Just Closed My Second Wholesale Deal - 9 Weeks In! (crazy story)

Just Closed My Second Wholesale Deal - 9 Weeks In! (crazy story)

Real Estate Investor · Washington , Washington D.C. · Member since 2013 · 117 posts · 51 votes

2 weeks ago I posted this summary about my first wholesaling deal - http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/223-biggerpockets-success-stories , and a couple of days ago I closed my second deal! And what a story it is!

So I was in my home office one afternoon, and I received an email from a supposed motivated seller via my website. I say "supposed" because the email stated that they had a house they wanted to sell for $1 because they just wanted to be rid of it o_0. I thought, there's no way this is legit. So I cross checked the name they included in the email with the property address, and sure enough they matched! And I saw that the seller just bought the property last year and didn't pay much for it, so them selling it for $1 was entirely possible!

I *immediately* called the seller, and started listening to her "story" about why she wanted to sell. She'd bought the house for a future retirement project; the city of Baltimore was now requiring them to immediately begin renovation work; her husband put his foot down so now they wanted to sell. They'd put it on the market earlier this year for $10K and it didn't sell. So now they just wanted to give it away to be done with it :)

I couldn't believe it...I kept thinking someone was playing a joke on me. But I went to the property that same day (just to make sure it wasn't a burnt down shell lol), and then immediately sent them a contract which they signed the next day. I was ecstatic. After estimating some repair costs and researching comps, I decided to offer it for sale at 5K. It had sat on the market for months at 10K with little activity, so I felt good about that #. 1 week later, I got an offer of $4300 which I immediately accepted!

I just closed last Thursday and I still can't believe how this deal worked out. There were a couple of bumps with the closing (the out of state buyer arrived to settlemt with no check), but it all worked out. The sellers kept thanking me for taking the property off their hands. From the beginning, I disclosed to them that I may keep the property for myself, or sell it by the closing to another investor - they were *completely* fine with this. Just goes to show you the difference between a truly motivated seller and one who's not.

Just wanted to share my second deal with you guys. Keep pushing and remember to always keep your eyes and ears open for those deals!

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Real Estate Broker · Naples, FL · Member since 2013 · 9k+ posts · 6k+ votes
13y

Ezinwanne Hawkins. Excellent. I looked over your website. I like it. It is simple, no high pressure hype, and doesn't give a reader any reason to hesitate in responding. Another thing I like is that it is not location specific such as buyingbostonhouses or something like that. Keep on...you are on your way to great success!

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  • Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee County, WI · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 525 votes
    13y

    Congrats
    As we already talk your website niche is a great ideal
    Keep it up

  • Northern, VA · Member since 2013 · 23 posts · 3 votes
    13y

    Ezinwanne Hawkins Congrats on your 2nd Wholesale Deal, and like you said keep pushing and I wish you continued success!

  • Dawn AnastasiPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2013 · 6k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    13y

    Congrats -- great story!

  • Silver Spring, MD · Member since 2013 · 42 posts · 5 votes
    13y

    Wow! Congrats and good luck on future successes. Btw, what is your website? Maybe you should include it in your signature.

  • Developer · Garland, TX · Member since 2008 · 8k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    13y

    Congrats Ezinwanne. I can't wait to hear about deal number three.

  • Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee County, WI · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 525 votes
    13y

    Michael Rious, it's in her profile

    It is a niche hopefully me nor you ever cover
    "moms" aka "mothers"

  • Real Estate Broker · Naples, FL · Member since 2013 · 9k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    13y

    Ezinwanne Hawkins. Excellent. I looked over your website. I like it. It is simple, no high pressure hype, and doesn't give a reader any reason to hesitate in responding. Another thing I like is that it is not location specific such as buyingbostonhouses or something like that. Keep on...you are on your way to great success!

  • Deborah BurianPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Oklahoma City, OK · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 412 votes
    13y

    Congratulations, great story!

  • Brandon TurnerPro Member
    Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y

    Congrats Ezinwanne Hawkins!!

  • Anson YoungBusiness Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Denver, CO · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 726 votes
    13y

    congrats!!!

  • Investor · San Jose, CA · Member since 2012 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    13y

    Interesting and great story. Congrats. Like Jon said above, we want to here about your 3rd deal next week. :)

    Happy Memorial Day

  • Landlord · Dallas, TX · Member since 2012 · 505 posts · 34 votes
    13y

    Ezinwanne Hawkins Congrats!!! Wonderful story. You said the seller found your website, was that through a post card or yellow letter that you sent out, or did they just find your website from google searching ?

  • Silver Spring, MD · Member since 2013 · 42 posts · 5 votes
    13y

    Jenkins Ramon I saw it after I posted. Ezinwanne Hawkins I'm curious to know how the lead found your website too.

  • Real Estate Investor · Washington , Washington D.C. · Member since 2013 · 117 posts · 51 votes
    13y

    Thanks everyone!

    I actually haven't done any yellow letters or cards, with the exception of a handful of personal letters I wrote to owners I wasn't able to contact by phone. I hope to be able to add postcards to my marketing plan in the next couple of weeks.

    This particular seller said that someone gave them one of my business cards, which I leave EVERYWHERE lol. Vacant houses, mail workers, neighbors - pretty much where ever I can, and with anyone who'll take them.

  • Norfolk, VA · Member since 2013 · 55 posts · 4 votes
    13y

    Congrats E

  • Real Estate Agent · North Jersey, NJ · Member since 2008 · 287 posts · 51 votes
    13y

    Congrats! Great Story

  • Developer · Fullerton, CA · Member since 2013 · 18 posts · 2 votes
    13y

    @ezinwanne hawkins Congratulations!

  • Rochester, MN · Member since 2013 · 12 posts · 0 votes
    13y

    Ezinwanne Hawkins Congrats! Interesting idea with the business cards. Reminds me of when I went to Las Vegas with family and found all these cards advertising prostitution everywhere (since prostitution is legal but not on street corners.) Pretty crazy stuff, but still a decent idea.

  • Dev HornPro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Arlington, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    13y

    I took a call in our office last week from someone in a very similar situation that said "I'll sell it for a $1 just to get rid of the headache" (which in this case, was the annual TAX BILL, in addition to the other holding costs & need for repairs).

    These deals are out there. "Marketing" puts you at the right place at the right time to find them. Congrats on yours, Ezinwanne Hawkins!

  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    13y

    Ezinwanne Hawkins, I got a deal similar to yours.
    The owner bought the property for $12K...thinking he could rehab and resell it. Months came and he became too busy to rehab it. And of course he couldn't sell it.

    The garage collapsed (termites) and the owner got a BIG code violations fine from the city.

    He was desperate to get rid of it. He called me and he told me he would give the house to me for $1. I did not negotiate (hahaha).

    One of my guys put a bandit sign on the front yard and on the window. The next day we sold it for $3,000. The seller is happy and now have peace of mind.

    Our buyer renovated it and did not have to pay the city. She is now renting the house for $700/month.

    It was a win-win-win.

    I agree with you Dev Horn, these deals do exist.

  • Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee County, WI · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 525 votes
    13y

    Congrats Wendell De Guzman

  • Real Estate Agent · Orlando, FL · Member since 2013 · 270 posts · 40 votes
    13y

    Great success story, keep up the good work

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

    Ezinwanne Hawkins I am just seeing this now. Big congratulations. You are an inspiration to all the new investors here. It shows what can be done if you actually take action.

  • Real Estate Investor · Cleveland, OH · Member since 2013 · 173 posts · 18 votes
    13y

    Ezinwanne Hawkins, Congrats that was a great, and easy deal, look forward to posting more success story. Good luck, and continued success.

  • Involved In Real Estate · Baltimore, MD · Member since 2013 · 62 posts · 8 votes
    13y

    Great Ezinwanne Hawkins! Last week I listened the the podcast about your experiences and I was like "Yes!!!" thats great. Keep the deals moving. EXcellent work.

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