All Forum Posts by: Brad Mcleod

I would read "retire young, retire rich" by Robert Kyosaki and then try to apply one principal from the book.

I just finished reading "Multi-Family Millions" by Dave Lindahl and applied 2 concepts and it really helped improve my real estate business.

I think Jon has a good point -- read them all.. and get a few tidbits and then apply them.

best to you in your learning.

I have had good success with

48HourPrint.com

easy to use website, good product, good price, and they deliver when they say they will.

best of luck.

i spend a ton of time in a car every year so my shelves at home are stocked full of CD's.

a few audio books (not all real estate but some business) that I have listened to in the past year...

1. Dave Lindahl - Apartment House Riches
2. Rich Dad - 6 steps to becoming a Successful Real Estate Investor
3. Dave Lindahl - Prospecting for gold
4. Rich Dad - Before you quit your job
5. The Maui Millionaire - Diane Kennedy
6. Trump-Think like a billionaire - Donald Trump
7. The Emyth revisited - Gerber
8. Rich Dad, Poor Dad - Robert Kyosaki
9. The Millionaire next door - T. Stanley

also - if you have an Ipod - you should check out my list of the best real estate podcast.

type in "top ten real estate podcast" into google and my list is #2 on google.

if you want an expanded list hit me with a PM as I can plug you into other free stuff on the internet.

if you absolutely want to find a potential seller (or sellers) and learn more about the area your trying to buy in - here are a few tricks.

what would you rather have - a list of 700 names on an excel spreadsheet from the local tax base - or a list of 40 names of real sellers that you crafted yourself.

a few tips --

pinpoint the area you want to purchase in.

drive around that area and write down every rental property that has a hand scrawled for rent sign. Call them and begin your discussion on purchasing.

If you call more than 12 of them, you will get 8 that answer the phone and 1 that is interested in selling (as they are probably a motivated seller with a property for rent).

one of the keys on the 8 that answer is to ask if they know other landlords or homeowners that have properties for sale. Write down their names and add to you list.

then call those potential sellers - and repeat.

basically, what your doing is "farming" the area.

not only will you build a quality list of potential sellers - but you will learn more about that area and whether it is a great place to buy - or a dump that you need to get away from as quickly as possible.

yes; this method takes a little bit longer than buying a list. But it gets you straight to the source - the actual seller, and helps you learn more about your area that your trying to buy in.

best of luck in your marketing.

I like the comments of Michael Shadow as he refers to Donald Trump-
"he buys ok locations then makes them the best location."

We are currently trying to do that very thing as we have bought several apartment buildings in an OK area and are trying to make them better by improving the property.

We have also set up a community group (a mastermind group of sorts) that is now meeting and discussing issues and trying to bring our area up by making improvements.

Our goal is to collectively bring our apartments up a notch, which we believe will increase rents, reduce turnover and overall bring a higher price in the long run.

If anyone has any additional thoughts or feedback on that process.. please post. thanks.

we built our website slowly over time and eventually had a part time web designer help us out.

our goals with our site is to provide additional info that potential renters can see to view our properties and download a rental application. They can also download a repair form. Eventually we would like to have a page where they can pay their rent via PayPal or some other method.

also - it allows other potential investors the ability to see our site and get more info about us.

we also have a blog link on our website that has more info.

I think that in general a website is one more tool to put in your arsenal for marketing of your business.

You want to get the word out as many times as possible about your business -- and a website is working 24 hours a day to do that.

You could find a web designer on elance.com (or several) that would bid on work and provide samples of their work and help you with your design.

best of luck, Robert.

I agree with Michael Rossi.

We started with single family homes a few years back and were very wet behind the ears and learning as much as we could.

over the past 3 years we have been buying quad apartments (still consider to be a residential loan) and again, learning as much as we can. We now own 7 quads (28 units)

our long term goal is to sell the quad apartments and purchase a large multi-family unit(s) (possibly 2 - 16 units plus) in the next few years.

we are learning as much as we can at this point and working hard to keep our current units in good shape, rented, and cash flowing.

I took the 16 week Rich Dad course last year.

I learned a lot about investing as I went through the online tutorial and worked with my coach every week.

During that time I was also reading other real estate books and was also working every week in the investing-apartment business (rehabbing units, renting them, balancing the books, etc.).

The course is somewhat expensive - but most courses that have one on one teaching and a tutorial will probably run about the same.

Yes; you could read everything on this website (as I am currently doing), and read all the Rich Dad books (and others) and pound the streets and work the REI business. I commend anyone that is doing that and learning. That is what hard work and discipline are about.

I believe that I learned a great deal - but can honestly say that I applied my self and worked hard.

If I had the opportunity over again.. I would stack up more books and CD's next to my computer and take the online course again and work harder - like any athlete wanting to win their next big game.

Paying $5k (for the Rich Dad course) is not going to make you a millionaire, no more than paying for a expensive personal trainer at the gym will make you an Arnold Schwarzennegger.

Making it in real estate - or any aspect of life - takes hard work, determination, persistence, drive, belief in yourself, and good old fashioned hustle and sweat.

I have also read about every book by Robert Kyosaki, most CD's and most podcast and have enjoyed and learned from them all.

Just wanted to post up my personal experience with this course.
(I am not paid any commission by Rich Dad).

I would say that "Think and Grow Rich" by Napolean Hill and recently "Conversations with Millionaires" by Mike Litman.

if you looking for a blog on the ATLanta area - i will humbly recommend you check out our blog as it has up to date tips on what we are doing in the market along with several interviews with other ATL investors that are doing well and making things happen.