All Forum Posts by: Jeremy Beland

@Muhammad Shahid thanks so much! 

@Jacob Morgenstern thanks for your comment!  💪💯

I’ve seen it over and over—people jump into real estate thinking success comes down to strategy, numbers, or knowing the right people. And sure, those things help. But the real difference between those who make it and those who don’t? Mindset.

Why Mindset Matters More Than Anything Else: Real estate is simple, but it’s not easy. Deals fall apart. Sellers change their minds. Unexpected costs hit you out of nowhere. And when that happens, most people quit. The ones who succeed? They’ve built a mindset that keeps them in the game.

No amount of knowledge, coaching, or capital will matter if your mindset is weak. Success isn’t just about what you know—it’s about what you do when things aren’t going your way. The ones who push through? They win. Simple as that.

The Power of Consistency: Every January, people set big goals—lose weight, quit smoking, start a business. By February? Most have given up. Why? Because motivation wears off. Discipline and consistency are what separate those who actually follow through.

Mindset is like a muscle. The more you work on it, the stronger it gets. You don’t build resilience by reading about it. You build it by getting knocked down and standing back up—again and again.

Daily Habits to Strengthen Your Mindset

Winning in real estate—or anything in life—comes down to daily habits. Here are a few that have made a massive difference for me:

1. Cut out the Negativity: You can’t afford to let negativity take up space in your head. That means:

> Stop watching the news—it’s designed to keep you scared.

> Avoid pointless arguments online.

> Distance yourself from people who drain your energy.

You can’t control everything, but you can control what you feed your mind.

2. Start your Day with a Purpose: How you start your morning sets the tone for your entire day. Instead of rolling over and grabbing your phone, try this:

> Read something that sharpens your mind.

> Take a walk and clear your head.

> Journal or meditate to set your focus for the day.

3. Surround Yourself with the Right People: “You are the average of the five people you spend the most time with.” If you’re surrounded by people who make excuses and play small, guess what? You’ll do the same. Find people who challenge you to level up.

4. Never Stop Learning: The people who win in this business are always learning. Read books, listen to podcasts, invest in mentorship. The more you grow, the more confident you become—and confidence leads to action.

5. Stop Fearing Failure: Most people are so scared of failing that they never take action. But failure is part of the game. Every mistake is a lesson that gets you closer to success.

I always think about that Rocky quote: “It ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward.” That’s the mindset you need.

@Jessica Ashton I am happy to help walk you through it. Please send me a message, whereas that would be easier to communicate about it all. 

If there’s one thing I’ve learned after years in real estate, it’s that success isn’t about luck. It’s about habits. The small things you do every day shape the kind of investor you become.

I’ve had my fair share of wins and losses, and through it all, these three habits have made the biggest difference.

1. Keep Learning—Always

When I first got into real estate, I thought I knew enough. I was wrong. The market shifts, strategies evolve, and if you’re not learning, you’re falling behind.

So I made it a habit:

• Reading at least one real estate or business book a month.
• Listening to podcasts while driving instead of music.
• Watching YouTube breakdowns of market trends.
• Getting advice from investors who’ve been in the game longer than me.

The more I learned, the more confident I became. Real estate is a skill, and skills can be sharpened.

2. Surround Yourself with the Right People
This one took me a while to figure out. You can work hard, but if you’re in the wrong circles, you’ll stay stuck.
I started showing up at networking events, joining investor meetups, and connecting with people who were doing bigger deals than me. Conversations changed. Opportunities opened up.

They say you’re the average of the five people you spend the most time with. In real estate, that’s 100% true.

3. Learn from the Losses, Celebrate the Wins

I used to beat myself up over bad deals. Losing money, making mistakes, missing opportunities—it all felt like failure.
Then I realized something: Every loss was a lesson. Every mistake helped me get better.

Now, I look at it differently:

• Bad deal? What did I miss, and how do I avoid it next time?
• Slow month? What needs to change in my strategy?
• Big win? I take a minute to celebrate it—because wins, big or small, mean progress.

Real estate isn’t about being perfect. It’s about learning, adjusting, and keeping momentum.

These three habits changed the game for me. And the best part? Anyone can develop them.

So ask yourself—what’s one habit you can start today that will make you a better investor tomorrow?

@Shawn Ackerman

Hey Shawn, I really appreciate your comment—thank you! 🙌 It’s awesome to hear that you’ve built your rental portfolio using the same direct-to-seller strategy. That cycle of sourcing, assigning, and reinvesting has been a game changer for me too, and I completely agree—it’s the real estate cheat code most people overlook.

Being able to create revenue while also creating opportunities for long-term wealth is the best part of this business, and it’s exactly how I plan to keep growing my portfolio. Sounds like you’re executing at a high level—keep crushing it!

If you've ever been frustrated by the bidding wars and overpaying for properties listed on the MLS, you're not alone. I've been there. But let me tell you, there's a better way. Off-market properties have been the secret to my success in real estate investing. I've done over 450 off-market deals since 2017, and I'm here to show you why these types of deals are the key to your success too.

In this post, I’ll explain what off-market properties are, why they’re more profitable, and how you can start finding these deals to grow your real estate portfolio. Whether you're just starting out or have some experience, you’ll learn strategies that can help you find off-market properties and avoid some of the common pitfalls that hold many investors back.

Real estate is a proven way to build long-term wealth. Unlike other investments, it provides passive income, tax advantages, and the potential for appreciation. But the real secret to making money in real estate is finding the right properties at the right price—and that's where off-market deals come in.

Off-market properties typically cost less than those listed on the MLS because sellers are often motivated by reasons other than price, like financial distress or personal circumstances. This gives you the opportunity to negotiate better deals with less competition.

The BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) is a powerful strategy that lets you use the same money for multiple investments. Off-market deals are perfect for this because you can buy distressed properties at a discount, rehab them, rent them out, and refinance to pull your money back out for your next project.

With seller financing, the seller acts as the lender, letting you avoid traditional bank financing. This is especially useful for off-market deals, where the seller may be more open to creative solutions if they need to sell quickly but don’t want the hassle of a bank process.

House hacking is where you buy a property with multiple units, live in one, and rent out the others to cover your mortgage or generate additional income. Off-market deals are ideal for this strategy because you can secure properties below market value and maximize your rental income potential.

Even experienced investors can make costly mistakes if they aren’t careful. Here are a few common pitfalls to avoid:

1. Overpaying for a Property – It’s easy to get carried away in a bidding war or buy a property without doing the proper math. Off-market deals help you avoid this by giving you the opportunity to negotiate directly with the seller and secure a better price.
2. Underestimating Repair Costs – Make sure you account for all repairs and renovations when purchasing a property. Off-market deals often require more work, but they offer greater potential profit if you know how to properly assess repair costs.
3. Ignoring the Numbers – Always crunch the numbers before moving forward with a deal. If you're not calculating cash flow, cap rates, and ROI, you're flying blind. Off-market deals offer better margins, but you still need to ensure the numbers work in your favor.

You might be wondering, "How do I find these off-market deals?" The good news is that it’s easier than you think, but it takes effort. Here's how I’ve successfully found off-market properties:

• Direct Mail: You can pull lists of absentee owners, tax delinquencies, probate properties, and more, and send them direct mail offering a cash sale.
• Driving for Dollars: This means driving through neighborhoods looking for distressed properties and either leaving a note on the door or contacting the owner.
• Cold Calling: Use public records or services like Prop Stream to pull lists, then contact owners directly by phone to see if they’re interested in selling.
• Networking with Agents: Many real estate agents work with investors and have access to off-market deals (pocket listings). Build relationships with agents who specialize in investment properties.

Off-market properties are the game changer for real estate investing. With less competition, better prices, and more flexibility, they give you the edge over traditional MLS deals. Whether you're using the BRRRR method, seller financing, or house hacking, off-market deals allow you to maximize profits and build long-term wealth.

Sometimes, the best deals come from places you’d never expect. As wholesalers, we’re trained to look for distress—motivated sellers in tough situations, properties needing major repairs, or financial struggles forcing a quick sale. But that’s not always the case.

A while back, we came across a move-in ready condo in Atkinson, NH. No distress, no repairs needed—just a seller with a problem that couldn’t be solved through the traditional listing process. He was an older gentleman relocating for work, and his biggest concern wasn’t price—it was speed. He needed to close in three weeks and didn’t want to deal with showings, contingencies, or the back-and-forth of working with a realtor.

At first, we even suggested he list with an agent since he’d likely make more money. But he wasn’t interested. He wanted certainty and simplicity, and that’s where we came in. We negotiated a price that worked for both parties, closed within three weeks, and took the property down ourselves.

This deal was so clean, we didn’t even need to hire professional cleaners. All it took was removing a couch and a TV and giving the exterior a quick pressure wash. By Friday—just three days after closing—it was listed on the market with professional photos.

Over the weekend, offers started rolling in. By Sunday, we had an offer above asking price, and the deal closed about five weeks later (delayed slightly by the buyer’s timeline). When everything was said and done, we walked away with $50K in profit.

The Key Takeaway for Wholesalers

Most wholesalers would have completely ignored this deal because it wasn’t assignable at a high spread. Most flippers wouldn’t have looked twice because there was nothing to fix. But by thinking beyond the traditional wholesaler mindset and focusing on off-market acquisitions, this deal turned into an easy win.

Not all motivated sellers are dealing with distress. Sometimes, they just need speed and convenience. When you position yourself as the solution—not just someone looking for deep discounts—you’ll find opportunities others miss.

What’s the most surprising profit you’ve made on a move-in ready property others overlooked? 

Would love to hear your stories!

Hi @Bernice Dezelan,

I’m sorry to hear about your first deal falling through. Many of them will fall through. Happens to all of us.  How are you sourcing your leads? Let me know if I can be of any help as you start this journey. Always happy to help in any way I can. 

Social media makes it look easy.

• “Just get into real estate and start making six figures!”
• “Wholesaling is passive income!”
• “Close deals while sipping margaritas on the beach!”

REALITY CHECK: THIS BUSINESS IS HARD.
Wholesaling and buying houses off-market is a sales game—and sales is brutal. Some days you’re on top, locking up contracts left and right. Other days, sellers ghost you, deals fall apart, and you wonder if you’re even cut out for this.

BUT THE ONES WHO WIN IN THIS BUSINESS DON’T QUIT.
They adapt, improve, and keep pushing forward. 

Here’s why some people struggle and how to fix it:

1️⃣ YOU’RE SETTING UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS

You’re not going to close every deal. Period.
If you think every seller is motivated, every number will work, and buyers will throw cash at you, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.

👉 Adjust your expectations—this business is about consistent effort, not overnight success.

2️⃣ INACTION IS COSTING YOU DEALS

Ever stare at a lead and overanalyze every detail?

• “What if the repairs are too much?”
• “What if I can’t find a buyer?”
• “What if the seller backs out?”

Guess what? Overthinking doesn’t make you money. Taking action does.

💡 The best wholesalers lock up deals and figure it out later. #LockItUp

3️⃣ YOU’RE NOT ACTUALLY RESPONDING—YOU’RE JUST REPLYING

Most salespeople throw out responses instead of truly understanding sellers. Stop following a script blindly.

Instead, LISTEN. DIG DEEPER. Sellers have emotions, fears, and motivations—figure out what they need and structure your offer accordingly.

4️⃣ YOU’RE FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THINGS

If you’re only thinking about your check, sellers will feel it—and they’ll shut down.

Instead of worrying about your assignment fee, focus on solving the seller’s problem.
✅ Are they facing foreclosure?
✅ Do they need a quick closing?
✅ Are they overwhelmed with repairs?

Solve their problem, and you’ll get paid.

5️⃣ YOUR APPROACH IS STALE

Are you just going through the motions?

Sellers can tell when you’re disengaged, robotic, or uninspired.

👉 Shake things up. Try a new approach. Inject energy into your calls and appointments.

6️⃣ YOU’RE AFRAID TO FAIL

The truth? You’re going to fail. A lot. Deals will fall apart. Sellers will reject you. Buyers will flake.

💡 The best in this business fail smarter. They learn, adjust, and keep moving.

SO, WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE QUITTING, ASK YOURSELF:

🔹 Are my expectations realistic?
🔹 Am I taking enough action?
🔹 Am I really listening to sellers?
🔹 Am I focused on solving problems or just making money?

The winners in this business don’t wait for perfect conditions—they create them.