step back and examine the whole picture and that's okay. The reason we are all here is to support and inspire each other and at the same time look for that silver lining around the bend. Marc, we need to step up the pace here. What's next on the agenda? God Bless.

Sandra

PLEASE don't lose your motivation! You are only one down with a whole lifetime of deals to go. This is why I really appreciate our special friendship. We help motivate each other, cheer each other on, and we also have one another to give the other the much needed kick in the butt to get moving again. What helped me again was I started setting goals for myself and would start making a check list of the things I needed to do to accomplish my goal. It kept me motivated, it still keeps me motivated. Even if I did not make a deal today, all of my persistence will pay off. I will check back with you soon and I hope to hear good motivating news!

Jen

Your right...I need to keep going...I am finding my motivation...In fact, I am making an offer on a house I have looked at a couple times already, things didn't work out the first time, but making a completely different offer...

Making a lease option offer with option to purchase in a year..take over her payments on the house...give us a month to find a qualified renter so I don't have to worry about any out of pocket money...I know her payments are low enough to make this work well...

so thanks, and hopefully she will accept it...I know for a fact also, she is desperate to get out of this...she isn't living there, but keeps making the monthly payment...so if I can take over her payments, and eventually buy the house, I am golden...So wish me luck...

I will also start setting more goals again...Gotta do that...Just doing without specific goals and what I want/need to do doesn't work as well...

Persistence DEFINITELY pays off...I learned that from my first deal...I also have been reading your journal, and skimmed through your last post...I def want to read it word for word later, cause it sounded really good...

I threw the lease option offer out to her, so hopefully she will say yes within a few days...I know it is not what she originally wanted(s, but I figured if I don't ask, I won't get anywhere...And she def meets the motivated seller...Hasn't had any luck at all selling the house...So this could potentially be a pretty good cash-flow deal depending on all the numbers and if we can come to terms...POTENTIAL is written all over it...

So I shall see...

How are things in Conn, I was wondering where you have been since i havent seen you on, or i just keep missing you. Too bust collecting the rent mr.scrooge? ya know im j/k sounds like you have a possible deal in the works, like you said just throw it out there, all she can do is say no.

How is waterbury conn? Just for the heck of it I have been watching a 3 fam there, its been on the market for a while for 235k,

good luck Marc
Richie.

lol...things in ct are going ok...I keep popping on here and there...haven't posted to to much lately...here and there...and yes, collecting rents is NICE...lol...made my first mortgage payment today actually...kinda cool...and with some extra in the bank...beautiful thing...

possible deal in the works...hopefully...if I get my way, it will be a NO MONEY DOWN deal, and now just waiting to see if she accepts...So hopefully...It will be a pretty sweet deal...

Waterbury is ok...I think there are a bunch of people from some of the meetings that invest in Waterbury...I personally haven't even really looked in that part of ct...about an hour or so away, but its like a city...Which I really don't want to invest in...at least right now...unless I find something I can't turn down...

It sounds like you have a fire starting to light under you. I like how you were very direct and offered her that option. If she is motivated enough she will take your offer. The worst she can say is no. Keep on moving buddy! Let me know what happens.

Jen

Hey Marc! I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. How is your mom doing? Is she getting any better? I have not seen you on here lately so I thought that I would drop by and check up on you. I hope all is well.

Jen

... we hope all is well!

You are one of the most inspiring members on this site and you are missed by your fans!

Angela

Thank you guys...My thanksgiving was pretty good...lotta fun...had my neice over and always enjoy that...I am not big into holidays like that, but was good none the less...

Hopefully you two had good thanksgiving as well!!!

My mom is doing good...chemo the other day, but shes a fighter...she keeps on going somehow...doesn't matter how much piles on her, she keeps going...I don't know how...I really don't..as for her getting better, I guess so...its hard to say...basically the same and haven't heard anything different, but I don't think she is getting worse at least..

as for me being on here, I have been popping in and out here and there...I haven't really posted to much or anything...I seriously need a day or two where I can just go, forget everything, relax, and just clear my mind from everything so I can regroup and refocus...

Hey Mark, good to see ya post again.I can only imagine what your going through with your mom, I didn't know she was sick,sorry to hear that. I will pray that she recovers fully.
clearing your head is a good thing,sometimes you need to do that. I am doing that this weekend.
Hey,get yourself together and refocus on your investing keep your head up and stay positive.The more successful you become the more you can help your family out. If you need anything give me a call, i think i gave you my number,if not im me for it.
anyway,good luck on everything my friend.
Richie.

Just stopping by to see how you are.
Remember our motto, never ever give up!
Hope everything is ok Mark.
Richie.

hey Richie...Def appreciate you checking in...I've been popping on and off still...unfortunately, some not so good stuff is going on that I have no control over...Not with my mom, but me personally...Some real stupid crap, and it has taken me off my game...As far as that goes, that is my fault...I shouldn't let NOTHING do take me off my game...

My credit is going to be ruined from this...I have worked so hard the last 8 months or so to keep my credit good(which I have always done - but real estate pushed me even harder-) and raise my score which I was succeeding in doing, and now because of a wave runner accident that happened 2 or 3 years ago, I have to file bankruptcy because people got sue happy and are suing anyone they can that was involved...I don't have the money to fight it, so the attorney said this is the best thing to do...Thank god they can't touch my car, or my multifamily house...I was SO scared for that...

I need to get my butt in gear...Hit the next Real Estate Investing meeting, and build an awesome buyers list, and start bird-dogging or assigning properties...cause now its like I am starting from the very beginning, and at a completely different point than I was in(or ever in for that matter)

but that is where I stand right now...I know not the end of the world, but it still is terrible...especially after working so hard to do what I had to do...

Wow, you have alot going on. that really stinks! But hey, focus on the good/positive things and pick yourself back up. Are you sure there is no other way around this? maybe ask another Lawyer via free consultation. you can explain it all to them and see what they say. just a thought.
good luck
Richie.

Hey Marc,

I know that you will not mind me taking a second to send my appreciation to Richie ...

Richie,
Man! You are all over the place: posting, giving advice and support in almost every thread!
You are always here to support one of the best people I know, my friend Marc. You and I both know how hard he has worked this year and what tremendous strides he has made!
Your support of my friend is priceless and I thank you for it!

Angela

Marc,

I am just thrilled that you are posting again and that you have brought everyone up to speed with your current (although unfortunate) situation.

You worked so hard to improve your credit during this past year and bought that multifamily with tons of hard work as anyone following this thread knows.

This latest curveball is just another learning opportunity. (Don't get me wrong, I know 100% - IT SUCKS!) On the upside though, you will post about it and we will all see you suceed anyway!

Looking forward to seeing where this takes you and looking forward to being part of it!

Angela

Marc,
Who would've thought that your "unofficial" journal would have made almost 9 full pages!
Must be doing something right!
Angela

First off...POSITIVE: bought a LOT of stuff from home depot...the upstairs in one of the 3 apartments is going to be made into 2 more bedrooms...and that means, my multifamily will be making me more money in the future...IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING!!!

2nd...you guys are so awesome...I appreciate the encouragement/positivity from you guys...cause honestly, I haven't had much positive(atleast I haven't been looking that way even though I should)

Obviously, the situation right now isn't good...I def didn't hit on everything in the earlier post about the wave-runner stuff(or it would be a book) but that was the quick story...I do know I can get past this...I have been through a ton of things, and much worse than this...

Honestly, looking back, I know I have come so, so, so far...I have jumped through a lot of things, and that made me so excited, and kept pushing me to keep going...I am trying to dig deep to find that again...

For myself, when I am unhappy(with life in general)I slip back to my old ways...probably like a lot of other people...I don't know why I let that happen...I have seen better with real estate, yet I choose not to keep heading in that direction...To me, makes no sense at all...Instead,I have noticed I have not been taking care of things like I should...I have been waiting till last minute to do things...and before, I was taking care of things right away...and felt great about it...

I seriously NEED to quit feeling sorry for myself, and quit being like this...Start taking care of things, and start getting a hop with my goals/dreams again...cause I am the only one that has the power to do that for myself...and just talking isn't enough, and I know that...

Yes, things have not gone the way that you expected recently but as you say, you certainly do need to quit feeling sorry for yourself! Whether you have given it any thought yet, you are a role model now! Not many people can say that about themselves at the end of this year! I am so happy for you and I am so proud of you too! I cannot wait to see what 2010 brings for you!

Angela

my life has been crazy...and the last year has been nuts...

I went from having big dreams/knowing there is better than what I was doing...

to finding a better way which is real estate...

to getting truly excited about something for first time since baseball...

to increasing my savings...

to increasing my credit score a lot...

to meeting new people that are amazing...

to owning a multifamily house at 23...

to learning so many new things...

to making extra money...

to a huge bump which really aint that big a deal when it comes down to it...just makes things harder...aw well...

what a heck of a year I'd say...so what for bumps in the road...So many, and there will always be bumps...I know that for a fact...thats all it is...it may make me go off my path for a little while, but thats it...RIGHT??? Thank you for all the support by the way...EVERYONE!!!

Just catching up with your awesome journal. I am so sorry to hear of your recent circumstances. From your journal posts, you are a fighter and you will make it through this with flying colors.

I heard recently of a story of someone who "lost it all" going from the top to the bottom due to uncontrollable things like this where they've had to go through bankruptcy (and in his case, repossession of his house and car were involved), but he never lost his winning mentality and just a few short years later is running a multi-million dollar business because he set his mind to it, he knew he had the ability, and didn't let anything deter him from his vision of his future.

It truly is all about the vision we hold for ourselves and our consistency of thought and discipline to holding true to bring that vision to life.

As you mentioned in your last post, you have had an incredible year. Just think, this setback will just make your "comeback" story that much more incredible. You've just made your life story more exciting and added that much more $$$ to your Amazon sales of your future biography.

From your previous post, you don't even need my words here But I'm rooting for you! And think you'll be one of the next in Dean's books to make your mark!

Also, blessings to your Mom.
Louisa

You had a great year Marc, and I am so happy to be one of the amazing people you have met this year!! haha Just looking back at all the thing you listed, I know you had some hard time, but you had a pretty darn good year. Now, what is in store for 2010?? It can only get better from here! I know you have much more success to come!!!

Jeremy

Good advice to yourself there Mark, saying why me and feeling sorry for yourself never gets you anywhere but in a rut. We all have gone there one time or another. So look at the brightside of things and deal with your problems and put them behind you. Like Jeremy said, you had so much good happen to you this yr, you are a landlord at 23, you made great personal strides. you are always going to hit a bump along the path, its how you deal with it that will define the course you will travel the rest of the way. Like Angela said, we know you came neons in one little year! and we all know your strong and can deal with anything that comes your way. Keep up the hard work and stay positive. I know you have a lot of success in your future!
good luck my friend.
Richie.
( ANGELA, THANK YOU FOR THE KIND WORDS, RIGHT BACK AT YA )

I am really sorry to hear what happened to you. I am going through something similar, but I do not have to file for bankruptcy.
What you need to do with this is you need to let it fester. Let it upset you. Get fired up about it. When you get fired up about it, you will no longer be depressed about the given situation. You are going to start finding ways to change it. Go out there and start changing you situation and you may be able to come up with a fantastic idea to make enough money to pay them off instead of filing for bankruptcy. I know you can do it Marc!

Jen