All Forum Posts by: Douglas Christian

Since you have never been on your own, what is the rush. Why not keep things the way they are and save some money and get a better understanding of what you are about to venture into and then make a sound decision.

As a landlord I see this more and more. Two young people getting ready to make the leap of MISTAKE. Rethink your thought and do not be in a rush to do what you will have a whole life to fulfill.

Why not buy a rental or two first and then see how that works out and then decide to get married OOPS, that might not be in the plans.

Time is all you have enjoy life and do not move in until you are ready to FULLY COMIT.

Sorry if this is not what you wanted to hear, but if you head the warning you will be real thankful down the road.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Section 8 sets the bench mark. If the tenant is suppose to pay the difference whatever it is, then that is what they have to pay. That is governed by Section 8 rules.

If tenant looses there job then Section 8 will step in and pay the whole portion.

Section 8 is a good tool, but like everything esle, learn to diversify.

There are many ways to PROSPER in a down economy. For NEWBIES you and only you can overcome the FEARS that you have whether they be CASH, CREDIT, or BOTH it does not matter. I have been reading many blogs, websites, emails and at the END OF THE DAY. Ask yourself the number one question, what am I doing or what have I done to make my situation better. Did I network with someone who can help me? Did I find someone at my locat REIA to TRULY mentor me.

See once you have done all that you can do, then you know that there is nothing else to do. I hear everyone talking about now is the time to buy there has not been a time better than this in over 40 yrs. Well, if this is true, WHY ARE NOT MORE BUYERS, BUYING. See I want many of you to taste some of the SUCCESS that I have enjoyed and I know many of you here will only becom GOOD BLOGGERS, but that is okay to. Choose your poison carefully.

There is no excuse, but to look in the mirror and say that I can do better. Here is why I say that because for each and everyone who does not own and property and has the ANALYSIS, PARALYSIS sysdrome it is time to shake that and TAKE ACTION.

For all of you who have a full time job, you do not even know when that job is going to in and yet each and every morning you get up and go to work thinking that you have a JOB. What if you went to work like the people at SUNSHINE MORTGAGE in Atlanta did and then you get there and find that you know longer have employement. WHAT WOULD YOU DO. Oh I know what you would do. Go file unemployment or even better get on the internet and use your RESUME and your DEGREE and try and compete with 1000's of others for that one joe.

Well every morning that I am allowed by GOD to wake up I thank him and then I plan my day as if there were no plannning involved. Because see I learned many years ago in order to live the life that everyone wants, but few are willing to sacrifice for you have to be different.

This is why for all of you who are having problems going to places like Dayton, Detroit, Cleveland, Indiana, Wisconsin a other depressed economys for whatever the reason tell me if you are not going to those places where are you going? Oh I know you are going to places like Miami, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Cali, Seattle and other high rent districts and JEOPARDIZING what real estate investing is all about. Most of those places you can not even conceive CASH FLOW, but I guess what you can conceive is living on APPRECIATION. This is what you consider to be INVESTING because your data and facts show you that the area is going to be stable and jobs are going to be there. Well tell me how your computer data can PROMISE you those pipe dreams, when companies are closing there doors left and right.

If this BLOG sounds rough and tough, I hope and pray that it will HELP someone. People will loose 1000's in the Stock Market, 401's and 2's, threes and fours and never think twice about it, but when it comes to buying that little junker for 10k and putting 5k or 10k into it they have a problem. Interesting, but we will go and blow money that we don't have on things we don't need and then complain about the economy and everything therein.

ONLY IN AMERICA.

For all of the sideline players that say they are ready then the time is right for you. Stop worrying about what TOM, DICK OR HARRY is doing, because when it comes down to paying your bills if who can you depend on.

See I can depend on those little junkers in areas that no one else wants to go because it is to GRIMY or the area does not look like where you LIVE. If you are looking to prosper in Real Estate you can read and make all the GURU's wealthy and go to all the mtgs and buy all the tapes and books that you want, but I challenge you to STEP OUT AND STEP UP and purchase that junker and use is has a FLOOR PLAN to SUCCESS and you will not be sorry.

Each person that has talked about a down economy. What does that REALLY MEAN. The whole country is down right now so what do you do.

If you do what you have always done, you will get what you have always gotten. Be smarter and step out and let me hear more about those that have bought something instead of fighting with someone because you did not like there material.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS :lol:

See here it is everyone is looking at sysmantics. What are you concerned about population and rents appreciating with growth. Sounds like you need to learn how to determine what a CASH FLOWING property is.

Let me back up, when I here people say that they are following the trend, here is a FACT in real estate and you can take this one to the bank.

If I buy a quality house for $12,900 and put $2,000 dollars in the house and the rent is $550 it will take him about 2.5 yrs to get his FULL return. Everything after that is GRAVY.

Well I guess I can see why many are not in the game and do not understand the game. Even in Dayton or Detroit or wherever you are looking for the Greater return on your money.

I'll tell you what take 300k and go to Miami, Phoeniz, Las Vegas or even Cali and see what you get. This is crazy to me to hear so many with these following trends report.

HOW MANY OF YOU ARE MAKING MONEY. Even after you come up with all these GREAT FACTS.

Lets get in the game and stop being back sit drivers and sideline warmers. Talk is cheap and everything eles is CHEAPER.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Has anyone ever heard a saying that goes like this. Even when your right sometimes it is good to be wrong. I do not know Alexis and many of you on this panel, but I don't understand from Alexis point, why she feels like she needs to defend herself.

When you go to defend yourself you automatically become a target of citicisum. You will not win, there are people who found your work to be good and those that found it to be not so good.

It is just like in the bible. Chirst came to make it better, but there was those that believed and those that did not.

Continue to be honest, strait forward and you will be rewarded in the end. From what I am reading you have those that think your work helped them and that is all you need to know. You do not need to defend your work unless it needs it and if it does that is when you need to regroup.

There's another line that goes like this iIF YOU CAN'T STAND THE HEAT, THEN GET OUT OF THE KITCHEN.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Josh maybe some of them are sour prunes in Florida because of all of the sunshine that they have taken in, but up in the Carolinas they are more than willing to lend a helping hand. They to get a lunch and they get time off, who is to say that it has to be done during working hrs.

See we have to learn not to focus on the small things and let them determine if they are willing to help or not.

Before we even get started we have already defeated the situation.

Did not mean to burst the bubble, but Congressmen and Women are Federal workers and look what mess they have us in today.

Don't buy into the HYPE. Go and make some MONEY and let the postal carrier do their jobs.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Ralph what a GREAT way to put it. He has choose his rode and it is not hiring a manager and fixing those items.

I myself own numerous amt of properties and I learned how to manage them efficiently. I to have had to go to court and evict, but that comes with the territory.

But, as Ralph as said I realize this early in the game that I wanted to work on my business not in it. So, when I go out of town I do not even get the phone calls because I have advocates to pave the way and make my life easier, they are called plumbers, electricians and carpenters and HVAC guys. I also look at it has giving these guys a job as a small business man. By doing this they have allowed me to TRULY grow my business.

I would not even try and wire a house, what happens if it catches on fire. There is a law suit, because we are so caught up in saving a penny.

If you have to micro manage your company like that then I commend you, but being hands off and learning how to DELEGATE work shows a very intuitive person.

Mike I to take my hat off to you, but I would say enjoy a little more a let others help along the way.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Mr. Brown I have a question for you. What is your fee to teach those who can acquire the info from places like this.

Not knocking those that coach, but do you coach for free or are you focused on the making money by coaching those who are new.

I am just wondering also do you own any real estate.

Pls answer these questions if you would pls.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

What does your agreement say about how the management company performs. You are always the owner of the property no matter what. I would send the tenant a letter and send a copy of the same letter to the property management company.

Always send the mail Certified Return receipt. If it comes back to you do not open it so that if you have to go to court, you can pove that you did send it, they just did not want to sign for it.

I would also be looking for another property management company or I would manage it myself until I found another one.

This is business not personal. If they want her to stay then they should pay the rent for her. I am sorry to hear about her condition, but you obviously have a mortgage and if she does not pay then you have to pay. That is not the way that this is set up to work.

Record everything and make sure that you speak to the management company face to face and let them know that because of there poor performance in handling this that you will be looking to evict the tenant.

Never be afraid to take control of what is yours!!!

I would recommend going on line and looking in that state or that city for the top management companies. It is going to differ. Someone with 1-5 properties is not going to need a whole lot as opposed to someone with say 25+ properties. I just think you have to feel them out and get a list of other investors who have done business with them and speak with them about the services.

Don't sign a long lease until after you have a good feel. 6 mths to a yr.