Real Estate Investment "Gurus" | A List of The Imposters

We work with a few real estate investors, and as any rational person would surmise: Not every single deal is a "Knock It Out Of The Park Home Run".
Investing takes some up-front education, and patience. But what it requires most is time and money. I stumbled upon an excellent resource for real estate investment advice today. John T. Reed has a website that evaluates virtually every single investment guru/real estate investment seminar that's ever existed. He throws several famous "gurus" under the bus, and explains in detail why their methods are shady or to be avoided.

If you have been toying with the idea of real estate investment, let me offer you 2 absolute truths:
1.) Start small. A $150,000 single family residence rental can teach you more than half of everything you'll need to know. Don't lose your life savings going big, or you won't be able to go home.
2.) Ask yourself if the advice you are hearing seems plausible. If you have to "reach" for a reason to buy into an idea, you are setting yourself up for failure. Many MILLIONS of people have been duped by these infomercial nimrods promising that their brand-new methods will make you a millionaire in just a year or two.

Reed's exhaustive list of the scumbags who've bilked Americans out of millions is frighteningly long, and sometimes contested by those same guru's. They claim Reed just wants to sell his own ideas. Regardless of who is right or wrong, if you are serious about investing, head over to that list of dirtballs, and see if he has a take on one of them. He seems to have a great deal of insight, not to mention, clout.

Investors: Throw Your Money A Lifeline

Investors who are under age 50, and are looking for a little more oomph in their portfolio might want to take a second look (or first look, for that matter) at small-market real estate investments. They don't have to be big splashy multi-million dollar properties, to generate some very useful income. One example: parents of students going away to college would do well to buy a multi-unit investment property with 2-4 unit, and have their child live in one of them. Another example: buying a duplex in a smaller town than the one you are in, and seeing immediate cash flow, plus equity building.

I am having great success in several markets. Two different investors are making their 3rd and 8th purchases with me, respectively. The world of investment property can be high risk/high reward... But it can also be low-risk/high reward. That's where I come in.

Give me a call to talk about strategies, and what you are trying to achieve.

The stock market is not a sure thing, and frankly many sectors are overpriced. Real estate? We're just getting started! No bubbles on the horizon here.

Passive income is a beautiful thing, as long as it is as passive as possible...

Call us for a no-obligation chit-chat. (818) 261-8306.

The Truth About Business Vampires

We've all heard the sentiment:

"DON'T lend money to friends!"

If a friend or family in need is asking you for money, then help with no strings attached in a genuine way or don't do it at all.

The point I'm going to make here is that I've had the amazing privilege and honor to do business with my friends. Heck, the majority of my business is with just friends!

I am grateful for the trust, and respond to a friend's need to invest in real estate with the utmost care. Does it ever go wrong? It can when the person asking for help is actually insecure about what they want to do.

Here's what happened......

A friend asked me to help them find an investment property. For 4 years, I busted my butt. Time and time and time again, deals slipped right by..After 4 years, I realize that they are insecure about making a decision and had been consulting dozens of other people on what to do...Oh my gosh, I'm exhausted just remembering this. Why oh why did I waste so much time! .(Yeah, I held on for that long because I thought I owed my friend this amount of hard work and many many hours for nothing..) 

This person was what we call " an emotional vampire." In this case, we're talking about an emotional/financial vampire. 

"Whether or not they know it, vampires are driven by insecurity and weakness, infirmities that impede goodwill. This doesn't excuse their predatory acts." - Judith Orloff, M.D.

Dear Reader, if you're working with a Realtor who is a friend or family connection, ask yourself this first: why are you working with them?

Is it because you respect what they do and trust them? Then proceed full throttle forward!!

BUT if you yourself have fears and doubts about making a real estate investment, then please do your friend a favor, and be honest and say you're not ready. It is absolutely ridiculous, and ruinous to a relationship to waste a professional's time with your fantasies of being a real estate investor.

Proudly, I can tell you that I have repeat business with friends and have helped them make money on income properties... I love that part of my job the most!

If a friend of mine owns a business, I go to them first because I'd rather support a friend. 

Not because I want a discount. No, actually that makes me feel uncomfortable, I support them because I trust and respect what they do. Period. So if there are any other vampires out there, my door will always be closed.