NEW! BP Podcast 019: Starting Out Tips, Short Sales, and Working with Virtual Assistants w/ Tracy Royce

Hide this

People to Know

 

From the BiggerPockets Blog

 BiggerPockets Blog »

Jump to Forum View All

Click a category below to view different forum categories.

BiggerPockets

General Info

BiggerPockets Q&A, Site Questions, & Announcements

1143 topics, 10708 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 12:39PM

BiggerPockets Exclusive PRO Area

31 topics, 223 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 07:55AM

New Member Introductions

6173 topics, 40363 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 02:06PM

Real Estate Success Stories

214 topics, 2942 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 03:22PM

BiggerPockets Real Estate Investing Summit

95 topics, 1723 posts — Last Post 05/16/13, 06:39PM

General Real Estate

General Real Estate

Buying & Selling Real Estate

2814 topics, 23154 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 02:11PM

Renters

306 topics, 2633 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 06:50AM

Get Foreclosure Help - Help Stop Foreclosure Forum

264 topics, 2099 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 03:04PM

Home Owner Association (HOA) Issues & Problems Forum

159 topics, 1073 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 03:42PM

Do it Yourself

403 topics, 3665 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 09:54AM

Reviews & Feedback

Real Estate Deal Analysis and Advice

2149 topics, 16720 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:01PM

Real Estate Guru, Book & Course Reviews and Discussions

867 topics, 8557 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 12:38PM

Ask About A Real Estate Company

537 topics, 5562 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 06:34AM

Real Estate Investing

Real Estate Strategies

Wholesaling

3759 topics, 29902 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 02:03PM

Rehabbing and House Flipping

2389 topics, 22302 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:16PM

Real Estate Development & New Home Construction

394 topics, 2891 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 04:02PM

Innovative Strategies

519 topics, 4167 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 10:59PM

Tax Liens, Notes, Paper, & Cash Flows Discussion

581 topics, 4235 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:02PM

Rent to Own a.k.a. Lease Purchase, Lease Options

471 topics, 3250 posts — Last Post 05/22/13, 01:18PM

1031 Exchanges

86 topics, 592 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 11:45AM

Foreclosure Investing

General Foreclosure & Pre-Foreclosure Forums

1364 topics, 8935 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 12:39PM

HUD, VA, and Tax Sales

272 topics, 1733 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 04:57PM

REOs

1057 topics, 9231 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 07:26PM

Short Sales

1387 topics, 11838 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 05:53AM

Landlord & Tenant Forums

Landlord & Rental Property Questions

4770 topics, 44776 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 12:49PM

Mobile Homes & Mobile Home Park Investing

490 topics, 3850 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 10:16AM

Investor Basics

Starting Out

5340 topics, 41497 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:40PM

Investor Psychology

338 topics, 4968 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 11:36AM

General Real Estate Investing

3558 topics, 27254 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 02:07PM

Real Estate Investor Marketing

1172 topics, 9465 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 02:12PM

Commercial Real Estate

Commercial Real Estate Investing Forum

1134 topics, 7112 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 08:51AM

Multi-Family and Apartment Investing

539 topics, 4679 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:19PM

The Business of Real Estate

Real Estate Technology and the Internet

Real Estate Technology, Social Media & Blogging

460 topics, 3810 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:25PM

Business Basics

Goals, Business Plans & Entities

556 topics, 5220 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:21PM

Real Estate Finance & Legal

Financial, Tax, and Legal

Tax, Legal Issues, Contracts, Self-Directed IRA

1985 topics, 14032 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:30PM

Credit & Credit Repair

222 topics, 1802 posts — Last Post 04/22/13, 10:00AM

Property Insurance

208 topics, 1336 posts — Last Post 05/22/13, 01:52PM

Bankruptcy

25 topics, 138 posts — Last Post 03/22/13, 08:22PM

Loans, Mortgages, Credit Lines

Private & Conventional Lending Discussion

1854 topics, 12523 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 12:35PM

Creative Real Estate Financing

841 topics, 5942 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 09:42AM

Real Estate Professionals

Real Estate Professionals

Real Estate Agents

793 topics, 5009 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:14PM

Bankers, Lenders, and Mortgage Brokers

374 topics, 1501 posts — Last Post 05/21/13, 10:18AM

Contractors

156 topics, 869 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 08:27AM

Local Real Estate

Local Real Estate

Local Real Estate Networking & Recommendations

941 topics, 5403 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 11:48AM

Americans & International Real Estate

149 topics, 540 posts — Last Post 05/17/13, 03:21PM

Foreigners Buying in the USA

47 topics, 296 posts — Last Post 05/13/13, 09:15AM

Canadian Real Estate

33 topics, 155 posts — Last Post 04/28/13, 07:59AM

Marketplace

Real Estate Marketplace

Real Estate Marketplace

11605 topics, 44748 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 01:18PM

Off-Topic

Off Topic

Off-Topic

2575 topics, 30358 posts — Last Post 05/24/13, 08:27AM

Housing News & Real Estate Market

761 topics, 7197 posts — Last Post 05/23/13, 01:54PM

BiggerPockets Resources

Jay Decima ("Fixer Jay")

10 posts by 8 users

Signup


Anyone try the strategy outlined in his books?

He goes after ugly older houses in lower middle neigbhorhoods (not war zones). Preferably multiple sfhs on large lots. Uglier the better. More deadbeat tenants the better. Fixes them up and holds them for cash flow. When he does sell, he offers owner financing.

He operates in Northern Calif, Redding I think.

TC


Real Estate Investor · Cottonwood Heights, Utah


It's your usual rehab strategy -- buy low, fix and sell after awhile. It works but some of the stuff in his books is BS.



It's your usual rehab strategy -- buy low, fix and sell after awhile. It works but some of the stuff in his books is BS.

One thing he seemed to stress is avoiding banks.

Funniest part of the book is his strategy on how to get rid of the deadbeats. He doesn't even approach them. He just shows up early 7-8am to start the renovation. Louder the better. After a few days of that, they seem to mostly leave.

TC



Hi tcul, Lee G,
I have know Fixer Jay for 20+ years. I bought most of my 85 cash flow houses, using his techniques. I bought most of them over a 3 year period, not starting with a boat load of money. Another friend, Don has bought 39 homes the same way. One thing to realize is Jay, Don and I are not buying typical fixers one at a time.. We buy groups of older homes on a single parcel. Most are run down and the sellers know they can't be bank financed and will carry the financing themselves. Your investing goes a lot faster when you buy in groups. Jay just introduced his free Financial Freedom Series on his web site, [LINK REMOVED] (you will also get his weekly blog, that he has posted for the last 4 years). Note, When we all sell, we are happy to carry back the financing. We are able to get a high price and keep the monthly payments so the seller gets his profit. Plus, we only pay taxes on the monthly payments and not the principal. Because these loans are usually interest only, we receive monthly payments and at the end of the loan term are still owed the full face amount of the loan. It is pretty simple stuff, but who else teaches this this? Take care, Dan By the way, with our type of buying, WE force up the value, we do not cross out fingers and wait for market appreciation. Also, because our 5 cash flow houses, using his techniques. I bought most of them over a 3 year period, not starting with a boat load of money. Another friend, Do


Real Estate Investor · Milwaukee, Wisconsin


Good ad Dan. I read a few chapters of the book at but it down. This was my second year in RE. There is nothing there that you cant learn here for free.

Also, these homes on same tax key are not found in all areas of the country.


· Monrovia, California


Attention Lee G up in Utah,,,,

I know Jay Decima and have studied his teachings

Hes a very nice guy,,,transparent,,,unpretencious,,,,and in a word,,,

He has done very well for himself,,,

We dontcha give Ol Jay a phone call sometime,,,?

I think you'll be pleasantly surprised,,,,

You might want to visit Redding California for a few days after the phone call,,,,

Best

Dave Doyle
Monrovia Calif


Rehabber · Lexington, Kentucky


@David Doyle, this thread is several years old so I was just curious what made you bring it back up? Also, what is up with the 31 commas in your post above?

If you are going to posy about a guru and leave a review, perhaps you could be more specific. Please understand there are a lot of real estate "gurus" out there selling garbage, so just saying, "he is a very nice guy" and "he has done very well for himself" doesn't tell us anything about his books or programs.

Small_k_v_transparent-_no_writingJames Vermillion, K&V Investing
E-Mail: James.Vermillion@kandvinvesting.com
Telephone: 859-684-2511
Website: http://www.kandvinvesting.com
Invested in the Bluegrass!


· Monrovia, California


What I'm trying to convey James,is that Jay Decima is one of the few teachers that will show the properties he bought ,one at a time in chronological order,purchase price,how he financed them [usually seller financing] how he rehabbed them,how he rented them up,and more importantly how he manages them for positive cash flow.

He owns many properties in Redding Calif.

He also has a great reputation in the eyes of many conservative reviewers including John "Jack" Reed.


Real Estate Investor · Los Angeles, CA


What do the seminars and other teachings teach that one can't learn from books or sites like biggerpockets? The issue I have is that these gurus seem to target REI newbies in order to extract large sums of cash from their bank accounts.

His site mentions "Jay began teaching others about his money-making strategies at seminars and at his popular HOUSE FIXER CAMPS in Redding California. Students actually visit Jay's properties to see for themselves what kind of properties earn the biggest profits and why. "

It looks like his holdings are mostly in Redding. Is this an area that still cashflows? I'm sure prices were probably much lower decades ago when he was buying his properties. From a search in the area it looks like many of the homes there under 100k seem to be mobile homes.

It looks like he recommends a buy and hold mentality versus flipping so this is definitely important.

I'm just wondering if it makes any sense to show people an area that might not cash flow to the expectations of the top buy and hold investors on this board for example. Any house can be rented...but not every rented house is a positive cash flow investment.


Real Estate Investor · Brea, California


I'll summarize where I think Jay's approach makes sense:

FixerJay's target market is the lower (but not lowest) end of the rental market and he excels in demonstrating what to do and not to do in order to profitably work this market.

Jay has several books and home study courses that are representative of the market he prefers. His preferred strategy is to acquire clustered houses from a seller who has mismanaged the group and willing to accept paper that allows the buyer to still see positive cash flow.

I first met Jay when my friend Mike Cantu insisted we travel together to Redding, CA and take Jay's 3-day, hands on, property rehab course. Lots of fun. I got to see lots practical approaches that I would not see in a textbook or read in a discussion forum.

Jay's target market is the section 8 tenant. He knows how to keep his properties in good order yet do so profitably. I'm not new to real estate, however I appreciated seeing his approach, methods, strategies and tactics first hand.

Jay's made his money in real estate, not training. That's an important distinction to understand when checking out educators. Also, he ain't no spring chicken and well into his seventies and, although sharp as a tack, he won't be teaching forever.

It may be true that you can learn much from books, CD's and free forums. Personally, I enjoy seeing things and meeting people in person and see for myself if it's real. There are plenty of people on this and other forums who are very opposed to spending money on education that they believe can be obtained without the personal interface. I see this as operating in a vacuum however just because it's not my style does mean they're wrong or that I'm right.

I just remember what the difference between ground school and building flying hours was like when I got my pilot's license.

Small_rtpg-logo-drop-shadowRick Harmon, The Suburban Group
Telephone: (714) 572-2611
Website: http://Closeprobate.com
Probate & missing owner specialist - DIY at: Ricktheprobateguy.com




Sign up