All Forum Posts by: Travis Darden

Chris Low Chris you are 100% correct about the cost of a vacation. With my wife and four kids, $2,500 for a week is a steal! My hope is that I can get some smaller deals that are close to turn key. Expanding my network some to get some guidance. BP has taught me a lot with the calculators and wealth of knowledge you guys give. Really cool to interact. I know this will all work out. I haven't been this excited about a business in a very long time. Thanks again!

William Lewis I really want to sell the house in NOVA so bad. It's going to be the sales job of a lifetime to get my wife to agree to it. I think it will still rent b/c it's in a great desirable area. My hope is that someone makes us an offer we can't refuse. Until then, I'm pulling the equity out to make that money work some. Thanks for the advice!

The equity in the NOVA house is close to being put to work. Will keep you all posted! Thanks!

Thomas Wever You are right. I listen to BP Podcast faithfully and constantly educate myself thru reading. Gave up tv a long time ago. Time for action now. Thanks for your thoughts on the matter. The more I look at it, I def know enough to get started which hopefully my offer on a small multi will get accepted this week. Thanks again!

Drew Kessler I hear you. As I stated earlier in the post, I own a house in NOVA that has quite a bit of equity. I'm using the BRRR method. I guess without using the "rehab" part... Being a pro member, I'm sure you've heard Josh & Brandon talking about it. The class c properties in class b neighborhoods are very affordable around here in Indy; from what I can tell. I won't be offering more than 75% market value and will see who bites. That's the only way I can see myself sustaining the business I intend to grow. The answer is always no if I don't ask. That's what my career in sales have taught me...

Justin B. Thanks for your words of wisdom. I take 100% responsibility for my loss on my situation. I've just never put out money like that for "coaching" and it still feels weird but I'm getting over it. The approach you took is exactly what I'm doing now. I have one property here in the Indy area that I'm on the cusp of buying to get into the game. Securing financing right now and making an offer this week. Realizing the road of a thousand miles begins with one single step. Here's my step, keeping hope alive! Thanks again!

Dan D. Yes, I plan to reach back out to him. I still believe he's a good guy. He gave me some good tools. I was expecting a little more about the how. He gave me the basics but I feel like I was lead step by step and needed to have the whole story upfront. That's what got me more than anything. I believe if I called him or emailed, he'd connect back. I want to buy houses for cash flow more than anything. I will wholesale where I can but the idea is to replace my income eventually with rental income. Thanks for your point of view!

Jerry W. great advice. I'm afraid the rent is a bit on the higher side in the house we were living in but still own. However, the rents tend to be higher out in the DC/NOVA area and I very well could be looking at it all wrong... I'm definitely going to reassess to check if we should keep it or not. By not living there any longer, I'm going to need a solid property manager soon. I feel like I got lucky with the tenants I currently have. A realtor in the area found them for me and they pay early every month! I'm grateful for that.

@Patrick Desjardins yes, you are correct, turnkey or close to turnkey is more my speed right now.  Houses in Indy are not that expensive and it seems to be a solid rental market.  That's what I'm currently looking for.  I don't know enough about private lending or note lending but plan to put my money to work b/c right now, it's not doing anything.  @Edward Rhoads I am going to attend a CIREIA. I recently signed up for an email letter and have the new meeting schedule.  Great suggestion.  Plus, my wife is a GC and runs a construction company here locally (more commercial though).  Flipping would be a natural fit for us.  She's more the builder and I'm more the sales person... @Lee Smith I'd love to connect with you if you have the time!  With you being local, I promise not to waste your time.  I'm very serious about getting going.  You all have given me great insight and I'm glad I reached out on Bigger Pockets! 

Greg S, thanks for your advice sir, you are 100% correct S**t does happens and most of the time, we created it. I'm kicking myself b/c I didn't follow up as I self reflect. I'm 100% sure this business (REI) is for me. I work very hard as a GM for a major retailer and help make them a lot of $$$, growing the business about 5% a year on $20,000,000. I've been a successful GM over a decade. I'm 40 years old and have come to the conclusion that no matter how much I grow this company that I work for business, I'm not going to be able to control my schedule and destiny as the bar keeps getting higher and I'm getting paid the same and sometimes less (bonus), depending on what my monthly sales budget is... I have a good salary as well as my wife. I believe I can replace my salary in REI along with becoming an agent and my wife will keep her day job as she is climbing the corporate ladder. I'm a bit nervous about doing that but it has to be done as I want to have the flexibility to be able to be there for my kids when they need me. I'm going to keep working on my wife about the idea of selling the house in NOVA as you suggested. It is rented out now through next fall but I better plan to move (sell) on it as you said before we lose real dollars. Thanks again for your response! You guys are awesome!