And then there were……….FOUR!!

Thursday, January 15, 2009

1/15/2009

Well, I now have 4 deals going, and have 3 of them sold! The only one I have left to sell is the one I just got accepted Tuesday at 16k, and I can sell that one in my sleep. I offered to close this one in 10 days, but the bank set the closing date for Feb. 10th, which is an ETERNITY in my world, so I am going to take my time selling this one, and am going to hold out for top dollar. I think I can get 23k easily for this house. It only needs flooring, and an ac condenser to be ready to rent, and it will easily rent for $600-$650.

One of the deals I put together yesterday is with my friend Lee (aka the REO Rockstar) who beat me to the punch on a house that just popped on the market at a ridiculously good price. It is a totally remodeled 3/2, and it came on the market at 23k. I was at the house within 15 minutes of it being listed, and had an offer of 24k in within the hour. No contingencies, 7 day close, and I gave the listing agent both sides of the commission. And that crafty bastard beat me to it. So, we put a deal together yesterday with one of my buyers who wanted the house. Easy money on that deal…

OK, gotta run- going to put out a bunch more signs…

P.S.
If you are a Steve Cook student and didn’t get the memo today…….the doors to the Wealth Explosion Event are now open to us- don’t forget to sign up! If you aren’t already a Steve Cook student, and would like to be…..go here for more info. One of the many bonuses of being his student is that you get to attend all of his events for free…

P.P.S.
If you live in the Tampa Bay area, beware of the feces-throwing monkey! (thanks for bringing this to my attention, Dustin) icon smile And then there were..........FOUR!!

MONKEY! And then there were..........FOUR!!

And Then There Were Two…

Monday, January 12, 2009

1/12/2009

So, I pulled the plug on one of the deals I was working on. It is the one where the bank came back Friday and said they would take 31.5k for the house I offered 30k on a few weeks ago. I hadn’t signed any of the addenda yet, and after going back through the house over the weekend, and making some calls to buyers, I decided that it’s too risky to sign anything when I don’t have a buyer already lined up. I’m about 80% sure I can sell it, but it needs to close in 2 weeks, and the bank’s title company is in Tampa, and I know they can close on time, soooooo…. I decided to let it go. I sat at my desk and stared at my computer for 2 hours today (no kidding), debating on whether I should go for it or not, and I actually had all of the contracts and addenda filled out and was about 2 seconds away from faxing it in, but I just couldn’t pull the trigger. Call it a gut feeling, if you will. My gut is pretty clever, so I decided to heed it’s advice. I also promised myself that I would not get pissed when I see this house sent out in an email blast by one of my competitors in the next few days. I’m happy with my decision. I think.

Oh, here’s a good one.. my buyer who is buying the duplex from me and my cursed buddy (I’ll call him Murphy from here on out) called this morning to tell me that he drove by the property this morning and it had been broken into. This isn’t really too surprising since this house is in the heart of the hood. Apparently they busted two windows out and made off with one of the window ac units, and tried to get the other one out, but were unsuccessful. We called the listing office to let them know, and they said it will be secured within 48 hours. I just bet you a gazillion dollars that whoever broke in the first time is going to be back tonight to do more damage. One of the listing agents (who used to be a wholesaler until recently), went out to the house this afternoon to assess the damage, and caught a kid in the middle of spray painting the windows. He chased after the kid, who jumped over the fence in the backyard and took off. Last time I talked to him, he was going home to get his gun…

I ended up putting out about 70 signs over the weekend, and I am about to rip my hair out of my head because 99% of the people who call CAN’T SPEAK ENGLISH. This drives me up the effing wall. I actually hung up on a lady today. She could speak English just fine, but she was a real bitch, and we did not get along too well, so I told her I wasn’t selling her the house no matter what she offered, and then I hung up on her. Yes, I know this is childish, but she started it. Hehe. Then she tried to call back 4 times, and I just ignored her. This was just as gratifying as hanging up on her.

I had an agent call me over the weekend (on a Sunday, if you can believe that), to tell me the bank had a counter of 19k on a house that was listed at 29.9k and I offered 14k. I sent one of my buyers by today, who said he would take it for 19-20k, so I countered back today at 14.5k. Usually when they come down that far right off the bat, they will come down more. We’ll see.

Gotta run. I’m trying to be in bed by 10pm every night, and up at 6am. It’s not working out too well, since I have a tendency to mess around on the internet at night. I’m working on it, though.

Later Alligators!

alligator And Then There Were Two...

First Deal of ‘09? Maybe.

Saturday, January 3, 2009

1/3/2009

I got a counter offer today.

On a Saturday.

This is shocking.

I’ve never gotten a counter offer on a weekend before. Ever. I didn’t even know that REO agents and banks worked on the weekends. It’s hard enough getting an answer out of them on a weekday, let alone on a weekend. Again, I’m SHOCKED.

It’s especially shocking because I’ve been offering on this stupid house for the last six months. The listing just expired with the (worthless) agent who’s had it the whole time it’s been on the market, and it was just relisted a few days ago with another guy. I’ve come to the conclusion over the last year of making offers, that the agent who had this house originally, does not like to make money. Either that or she is just stupid and lazy. Or, maybe all three. I’ve probably made over 100 offers on her listings since last summer, and I have NEVER, EVER, received a single response. I’m not kidding. And, these are not all low-ball offers, either…. For example, this house that I got a counter offer on today…I made an offer on it 2 weeks ago when she still had the listing.. I offered 8k below list, with a closing in 1 week (or maybe 10 days, I can’t remember), all cash, no contingencies. And I got no response. Nothing. Crickets. So, I finally called her up a few days later and asked her if she got a counter from the bank, and also told her (in so many words), that I was willing to come up a little if they were willing to come down a little. So, she tells me she will call me right back, and then I never hear from her again. This was on a Friday afternoon that I called her, and so I waited until Monday afternoon, and when I still hadn’t heard from her, I called again (twice), and left 2 messages, and then I sent 2 emails. No response. More crickets. This is unacceptable to me. Seriously. WE ARE 8K APART AND THIS HOUSE HAS BEEN LISTED FOR 6 MONTHS! WORK WITH ME HERE, YOU LAZY PIECE OF WORTHLESS REO AGENT.. Geeze…

Anyway, so the property came back on the market a few days ago, I made an offer on it yesterday, and I got a response back today. That’s more like it.

I’m pretty sure California Guy will take it, but he’s kind of been pissing me off lately and not giving me any feedback on the houses I send him. Maybe he wants to go find the deals on his own?? Have at it, Buddy. Look out for me and my cohorts, though, cause we’ll probably beat you to the punch every single time. Hehe. Just kidding.. Not really.

10-4. Over and out.

Prices, They’re a Droppin’

Monday, November 17, 2008

11/17/2008

Well, guess what? I got another one under contract today! I put the offer in on this one 10 days ago, and they finally got back to me today. My offer was 20k, and they countered at $23,500, which I accepted. This house is a 3/1 that needs no work at all (except the air condenser has been stolen), and will rent for $750-ish. Can you believe that? I actually don’t have a buyer lined up for once, but I have 30 days to close (I offered to close in 7 days knowing full well that there’s no chance in hell of that happening, but it makes my offer look better, so that’s what I do sometimes. Hehe. Tricks of the trade).

I spent the weekend looking at houses and making offers. I have 12 offers in right now, and have a feeling I’m going to get at least one of them accepted. I found this buyer who likes the really crappy stuff that needs a lot of work, so I offered on a bunch of crap that I normally don’t go after. I don’t have a lot of competition on houses like this (everyone wants concrete block houses that don’t need a lot of work), so I think I have a shot at getting one of these pieces of junk. I’m also offering 2k deposits, no contingencies, and a 7 day close, so that helps. icon smile Prices, Theyre a Droppin You’re probably thinking, “But what happens if they all get accepted?” Well, if they all get accepted, I will be jumping up and down, because I am offering so low that there’s no way I wouldn’t be able to sell them for a tidy little profit. It would be kind of stressful, but I’m used to that by now. …I’m told that fortune favors the bold. Sign me up, please.

What else?

I’m going to be doing some traveling next month….. The Flip Vips mentoring group that I belong to is having a retreat in Phoenix the first weekend of December, which I’m really looking forward to. All of the members of the group picked a goal to achieve by the time of the retreat, and then the rest of the group picked the consequence if the goal is not reached. I guess I better get my ass in gear, or I am going to be doing a lot of walking when I get back… My consequence for not achieving my goal is that I have to donate my car to charity. Thanks guys. I guess it’s better than having to walk around in a Speedo that’s two sizes to small. (Yes, that is one of the consequences). Heeeheehee.

I’m also heading to St. Louis for Christmas to see my sis. It will be my nephew’s first Christmas, and I don’t want to miss it.

So, that’s what I’ve got cookin’.

Adiós

P.S.
This is what you can get for 23.5k in the Tampa market nowadays…
Deal Prices, Theyre a Droppin

Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

Wednesday, September 10, 2008

9/10/2008

Well, it’s official- I’m on vacation! I’m not technically leaving until tomorrow morning (not too excited about flying on September 11th), but I decided I wasn’t going to make any more offers until I get back on Monday. It’s tempting, though, as there are a few houses I have my eye on, but I don’t want to be working while I’m back home, so I’ll just wait until next week.

The two deals that I thought I was going to get, I ended up not getting. The one where the bank initially came down to 63k from 90k and then told me I had to resubmit my offer….well, when I resubmitted my offer, they only came down to 87k and wouldn’t budge. WTF? And I even raised the earnest money from 1k to 2.5k! This is what I mean when I say that there is no rhyme or reason to what the banks do, and also why I LOVE low balling the shit out of them and taking them to the cleaners. They deserve it, as far as I’m concerned…… The other deal where I was in a bidding war with 3 other people, ended up turning into a bidding war with every wholesaler in Tampa, so I highly doubt I’m going to get it now. Can’t wait to see how high it goes, though.

I’ve got one deal that is supposed to close on Tuesday, but I don’t think the title company is going to be ready to close on time, and for once, I hope they aren’t. In a nutshell, the hard money lender who is supposed to fund this deal, dropped the ball, and as a result, the inspection/appraisal has not even been done yet (should have been done last week), and I don’t think there is a chance in hell that they will be able to fund it on Tuesday. This is partially my fault for not following up/babysitting like I should have been. Sometimes I forget that part of my job is to make sure other people are doing theirs.

Well, gotta run. I’ll try to update at least once while I’m in beautiful, Middle of Nowhere Illinois…

Illinois Vacation, All I Ever Wanted

It’s not snowing there yet, is it?