Jan Month-End and a Busy Start

Jan Month-End and a Busy Start
Sorry, I have not been blogging very much at all.  January has been extremely busy! 2010 was a great year for us. Here is what happened in January: We sold 1 property. We bought 6 properties. We rented 5 houses (4 were new purchases, 1 was from a move-out after the lease ended). We...
Read More

All the Investing “Mistakes” I Made…

All the Investing “Mistakes” I Made…
Real Estate Investors can rattle off all the advice for investors to get started: build a support team, get training, have ample cash reserves and then look for properties. I took the other path: I didn’t have much of support team On our first deal we worked with a contractor...
Read More

Rental Phone Calls – Toktumi – The Service I picked

Rental Phone Calls – Toktumi – The Service I picked
As we started renting properties I had to search for solutions for phone calls.  I had a two major requirements: I wanted a local number versus a 1-800 number… I am sure a 1-800 number would work, but I think people are less likely to call it. I didn’t want to give out...
Read More

How I Raised a Quarter of a Million Dollars?

How I Raised a Quarter of a Million Dollars?
I haven’t talked about financing too much lately, but I thought I would share some details on how I was able to raise some money recently. It all started on a real estate site I visit regularly BiggerPockets, which is my favorite and the best real estate forum on the internet. ...
Read More

Strategy as the Market Changes

Strategy as the Market Changes
The market is definitely changing.  Since May prices had been steadily rising and buyers (both investors and homeowners) where very aggressive in trying to purchase properties. Fast-forward half a year and things have changes.  Homeowners seem to be not interested in buying anything...
Read More

Scary Times to Buy Foreclosures

Scary Times to Buy Foreclosures
I just saw this articled posted on Housing Watch – Evicted Family Breaks Into Foreclosed Home.  A trust deed sale buyer bought it at the court house steps, went through a lengthy eviction with this family, spent $40,000 upgrading the house and now the family moves back in a...
Read More

New Construction? I don’t get it…

New Construction? I don’t get it…
So House #33 is a rental house in a B- (well, maybe I am biased… probably a C+ neighborhood), we bought it in February.  Via the MLS, I saw a lot for sale in the area, it’s a triangle shaped corner lot in between brand new houses and some real bad ones. The lot was listed...
Read More

How not to submit offers – Liberty Acquisitions – Jon Long

How not to submit offers – Liberty Acquisitions – Jon Long
Hey Jon Long, of Liberty Acquisitions stop sending me automated offers. I have gotten an offer every 24 hrs on all of my houses in a certain city.  Clearly they are automated and come in at the same time.  The offer is about 40% of the list price. I am writing you today in response...
Read More

So You Flip Houses…

So You Flip Houses…
I try not to tell people what I do for a living.  Not because I don’t want to help people, but they always ask the same questions. My (name of a relative) is a real estate agent and I’m trying to buy a property to flip. I say, “That’s great, where are you...
Read More

House #45 Listed

House #45 Listed
We’re moving along here slowly but surely.  House #45 is completed and just got listed. We enclosed the carport to a full garage and it is now officially 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. Unfortunately, I don’t have great pictures of this one. Outside – Before Garage...
Read More

« Previous Entries Next Entries »