turned $15k into $65k in 3 years investing in tax liens.

[Sam Bagwell]

It has taken 3 years to get to this point, but I have now flipped a two-unit rental, bought, foreclosed, quieted title, and sold a commercial property from a tax sale, done the same for a residential lot also purchased at a tax sale, and today, I'm selling again, after completing another tax sale quiet title.  In all, just from tax sales, my partner and I have turned approximately $15k into $65k in 3 years.  We hold one more lot under a tax sale, which we're running out the clock on now.  In the meantime, 2 months ago I closed on my first buy/hold house, which I bought for $65k, with a $399/mo mortgage, and I'm renting it out for $800 per month, with no headaches so far.

I'm ashamed at how long I sat on the sidelines.  As a real estate attorney and former real estate agent, I have the knowledge base, but had always let my day-job get in the way, helping other investors do these things, but I had just never taken the time or financial risk to do them myself.  I finally identified that while I had very good technical and procedural knowledge, I lacked confidence in knowing a very specific market, and whether any particular deal was a good one.  So, I niched way way down, and only have looked at properties in Cumming and Gainesville, Georgia, in 30040, 30041, 30504, and 30506, all of which are zip codes where I have worked and lived, so I'm very familiar with them.

At any rate, for the last 36 months I felt like I was "faking it until I made it," but now, on the closing of today's deal, I'm pretty excited, and my confidence has gotten a bog boost.  Thanks to everyone here who posts frequently and provides some inspiration to others.