All Forum Posts by: Arthur Garcia

Paul Denni - welcome to BP. Make sure to utilize the "search" feature on the site to gain access to past forum posts on a given topic.

Best,

AG

Jesse M. to Dev Horn's point - thinking outside the box. Here are two books I've found that has helped me craft my marketing campaign and sales message:

1. NO BS guide to writing a sales letter Dan Kennedy
2. outrageous advertising that's outrageously successful Bill Glazer

These should help focus your message and make it stand out at the same time.

I'd be curious to hear your thoughts once you read them.

AG

John G. - I'd spend a few hours on Amazon and spend a couple of hundred bucks on RE education. You can find a lot of used books, programs, videos. I guess I differ from a lot of the folks in the BP community, I don't mind reading stuff from Guru's. I've found a bunch of great ideas from these guys (a lot of crappy ones too). Not everything is GOOD content, but the more I read and study, the better my nose gets at smelling BS.

The problem with the real estate courses (Community Colleges) is lack of real world application, in my experience.

I work in an industry (day job) that works primarily with academics. I've found that they know a lot when it comes to theory, but don't have a lot to offer by way of real world investing.

True story, one of these instructors is going to have me do a guest presentation to his class. I'm not bragging, I'm just pointing out that you may be further along than some of these instructors.

You also might be better served connecting with folks on BP, in your local REIA and reading up on the topics of your interest.

AG

Welcome Tammy Parsons! Be careful this site is very addicting.

Curtis - in addition to mailers, I would seriously considering doing doorhangers - especially if you are buying an owner occupied property.

Drive a few of the zip codes within Burbank and just carpet the area with your marketing materials - mailers to absentee owners, door hangers (entire neighborhoods) and when you DRIVE through the area - make special note of run-down, beat up, ugly houses.

Be sure to send those ones a letter (hand addressed).

Also make sure you are planning on marketing to this farm are for at least 6-8 months. It may take several "touches" before you get any momentum.

I'd do some sort of rotation on your mailers - post card, Yellow letter, post card, white letter, etc.

I hope that helps - keep us posted.

Best,

AG

Jesse,

Are you tracking your leads by zip code?

It might be easier to narrow your prospects if you narrow your target homes to several zip codes. My advice would be to pick areas that are on the lower middle to bottom end of the median price for your city. For example, if the median price is 150K, then I'd target 115K and below.

Not sure if I helped you or not.

Best,

AG

FIBI - Pasadena Chapter & Invest Club for Women.

Here are a few I hate dealing with:

* Maintenance costs (making my handyman richer with each service call)

* My tenants threatening to sue me

* Issues with the city (code violations)

* Just plain tired of putting in new carpet each time a new tenant leaves the property.

* vandalism - (stove, A/C, broken windows) between vacancies.

I hope that helps.

AG

Welcome Tony Tran

Make sure you take little time to finish up your BP profile and at the very least upload a photo. You'll get a much better response from the community when people see your face.

As far as your strategy goes, Az seems like it would be a tough market to break into. I'd be curious of other BP investors felt the same way. If you do decide to play in that market - You'll likely have to revert back to marketing directly to home owners.

AG

Regarding Follow up - you need to get more information from the seller(s). There are several factors at play when someone wants to liquidate and asset purchase price is only of them. Once you know more about their situation you can make a more informed offer.

From the sound of it - there isn't much motivation to sell at a steep discount, but that doesn't mean there isn't opportunity. They may be open to carrying paper, Sub 2, selling it with a 2nd position mortgage attached, etc.

Pull out the shovel and dig a little bit more.