Is this RE course legit or not?

Question

Hi everyone. I recently got a postcard from an individual who says he wants to buy my house. Says that he's been doing this for 10 years and it is his main source of income. Well, my home is not for sale in the way he wanted to structure the deal, so I passed. I did however relay to him that I am more interested in learning about investing, similar to what he is doing. This guy told me that he would consider it and so couple weeks later suggested that they could use a good wholesaler. I do not know how to wholesale. He advised, because his time is limited, that I take a course on wholesaling from this RE guru Ron Lagrand. They are offering a wholesale course for $1 but there are a few catches. For example, after 30days you will be charged $59 per month subscription to a service I am not interested in. They say that you can cancel before the 30 day deadline which is what i would do. I want the wholesaling info, but I am hesitant to sign up for this so-called "deal."

Anyone familiar with this "deal." Also, anyone have any other suggestions or advice that they want to give? I have not ordered anything at the moment. Thanks for your time BP family.

Anyone familiar with this "deal." Also, anyone have any other suggestions or advice that they want to give? I have not ordered anything at the moment. Thanks for your time BP family.

Lenzy Ruffin · Answer

If you can get the course with the book and CDs you mentioned for $1 and then immediately cancel the subscription (don't even wait until the 29th day, do it right away), then that's an incredible bargain that you should take advantage of since those materials are free, honestly. I'd even be okay with those materials costing you up to $500. All of those training courses are legit, but it doesn't mean that they will work for YOU. Successful real estate investors are successful because they have a system that they execute day in and day out. The system any given course teaches may not be one that you personally will be willing or able to execute day in and day out, so you will not be successful using. Here's a blog post that does a great job of explaining that.

http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/05/17/dirty-truth-guru-programs/

I'm a huge proponent of taking advantage of all that BP offers for free, rather than paying for training. I recognize the value of having everything organized in one set of materials, but you can build that set of materials yourself on BP for free. I'll provide some links, as others have/will that will give you more than enough information on how to generate leads  and what to do with them. Use those links, along with the BP podcasts that focus on wholesaling, and the forums where you can ask questions and get help from people around the world for free and BP is better than any training course you could buy at any price.

This is the perspective of someone who paid a five-figure guru tax before discovering BP. Despite that, I'm still not against buying training. I am against making uninformed purchases of training. Once you know what you are doing, you'll be able to evaluate a given set of training materials and know if it has the specific information you need in order to advance your business. When you're a new person, you're basically "buying blind" and hoping that what's in the training package will help you. You can learn everything you need to learn to become a successful investor using Bigger Pockets and one or two books from the BP recommended reading list. You can certainly learn enough to become an educated consumer when it comes to buying training.

So if you can get the training for $1 or even $200 - $300, go for it. Other than that, pass on it. Either way, save the links you get from this thread into a document and use them as the basis for building your own, free training package. It will help you and you can pass it on to someone else who needs help getting started.

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/01/31/ultimate-beginners-guide-real-estate-wholesaling-2/

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/02/14/70-rule-bible/

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2010/7/10/new-investors-focus-target-markets/

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/04/11/your-target-real-estate-market/

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2010/06/30/introduction-to-real-estate-analysis-investing/

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/01/19/real-estate-math/

https://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/04/09/direct-mail/

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/93/topics/54108-buyer-s-list-how-to-

Bram Spiero · Answer

I think we need to differentiate between paying Guru's and Guru prices and the normal cost of learning.

True, you can find everything you need here on BiggerPockets but sometimes having a book that organizes information in a logical order is worth the $25 price of admission. I gladly pay to have a frame work to reference when swimming in the sea of information that is Biggerpockets.

Same is true for RE courses. If its below 400-500 learning with someone like ben leybovich is certainly worth the money (if you can get in).

Guru's promise to reveal secrets. There are no secrets to Real Estate investing, there is just plain old learning that is required.

Guru's ask you to invest amounts larger than a downpayment on a home to get access to their secrets.

Stay away from people promising you secrets but be willing to pay a little to access information someone else has invested in curating for you.

Orlando Paz · Answer

@Joe Escoe... Hey Joe, I happen to know of Ron LeGrand. He happens to be a local "Guru", "Instructor", or whatever label there could be put on someone. Although I am not a part of his more expensive programs, I am currently doing the dollar deal that you mentioned. It's actually due to expire in about a week. I have to say that I am considering maintaining my subscription for a little while. I live in Central Florida, and he happens to reside in Northern Florida (Jacksonville). BP is certainly a great learning resource and a great way to network across the board with many people across the country. However in my opinion, I like the idea of learning from someone who is local, and familiar with the local real estate market. His Goldclub membership, also happens to have a wealth of documents that are specific to my market. His teaching's focus around Wholesaling, and various lease option techniques. Many of these techniques are taught by other's on here, but again... I like the idea of working with someone who is in my market. I have also gotten to meet with several people who have done very, very well by being a part of his more expensive programs. Would I ever spend so much money on an education?... Well, certainly not now and possibly not anytime in the near future. I will say that I personally do see value in what he has to offer on a month by month basis. With time and success, I would probably consider buying into the more expensive stuff. As I see it... many go to college with a dream of becoming some sort of professional with a false dream of guaranteed success and entitled fortune. If you find a legit local educator, you will be paying for an education as well, that could actually make a huge impact in your life. The HUGE factor here, is that you TAKE ACTION, and actually apply what you learn.  College diplomas offer knowledge, but you are basically taught to be an employee (for the most part), and basically seek out a job and join the rat race and all the drama that goes with it. When it comes to an education in real estate, no amount of schooling or hanging out on BP will yield success, unless you do what exactly what you are being taught. If you choose to pay for an education in real estate investing, it should be an educated choice and an investment in and of itself. Choose wisely and preferably pick a reputable and proven educator ("guru") who is close to you and offers value for the money spent. Also, don't go crazy buying into the expensive programs. Start off with something that is affordable, then decide if you see enough value for yourself and/or your business. Then maybe consider taking the plunge. What I have come to learn since being a member on BP is that there are many who teach real estate investing, who in turn call other educators "guru's", with the implication that they are shady. In turn those who are being called "guru's, are doing the same thing. They are also calling other educator's "guru's" in a derogatory way. So pretty much everyone who teaches real estate investing, is pointing fingers at each other in disrespect. Again, make sure to do your own homework on this. Good Luck!

Paul Timmins · Answer

@Joe Escoe

Welcome. I think you cannot lose for $1. Fill in the foundation below.

Check out the Start Here page http://www.biggerpockets.com/starthere

Check out BiggerPockets Ultimate Beginner's Guide - A fantastic free book that walks through many of the key topics of real estate investing.

Check out the free BiggerPockets Podcast - A weekly podcast with interviews and a ton of great advice. And you get the benefit of having over 100 past ones to catch up on.

Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings great place to meet people gather resources and info. Here you will meet wholesalers who provide deals and rehabbers (cash buyers). Find them through Google and meetup.com

Two Great reads, I bought both J. Scott The Book on Flipping Houses,  The Book on Estimating ReHab Costs  http://www.biggerpockets.com/flippingbook

Consider checking out HUD homes for small multi's owner occupied gets first crack.

Couple good reads

• 9 Reasons You Couldn't Find A Buyer For Your Wholesale      Deal
• Don't Start Wholesaling Until You Read This: Wholesale      Advice from a Fix and Flipper
• How to Start Wholesaling: Getting Past The Education and      Into the Field

House Flipping resources

http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2013/09/28/best-biggerpockets-house-flipping/

Step by Step Guide to Flipping

http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2014/01/07/flipping-houses/Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10. Real Estate Rewind Starting over

http://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/brandonatbp/file/real-estate-rewind-a-biggerpockets-community-book

Good Luck

Paul

Robert L. · Answer

I am very familiar with Ron who actually lives in my same zip code. Yes, he was very active in real estate investing for single family homes many many years ago. Since then he's been mostly focused on selling his info online, then went into multifamily investing and now commercial investing. He even opened a steak and seafood restaurant down the road from my house  but then it went belly up. He's also a master internet marketing specialist selling his information online. I think his children or relatives are investing but not so much himself personally. I feel there's always something to learn from every guru. You just got to really watch your wallet.

I think the trap that a lot of Investors fall into his that they are afraid and for good reason. So they think that if they send thousands of dollars on courses it will help them gain the knowledge and alleviate the fear. Yes it does to a degree. But that knowledge can be gained from much cheaper sources. Plus it's the action that alleviates fear not just gaining knowledge

For $1 or even just milking the membership for one month to absorb everything there is inside it's worth it to me. There is a book that he wrote about wholesaling and is being sold in bookstores and online which I thought was very good. Keeping your expenses down to this level just to gain knowledge is good, just enough to build a team and take more action.

Kris Baldwin · Answer

Hi Joe, I'm not to sure about that particular guru, but most of the info you need to learn to wholesale houses can be found on this website for free! I have found through personal experience that some "teachers" of investing will get you to come to an event for free or a small fee. At the event they then offer a 2-3 day course for more money, and then if your really interested after that, they may offer a mentor program for even more money. I have started using this website for research, networking, and finding connections for just about anything related to real estate investing that I need. Hope this helps! Best of Luck!

James Enright · Answer

Just a note... You can also go to Ebay and buy or bid USED real estate courses very cheap. Just be sure to pick a topic you want to study..... for example...Wholesaling..... Lease Options..... Subject 2 etc.

Valerie Hiscoe · Answer

Just out of curiosity, if Ron Legrand turns out such well-trained wholesalers, why wasn't the guy you were talking to about buying your house using one?

Is Ron Lagrand a successful wholesaler or a successful guru? Someone here must have bought from/through him. Or not.

If it was so hard to find the phone number,  what other fine print is going to be too small to see?  And an answering machine?  Are they going to call you back so you can cancel your subscription?

And no offense to @Orlando Paz but I would wait until he's finished the course and made his first deal before he'll truly be able to comment on its effectiveness in the real world.

Is there a real estate club near you that you could attend? You never know, you might meet an investor who will teach you how to birddog for them.

Taking a course won't get you any closer to taking action though.

Joe Escoe · Answer

First off, thanks for all the comments.  Lots of feedback.

@Paul Timmins

I appreciate all the info. I have already read a few of your recommendations and ordered the two J Scott books a few days prior to this post. I figure if I just keep chugging along that I am on the right path.  Will definately check out your other reading recommendations. Thanks.

@Orlando Paz

Since you ordered the exact program, do you feel there is enough info on wholesaling to get started along that route?  Thanks

Kris Baldwin · Answer

@James Wise

I agree completely. Being a newbie, I do learn something new every time I go to one. Getting a different perspective as well as the networking make these events a lot of fun. But they do almost always lead to more money and a three day course. One must do due diligence, and decide what is best for themselves.

Is this RE course legit or not?

Most Popular Reply