All Forum Posts by: Adrienne G.

@Linda Weygantpeople really ask what's PITI? WOW.

I started becoming interested in real estate back in 2005-2006. I took the GA real estate course but never sat for the exam. I purchased my home in 2008. Over the years I have obsessively watched DIY shows on DIY and HGTV. I attend workshops and recently started taking workshops at Lowes and Home Depot. Now I'm about to finish up my real estate license class so I can sit for the exam (this time). 

That said, I am jumping into real estate investing and wholesaling has been on my mind. But I do not feel ready yet to actually do wholesaling. So I am looking for a mentor to let me tag along on a few deals to get the gist. I can read BP and books all day and listen to every podcast. But I know that in order to really learn I have to do it (or rather tag along with successful wholesalers on a few jobs) so I can get the gist. The problem I've found is I keep running into gurus who want to charge thousands of dollars for a class in wholesaling when I really just want to do it. 

My other fear has been making sure I don't do anything to violate any laws or prevent me from getting my license by doing something illegal or wrong in wholesaling. I care about ethics and legalities. 

So some of us want to start wholesaling and want to "just do it" as has been offered here. But I don't want to "just do it" and get caught up. Sorry to take the thread off in another direction. But thank you for sharing your Don'ts to Wholesaling. It helps me further understand boundaries not to cross.

@Dan Oliverthank you for that perspective. I was just over in that area yesterday and I need to remember exactly what you said. I'm in that phase as a new investor of removing myself from the equation (me not living there) and doing what makes sense from an investment perspective.

@James Roux I'm new too. Welcome to Team Newbie. :) Seriously, I am always looking to get acquainted with others as I move ahead in my real estate investing journey. I'd love to get together and chat some time.  

@Ryan Kopczyk while I've already found one, you can't have too many. I'd love that information too. And also to know when you guys are doing the next meetup.

Hi Veronica.

I can't vouch for it and haven't yet used it, but a friend told me about Thumbtack.com. It's apparently a site you can find all kinds of repair professionals including engineers. https://www.thumbtack.com/nj/trenton/structural-engineers/

It's going to have a pop up asking you to fill in info for a quote, but just click on any other part of the website to clear it so you can look at the site. 

Hope this helps. Good luck.

OK here's an interesting update. I've just been offered an opportunity to write  for a site and be paid for it. No SEO gimmicks, no content farm. Just a legitimate opportunity to write articles for small business owners and be paid per article. They saw some of my writing and reached out. And I know it's a great opportunity because I have four acquaintances (one a NY Times Columnist) who write for the site. I'm so excited!

And Lyft has finally approved me. And I found out I passed my Advanced Statistics class. *Whew*

The other thing is I don't want to get so caught up in so many different avenues to earn income that I end up with not much time to do real estate. I'm being mindful that I don't over extend myself. It'll be a balancing act for real.

Hey @Regina.

You can build your own using Wordpress for less than $100. There are plenty of tutorials online for free that will get you up in running. It literally takes 5-10 minutes to install Wordpress. You can buy a real estate theme from Themeforest.net and install it yourself and use plugins to optimize it for your use. 

If you have patience, a little time and determination, you can really build your own site.

Hope this helps and good luck to you.

Here's another update.

So Uber is über slow in getting my background check done. Lyft has me on "hold". So much for that being a fast way to get started on some side income.

This week is finals week so I'll be saying goodbye to Advanced Statistics and International Business (today). But next week starts Financial Accounting and Business Processes. That leaves me this leaves me with the rest of the week to finish my real estate class. Hopefully I can take the exam within two weeks. (praying).

I have not had a chance to work on the website for my online consignment boutique yet. Been so busy with studying, meetings and networking. This coming weekend I'll have quiet time to knock it out. I didn't realize how many items I actually had. The site is up, just need to load the images and pics of the clothing in the catalog and resize them.

I've met with two real estate investors, an agent/investor and an owner of a title company. They've given me great feedback on my goals. All have been incredibly generous and have offered to walk me through anything I need help with. But the common sentiment was go driving for dollars and get out there and make a deal. I'll start driving next week. This last week and this week I've looked online. I'm deciding the name of my company and ordering my business cards and domain name. The website will come when I decide what I want it to look like.

I have outlined my business plan. Once I get that quiet time I'll sit down and really put it together. I'll also be working on my direct mail and social media strategy. I have decided that my end goal is to help educate women investors. This include not just real estate, but wealth building in general to include business ownership, investment clubs, etc. In my past life I headed two investment clubs. I'm definitely looking to get back into that eventually. I want to build my wealth, document my journey (including the ugly struggles). And make real estate investing my full time thing. I've been keeping a journal of my experiences and feelings.

As for my skills, I have reached out to three people, and have gotten notes from about two more. Nothing confirmed. Just answering questions about what I do and what I would charge. I have not been marketing myself because I want to polish the package first so to speak. I was thinking (and this is where I could use some input from the Bigger Pockets family) about doing some low cost workshops both online and on site locally. I was thinking maybe a session on building a basic website for real estate investors, real estate investors guide to understanding social media (maybe a four part- 1) understanding the platforms & identifying what works for you, 2) optimizing and measuring success and analytics, 3) crafting the message & building your community, 4) managing the process and content creation calendars). maximizing technology/automation for your real estate investing business, email marketing success strategies, and whatever else real estate investors wanted to learn about to DIY on the web. I'd love your feedback on what makes sense.

I'm getting antsy. I'm trying to clear as much from my to-do list as possible (school). But I'm in a good mental space. I've decided to put aside the banter of opposing sides and start Wholesaling. I'm pulling the trigger on that process next week. Researching and driving for dollars will be how I begin next week. Plus there are two CFRI meetings happening that I will be attending. I have to keep networking and meeting people. 

And of course I'll continue reading and listening here. Although when I get frustrated with school work, this is the first place I run! It's like a mental crutch and a wonderful distraction all in one. It''s like Facebook. I find myself here saying OK maybe one or two threads. Next thing you know I look up and it's three hours later. LOL

In the mean time, thank you to those who continue to read my blog and forum posts, vote for my posts and reach out with words of encouragement. Some days are better than others but I'm a fighter. Thanks for letting me share!

I don't know about in NYC but in Florida, you have to have your real estate license to do property management for someone else. I'm sure someone will come in to either confirm or correct me on that. I would check with the Real Estate Commission in New York State.

I did find the NYREI (not familiar with them though). They do have a Property Management Certificate program- http://www.nyrei.com/courses/propmanagementcert.htm But I think it's a continuing ed course. You may want to check. Hope this helps.

BTW what part of the Bronx are you in? I was born & raised there.

I've just started reading the first page of posts. This is the thing that scares me most about getting into Wholesaling. I don't yet have my license (in the next two weeks I plan to have it) and I don't want to do anything illegal or unethical that will get my license yanked or worse denied before I even get it by Wholesaling the "wrong way". 

I'll read the rest of the posts now and hope to gain clarity. But those laws I'm studying in me RE class have me on edge.

@Karl Krentzel & @Wendell De Guzman how I wish one or both of you guys were located near me. I need mentors like you in my world.

I'm interested in this as well. In reading some of the forums and blog posts, I got the sense that a contract and earnest money were two things I should utilize to eliminate (or minimize?) the shady people if I want to wholesale. 

The other thing is there is so much debate between what's legal and not, they've scared the daylights out of me. It gets confusing. I know I want to buy & hold (rentals- multis, SFH). But I also want to do 3-5 wholesale deals per month to get familiar (then try rehabbing). But I want to do it right (not violate any laws).

So if anyone has sample contracts, I would be eternally grateful. In fact I'd love to shadow someone for a week or two while they do their wholesaling thing.

BTW for those looking for it, that Guide to Wholesaling link is http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/2015/01/31/ultimate-beginners-guide-real-estate-wholesaling-2/ @Brandon Turner did a great job in breaking it down (I've been shouting Brandon out a lot the last few days. LOL).