All Forum Posts by: Joel Bongco

Aloha Cameron, you can use skip tracing tools like truepeoplesearch or beenverified by searching the address to find the homeowner. 

Aloha @Joshua Alcantara -  another option would be going after pre-probate leads using PropStream or PropertyRadar.  The criteria for these leads is when an affidavit of death is issued due to the death of a title owner.  The pre-probate process allows you to identify a property before the probate process has begun. This enables you to speak with a family member who may be motivated to sell but hasn't yet made a final decision. 

I recommend you use PropStream and PropertyRadar as lead sources.  Both have a free trial for you to kick the tires. Although most people like the safety of cold calling, email and text messages, nothing beats good old fashion door knocking.  Please DM me if you have any questions.  Mahalo! 

Aloha Christian,  I mostly do pre-foreclosures in Hawaii and Southern California.  For the low/no equity leads, they could be candidates for a Short Sale.  For the high equity ones, you can possibly do a Equity Split, Subject To, Carry Back/Seller Financing,  etc.  HTHS!  Joel  

Aloha Chris, are you using PropStream and PropertyRadar? If not, I recommend using these tools and looking for NODS, NOTS', Vacants, Code Violations, Liens, and Probate. PPL and PPC gets expensive quickly and you won't necessarily get the ROI. HTHS!

Aloha Juan,

There are a bunch of REI meetups in Los Angeles that you should attend to get plugged in. You can find them in the Meetup section on BiggerPockets: https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-real-estate-events-...

Aloha @Joseph McElmeel -  my wife and I joined NWAC in 2013.  We joined the club because of a long time friend who I knew was in club. Even with that friend connection I was still skeptical.... As usual,  I did my own due diligence and saw the mixed reviews and was a little nervous to join.   My wife twisted my arm since she was a Realtor and wanted to expand her portfolio -  so we joined in 2013.  Fast forward to today,  we've helped many homeowners avoid foreclosure (free service) and also bought/hold/sold many off market properties. Given my tech background, I am the creator of our Proprietary CRM and our Team Lead Generation Analysts.   Please feel free to fact check me with the properties in my profile. My wife and I will be at BPCON2025 in Las Vegas -  please DM me and we can meet up.  Mahalo!

Aloha @Rocco Nicoletta - I just DM'ed you! I've been doing Real Estate Investing in Hawaii for over a decade. Got lots of experience Rehabbing Homes including my love/hate relationship with the Department of Planning and Permitting. I've got team of Handymen, Contractors, all the trades (btw, its hit or miss in Hawaii with contractors - there are some really good ones and ones you should stay away from, I can also recommend the usual suppliers like (Golden Cabinets, Ferguson, HPM, Honsador, Lowes/Home Depot, etc.). Also got experience with SCRA, Floodways, Slide Areas, Non Conforming Properties, Historic Homes, SMA, Drug Houses, Arson, ADU's, Squatters, lots of Pandora's Boxes in Hawaii - For newbies, its good to get some adult supervision on your first few flips/renovations. Hawaii is a big military town - you can possibly do some assumable VA loans. HTHS!

Aloha @Tony Lopez -  Its tricky in California, please DM me and I can point you to a few resources that specialize in California Evictions.  Mahalo!  Joel

Quote from @Bud Meacham:

The market is very competative in California. How are you finding FLIPS in your state?

I agree that the market is very competitive in California - especially if you are searching via the MLS or making offers to distressed or vacant property homeowners.  You'll be in a sea of sameness with veteran and newbie investors driving/dialing/door knocking for dollars and making offers.  An approach that we use is to provide value to the homeowner - especially to distressed homeowners.   You can be a resource to the source (e.g. California Mortgage Relief Program).  There will be many situations where you can help a homeowner save their home -  however, in other situations they just want to sell quickly which provides a wholesale, fix/flip, buy/hold opportunity for you.  The art and science of it all is that you don't lead with "I want to make an offer on your house", instead, you ask the homeowner "how can I help you?" and you don't cherry pick those that want to sell only -- you help them all.   If you are honest and transparent with homeowners, you'll find a consistent pipeline of deals.  Use Propstream or PropertyRadar to find distressed homeowners in any state.