Flip This Wholesaler

3/3/2009

I’m seriously ready to do some damage this month!

Since my trip to CR, I feel refreshed, motivated, and ready to knock this year out of the ballpark.

Being a student of Steve Cook, one of things that he really pushes all of us to do is to have a vision of what we want our lives to look like. He encourages us to work diligently on our vision, and has been telling me for the last year, that once I get clear on exactly what I want my life to look like, things will just start to fall into place.

One of my challenges that I set for myself to accomplish before our next Flip Vips retreat in April, was to really work on my vision, because up until recently, I had kind of blown this off.

I’ve been spending a lot of time this year writing out my goals, and I can tell you it makes a huge difference when you get it all out on paper and start to really focus on what it is that you want.

It’s much easier to get where you want to be if you know exactly where you’re going, you know? I know that may sound cliché , but it’s true.

For the last month or so, I’ve been working on my vision- short term and long term, and I’ve been forcing myself to review my goals first thing in the morning, and right before I go to bed. I’ve tried to do this before, but it usually only lasts a week or so, and then I stop doing it.

This time (with the help of an accountability partner), I’ve managed to stick to it every single day, and it has already made a HUGE impact on my focus and productivity. I haven’t ever felt this focused and in control. Ever. Needless to say, it’s a really good feeling..

On to real estate…

The deal that I got under contract right before I left for CR is officially sold. Lee got the contract and deposit locked up yesterday afternoon. I think he ended up selling it for 31k, and I have it under contract for 22k, so that is good news.

Yesterday I went and looked at 5 houses, but didn’t get a chance to put any offers in, so that’s what I’ll be doing as soon as I’m done writing this post. After that, I’m heading out to look at 3 more houses that I’ll be offering on later today, and am also going to put some signs out for a few properties that my buddies have under contract. Need to get my phone ringing again.

That’s about all I’ve got for now. I’ve got a busy day ahead of me, so I gotta run….

P.S.
Jessi- good luck with your deal today.

12/8/2008

Well, what can I say? Phoenix was AWESOME. I can’t even tell you how lucky I am to be a part of the mastermind group that I am in. There is an amazing cast of characters that belong to it, and I have learned so much from all of them already. We crammed so much into the 3 days we were there, and I left feeling more motivated and positive than I have in a really long time. I set some new goals for myself to achieve before our next get-together, and let me just tell you, the consequence for not achieving them is something that I can not let happen….. So, needless to say, I’ve got some work to do over the next few months..

I ended up getting another offer accepted while I was in Phoenix (right after I landed, actually). I already had a buyer lined up for this while I was countering with the bank, so that’s good news.

I have another REO-title-company-disaster in the works right now. (Yaaay!) So that makes two. Both deals are supposed to close on the 19th of this month. One of them is the one that was supposed to close last month where they forgot to get the addendum signed. The other is one I got accepted about a month ago, and the bank’s title company lost the file or something, and no one knows what the hell is going on, and no one really cares, either- well, except for me and my buyer. That’s pretty much the status of the other one, too. I am SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SO, SICK of dealing with these incompetent, effing, morons. Seriously, I am just FED. UP. It’s like I have to do the job of 4 other people if I want to get a deal to close in a somewhat reasonable amount of time. It’s so frustrating. I probably spent 3 hours on the phone today trying to get in contact with someone who knew what the heck was going on, and I still got nowhere.

The one that I got accepted in Phoenix is also supposed to close on the 19th, but I highly doubt they will be able to pull it off. It would be nice to close all 3 in one day, and then a few days later head home for Christmas. Is that too much to ask, I wonder?? Can I request a Christmas Miracle??? Please?

I have a few other offers out there that I might be getting accepted this week, and then I still have to sell the one that I got accepted the day before I left. I have an entire 30 days to sell that one, and I’m making at least 10k on it, come hell or high freaking water.

And now I’m off to bed.

Adios.

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. 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…

5/8/2007

The deal I had that fell apart last week (was it last week or the week before? I can’t remember) is alive again… The guy who now has it under contract is a friend of mine (it’s the same guy whose properties I’ve been marketing). He was going to close on it and keep it as a rental if he couldn’t wholesale it (it’s a 3/1 block house that only needs paint and carpet, and he has it under contract for 45k). Anyway, I found another buyer for it today, and it is supposed to close next Tuesday! Nice, huh? Also, he got it under contract at a lower price, so I’ll be making double what I was going to last time around. Sweet. I’ll believe it when I see it, though. This property has been nothing but trouble from the get go. The buyer was supposed to drop off a 2k deposit to my friend this afternoon, and I haven’t heard otherwise, so I’m assuming everything is A-OK. Will be nice if it closes, that’s for sure. Me likey getting paid.

Today, the mastermind/mentoring group that I am a part of (the Flip Vips) had our monthly group call, and it was awesome. I got some great input/advice on how I can improve my current wholesaling strategy, and also learned a lot just from listening to others talk about what they are doing. It’s an outstanding group of people, and I’m lucky to be a part of it.

I had this dream last night that was so awful, it screwed me up all day. I actually woke up sweating even though I had the air set on 69 (I can’t sleep unless it’s really, really cold). Anyway, I had this dream that I couldn’t get a deal to save my life, and I had to go back to waiting tables. Bar tending is one thing, but waiting tables is, in my opinion, the worst job ever. I’d honestly rather shovel horse shit (or any shit, for that matter) than wait tables. Nothing can turn you into a bitter people-hater like waiting tables can. Anyway, in my dream I was waiting tables at this Irish place (as in, I had to go to Ireland and work there- no idea where that came from), and I had to work happy hour, and they had this horrible happy hour buffet that I was in charge of keeping full. Everyone was yelling at me and pissed off because we kept running out of bacon, and in my dream, I remember thinking that I was just going to walk out, but then I knew I couldn’t because I had to pay my bills, and I just felt trapped and helpless. It was awful, and like I said, I woke up sweating and in a panic, and I’ve felt like shit all day.

I got some dvds back that I loaned to a friend a long time ago. I’m watching Garden State right now. I always cry when Natalie Portman dances in front of the fireplace. Not sure why, but I do.

Over and out.

4/12/2008

Man, it was a great weekend hanging out with the Flip Vips!

Aside from the fact that I had a great time these past few days, I also had the chance to hang out with a group of people who, all in their own way, inspire the heck out of me.

In an industry where there are more shysters and egomaniacs than you can shake a stick at, it was like a breath of fresh air to be in the presence of a group of investors who actually give a shit about the things in life that go beyond the superficial….

Although I took many pictures over the weekend, there were a few choice shots that I missed- for example, I definitely should have had the camera out as Jerry (NJ) walked out of Tampa International Airport on Friday, sans luggage….. My first thought was that the airline lost his luggage, but as I soon found out, Jerry actually forgot his luggage back home in Jersey (outside of his house) . Hehehehe. Well, played Jerry- well played. We’re never gonna let you live that one down…

(Jerry on the balcony, wearing his entire vacation wardrobe)

I also should have had the camera out when my dog Jim, who was visiting for the weekend, decided that he wanted to make sweet love to Law’s leg….. I did, however, get this shot of the two lovebirds……

Hehehehe

Saturday, before we went to Busch Gardens, we had lunch at Beef O’Brady’s…….

JP, strikin’ a pose…

Tim Callahan, also, strikin’ a pose

Nate and Jenn Andree


Bob and Amy Norton

Me, Steve Cook, and his son Christopher

Bill and Misty Guerra…. (JP in the background,
pondering catchy domain names)

Shaun McCloskey, looking ready to tackle a short sale..
(JP in the background, still, pondering catchy domain names)….

Jerry (missing his luggage)


Law (missing Jim)

And then it was off to Busch Gardens……


Say Cheeeese..

I’m sending this one to GQ

Tim, Jerry, and Bob (aka: The Trash Can Mafia)


If any of you guys who were here over the weekend are reading this- thanks for a great time! It was a pleasure getting to spend time with all of you…. Now, let’s all go kick some ass!!