LifeStyles Unlimited - Opinions/experiences Requested

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LifeStyles Unlimited - Opinions/experiences Requested

Travis White
Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 50 posts · 20 votes

Hello hello, 

I know this and other guru/coaching topics have been discussed frequently, I've gone back and read most of the ones related to LU. Most seem to eventually devolve into guru vs anti guru and I'm hoping I can make contact with some folks that have had some experience with the LU programs and might be willing to share some of their numbers. We're already members of the base level membership and are considering upgrading to their multiunit program. Also, if anyone out there is a lead investor in LU and have the time to chat a little, that is something we could be interested in down the road. We also attend local REI and networking events when we can.

FWIW, I tend to fall in the anti-guru camp while my wife sees a lot of value in networking/community represented in belonging to an REI organization. I'm happy to discuss the topic here in this thread, also very happy to converse one on one over private messages.

Oh yeah, a little about us. We're first time investors still looking for our first deal. We have some experience in the real estate field but no investments on our own yet. 

Thanks!!!

Travis

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Greg ScottPro Member
Rental Property Investor · SE Michigan · Member since 2014 · 4k+ posts · 6k+ votes
8y

Travis:

I have been a real estate investor since 2006 and a Lifestyles member since 2011.

First off, I would say that calling Lifestyles a "guru" program is woefully inaccurate.  I have purchased several programs from real estate gurus and there is no comparison.  Most gurus focus on one narrow concept (e.g. "buy subject to"), give you few hours of training, with little ongoing support, and often you need to buy other products from them to have a chance of implementing their strategies.

In contrast, Lifestyles is about a well-rounded real estate education focused on buy and hold residential real estate.  They offer hundreds of hours of on-line classes covering a wide range of topics plus numerous live classes (mostly in Texas) and as long as you are a member in good standing you can always call a mentor for advice and ideas.

My wife and I have been flying down to Dallas and Houston for years to attend their live classes and have invested in properties both in Texas and in our home state of Michigan.

You asked for numbers, so here are some numbers.  In these examples all the SF properties were in excellent condition at purchase so ongoing repairs and vacancy have been minimal.

Before joining Lifestyles, I bought 6 turnkey rentals.  Here is how those numbers looked (on average):

 - Equity gain at purchase $5K

 - Cash Flow $250/mo 

 - Cash on cash returns 12%/yr

After joining Lifestyles I bought 9 SF rentals in DFW area.  Here are their average returns

 - Equity gain at purchase $17.5K

 - Cash Flow $500/mo 

 - Cash on cash returns 24%/yr

The $500 basic membership was a no-brainer given the improved returns we got.

My wife and I also stepped up and to their Preferred membership which focuses on Multi Family.   We are now invested in 6 apartments totaling about 1000 units.   Those projects are in different stages, but the first one did a cash out refi in early 2017.  Since Dec 2014 it has returned 130% of my original investment and still cash flows at about 10%.    The others are tracking along those same lines.

Most apartment syndications you can find out in the public space are not half as good as that.     I never would have been exposed to these multi family opportunities without the guidance and education provided by Lifestyles.  

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  • Greg ScottPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · SE Michigan · Member since 2014 · 4k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    8y

    Travis:

    I have been a real estate investor since 2006 and a Lifestyles member since 2011.

    First off, I would say that calling Lifestyles a "guru" program is woefully inaccurate.  I have purchased several programs from real estate gurus and there is no comparison.  Most gurus focus on one narrow concept (e.g. "buy subject to"), give you few hours of training, with little ongoing support, and often you need to buy other products from them to have a chance of implementing their strategies.

    In contrast, Lifestyles is about a well-rounded real estate education focused on buy and hold residential real estate.  They offer hundreds of hours of on-line classes covering a wide range of topics plus numerous live classes (mostly in Texas) and as long as you are a member in good standing you can always call a mentor for advice and ideas.

    My wife and I have been flying down to Dallas and Houston for years to attend their live classes and have invested in properties both in Texas and in our home state of Michigan.

    You asked for numbers, so here are some numbers.  In these examples all the SF properties were in excellent condition at purchase so ongoing repairs and vacancy have been minimal.

    Before joining Lifestyles, I bought 6 turnkey rentals.  Here is how those numbers looked (on average):

     - Equity gain at purchase $5K

     - Cash Flow $250/mo 

     - Cash on cash returns 12%/yr

    After joining Lifestyles I bought 9 SF rentals in DFW area.  Here are their average returns

     - Equity gain at purchase $17.5K

     - Cash Flow $500/mo 

     - Cash on cash returns 24%/yr

    The $500 basic membership was a no-brainer given the improved returns we got.

    My wife and I also stepped up and to their Preferred membership which focuses on Multi Family.   We are now invested in 6 apartments totaling about 1000 units.   Those projects are in different stages, but the first one did a cash out refi in early 2017.  Since Dec 2014 it has returned 130% of my original investment and still cash flows at about 10%.    The others are tracking along those same lines.

    Most apartment syndications you can find out in the public space are not half as good as that.     I never would have been exposed to these multi family opportunities without the guidance and education provided by Lifestyles.  

    3Reply
  • Travis White
    OP
    Houston, TX · Member since 2014 · 50 posts · 20 votes
    8y

    Wow Greg, thanks so much for the thoughtful reply! I think you're probably right in calling me out about using guru in connections w/ Lifestyles - so far all the information I've gotten from them has been solid and well-organized. 

    Do you have any thoughts about the performance discrepancy between your pre and post Lifestyles properties? Were your first batch of investments in Michigan? How did you find Lifestyles and what led you to jump on board w/ their program? 

    A big part of my interest in the SF and small multi-family programs is in accessing their leads. I've spent the last 3-4 months of analyzing SF leads (mostly wholesalers) in the Houston area and am having trouble finding quality deals. I'd love to hear a little about what you thought about the leads supplied by Lifestyles and any other factors have helped your success in Dallas. 

    My Dad-inlaw is a new participant in the Preferred program and I'm waiting/excited to see what sort of opportunities/returns are available to him.  

    1Reply
  • Greg ScottPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · SE Michigan · Member since 2014 · 4k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    8y

    Travis:

    To answer your questions:

    1) The 6 turnkey rentals I bought, two were in Indianapolis, one in Atlanta, one in Phoenix, one in St. Louis, and only one in Michigan.   Now my timing was great and all appreciated very well, but all had similar cash flow and equity capture as mentioned above.

    2) I found Lifestyles through their podcast.  I was very skeptical at first, but after listening to them for 3 months I figured $500 for a basic membership was worth the chance.  So, I joined and I took all the online classes they had at the time (there are many more now).  I was so impressed I convinced my wife that we should consider the preferred membership.  In 2012 I flew down to Dallas and was so blown away by the staff and the live classes I stroked a 5-figure check to join the preferred membership.  That investment was fully paid back within 3 months by the over-sized returns from our first DFW rent property.  

    Now, please know that I'm not saying that Lifestyles makes you an automatic return.  You do have to put in some effort.  Those that put in no effort get no return.  But, I can say that I've had a better financial return from my Lifestyles education than I got from my Engineering degree  or my MBA.  Not that I regret either of my degrees, but the Lifestyles return has been faster and more measurable.

    2Reply
  • Sean Sharp
    Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 1 vote
    7y

    Hello.  I am a very newbie.  Yes old topic but I just went to the Saturday Sunday event.  It all sounds great but I am still a little skeptic.   I am going to the big event in Houston hoping to here more about it.  The big sum of multi money is holding me up.

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