Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Travis Darden

Travis Darden has started 5 posts and replied 43 times.

Post: Hustled by a friend and I blame MYSELF!

Travis DardenPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 46
  • Votes 16

Steven Picker, you are right and I completely blame myself for not following through, the crazy thing is that I'm still getting a few calls from the leads I got from him.  I "feel" like he wasn't as straight forward with me but I have gotten over that.  I own it.  I still plan to work those leads and make my money back and then some.  Prioritizing the time has been my issue... 

Post: Rent 1st home to enter REI?

Travis DardenPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 46
  • Votes 16

I have a very similar situation.  I have a home in the DMV area that we are renting out that was my first home.  We built it 10 years ago and it's in a great area (Fairfax County).  I want to sell it, but my wife wants to keep it.  She inherited the land from her father and it has sentimental value to her.  Doesn't mean as much to me.  We do have it rented out and the tenants have been great.  They renewed the lease and I'm excited about that.  My concern is that if and when it's not rented out, we will be paying a 3k mortgage a month for a house we don't live in.  We currently live in Indianapolis in another house we own so we are not local anymore... I will admit, it keeps me up at night.  The only saving grace is that the house has 125k of equity in it and I need to use that to buy some investment properties out here in the midwest so that I can start making some other cash flow.  So good luck!  I understand what you are thinking b/c I'm in the middle of that too.  Working so far!  #cautiouslyoptimistic :-)  

Post: Hustled by a friend and I blame MYSELF!

Travis DardenPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Indianapolis, IN
  • Posts 46
  • Votes 16

Allow me to reintroduce myself, my name is Travis and I'm a recovering procrastinator. Which, procrastination seems to be a disease I've been fighting forever. I live in Indianapolis, moved here from the Northern VA area (DMV) a little over a year ago. Reaching out for advice from you professionals out here in BP Land. A few months ago, I connected with an old colleague of mine that I trusted. He's been wholesaling successfully for about two years now (maybe more) and now has a coaching business. I KNOW the guy or thought I did and trusted that he could help me get started in the business. I've been reading and studying REI for about a year or so now (procrastination or paralysis by analysis). Anyway, to make a long story short, I connected with this former friend and he told me he could help me for a low cost of $2,500 ($500 discount) for his starter program. It looked good. He's in the business full time, making a living and has really overcome some challenges that were pretty admirable. I've heard Josh and Brandon say so many times NOT to pay for programs like this but I did it anyway, thinking I could trust a friend that is in the business. Going against what I've been learning on the BP Podcast and on this website, I sent this friend $2,500 via PayPal to get my business going. And boy do I regret that. It started off with a couple of calls from him, video calls and how to get yellow letters out there. He got me some leads in my area that got me quite a few phone calls and inquiries. What I didn't realize is that wholesaling is a JOB and I already have one of those that I work 50 hours a week. So I made some connections with potential sellers, lots of low ball haggling and some not so nice folks on the other end of the virtual line. It felt dirty. So I just stopped. My day job is already pretty demanding and on top of that, I'm married and father of four small children. My time is already limited. I do have a nice home that we were living in in NOVA and is now renting out. Own a nice home here in Indy too. Basically the mortgage is getting paid in NOVA and I'm clearing about $75 a month after I pay the mortgage on it, along with the home warranty I have on it just in case something breaks. I have a handyman back there that takes care of anything for me, luckily the house is only 10 years old. I have EXCELLENT tenants that has just renewed the lease for another year. I realize now what I really wanted to do was be an investor, not exactly a wholesaler... But I get that you kind of have to do both to get some properties under your belt. I'm regrouping now with plans to buy multi-families in Indianapolis as the housing prices are really good here in comparing to where we moved from. I have about $125K of equity in the house in NOVA and I was looking to use it to get started here in Indy. I have a realtor that's been sending me multi's but I'm quickly realizing that this is not her expertise... I've licked my wounds and ready to get back in the game. Any advice?