Here we go! - Allison's Journal

So I'm waiting to hear from this seller. I talked to him once last week briefly and asked him if he wanted to get rid of the property and he said maybe and he'd have to show me the property because he bought it with the intention of doing a fix-and-flip but only got half way through it. Anyway, it's been a week and a half since I heard from him and I did call him once 3 days a go to let him know I was going to be in the area if he could show me the house, but no response. So I don't know what to do.

That's it for now.

OK so I know my journal isn't that interesting to everyone, but I'm doing this because I want to remember what was going on in my life when I made my money! Someday I will look back at this....I wonder where I'll be then.

Anyway, my life is in complete chaos. I know I've probably said it before but wow has it taken a downward spiral. This time it's on a very serious, and personal level. Lets just say I don't know if I'll be married when I look back at this journal in the future. Why is life so horrible to good people? I'm so sick of being ---- on! So I'm giving myself 3 years to become financially independent and in a position where I can take care of myself and my children. Is this possible? really? Am I out of my mind? Can I do this for the rest of my life? Will I be able to provide for a family on my own? What the F--- am I doing?!?! Maybe I'm overreacting..........I don't know right now but I know I need this more than anything else in the world! Holy S--- this is ridiculous! How has my life gotten to this point?!?!

I have to figure this out! I have to make this a real business! I have to figure out the magic formula that has been eluding me. I will do this!!!!!!!!

Allison,

Your journal is not boring and is interesting. It's definitely good to have to look back on someday. I'm sorry to hear you're going through a tough time right now. My prayers are with you. Yes, it is possible to make it with real estate. Try to keep focused on your goals. Somedays might not be as good as others but, there's always tomorrow. Take one day at a time. Like you I have kids and want the best for them too. Keep in touch.

Cheryl

P.S. I see your from Long Island. We're in Jersey.

I can't believe how long it's been since I've been on here! So sorry everyone! I've just been preoccupied with LIFE! I can't stand how that happens, but I can't deny it either. Anyway, I unfortunately don't have much to report except that I am looking into doing a possible lease option with a property on my block. I just don't know too much about it, so I have been on here reading and going back to the books.

SEE this is what gets hard for me! And aggrevating too. I know Dean teaches you to find one strategy you like and stick to it. But how can I do that when I find amazing opportunities that I know I or someoone else can really profit from, even though it doesn't fit the strategy I'm supposed to be following?!?!

So that's where I'm at today. Good thing is I've made more contacts in REI and am finally feeling more confident in my ability to contact the right person when I have questions or potential deals to pass on. It's taken almost a year, but I am ready to step out of my protective shell I've been hiding in. For real this time!

I'll post again when something happens. Thanks for listening!

I think you let the deal tell you what strategy to use. If the owner owes too much and wholesaling/assigning won't work then what do you do? Lease/option!! I think it is a good idea to learn all the "no money down" strategies and stick to them until you have the capability to do more advanced deals.

Good for you! Taking action will get you where you want to be. It is not easy but it is the ONLY way. Step out of that shell, you will be amazed at the knowledge you gain and the people you meet.

Michael Mangham
MD Home Acquisitions LLC

it has been a while since your last post... you shouldn't wait until 'something happens'. Everything you are doing for your rei is that something-every little step will get your there!

Karen is pretty knowledgeable with lease options-you should read her posts...

I'm glad to hear that you are taking action; that's the only way to achieve success!

Learning and progressing every day,
Valerie

I appreciate the comments so much! Thank you for noticing my dedication. And yes action taking is key. I'm trying. But I must work on my organization and time skills. I must admit I notice that I don't utilize it to the best of my ability. So now I'm off to build my buyers list again!

Yet again, I have fallen in to another rut. Every time I think I'm on an upswing, something knocks me back down. Life is absolutely amazing! I can't seem to catch a break. So here I am again apologizing for being absent on this site which I love so much.

Those of you who have been around know I've had many ups and downs. And yes I still have not completed a deal. I guess I get an 'A' for effort. I do start the wheels going, but they lose momentum and die quickly. I know where my issues are as far as my exit strategy and my deal origination, and I've been working on that a lot. Actually right now I have 20 offers out with the agent I've been working with. And I am beginning to work with another investor (who was on my buyers list) who is interested in possibly partnering with me as long as I prove myself. BUT my main obstacle is TIME!!!!! There simply isn't enough. Now before you say I need to learn to prioritize, let me explain. Yes I have 2 young boys, and I work 2 part time jobs, and have a husband who hasn't been the most supportive of this endevor BUT really it's so much more on top of it!

My stress level is through the roof! My mother was just diagnosed with breast cancer. My day job now is in health care....I am a sonographer and do ultrasounds, and I am the one who found it! So this has been a huge development. She's due to have a mastectomy in 3 weeks. I bare the responsibility of taking care of her because I am an only child and she is divorced and living with her parents right now. Plus, my uncle has to have a heart valve replaced some time in the next month so my aunt can't help out too much either. I know people will say just drop REI for now and come back to it, but I can't because my financial situation has gotten so bad we are in danger of losing our house! We are looking into a modification that will hopefully help, but who knows. And my lap top got a virus and I lost all of my REI documents (thank God Dean has a bunch on here), but I can hopefully get the computer fixed. So I really do need this to work out now! Oh and I have a corneal abrasion because my son scratched my eye 4 days ago! Boy is that painful! I feel like a broken record. I just can't comprehend this all! It's so ridiculous!

I know I am such a complainer on here, but it's just because it feels better to let it out somewhere. And I have hope that someday I will be able to look back at this all and reflect on where I've been and what I will accomplish! (But honestly I'm getting sick of the rags to riches/ down on my luck story line.) Why me? I don't know. But thank you to everyone here for proving to me that it is possible. And especially thank you to Dean for providing a light at the end of the tunnel every week. I need the inspiration!

Good luck to everyone! Thanks for listening. Take care.

Hello All who are up in the middle of the night like me.

I have been away helping my mom and trying to deal with my messy life. More bills, less money, and no time to myself. What in the world am I going to do?

In 2 weeks wewill be 3 months behind on our mortgage, and they arwe going to put in a lis pendens to start foreclosure on us. I'm hoping to be able to pay another month with our paychecks this coming Friday BUT if I do we won't have anything left for 2 weeks after that! And next Saturday is my son's 4th birthday! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT'S GOTTEN THIS BAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

wHAT IN THE WORLD AM i GOING TO DO? (other than lose my mind?)

I'm not complaiing at this point. I just wondered if anyone has any advice. I'm just at the point where I'm barely functioning anymore. My head is spinning and I can't think straight. I can't even tal to my husband because he flips out, and I can't burden my mother now. Is there a govt agency that provides financial advice or something? Should I try a free consult with an attorney? I found someone who would apply to modify my mortgage but they want te money up front, AND GUESS WHAT---- I DON"T HAVE IT!

What would you do? Really i'm grasping at straws here. I'm at such a loss.

I'm sorry if this bothers anyone on here. I'm not trying to whine or plead for help. I just really don't know what to do..........

Well, it looks like we're not going to foreclose on my house. Instead we're doing a bankruptcy, chapter 13. never thought I'd be happy saying those words, but apparently there is a way to get rid of our second mortgage (we have an 80/20 which originated in 2006) by doing a bankruptcy and including it if we can prove that the value of the property has gone down under the amount owed on the first mortgage, thus defining the second mortgage as unsecured debt due to devaluation. I was told this by an attorney who's been in business for 50 years, so I believe him. However if anyone has heard anything to the contrary please tell me now!

Also, my mother has not been doing well with her chemo treatments. Her blood work is out of control and she has an infection that won't go away even after 3 weeks of antibiotics. I'm really hoping they figure this out soon. She's very anxious and stressing which isn't helping her recovery.

I'm looking into doing lease options now. I'll post more later.

Good to hear Allison!!
Hopefully this will make it affordable for you going forward. Sorry to hear about your mom, I hope she gets better.

Richie

never ever give up!!

Hey Allison, Just finished reading your journal. While you think everything is upside down and backwards and it might be for the moment. You are an actual inspiration to me and I'm sure others on this site. Your journal SHOWS persistence and drive that most of us can only aspire for. I know you can and will, IT'S WRITTEN ALL OVER THESE PAGES. Keep up on your journal and your chin up also.

success in REI
Garold

Hello All.

It's literally been months since I've been on this site, but I'm back! My mom had her last chemo treatment last week!!!!! Yay! It's over. her doctors are still recommending radiation treatment, but she's undecided if she is going to do it. The decision is hers. I told her today , she just has to make a choice and be committed to that choice because there is no going back. Either way I am proud of her for all that she's endured up to now. It's been a long and interesting jorney, and I'm more motivated than ever to do this!

I just wanted to say a quick "HI" to those of you who know me, and reaffirm that I am committed to my soon to be REI business. I am no longer afraid. I know there will be obstacles, but after all that I've experienced recently I realize I have no excuses not to live the life I so desire for me and my loved ones! I can and will do this!

Life is short. Opportunities are everywhere. You only live once! I intend on LIVING! Up until now I've just been surviving. No more! You watch. I'm back and different. I'm ready. Lets go!

Oh yeah, I've changed my strategy. I am most interested in lease options, so Karen if you read this I will be needing your advice! Anything else I can't do myself I will pass on to other investors I know in my area and accept a finder's fee.

Best wishes everyone!

Hey Allison Welcome Back,

Your journal is truly inspiring. I can truly relate to alot of what you have posted and Like you I am ready to get it up and going. Thanks for your posting.

Wishing you the best of luck.

Thank you for reading it and commenting. I've been in therapy for about 3 months and realize how much it helps to let out your issues and have them acknowledged by someone else. So, thank you for listening and sharing. I really do appreciate it.

Best wishes,
Allison

Hey Alliso have you read the book Totally Fulfilled by dean well if you haven't

here it is its a free download
http://www.deangraziosi.com/download-totally-fulfilled-form

It is very moving and its about life, your changes, goals, your time, your way of thinking.

you inspire me to write my journal one day but im still studing the books and learning.

thanks for your thoughts
nick

Hello Allison, I haven't been on here for a while and coincidently popped on today and saw your post. Great to hear your mom is still fighting. That in itself must have been exausting. Glad to hear your moving forward, I havent done l/o so i cant help you there but there are plenty of people that are able to guide you through it.
Anything I can help you with I believe you have my # and e-mail. Hope all is well on the home front and I wish you luck on your new path. Dont be afraid to make a mistake that is how you learn.
Never EVER give up!!
Richie.

I appreciate your input. I will make this work ASAP. I'm just working on covering myself legally first. There have been a few snags brought to my attention reently due to my current financial situation (we had to declare chapter 13 in order to get out from under our house and get rid of our second mortgage). I'm over being embarassed about it since so many people have foreclosed on their homes, at least we had a way to avoid that. BUT now I am not able to incur any debt over $1500 in the next 5 years. I think I'm going to start a seperate forum topic about this to ask if others here have been in similar situations (I know some of you have).

Wish me luck. I know I can do this I just have to figure out how (again).

I am undergoing the same problems. We filed last fall. Start your forum post I will check in I want to see the feedback.

Good luck

Hey Erika,
If you haven't seen it, here's the forum I posted:
http://www.deangraziosi.com/real-estate-forums/financing-and-credit/1166...

I hope it links okay, I can't tell when writing the comment.
Anyway, I hope it helps you some. But some of the responses are contradictory, so you may need to go back to your bankruptcy attorney and ask him/her to clarify.

Like the crazy I am, I bought the IE program! I'm not loving it as much as some. I have my opinion on some of the restrictions it has, but the access to the education there is awesome! I swore to my husband that I will do this and it will be worth the investment, and GUESS WHAT? He wants to go with me to the Dean event in our area next week! Can you believe it?! The man who's been such a thorn in my side now wants to see why I love Dean so much and what his teachings offer? He said he wants to try and understand what it is I want to do? I'm so pleased he's finally getting on board!

I just had to let you know that! I'm hoping this can be my turning point, because it's been hard wihout his support.

Also, I'm scheduled for my life coach call on Tuesday. I hope that helps too.
I'll update you all soon.