All Forum Posts by: Aaron Lietz

I also, am curious why you say this? Think about this for a second. Most of the real estate courses out there range from $800 (Chris Chico) to $5k-$10k (Brent Daniels, Pace Morby, AstroFlipping w/ Jamil, etc). Now, let's say you buy one of these programs and go through the entire thing. Shortly after this (let's say 1-3 months out) you lock up a contract and flip that contract to a cash buyer for a $10k fee (which happens all the time). Voila! Your investment has now been paid for! But now, you have the information to go out and close deal after deal (as long as you have enough grind and perseverance to stick with it - just like going to the gym with goals of losing weight and gaining muscle). 

I have been very successful in my sales career and I can say that, the first and most critical thing to being successful is mindset. Having a positive "I can do this! I am doing this! I will not take no for an answer!" attitude is extremely crucial. You have to embrace the process and not just give up when things (today) aren't immediately happening that way you want. You also have to setup a routine that drives toward your goals on a regular basis. Remember, sometimes what you do today doesn't seem to be working (right now, this second) but it's really just sending boomerangs out there that will come back to you tomorrow or next week.

My father always told me to "Study the pros and you can be a pro". I have found this to be spot on in my life (both in music and in sales). When it comes to buying real estate training courses (presuming they are legitimate and no scams) there is tons of evidence that they work. In fact, most real estate professionals that I know have learned what they know from a pro who came before them (Ron Legrand, Robert Kyosaki, etc). 

A smart investment is a smart investment. 

Hi All, thank you for the clarifying questions. I am looking to buy/hold/rent right now. However, it does look like market is really "toppy" right now. So I'm thinking that one good strategy is to have others find those below market deals for me since I don't have time to search for them myself.

I'm looking to invest in great deal properties in AZ but do not have the time to find those deals. Does anybody know of any wholesalers out here that currently have good deals in their sights or on their books? 

Thanks all!

Ryan Swan is with HomeSmart here is AZ as well. 

@Frank Patalano

Hi Frank, I think what's holding me back is the apparent 'hot' market competition for good deals, in my area. Many properties just don't cashflow when running the numbers and I'm competing with cash buyers who can snatch the deals way faster. Additionally, I work a ton and don't have the time hunt for deals all day like these wholesalers do. Don't I wish it was 2011 again!

Does anyone have any experience with this RE Investing course? It's $325. I'm wondering if it's any good?

https://meetkevin.teachable.com/p/real-estate-investing 

This post is inspired by another one I saw called "How would you turn $500,000 into 5 million in 5 years?". I would like your thoughts (and I would especially like thoughts/advice from those who have met or exceeded the below goal). 

I am 40 years old with a career that pays $300k/yr (but I work about 60 hours per week - 6-7 days per week). I own one home (which I live in), and have $100k+ cash in the bank. My goal is to "retire" in 6-8 years with around $10k passive income. If you were me (given my current time constraints right now) in this market (in the Phoenix, AZ area) how would you meet this goal? 

Hey, thanks for the sharing your thoughts! Perhaps it's just a ruse but the BP books (and some podcasts) have made it appear that once all of your "systems" are in place (such as your RE "team" - Prop Mgt, handyman, contractor, etc) it becomes more passive. In your experience is this not the case? I was under the impression that once you have scaled up (acquired many units) and built 'systems' in place to assist in the management and upkeep of those units (i.e. -see the book Landlording on AutoPilot), things become a lot easier such that you will have significantly more free time to do the tings you love to do (all while having monthly income coming in that does not derive from having to 'clock in'). No?

Is it your thought that someone like Brandon Turner is actually snowing everyone, giving them the impression that most of his income comes from rental properties when it actually comes from BP, book sales, talks, etc? This would be a tragedy of course. Perhaps the bigger point here is that I have a certain goal in mind and I'm exploring the best ways to meet that goal (whether it's RE or not). 

Thank you again for the insights. 

The seller was extremely difficult to work with, and not a very nice person. We would ask for things like documentation showing what kind of work she had done to the property and she wouldn't get them to us for over a week sometimes. We would then have to send a "cure" notice, etc. And even when she did get the stuff over to us it was hand written! No receipts, no nothing. It was like she just had a tenant do the work on the cheap (no contractor, no handyman, nada). 

The property was in Casa Grande and I have heard there is going to be a huge theme park going in there (i.e. - big growth). So I was looking and had found that property. It wasn't the greatest neighborhood/area though. I know there will be other opportunities. It was just very strange. Something wasn't sitting right with me and I couldn't put my finger on it. I kept thinking to myself that maybe it was my newbie realtor that wasn't making me feel that comfortable. I'm still not sure but since my current realtor is both new with his license and is new to the AZ valley (combined with the fact that he currently does not own any investments properties here) I was just thinking maybe it's time to find someone better who is doing it full time.  

So recently I backed out of a property that I had under contract and I'm not sure if I made the right decision. I'm also not sure if I should be pointing some of the blame at my realtor. But this situation has brought to mind the possibility that maybe I should be looking for a more experienced realtor who knows the Phoenix and great Phoenix markets, who is investor friendly, who is more experienced, who has more time, and who can advise me better on deals. My current realtor just got his license and although he works for a very well known and established firm here in AZ (part time), and he was a rental property investor back east for some time, he is new out here and he doesn't really strike me a "go-getter". 

The deal I backed out of was a 4-plex that was going to cash-flow about $700/mo total net (without any rehab or rent raising, which I could have done). After some thinking about that deal now I'm starting to question whether my realtor did me wrong. The property inspection showed some mold in one of the units but we weren't sure how extensive it was. Apparently it was due to a pipe bursting (the property was built in 1979 and hadn't been upgraded that much). The lady who owned the place didn't put much money into it at all (besides A/C units and a roof years back). Anyways, I keep thinking to myself, "Shouldn't he (my realtor) have recommended and/or mentioned for me to just buy the place, rehab, and raise the rents since there didn't seem to be that much that was needed?" Since it was my first deal I was uncertain (i.e. - I was on the fence). The lady next door was doing just that with her 4-plex (bought from the same seller) but the inspector told me not to do it (because it was a "ticking time bomb"), though I wasn't sure about his assessment since there didn't seem to be a ton wrong with the property. He did mention that the foundation was "settling" and that some rooms in the units were sloping but it was all stucco construction with all tile inside. 

That being said, I'm having second thoughts about my realtor. What qualifications should I look for in a realtor? Are you a realtor who is interested in helping me with my deals and/or find great deals (including off market deals)? Are you a go-getter who is sharp, experienced, and who is currently making money from cash-flowing rental properties? If so, please inquiry within!

Thanks all!