**** Follow me - Going Live ****

[William Corcoran]

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.

[Cindy Carriger]

i dont market specifically to probate leads, but i have heard this from some:  just send a generic we buy houses postcard (or letter if you prefer)...but keeping it generic like you aren't even aware that anything might be amiss is one way to do it.  just a thought...yes, you alluded to it, sometimes the probate process takes a while, so you may get some delayed responses...and if you mail out ever so often, say 6 weeks might be good (not too short, or too late), you might hit them when they are starting to seriously think about ACTUALLY SELLING the house.  That's my thoughts, for whatever that might be worth.