All Forum Posts by: Robert Blanchard

@Marshall Holmes Do you find that enlisted personal that are E4 or above treat your properties better?  I would be worried that someone that has never been in a house before and knows that they will be reassigned in 2 years or less, will not take care of the property.  I know that you can contact their superiors if they do more damage than what the damage deposit is, but I do not know long that would take. 

I was a "dorm rat" single guy in the Air Force and heard how bad base housing was where I was at in Germany.  Even the dorms were below par, as they were built by the Canadians at the end of WW2.  The opposite was true in Montana.  Very nice Dorms and Base housing but there was a waiting list for housing as a new Wing was brought to the base.   That base is closed now,  Malmstrom AFB Great Falls MT, so I do not know if they ended up building more base housing as I opted for the early out program that was offered. 

Welcome to Bigger Pockets.

It has been over 20 years since I have been to San Antonio.  How many times have they redone the River Walk area?   

I hear Texas as some great investor opportunities.  

Rob

The podcast on this website have much more targeted information.  New ones come out every Thursday.  I need to listen to more of them myself.

Create an outline or flowchart of what you want to know about REI.

Then search on this site in the forums and podcast's for the info. 

After that, set some goals.  Most people do better when they see their goals listed on paper.  Others like to put them in their profile on BP and then they can post later when they met their goals.

Attend meetings of Real Estate Investment Associations or Clubs.

Here is one that is near you. Central Florida Realty Investors Association, Inc.

CFRI , and their website is here : www.cfri.net

 This group looks very active and they put out a monthly newsletter.  Their annual membership fee is $150.  Their website has a link to print out a free guest pass.  Well worth it as just the networking time of the meeting can be a very good way to get contacts in the various facets of RE Investing.  

Attend more than one as they usually will let you be a visitor or guest to a meeting for free and it will give you an opportunity to see how different groups hold meetings and events. 

Have you looked for meetups of other BP members in your area?   They are strictly a no pitch type of meetings but a great way to meet some RE investors in a relaxed environment.  

I have read many reviews from unhappy people that attended RDPD Seminars and then were told to try to get their Credit Card limits raised so they could then spend $10K or more on the up sells.  

Whenever I go to a free seminar I leave my checkbook at home. I tell them that I will not be purchasing anything that day.  If they try and tell me that they are doing a limited special pricing only good for that day, I walk out without hesitation.  If their product or training is as good as they state,  they should not have to do a "buy today" special.  

Have a great day,

Rob

@Account Closed 

Thanks for posting your success story. Do you mainly look for REO's or will you also go looking for unwanted/ neglected properties?

As some investors say "The worse the smell is, the more profit can be made".  

Did you read about the "Cat Litter House" in this section?  They said in that thread that they could smell the house 2 or three houses away.  Now that is a bad smelling House.

Here is the link.  Probably the worse before pictures I have seen in a very long time. 

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/223/topics/133...

Thank you for posting your success story.   

@Ryan Dossey What got you to register on BP?  Is anyone else in your circle of friends or relatives active in Real Estate?

Thanks for the info. 

Thanks for posting your creative financing story.  I must work on doing some subject to or owner will carry deals.  

My Father has done several lease option deals over the years and all but one took the option.

Rob

Welcome to BP!

How long have you been in the Denver area?

I am a native to Colorado, and grew up in the Littleton area.   We have lots of people moving to Colorado, and even though our median cost of a house is high, plenty of people seem to buying houses.  

Rob

Thanks for this informative post.  I have read of many people spending up to $20K on training and yet have not done their first deal.  Luckily, I have only spent around $200 in dues and training.  The RE Market has started to recover in my area and I should be able to find some kind of deal to do.

What type of RE investing are you looking to do?

Rob

Grant, Welcome to Bigger Pockets. I am interested in investing in Duplexes. How did you find yours, and was it listed on the MLS?

Rob

I have considered using bird dogs to find properties but until I get a few things lined up I will not be able to act on any deals one of them might bring me.  I have considered being a bird dog as I have a delivery job and sometimes find an empty property or a ran down rental one that an investor might like to make an offer on.