Sharon Vornholt - Let's Talk Real Estate Investing

Some of the most lucrative deals you will ever come across are off market deals, and today I have some tips for finding these lucrative deals. There’s no doubt that there is a lot of competition for deals on the. However, the MLS isn’t the only source of good deals.  There are a lot of properties that are never listed by an agent and that’s what I want to talk about today. Show Notes: Here is a little bit of what you’ll learn today: What exactly off market properties are Why they are so lucrative The benefits of speaking directly with the seller of the property Your ability to do more creative deals when agents aren’t the people you’re talking to Creating a “win-win” for everyone that’s not focused solely on price How (and where) to find these deals 9 tips for success with off market properties Why probates are the “cash cow” of off market deals                                             Probate Investing Simplified If you don’t know how to get started with probate investing I can help.  You can become a p

Today I am on a myth-busting mission. I want to clear up 10 myths about probate investing that are keeping you from adding this lucrative niche to their business. These are common misconceptions investors everywhere have that just arent' true. Two of the biggest myths about probate investing are: Working in probates is complicated You have to know a bunch of "legal stuff". Most of you know that I have specialized in the niche of probates for over a decade now, so I know this niche well. These are some of the best deals you will ever come across, yet so many investors are reluctant to work with probates. It’s almost always because they just need a little more education, and they need a "mindset adjustment". My goal today is to clear up those myths about probates and show you why now is actually the perfect time to add this strategy to your investing business. So, let's dive in and bust those 10 myths. Want to Learn How Easy It Is to Become a Probate Investing Expert? I hope by now you understand that there h

I have talked about direct mail for a long time now. One thing that is so important to understand about direct mail is that you have to set up campaigns to be successful with this strategy. Creating absentee owner letters that get a great response all starts with consistency with your direct mail campaigns. Sending out a whole bunch of letters or postcards once or even a couple of times is just a waste of money.  Direct mail is a long-term strategy. Before we move on to creating absentee owner letters that actually get a great response, I want to spend a little time going over the basics of direct mail. What Exactly is a Direct Mail Campaign? A direct mail campaign is an ongoing process of sending mail pieces to your target audience. It is not a one or two-time event where you mail to your prospects. For most groups of motivated sellers, my rule is that I mail everyone every month so long as the house is still available. There are some types of off-market deals like foreclosures that will have a different tim

I have people ask me this question all the time: "How do I find time for marketing"?The short answer is you don't "find it". You don't wait for it to "show up". You block out time in your schedule for marketing just like you would an important appointment.  Marketing is the lifeblood of your business, so it has to be on the top of your to-do list. I'll take it one step further. Marketing is your #1 job before anything else.  You won't have any properties to look at if you don't have a marketing plan for consistently generating leads. People will say, "Well, what about negotiation? Or, what about getting comfortable talking to sellers? Everyone needs to get better at these, right?" Yes, you do. But, you have to have potential deals before you ever need to know how to do any of these other things. Everything is Important Lead generation, running comps, marketing, branding, negotiation, talking to sellers; these (and a million more) are all skills that you need to develop.  However, at the end of the day, everyt

Have you ever been confused about the difference between marketing and branding in your real estate investing business? I can tell you that you’re not alone.  It’s so important to be doing both of these 2 things simultaneously, and today you’re going to find out what the reason. Quote “Marketing is how you get leads, and branding is why they choose you. “ Show Notes Here is just a sample of what you’ll learn in today’s show:  The difference between marketing and branding What comes first? Marketing or branding and why? Knowing how to define what are marketing activities The purpose of building a strong brand right from the beginning Your budget and how it affects your marketing decisions Choosing your marketing strategies based on your “situation” Building a marketing machine that works 24/7 Tips for building brand awareness The best type of content to create for fast results with your marketing and branding Quote: “Your ability to master marketing and branding will likely determine the success or failure o

Getting started in real estate investing can be tough at times. If you're feeling a little stuck; if you’re not moving forward at the pace that you would like to; then this show is for you.   Listen in today as my guest Farrah Ali tells you how she built an impressive portfolio of 38 rentals, completed six flips, and did 21 wholesale deals in just six short years.  However, it took 9 months from her first deal to get her second deal, and she’s going to tell you why that was a blessing in disguise. Farrah is also an author, and she has a brand-new course that she will tell you about. If you’re looking for inspiration, you will find it in this show.   Show Notes Here is some of what we talked about in this show: How this single mom of two with a full-time job got started in real estate investing The light bulb moment when she realized that in spite of having an advanced degree and a good paycheck, she could never attain the lifestyle she wanted just with her job Why she chose real estate investing as her “side

Today we’re going to do a deep dive into how to build wealth through real estate while traveling the country and completely stepping away from the day-to-day operations of your business. After all, it’s 2021, and real estate investors can do everything remotely. So if you are someone that has this dream in the back of your mind; you dream of building a team to run the day-to-day operation of your business and of having enough passive income through real estate so that you can travel the country (while you’re still young enough to enjoy it). If that sounds like you, you’re going to love this show, because that’s just what today’s guest April Crossley has done. April retired at the age of 35 from a 13-year career in healthcare by investing in real estate. She sold her house this past year and now travels the US full-time in our RV with her husband and her dog while still doing real estate deals.   Show Notes It’s not just luck that lands you with this lifestyle.  You need systems and processes for all the thing

Buying and managing long-distance rental property has always been challenging for most investors. Typically, when we think of long-distance rental property, we are thinking about the property located in another state. My guest today, Billy Keels, has taken that one step further. Billy lives in Barcelona, Spain but he invests in the US in his hometown of Columbus, Ohio, and several other areas.  In spite of the geographic distance between him and his rental property, he has found a way not only to make it work but to build a successful and profitable business at the same time. His rental portfolio continues to grow as he teaches others how to achieve the same success he has attained.   Show Notes If you’ve ever thought about moving into another market, you’re going to find this show fascinating.  Here is just some of what you’ll learn today: Billy’s path to figuring out that his high-paying corporate job and the investing strategies he was utilizing at that time wouldn’t be enough to secure his future. Buying

Are you at that point in your business where you know you need help? Hiring an acquisition manager just might be at the top of that list.  Today, my guest Mitch Stephen has some tips for hiring an acquisition manager whether it's your first one or your next one. Real estate investors want to know things like: When should you hire one, and once you make the decision to hire an acquisition manager, what do you look for in that person? Also, how do you pay them? We're also going to dive into seller financing in this show and a whole lot more. San Antonio investor Mich Stephen has purchased more than 1500 houses. He is also the author of 3 books. I think it's safe to say he knows a thing or two. Show Notes Mitch is always generous when it comes to sharing his knowledge.  Here are just some of the things we talked about in this show. Mitch's story and how he got started. The downside of being a "one-man show" like most businesses start out Why doing business this way keeps you from growing Preventing burnout The

Do you ever wish marketing was easier?  Could it be that you're making it harder than it actually is?  Probably so.  I know I did at one time. One way to make it easier is by learning to tell your compelling story. One important component of successful marketing is having a strong brand working for you behind the scenes. If you do a good job of branding, all your marketing will work better.  Today, I want to talk about one important component of marketing and branding which is learning to tell your compelling story. Everyone has a unique story that plays an important part in creating their brand.  But you have to become an expert at telling your compelling story. If you think about it for a minute, one of the first things someone asks you when they first meet you is, "What do you do"? This is where it begins. Show Notes I’m going to break it down for you in this show so that you’ll know exactly to tell a compelling story that generates more leads in your business. The reason you need to get good at this, and

I have a book review for you today.  The book is called “You Are a Badass” by Jen Sincero.  I picked up the book first because of the title.  Who can resist a great title, right?  And who doesn’t want to be a badass? I read this book when I was on vacation some time ago, and I loved it. The book bills itself as a self-help book, but I think it’s more of a self-confidence builder. These are things most of us already know but need to be reminded of from time to time. “You Are a Badass” is about getting clear about what makes you happy, what makes you feel most alive, then creating that reality instead of pretending you can’t have it or what’s even worse, just settling for the life you find yourself in. This book challenges you to go from “wanting it” to “deciding” you are going to change so you can have it (whatever “it” is). Show Notes Here is a sample of what you’ll find in the book: Part 1: How you got that way: Self-limiting beliefs Part 2: How to embrace your inner badass Part 3: How to tap into the “moth

Lately, I’ve been thinking about how branding, your reputation, and success go hand in hand. However, this is what I know for sure: Marketing is how you get leads, and branding is why they choose you! This is why branding is so important. Marketing and branding are so connected that if you mess one of them up, it will always affect the other one, and that’s what I want to talk about today.  Your brand and your reputation can quickly become tainted, and these don’t have to be significant events that cause the problem. It can be a series of small events, mistakes, or just general sloppiness. Here’s an Example Protecting my brand has been on my mind because I recently was part of a summit that disappointed me and, quite frankly, left me a little embarrassed.  That person’s “mess” was going to make me and everyone else involved with this project look sloppy. While this wasn’t directly my problem, it affected how I would be perceived. You should always be aware of how things will affect your brand so that they don

The topic of today’s show is Gen Z and Technology. This generation is changing the way we will need to do business going forward.   Who is Gen Z and Why Are They Different? Gen Z is the first generation in history to be born into a world where everything is digital. They have never known another way of doing things. Because of this, business is changing rapidly, and if you don’t change the way you do business, you will be left behind. Your business will become obsolete. Simply put, Gen Z will not do business with companies that cannot meet their needs. In today’s show, you’re going to learn precisely who “Gen Z” is and how this generation will help you grow your business.   Louisville Gal’s Real Estate Blog Stop by the Louisville Gal’s Real Estate Blog for more great content and some awesome freebies.       .

If you're using direct mail in your business now, you're going to love this show today. My guest is Justin Silverio from Open Letter Marketing. Today you're going to learn how you can increase your direct mail results by 400% or more by adding one simple (and very affordable) thing to your direct mail campaigns. Who doesn't want to do that, right? Show Notes Here are some of the things we talked about in this show. Why this seasoned real estate investor decided to start a direct mail company Response rates for direct mail marketing nationally Getting your mail pieces opened Ringless Voice Mail Why combining these 2 things makes such a dramatic difference in your response rates Google Street View Postcards and how to use them How to increase your direct mail results by 400% or more And so much more.   Be sure to stop by the Louisville Gal’s Real Estate Blog for more great content.       .

My guest today is my friend Bill Walston, and we're talking about master lease options. This is one of the creative buying strategies that Bill uses in his business and has for more than 3 decades. You have to admit that this is a fascinating concept. The master lease option strategy allows anyone to invest in commercial property with no money down and without ever going to a bank.  Even more fascinating is the idea that this strategy works for pretty much any type of property that has units that are leased. A lot of people think the master lease option strategy is complicated, but you're going to learn that just isn't the case.   What types of Property Does this Strategy Work For? Most of us think of apartment buildings when we think of master lease options and those are certainly at the top of the list.  Bill has put somewhere in the neighborhood of 50 properties in his portfolio in the last 4 years (there could be more by the time this is posted). But there are many other types of properties that will work

My guest today is Rahul Visal from National RE Invest, and the topic is transitioning from engineer to buy-and-hold real estate investor.  Rahul was born and raised in India and is an engineer by trade.  Before becoming a full-time real estate investor, he had a successful career at companies like Boeing and Caterpillar.  Rahul has 3 US patents for his innovative and creative designs, however, he knew that even that didn’t guarantee him job security. At the age of 40, Rahul walked away from his corporate job when his rental portfolio reached 15 single-family houses. Today, he has over 150 single-family homes. Show Notes: Here is some of what we talked about: How Rahul transitioned from engineer to buy-and-hold investor and build a large portfolio of rental properties (150+) His original plan: buy two properties, hold them long term, then sell them to pay for college for his two sons down the road Getting started: his first deal Why having the right mentor changed everything for Rahul The reason knowing your

There are many ways to make money in real estate.  My guest is Mitch Stephen the topic today is money. Specifically, we are going to talk about 3 types of money: One-time money temporary money, and forever money Show Notes Here is just a sample of what we talked about in this show: How Mitch got started: building an empire The turning point that changed everything Breaking down the 3 types of money:  one-time money, temporary money, and forever money. Advice on where a new investor should start The profile of Mitch’s perfect student The thing that successful students have in common Why you really can’t get everything “free” on the internet. Why you should invest money in your education (and why Mitch still does) His final advice for building a successful investing business   You can reach out to Mitch at Mitch@1000Houses.com. Be sure to check out his podcast here at RE Investor Summit. Don’t forget to stop by the Louisville Gal’s Real Estate Blog for more great content.       .

Overcoming procrastination is vital to the success of your business. So much so that when procrastination becomes habitual, it often becomes the silent killer of your business. You’re not even aware of the extent of the damage it’s doing. Let’s face it, we've all been guilty of procrastination at one time or another. However, when it becomes a chronic problem that's when the real damage occurs. Show Notes Procrastination: why do we do it when it only makes us feel bad? Why procrastination can cause your business to fail Procrastination and your bottom line How “Woulda, shoulda, and could a” will steal your peace of mind Taking small steps to stop procrastination Learning to “eat that frog” the first thing in the morning Why taking concrete action steps and setting a date will change everything Getting specific about what you need to do (and putting it on a calendar) Resources Mentioned in this Show Eat this Frog by Brian Tracy The Miracle Morning by Hal Elrod Seth’s Godin’s Blog Upwork for outsourcing   B

Today we're going to dive into the exact steps to building wealth through real estate. How would you like to learn how to buy 5 houses in 2 years and pay them off in 7 years?  In today’s show, Chicago investor Andrew Holmes lays out his unique 2-5-7-method of building wealth through real estate with rental properties so that you are able to achieve financial freedom with assets that produce income year after year. You will also learn that you don’t need a lot of money to get started. Andrew lays out a clear path that anyone can follow, in any market. Be sure to check out the link below where you will find out more about his next 3-day event, “Building an Empire”.  Show Notes This show is pure content! Here is just a sample of what you will learn today.  Andrew dives deep into each one of these topics: The 2-5-7 method explained for wealth building through real estate Rapid portfolio building: The exact 5-step process Buying the right property Finding the money to fund your deals What is the rental ratio? How

My guest today is a successful rehabber, Beka Shea. Beka is a wife and the mother of 3 daughters. She is an engineer by trade.  Beka also spent 4 years in the Navy. Part of that time was spent on an aircraft carrier, so she has an interesting story to tell when it comes to how she became a successful rehabber. If you're wondering how to make the decision to ditch the "9 to 5", you will hear how Beka left a job she loved and took a leap of faith, and dove headfirst into entrepreneurship. Show Notes Here are some of the highlights of this show: Beka’s childhood dream of becoming a Navy pilot How she went from a Navy aircraft carrier to a successful rehabber Choosing to leave a great job she loved, to choose to build a lifestyle business that put her family first How she became a successful rehabber with 3 small children Scaling up: how she built a successful rehabbing business while slowly building her team Why you have to do the basics well in one real estate investing strategy before falling victim to anothe