All Forum Posts by: Julie Marquez

@Bobbie Lehnhof That's awesome, they are going to learn so much from the experiences with you. That's true, the world is out there. You're in Arizona (with many options), what are you guys doing for school now?

@Bruce Woodruff Arizona is a great state for alternative education! I love the tech schools, we have an amazing technical high school program for construction where students can spend a half day in an advanced wood shop (and more) class.

We've all been thinking about the value of college education as tuition rises, wondering if the time spent and outcome is worth it. There are trades schools, a plethora of online courses, and as most investors know, the school of hard knocks, internships and jobs, and hands on experience. Depending on your chosen career path, there are dozens of new opportunities to learn these days.

What about K-12 education alternatives? Why can't a 14 year old get their feet wet in real estate and work in the field? Do you think back on your high school career and wonder if all that history homework and tests were really worth it and valuable to your success today? I'm not arguing against the core skills or reading, writing, and math, but the extra 1000 hours a year sitting in a classroom listening to a teacher lecture, and even more hours at home doing homework during childhood. Just to take a test and forget the next day.

I contribute most of my success as a real estate investor to my dad and family, and the experience spent outside of the classroom. Realizing this, I have been looking for alternative schools for my 4 and 6 year old children. This brought us to Acton Academy, a real world solution to the apathy that plagues todays traditional education. The priority of the learners is to build a healthy civilization, set their own goals, and find their passions. The focus is Socratic discussions, respectful disagreements, personal responsibility, servant leadership, and character building. They call it learner driven, and it's amazing how capable children are when we give them the trust they deserve. Seth Godin, Gary V, and our family are all huge fans.

1. Those with children that are looking for alternatives to tradition K-12 education, what are you doing? I know there is homeschooling, charter schools, microschools, and other opportunities depending on the state.

2. Those who are successful real estate investors, when you look back on your primary education, what do you contribute to you success and what would you change? What would an ideal primary education look like?

@Sean Beck We were just traveling through Prescott/Sedona last week, and have gone to AZREIA meetups while in Phoenix. I think they have events in your area too! AZREIA.org

@Eliott Elias @Chris Seveney @Steve Vaughan @Kerry Baird @Joe S.

Thanks for the feedback, it sounds like a range between 6-10% but could be anything, as with the contract that could include almost anything for terms. Obviously it is all dependent on the size of loan and goals

Two years ago we purchased a single family home with about 18% down with a 5.5% rate. When banks were offering 3-3.5%. It worked for us and I considered the added 2% to be the benefit of getting owner financing. Today, is +2% of bank rates what owner financing deals are also going for? I don't have much frame of reference, but what are today's general owner financing rates?

@Drew Sygit I didn't really think of the whole property management options. In the past when I've tried out one, the system was glitchy and couldn't capture my entire systems but it might be worth looking into again.

@Courtney Murphy Does your municipality require hot water installations to be permitted? If so, you could have the handyman do it and get it inspected. Would the handyman not be held accountable?

@Rick Baggenstoss I could see where a master LLC could be helpful. I'm always forgetting the right LLC bank card when I need to do a purchase. Good tip on streamlining purchases, HD and Amazon is about all we use anyway. Do you spend much time on your bookkeeping now or do you feel like it's pretty automated?

@Allan C. Good too know, thanks!

@Suzanne Player Good information and hope that the rates won't be higher forever. Yes, I need to understand the peace of mind and that it's the cost of doing business (I can hear my wise dad telling me these same pieces of advice). And so right about putting my money to work instead of being my "insurance." What I don't understand is why people get expensive engagement rings to start with! 

@Todd Rasmussen knowledge and education is what I need right now with insurance. I had my moment of frustration, now on to responsibility. So thanks @Jeff Copeland!! I was just hoping there was a new medium that exists that can replace insurance and easily give us peace of mind at a low cost. :)