The Home Behind Me

I'm from a small town of not quite 10,000 people. My wife is a city girl. We moved in May from the city of Canton, OH, to the lovely, tight-knit, community of Uniontown, OH. Our home is on a cul-de-sac of a no-outlet road with maybe twenty homes. I love it. Our labs love it. My wife loves it now. 

There are roughly six acres of woods behind our home (a random set of woods jetting off from the roughly 125 acres a few homes down). Filled with marshland, swamps, ancient maple trees, and tall oaks, it's my heaven. You see the only thing I ever thought was a bit of a let down was that we didn't own the wooded acres behind us. We get to enjoy the sounds it provides with the violinist crickets and the bass of the bull frogs. So as long as no one wanted to destroy them, I really didn't care who owned them.

Our home was quite the answered prayer we can discuss in a future blog. 

I do believe in prayer. In God. In Jesus. And His Holy Spirit. By no means am I some righteous zealot, judging and throwing Bibles at people's heads, but on the other hand, not ashamed or shy of sharing my faith and how God has affected my life. In a simple statement, If I had to choose religion and going to church because that's the good thing to do or no church but still wrestling with learning, listening, praying, reading God's word, and living my life to give Him glory, I'm choosing the later every time.

And that's one of my favorite things, you see, because God doesn't think higher of you, me, my neighbors, a preacher, a banker, an investor, or the homeowners in need, ... We're all the same. And if He is working in my heart, then trust me, He wants to work in you.

This story is specific to my real estate journey. I'll share others not related to real estate. And some blogs just on random things. But this one relates to real estate.

I was getting ready to read my Bible in the morning. I've yet to find a better way to start your day then just by soaking up so much wisdom from those words. As usual though when my ADHD kicks in (or lack of priorities maybe), I decided to post to craigslist the "I buy homes" ad. I hadn't done it in while and was fresh off of my 2nd time through Brandon Turner's "No (and Low) Money Down Book," so the call to action was kicked up a bit. 

In posting, I searched for "real estate for sale" just to see if anything in my target areas had come up. Lo and behold, there was one. This one was different. I recognized it. I knew it. It was the house directly behind me through the woods! (I've driven back the private drive to meet the neighbors back there and get permission to hunt. They were never home.) I saw that it was a local wholesaler trying to sell the property. (He got it as a foreclosure because a current tenant of his knew the homeowner struggling on payments.) I called him to meet and amazingly he was just a few minutes away. "Can you be there in ten minutes," he asked. "I think I can," I said while laughing on the inside. I met Keith there and he was a great guy. 

It is a small home, just about 1,000 sq. ft. It has original hardwood floors from the 50's and over two-and-a-half acres. Foundation is solid. Bones are sturdy. Detached 3 car and shed. The home has terrible flow. Like bedroom to kitchen bad flow. It needs a lot of TLC, but not the most daunting rehab I've seen in my young, real estate career.

We talked there for nearly and hour and a half. I was asking all sorts of questions and he was genuine in his answers and knowledge. Great guy. He informed me that once they get properties under contract, they try to wholesale it for the first 60 days. If no one buys, then the take on the rehab and do rent-to-own exits. As we were wrapping up our conversation, I informed him that I lived right behind the property. He was ecstatic. "No way! And this could be your first investment?" (I have a rental property in Canton but it is our old home that we are renting out and cash flowing positive). "Yes, it would be my first rehab project," I told him. "This is great for you Jared. It's in your backyard! You can really learn a lot by being so close to the job. Does this property actually back into yours?" He asked. "Oh yea, that's my house right there." I answered, pointing to my house, wondering where he was going with this. "You know that you could change property lines if you have both properties, right?" He said. "What! I never even thought about that. How cool would that be Kieth! My house can own the acreage we all share here. Wow, that would give me the woods I love and some serious equity on our current home." (Land here is expensive. It is a great little town). We wrapped up the conversation and parted ways.

I immediately called Ashley. She is very conservative and a great balance for my personality. I told her the story. "Babe, I've been praying for my first deal to be close to home (I run my other business from home). This one's in our backyard Ash! Oh, and get this, we can get the woods too and attach them to our property! Can you believe that? God answered my prayer for the first house by making it one right behind us! AND then did so much more by giving me more than I could ask with the attached woods." I said like I ready to close that hour. "That's incredible Jared. It sounds like this may be the one we can do. Let's look at the numbers when I get home. What's the price?" She asked happy for me, but still reserved. I ended the talk, "Yea, about the price, it is high for the condition and rehab it needs. That's the only bummer. My gut is saying 'no' and it is bumming me out. I'll pray about it. But I need to contact my team and get the ball rolling at least. I know I can get the price down."

The day went on and I was telling my friends about the answered prayer and so much more with the woods. "Guys, this is it!"

(side note: My real estate career began in July-ish, I run another business, and knew nothing about real estate investing when I began. I've been networking, reading, building my team, gotten sidetracked for a month, and learned the importance of systems along the way so far. I've been to about a dozen homes I found through marketing direct mail or using the county recorder's office, but nothing matched to the kind of deals I want. Great deals. Creative finance. So I waited, discouraged, prayed, learned some more, went to homes, passed on them, networked, joined BP, prayed again, etc...without the great deal I need to concretely convince my wife in this journey, I really need to be extra cautious on this first one. If it were just me, I'd have six or seven investments now, but that is why team work in marriage is awesome. It makes you better.) 

I couldn't sleep that night. I was so excited for what was ahead. My brain wouldn't stop. I went downstairs at midnight and was just jumping ahead with the calculators on BP and property information from the county. It was 2 AM before I looked at the clock, 

still awake. I decided to pray. 

It was an unsettling prayer. I often feel that I don't listen enough while praying. Usually presenting my requests like a child on Santa's lap and bouncing off before the picture is taken. This time though I knew I had to listen. 

I sat there, silent, eyes closed. Crickets and bull frogs laying a beat in woods out back. 

"Let me do this." I heard. "I want the glory Jared. It's what you pray for. To use you for My glory in all you do. I got this. Relax. On my timeline." 

That is not what I needed to hear to relax. Not every time you pray does God clearly answer. This was different. This was clear as day. I knew this wise voice from lessons of life learned before. He was answering. 

I went to bed frustrated. Sad. "Why would you show me this amazing opportunity in my backyard... just to take it away," I thought as I fell asleep like a pouting man-child. 

I had a morning meeting at Panera with a friend and mentor. He invests in real estate as well, but all on the side. He and his wife are debt free and when they invest it is usually paid off in full with their cash. 

I was still enthusiastic about how the day went yesterday and how my prayer was so amazingly answered. Yet Scott was advising me that while it did seem like no doubt an answered prayer, to still be listening and aware of what I was doing with using a hard money lender on my first creative deal. 

I left the meeting discouraged. Again. Driving home, listening to the BP pod casts I thought, "God, I always meet with Scott and it's so encouraging for us. Great times. Good food. Great talks. Why do I feel so uneasy? I can do this. I CAN DO THIS!"

I got home and just felt angry. "You can not take this deal away from me. I don't care if the price is wrong. Or whatever the deal is. I'm contacting the team, It's Friday. I need to move fast. That's what everyone says. Move fast. Take action. Get it before it's gone. My team's weeks are going to fill, if they're not already. I need them to come see the house and get an offer and under contract next week. Yep, that's what I'm going to do. Where's my phone? I got this" 

"I CAN'T FIND MY PHONE! I just had it. I literally just walked in the door. Where the hell is my phone? I want this land. I want that property." I furiously said out loud to myself. 

Let's take a 30 second, story time-out. You see, I find that when you are passionately and genuinely wanting to give God the glory in your life. When you want to be able to share Him and His love and grace with others. He answers. And he did at that weak, angry moment. 

My heart was beating faster. I couldn't even think of where my phone was. Still looking for it, my mind cleared, I breathed easier. God spoke to my heart, "Jared, read Psalm 37. Read it now. Before the phone. Before the planning. Go. Read it. Psalm 37." 

"Ugh... is this just me trying to get my mind off of this situation. I mean I do need to read my Bible today, I haven't yet. Screw it. I'll call them after. I need to cool down. Psalm 37 I guess it is," I thought to myself. "What is Psalm 37? I don't know that one at all."

I opened my Bible and flipped to Psalm 37. It made me silent. It gave me chills. And a peace calmed my mind and soul. This is Psalm 37: 1-11 (emphasis added): 

Do not fret because of those who are evil or be envious of those who do wrong; for like the grass they will soon wither, like green plants they will soon die away. 

Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. 

Take delight in the Lord , and he will give you the desires of your heart. 

Commit your way to the Lord ; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteous reward shine like the dawn, your vindication like the noonday sun.

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. 

Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil. 

For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. 

A little while, and the wicked will be no more; though you look for them, they will not be found. But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy peace and prosperity.

Like a cool, refreshing rain to the withering plants after a hot, summer day, my soul was given what it needed. The refreshing reminder that God is always in control. We do our own thing, he corrects the path. We go off again, he adjusts. Sometimes it's subtle and barely noticeable. Other times, though, it's clear as day. He has a plan and wants you in it.

To be continued...

By the way, I found my phone right after reading. On my bed. Clear in sight. But now, I had my real team member, my wife, to call.