Do Wholesalers Hurt Us?

Do Wholesalers Hurt Us?

Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes

I have always wondered if wholesalers hurt us buy and hold guys when dealing with banks. I am sure there are some good wholesalers our there, but the majority that I have had contact with are useless noobs or slick characters. It would seem to me that when a bank sees me write an offer Jeff Koenig and/or assigns, that it might hurt my chances because of all of the bums that have burned them in the past trying these complicated closings or other tactics.

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Altus, OK · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 690 votes
16y

A good wholesaler will bring a great deal to another investor. To be a good wholesaler though you need to know the markets,negotiate well with sellers and buyers and spot a good deal from a mile away. Problem is as Jeff stated there are those who don't bring anything to the table.

To be a good wholesaler you need to:

1.Do due diligence. You need to do as much due diligence as possible.

2.Evaluate the deal as thorough as possible. Which means finding out what the market is like,what the ARV is and what the estimated repairs are. This separates the men from the boys.

3.Negotiate with sellers and buyers. Your negotiation skills need to be spot on if you want to not only get a good deal going but to sell a good deal to buyers as well.

4.Be a good marketer. Which mean not only marketing your deals online but offline as possible. Combine online and offline marketing is key to be a successful wholesaler.

If you can master those aspects than you can succeed in wholesaling and you can build a reputation that will help you your business in the long run.

And that's what separates good wholesalers from bad ones.

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  • Real Estate Investor · Gainesville · Member since 2009 · 47 posts · 2 votes
    16y

    Buy and hold/and or assigns?
    What exactly are you approaching banks in order to acquire? REO?
    I've never heard of any financial institution allowing 'and or assigns' on any contract, and they typically enforce the use of theirs, yes?

  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    When an REO is listed on the MLS I write offers through an agent to the bank. My name is jeff koenig. I write the offer jeff koenig and/or assigns so that I can move it to an LLC. The POF is in my name at the bank as we only put one property in each LLC.

    David,
    I am not sure what you are talking about or if it is even english. Buy and hold is the type of investment strat I use. We are in the REO forum so we are talking about buying REOs. I have purchased six REO's in the last year using and or assigns. Are you asking and question, answering a question, or commenting on my post?

  • Orlando, FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 282 votes
    16y

    Jeffrey,
    I was under the impression that you need to do a double close instead of assignment to wholesale an REO.

  • Orlando, FL · Member since 2009 · 2k+ posts · 282 votes
    16y

    sorry I reread your post and see that you aren't wholesaling. I was under the impression that banks won't allow any assignments at all. I think that's what David is getting at.

  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    They let me assign to an LLC every time. I am also closing on Tuesday on a package of six multi-familys and it was okay to assign to an LLC that I was not a member of.

    My question is about all of the noobs and slick guys not playing by the rules who make the rest of us look bad.

  • Real Estate Consultant · Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2009 · 20 posts · 1 vote
    16y

    Hi Jeffrey,
    I am a newbie! Wholesaling seems to be the easiest way to start. Can you elaborate on the bad experiences you have encountered or know of...Maybe I can avoid being a nobb. lol! Thanks!

  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    We dont seem to have anyone answering my question in the REO section. It is not about wholesaling in general, but I will answer your question Ms. Garcia.

    Wholesaling is often thought of as one of the least expensive ways to make money in real estate without having to be licensed. Because anyone can call themselves a wholesaler, there are tons of noobs, flakes, and bad guys. I have never seen a quality deal from a wholesaler and they often make real estate investors look bad.

    I have seen wholesalers string along homeowners, back out of contract after contract, cause people to be skeptical of real estate investors, and many other things.

    I have never called myself a wholesaler, but from what I understand, it is very hard to do it well.

  • Altus, OK · Member since 2008 · 2k+ posts · 690 votes
    16y

    A good wholesaler will bring a great deal to another investor. To be a good wholesaler though you need to know the markets,negotiate well with sellers and buyers and spot a good deal from a mile away. Problem is as Jeff stated there are those who don't bring anything to the table.

    To be a good wholesaler you need to:

    1.Do due diligence. You need to do as much due diligence as possible.

    2.Evaluate the deal as thorough as possible. Which means finding out what the market is like,what the ARV is and what the estimated repairs are. This separates the men from the boys.

    3.Negotiate with sellers and buyers. Your negotiation skills need to be spot on if you want to not only get a good deal going but to sell a good deal to buyers as well.

    4.Be a good marketer. Which mean not only marketing your deals online but offline as possible. Combine online and offline marketing is key to be a successful wholesaler.

    If you can master those aspects than you can succeed in wholesaling and you can build a reputation that will help you your business in the long run.

    And that's what separates good wholesalers from bad ones.

  • Real Estate Investor · North Central Arkansas · Member since 2009 · 509 posts · 178 votes
    16y
    Originally posted by Jeffrey Koenig:
    I have always wondered if wholesalers hurt us buy and hold guys when dealing with banks. I am sure there are some good wholesalers our there, but the majority that I have had contact with are useless noobs or slick characters. It would seem to me that when a bank sees me write an offer Jeff Koenig and/or assigns, that it might hurt my chances because of all of the bums that have burned them in the past trying these complicated closings or other tactics.

    Using and/or assigns on a REO is new to me...I understand your explanation of transfering to an LLC but when most people hear and/or assigns it's generally associated with a wholesaler assigning a contract. Not to speak for David but I think that is what he was referring to.

    To answer your question, I think the banks hurt themselves by loaning money to people who could not afford what they are buying. The end result is that they are timid when dealing with ANY investor.

    The type of Wholesaler your referring to generally does not get involved with the REO game because you need to be a real player to flip REO's. There are good Wholesalers all over the place, it's unfortunate that you have not found any local to you. A good Wholesaler will make your life a whole lot easier.

    Jeff

  • Real Estate Consultant · Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2009 · 20 posts · 1 vote
    16y

    Thank you for the Response. :D Especially to Mr_Investor for giving me pointers. It is much appreciated.

  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    When buying investment property it is always wise to write it as your name and or assigns. You should put EACH property/tax key in its own LLC. If the bank wont let you write it that way let them counter, dont just assume they wont take it that way. It is more paperwork to transfer it to an llc after closing.

  • Curt DavisBusiness Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Memphis, TN · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    16y

    I dont know how you can do Your Name/ and or assigns? So what your saying is when you make an offer your going to put the home into who's LLC? If your doing assignments then my guess is that your LLC has about $0 in it. Banks want to see proof of funds? How do you get around this? I want to believe what your saying but everyone knows banks do not let anyone assign and you need proof of funds to even get the home under contract.

    Are you fooling the bank with a phony letter? Doing and or assigns is the poor mans way of wholesaling real estate.

    Curt Davis - KAIZEN Realty538 Reviews
  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    No, the POF is in my name and if from Marshall and Illslay bank in Milwaukee, WI. The LLC is not created until I have waived my inspection. On a cash offer I have never had a problem. I am closing a deal on Tuesday on a package of six reos. One of them had a foundation problem and I didnt want it. The bank was going to allow me to assign it to another buyer if I would stay on if they for some reason didnt close.

  • Involved In Real Estate · Anderson, SC · Member since 2008 · 350 posts · 70 votes
    16y

    Whether you are an investor, agent or whatever-if someone is operating in an unprofessional manner it can hurt all of us in this industry.

    It takes a lifetime to build a reputation and only a moment to ruin it.

  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    Well said Mark, and we should all take the time to remember that when we speak and before we act.

  • Investor · Rancho Cucamonga, CA · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 684 votes
    16y

    Do they use escrow companies in Wisconsin. Typically, I just write offers in my name and get escrow to do a "courtesy amendment" transferring the property to the entity of my choice.

    Most of it don't take issues with it, they ask my operating agreement though.

    The other option is just write the offer in the entities name and attach your own Proof of Funds, I bet most people wouldn't have issues with it.

    To answer your other question, I do think beginner wholesalers and investors hurt the industry (aka give investors a bad name to sellers), but everyone was a beginner once.

    Thinks beginners should remember:
    - Don't put a deal in escrow if you are not 99% sure you are going to close
    - Be careful with the weasel clauses (I know many gurus advocate for this, but I think it's bad practice)
    - Use a real earnest money deposit, $1 doesn't work for banks
    - Look at most properties before you blast an offer, unless you really know your market
    - Remember this business is about hard work, many new investors think making the big bucks in real estate happens quickly and easily (I wish)

  • Specialist · Las Cruces, NM · Member since 2009 · 557 posts · 71 votes
    16y

    Looks like this thread has gone into a completely different direction than it was originally intended to go.

    Finding a good wholesaler is like finding a good realtor. The type of realtor that always submits your offers immediately, keeps you up to date, and returns your calls. Once you find that person make sure you make them part of your circle immediately.
    Their are tons of shady individuals in the real estate game. Most are run out of the business in a short amount of time. It's just something that we have to live with.

  • Will BarnardPro Member
    Moderator
    Developer · Santa Clarita, CA · Member since 2008 · 15k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    16y
    Please explain to us why this is wise? Banks do not allow "and/or assigns" in most cases, and it makes your offer look weaker. If your intention is to buy in an LLC, form the LLC first and write the offer in the name of the LLC. If you don't get that property, go on to the next writing the offer in the same LLC.

    Most people on this board know I am an experienced investor and REO's is a strong point for me. I NEVER write and/or assigns and have my entity already to go to make my offer in.
    I have written a few offers in the commercial world with my personal name and/or an entity to be named later and then stipulated inside the contract that I was to be a majority owner of the entity to let the bank knwo I was not attempting to assign the contract. If you do want to assign it (wholesale it) just double clsoe and use transactional funding. So much cleaner and easier than all the garbage inside of contracts.

  • Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2008 · 1k+ posts · 671 votes
    16y

    Steve, in Wisconsin the EM would be held by a escrow like a real estate brokerage, a title company, or a law office. The rest of the money is then wired to the title company like it is in any other state.

    Will,
    I have been writing and/or assigns my whole career but I dont do as much volume as you. It has never really been a problem for me. My offers are always cash and I am always the end user. I do not sit around with 5 extra LLCs to write offers through. I form them as needed. Per your advise, I have started dealing directly with the bank (they found me). It is a lot more personal when the deals are over a million dollars and you are buying six properties at a time. This deal I am closing today was not on a standard Wisconsin offer to purchase, but rather a document drafted by their legal team. They had no problem with assignments as long as the stuff was out the door ASAP.
    I guess I would not call myself experienced, but I have done eight deals with three different banks this year and my language has only been a problem once. It was with a VA REO with the Vendie loan program where I had to switch my offer to read Jeff koenig and get rid of the or his assigns.

    Hope I answered your questions, if not you can also ask more or come visit me on a job!

  • Investor · Mableton, GA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 465 votes
    16y

    Jeff, back to your original question, The short answer is probably not. If you're talking about wholesalers who buy bulk, they usually get discount that, we the buy-n-hold don't get. Obviously, they don't get to pick and choose and many times they end up getting stuck with junk. However, having said that, twice I had properties snatched right off my hand only to go to a bulk sale.
    In Yiddish, there is a term called "Luftgesheft" (Air Busiess). Meaning selling something you don't own for a price that it dosn't worth... kinda wholesaling ... no offence... :wink:

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