All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Welcome to the site new old guy! Look forward to hearing your stories and experiences!

Welcome to Bigger Pockets! I did the same thing as you. I'd been lurking around the site for several months before officially introducing myself. Wish I'd done it sooner. Being an "official" part of the BP community goes a long way towards erasing doubt and giving you the courage to ignore negative people. A good friend once said to me (as I was raining all over his parade): "sooooo...you're just a naysayer with no better ideas or suggestions" and he was right! I always remember that conversation when people try to cast doubt on my decision to do REI. "Oh...you don't like what I'm doing? Well, surely you have a better suggestion. No? Ok...then shut up." (said with a smile of course) Good luck with your investing! What's your primary area of focus?

Hello everyone! I start my licensing classes this weekend and have already started thinking about where I'll hang my license.

I'm getting my license so I can access the MLS at 3:30 am if I so choose. I tend to be awake intermittently and at completely ridiculous hours during the night, so I plan on this benefit being worth it's weight in gold. (literally and figuratively)

I like that I could write 100 offers a month without getting on anyone's nerves...with the exception of an occasional seller agent, perhaps. (lol...BIG smile)

I'd also like to have control over the information in terms of what gets put on the MLS, what information gets communicated to me during negotiations etc. I'd like to "remove the filter" so to speak.

I bet you're starting to wonder if there's a question hidden somewhere in this post...the answer is yes, and here it is:

I'm looking for a broker that won't charge me to death with monthly fees and percentages. I've found a brokerage that charges $25/mo and a flat fee of $300 per deal. That seems pretty reasonable to me...but what do I know?! (shrug)

Anybody know of something better or have any recommendations on what I should be looking for in a brokerage from a REI standpoint?

@Stephen S. LMAO at the cockroach. On his way back into her robe he was probably thinking "I know this crazy b*#@h did not just take me outside in the daytime. She about to catch a bad one."

AND I know you didn't walk into that kind of cockroach carnage without taking some pictures. So...where are the pics?

We Want Pics! We Want Pics! We Want Pics!

@Ned Carey

Wondering if you could provide me with a link to your blog article about mentors. I'd like to read it, but was having trouble finding it. I guess I haven't quite mastered the search engine. Thanks!

I completely agree with @Alcides Brown and @Michael Heisterkamp in trying to approach the seller as the move date closes in.

Some people don't have the ability to realize when they're negotiating from a position of power and when they're not. Aside from that, it seems like the seller is negotiating from a very undereducated, prideful and emotional position. Not the best mindset for evaluating a deal, but who could blame him. If someone wanted to buy my home sweet home, but insisted it needed at least 25K in repairs to be livable...I'd probably be a little indignant too.

Keep the updates coming. I'm looking forward to hearing how this turns out for you. Good luck!

@Paul Timmins

**I meant property manager...not contractor. Thanks for the info.

Great thread! I have absolutely nothing to contribute to it, but I'm new to the site and I've been reading and reading (and reading). Love the forums...love the podcasts. This topic however, has been my favorite so far. I really enjoyed reading all your stories...what great motivation!

Account Closed

Thanks! I've never heard of IREM.org that sounds like a great resource. Finding a good contractor was one of my big "how to" question marks.

I've been listening to the podcasts...they're great. I really love listening to them. I read Rich Dad, Poor Dad yesterday. Yes, cover to cover and I still feel like I can't get enough information.

Newest and most exciting update (thus far)...I just signed up for my 12 Day Real Estate Licensing Course. First class is this Saturday!!!!

Thanks! LOL...I think I'll start referring to that house as my first theft. And you know what they say about criminals and recidivism. I think I'm about to recidivise (yeah, I made the word up...so what?) all over Phoenix.

@Joe Fairless you're 100% right. A Property Manager would've made my life a lot easier...that tenant was a train wreck. I will be using one in the future. I think SFR #3/4 will be the trigger point.

@Jonathan W. the house was in South Phoenix. It was an REO. Purchased for 89K in 2011. Sold to cash buyer for 135K...a tad under market value, but the benefit was a quick close, my tenant could stay if they wanted (they were in a month to month lease at the time) and the best part was I didn't have to do any of the "turnover" because the house was never listed on the MLS.

Win-Win. (win)