Not Giving Up Yet

The "motivated" sellers countered back again. Originally, they said they wouldn't accept less than 160k. Now my new offer (read Monday's post) was countered with their new "firm" offer of no less than 150k. So far they have come down another 29k from their listed price. I'm willing to wait.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9
L.J. Cramer Properties

Should I Try Again?/ Mary Kay comes calling

Hola!
The "motivated" seller listing is still listed...FOR THE SAME PRICE!!! I looked at it on the 4th...of July! Go figure. I am going to put in an offer for 85K now and if they don't accept it, I'll wait another 30 days and put in another offer for 5k off of that. We'll see how it goes.

As you can see from the title I am now selling Mary Kay. A friend from church starting selling it and I asked her about it. I'm not into the recruiting thing but the products are good. I'm going in with my eyes wide open. If I make some money that will be fine with me.

We need a good, used car for hubby to get to and from work so I can have my van back and start going like gangbusters looking at properties. Keep praying for me okay? Thanks!
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9
L.J. Cramer Properties

PS- The MLS property I saw in September (read last post) was already under contract but the listing agent didn't take it off the MLS yet. Figures!

Got OTB (Off Track) Blues Part Deux

Wow! Didn't realize how long it had been since I posted last. Well the van situation is still at a stand still. No new prospects yet. I do have a deal in the works. Here's the scoop: My hubby saw a house that looked really rundown and came home to get me so I could look at it. It's a dump, basically a teardown and that's perfect for me. It's also not an REO so none of the hassle of trying to deal with the banks. I sent an email to my buyers agent who sent me the comps and an intent to purchase and she faxed it to the sellers agent. I also sent out an email to my buyers. It's an MLS property that says the seller is motivated but we were told that she couldn't go as low as my offer. The property is not worth what they want for it. Not even close so I told my agent it didn't sound like seller is as motivated as stated on MLS and didn't counter. Told her I'll let seller stew for a couple of weeks. Got an email a few days later from one of my buyers that they'll take property for max of 100k. Cool. Emailed my agent to counter. Now I have been waiting for seller to get back from vacation. At least that is what seller agent said.

Please pray for me. This will be my first deal and my family and I really could use the money for another van.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9
L.J. Cramer Properties

Got OTB (Off Track Blues)

Got off track the last few weeks. Hubby's van was totaled in an accident. He's okay, thank the LORD but now we're down to one vehicle and that's one of the reasons I haven't been consistent with my blogging or anything else dealing with real estate. I listened to a book on CD suggested by Steph over at Flip This Wholesaler. It's been helping me to focus better. Will give a better update tomorrow to start off a new month.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9
L.J. Cramer Properties

Lessons Learned From My New Cash Buyer

I know others have tried the technique of putting a fake property up on craigslist to get buyers. It is called a "ghost" ad. You essentially put up an ad similar to this:

"Handyman Special!!! 90K"

4bd/2ba in anytown USA. Get it before its gone!!!! email me:

yeahimadoofus@doofusisme.com for details!

Then when you get emails from investors you just tell them that the property went faster than you thought and get their info to put them on your buyers list. That's what I thought would happen. I got three emails wanting to know the address. Sent replies that it was gone before it was broadcast to craigslist because of my "exclusive" buyers list and would they like to be on it. Two didn't reply back but the third said he was a cash buyer, still wanted the address to run comps and to be in second place in case my "buyer" didn't close. I didn't know what to do because I didn't have a property. I totally lied and felt like a doofus. I posted the question at one of my favorite REI forums and waited to see what the people there would tell me to do because after all I had learned the technique there. I received varying replies but not the answer I needed. I replied back to my potential buyer that buyers on my "exclusive" buyers list would only have access to that info. and would he like to be on it. I left it at that but a few days later I still felt bad. I sent him another email this time spilling my guts and telling the truth. I was a newbie wholesaler who wanted to get buyers on my list and was given bad advice. I apologized and asked him if he wanted to still be on my list and asked him what he would look for in a deal. He replied back, gave me some good advice and wanted to be on my list.

Take it from me, it's best to tell the truth.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9
L.J. Cramer Properties

Procrastination Blues/Organization Rules

The title says it all. I am trying though. Organization is one of the most important aspects of personal life as well as business. You need to structure and use your time wisely. What I try to do is create a master list and break that down into smaller lists. From there I try to accomplish something from the smaller list. Doesn't always work out, but I try to get at least one thing done that I can cross off.

I have been using Outlook to help me run my REI wholesaling business. I create tasks for myself that I must complete each day:
*Such as, reading my bible (not REI but a must)
* running ads on craigslist
*reading other REI blogs (TampaSteph and her Flip This Wholesaler blog rules!:-)
*Twittering (tweeting?) - tool to find Cash Buyers (this is for another post all together:-)
*Facebook - another tool to find buyers
*etc,etc.
Thanks for reading!
Sincerely in Christ,
Leesa C.
Eph.2:8,9
L.J. Cramer Properties

The Beginning/Reasons For Venturing into REI

I am attempting to see if it is possible to start this business of Real estate wholesaling without the use of our own money. This blog will help me to brain storm ideas. Hopefully, it will also help others who want to start but don’t know what to do.

It will get me organized with all the thoughts I have in my head and make me accountable to myself. It will let others know what I do and streamline the process. It will be a daily reminder of why I am getting myself into this business.

My Top Ten Reasons For Starting My Real Estate Wholesale Business: (and the blog!:-)

1)Jerry - My wonderful husband

2- 8)Cecilia, Alayna, Miah, Sarah, Hannah, Rebekah, and Jeremiah Jr. - our six girls and one boy!

9) Money- The possibility of earning chunks of money to pay off the car, the house, and school loan is a great motivator! and will make us debt free!(Thanks to listening to Dave Ramsey:-)

10) Time - I have plenty of it during the day to focus on finding deals and buyers (just bring my littlest with me while older ones are at school)

Top Tens Reasons Why I Haven't Been More Consistent:

1) Fear - Talking to more experienced investors and potential buyers. I know it's stupid to be afraid of talking to people but it's because I still consider myself a newbie and haven't closed my first deal yet. I just get flustered talking to people I don't know. I WILL GET OVER IT!!!!

2) No real buyers list - just a bunch of wanna be investors from craigslist. (I can't figure out why people think it is so great to post stuff there? I haven't gotten too much from it.)

3) Lack of organization - you would think that with 7 children I would be more organized:-(
but I am starting to turn this around.

4) Marketing Plan - How to market to buyers (Cash Buyers not tire kickers) that will have them begging to be on my exclusive buyers list.

5) No Mentor - I think this is necessary

6) No money - to put into the business. You really do need some to market to buyers and sellers and for earnest deposits and such. I am finding out the hard way!. I also found out a long time ago that the gurus are bogus!!!!

7)-10) Fear of failure - need I say more? At this stage in my life, I have no time for it!

Thanks for reading!

Sincerely in Christ,

Leesa C.

Eph.2:8,9

L.J. Cramer Properties