Leasing Agent From Gainesville, FL

[Greg Odom]

Hi guys.  So I'm currently a Leasing Agent for a property management company here in Gainesville, FL.  Over the years I have tried all kinds of things to try and get out of the 9-5 J-O-B rat race.  I have tried Internet Marketing, Pampered Chef, and even AVON...yes AVON...LOL.

I have looked at real estate investing before but I always thought that you had to have money and good credit to get started.  Then I found this book at my library about wholesaling real estate that didn't require much if any money and it could happen in a matter of weeks.  So I started researching more which lead me here to BP.

There is so much info here it seems a little overwhelming when you first get started here.  I know that I want to learn more about wholesaling and flipping.  I don't think I want to do rental properties because that's what i'm doing now in my current job and I would like to kind of steer away from having to deal with tenants.

I really want to be able to get out of debt.  And since my wife and I separated last January I don't get to see my kids as often as I wish I could.  They live in Nashville, TN which is about a 10 hour drive.  I would love to just be able to fly more often cause its just faster.

As far as my real estate investing goals I would really like to find my first deal within the next few months.  But I'm not really sure how to find deals yet.  Or how to pair them up with cash buyers.

Well I think this post is long enough...LOL.  Thank you guys and I look forward to meeting you.

-Greg Odom

P.S.  If you live near the Gainesville, FL or surrounding areas I would love to meet up sometime!

[Matthew Nixon]

@Greg Odom 

Thanks for the introduction! I commend you on wanting to take control of your financial future and taking steps in the right direction. 

When reading through your post it appears you are new to the real estate game, and I wanted to share with you some of my thoughts/concerns about what you wrote. 

"Then I found this book at my library about wholesaling real estate that didn't require much if any money and it could happen in a matter of weeks."

This is a common misconception among newbies. Without knowing much about your financial standing other than the fact you said you wanted to get out of debt, I would absolutely recommend you not quit your day job to become a wholesaler (not sure if that's what you were planning on doing... Just saying). Possibly you could do it part time but only after you build a good foundation of knowledge. If you don't properly set your self up for success, there is a high probability a venture in wholesaling could be a huge waste of time and money and ultimately frustrate you to the point where you want to give up and are left wondering what went wrong.

Marketing to distressed sellers absolutely costs money. Some methods are cheaper than others. Direct mail is probably the most effective but is not cheap. I hear some people on this site spend $2-5k/month on direct mail campaigns. And there is a chance you need to do 2-3 mailings to generate a money making opportunity. You can learn more about direct mail here.

My point is if you don't have the foundation (money included), wholesaling is a tough way for a newbie to get started. If your heart is set on wholesaling and you don't have the capital to get started, consider driving for dollars as a lower cost way to start the learning process.

Pour through the forums and podcasts and become as knowledgable about the subject before making the leap. I've linked to some of my favorite episodes

Show 12, Show 18, Show 21, Show 31, Show 37, Show 42, Show 58, Show 67, Show 71, Show 77, Show 81

Also, If you haven't already check out the forum post the truth about wholesaling.

I hope this helps and I wish you the best of luck in your ventures. I encourage to stay active, learn, and ask questions.