All Forum Posts by: Whitney Sewell

Hello Christopher.  Thank you for your service.  

I would prefer boots on the ground other than a realtor.  There are services now that you can hire that will take 100's of photos for you and send them to you.  BP also just put out a book called Long Distance Investing by David Greene.  

Sounds like you have done some homework if you have a trusted realtor and management team.  I find that no one is going to look at a property like you do when it isn't their money being invested.  It would be worth paying a friend in that area a few hundred to look over the property for you and take lots of photos to send to you.  An employee of a management company that was head of maintenance I connected with offered to look at a property with me.  He was very valuable because he had seen all the issues that were coming my way with the specific type and age property that I was considering.  

I am in VA and familiar with TN and NC. Let me know if I can help.

There are tons of information on BP about house hacking and no money down deal.  Brandon Turner wrote a great book about it.  

I do not know any owner that would sell you a property with no money down knowing you plan to move in and manage it with no previous experience.  You need something to offer to that seller.  Can you get a second job?  Is there a way to increase your income where you currently work?  Can you work weekends or overtime and save that money for a year to have something to put down?  Can you live with a friend to lower your current rent/mortgage?  

You could find distressed properties that someone really needs to sell.  They will be more likely to take a couple thousand down and possibly seller finance.  Live there, remodel it as you can, then sell.  

Depending on the city regulations, maybe you can find a large distressed house and convert it into a duplex or triplex.  

Keep reading and educating yourself. Go to local meetups and REI clubs. I like your desire to make something happen and for looking for ways to improve your situation. It can be done and there are plenty of people who are willing to help.

Reach out if I can help.  

All clubs are not created equal.  More times than not I have found it to be very worthwhile going to them.  Even when I am traveling I will try to go to new groups in that area and meet more people.  I have made many friends and have helped me in many ways and that I try to help also.  Some clubs put out great content and have great speakers.  This is great if you are new to RE investing.  Either way, you should be focused on networking.   If you don't go, you are definitely not going to meet anyone there, if you go, it is very possible you will meet people that are more experienced and that are willing to help.  The key is to talk to people.  Make good connections.  Then, and most importantly, follow up with them and provide value.  Never take for granted who you are talking to and how they can connect you to someone else that is just the connection you have been looking for.  I've seen it happen many times.  What do you have to lose?  

This is great @Nick Aalerud!  I noticed this was posted five years ago, but all very relevant to every day in the real estate investing world.  I can relate to each of these.  Thank you for the detail you provided for each.  

Very excited about the conference! @PaulMoore and @DougPrice you still have time to get your tickets. 

Thank you @Aaron Howell.  I look forward to it.  

Is this group still meeting @Stephanie W.?  

I am looking forward to coming to your meeting soon.  Is it every month on the last Thursday and at the same place? 

@Terie Parkin, you also explained my experience with RDPD coaching.  They have professional salesmen/speakers who get you emotionally hooked (they are really good at this).  Then they teach you how to get your credit limits raised so you can purchase their programs.  Unfortunately we spent a lot of money for their coaching just to find out the classes were all fluff.  No structure to really help you hit the ground running.  Many people in the same class as I spent 40k to 50k on their coaching and lost it all.  I have learned a lot form Robert Kiyosaki's books and am surprised/disappointed that he would be affiliated in any way with such programs.   

Seems there are many good coaching programs out there.  If anyone has any success stories with coaches please keep posting them.  

Whitney

We use Greg Harrell. He owns Paychecks Plus in Roanoke. He has been doing taxes for like 40 years and works with many companies and investors. His number is 5407765191.