Dallas/Fort Worth BiggerPockets October Meetup Speaker!

Dallas/Fort Worth BiggerPockets October Meetup Speaker!

Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
Hey everybody! I am so happy to announce our October speaker will be Mitch Stephens from San Antonio, author of the book My Life & 1,000 Houses Failing Forward to Financial Freedom. He will be driving all the way from San Antonio just to tell us his remarkable story!

A self-taught real estate entrepreneur. Self-employed since 1996, Mitch Stephen has purchased well over 1000 houses in and about his hometown of San Antonio, TX. A high school graduate, who never stopped learning. Books, CDs, seminars and webinars were his classroom.

Today he specializes in owner financing properties to individuals left behind by traditional lending institutions and giving new life to properties that scar the neighborhoods.

He has perfected a method of achieving cash-flow without having to be a landlord and without having to rehab properties. He’s mastered the art of raising private money and the classic “Nothing Down” deal.

He has pioneered the idea that you don’t have to give discounts to sell your notes.

A passionate speaker who delivers the message of integrity first and profits second; an expert at keeping it simple and explaining, in plain English, the theories that made him financially independent. He is always an inspiration to those around him.

Come hear Mitch, Friday, October 25th at Springcreek Barbeque 3514 W Airport Fwy, Irving, TX 75062 at 7:00. Mitch will speak at 7:00 so get there early to get your food and network.
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Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
13y
Kathy,

I agree he is a nice guy but don't you think if you are teaching about "Nothing Down" deal and someone is willing to pay you to hit the street with them and show what you are teaching can happen in the real world I think if it is not hype the teacher should say let's go. I will show you.


Joe Gore
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  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    Join our Facebook page and RSVP for this event! We want to have a huge turnout for this out of town speaker that is driving to Dallas at his expense just to share his story!

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/DFWBiggerPockets/

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y
    Kathy,

    I remember this guy a long time ago, and an investor asks him would he be willing to show him in the real world how to do what he is teaching, and Mitch Stephens response was I don't have time.


    Joe Gore
  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    Joe, I don't know anything about that gossip, I just know that all the people I have spoke to about Mitch has had nothing but praise for him. There are several people on here that know him, @Sharon Vornholt for one, that will vouch that Mitch is the real deal and a genuinely nice guy.

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y
    Kathy,

    I agree he is a nice guy but don't you think if you are teaching about "Nothing Down" deal and someone is willing to pay you to hit the street with them and show what you are teaching can happen in the real world I think if it is not hype the teacher should say let's go. I will show you.


    Joe Gore
  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    Joe, I can't comment about hearsay gossip. I don't know about the details. All I know is the feedback I have received from people that actually know and have worked with Mitch. If I had ever heard anything negative, I would not be recommending him as a speaker for our group. Why don't you come and hear him speak and make your own opinion about him.

  • Investor · Dallas, TX · Member since 2012 · 158 posts · 99 votes
    13y

    Joe, I think that's discrediting how much time being a mentor takes. In fact, wouldn't you rather he answer with "I don't have time" then "sure, give me 10,000 bucks" then not perform?

    Real estate investing is extremely time consuming. Mentoring is also extremely time consuming. Let's not fault the guy for knowing his limits and let's not start throwing out bad words towards him without knowing the full story.

    What if I asked Donald Trump to mentor me? Should I not go to a seminar of his because he was unwilling to take time out of his actual business doings to show a newbie how to do it? "But I offered to pay him!" sounds ridiculous.

  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    It's a free event, you have nothing to lose by coming and you might learn something valuable to your business.

  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    Well said, @Grant Kemp!

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y
    Grant,

    I am not discrediting or throwing bad words towards him. I am from the old school if you say or teach something to be willing to back it up if someone asks. Yes, he is an excellent speaker, and if you are old enough to remember Ray Reynolds, he was an excellent speaker but could not back up what he was teaching.


    Joe Gore

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y

    Bump

    Joe Gore

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y

    Kathy,

    I attend almost everyone when they are at Spring Creek BBQ. It is a good place for new comers to go and learn.

    Joe Gore

  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    Great, Joe, see you there!

  • Investor · nowhere, TX · Member since 2012 · 242 posts · 84 votes
    13y

    I'm excited to hear Mitch speak. I read his book "My life and a 1,000 houses" about a year ago and really enjoyed it. It wasn't a how to book, just a book that told his story and was very interesting.

  • Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    13y
  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y
  • Investor, Entrepreneur, Educator · Springfield, MO · Member since 2009 · 21k+ posts · 12k+ votes
    13y

    Seems to me there is something else motivating Mitch to take that trip, take the time and effort to share his ideas. Nothing is free, unless you can find some guy who is addicted to Biggerpockets and answers questions without compensation, geees, who'd ever do that, like that would really happen.

    Even if it did happen, it's not like the time and expense Mitch will have, so there has to be something in it to motivate people to do what they do, especially if they are in the "working for a living" time of their life. Trick is, knowing what that might be.

    I had dealings with the San Antonio Public Housing Authority and have been there on projects, so I'm familiar with the types of projects Mitch might be doing, it's a good thing. I would consider anything said about seller financing with a grain of salt, ideas of how to approach deals or market them can be a plus, but the details.....that's another matter, just take care and do your due diligence. :)

  • Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    13y

    @Bill Gulley -

    I don't know about this REIA specifically, but some groups take care of all or a portion of the travel expenses for guests including hosting them at restaurants for some meals. We have a mix of national and local speakers at our REIA.

    Almost without exception, the national speakers come prepared to teach at the meeting and they do a good job of it. That is the "free learning" part.

    Typically they also hope to make a little money by hosting a Saturday event (after our Thursday meeting). Those events are always really inexpensive to attend; they will be in the $29-$49 range for a whole day of learning. It's a bargain to be sure.

    Do they have other things to sell to those few people interested such as programs and courses or coaching and/or mentoring? Absolutely. There are always levels of learning and teaching you can invest in for those that are ready.

    I am one of those people that love it when we have a national speaker. Even if I have heard them many times before, I am always at a different place in my business and I always learn a few things from them.

    Regarding your comment about "just take care and do your due diligence", I agree completely. That should always be the case with any speaker/teacher/guru.

    Sharon

  • Goshen, KY · Member since 2009 · 835 posts · 683 votes
    13y

    @Billy Rogers

    That is the same thing I loved about his book. It was part autobiographical and part real estate. It was interesting to follow the progression of his career. It also pointed out that "real life" can sometimes get messy and be painful, but in the end you still have to figure out a way to work through it to grow your business.

    I really enjoyed Mitch's video interview that I did with him on how he "Escaped the 9 to 5". I plan to have him back for my new podcast series I will be launching soon to get an update on what he's doing these days.

    Sharon

  • Investor · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2011 · 789 posts · 403 votes
    13y

    I don't know Mitch, and have not read his book, but it sounds like a good read.

    Actually, I want to buy it now that I've read these comments...not to learn about RE, but just for the story.

    I don't think there is a problem with someone driving 4 hours (plus paying for the hotel and travel BS) to speak and tell his/her story, and share solid info, and at the end of it say "oh, BTW, I do have a product if you are interested" as long as that product is not overhyped, and it's valuable.

    I flew out to Santa Barbara to speak about lease options, and although the trip ended up costing me about $1200, (I sold SQUAT!!) I had some amazing seafood and saw a gorgeous city. Heck, I'd drive to San Antonio to speak just for the food at La Margarita! Me encante la ciudad de SA!

    Oh well....

    I'd rather it not be on a Fri night, but I'm marking my calendar and will just plan to make it.

  • Real Estate Agent · Keller, TX · Member since 2011 · 133 posts · 11 votes
    13y

    @Sharon Vornholt I would definitely be interested in a follow up interview from Mitch for your podcasts. I agree, the stories in is book are entertaining.

    @John Jackson we may consider changing the night for these meetings. It would be good to know what other nights people would prefer. I would think Friday works best for out of town speakers.

    I am happy you are going to be there. On that note, I would like to talk to you about speaking to our group. Would you be open to that?

    https://www.facebook.com/groups/DFWBiggerPockets/

  • Investor · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2011 · 789 posts · 403 votes
    13y

    Sure! We'll talk!

  • J ScottPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    13y

    I think some of the skepticism here may stem from the fact that the last time Mitch posted to BiggerPockets, he was pushing the strategy of selling financing deals in Texas. When someone posted the relevant SAFE ACT legislation for Texas that indicated any more than 5 seller financed deals per year was illegal, Mitch just disappeared (and hasn't posted here since).

    I don't know him and certainly I'm not commenting on his experience, expertise or business model. But, I would love to get some clarification on how he's doing lots of seller financing deals in Texas in light of the state's SAFE ACT implementation. He wasn't very forthcoming the last time that question was posed to him here.

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y

    J. Scott,

    Do you think I should ask him when we all meet at the Spring Creek BBQ.

    Joe Gore

  • J ScottPro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Sarasota, FL · Member since 2008 · 18k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    13y
    Originally posted by Joe Gore:
    J. Scott,

    Do you think I should ask him when we all meet at the Spring Creek BBQ.

    Joe Gore

    Absolutely... We ran into this same issue in Georgia when I wanted to start doing some seller financing deals last year. If he has some magic formula for avoiding the SAFE ACT requirements, I'd love to hear it!

  • Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 4k+ posts · 744 votes
    13y
    J. Scott,

    If he can avoid the SAFE ACT without paying a big fine, I like to hear it. I am sure he is a nice guy and mean very well, but he can sell that to the new comers, but the pros will not fall for it.


    Joe Gore
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