Putting the cart before the horse

My first suggestion would be to just breath.

After you have relaxed, think about what you have read. All the strategies, and information. Then decided what makes sense for you, so that you can take that next step of applying what you learned. If birddogging seems like less risk for you, there is nothing wrong with starting there, get some momentum going and then taking that step to wholesale. As a birdogger you can make money once you get the ball rolling and a system going.

You don't have to look at the only negative of dean scenario. When the investor asks "whats your track record?", you can say that you just begun building your team and canvassing certain areas of interest.You could possibly ask that person if they would mind you shadowing them through the deal so you can see how it all works.

You never know what can happen unless you ask.

Bryan

I read somewhere or heard it said in one of the blogs that one of the better strategies is to;

"Think Less ~ Do More"

"Action is what will get you there"

Once you realize they cannot eat you, it becomes much easier to talk with people.

Most people will just want to help you so you can help them make money.

Not taking action is the thing that will hold us back and keep us from our goals and dreams.

Like they tell me, if my "WHY" is big enough, I will overcome my fears and get into action.

Maybe go back and look again at "Why" you are doing this. Is it motivating enough? Does it get you filled with drive and enthusiasm?

Take Action ~ the rest will come together with action.

Thanks guys, yes I've made moves, but seem to need to really step it up. I've read many points of view, and all say to take action, so I guess I will stumble around until I get it. I am going to take more action. Smiles!

I understand what you're going through Tammy. Though there are some laws to abide by aside from that the only limitations to real estate is your own imagination. Because of the creativity of the human brain there are more solid investment strategies out there than any one person can possibly learn. Just stay focused on one strategy that you thin k will work for you and go for it. In regards to the what ifs. SO WHAT. Most areas have an auction every week and most areas have several REI Clubs. Practice makes perfect so just keep doing it until it gets comfortable and you will start getting some buyers.

I know it is easier said than done. I am a newbie too and found myself wasting some time analyzing all the different strategies out there. I am focused on wholesaling for now with my mind open if something happens to fall into my lap. I don't know your situation but I am actually on a tight time schedule and I still wasted time being stuck in the process as Matt Larson likes to call it. I quit my job to do this. I have an infant to support but I was working 60-70 plus hours a week. I was not willing to give up my family time as it was already very limited and valuable to my whole family. Even my wife as supportive as she is frequently commented on how little we get to actually be a family. If I stayed where I was I would increase my pay but the hours would never diminish. I can always get another job to get us by a little longer if we need to. We also have two cars and mine is paid off so I may sell my car if we get to that point. Hopefully it won't I really like my car and I may have a good lead. I am looking at a house on Wed. It is a short sale so wholesaling may not be the best option but if it is as good as it looks I may just try to get a private lender or borrow the money from a hard money lender to fix and flip.

Just hang in there Tammy and start going through the motions until everything starts coming together. This is just like when you start a new job. It is foreign and uncomfortable at first but it becomes easier with repetition.

as someone who has spoken to you about real estate, your dreams and your desires; all I can say is stop selling yourself short. You have a lot to offer and you really are way ahead of the crowd.....if you would just stop second guessing yourself. I understand the apprehension in the beginning but no one is going to chop your head off by saying something wrong. Just be yourself and let the networking flow naturally. You have what we call analysis paralysis. Don't over think things, just move forward. I'd be happen to work with you if I was in NY so I know other people will be too. Smile!

I feel your pain. You are going through EXACTLY the same things I was 2 years ago. This is how I handled it. First, take Bryan's advice and stop and breathe. In.... then out..... (Read the rest slowly while you breathe.... )

Now, think things through as logically as possible. Ask yourself these questions:
If I am bird dogging, who am I doing this for? (ie wholesalers, rehabbers, landlords, etc.)This will help guide you to what types of properties you need to focus on. Once you decide which buyer(s) you are targeting, find them where they are and contact them. Ask them as much as you can about what they are looking for then go out and find what they are looking for. (ie If they tell you they want 3bed 2 bath houses, don't bring them 2/1s. If they only want block homes, don't bring them wood frame homes. If they are looking for a certain part of town, don't go somewhere else to find your leads.) The buyers tell you your next move by answering your questions.
If you choose this route, ask yourself "How do I not get screwed out of my money? Using the non-circumvent contract solves this problem. Remember, most investors are looking to build relationships so screwing you on the first deal does not help them achieve that goal. Some are unscrupulous which is why you want to protect yourself. (Don't forget, use your time as a bird dog as a learning period. What you are doing for others is what you will need to do for yourself someday.)

If I am assigning contracts, what do I need to know in order to do that? Contracts are legal papers so you need a lawyer to make sure what the contract says is legal in your state. You'll need a title company that will accept an assignment contract to close so you'll need to contact title companies (or attorneys in some states) to make sure they will accept this transaction. You'll also need to do more background research to make sure that neither you or your buyer is getting screwed by the seller. (Refer back to Dean's books regarding assigning or call the coaches.) There's more work involved in doing this type of transaction so you need to think about the "what ifs..."
Keep in mind that this is by no means a complete list of what you need to do but the best thing to do is to try to think like your clients think. This way you can cover as many points as you can before approaching deals.

For your big "What if..", You don't have to openly tell prospective clients that you are a newbie but don't be ashamed to say that you are learning the business. They might offer you a job and give you ON THE JOB training for exactly what they are looking for. Wouldn't that be great thing?

Everything I have learned through Dean and the people on this site is that investing is a process. Think of it like Ketchup.... you don't get ketchup until you pick the tomato. The tomato doesn't become ketchup until it is crushed. The crushed tomato doesn't become ketchup until it is mixed with the other ingredients. ETC. It is only after all the proper steps involved are completed that a tomato becomes part of ketchup.

Unfortunately, the state of our country is such that there will be good deals available for quite some time. If it takes you 60, 90 ,120 or more days to learn this stuff, you're not going to miss the boat. Just make sure that if you are stumbling around, your stumbling in the right direction.

I hope this helps.

Andy Sager
DG's AndyS

Now you have gone and done it. You are going into a meltdown. Take it from an old style investor. Take a break, relax, have a glass of Merlot (my answer to all problems) and just re-think what you want to do. Most of us have been there and done it also. When I first started before Jeremy and I met, I did 2 bird-dogs and made 1k. Not bad for a few days work. Take it slow and easy, figutre out your goals and steps to get there, read what you can absorb and then sit back again. Tammy, if this was the easy way out, there would be 20 students on here who have made millions, but there isn't. We all battle everyday in the trenches of REI with dreams of being A Dean Graziosi, or Matt Larson, and trust me, they had their bad days also. Many of them. So again, step back, take a breather, have a glass of wine and it will all fall into place. Much luck to your success...Jan

find a rei club in your area and network with other investors; ask a seasoned investor if you can help him/her find some deals; they'll be happy to show you how they do it, what they look for, etc. It's the best way to learn!

I understand how you feel-it is overwhelming in the beginning, but if you take small steps at a time you will be able to accomplish your goals, one at a time.
Break down the big goals into smaller ones, so that they can be achieved in day increments. For example, have a set number of calls you want to do in one day, or two days per week.

Oh, yes, and as Jan says... have a glass of wine at the end of the day and relax..

Learning and progressing every day,
Valerie

Thank you all so much. I am taking it slow as I don't want to do anything illegal. I will look for investors that I can bird dog for, and in the meantime research for a title company, an REI attorney, and a good agent that will work with me in assigning contracts. This seems to be the steps to take and keep learning as I go, and networking. Thank you all.