Building Back Up To 30 Deals a Year (long)

Building Back Up To 30 Deals a Year (long)

Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes

I’m getting my act back together and would like to show anyone that is interested how I am doing it.

My wife and I have been real estate investing for 8 years in San Antonio, TX. For the last several years, we’ve typically bought and sold between 25 and 30 houses a year. Our exit strategy is mostly to fix and flip retail, but also sell some houses with owner financing for long term cashflow.

Here's what happened and what I am doing about it:

Last summer my family took a vacation to the west coast. We went from San Diego to Seattle over three weeks, stopping in the major cities and San Simeon. What a beautiful place (the west coast in general).

Seeing Howard Hughes’ “Spruce Goose†was on my list of things I wanted to do and so we visited the Air and Space Museum in McMinnville, OR. Seeing this place really rekindled my desire to learn how to fly. I’ve wanted to learn for the last several years since I had flown with another investor down the shoreline of Lake Michigan. What an absolutely amazing experience.

So, as soon as we got back, I started researching flying schools and taking flights with different instructors. For several months, all I was doing was thinking about flying. Investing took a back seat and I was playing "semi-retired".

I ended up passing my checkride in November and immediately realized (now that my brain was starting to allow other thoughts) that we had quite an inventory of houses waiting to be rehabbed. I would never wish rehabbing 6 houses at one time on anybody. We had some that were already finished also that were just sitting on the market.

The market got really slow over the new year and I was hesitant to pick up anymore, especially because I was so wore out from dealing with contractors and rehabbing issues (the hardest part of this business in my opinion).

Fast forward to the present, the houses are all finished and on the market and we are getting them under contract. I now need to fill by deal pipeline again.

I feel like I am starting over (I know it is not completely starting over) because what you experience today is usually a result of what you did the last 3-6 months.

I was needing motivation and was thinking about ways to make the process more exciting. :idea: The result is that I have decided to share, with whoever is interested, the process. I am going to show how I am marketing, documenting the leads that come in, my analysis, purchase, rehabbing and selling of the properties for others to read about and learn from.

I will be posting regularly on my blog (in signature) as I go along. Please join me. I would love to hear your ideas and feedback. It should be a fun ride.

7Reply
342 views

Most Popular Reply

Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
15y

I also just fished reading your 7 Crazy Real Estate Investing Stories--very entertaining!

See this reply in the discussion

115 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    15y

    Danny, nice blog. I'm looking forward to following your progress.

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y
    Originally posted by Jon Klaus:
    Danny, nice blog. I'm looking forward to following your progress.

    Thank you. It's really a hard thing to do, putting myself out there like this. I'm usually very secretive about what I do. This is a complete change...stepping out of my comfort zone.

    But, it really is giving me a renewed excitement about my real estate investing business.

  • Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    15y

    I also just fished reading your 7 Crazy Real Estate Investing Stories--very entertaining!

  • Homeowner · Knoxville, TN · Member since 2011 · 207 posts · 73 votes
    15y

    Keep us in the loop Danny. I know I'll be following your progress.

  • Investor · Southlake, TX · Member since 2009 · 950 posts · 338 votes
    15y

    Thanks Danny. Gotta love that passion!

  • Investor · Stuart, FL · Member since 2011 · 9 posts · 1 vote
    15y

    I know that feeling. I only flip one or two a year. Then I get away from it and miss the cash flow. I need to buckle down and do more.

  • Investor · Lenexa, KS · Member since 2010 · 215 posts · 121 votes
    15y

    I'm on board as well, looking forward to more posts. Keep it comin.

  • Specialist · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 852 votes
    15y

    Like the Blog Danny, how many unique visitors per month are you getting? You can PM the answer if you don't want to share it with the world. I am just curious because I am in the process of launching my blog site in May.
    Thanks

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y

    Rob,

    I just started posting frequently on it and getting it out there.

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y

    Ok. I've posted the first weeks results. It's a very detailed post. It was hard to stop adding ideas to it, but it was getting way too long.

    Summary:
    Leads: 8
    Under Contract: 1

    Take a look at the post. It is packed with details (my blog is in my signature).

    Please let me know what you think of the format as I was having a hard time figuring out what was best to do.

    Enjoy!

  • Investor · Newport Beach, CA · Member since 2010 · 86 posts · 24 votes
    15y

    This is amazing. I'm definitely looking forward to following.

  • Engineer · Bel Air, MD · Member since 2009 · 136 posts · 24 votes
    15y

    Im going there now to start reading.

  • Engineer · Bel Air, MD · Member since 2009 · 136 posts · 24 votes
    15y

    Great read! Looking forward to the following parts. Thanks.

  • Real Estate Investor · Normal, IL · Member since 2010 · 15 posts · 0 votes
    15y

    30 houses? I couldnt image....sounds like you got it together, cant wait to see your posts!

  • Real Estate Investor · Lake Charles, LA · Member since 2009 · 271 posts · 52 votes
    15y

    blog is great Danny,glad to see a real estate blog going up right down the road from me man.

  • Real Estate Investor · Richmond, KY · Member since 2010 · 20 posts · 6 votes
    15y

    Good stuff. You really go into alot of detail. keep it up.

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y

    The second week's results are now posted on my blog (link in my signature).

    Summary:
    Leads: 12
    Under Contract: 0 - A big goose egg.

    It was another monster post. I can't help it. I like to ramble. :wink:

  • Engineer · Bel Air, MD · Member since 2009 · 136 posts · 24 votes
    15y

    Great read this week! One question tho, when you are figuring out numbers how do you figure out what the house is worth after repairs at the same time? Do you just see what other houses are selling for in the area? Like looking at the comps?

  • Investor · McKinney, TX · Member since 2009 · 405 posts · 160 votes
    15y

    Excellent Blog Danny - I'll be watching for updates. Thanks!

  • Landlord · Seattle, WA · Member since 2010 · 3k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    15y

    Well worth visiting your blog.

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y

    Thanks for the comments. It's a lot of work putting it together so I am glad that people find it interesting and helpful.

    Thorney,

    Yes, I am looking at comps to figure out the After Repaired Values (based on what similar houses are selling for in the area, days on market, number of houses for sale and sold in the last 3 to 6 months).

  • Engineer · Bel Air, MD · Member since 2009 · 136 posts · 24 votes
    15y

    Thanks! Seeing this stuff gives me hope lol. Really stressful making sure im doing this right. Its great having you post stuff like this, gives me a great blue print to work off from.

    This should be a sticky I think.

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y

    Third Week is now posted for anyone interested.

    I included pictures of the houses I went to see and make offers on.

    There is also a before and after pic of my last personal house. It took 3 years. :)

  • Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    15y
    Originally posted by Danny Johnson:
    There is also a before and after pic of my last personal house. It took 3 years. :)

    Looks like a bed and breakfast--very nice!

  • Real Estate Investor · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2010 · 328 posts · 182 votes
    15y

    Fourth week is now posted. You should really check it out. I have an important announcement. :)

    Looks like I will have a Merry Christmas!

    Thanks for all of the great comments.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.