A Big Shout Out to All Military Veterans...Share Your Success Stories

[Cecil Jones]

Hi Everyone (Semper fi), 

I'm a real estate investor in Orlando, FL who proudly served in the United States Marine Corp.  I've been investing in real estate full time since 2002.  I first got the real estate bug as a child in the 80's, watching Donald Trump on TV.  Then I got more excited about watching the old Carlton Sheets infomercials.  I actually bought the course and tried of few of his techniques.  I didn't have any luck, and I quickly got discouraged and went on the something else.  

While in the USMC, I knew that I wanted to succeed as an investor.  I just wasn't a 9 to 5 guy.  I truly believed that I could take the skills that I learned in boot camp and apply them to real estate investing.

Then one day, I was exposed to real estate options.  I thought that this was the best thing since sliced bread.  A friend at my old job (cablevision) knew I was trying to invest and she came to me and told me she was 2 months behind on her mortgage and she didn't have money to buy Christmas gifts for her two daughters.  And she wanted to move to Maryland.

Sensing Opportunity, 

I went and re-read my favorite book on real estate options.  I paid her back rent and gave her the money ($2,400) and she gave me an option on her half duplex.  If I remember correctly, the property was worth around 75,000 when I put the option on it.  

Within 6 months.....

She was ready to move.  She had split with her boyfriend and wanted to start fresh.

At this time (around 2004-05), the market was appreciating like crazy.  After recording the option in the land records, I went out and found a retail buyer (who wanted to invest, buy and hold) and they paid $133,000 for the property.

Do you want to talk about excited????

Long story short, I made $34.000 on the deal and she made around 31,000.  She was pissed that I made more than her. 

But at the end of the day......

The person who knows more should make more. 

I'd love to work with "vets" and invest around the country.  Having a national organization "our own band of Brothers" would be great.

I'd love to hear other success stories from other Proud Veterans who have put some killer deals together.  

And if you haven't done anything yet....

I'd still love to hear about your struggles and near successes.  Let's help each other.

Example:  If you have a deal in Charlotte that you don't know what to do with, we can combine resources.  I'm sure we can put a team together with over 1,000 years of experience.  

Steel Sharpens Steel....

Let's stop trying to succeed alone.  You are getting your education here, why not start doing deals and sharing secrets with each other so we all win together.

My specialty if finding deals, negotiating, and getting the hard ones to the closing table.  And yes.....

I love and utilize the power of Owner financing.

Let's NOT let the BP education go to waste.  Our group can easily take down 100 deals by the end of the year.  And I'm willing to document it.