All Forum Posts by: Chris Stephens

@Account Closed first of all I think it's awesome that you're trying to get into Real Estate at such a young age. I recommend you keep with it and try to learn as much as you can. 

As far as investing in Real Estate right now, wholesaling is not as easy as most people believe. It costs money and good set of negotiating/marketing skills. If you wanted to get into wholesaling I would suggest either working with other investors or talking with someone over the age of 18 willing to sign contracts or escrow docs on your behalf. 

I think working with other investors is a viable solution at your age. When meeting with them always make sure you are dressed professionally and act mature. Young people in Real Estate have many advantages and disadvantages. But, you can overcome some of those disadvantages by knowing the business and acting professional. 

If you were to do the alternative (Having someone over 18 sign). I would suggest you know the person fairly well and that they trust you with a lot of risk. This person could be a parent or a RE Investor you know. You can still be a main factor in the wholesale process but when it comes time to assign the contract or sign any legal documents you'll have to hand that responsibility over to someone else.

Regardless, I still think it's amazing that you're trying to get into RE so young. Keep pushing forward and when it comes time for you to start buying your own properties you'll be well ahead of the game. 

@Sergio Norzagaray welcome to BP. There's tons of information on this website and like the podcasts say BP can be a mentor in itself. Keep going with those podcasts and good luck to you in your Real Estate Investment journey.

Hello BP!

I'm looking to network with anyone and everyone involved in Real Estate. I'd love to connect and talk with each and every one of you. 

A little background about me: 

I got my RE license when I turned 18. I've worked as an acquisitions manager and project manager for a professional flipping company. I've invested commercially. And I even have an overseas investment currently taking place.

Please add me as a colleague if you'd like to share some knowledge back and forth.

Hi Dan,

There's a few things you have to look for whenever you're trying to find a good contractor. The first and most important thing would to make sure they're trustworthy. I would pay them step by step and inspect their work constantly. If you are flipping a house remotely, maybe partner with a local RE Agent so they have a vested interest in the project and can also check on the house. The next few things I would look for would be quality of work and price. You can usually work out a good price with contractors by offering them more houses in the future. As far as quality of work goes, making sure you pay them in stages and checking in often would allow you to inspect their work. The last thing I would check for is time. If a contractor can't finish a house within a timely manner you just can't use them. Time is money in this business and the longer it stays off market the longer you have to wait to do the next one. Hope this Helps!

Chris

Hello Cody and Welcome to BP!

It's great that you're interested in starting your Real Estate Journey. There are many great books out there, regarding wholesaling, that I would recommend. The first book I was introduced to was Flip by Nick Ruiz. I had a friend who was only 18 and made over $30k on his first deal after reading his book. Another book I've heard was good is Flip2Freedom by Sean Terry. There was another story about a 19 year old kid who made similar profits.

Another thing I would suggest to you is to go out and network with other investors and wholesalers. Once you have a little more knowledge on the specifics of wholesaling I would recommend going to meetups with other investors. Who knows what you might learn. You can even call those "We buy houses cash" signs. Call them up, tell them who you are, and explain that you'd like to learn from them. Hell maybe even join their team. Almost everyone would be willing to lend a hand, especially if you're ambitious and willing to put in the work. 

Hi Bryan and Welcome to BP!

It's great that you've decided to delve into Real Estate. It seems you've made some smart moves by already reading some RE books and soon to be networking with other investors. 

One question I have, would be to know what you exactly want from Real Estate. I see you're searching the market for properties, but for what purpose? You also said you found this deal on the MLS, does that mean you have your RE license? If so, congratulations! I know many people who've tried to take the test and give up after the first attempt.

@Barbara Phipps Thank you for the warm welcome and encouragement. I will add you as a colleague right now.

@Kristopher Hanks Thank you! I'm excited to start 2017 off strong.

Hello BP!

I thought it best to stop lurking on BP and actually introduce myself to the community. My name is Chris Stephens and I am currently a Realtor in the Southern California Area.

As soon as I turned 18 I decided to get my RE license and help sell my grandparent's house. After a long and stressful transaction I decided to take risk and move towards Real Estate Investing. I transferred my license over to Realicore Real Estate Services where they not only focus on buying and selling but also Real Estate Investing. 

I now also work for their sister company, Empire Investment Group, focused solely on Flipping houses. With the help of @DavidFriedman (My Broker), we've been able to create a steady flipping business. We are currently flipping 31 houses in the Southern California Area with a goal to flip 100 by the end of 2017.

As of now, my main priority is to help acquire new properties and private capital for our flipping business.

My Real Estate Goals:

1. Be flipping over 100 houses by the end of 2017.

2. Help 30+ new clients invest in Real Estate.

3. Work with new wholesalers to help achieve the goal of 100 houses.

4. Buy a personal house.

Please feel free to ask me any questions you'd like. Thank you.