Renatus Investment Coach/ Mentor
Engineer · Chicago, IL · Member since 2014 · 8 posts · 7 votes
Hi Everyone,
Last night I went to a real estate invest presentation.
I responded to an ad on Craig’s list and was invited to a presentation. The presenter was really entertaining, he went over the company (Renatus), offered courses that would help to educate potential investors for a fee (between $2K - $15K depending on the your course selection). The program is designed to walk new investors through different real estate tractions with an experienced investor. It was presented like a win-win...
My question is, have anyone heard of this company? I have done some research and I am finding mixed reviews. This idea of a one stop shop is appealing, but I don’t want to put myself in a hole falling for a gimmick.
Please help …
Hi Marisa,
I may catch some flak for this, on this site. I'm a current Renatus student in Chicago, based at the same Downer's Grove office you probably visited. I've just been a student for a little over a month. I believe, personally, that it's the right fit for me. But I'm not going to say that everyone/anyone NEEDS a Renatus education to succeed in Real Estate. It's true as other posters have stated, that that there is a LOT of information right here in the BiggerPockets community. In fact, I usually listed to BP podcasts on my Thursday commutes to the office for study groups.
What Renatus and the Downers Grove office study groups give me are the comprehensive, structured education, followed through in study groups, and a community of students and mentors who have gone through the classes and have gone on to make a number of successful deals. There is a group accountability to complete the classes, there are discussion groups to make sure concepts are covered, there are regular events (these events are NOT visiting "gurus" whose appearance is aimed at selling additional products).
You would be with people whom you will be in a 'graduating class' with, have had education together with in study groups, and will be able to do deals with. I've gotten to know several of the other students and instructors pretty well in the short time I've been with them. There are a number of other activities hosted by the Downers Grove office: Today after work I visited a fix and flip in Barrington that's about to go on the market - where Renatus students who participated are going to make a ton of money. After that, I traveled down to Downers Grove and in a small group I played the Cash Flow 101 game. This is a "Rich Dad" product aimed at training you how to think about real estate investments at a broad level. (Other Chicagoland REIA's also host "Cash Flow nights" for the same purpose).
If you do not pursue Renatus education, you can find communities of Chicago investors through REIA groups, including Meetups which are listed here. I'm sure Brie Schmidt has already reached out to you if you have made an introduction here, and she can probably steer you to her REIA group. If you tend to work better with some structured education and with a group of people who will motivate you, hold you accountable, and keep you from procrastinating, and if you can commit to traveling to the Downer's Grove office on at least a weekly basis (Thursday nights), then Renatus may be a good fit for you, at the $2k "Essentials" level.
Renatus DOES have an education marketing side, which is completely optional. Myself, I'm not focusing on that. In fact, when I was first introduced to Renatus, the education marketing side gave me red flags, since I perceived it to be a MLM. I like to steer far away from MLM's and have had a couple MLM's pitched at me which I've declined in the past. I feel education marketing is 180 degrees from what I want to do. But I can understand their argument that you need to learn to market to be successful in real estate anyway -- whether it's marketing yourself, your abilities, your properties for wholesale, for rent, for sale, etc. The company's arguments for giving students the option to market its education are: 1) it keeps the money in the community where it can be reinvested rather than sending it to ad agencies or other advertising vehicles, 2) It allows students another mode of cash flow so they can build an operating/investing budget with which to start their RE investing 3) It helps train students to become salespeople, and this discipline is valuable in real estate.
I personally think that Renatus' idea to market the education this way also gives them a terrible image problem, considering that I resisted the first opportunity to join because I checked up on Renatus online and concluded it was an MLM scam, and you can see that there are many who bring up the "MLM" label in regard to the education sales. I personally am not focused on selling the Renatus education. You'll see that I do not have any kind of link in my bio or in this message pointing you at any kind of place you can register. In fact, this post is the first time I have ever mentioned the company on Bigger Pockets.
Whatever your decision, I wish you all the luck in your investing career. If you sign up, I will NOT get a commission based on your decision - that would go to the person who recruited you through the Craigslist ad.
@david dachtera,
You are a strange fellow, rather annoying. Kind of like a mosquito buzzing around my head that I just can't squash.
You have not understood really anything i've posted but continue to comment as if you know everything there is to know about me and real estate and life in general. You spout off with "I only tell the truth." Yeah, that'S what liars usually say. I don't always tell the truth, that'S human nature, but I guess you wouldn't know much about that.
I notice you don't even address things that you can't give a good answer to that will make Renatus look good.
I've always been a risk taker. There'S a difference between taking risks and throwing money away, which is what people do when they join Renatus. Oh yes, i've found many people who have not made a dime after joining Renatus for $20,000, a few in my market, which is strange since John Ferguson told me they would not let me fail and basically guaranteed the moon and the stars. But of course that'S their fault for not following the system obviously. Accountability.
A friend recently told me about a RE investing group she's involved in. Turns out it's Renatus. Too late, she's hooked. She told me there are three different levels of education each with a different price and that they do not turn anyone down. Really? You mean no one willing to pay is turned down? Big surprise. I don't think if you go into Target they will turn you away either if you're willing to spend money. She said they receive 50% commission for selling the real estate education programs. So you're trying to sell me something you know not a lot about? Hello. How can you sell something you've not done yourself. How do you sell real estate investing when you've not done any real estate investing yourself? She said they pay a high commission to alleviate marketing. Really? Who does she think is doing the marketing for the company? I'm disappointed she's involved as she could have saved that money and gone to her local REI club. Live and learn.
I only know about you what you post here - what you say literally, and what you say without saying it.
Every Thursday, I'm in a buy-and-hold study group (there are three others going on at the same time) with folks who might be interested to know that the money they're making on their deals is all fake (their banks accounts indicate otherwise) and that they wasted their money getting the education (they may take exception to that). Over 200 people here every week - that's a lot of fake profit and wasted money on education. Last numbers I saw: we have some 14,000 students nationwide.
Y'know what, our tax and legal expert, Mark Kohler is coming out on May 20th to do a day and a half workshop: Friday the 19th after 3pm on using Quickbooks in your REI business and then next day on what he teaches in his two day class. I'm sure he'll have some updates on what's going in the DC these days as relates to the tax code and other financial legislation.
Since you apparently know better than someone who is a JD / CPA and certified in secondary education (some of his classes count for CE credits for agents, brokers, attorneys, accountants and other licensed professionals), why not make a road trip up here and tell him he's got it wrong and why? I'll even cover your $50 for your seat in the room (you pay your own travel, meals and accomodations).
I suggest a road trip because, with your attitude, going anywhere near the TSA or airport / airline security would be a virtual guarantee of more Congressional hearings.
I am curious, however, about "things that will make Renatus look good". Care to list some specifics?
Most of us marketers DO have the education as well and are active investors. What can I answer for you?
@David Dachtera curious if you have even done a single deal over the past year? I find it curious you keep pushing renatus, etc; I'm guessing it's how you make your living. I see you on here a lot w/ advise which is great but not one detail of a single deal you have done. you seem to "know it all" yet haven't done it all.
@david dachtera,
You continue to post things that have no relevance to my replies or my situation. You only post thingS that make Renatus look like the greatest thing since sliced bread was my point. You disregard anything that can't be spun into a favorable viewpoint, and that'S all you'really doing is a bunch of spinning. Very little of what you're saying is real or true or "verifiable". I thought i'd already established that.
All legitimate businesses MUST have accountability. Renatus has none. Therefore Renatus is "fill in the correct answer". Sure, they make alot of promises, which more often than not go unfulfilled.
I'm not sure what I said that tells you I think I know more than a JD/CPA tax expert. I'm sorry if I gave you that idea somehow. I haven't said anything about taxes since many replies ago when I said I find it unethical to take a tax deduction for paying my 6 and 8 yr old children as employees of my business. I have a strong ethical code and would never do something so underhanded just to get a tax break even if it is legal.
You definitely try to bully people on here. You dont do it very well, but you try. You're making personal attacks against me based solely on the fact that I won't pay 20 grand for the fabulous Renatus experience. You've told me you agree with John ferguson that I shouldn't get into real estate or start any other business. You do this based solely on the fact I won't join Renatus and disagree with pretty much everything you say about them. You won't offer me a position on your team. Haha I laughed so hard I almost peed my pants. I don't want a position on your team or any other Renatus team, I thought that was obvious. You made some jab about airports and congressional hearings. You make many assumptions about me all because I wont give your wonderful company $20,000, i.e. I would not be happy dealing with the stress that comes from being a business owner, I am not a risk taker, etc. Of course you have no basis for such assumptions and they're all incorrect, so I don't know why you post such things. Oh right, you're trying to be a bully.
So you will know a little about me. I have an accounting degree from the university of northern iowa. I now live in mckinney, texas. My wife is an RN, she is the one who always wants to take the safe route, which did save us $20,000 so good on her. I am starting a new business next summer, would do it now but it'S not possible logistically until next summer. I'm looking to also get into real estate investing. I have no problem risking $20K or $40K or $60K on a real estate deal. Won't risk that much on a non-accredited, unaccountable company offering real estate courses. I have a good sum of cash saved up for my business and there was no way I was going to spend a large chunk of it on real estate education. I already have found a real estate mentor, who isn't charging me anything by the way, friend of the family. He'S not big time like you i'm sure, but he knows what he'S doing and is willing to teach me.
I'm tired of typing and i'm getting stir crazy. But thanks for all your wonderfully incorrect assumptions.
Yes - I've made that offer to come visit before so you can face the people you are accusing. To date, no one has had the backbone to accept it, including some highly ranked and well respected people here on BP.
I say you should not be a business owner because to you, arguing is more important than intelligent discourse.
You claim the company is not accountable, but offer no facts to back that up, only rumors, gossip and other claims which cannot be substantiated or verified.
You claim that the company is teaching, as you put it, "something so underhanded" even though you claim to be educated in accounting, and thus, you should know better.
So, who is the bully here?
You've told me enough about yourself through what you say and the way you say it for me to know that my investor community is better off without you.
David dachtera, You really make no sense. None of what you just posted makes any logical sense, so it's not worth replying to any of it specifically. At least everyone here can see what you and Renatus are. With only the slightest bit of nudging on my part, I was able to get you to become something no businessman or aspiring entrepreneur would want to have anything to do with.
Excellent conversation everyone!
Most of us marketers DO have the education as well and are active investors. What can I answer for you?
I don't believe I asked a question. I made a statement based on my observation and knowledge of said program. Thank you.
@Marisa Dickson A BP Pro membership is $29.99 per month! That's where you make your investment. TRUST ME! Everything you need to know and everyone you need to know are here on BP. Take that $15K and buy a property with it. Best of luck to you on your journey!
@Joel Osarhiemen @Shawn Ackerman
I am sitting back with popcorn, waiting for this thread to go on.... LOL
Not sure if you realize, but if you search "that company name" on BP, a lot of older posts with several pages comes up.
@Chris T. why you staring trouble man??😂😂😂😂. I think I know the post your referring too. I think I was on it lol.
Feet up with popcorn in hand. No back and forth for me tonight 😂
Y'know why I love these threads?
People work SO HARD to prove this is BS, it's a scam, it doesn't work ...
... and yet, EVERY THURSDAY we have 350 to 400 active investors in four study groups not to mention another maybe 300 or so watching the live streams of the study groups - EVERY THURSDAY !!!
... and another 100 or so at the intro meetings (3 of them!) to see if they want to be part of what we're doing ...
... and yet, everyone HERE is an expert on why those 800 or so people are being BS'd and scammed into something that "doesn't work".
I love these threads because I appreciate a good laugh!
Show me a REIA that gets 700 repeat attendees and 100 prospective new members EVERY WEEK ...
Just wanted to add to the discussion and I will make this brief. Some people are knocking Renatus without ever taking a look at what they have to offer. The education is not what you are exposed to at a weekend seminar with a guru trying to sell you on attending a bus trip for $40,000 or more. And the education is beyond what you would learn on a free website and you can learn at your own pace.
You can become an independent marketer for them or you can just get the education. There is no high pressure on doing either! If you don't like what you see move on. I became an independent marketer and signed on for some of the education. But I wasn't pressured into anything. As far as being MLM, it's not. The commission structure is far better than many other industries or of any MLM I have ever seen. The organization wants everyone to succeed! So, I would recommend that you take a look at everything and judge for yourself before listening to the people that are going on hear say.
I've been to a Renatus meeting and follow up and I cannot honestly hold the quality of their service suspect. True, I have not signed up, but if you remove the financial aspect from the education program then you would see how they actual appear to be a real world, brick and mortars Bigger Pockets. Heck, the main speaker at the meeting I went to is on this very thread, so not only is he himself a BP member, but that adds a level of legitimacy to it. Are any "gurus" members here? That's not defending Renatus, that's like a genuine question.
It seems the major complaints come from the price of admission, which I happen to agree with. I mean on one hand, you get what you pay for. On the other hand, if the ultimate education package( there are 3) was offered significantly cheaper, fewer people would actually see much value in it. It's sort of like the Cash Flow board game. When they were developing it they couldn't produce it at a certain (reasonable) price point. What they did was decide to go the opposite way and inflate the price to like $200 dollars or something and I'm sure many of us on BP have played that game still.
Also, there is the whole issue of personal accountability. I think it's important to understand what you're getting into as best you can, no matter what it is. The education marketing aspect doesn't turn me off. (It doesn't exactly turn me on either). But Renatus seems to be like an actual university level avenue to REI. Seeing it from that perspective eliminates the whole idea of whether or not it's a scam. Viewing it as a real estate course or a real estate investment seems to feed negative opinions, but seeing it as a structured education program with available profit opportunities is a whole other thing.
As a counterpoint to my seemingly positive view of Renatus, the person who invited me is CLEARLY focused on the marketing end. But should that turn me away? I'm a big boy. I know how things work. A few things, anyway. So I don't demonize this guy for choosing to focus on the sales end of it. Heck if I choose to follow through and market the education, that's the kind of guy I need to partner with, anyway! But the option to market the education, focus on investing exclusively, both, or neither is there. That's my opinion anyway, and opinions are like buttholes, right?
I knew the BP family would come through for me...
I was "invited" to this meeting after joining a "Meetup REI meeting"...
I hate that they had to be deceptive regarding the meeting.
From the moment I stepped into the room, it felt like a huge MLM meeting (been to plenty)...
Learned nothing in the meeting and was a huge waste of 2 hours...
I knew the BP family would come through for me...
I was "invited" to this meeting after joining a "Meetup REI meeting"...
I hate that they had to be deceptive regarding the meeting.
From the moment I stepped into the room, it felt like a huge MLM meeting (been to plenty)...
Learned nothing in the meeting and was a huge waste of 2 hours...
I'm associated with the people who lead the New York team. I'll pass your comments along. I'm sure they'll appreciate the feedback.
We're not an MLM, and we do our best to avoid the appearance or even the feel of such meetings. So, obviously, we fell short there.
Our meeting leaders endeavor to provide value for your time. Apparently, we fell short there, as well.
The NY team will want to know where they need to improve.
Personally, I'd be curious what it was that you found deceptive.
Thanx much for your feedback.
I went to the meeting expecting a networking meeting. I got a sales pitch.
I went to the meeting expecting a networking meeting. I got a sales pitch.
Got it!
Did anyone try to prevent you from talking to the other attendees?
Others at the meeting likely ranged from other first timers to active investors to contractors to trades people to attorneys to accountants to private lenders to ...
I try to meet as many new people as I can at each weekly meeting before we break off to our study groups and the presentation begins.
I was so thoroughly turned off by the bait and switch that I couldn't wait to get out of there. I had no interest in speaking with anyone simply because I felt trapped in the room within 10 minutes.
There was no real REI knowledge being shared by the speaker, it was all one big build up to the sales pitch.
My goodness, will this thread ever shut down! Talk about beating a dead horse for 3 years straight.
This entire thread is full of affiliates stating how wonderful it is, people with bad experiences stating so, and then these same affiliates defending Renatus like it was the Alamo. Sick of it. Mr David D - you have way too much time on your hands to spend arguing a pointless argument. Your time would be better spent doing deals from all the great education you supposedly received rather than trying o convince everyone here how great this company is and how different it is from NRU.
@James Heefner I am sorry you had to go through that experience with your wife. Guy tries to tell me what he said to you and he losses most of his teeth. It is too bad you are not here in So Cal or me in McKinney because I would teach you how to do this business by showing you in the field not only to help you after dealing with such a poor quality individual representing Renatus but also to shove the middle finger at them.
This entire thread and everyone like it disgusts me as do the promoters looking for an easy paycheck.
You are, of course, entitled to your opinion.
On a recent RE workshop (when one of our instructors comes out and teaches in Chicago), we had 182 people in house and another 300+ on the webcast. So, I'm thinking it's safe to say the good experiences outnumber the bad by a good margin.
D'ya ever notice in these threads that the only people with "valid" opinions are the ones with no first-hand experience other than ones such as Tom's where they went in with the wrong expectations and that all the invalid opinions are people like me with years of first-hand, hands-on experience? Seems goofy to me, but ...
Not sure where you get that"easy paycheck" bit, either. Ours are some of the hardest working people I've ever been around. We even have two brothers from South Korea in their early 20's who have never even held a job - one of them dropped out of college to do REI. They do deals to make their money. They've had cable channels come after them to audition for REI shows.
I hate gurus, too. That's why I stay with Renatus. No gurus here. I am even more disenchanted with people who cling to their preconceptions about what things should be instead of being open to what they are.