Barbara's journal

Just wanted to tell you to keep on going. I'm a newbie and goal is to assign some deals within the next 100 days. Really need the cash. Keep us posted on what you're doing and happy dealing!!
Serena

Thanks Serena for your kind words of encouragement, I got my acounting lined out today and my website domain name. Baby steps!!

My BEST wishes for your success. I didn't see your journal. Let me know if I missed it.
Barbara

09/25/09
Purchased a couple of 1-800#'s and got my general biz cards ordered. Still have a few action items to do in my academy training then on to the next chapter.

Congratulations for starting your journal and being a part of the success academy. It sounds like each day you are moving forward with your goals. It takes time, and as long as you complete a few things each day that gets you closer to the end result. The education along the way will benefit you for years to come. Good luck on all your real estate deals. Believe and Achieve! - Joe

Hello,

I need some help. I am constantly around negative people. Since I was a little girl this is all I have known. I have also had a passion for real estate at a young age as well. I am more determined now to change my current situation because I have children now. The problem is I don't have anyone around getting excited with me about wanting to change our life, and make things better so this causes me to give up and stay STUCK. I am becoming someone I do not like, I am more angry and frustrated, don't never take vacations, etc. It is effecting my marriage, my husband shoots down everything that I do to help our situation. He is more negative than my family. I NEED HELP and SUPPORT!!! I am keeping secrets from him now, and that bothers me. But since I bought Deans books, I have opened a savings account, and started doing little things that my husband don't know about to help better our situation. Is this wrong? He tell me all the time how everyone on the Internet, and TV just want my money and won't teach me nothing. I have believed that for years until I saw Dean. It was something about his spirit, I believe he is original. You don't get that alot. So, if anyone can help encourage me please do so, because I am trying, but I feel like giving up once again.

Thanks,
yhurtado

Thanks Joe for your encouragement and direction and stopping by to have a read.

Things are moving along. I'm beginning to see some progress. Opened my business account, got fliers and postcards made for probate possibilities , biz cards came in and made some for probates too. Got my buyers ad up on craigslist but not getting any GOOD bites.

I think I might of scared my REA friend off though. Had hoped she would want to try this. But, I might of found a diamond in someone else who's a Realtor and also an investor AND holds a REI networking group once a month to boot. We meet Monday and I'm excited. I met my RE attorney for the first time almost 3wks ago to go over my contracts I've collected off the site. See what ones he thought were best for KS but he hasn't bothered to call and let me know anything. He got 200 bucks out of me and and a lesson on how the assignment of contract works. So I tried calling him and left a voice mail but still nothing. Maybe need to go another route there too. Or maybe I need to be a little more patient I don't know.

Action items: Continue on in my Academy training. Meet with Realtor Monday. Construct and place a ad in the paper for investors and try some Yellow page We buy homes guys. I'm really scared to try very hard to find a home yet without more than one buyer on my list. Even though he said if he didn't buy it he had plenty of other investors that might.

I met my "Star". The Realtor/Investor I met today has or probably will open some big doors for me. She comes with more experience than I could ever imagine. I'm so excited, thrilled and truly feel blessed to of found her. I will be attending her REI networking group the last Tue. of the month from here on. I have to clock vacation at work to go but no way am I missing this opportunity. Hopefully soon I can forget about that ol clock!!

Forward we go....

Having a great agent will help so much!! I just know it! Just the synergy and action of building a TEAM around you is so motivating, isn't it? I met one whom I am so excited about too, and more than anything, I'm just thrilled to meet someone I believe I can work well with in creating success for both of us!

Just catching up a bit on your journal as I notice we started our journals and the success academy about the same time.

So glad you are keeping up with your action, and your picture with the horse is just beautiful!

Have a great week!
Louisa

My goodness we started the same week!! Thank you for your kindness. I'm just loving all this...

Worked the weekend on a mailing list for probate properties and got it uploaded to USPS account. Basically waiting for my first REI meeting next Tuesday so I can meet investors/buyers that I can hopefully hook up with. My add in Craigslist isn’t getting any good bites. All have been rehabbers about ready to move on to next job. I shoot them back a email telling them what I’m doing and give them a criteria form to fill out (telling me what they’re looking for, where and max they would pay for their criteria) but nothing has come back from them. I only have 1 buyer but I just don’t feel confident enough to go out and lock anything up without more than one.

I’ve been having kitten issues. Suddenly my hay shed is full of cats, kittens and a skunk. Found 1 dead where my dog is (that’s why she can’t be trusted loose). I know this isn’t REI related but I needed to write about this. It’s bothering me. They’re all too wild so I can’t do anything with them. And a possum killed my chicken I rescued about a year and half ago. Sometimes farm life isn’t as fun as some might think.

Anyway, good news is my attorney finally called me and I meet with him tomorrow to get my contract I’ll be using. Baby steps….

Barbara

Awesome Barbara! Great to read about your probate mailing. You know, stamps are one thing that I have really a maximum supply on due to my husband always buying a ton for mailings that he doesn't always use. Which makes me think...I really need to get back to mailings. (I used to do a lot of those to a good degree of success with a previous investment company I worked with) Thanks for inspiring me!

Hopefully the REI meeting will be a great one for you contact-wise!

Glad you are meeting up with the attorney soon...maybe you and I can trade contracts when finished. I do have mine that I have used, and I'm always interested in what others use as contingencies.

Glad you are still working it!! (Thanks for your post in my journal BTW, I appreciate it! I have just decided to step away for a day and gain some perspective before I return and in the meantime, try to encourage some friends like you on here...but I'm finding I'm gaining some inspiration from what YOU have going on!)

Let us know how your meetings go!
Cheers!
Louisa

I found a nice rural REO home just down the street from me on 5 acres. Worked the deal all weekend in my head because this would of been a nice first time deal. The house just needed cosmetic work done and the pasture needed mowed and brush burnt. $70,000 was Banks price. The totalview gave it worth $155,000 Wished I had been to this point I'm at right now 2 months ago because I would of gotten that one. Found out this morning it was just about to close. Oh well, there's more out there. And actually that was like a good practice run for me.

My first REI networking meeting tomorrow. I'm ready to go. I'm suppose to meet a couple investors there that like doing assignments. I'm getting ready to test my wings here.

Happy trails...
Barbara

Louisa I'd love to hear sometime how you were successful with your mailings. I think that could be a good route to getting out there to let people know your here.

Glad your feeling better. You were missed...
Barbara

I just read your journal. Thanks for sharing your story both REI and life on your farm (love the picture of your horses.)

How did you're 1st REI meeting go?

I wish you the very best.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

Thanks for asking and stopping by to read. Those aren't my horses but I photographed them. It was a bitter sweet moment. Unfortunately, momma died a couple days later.

Okay, sorry, dry the tear...

My meeting went pretty well I think. I have a 2nd buyer now. He's one of these "I buy ugly houses" guys. I'm going to go ahead and start calling these guys in the phone book now. Craigslist just isn't getting me any leads but I'm going to keep it up there though. I haven't tried the news paper yet. Still many sources to try and now that me feet are a little wet, might as well jump in.

I feel a little more confident now. I'm going to start seriously looking for properties now that I'm pretty sure I could assign it as long as it's a GOOD deal. Plus I need to work harder at finding buyers.

Darn it there's just not enough hours in a day... Still much to do..

Wishing you success in your REI.
Barbara

Sorry about mama she was beautiful.

Glad your meeting went well and you found a 2nd buyer. We used to do pretty good with Craigs List but lately not so much. I still think CL is worth it you never know who may be browsing around and see your ad.

I wish you the best on your hunt for properties.

Take care,

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

I agree Lea, I'll keep it up on CL. Thanks for stopping bye.

Okay, I have 2 buyers right. When I tried to get criteria out of the 1st one he basically wrote he didn’t need a lot of equity but the more the better of course. His only criteria was basically not wanting a home that isn’t “like” the rest of the homes in the neighborhood. Example: 1 bedroom home in a neighborhood that has 2 and 3 bedroom homes. He also said if he doesn’t buy it he has a lot of other investors that might. Sounds like he intends to split a fee with me because he wrote not to worry about the money that we’ll work that all out later.

My 2nd buyer I got to speak to more today (just met him the other night at my first REI meeting and he told me to call him). He wants me to find out if it’s vacant or occupied and wants in the home before a contract is even put in so he can run his numbers. He told me not to worry he has all the contracts and said he would make good on any deals I bring him. His criteria is exactly what we are all looking at. 30-40-50% equity. He has investors he runs these buy. So basically it sounds like a “bird dog” is all I’m going to get out of him. I kind of think that’s what the first one might be wanting to do also but I’m not sure.

Now these guys are making fists full of money so I know this is working here in my area but I’ve yet to find what I would call a true “buyer”.

Anyway if anybody has any thoughts about this I would sure love the input.

Good luck to all of my DG family on your REI.

Barbara

I figured out one of many fears I have tonight. Rina wrote a thread about What holds you back! - vs - Obstacle CRUSHER!!! I tried one of the techniqes Dean teaches 7 levels deep to see if I could figure these fears out. It's in the 09 EDGE Program. I think because it was dealing with a little different emotion 'FEAR' it took a few more questions to get to that core. I want to start applying this to everything now.

Got a buyer off of Craigslist. He's looking for 1 or 2 SFH for rentals. Cosmetic only. Nice area. He already has rentals. Said he always thinks about selling them off when their empty. He said he's 64. I told him to call me when he's ready to sell. I think I heard him chuckle. I enjoyed the conversation with him.

My action item is to nail my contracts down. I can't seem to find any that ring my bell. I'll make sure I work that project over the weekend between choirs.

A good day....

Barbara

Thanks for stopping by my journal. Had to come and see if you had one, and have very much enjoyed reading through yours! Sounds like you've been making great strides in the learning and "connecting". Congrats!
How is it going with the Success Academy? Be sure to use them to your full advantage!

Sounds like the guy (64) off Craigslist might be a good source for some cash-flow properties in your future if you keep in touch, maybe even seller-financed. He is probably a really good connection, too, to other buyers.
The bird-doggers could come in handy too. Nice job, connecting with them.

choirs? Perhaps there is a concert coming up we could enjoy??
Barbara, you just strike me as someone who really loves life. Hope you enjoy your REI journey as much as I have. God bless you, and I wish you MUCH success!

Rina

Thank you Rina for stopping bye. I REALLY appreciate that.

I had to chuckle because that was a typo. Choirs.. I meant Chores...lol. (Cleaning horse stall, fixing electric fence, chasing cats..lol.) But yes I do love music too. lol.

Good points you bring to my attention about my landlord gentleman. I could sense that something was good about our encounter if that makes any since. You’re right. And yes I just started yesterday making a pest of my self calling the academy. Things are finally beginning to gel.

I did have a little set back yesterday but it was a good humbling lesson. I’ve been following Destrie’s journal and started getting confused that her and Louisa were both getting into areas I hadn’t read about yet when assigning deals. It always sounds easier than it really is. Louisa was so sweet to take me bye the hand and guide me back on track. It looped me that my thinking had gotten off track somewhere along the way and I could of made some big mistakes had I gone out there and tried to work a deal yet. I mean the offer formulas have all that right there but something glitched in my thinking.

I’m going to review assigning again from the start to make sure everything is back on track.
God bless you Rina,
Barbara

Hi Barbara --Just checking in...ha, ha on the CHOIRS! I was with Rina...since my background is music, I was getting all intrigued by the fact that you were "between choirs"...kept thinking wow, maybe she conducts or something, or is just a super-dedicated singer with two separate choir rehearsals I'm glad Rina cleared that up!

Glad you are using the Academy and the phone calls...they are super helpful, yes? Whew! So much info!

Congrats on your latest Craigslist buyer! I'm with you on the difficulties of finding cash buyers. Have you tried an auction yet? (Just reminded me of the Edge since you said you saw it too) I keep saying I'm going to, but I "must do something different" and just get it done if I'm going to get out there and find cash buyers! Yes, that FEAR obstacle can really take it from you....me too, no matter what I start with this, occasionally that FEAR will surface and at least hold me back from doing as much as I COULD do. I have to continue to fight through that one!

As far as my mailing, just wanted to finish the loop on that one ---basically, the mailings I used to do on foreclosures had a good rate of return. Out of 50 letters or so, I would get 3-5 phone calls, and if I stopped by a house I sent a letter to (also with letter in hand) and left a note written on it, I would sometimes get calls after this "2nd attempt" and accessibility and availability of "ok, this person who sent me a letter is REAL and is LOCAL". Main thing with the letter, it was extremely personable (I did not write it, except to put my contact info at the bottom). It was actually written by the owner of that company who had been through the foreclosure process herself years ago, so she came from a point of reference in writing it that was helpful in relating to the people we were reaching out to. Out of many, many letters people received (stacks of them from investors!) people would call me due to her personal story touching them and relating to it in their own situation. So my only advice to anyone reaching out to people in this type of situation, or in probates for that matter is erring towards the side of being personable and helpful in your letter (just like hopefully people are!), rather than being "so business" and sounding like everyone else who wants their house. It is what everyone says about this business, so nothing new, but basically you're in it for a win-win, and if you can't help them and make it a "win" for them, then you don't want to do business. My thought is if you are genuine in your feelings of helpfulness, it will come across in your communications in EVERY way....letters and meetings. So that's my experience with that! I'm done with foreclosures/short sales for right now (got kinda burned out with the long cycle), but know that this experience will come in handy in other areas including probates.

Cheers to a great day for real estate for you Barbara!
Louisa

Louisa you inspire me. I’m so glad to see you get your first deal behind you now. You must feel a big relief and a since of accomplishment. I can’t wait to be off the REI virgin list. :)

Thank you so much for that GREAT information about mailings! Again that would make a great thread. Your posts are so educational and inspirational.

Someone’s flagging my craigslist ad for buyers. I put it in the Real Estate For Sale category. Only ran it 3 times in a month. I’m going to take that as a message from up above to get started looking elsewhere for my buyers. ASAP. I was at 3 tax foreclosure auctions the last 3 months here. Won’t be any more till next year. I didn’t meet any body. The seating was all crammed together. Pretty impossible to be sociable with out making someone else mad. I took sale prices down on all the properties though. I have 11 months to figure out what to do with that data because I found out the title co. won’t warranty any titles after auction until about a year later. I noticed a lot of “Investor special” homes pop up all over the place about the time I was going to these auctions. (08 auctions)

I REALLY appreciate your insight on the probate mailing. That is an area that I’m interested in. I’ll be re-reading that a few more times for your nuggets.

Happy closing Louisa...
Barbara

I’ve taken a little time away from the journal because there’s just not been a lot to add to it and I’m needing to JUST DO IT. I’m looking for a home for one of my buyers. He just wants 20% equity and a nice neighborhood. I’m also checking into some HML for an abandoned home not far from here. The owner lives out of town and the place has been abandoned for awhile. The new tree growth tells me 2 maybe 3 years. I found the owner from the County Clerks office and sent them a letter to see if they would consider selling it to me. I used one of Deans suggestions to point out positives along with a little bit of the negative about the home. It’s a 1920's home with lots of personality and possibility and needs some work. I’ll report anything here.

Found a DG family member right here on the site who is in my neck of the woods. In Fact. He gave me some good leads for HML here in KS. Thank you FOMAC! Hope we can meet up at the REI networking meeting and share our stories.

Action items:
Get my records caught up for accounting
Keep looking for a nice rental for my buyer.

First snow is a coming tonight. Time to curl up with my favorite tea and start putting my week plan together.

Happy REI..... DG’rs...
Barbara

Barb,

You know when I just began all this in July I had some of the same thoughts and feelings. Go out and practice, learn, pretend that you are ready to make a deal. Write things up and think positive thoughts, that you are in the game and are a player! You will get there in a short period of time you just have to persevere and tell your self your going to ram some serious deals through the pipe line!

As for me, well I have some serious plans for all this. I want to get into development, franchise ownership, differntiate my portfolio to cover many areas of RE. I don't just want to make some extra money with this, I want to make it a big success. I want to live it right on the edge of what is my full capacity. That attitude for me allows me to think and dream big and relentlessly pursue ways to make this the best thing to ever happen to me! Even if I fall short of some of my goals I will at least have had the thrust to get up and soar with the best!

Be relentless and go for what you want! You will make it!

Best of luck Barb,

Jeff

Glad you guys found each other for support locally. It's so nice to have a fellow DGer to actually keep in contact with and be able to bounce idea off of in person!

Barbara, I hear ya about the snow coming. Winter can bring some of the best RE deals. People are afraid of frozen REOs! We can bring them "back to life" with as little as a pan of cookies baking in the oven. lol

Good luck on all your endeavors!

Rina

Rina,

I believe your right about the pan of cookies doing the trick! I am realy looking forward to this winter and all the lucky deal that it will bring me! Oh boy!

FOMAC (Jeff)

Failure to plan is planning to fail.........

Thank you Jeff the encouragement always helps. Your right. Bye practicing and going through the motions and pouring through all the information you can get your eyes and ears on and yes, I write my scripts too, it starts to gel into your being. I feel my wings flapping stronger every day. I'm getting close to bailing out of my nest any day/week now.

I have no doubt your going to be a BIG success. And I'll be proud as punch for you watching Dean interview you. Go knock some doors down Jeff..

Hi Rina! You know this site brings the very best out in people. That's a rare and special thing. You can feel the love.

I'm excited to see what happens this winter. I've never noticed in all my life living here what the real estate does in the winter, but I'm going to be ready, hopefully, if I can acquire a few more buyers.

Onward...
Barbara

I’ve been checking into a HELOC and another program that Wells Fargo has which is a Conventional Renovation program that goes through Fannie May. They said they would loan 80% but I had to put 20% down. I still need to call a HML and see how they work. I haven’t given up on assignments. I think I will find more buyers eventually but there’s plenty of other approaches at this REI and that’s what I’m doing now. Finding what will work for me.

I’m waiting to hear something from the letter I sent to the abandoned home owner out of state. I just know I’m going to hear something and I’m trying to get my ducks in a row here when I do. I think I’ll go ahead and try to contact the bank that holds the mortgage to see if I can find out if it’s in foreclosure or what’s going on with it. I do remember seeing a lock on it.

Get it done...
Barbara

I just checked in on your journal and you are moving right along I wish you the best with your loan and with the abandoned home. Yes there are so many avenues to take in REI.

Lea
SPR Property Solutions, LLC

I’ve been away from my journal for a little while because I haven’t had much to report. I’ve applied for a HELOC so I can buy with cash if I have to just to get me started. This abandoned home on 5 acres I’m looking at is in pre-foreclosure right now and goes to auction in January. I’ll have to see what happens then because their beginning bid is more than I would pay for it. Hopefully the bank will own it shortly and I can get a little better price on it. I tried to contact the owner but no response.

I’m kind of holding off on looking at other properties right now until I get approved and I want to hold on to my $ to see what happens with this abandoned property. I really want to go after if it becomes a REO

Hope everybody is making deals out there and wishing everyone a Merry Christmas.

Barbara