All Forum Posts by: Doug Leedy

Roy,

I have to agree with you. Renatus changed the corporate website about a year ago and I hate the new one. It does lack the education detail and I don't know why. I find it confusing and difficult to maneuver easily. Like so many things today, it's too cute by half (my age may have something to do with that, lol).  I will also say that I'm surprised at the mystery of the cost of the Renatus education. There are four levels starting at $2,000 for our Essentials level and topping out at $20,000 for our top level, which consists of well over 100 hours (actually closer to 200 I think...I've never counted them all up) of classroom education plus mentoring and many, many training classes that aren't part of the formal education. Essentials includes courses that help with starting a business (not just a real estate business) and include the beginnings of real estate investing. The real key the individual organization you get in. Mine is very heavy on training...over ten hours every week at a minimum plus all kinds of archived material, both written and videoed. 

Renatus corporate projects Renatus as strictly an education company. The individual leaders then develop their own systems beyond that. The Chicago system, of which I'm a part, is the epidemy of what Renatus can be, IMO. Believe me, there is a lot more to Renatus than meets the eye.

I have read these posts recently because I've been inundated with them in my inbox and I was curious to see what was going on. I have to say I'm astounded at the vigorous bashing of Renatus and some of the misinformation related to it. 

As to why anyone responded in defense of Renatus, my response would simply be that this thread started with the simple question of whether anyone knew anything about Renatus. Some did, responded...and then all hell broke loose. I don't know why the bashing is so unrelenting and I really don't care. The question has been answered by both sides and it's up to the readers to determine. 

My background is a 40 year career in real estate as a realtor, an appraiser and a small-time investor. Nothing great, just pretty much a typical guy. I'm happily retired now, which is something too many people can't say these days. I have a 4-year degree in Education and my wife was a career educator and administrator, so i know something about real estate and something about education. Unlike some on here, I don't have all the answers but I do know some things and bring something to the table in this discussion. 

My synopsis is that Renatus is not for everyone. If you simply want to wholesale or fix-and-flip you can find out how to do that anywhere, including on BP. If you truly want to learn real estate however, I don't know anywhere better to do that than Renatus, and that includes an accredited college. If I had a choice between a four-year degree at a traditional institution in today's economy and an education that is laser-focused on real estate and operating a real estate business I'd take Renatus every time. It's that simple. 

As has been stated here numerous times by those who know, Renatus is taught by known, verifiable, successful investors who make their livings investing in the fields in which they teach, it offers a wide variety of real estate investing classes and it offers both local support communities that create a synergy that isn't found anywhere else (including BP) and a national network of investors who bring much bigger possibilities to the table. This is one helluva lot of value for $20K, whether you like it or not. I know a helluva lot of kids who have spent much more than that on 4-year degrees (and more) and who can't get jobs in their field and are seriously underemployed. So do you.

Now, you bashers can go ahead and bash away. I've had my say and it obviously won't change your minds but I've put my 2 cents in. I personally know people who have had their lives turned around completely by Renatus. Some of them have done it through the marketing, some of them through investing and most of them through a combination of both. I also know many who haven't done anything with it. That's on them. I would just encourage anyone who is interested in getting involved in real estate to look at Renatus as an option and make your own decision based on what it offers.

I'm not going to waste another minute of my time with this. I think I've said everything I have to say and it's up to the readers to determine who and what they believe, but I do have to wonder what it is that compels a few people to so vociferously go after a program that offers so much to people who want to get started in our industry. They must have some other agenda. 

I've seen a lot of responses to Renatus on here, many of which profess to know nothing about it nor want to know anything about it. Why they feel compelled to comment on it, then, is a mystery to me. You may like it, you may not...but to say you don't when you don't know anything about Renatus is irresponsible. The comment by Jay Hinrichs about Jermaine Massey is indicative of this. Jermaine's story is absolutely true, as proudly verified by Jermaine, and is not the only such success story within Renatus. 

One would think, by some of these comments, that education and support are not needed to invest in real estate. I would call people who say that gamblers rather than investors, and I'm pretty sure they wouldn't say the same about other professions or businesses that require the same levels of risk and investment that real estate typically does. Is Renatus for everyone? Probably not. Is it for most beginners (and others too)? I'd say yes in most cases. It is certainly a better business model than both the Guru's and just jumping in blindly. Additionally, Renatus offers the marketing OPTION (not requirement). I assume you are all aware that all Colleges and Universities pay people to recruit students for them, right? That's exactly what Renatus does IF YOU WANT TO DO THAT. I don't know what's so difficult to understand about that. It's an option. I'd say that again but it's boring me.

I've pretty much had my say previously on this forum, but I never cease to be amazed at the misinformation that is put forth on here about this company. If you have doubts or questions, check it out with either David or me, but don't dismiss it out-of-hand because of what someone who knows nothing about it has to say. That's never a good decision.

I would offer several pieces of advice for what they're worth (probably what you're paying for them, lol). Real estate can be risky if you don't know what you're doing. If you do have an idea of what you're doing that risk can be cut significantly, though never totally eradicated. Money can be made in up markets and in down markets. The trick is determining when that change will happen. That said, 75% of the wealthy 1% have attained that wealth through a combination of business ownership and real estate investing. It's how wealth is built.

The important thing is to get started. Take that first step. If you need to, find an experienced partner to do your first deal with. Find a support system to take away your not unusual fear of failure. I understand it completely...it's what keeps most people from taking that first step. You probably aren't going to find the deals in the MLS. Learn how to find those properties BEFORE they hit the market. If you don't feel you can take the risk of fixing and flipping and have some money to invest, you might consider looking into purchasing tax liens or tax deeds or buying down notes or mortgages. There are lots of ways to invest that most people don't even know exist, and some of them are very low-risk if, again, you know what you're doing.

I hope this helps you a little bit. Good luck and remember...nothing ventured, nothing gained. 

Just a thought: do you give the same advice to people who want to become accountants or doctors or executives or even business owners? Real estate can have significant risk even if you ARE educated. Why would you want to go in unarmed, especially when the price for the education can be regained with one properly structured deal?  Our team even has a method by which you can fund your education by buying a duplex, pay for the education and have a little monthly cash flow to boot. That's getting in with no money out-of-pocket for the first year, getting your first property, getting the education and having some pocket change left over. Not a bad way to get started. 

There are so many ways to invest in real estate today, many of which most people don't even know exist. Knowledge is, and always has been, power. Of course, some people can just jump in and get started themselves, but do you really think that's true for MOST people? I don't. I think most people need knowledge and, even more importantly, a good support system. There are lots of ways to skin a cat. Ours is just one way, but it's the best I've seen in my 40 year real estate career.

J Scott,

You are operating in the Industrial Age economy. You will see both Community Colleges (because of their lower costs) and trade schools become bigger players in education over the next few years. The economy has changed and people need to change with it. There are far too many kids today who have spent anywhere from $40K to $200K on college educations that have gotten them nowhere but their parents basements with jobs completely out of their fields of study. Programs like Renatus will flourish because of this hole in our education system.

It sure seems like a lot of people on here are threatened by a "competitor" like Renatus. There are many ways for people to learn. Some (but not many) are capable of learning by going through a guru, some can learn with BP. Some need more hand-holding, which is where a program like Renatus comes in. One size doesn't fit all and all of these will work for some people and not for others. Is it so difficult to admit that there is more than one way to skin a cat?

There can be no argument that if something works for someone, it's worthwhile. Some on here have mentioned how expensive Renatus is. It starts at $1,997, which is a bargain. The very top end is $20,000, which sounds like a lot of money until you consider that amount can be earned back in one deal. I earned mine back in less than 2 years, which I consider reasonable. 

There is room in real estate for a number of business models. Just because mine doesn't fit you doesn't make it inherently bad. If you're going to criticize, at least make sure you know what you're criticizing. That's not too much to ask. Real estate can be very scary but it can also be extremely rewarding. However, someone who never gets started has NO chance to succeed. I happen to believe that the vast number of newbies are petrified to get started and need some real support and hand-holding. The guru's don't offer that. BP doesn't offer that. Renatus does. One size doesn't fit all. You don't threaten me. I can't for the life of me see why I'm that big a threat to you. We should all encourage anything that helps people invest in our industry. 

You guys are grasping for straws now. I was in real estate for 40 years and this didn't happen for me. Since I found Renatus it has. I don't believe in coincidence to that extent. This HAS happened because of contacts I've made through Renatus. Yes, I took the initiative but Renatus gave me the direction. You can believe that or not, but I know it because I've lived it. Certainly, some people can do what you have done by themselves, but there is a big learning curve and many hazards along that path. Good leadership and guidance can make results happen much sooner and smoother with less risk. Good education is invaluable. You seem to be saying you don't need education, just guidance. Anyone who's dealt with a high school guidance counselor knows how that works.

I will add one thing I left out of my prior remarks. Because of my affiliation with Renatus, and the resulting national exposure and contacts, I was able to invest in 95 single-family homes and notes in Illinois using my self-directed IRA. I would not have known how to do that nor had the opportunity to do so if it weren't for my affiliation with Renatus. I am now trying to do a $5.5M deal in Florida with people in Illinois, Pennsylvania and several other states. These opportunities would NEVER have been possible for me if it weren't for Renatus. Last year, I was attempting to put together a $3M deal here in Florida, but it fell through. My Renatus mentor is involved in a resort in Belize that is a multi-million dollar development of a resort that includes a privately-owned international airport, hospital, medical teaching college, 18-hole championship golf course, deep-water marina, hotel, condos and single-family homes. Eight years ago he had never been involved in real estate other than his own home.

My prior 40 years in real estate were in a small rural area of northeast Ohio. I would NEVER have thought anything like this was possible for me. Small town, limited thinking, no internet (national exposure). I only wish I had something like this available to me when I was 25 instead of 65. You naysayers crow all you want about something you know next to nothing about. I know what is happening for me, and what can happen for others. It's called opportunity. Not guarantee. Not get-rich-quick. Not hype. Opportunity. It will end up being what I make of it, but Renatus has given me the opportunity to do things that I never really imagined three years ago. That's the value of Renatus, IMO.

This thread just continues to go on. I've said twice before that I'm done, but keep getting compelled to add more. So here are my final (for now) thoughts.

First, this thread started with questions about Renatus. Directly and specifically. So what do you expect to be discussed? If you don't like it, don't read it.

Second, Renatus is not for everyone, is not the only thing out there (though I don't know of anything else that does what Renatus does regarding forming local communities, support and national connections and relationships), and is not flawless. It does have much to offer a lot of people who want to learn to invest in real estate and those who want to help those who want to learn.  

Third, The TOP level of education costs $20,000. What hasn't been discussed much is that it costs $125 to become a Renatus affiliate and the "entry" level education starts at $1,997. Those are hardly budget-busting amounts and the Essentials level education (the $1,997 one) really offers tremendous value to the beginning real estate entrepreneur.

Fourth, one thing that hasn't been mentioned is the flexibility that individual affiliates have to create their own opportunities. I am in a group called the Practicum Group that has relationships with numerous big Hedge Funds and other individual investors and funders nationally who have the ability to do deals. I would NEVER have this kind of opportunity without my Renatus relationships. I'm currently working on a potential $5.5M condo construction in Miami. Not bad for a little old guy from rural Ohio who moved here three years ago knowing exactly one person here (my son).

Fifth, there has been some discussion here re Nouveau Riche. The abridged version is that Bob Snyder and Jim Piccolo were partners in NR. It had a good run for awhile. Bob discovered some things that were being done that he was unaware of and didn't agree with, whereupon he decided to leave the company. He gathered a group of people who were like-minded, developed what they thought was a superior business mode and formed Renatus (Latin for New Beginning). Bob was not involved in any wrongdoing with NR and, if you know him, you will know that would be entirely against his nature. The company has continually attempted to improve and upgrade its services. That's the story of how Renatus began.

In summary, this thread started with a question of what Renatus is and does anyone know anything about it. I think that has been answered pretty adequately. If anyone has further concerns or questions you have several names here to contact. Mine is in my Profile. Renatus is not a scam, offers legit services for a fee, is national in scope and local in many areas of the country, is growing and offers services to people who want those services. Nothing more and nothing less. The bottom line is that people will do with an opportunity what they do with it. Ultimately, it's up to them. Real estate is neither easy nor risk-free. What Renatus does is teach people how to invest in real estate as safely and intelligently as possible while providing a support system so they are never in it alone. Some people thrive on doing things themselves. Other people need varying degrees of support and help. Renatus attempts to reach those who need help and support and provide it to the degree that they need. Good education is not free in any endeavor. Most people agree that education is good and a requirement for achievement at most any level. The rewards in real estate can be huge...as can the risks. It's up to the individual to decide how badly they want to change their direction in life. Renatus is one alternative. There are others. You choose.