RE Investing Boils Down to 4 Steps

[James Marszalek]

1. Generate Leads

2. Analyze Deals

3. Make Offers

4. Rinse and Repeat

These are the only tasks that designate a Real Estate Investor. If you aren't doing these things, I'd argue you aren't an investor yet. Seems simple though, right? You might be reading this saying, "Sure, James, I understand the concept of what you just said, but it's much deeper than that". I've heard that before, and you're right. But, if you wake up every single day without a deal and without a lead, remembering these 4 steps and applying them will get you in the right place to win. 

I'd encourage everyone reading this to go out and find 1 deal a day. Want to do a fix and flip? Pick a property (or get an agent to send you one) EVERY SINGLE DAY. Pretend! Pretend you have the money in the bank right now to finance the purchase, closing costs, holding costs, and renovation. Everyone wants to get hung up on the money! Assume money is no problem. Look at the deal itself. Analyze the deal. Estimate costs, and start putting together your puzzle. If you did this for a whole month straight, you'd know exactly what to say to a money man investor once you found the deal of a lifetime because you've got analyzing the deal in your muscle memory! 

As an agent/investor, I see SO many new people paralyzed by their own fear of the unknown. I'm telling you from experience, jump into this with both feet. It's like playing Wargames. Hundreds of scenarios are played out to find the one that ends in victory, but you can't come to find that scenario until you run through all the rest! Don't be afraid of the unknown. Put the ammo and tools (education) in your arsenal so nothing scares you! With the right resources, and an open and creative mind, there isn't a deal that you couldn't do. 

Last word: I told you not to worry about the money. Because if the right deal comes along, and you don't have the money, you'll have the motivation to go out and find the money. So, while you're analyzing deals, and building up your knowledge arsenal, start building relationships. Get infused into your local community. Meet one person who knows 100 people. Meet contractors and lenders and agents and other investors and other people just like you!  

GOOD LUCK! 

[James Marszalek]

@Jacqueline Coombs. As you were explaining your situation, I pictured you all strapped up in a bungie jump harness, standing at the launch pad at the top of a bridge. You're excited, you know it's going to be fun and awesome, but you are also scared. Scared to the point that looking down makes you hesitant to jump, even though there is safety equipment in place. I've been there, and I know tons of people there. You know what that is? Fear of the unknown. You're asking yourself a lot of questions, you're letting yourself get into your head! For me, real estate investing is a numbers game. It's more analytical and mathematical that emotional. However it's really not easy to get INTO that mindset. The fastest way to get past your fear is experience. However, knowledge and networking is a close second. 

Do you have a free hour or two each day? Start reading articles and books related to what you're trying to do. Find videos and blogs. Be a sponge. Soak up every single bit of knowledge and information you possibly can about where you want to be. In addition, find people who are either on the path you want to be on, or have already traveled that path. Everyone has a different background, a different perspective, a different set of beliefs. Connecting with these people will allow you to take the lessons learned, and strategies and ideas from each person and custom tailor a plan that works best for you. I assure you, surrounding yourself with information and people that will help you move forward is a fantastic way to ditch that fear, and move forward with confidence! 

Further, building a system or model for your operation will get you a long way too. I spent 7 years in the military in a combat role. You know why we spent entire days running the same exact drills OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER AND OVER? Muscle Memory. When crap hit the fan, we didn't have to think about what to do, we just did it. Your training to be a real estate agent works the same exact way. In order to get out of your head, you've got to be able to rely on training, and that takes serious dedication and time. I believe you can do it, but you have to believe you can do it too. So, if this is something you want, stop being afraid and go out there and TRAIN! :D