All Forum Posts by: William Corcoran

brother, sounds like your on fire!  Let me know if I can help. I'm a fledging wholesaler, and my wife is an Agent. 

@Jesse Chunn

How about this Friday, between 1 and 2? If so, message, text or email me to set it up. Both are on my profile. 

@Jesse Chunn

Nice, it worked that time!  Last post is above.

@Jesse Chunn

Seems Like my "tagging" isn't working all that well. 

Like I said, I'm fairly new, but in the hunt for wholesale deals now. 

However, I love to sit down some time too.  Networking with other investors is what it's all about.  I live right off of little myself, so it would be convenient for both of us.  What days/times are you usuallt free?

@Jesse Chunn

First off, Welcome!  My suggestion would be to start listening to the Podcasts, if you haven't already.  Hundreds of hours of up-to-date, relevant, helpful information there.  And, its FREE!

Do you know how you are looking to start investing specifically?  E.g. Buy and Hold, Flips, etc. 

I'm fairly new to REI myself, but i'm happy to help anyway I can.

Look forward to hearing from you.

@Todd Dotson  Forgot to tag you, guess I need some BP training too!

Original Post is above this.

@Todd Dotson

No worries about the double message, it just makes me feel twice as important, lol.

For my absentee owner list, I actually went on the TC Clerk’s website and when through every street in a certain area (near my house in SW Arlington) and compared Property Address to the Owners address. It took HOURS, but I think the list will be just as good as the list sites. I'm going to start out with postcards to them, with a “hand written” font and my signature. I'll do a mail piece to the list every 45 days, and change the actually mailer each time. I'll work that list 3 times before I go looking for new one. The list only has about 500 people on it.

For my probates, I get the names from the newspaper then cross reference them with the TC Courts website. I’m going to establish a schedule for days that I will pull the names weekly, so I can add to it.  That list currently has about 70 people on it.  The probates will get a professional looking letter for the first mail piece, and then follow up with a postcard after 45 days (again professional, not hand fonts.)However, I will hand address the cards and envelopes.  Also, I’m going to use a stamp on them, not bulk mail. Eventually, I’m going to go down to the courts and see if there is way to get the probates BEFORE they hit the news papers, but I don’t have the time right now.  I work a Full-time job and am about to start a P/T job (Dominos) to fund my Mail Campaigns.  I’m also going to start doing odd-jobs and handyman stuff around here for quick cash.  Fences, deck, etc.

I’m hoping the hand addresses, and actual stamps will help my mailers not look like bulk mail.  I think that will make me stand-out some.  I’m all about the follow-up as well, relentlessly.  My F/T job is in the military, and I just came off of 3 year of recruiter duty. I know all about follow-up!  The other thing I have, a lot of other RE Investors don’t (I assume) is a Realtor for a wife!  So, my plan is; any leads that don’t pan out due to price, I can refer to her for listings.

That’s about the long and not so short of it; tell me what you think

Also, I’d love to buy you a cup of coffee some time when you are free.  By the way, just read over your Bio.  From some of the "lingo" you used, I'd guess you served?

@Todd Dotson

I know that link wasn't for me, but thanks anyways!  I've been using the Tarrant County Clerk Website.  However, this one is much easier to use and much cleaner.

Thank you!

Okay BP, so I've decided to jump in (actually decided a little bit back.)  And I figured I'd start a live Blog/Forum to document my epic triumph or defeat; though I'm pulling for the former.

The History: My REI journey started out while I was "road warrior", and I stumbled across this crazy dude on the AM station talking about living debt free.  You know, ole uncle Dave Ramsey.  Which led me to his Podcast (AM reception sucks in west Texas.)  I decided, I too, wanted to live with-out the debt monster in my life.  But how was I going to increase my income?  Being in the military pretty much puts you on a fixed income.

The short of it is; I found the BP Podcast. I've been listening to the BP Podcasts for the better part of a year now. I've always been drawn towards Real Estate, but didn't know about REI or the different strategies out there; enter the boys of BP, Josh and Brandon! Although, I really want to be a Buy and Hold investor I still believe in living debt free. So I've come to the conclusion wholesaling is the best option for me, right now.

Where I'm at now: I've compiled an absentee owners list from my county web-site, and I'm hoping the data is a little more up-to-date than the list services.  I've also started a probate list that I pulled from the local paper, and cross referenced with the county web-site.  I'm going to print and post myself for now, mostly due to lack of funding.  Being as I'm still working my "debt snowball", I don't want to take any money from my house hold budget.  So what to do?  Deliver pizzas for Dominos!  No, seriously, I'm going to work nights and weekends delivering pizzas to get my start-up capital.  I know some of you out there are thinking to yourself  "I'm to good for that".  And, maybe you are.  But I've always lived by the premise, you do what you have to do!  Especially if its a means to an end.

I completely understand direct mail, really its too easy.  I also understand relentless follow-up.  I'm can estimate repair cost, because I've worked in the trades before and I was able to obtain a good cost analysis list from a local wholesaler.  What I don't know is contract, contract assignments, buyers, investor friendly title companies, etc.  So I reached out to the previously mentioned local wholesaler, and worked out a deal.  Basically; I find the leads and flip them to him, he puts it under contract and assigns the contract to his buyer, when the property closes we split the wholesale fee 50/50.  All of this comes with the understanding, I will be brought in and tough the process with the intent of venturing out on my own.  So, essentially I'm and accidental bird dog.  Which, by the way, is fine with me.

My marketing strategies are as follows:

1. Direct mail (Absentee and Probate).

2. Craigslist Ads

3. Bandit Signs

So BP, that's where I'm at.  Starting out Bird Dogging for a wholesaler here in the DFW (Dallas - Ft. Worth.)  Wish me luck, and feel free to connect with me here on BP.

@Todd Dotson

I'm a newbie from Arlington, and I'm currently working on my first Wholesale Mailer Campaign.  I'm doing my best to dive in and understand the business.  All said, I'm confident I'll be successful.

However, any; tips, tricks, advice from a seasoned Pro are always welcome!