Loving the Free Educational content provided by PIP Group

Tax Liens & Mortgage Notes
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Loving the Free Educational content provided by PIP Group

Account Closed
Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes

I have been into Flipping houses for a few years now and I truly enjoy it! I have recently (I know, I'm late) learned about Investing with tax liens... When I found out about this method of investing I went digging through the internet for more educational content. I stumbled across the company PIP Group. The PIP Group provides all of its content for free, and I really enjoy the webinars that break down almost everything I needed to learn about Tax Liens! 

Has anyone else checked this company out? and what is your favorite source of educational content when you are searching for some answers? 

Thanks a bunch

Don

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Ned CareyPro Member
Moderator
Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
7y

The previous three posts are from members who joined yesterday. The have blank profiles and have each only posted once, - a positive review of PIP.  (Note: one duplicate post was hidden.)

My personal belief is these are fake profiles prompted by PIP. The odds that randomly three people who just happened to work with PIP, joined the site the same day, stumbled upon this post, and found it to be the only thread worth contributing to is statistically    .    .    .    well lets just say unlikely.

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  • Dylan DeBellis
    Financial Advisor · Savannah, GA · Member since 2019 · 26 posts · 8 votes
    7y

    @Don Wilson I have seen some of their webinars as well... I thought they were very informative!

    I also enjoy the content that is published on bp! This is a very smart and savvy network...

    1Reply
  • Erwin Vargas
    Member since 2019 · 4 posts · 7 votes
    7y

    @Don Wilson

     

    I'm triying to get involved in a Tax Lien investment world, but they are out there so many false providers doing seminars and promise a "Holly Grail" softwares and quick methods that put in jeopardy your money...Be careful and let me know if you find someone with good reviews that we can trust.

    Thanks

    3Reply
  • Account Closed
    OP
    Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Erwin Vargas I hear what you're saying and the keyword when investing with tax liens or an investment group is research! 

    I (personally) don't trust anything "quick" or "guru-like" I would recommend first doing independent research, and secondly, check out the company I mentioned above (PIP Group). Even if it is strictly to use them as a source of education. They offer so many webinars and other material that definitely helped me understand a few things I was confused about. I'm sure there are others like this, but this is just my personal experience. 

    0Reply
  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    @Account Closed I would be skeptical of PIP, based on comments on BP and other places. One of the principals of the company had replied to posts here and basically made a fool of himself. 

    The tax sale game is quite competitive and therefore margins are slim. There is not really any room for a middle man. It is easy to make tax liens sound safe and lucrative but that is misleading. They are quite risky. and or offer low returns.

    5Reply
  • Melissa Kirchhoff
    Ottawa, IL · Member since 2016 · 242 posts · 107 votes
    7y

    @Ned Carey & @Account Closed -

    I second Ned on this one. 

    I have been a real estate agent working with PIP and I would be cautious regarding investments (and, honestly, any similar type of group, not just PIP). 

    The problem is that you're using them basically so you don't have to do your own due diligence and can save that time. However, then you are putting faith in someone else to do it (correctly!) for you. Many tax liens that I see locally are purchased by outside investors. They purchase ridiculously cheap liens in nearby cities that are downright depressed (and due to certain, local issues, will likely never come back and have any real value) but outsiders don't really realize that unless they have someone local with the insider knowledge.  So there, PIP would be good, because they use local agents. 

    However, I was often not listened to at all on my advice on pricing and such. I think it's because outsiders can't actually realize and accept how terrible some of these areas are. And even if it's a nice house (which most of them aren't!) the value can still be upsettingly low. (Seriously, there was an amazing victorian that went for ~30k.) Then, they have no real loyalty and will just bounce to other agents that will give them what they want to hear. I still watch those properties, and they sit on the market, because they are over-priced or over-improved and no one makes any money!

    So, as always, it's about due diligence.

    And as for other resources, besides BP (which actually, I struggled to find tons in terms of podcasts and stuff on tax liens, I wish they would do more on it!) the book  "The Secret Synergy Group System" by Jim Yocom had excellent breakdown (you could skip the whole beginning on why to do it) and has information state-by-state to help you understand what would work best for your particular interests. 

    I invest locally, so I buy the lists and do extensive analysis. And also, if you can go the local route, I have a few neighborhoods I want to invest in, so I walk and drive those neighborhoods regularly and watch for ones with papers stacked up and that look vacant, and I will look up the PIN and tax on them to see if they are late or missed. 

    If you can't invest locally, I recommend at least making a few trips out there and talking to locals/agents/whatever and trying to understand the nuances of the area. Why throw money (even if it's okay a few thousand, with tax lien investing it can add up over time and legal fees) for something that may not be worth it or have a return? Do your homework and don't be one of those horror stories! Good luck!

    2Reply
  • Account Closed
    OP
    Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Ned Carey I have read a few of the other threads, Not sure this one aligns with those. I was simply referencing their educational content. Which I found very informative. Maybe this is due to me being a complete novice (hey, ya got to start somewhere right?) However, I do hear you on the margins being slim, and like anything, It's all in the due diligence. 

    Have you had a chance to check out some of their webinars? What are your thoughts about the content in them? and do you know of any other sites or material that would be good for a novice?

    Don

    0Reply
  • Henry Marshall
    Specialist · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2018 · 87 posts · 13 votes
    7y

    @Don Wilson i haven't heard anyone talk about strategies in investing in tax lien sales, here is what i do Don, wait for the sale to happen most states have a redemption period find out your state redemption period contact the owner of that property directly and deal with them within that redemption period to see if they will sell to you, most will because they haven't paid there taxes in years so another 6 to 12 months more than likely they want be paying there taxes throughout that redemption period so they would rather take an offer rather than to loose the house all together, so you will have to pay the back taxes plus whatever state percentage back to the investor who bought the property wich no money comes out of your pocket all is handled at closing if your wholesaling.

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    OP
    Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Melissa Kirchhoff  I haven't passed the "educational stage" yet. I was simply just referring to their content. You say you have worked with them in the past?  They seem to be quite informed on the topic of distressed real estate... is this your belief as well? 

    And thanks for the recommendation of the book... I am always looking to consume as much as I can.  

    I'm still on the fence with if I would invest in tax liens, and if I would use a 3rd party to invest with. (pros and cons) but one mistake I see others making is throwing money in, and not performing their own due diligence. It is easy to feel like you have been had when one knows so little about the process. (where I currently sit)

    1Reply
  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    @Account Closed If you point me to the specific content you are referring to I would be glad to check it out. 

    1Reply
  • Account Closed
    OP
    Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Henry Marshall

    Thanks for the input... what state do you perform this strategy in? 

    0Reply
  • Henry Marshall
    Specialist · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2018 · 87 posts · 13 votes
    7y

    @Don Wilson any state, just check the state laws of the redemption period.

    1Reply
  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    @Account Closed as I suspected it would be, this was a very basic introduction.  It left out a lot of details. One important detail is how do they make money?  

    They talk about the secondary market. Why would they sell you liens that are sure to make money instead of keeping them themselves?  They said nothing about the competition you might expect, nor the risks involved. 

    Basically it looks like the same type of fluff promotion that other tax lien promoters push.

    3Reply
  • Account Closed
    OP
    Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Ned Carey I appreciate you taking your time and checking it out. As I said I am very new to the tax lien world, so maybe that's why I found this "basic intro" to be fulfilling. Anything more might have been overwhelming (for a novice like myself). 

    Do you have any recommendations for better content? or "lesson 2" that I might be able to check out? 

    0Reply
  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    Don,

    It is easy to be impressed by someone who know just a little more than you. i got scammed big time when I started by a guy that had no more experience than I did but knew what to say.

    Over they years I have heard a book called "the 16% Solution" recommended. Other than that often the county website has good information. It can be hard to find. It certainly won't be on the first page of the site. The national auction companies that run online sales for the counties sometimes have good info. The baltimore site is very good. Bid 4 assets and Grant street group are two that run tax auctions

    I set up keyword alerts here on BP for "tax sale" "tax lien" "tax deed" and "tax certificate" I get notified whenever one is mentioned. It is a great way to keep on track of topics that interest you.

    2Reply
  • Ozzy SirimsiBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 782 votes
    7y

    @Ned Carey I think you should do a class on tax liens etc... I probably would not buy the liens but would attend that class  just to learn :D))

    1Reply
  • Melissa Kirchhoff
    Ottawa, IL · Member since 2016 · 242 posts · 107 votes
    7y

    @Account Closed - No worries, I think all of us are just worried about you investing with them because they have that and getting yourself into a bad situation. You sound very cautious and thoughtful though so I think you'll be okay. They are informed in the sense that they know the system, but not in the sense that they don't know the markets. And from my experience, I wouldn't trust them personally with my money. I think they create their own ideas and numbers to support what needs to be supported and that can get people into a bad financial situation, where expectations are high and the results aren't there. And yes, with any third party situation like that, again, just do a lot of research and ask people on here, they are very helpful and many have walked down many different roads and can help us from making the same mistakes! 

    0Reply
  • Melissa Kirchhoff
    Ottawa, IL · Member since 2016 · 242 posts · 107 votes
    7y

    Watched the video, I don't think the IL thing is correct. I could be wrong but my understanding is the cap is 36% at a year, not that it keeps going up to 108% ... So I researched, the tax code they have listed with that clip says this:

    So I'm back to questioning the information. 

    Maybe someone else can chime in regarding the IL tax liens (@Emmett R. McCarthy?) the last time I was interested in one was a few years back (and was to get the property, not the interest) and maybe something has changed since then?

    And then there's this slide. 

    The county doesn't send you a check for the amount?! What the heck??

    Either things have really changed, or I didn't have the right understanding of it originally, or this is just flat out complete lies ...

    0Reply
  • Albert Stancato
    Member since 2019 · 20 posts · 16 votes
    7y

    Illinois is a bid-down state. Not all counties are 36% and there is a three-year redemption period. I was at the Kane County auction this year. Nearly every property had a room full of investors yelling zero (0%) hoping to get chosen for the certificate, and on average 70% redeem in the first year! 

    0Reply
  • Bradford Page
    Member since 2019 · 1 post · 0 votes
    7y

    I am a Realtor in Savannah, GA and have been listing and selling homes for PIP and their various investors since we began working together in mid 2016. We have closed on 40 homes and have 5 more pending. We continue to improve the process of managing the large number of properties that they purchase in the area as well as improving the quality of local contractors. I have always found PIP to be honorable in their dealings with me, our contractors and customers. 

    0Reply
  • Richard Gataveckas
    Member since 2019 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    I am Real Estate agent in state of South Carolina.

    While I don’t know much about tax liens in other states (every state is different as far as interest rates,  penalties, types of auction, redemption periods etc), I know quite a bit about SC. I am also familiar with distressed Real Estate since I have been working with such a properties for 10 years or so now.

    Recently I worked with PIP Group on one of PIP investments in SC. I have only good things to say about this company. It seems to me that they know what they are doing and they get things done. With the property I was involved with they made extremely good return on investment and I was able to sell home in less than 5 days (it was priced right and it was nice home). PIP Group acquired property, renovated it and sold it in less than 6 months. Company has great communication and is easy to work with (there is no comparison with listing foreclosures and dealing with asset managers).

    I truly believe it is worth to give them a try if you are interested in Real Estate Investments.

    0Reply
  • Robin Horne
    Member since 2019 · 1 post · 0 votes
    7y

    I am a real estate agent , working with Brad Page in Savannah, GA.   The team has been listing and selling homes for PIP and their various investors since we began working together in mid 2016. We have closed on 40 homes and have 5 more pending. We continue to improve the process of managing the large number of properties that they purchase in the area as well as improving the quality of local contractors. I have always found PIP to be honorable in their dealings with us, our contractors and customers/clients.

    0Reply
  • Ned CareyPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2008 · 17k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    The previous three posts are from members who joined yesterday. The have blank profiles and have each only posted once, - a positive review of PIP.  (Note: one duplicate post was hidden.)

    My personal belief is these are fake profiles prompted by PIP. The odds that randomly three people who just happened to work with PIP, joined the site the same day, stumbled upon this post, and found it to be the only thread worth contributing to is statistically    .    .    .    well lets just say unlikely.

    9Reply
  • Account Closed
    OP
    Morristown, NJ. · Member since 2019 · 9 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    This site seems very aggressive. Not sure it's for me, I just wanted to say I love the content that The PIP Group created. I found, and still find it very informative and was simply looking for other sources or channels to learn from... I see that people have gotten very sidetracked to what this post was intended for. 

    I wanted to thank everyone for taking the time to provide your personal opinions, however, I'm not into arguing or challenging others because I have a personal issue.  @Ned Carey and @Melissa Kirchhoff you obviously dislike the company for whatever your reasons (and you are entitled to that feeling), I just feel like if you want to attempt to discredit this business this wasn't the post. but what do I know I'm obviously new to this BP page so I wasn't aware this was how it was. 

    I honestly just figured I would post about learning material and the BP network would discuss that topic. I was wrong. so with that, I'm going to delete this app, it isn't the right one for me. wish everyone nothing but success!  

    0Reply
  • Joe SplitrockPro Member
    Moderator
    Rental Property Investor · Sioux Falls, SD · Member since 2015 · 9k+ posts · 18k+ votes
    7y

    @Ned Carey has nothing against the company. Ned is fair and objective, but fake accounts and fake testimonials are a serious concern. All six people that had positive things to say about PIP Group opened accounts within the last week and their first and ONLY posts on BiggerPockets were to prop up PIP Group. Some accounts have since been closed. This casts doubt on any of the positive feedback here. In fact just the opposite. If a company is willing to use these tactics, it calls into question their overall business practices. PIP Group is not an educational provider. They are a company that sells notes.

    PIP Group is welcome to advertise in the BiggerPockets market place, where you will find other legitimate companies selling a variety of services.

    Don Wilson first post joined 2-15-19

    Dylan DeBellis first post joined 2-6-19

    Erwin Vargas first post joined 2-11-19

    Albert Stancato first post joined 2-8-19

    Bradford Page first post joined 2-19-19

    Richard Gataveckas first post joined 2-19-19

    Robin Horne first post joined 2-19-19

    5Reply
  • Dylan DeBellis
    Financial Advisor · Savannah, GA · Member since 2019 · 26 posts · 8 votes
    7y

    @Joe Splitrock thanks for the shoutout lol!

    0Reply
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