Hi from Miami, Florida

[Daryl Venables]

Hi Everyone, my name is Daryl and I have been interested in real estate pretty much my whole life but quite honestly have been too afraid to do anything about it. Knowledge is power and about 2 years ago I decided I was not getting any younger and to be afraid of something you know nothing about was quite honestly just stupid and an easy fix. I have been doing plenty of reading (definitely a popular trend I see in here amongst the newbies), perfecting my credit score, working on a plan to approach this, setting my short term goals as well as long term goals. Now I have it stuck in my head I don’t have enough saved up for my first purchase which I know is a really lame excuse and I am pretty sure is just another avoidance tactic to get my feet wet. My next biggest concern is that I work full time in a job I absolutely detest (another common trend I see in here, hehe) which takes up much of my time and more.
I am definitely not stupid (yet I feel stupid believe me for not just doing this already). I used to own my own company (Orchid and Hibiscus Nurseries) back home (South Africa) but found the market here in the USA not as fruitful and more streamlined to the pot plant industry as opposed to the connoisseur collector, definitely not enough to warrant further consideration. I looked at investing elsewhere, and I think I have looked at every option I can think of, and it still comes back to Real Estate being the logical approach, even if risky, it is at least something tangible you have some control over.
I work with someone who is a member on this site (another newbie) and I guess I have been talking to him about this for so long it rubbed off on him too and then he finally decided he was going to at least make me shut up or take action. We went out to lunch one day together, and he had been listening to one of your podcasts which started playing automatically upon entering the car, it caught my attention immediately, no hype, no fluff, just facts, what a nice change from all the garbage I have listened to that’s out there. I just finished listening to episode 13 on my drive to work and can’t wait to continue. My friend borrowed (kidnapped might be a better representation honestly) my credit card a few weeks ago stating he was buying me something I needed and was so adamant, I let him use it. I was very pleasantly surprised when your 2 books arrived at my office, I am only on chapter 3 but WOW! I’m considering going on a ‘stay-cation’ just so I can knock them both out. I love what I am hearing and reading so far.
Last year I decided I was going to get my Real Estate license, and this time follow up and actually take the state exam. I had done it twice before and passed the pre-license requirements, but never followed up on state exam letting the time period lapse each time without even an attempt. I always used the excuse I was too busy with work and that I did not have the time to study because the state exam was ‘so much harder than the pre-license exam.’ Again, shame on me for making excuses and not taking any action). Last year I took the course again and made an appointment for the state exam the same day I got the approval letter. 3 days later I took the exam with no additional studying and I walked out the only person to pass in the entire room. I should have felt great but in reality I was so mad at myself for not just doing it sooner, the entire exam was common sense. Paying the Realtor Association fees made me choke but it was worth it (being positive here! Hehe).
Okay, this was supposed to be 5 lines, so I am going to stop now. Next Stop, local REIA meetings. Possibly finding a mentor, but most importantly, no more dry feet due to analysis paralysis!