Archive
Finding Good REI Teachers Makes All The Difference When Ashley and I got started in investing, we fell prey to one of the big-name teaching circuits. What I mean by that is we went to one of the free seminars, that led to the $100 class that was really a dog-and-pony show to sell their overpriced, and as I later found out, somewhat antiquated classes on how to become a real estate...
The best deal you’ll ever do About this time two years ago I wrote to you about a house that I was trying to buy for Ashley in a column titled “Don’t get emotional when making offers.” That was the one where I did get emotional and offered the seller double what he was asking for it… you read that right. The reason I got emotional was because it seemed like it was the house of Ashley’s...
My cheese moved… again Today I’d like to tell you about a little book that if you have never read, you really should. It’s called “Who Moved My Cheese?” by Spencer Johnson. It’s a tiny book that packs a huge amount of insight into how people should deal with change, and it’s in the form of a fable. The story starts by identifying four characters who spend their time exploring a maze...
Substance over form I had an interesting case come across my desk this week that had to do with a lease option going bad. At first, I typed “gone bad,” but the situation has not fully resolved, so I changed it. But it’s a great illustration of what not to do as an investor and I thought I would tell you about it so you don’t make the same mistakes. Lease options have become a popular exit...
Looking like professionals The cost of trade labor has gotten quite high lately in my opinion. I’m seeing some strange business practices with how companies are bidding jobs. And if you’re looking in the wrong places for help, it might cost you an unneeded arm and a leg — especially in the plumbing world. Let me explain what I mean by that. The first instance had to do with our...