Hi Michael Quarles & fellow BPers,
Wow, another incredible opportunity from Michael. Thank you Sir!
In full disclosure, I have already won his past promotion to the very first BP REI Summit, where he not only paid for the ticket, but also allowed and extra $500 for flight/expenses or whatever! Needless to say, I learned a lot. If memory serves me correctly, their were three winners (and no losers!). I was hoping to meet him, but business kept him away! I also must say to my best friend, my wife, who had serious doubts about this, and thought it was some sort of scam. I must say she was truly shocked to see the check come in from California!
So, I am not sure if the rules will exclude me from winning again, but I will try again.
Well back on my New Years Resolution, I had hoped to get something going small like the Little Train that could, with some Bandit signs. Well I did that but have had no deals from it. (a lot of people wanting to get rid of land in NJ). Anyway, I started concentrating on three different REI groups around NJ and collecting a couple good "rehabbers" & "investors" cards. I also felt a weakness with knowing the Rehab costs, so I invested in two one day seminars on estimating the cost of a rehab, and an actual bus tour with two rehabbers. Now I am feeling so much more confident, when I estimate the cost. This will help propel my Wholesale business, which I want to eventually turn into a rehab business. I really love some of these old homes here in NJ! I also (in the last two weeks) acquired my NJ RE License, so now I have access to comps!
Here comes the dilemma... $Money$. While I make OK money @ 45 years of age, without a college degree, just some IT certifications, I have three kids... live in NJ (pretty expensive), and a stay-at-home wife! All that, and I work in the Print industry, and my job is now being "off-shored", so only a matter of time, if you know what I mean! We also just got hit hard with some Medical bills (deductable stuff), and had our Orthodontist skip out of town, so we had to start over with another one. No excuses, I know! But my wife does the bills, and their is just not enough to spend extra on postcards & postage! So bandit signs and MLS it is till I find that first deal!
As I stated in a previous thread... "REI and truly realize that is where I can (will) become financially independent. (no not looking to make millions). My ultimate goal would be to have enough passive income to cover my life expenses and have no debt. (now that should be the "American Dream"!). I am lucky enough to have three great kids & wife, and an un-paid roof over our heads!"
Now that I have the some education (BP & local REI), and some tools (MLS), I just need the means! Please cast a vote my way and I promise to pay it forward!
Bigger Pockets, Yeah Baby!
~ Keith