All Forum Posts by: Douglas Dowell

"I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."    Mark Twain

I appreciate your post.   Age has never been a criteria I have ever seen.  True the lender wants to know your able to execute your business plan. 

I am an advocate of Joint Ventures to cure any deficiency

5 Lenders tell you no keep asking

30 lenders tell you no...really ponder what your trying to do.

@Michael Sjogren Can you get your money back still?   I am sorry to say I thought the pitch fest was woefully short on actionable information and they spent most of the time upselling the coaching.

If you can't get your money back I would focus on networking to the max and meet as many different people.

The event was extremely disappointing and I hope you get more out of it than I did.

PLEASE DO NOT sign up for their coaching.   I like Dave''s books but that is the last dime I will ever spend with his organization.

Hey Joel,

I have not personally but have gotten to know a couple of his students personally and they have nothing but stellar reviews and outstanding results.  I have gotten to know Craig and I do plan to work with him this year.  I think @Karma Senge would agree Craig was instrumental in changing his trajectory in serious way.

With your experience and Craig's coaching I think you would knock it out of the park.

I think all the above is great.  I also think valuehound academy is really world class.

Take a listen of the interview I did of Gene Trowbridge for BP here for an overview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b49qnAWnUHQ

Hello Joel,

Overall, I think the website is consistent with your current branding which I think is good.

I had some difficulty reading the animated text and I would personally make the phone number and email more prominent.

I would make the testimonials front and center....maybe instead of the stock photos which I though was good in that it was dynamic.

Consider some actual investments property pictured you brokered with the testimonial in the animation?  I think that is a strength your undercapitalizing on your website.  It will help with other buyers and sellers.   it will be great for perspective investors to see as well.  I would consider tracking down 5 or so even more are okay.  Your social proof is rock solid and I think you should really leverage it to the hilt.

I think the investment page looks great and straightforward.  

I am mixed about the lead capture email...I know that is probably best practices for most internet sites but with your target market I am not personally sure that is a major item.

Bottom line it looks spiffy as is and I think some room to focus on your strengths ie social proof/ stories to demonstrate your stout track record.

I understand blogging is a huge commitment but it is also a great way to demonstrate your command of your topic and let it do ALOT of pre-selling before you ever talk to someone.

I worked for Felcor Lodging Trust (NYSE: FCH) my second year of law school and I think they have done a great job turning around after the subprime crises really hamstrung them and the lodging industry overall.  I am of course biased because I thought the leadership team was first rate.

Having said that I think the concept of investing in REIT's is not a horrible place to start but I caution you that your also adding a layer of complication in that your injecting Mr. Market and his wild irrationality to your world.

The skillset to successfully invest in equities is way more difficult in my opinion for that reason.

I recommend reading Intelligent  Investor By Benjamin Graham, Snowball by Alice Schoder (Warren Buffett autobiography)  Poor Charlies Almanac to get a good start.

CHECKOUT crowd funding alternatives:

@Jilliene H. is way to modest to point out that her crowd funding portal is first rate and should offer the direct investment alternative that would eliminate public market volatility.

@Brian Hancock also has done extensive work in the crow funding space and is a tremendous resource on the topic.

Welcome to BP!  Your in the right place.

Hello Jordan,

Check out this podcast I did with Gene Trowbridge for BP to hopefully shed light on the topic:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b49qnAWnUHQ

I cannot say I have heard much in terms of the condotel loan market.  I am in agreement with above posters however.

The lender in the commercial real estate place is generally in a great position.   Who after all takes the haircut in this "partnership"" if things don't go well?

The lender is almost always made whole.

If the debt markets are giving that much resistance I believe its a sign its not that great of an idea/project/investment.

Honesty is an expensive gift...don't expect it from cheap people.

Happy birthday Brandon!!!