30 homes, 150 letters, 5 months, 1 offer...what now?

30 homes, 150 letters, 5 months, 1 offer...what now?

New to Real Estate · Nampa, ID · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 49 votes
Back in May I did driving for dollars, I found 30 homes I liked so I went home and hand wrote letters to the owners addresses I found on the county tax website. I sent out 5 rounds to all 30 houses on a weekly frequency. First call yelled at me and said "stop sending me F()$& letters" -- I sent him one more letter this was the offer for his property. The second call wanted to sell and wanted me to come over and give them an offer. I did this and they wanted way more than the home was worth. Third call was an investor who gave me props on being brave enough to send consistently "hand written" letters. But he wasn't interested in selling. Fourth call wanted me to rehab his property as his contractor. Fifth call just wanted someone to talk to and I made a good friend. He wanted to sell but had no where to go and was really sick. Then no calls or responses for several months. Everyone left on the list got an offer with or without a response. A few days ago I got a phone call in regards to house I put an offer on. They asked if my offer was still good. I told them I'd call back after I look at my notes. Come to find out the guy who was sick died and his brother wanted to sell the house. I checked my numbers and I think they look good for a wholesale. C class neighborhood 1,040 sqft 2 bed 1 bath Offer: 15,500 Comps: 70,000-127,000 Renovations: 21,000 Rents: 550-675 I would keep this as a rental since this town is extremely good for rents because of the great schools but I'd like to turn some profit for another house in a little better neighborhood. What would be a fair wholesale price? Any thoughts? Comments?
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Real Estate Investor · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2012 · 427 posts · 297 votes
9y

Did the seller say they wanted $15,500? I am confused where that number came from. What did the seller say they wanted to get for the house? 

That comp range is ridiculous. You have to be more accurate than that. Your higher comp is over 50% of your lower one. Renting at a max of $650 a month, if you can wholesale it for a 15k profit I'd wholesale it and move on. It takes a lot of time at $200 a month to get that. I get the impression you are a newer investor (I may be wrong). That 15k can go a long way to your marketing and getting established. Right now you are hand writing 30 letters a pop, using that 15k you can start sending out 1,000.  

Finally, I want to commend you on taking action. Driving around looking for ugly houses and handwriting letters is not fun, but you did the work and hopefully are going to reap the rewards. 5 calls off of only 30 houses mailed 5 times is pretty darn good by the way. 

PS If the second, fourth, and fifth call have not sold follow up with them now. Call them today. And I would call the third one to see if he is interested in being a buyer.

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  • New to Real Estate · Nampa, ID · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 49 votes
    9y
    David Faulkner I did buy ALL CASH! And yes I do have cash. And if I assign the contract the end buyer will be cash. Is what I'm doing unethical? Are you offended by my actions? The seller was happy, my end buyer was happy, I'm happy. What's the problem?
  • New to Real Estate · Nampa, ID · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 49 votes
    9y
    David Faulkner You are missing something. I called the Real Estate Commission Board in my state and asked what my rights were before I acted. Everything I did was legal! Get your facts straight before you type!
  • New to Real Estate · Nampa, ID · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 49 votes
    9y
    Brent Coombs I did close on the purchase and I paid all the closing costs, unpaid taxes, unpaid city fees. I closed two days before I sold it. I split the closing costs on the second sale. The end buyer will stand to make a great profit I understand that.
  • Investor · Orange County, CA · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Nate Hawkins:

    Brent Coombs
    I did close on the purchase and I paid all the closing costs, unpaid taxes, unpaid city fees. I closed two days before I sold it.

    I split the closing costs on the second sale.

    The end buyer will stand to make a great profit I understand that.

     That's the important info that was missing ... good ... so the transaction wasn't illegal, just foolish.

  • New to Real Estate · Nampa, ID · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 49 votes
    9y
    David Faulkner Thanks for your input, good luck in your investing.
  • Englewood, NJ · Member since 2017 · 43 posts · 11 votes
    9y
    Congrats on your flip! 👏🏾👏🏾👏🏾
  • Real Estate Investor · Raleigh, NC · Member since 2012 · 427 posts · 297 votes
    9y

    @Nate Hawkins I don't know what @David Faulkner is talking about, you didn't do anything foolish. You made almost $10,000 dollars for a day of driving, a few handwritten letters, and tying up 16k for 48 hours. There are people who go to work every day for 5 or more months to make $10,000 dollars! Over half the country doesn't even have that as a net worth (probably, I'm not googling to make sure)   (edit: I just reread his post and realized he meant foolish as he thinks what you did was illegal, it varies by state but it sounds like you did your due diligence for your state and were fine. For some reason I thought he was saying it was foolish you did not keep the house yourself.)

    You did everything ethical too. You said you would buy it, and you did. Even if you would have assigned instead of double closing, if you would have closed otherwise then you still are not doing anything wrong. The only problem I have is people who have zero intention of buying the property and plan on backing out with a BS excuse if they can't assign it. 

    Way to take action and make it happen. Too many people try to figure out step 47 before taking step 1. On the last page someone implied it is bad that you took the first steps and then asked "what now?" I think it is great. The alternative would be you sitting here 2 months later still being scared to take step one because step 17 is unclear to you. Instead you did a deal and made damn near 5 figures! Put that check on your wall and look at it every day. You earned it.

    Great job my man no matter what anyone says.

    To repeat from my first post in this thread

    PS If the second, fourth, and fifth call have not sold follow up with them now. 

    have you called them to follow up? Any one of those could be another 5 figures!

  • New to Real Estate · Nampa, ID · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 49 votes
    9y
    David Faulkner Eric F. David I have to confess something I did lie on the mailings I sent out. I did not buy with CASH I bought with a cashiers check from my bank. Maybe I should change my wording to As-Is for CASHIERS CHECK. Good thing it's Sunday I should repent for this. Eric! I am very grateful for your input each time you gave it. I did take your advice a few comments ago and call EVERYONE who called me and they didn't result in a purchase (with a cashiers check). However this sale did result in me using Yellow Letters and List Source to send out 1000 letters. I will always follow up like you said on everyone.
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