Need advice to get started as a wholesaler in California

Need advice to get started as a wholesaler in California

Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 4 votes

Hello BP

My name is Ariel and I'm new to BP forums. I am 29 years old, a TOTAL newbie on REI, never bought a house nor invested in one, and I work full time as a chef.

I'm here to seek advice from experienced investors on how to get started as a wholesaler. I'm willing to put the work needed to learn and hopefully one day I will be able to buy my first investment property.

So far,

- I have couple of cash buyers who want buy and hold (living in LA, they are going for the equity). They encouraged me on pursuing this route, but it seems that they don't really know the process of wholesaling themselves.

- I have budget of 1000 dollars a month to put on direct mail marketing.

- I am working on a website and setting up a phone calling system.

Where do you suggest I get my list from? listsource? Tax court?

Which seller market should I target as a newbie? Absentee owners? pre forclosure?

How much equity should the seller have? I'm still very confused what equity does on the whole equation.

In LA in general, what percentage under market value should be my target? 70%? if that is even possible.

Living in Southern California, in the Valley specifically, where do I get the appropriate contracts that I need to do a proper wholesaling?

I apologize that I have so many newbie questions, but I recognized that here would be the best place to ask.

Thank you so much for your help! I really appreciate your help and guidance.

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Rental Property Investor · Encino, CA · Member since 2016 · 324 posts · 178 votes
8y

I agree with @Jo-Ann Lapin to some aspect. Consider going to meetups, interviewing the various boot-camps and courses before going into Direct Mail all on your own. You could pay for some very costly mistakes or you can invest in your education and possibly shortcut the learning curve by learning from others.

But of course, try to get more educated in books and forums with RE investing then wholesaling in general before jumping into any programs. That way you are more prepared and can ask better questions, and essentially get more value out of anything should you decide to invest in your education.

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  • Jo-Ann LapinPro Member
    Loan Officer · Tustin, CA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 713 votes
    8y

    Look up Lloyd segal’s boot camp I would think about attending tons to learn from him.

  • Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    8y

    Get your contracts from an attorney if you want to be as safe as possible. 70% is likely not going to be an option in LA even for a wholesaler unless you way overestimate ARV (which some people do) The list will probably be trial and error until you learn what works best in the specific area you are targeting, but you may have slightly less competition with owner occupied homes.

  • Rental Property Investor · Encino, CA · Member since 2016 · 324 posts · 178 votes
    8y

    I agree with @Jo-Ann Lapin to some aspect. Consider going to meetups, interviewing the various boot-camps and courses before going into Direct Mail all on your own. You could pay for some very costly mistakes or you can invest in your education and possibly shortcut the learning curve by learning from others.

    But of course, try to get more educated in books and forums with RE investing then wholesaling in general before jumping into any programs. That way you are more prepared and can ask better questions, and essentially get more value out of anything should you decide to invest in your education.

  • Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 4 votes
    8y

    @Jo-Ann Lapin I will definitely check him out. I made a quick search and the seminar happens to be on one of my days off. Thanks for the recommendation!

    @Aaron K.  Thank you Aaron, I understand that is important as a wholesaler to reach a mutual beneficial agreement with the buyer. I will do my best to accurately gauge my numbers. Question, who are owner occupied? what makes them motivated sellers? Also what's your opinion on probates? Thanks for the clarification.

    @Walter Roby jr I just came back today from a free seminar by Than Merrill. I had read his book on wholesaling before. I'm planning on attending his 3-day seminar in couple weeks. Hopefully they can answer many of my questions. Walter, how is it wholesaling experience in LA? I've never met an actual active wholesaler here in LA, and would love to hear your experience.

  • Specialist · Branford, CT · Member since 2018 · 222 posts · 121 votes
    8y

    @Ariel Lee There can be a number of "Motivational Criteria" that can be applied to owner occupied that @Aaron K. suggested. 

    One to consider would be Seniors with 20+ year ownership and low Financial Stability Scores (FSS)

    This group are often ready to downsize or transition to assistance. It's also unlikely that they have done any updating and kept up on all the maintenance so a lower offer is more reasonable and you have a renovation opportunity.

    Come up with a list of services you can offer to make it easy for them to sell (as-is) and to move (clean-up service). Find some people who run yard sales and purchase estate items that you can bring in.

    If someone has been thinking about selling, but are overwhelmed at the prospect of fixing the house to put it on the market, your letter could just do the trick if you let them know what you will do for them.

  • Altadena, CA · Member since 2015 · 66 posts · 58 votes
    8y

    @Ariel Lee Hey Ariel! My Sister and myself are wholesalers here in the San Gabriel area. I have a few tips for someone like yourself starting;

    1. Don't waste any money on "guru" coaching seminars. Everything you need is here in these forums and on the amazing podcast that biggerpockets puts out. There are some AMAZING ones on wholesaling and direct mail. 

    2. Attend as many REI's as possible in the first few months; not only to build your buyers list (make sure to build connections with "seasoned investors") but also to make amazing relationships with other people in the same industry to brainstorm marketing techniques that work in your market. The REI meeting i attend and truly enjoy is the FIBI rei events (For Investor By Investor). I believe they have six chapters all around LA county.

    3. This market is HOT and when i say HOT i mean HOT!!! You really dont want to try and compete with the big hitters here in LA who are pushing out marketing in the MASS. After a lot of trial and error we really have to come up with a unique way to market, not to compete but to stand out. There is nothing better than getting out on the doors in your local market and just getting to know your neighbors. Feel free to shoot me a DM and ill tell you how our direct mail marketing went on the same budget you proposed and what Listsource we used. 

    4. TELL EVERYONE WITH A PULSE exactly what you do. Talk to as many people as possible. Networking is an amazing way to generate leads and the more people you are top of mind too, the more success you will have. 

    5. Check your expectations right at the front; This business is not easy, so do not expect fast and easy success. Most people do not see success right away and the truth is, the business costs money if you are going to market the right way. It takes trial and error, failing and correcting, eating crap than having to get back up, but the best part is if your in it to really win it, than everything will just be a learning experience. 

    These are the things that i have learned in the first few months of business right off the back and hopefully it will give you some insight!

    best of luck!

  • Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2018 · 10 posts · 4 votes
    8y

    @Chrissy Parsons Thanks so much for the clarification. I will definitely look at that target group. I think I heard some of my local investors having a experience with a senior couple and was able to flip their house. It makes a lot more sense now. I really appreciate your help Chrissy.

    @Jonathan M. There is one FIBI meetup happening in Glendale. I will go and check it out, sounds like a great opportunity to meet people. Thank you so much for your advice, I would love to hear how you do your direct mail marketing Jonathan, I will send you a PM. Hopefully we get a chance to meet at one of the REI meetups. Thanks!

  • San Diego, CA · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    Hi Ariel,

    Welcome to BP and the Real Estate Industry. This is definitely a fun and competitive field to be in. Would highly recommend working all the free avenues to start. One such avenue, and my best tip is to go to meet ups, learn what they have to offer and then continuously build your network, because  by the end of the day its all about working with people who you've met recently or someone who you've known for a while. 

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