Success Path?

Success Path?

Investor · Cross Plains, TN · Member since 2015 · 13 posts · 8 votes

I am a brand new investor trying to learn the ropes. My long term goal is to have 15-20 rentals for passive income and flip 10-15 houses a year . I have attended a 3 day work shop put on by Success Path which is endorsed by Tarek and Christina El Moussa of the TV Show Flip or Flop. The 3 day workshop was 8 hrs a day and I paid $1799.97 to attend. The workshop was a disappoint to say the least. Many hours were wasted on a sales pitch to entice into continued education that cost $41,297 for Diamond Enrollment, $26,297 for Platinum Enrollment, and $21,297 for Gold enrollment. The red flags went up for me when the instructor gave the first homework assignment to be done during our lunch break was to call our credit card companies and up our credit limits to $25,000  if possible and to also have our interest rates lowered. They provided a book with a script to use. I did not complete the assignment and when asked why I explained to the instructor in (in front of the class) that I did not feel comfortable doing that since I had sat thru 4 hours of sales pitch thus far and had only wrote 2 sentences that I felt I could actually use to buy real estate. Well that sent him into a hour long rant about negativity and how we were thinking like poor people, upping our credit limit would raise our credit score ect ect. I stuck it out the 3 days  to try to gain as much info for my money as possible. Hey you just are not born knowing this stuff. I am a motivated person and business owner that by the way  I was told would not be successful 3 years ago and today it is. As the workshop went on we were seated one on one with a mentor/salesman who tried to sell the continued education. On the last day we sat down and was offered a SECRET(I was told to keep it to myself and not let any of the others know of the offer) scaled down version maybe the Tin Can version instead of Gold for $15,000. I told our salesman that it would have been nice to know about the other option so we could have had time to consider it but since this was a business of negotiation and I was not happy thus far I would take the scaled down version for $5,000 site unseen. He was not pleased and suggested that I go out on my own and try to make deals but I would ultimately FAIL without the continued education. We agreed to disagree. The better points of the plan that I have not mentioned that really had me sold was a magic software called Property Farm which gives an investor inside information as to a data base of home owners 1-3 months behind on their mortgage payments a way to find forecloses in the making or before they happen and are made public and  also a data base of buyers retail and wholesale . The instructor would not let us see the software for very long at all maybe a 1-2 minute example then he would cover the overhead projector up with a book to hide it from the class . Also a investor coach would be made available which both of these points is why I paid for the 3 day workshop to begin with. Since then I have been contacted by Success Path and I explained my disappointment with the workshop and that a refund was in order ect. She asked for a chance for her company to redeem their self and if we could talk about my situation ect. I agreed and after many questions she couldnt answer  was offered the software (previously not available by itself) 1yr  for $2500 or the software with a coach for 1yr for $7500 and the $1799.97 I spent on the 3 day workshop would be applied towards either. I told her I would have to think about it and let her know. I have read several times on Biggerpockets of people paying for seminars and paying what I consider big money . Has anyone heard of the magic software Property Farm. Does anyone have any info about the Success Path Plan. Sorry for the long post and any help or info will be greatly appreciated.

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Most Popular Reply

Investor · Sherman Oaks, CA · Member since 2008 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
11y

@Kenneth Norman

Man I am sorry.

In California we have Foreclosure Radar.  Best in the business.

https://www.propertyradar.com/?utm_source=FR&utm_m...

https://www.propertyradar.com/what-we-do/best-fore...

To attack the issue:

Write a letter to their office.  Ask for a refund within 10 business days or you will go to the FTC, BBB and the AG.

Good luck.

Brian

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Rental Property Investor · Brookline, MA · Member since 2015 · 23 posts · 7 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Angeliki Mavrikou:
    Originally posted by @Ruei-Jiun H.:

    Hi everyone,

    Thank you for sharing your thoughts. I am also the one who attended their free course last night at Natick and unfortunately I bought the class and Tax Lein club. After reading and researching what they've done in the past, I am thinking to see if I can get refund since they have 3 days refund policy. I have another question about the Tax Lein. Do you think that type of investment is useful?

    Thank you very much,

    Ruei-Jiun

     @Ruei-Jiun Hung did you get your refund?

     Yes, I did although it took times to reach them. 

  • Covina, CA · Member since 2015 · 1 post · 0 votes
    11y

    We also got scammed by these crooks for almost $10,000 The funding was bull and the magic software was worthless and all their coaching was just more sales pitcheswe just asked for a refund we will see what happens did you ever get your refund if so how

  • Investor · Cross Plains, TN · Member since 2015 · 13 posts · 8 votes
    11y

    I did not pursue a refund. I chalked that one up as a cost of education and used it as a business expense . The time I would have wasted emailing, calling ect was enough but the aggravation and wasted energy of letting my blood pressure rise talking to those people was enough for me to just move on to bigger and better. I did learn some things from the 3 day workshop.

    1. How to utilize an LLC to protect your investments.

    2. How to utilize credit cards( float them to use thier words) by staggering due dates , raising credit limits, on 2 to 3 cards at once and robbing Peter to pay Paul to buy time.

    3.That utilizing my credit cards in this fashion is exactly how I choose NOT to invest in real estate.

    4.How to REALLY upset an instructor at a guru workshop .

    Was it worth $1750 ....no but I over paid so I'm gonna own my mistake. I have read a few people post that they really needed the push in the right direction that they got from Success Path so I am glad for them. My opinion however remains the same and will tell everyone I know to stay away from Success Path . The silver lining is that as I was searching Google looking for real estate software similar to the majic Property Farm (which I never got to use so it may be really good) I stumbled onto guess where.....Bigger Pockets .Com which maybe was worth $1750 so I'm thankful to Success Path for that !!!

  • Real Estate Agent · Montclair, NJ · Member since 2013 · 25 posts · 8 votes
    11y

    Thank you for the warning!

  • Irvine, CA · Member since 2015 · 51 posts · 6 votes
    11y

    This is the exact scam company in the thread https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/79/topics/185362-please-help-41-000-paid-to-a-guru-company-to-be-refunded

    They change their name constantly to stay ahead of the law and are being investigated by several state attorney generals offices.

    Currently Tarek and Christina El Moussa from HGTVs Flip or Flop have sold their souls and are the spokes people that are leading to ripping of their desperate fans.  See page 20 of the thread link above for contact details.  I suggest reading the entire thread.

    I'd assume anyone writing anything positive about the scam is working for the company as on that thread you will see they have changed their name about a dozen times over the years.  

    If you REALLY care about people and don't just like bitching on forums you can go to page 20 of the thread link I provided and do something as simple as write an email and try to make a difference.

  • Salt Lake City, UT · Member since 2015 · 2 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    Thanks for the insight everyone. I see advertisements for these seminars all the time. Great to hear from people who have actually attended one of these things. 

  • Investor · Peabody, MA · Member since 2015 · 114 posts · 107 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Michelle Johnson:

    What was your first flip/property like through Success Path? Any help is appreciated!

    "Flipping a property THROUGH Success Path"...is a concept they sell but do not deliver. I am one of those that foolishly bought into their crap and am now down 50k with nothing to show for it. They make it seem as though they will guide you through every step of the way. They'll help you set up your power team at their boot camp and hold your hand until you can do it in your own. 

    It's all crap. They tell you to call numbers on bandit signs to build your 'buyers' list. They make it seem like wholesaling is so easy and profitable that you can easy get $10k a house with only 3-4 hours if work. More crap. There are so many whole salers out there already so the competition is strong. If you do find someone who needs to sell they know the market is  good and won't take your low offer because they know they can get more by putting it on the market.

    One of the most disturbing and telling actions of this company is that one of their 'stars' Pete and Dave of Flipping Boston won't even wholesale to their students. I asked this question directly to them at the seminar in Vegas and got crickets. Pete deferred to Dave who said that 'he'd never really thought about it'.  Really? Helping your students directly never crossed your mind? Enjoy my $50k a-holes. 

  • Real Estate Professional · Dayton, OH · Member since 2015 · 423 posts · 187 votes
    10y

    Kenneth Norman you were wise to be skeptical.

    The seminar companies have used that same model (and scripts that go with it) for years.  They just find a new "poster child" to promote it.  They use whomever is the hot brand.  The deal is this:

    They go to the "celebrity" and offer him or her a percentage for the rights to use his/her/their name(s) and do a little front-end promotion and advertising for them.  Those people had nothing to do with the development of the content.  They just get a royalty for use of their names.

    They all have the different tiers for purchase.  There ultimate goal is to keep stringing you along, convincing you that you need more "training" until you are maxed out.  Then, they are done with you and move on to the next "student". 

    People who went for a ~$42,000 package like the one to which you referred have contacted me in tears pleading for help because they are out of money and had yet to do their first deal.

    I think the Russ Whitney organization is the one that developed the model.  When he went down, it was picked up by somebody else...I'm not sure whom. 

    At one point, I know from personal experience, that Robert Allen and his Enlightened Millionaire Institute (EMI) was the poster child for that script until it went bust.

    Looks the guys to whom you referred are using it now.

    The pity of it all is that are good trainers out there who have good material and training programs that actually give you a game plan to put into action and make money.  I know that from personal experience, too. The unfortunate fact is they are victims of the prejudice created by the many who don't.  That's a heck of a burden to overcome.

    One way to tell the good ones is that they don't have to resort to shaming and publicly humiliating people like you who express healthy skepticism and discomfort with their material in front of an audience to try to keep you from breaking the spell they have cast. 

    If you have ever read any of Napoleon Hill's work, one of his principles is to practice accurate thinking.  In teaching that principle, he warns to distrust any information presented in a slanderous or discourteous way.  If I read right, you have that principle down.

    The good ones' material speaks for itself, and the successful people they have created speak for them. 

    I would encourage you to seek these good trainers and research them.  If you find one that passes your "sniff" test, consider buying that training.  The good ones' training pays for itself in 6 months or less.  The good ones I know charge $15,000 for personal, on-site, in-the-field mentoring.  Group mentorings are less....$5,000 to $10,000.  They will give you all you need in either to succeed with their stuff.  However, they won't do it for you.  You have to commit to putting into practice what you learn.

    If you decide to learn it on your own without a paid trainer, realize this about the books, taps, podcasts, etc.; they are like a great chef's recipe.  A great chef may publish a recipe, but that chef always leaves out a key ingredient or two.

    You are going to pay for the training either way: either through mistakes you make trying to discover those missing ingredients on your own through a series of flops, or paying a pro to share those secret ingredients with you.  The difference is you may or may not discover those ingredients on your own.  You WILL learn them with the right trainer.

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Thank you everyone for your candor in sharing the Success Pathway experience. Thanks to all of you, I was able to submit my refund request within the 3 day window. Hopefully there won't be too much of a struggle to get my money back.

    While I almost had the wool pulled over my eyes, I'm still very motivated to make my first foray into real estate investing. 

    Can someone tell me what % of the Success Path's claims are true? Are there really "free" financing resources out there? Why is no one else doing what they are doing? Is it that difficult to obtain the necessary information? Access to pre-MLS listings? The 5 hour work week? Liens?

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Miraculously, I did get my refund from Success Path within one week and without having to follow up. I told them I had a schedule conflict so I was unable to attend, so I didn't get any pushback from the rep, but probably the key is that I requested my refund within the 3 day grace period after signup.

    Now I'm listening to everything I can that is real estate related on Audible.com. Several of the BiggerPockets books are available on there, as well as a number of the top 10 real estate books they recommend. You can sign up for <$15 and you get 5 free credits/month. You can easily get most of the top books for $15 in that first month.

    I now have a morning routine of listening to an hour podcast from BP or audio book over my morning tea. And given that I live in LA, I spend a fair amount of time in traffic so I'm at least getting an education--and probably faster than I would reading it myself. 

    If you need help getting into the right mindset and out of fear, "The Four Hour Workweek," is a big boost (also available on Audible).

    Good luck everyone! Looking forward to reading of everyone's successes.

  • Real Estate Agent · Massapequa, NY · Member since 2015 · 6 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Hi Kenneth - Sorry for your experience, but thank you for educating others. This information is so helpful, so i thank you sincerely.

    i registered for the 3-day training program also for 1,997 because of the 3% rate on their funding.  As a 3-day student, will i have access to the funds or must i register for the higher tier training?

  • Real Estate Agent · Medford, NJ · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 1 vote
    10y

    Did any else have to sign a promissory note for the "advanced training"?  Does that mean anything if I cancel within 3 biz days? 

  • Hoboken, NJ · Member since 2015 · 15 posts · 4 votes
    10y
    So funny I m've been in sales for 20 years, I'm 40 yrs old and went to. US tax Liens seminar. Same thing, for people not easily fooled. It was a sales pitch from the start. Script, call credit card company to increase your credit, they never do mention If the c card company pulls ur credit Ns doesn't give u the increase in credit line u just hurt yourself. It was a waste of $500 and 3 days. Losing the weekend was more irritating the the $500.
  • Wholesaler · Orlando, FL · Member since 2016 · 6 posts · 1 vote
    10y
    Originally posted by @Monica Garguilo:

    As a 3-day student, will i have access to the funds or must i register for the higher tier training?

    You should have access to the funding, from what I've heard. I haven't been personally involved, but I have met a few people who have. They seemed to be doing pretty well for themselves. As in all things, YMMV. 

    Dennis, PLEASE learn to spell and use punctuation. It hurts to read what you've written and I have a hard time viewing it with any credibility when it's barely readable.

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 5 votes
    10y

    Monica, I'd be interested in hearing from you. Did you have the access to the funding that you expected? I've had a great experience so far. The speakers really know how to sell you on something, but that's not necessarily a bad thing as long as you have the intelligence and awareness to determine whether or not it's something you need.  I'm just about to start looking myself - I really want to dive straight in, but the California market isn't a cheap one. Anybody here have any California-specific tips and tricks?

  • Investor · Montgomery, AL · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    10y

    Hi Keida,

    I don't have any experience with the California market but I am a student from Montgomery, Alabama! Pleased to meet you! I do have access to the funding that was promised at the free event and even met the lenders when I went to Vegas for a Summit. Such a cool experience! I would love to answer any questions you have about the program. My experience has been great and works well with my situation!

    - Sadie

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 5 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Sadie Wilson:

    I do have access to the funding that was promised at the free event and even met the lenders when I went to Vegas for a Summit.

    This is great to hear, thanks!

    Edit: Forgot to ask - how was the Summit?

  • Investor · Montgomery, AL · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    10y

     Sadie,

    Summit was a great experience! If you are given the chance to go, I would highly recommend it. You can bring a +1 so I brought my husband and he also enjoyed it. If you are wanting to find properties, speak to vendors, meet the celebs and get their advice, and network your business, GO. The event is done right and I hope to go again in the next few months!

  • Wholesaler · Austin, TX · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    10y

    Oh, I would love to attend Summit! I hear that's where Tarek and Christina usually are. ;) It sounds like the best place to network. But it must be so expensive....I hope I can go.

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 5 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Sadie Wilson:

     Sadie,

    Summit was a great experience! If you are given the chance to go, I would highly recommend it. You can bring a +1 so I brought my husband and he also enjoyed it. If you are wanting to find properties, speak to vendors, meet the celebs and get their advice, and network your business, GO. The event is done right and I hope to go again in the next few months!

     Oh I'm so glad to hear it! Does the +1 have to be somebody in the program, or can I bring someone who hasn't been a part of Success Path yet? It sounds like a killer chance to really get ahead. Oh! Also! Does it cost money each time you go to Summit? Other than hotels and stuff, I mean. I can't seem to find that info anywhere.

  • Houston, TX · Member since 2016 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    So, the general consensus I seem to be getting is that the Success Path seminars have cleaned up their act recently? Does that sound about right? There's one here in Houston next week and I want to know if it would be worth it to go.

  • Investor · Montgomery, AL · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 3 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Michael Rasband:

    So, the general consensus I seem to be getting is that the Success Path seminars have cleaned up their act recently? Does that sound about right? There's one here in Houston next week and I want to know if it would be worth it to go.

     Not sure if you saw my comment on the other thread but it has definitely been worth my time and paid off. It takes a lot of work and commitment but it has worked for me. Like I mentioned on the other thread, it may not be the best system for some people but for others it's great! I think it's a personal decision and would recommend attending the free event and feel it out for yourself. You've got nothing to lose!

  • San Jose, CA · Member since 2016 · 18 posts · 5 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Michael Rasband:

    So, the general consensus I seem to be getting is that the Success Path seminars have cleaned up their act recently? Does that sound about right? There's one here in Houston next week and I want to know if it would be worth it to go.

     Alright. I'm going to leave this in both threads since you asked this question twice (in the future, try to avoid double-posting).

    I wouldn't say it's a matter of cleaning up an act so much as attendees managing expectations. A lot of people seem to think that these free seminars they do are a good place to meet a celebrity. But we're talking about a celebrity couple with a TV show, a job, and a family.

    If your wife wants to go just so she can meet Christina, she's going to be disappointed. It's rare that they show up to one of these things.

    Also, if you're expecting to come out of the free with the knowledge to flip houses like a champ, you'll be disappointed as well. Like literally every other business out there, that stuff is for the paying customers. If you're offended by a sales pitch, don't go.

    That said, they call these things preview events for a reason. You'll get some introductory knowledge, an idea of what other products/services/education they can provide (which is actually pretty good - especially the financing opportunities), and a chance to sign up to learn more.

    There's been some debate as to whether or not their education is necessary. For me, it was super helpful. The way I see it, some of us need it, some of us don't. The key here is to figure out what you, specifically, need.

    What I can say is this: I've made much more than I initially put into it. It's hard work. You have to be on the ball and networking is important. If you do the work, you can make the money.

  • Rental Property Investor · Boca Raton, FL · Member since 2014 · 104 posts · 55 votes
    10y

    @Michael Rasband I went to one in November and I have had a very different experience and so did most of the people that took it with me that actually ended up purchasing something, the first event in itself wasn't horrible (a lot of redundant information from day to day, best day is the 1st day everything else is just the first day expressed in different terms) once you purchase their packages the first 3 days (which is when you are able to get the refund no question asked) they stay on top of you and email you and respond to you emails after the first 3 days pass everything goes downhill. The bootcamp the offer with the packages is just a repetition of the first event, they take you to see properties but with no actually feedback as to how to estimate repair cost or anything that will actually be useful to you in getting a deal done. I would personally stay away from purchasing anything, you will end up disappointed. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions.

    Cheers

    E

  • Investor · Cross Plains, TN · Member since 2015 · 13 posts · 8 votes
    10y

    stay away its a rip off 

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