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All Forum Posts by: Douglas Christian

Douglas Christian has started 9 posts and replied 248 times.

Post: My first two deals in the Motor City

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

Agree with owning with HOA dues. They can foreclose on you if you do not pay and if they need to do any improvements they will add on a renovation fee for that year. I have owned about 10 condos and I got rid of all of them because I did not like what I saw.

I think you did an outstanding job with your purchasing power. Newer deals especially the second one. I would IMMEDIATELY LEAVE the condos or townhouses alone and start doing SFH. As you can see now you can not get any money to go to the next deal. I invest in Detroit, but I use CASH to purchase my properties from my wholesale deals.

Congratulations on getting started and good deals.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: WARNING: Harbor Funding Group

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

To each and everyone of you that have been taken my HEART goes out. NO one wants to see a honest person get taken for anything. We all work to hard and to diligent for things like this to happen. I appreciate those that are able to come forward a speak about there experiences. Many of you are SAVVY AND EXPERIENCED.

My questions are simple and not made to UPSET ANYONE. Why would you send money to an attorney they you do not know. Meaning did anyone check these guys out. I would always recommend putting money in ESCROW with your TITLE COMPANY OR ATTORNEY.

Also, I have never been a BIG fan of going into areas where everyone is GLORIFYING how you can make money because this is the new hot area. Areas like this BRING THE SHARKS OUT. They disguise themselves as SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PEOPLE and as you can see ATTORNEYS, REAL ESTATE AGENTS, APPRAISERS, AND DEVELOPERS all get involved into the act.

All this new building and construction is just like everything else around the country to me. They promise you that they will give you money back to cover cost while construction is being completed and then they will help you find a tenant so that you can CASH FLOW. Well I will always stick by my guns and say that many of you need to learn how to do these things yourselve so that you can understand the process.

As time goes forward there are going to be many more SCAMS to come so I will say this in closing. If you can not use your people to hold the money or they need money up front or the deal just SOUNDS so GREAT AND FABULOUS then walk away from it.

I find GREAT AND FABULOUS DEALS all the time and some of them I walk away from. Here today gone tomorrow. As I said before my heart goes out to ALL of you and I hope and pray that you get some SATISFACTION in bringing these CROOKS to justice.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: Appreciation VS. Cash flow - The clash of the titans....

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

I would like to say that there are some very good ideas and concerns in this thread. Eddie I will say this to you and anyone else involved in this thread. You have a good day job TODAY. If tomorrow something happens and your good day job goes sour as so many has you need some sort of income to sustain you. I think making good solid investment choices is the key to success.

No one goes into business to say I will wait on my business to appreciate in the next 5-10 yrs. You need capital today to fund your business and put back in to grow and become more effective. I buy homes for CASH FLOW and 10-15 yrs down the line if the home I bought for 15k is now worth 75k then okay, but that is the road I will cross once I get there.

Many people have bought proeprties for appreciation in certain neighborhoods and did not CASH FLOW. Places like Cali, Vegas, AZ, FL and now look at those homes and those people that put themselves into the SPECULATOR THEORY. I never SPECULATE I just EVALUATE and make the decision based on todays market.

Many million dollar homes are now being SOLD for pennies on the dollar what say you to that. They speculated that these homes would continue to appreciated and they have actually took a turn for the WORSE.

I own homes free and clear and that to me is the best remedy for this formula. Now the ones that have mortgages are still bringing me $350-$450 in CASH FLOW using your formula. You never should buy and investment to LOOSE MONEY.

This is why I am a firm believer in the buy and hold theory. If you buy the home for 10k today and hold it for 20yrs. The appreciation will automatically kick in and even if it does not and you sell it for 18k look at the rents that were collected over those yrs. You do not loose when you buy for the long haul.

This is why this theory is POWERFUL. How many FIX AND FLIPPERS are making REAL MONEY today. I would bet not many. It is much more difficult to do what should not have been done in the first place and now you still have people out here trying and I am not saying that there is anything wrong with it. If you are making money doing it then fine, but realistically real estate was made to be a long term investment.

Just wanted to add my two cents into the game. For all of you who are buying and realize why you are buying and no matter if taxes go up or rents stay the same.

There is an old addage YOU MAKE MONEY IN REAL ESTATE WHEN YOU BUY, NOT WHEN YOU SELL.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: Bulk REO

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

Jason You are right and you are wrong. What has happened on Networking sites like this as I have spoken before. 3 yrs ago Many of you would not have given a site like this a second thought now you have BANKERS, CEO's, REALTORS, SCHOOL TEACHERS, LAWYERS and a host of others that are trying to TAP into the WHOLESALE world and DO NOT HAVE A CLUE other than reading a couple of books and taking info from sites like this.

I DEAL in the BULK REO world and I can say I have run across many FAKES or people passing around OLD TAPES or TAPES that were SOLD 10 days ago and just because they just got it they did not VERIFY where and who it came from.

Well anyone who wants to see how I operate and I have been caught up in that trap of who has real product and who doesn't. That is why I am responding to you because out of respect I could name alot of people from this site that are FAKE, but I am here just to offer a little insite every now and again.

[REMOVED]

Someone said it best in the earlier post in the thread. Everyone that I have seen when they get what the perceive to be a BIG PAYDAY they go CRAZY. They start counting the money before they even verify the information or tape and make sure that they have a ACTUAL BUYER AND SELLER. Then you put the reps on the phone and everyone begins the FARSE how many people so they begin counting money. If it is about your BUYER then if you had no money yesterday and can make 5k or 10k today wouldn't that make a GREAT PAYDAY? But as said before everyone wants the 200k-500k payday and GUESS WHAT? No one gets anything. That is what's so amazing to me that because of CREED and INEXPERIENCE you let a PAYDAY slip through your hands as oppose to making something.

Well I should be closing a smaller package about 42 AZ homes this week. I will let you know how the transaction is going. So far so good contract was signed Friday and 4 days to do due diligence. The difference is this was a actual AZ contract done by a REAL ESTATE AGENT. Not bid and wait. This was sign and move forward.

Lets be real we all need money, but how much money to we really need. If you need more money then you have a problem that real estate will never CURE. I guess I am just old school. Buy and Hold and make my monthly check and anything else that comes in is GRAVY.


SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: Looking for a good direct mail letter

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

I replied Lance and I hope you find the post card useful. Very inexpensive and we do not follow up because we have so many leads to go mail out to. What I would do if it is a home that I am VERY INTERESTED in I will take a drive by and leave them a door hanger. Putting a good marketing campaign together is worth every dime.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: New member from Clinton, MD

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

Welcom Byron

You will get much help here. You only get out what you put in. Great that you are trying to put a team together, but also include in that team some personal friends or family members or co workers and the reason I say that is they might have a little cash to help you fulfill your vision a little more quickly.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: Put it under contract THEN do you due diligence

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

See its simple. You have just heard from investors who are successful or on there way. The ones that you are dealing with are like MANY as Mike as stated. They are the tape and book readers and the ones that sound good and I concur when you go back to them now all of a sudden they are changing their tune.

I make my analysis immediately with 30-1hr and I sign right then and there if it is a deal. I bring my own 1 pg contract and then I put no contingencies. I then go back and do all my work. One contingency if you are to put one is that structual or termite damage is found then you can back out. If it is a EXCELLENT DEAL and the price is there and you can get those things repaired after you have an inspector look at it then I will still buy it.

Stop dealing with the TIRE KICKERS.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: living off rental income

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

I live off my rentals and I have several dozen. I own many out right free and clear and that makes the ability to afford to do things that know one else does. You have to start some where Ryan and many are trying to get there, but it takes time and patience.

As stated earlier buying where others are not willing allows me to live the life that others are dreaming about.

I wish you success, but as I have said to you and others before you have to jump in and start with that first one.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: Ohio Rentals Section 8

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

Michelle just goes to show that with a little time and effort we can do anything. Can you pls send me your contact info off line and lets chat. I have some homes there that I would love to discuss with you.

Send me a PM or email whichever is convenient for you.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

Post: Hi from San Francisco

Douglas ChristianPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
  • Posts 368
  • Votes 42

Susan welcome aboard enjoy the ride. I am a FIRM believer in the BUY AND HOLD. Apts are GREAT, but you have to find MOTIVATED SELLERS who will hold a 2nd mortgage for you.

My thinking since you are just getting started would be to purchase one property right and then learn from that property. How to higher contractors, how to find materials and how to estimate cost.

I always ask people this. If you got laid off from your job tomorrow what would you do. FLIPPING and WHOLESALING are OKAY, but to know that every month you have that income coming in is a UNBELIEVABLE feeling.

SUCCESS BREEDS SUCCESS

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