Mike's Blog

                                            What is the matter with people.

 I want to say " Do I look that Stupid?"

                  Don't answer that!!!!

      Today I had an appointment to look at a house to purchase. The current tenants in the home want to stay, and knew  I was coming. They really would like to buy the house from us if we can make a deal. The home is very clean for the shape its in...The sellers say there is nothing wrong with the roof, electrical, and plumbing. Sounds good, lets get the inspection out of the way and set a closing date!!

Based on the outside, and other data, I make a preliminary offer subject to clear title and a thorough home inspection. When I arrived, the nice lady of the house met me and was so pleased to show me every issue in the home. Again, they had lived there for some time, and actually wanted to purchase the home if it could be put in decent repair.

The perfect house had a few issues the seller forgot to mention:

1. Three massive interior ROOF leaks
2. Interior mold colonies in these leak areas that are visible.
3. Recent hack job of installing 18 year old AC air handler in the hall closet.
4. Unsupported floor Joice from being cut out to install said air handler (major structural defect!)
5. Rats and other various pest issues from holes in flooring.
6. Tub falling thru the bathroom floor, (see issue with removing two floor joist above) IDIOTS!!!
7. Hot water heater installed in Kitchen next to gas stove
8. Main electrical panel is only 50 amps for the whole house, also in kitchen; in the cabinet
9. All carpets are clean, but thread bare, old,, old,,,,old
10. Electrical outlets in whole front of house do not work, cords running along the walls from the back
11. Front door is not used due to hard to open... I could not open it,,,tilting house due to floor joist(see above!!!)

Aside from these issues, we had already planned on stuccoing the exterior, doing landscaping and removing several overgrown trees from over the roof. Now, we only need 25,000 to rehab the inside more than what we originally had considered.....

I may need to adjust my offer............. I need to buy houses properly so I can afford to help with my next sons wedding too. This is me and my wife from the last wedding ...see what happens when you promise things.. they never forget and Now they all want to get married!!!

With a title like that, you would suppose that there is a good story in here somewhere.

Well, you would be right. Today I went to a seminar about how to invest in todays market. The Ladys' name is Paula Workman, and she is fantastic. For only 4995, she will show you how to finance her package no money down, and offer a mentoring/coaching program that will get you started and keep you out of trouble. I do this for a living, and she has our game plan down to a "T".  I was so impressed I nearly signed up...But I already am in the program, and I wanted to scream out to the rest of the room and say what are you waiting for. This is a no brainier.. AND THE ROOM JUST YAWNED>>>

She is offering an education for $ 4995. that cost me untold dollars to acquire. I do mean huge sums of money doing it the hard way. The way we do it now, it's sweet. And here she is giving this program away, nothing down, only $ 4995.00. The fact that she was not knocked down by the rush to sign up amazed me. 

Many years ago I bought a how to make a fortune in Real Estate course. I was amazed. I paid the money, went to the weekend event, bought the workbooks, and went home and waited to be rich.

It seems just buying the course won't do it.               Remember, it works when you do!!! 

Rather than endure the ridicule of my girlfriend and others, who had told me this was a waste of time, I decided to start on page one and do it step by step.

1. Run ads in the classifieds for home owners that need to sell now.
2. Run ads in the Handy-man section for people who need to fix up before they sell
3. Call property management companies to find distressed owners that are needing tenants evicted, again
4. Call rental ads in the paper to offer the same thing to buy the rental properties
5. Call trades people to find who is in trouble finishing projects
6. Call banks and ask to take on repos
7. Call Realtors to let you know if someone is getting desperate to sell for terms ( I had no $$)
8. Work the Liz pendents files at the Courthouse (this is WAYYYY before computers)
9. Make deals with licensed Handy men to work for a piece of the actions
10. Make up fliers and post them in Laundromats, apartment buildings, wherever

    Since I wasn't a Realtor yet, I thought I should start very early on this and work late. Only later did I realize that as a Real Estate Professional that I should not be at the office before nine, drink coffee until ten, read the paper, tell jokes, and then make plans for lunch. 

     In the first week I got a few return calls, and needed money down for all of them. You have to realize that I chose the nothing down part of the program because thats what I qualified for!!  But then a rental unit owner called me back and made me an offer. If I would do all the work, he would sell the house for super cheap, nothing down, and no payments for 90 days. I said good, he would just have to front all the materials and a little gas money and we had a deal. We both thought we were winning, and we wrote up the most unprofessional contract for deed that has ever been done. Wow, I am glad he was honest.

After about 5 weeks of working nights and weekends, the house was ready. I decided to try to sell it, and had  $16.000.00 left over at closing.

That's SIXTEEN THOUSAND DOLLARS. I was not making that much a year, here it was done in just over 2 months.

I was so energised I began following up on all my previous efforts, and to make a long story short, I did this over and over again. I never made that much on a house again, but we did fine. I owner financed the majority of them after a while, helping folks that could not get a loan to own a home. Helping people into their first home is a special feeling, and I made freinds for life!!

The funny part of the story is that along the way, I saw on TV News that my mentor, my guru, was being hauled off to  jail for a variety of charges. Apparently he did not stick to the book, because it  does work if you do.

Funny thing, now I am back in the same business full time, acquiring& rehabbing property. Its still fun, but its more like monopoly money now, sometimes it doesn't seem real. Last week I pulled out my old workbooks, now yellow and faded, nearly 20 years old. With the exception of the Internet, which no one saw coming, the base methods are still the same.

Like many things, investing in Real Estate, works when you do. Get to work......There is still time to make this a great year. I have over twenty properties in the works in less than 3 weeks. It really is that easy!!!

 News To Use For Central Florida Property Investing!

Lake & Sumter Counties are in Central Florida. The area is actually more north and west of the actual Central FLa. It was the fasted growing area in the world it seemed for years. But recently, over the last few years, there has been a slow down of construction and a near stop in resales. People are looking for deals, or won't buy!!

The slowdown of the housing market coupled with resets on thousands of mortgages has created a maket full of Foreclosures with limited buyers.  Mid-Florida Real Estate Brokerage specializes in working with investors that require assiatance in navigating the complicated maze of lender requirements to purchase these properties.

 Due to the demand for foreclosures, short sales, and distressed properties Mid-Florida Real Estate Brokerage had to bring on more experienced help to handle the overloads. Jack Vahey, President said the firm is overloaded with requests  from both buyers and sellers. Our firms job is to work with investors that want a better return on their money without the risks of other investments, such as the stock market.

Mid Florida Real Estate Brokerage is pleased to announce the recent addition of Mike Norvell Sr. to their firm. Mid Florida-Real Estate Brokerage specializes in property acquisition. There is a team of experts in-house that deal in short sales, foreclosures, pre-foreclosures, and distress/abandoned properties. Mid-Fla also has a full time crew to handle rehab projects in house, and contacts in the local area to handle the specialties like electrical, plumbing, carpet, tile, and roofing.

Donald Trump has been appearing on shows such as the Larry King Show, telling investors the time to buy is right now. This has been getting local smaller investors off the sidelines and looking for deals.

Mike Norvell Sr.s' role will be to inspect and research foreclosure and distressed properties, prepare short sale packages, and present offers to the lenders. Mike will then handle the purchase to closing, and then prep the homes for sale.

Investor packages are available for interested persons. Anyone interested in having Mike Norvell Sr. handle transactions for below market properties should call for further information. Mid Florida Real Estate Brokerage also has these same homes available at a discount to the public following the rehab process.

Mike Norvell Sr brings years of local business experience to Mid Florida Real Estate Brokerage. The primary focus is investment property acquisition.  The firm also has mortgage services in house available as well as property management. With Mikes years of local business contacts, and knowlege of the area, Mid Florida Real Estate Brokerage is looking to more than double the property aquisistion deals tha it has done in the past.

Investment and Buyer Packets are available upon request...

A week or so ago  there was a post on Active Rain asking when it was appropriate to wear shorts while practicing Real Estate. I have thought about it since then, and still don't seem to agree that shorts represent a professional image that we should strive to maintain.

 I responded in kind to the post, and also made reference to the women who show up for Real Estate business looking like they are on the way to a dance club, or after dinner party. I feel the same about the men who show up in shorts and t-shirts like they just got off a lawnmower instead of looking like they are handling very important investments.

In this day of "You Can't Say That" I say, well maybe someone should.

I made reference to the dress code that seems to be pushing the limits with low cut tops and very short skirts. Yet, if I showed up in tank top and flip flops people would flip out. Our image  in the Public Eye is under attack, we need to do our best to act professional, and to always look professional. Its only common sense.

 <<<<Just A Minute, I've Got To Show A Few Houses Before Dinner!!

Its been a few days since I posted my comment, and I don't want to seem so harsh. I know that in Fla, its a retirement area, a resort area, its vacations, but to us, it should be a business area. I have no problem with matching your customer and the situation. Today I will be previewing a number of homes to purchase for rehab, I will wear jeans and tennis shoes because thats the  day I have. Next Monday I will be at the quarterly meeting for the Mid Fla Regional MLS Education Committee, and will wear a suit, the rest of the time I deal with customers I feel slacks and button down shirts, or nice polos are appropriate.

Much is written in this forum about how we are treated, how we are perceived by the public. If you want to be respected as a professional, then the first step is to set yourself apart a level or two from your peers in how you look, and how you act in public.  My comments about the way many women dress is again, to me, just common sense. I appreciate a nice looking woman dressing sexy when going out, to a party, or dinner date.

I too have a beautiful wife who can still pull off a head turning outfit. But not for work at her law firm. To show up for business like that is, in my opinion, not appropriate. I am far from a prude, it just makes sense to have self imposed boundaries for representing yourself as professional.

I invite comments, pro and con from others here on AR..Thanks for reading..

How's that for an intro. 

Where are You At...Are you on the phone, checking e-mail while driving, texting, thinking about what else needs to be done, all the while trying to look like you are having "quality time" with a friend, co-worker, or family member?

 Have you got to the point that you aren't where you should be any more??

Where are you at? Do you need to look around to find yourself? Probably not, but are you mentally where you are at? AAHHHH that's my point.

Multi Tasking has gone too far,and it's time to remember, on this Thanksgiving Day,  to be thankful for what we have. Our families are important. SO is our career. Be fair to all and just be where you are!!

It's so easy to get caught up in answering that phone while talking to your kids, or your spouse. But when do you say  "right now I am just here." Physically and mentally.

A few weeks ago I was on the floor coloring with my twin seven year old granddaughters. We were having a nice time, and my phone rang. When I just turned it to mute and put it away, Michelle (the oldest by 17 minutes) said "Don't you need to get that?" I told her no, I want to just spend time with you guys right now. You should have seen their smiles.

Believe it or not, this will work well with spouses too. I promise it will!!

 I have been practicing this at home and my wife and I are doing more talking like we used too. Just us. No laptop, no phone, just chatting. Later, I say, I need some time to do my broker training, blogging, MLS Searching and its OK, because now I have a few hours to do just that. When we have dinner out now, the phone stays in the car. We deserve time for us too.

Do you answer your phone while in a listing presentation?

I don't even take it in the house. When I am dealing with this client, I want to be THERE, just there. When I am having lunch with a co-worker or friend, I have the phone on vibrate, and I would like them to do the same. Imagine not seeing someone but every once in a while and they talk to someone else half the time at lunch. I promise not do do that ever again, Really, I do Promise.

 Yes, ask yourself, Where are you at?  Can you just concentrate on being good at being here??

After a few months of this practice, I can tell you that my life is more focused, and overall doing better, at home and at work.  Try it and see the difference. It takes a bit of practice, but your friends, family, and clients will get a better part of you, they will get all of you. Focus on what your are doing NOW, and who you are with Now!

I promise that when you actually do this, you will be shocked by the difference in your lives. One more thing, if you are really serious, call your spouse and tell them what you plan on doing. The way they respond should be motivation enough............Remember     Just Be Where You Are At!!

What a great day. Today was the first day I would be  working for with the new Real Estate Investment Brokerage, and it fell on the day of the monthly Chamber of Commerce Meeting. Its a small town, and this morning meeting was very well  attended, with nearly 70 members showing up for the event.

Anyone who goes to Chamber meetings knows the meetings end with all participants getting a quick info-mercial about them selves and their business. The chamber has off-shoots of leads clubs, and I am the President of the Lady Lake Business Leaders, so I am expected to have a bit more to say anyway. ..I try not to disappoint anyone!!!

   Mike's Got  A Brand New Bag>>>>

But today, when I announced publicly that I had moved, there was a gasp thru the room. I am well known and have been a local club president, vice president, or board member for now nine years in a row. Thats a lot of volunteering, but public service is its own reward. My wife and I have sponsored or volunteered for more events over the last few years that I care to remember. We often remark that this is our social life.

SO when I announced the change to another local firm this morning, I saw a reaction to most every face in the room. Thru the years we have gotten to know each other from parades, fund raisers, beer tents, this booth, that dinner, this meeting, endless committees, downtown associations, youth foundations, and somehow found time to coach basket ball for 5 years at the Y and youth leagues. I had to keep this move a secret, and NO one in the room knew.

Lets just say my phone has not stopped ringing all day. It's nice to know I have made an impact on so many people. I am not bragging. Its actually a bit humbling to see that people care, but we (my wife and I) have worked untold hours for this community, its very nice to feel like we are a part of something. In fact, my wife and I went to dinner tonight and I had to turn the phone  off to get a quiet moment.

I have owned several small to medium sized businesses in this area over the last 22 years. Years ago I was involved in a team of buying, rehabbing,and owner financing over 60 homes here in this area. It was very tough the way we did it then, we were always stretched soooo thin. However, It was a very rewarding feeling, and I am back into that arena again!! This time with an investment strategy to finance the whole thing.   Nice!!!

We have set goals to do in a year what took nearly six years for us to do before. We plan on increasing the amounts even more after the structure is set into full operation. Our plan is so ridiculously complex that it has become absurdly simple. I am pleased to have gained a national insight on how thing are done by reading and posting here on Active Rain. Thanks to all here who have posted and commented on all the various subjects!!

There is always opportunity to do well by investing in Real Estate. I feel there is even more opportunity in a down market than in the Up market. If you as a Real Estate Professional are not actively pursuing increasing your own portfolio RIGHT NOW, I really don't know what you are waiting for.....

Its a special day for me today.

I am making a move to a brokerage that I feel can give me a mentoring one on one relationship. I feel this is what I need to go to the next level in investing and creative financing. . Its a move that will define my career, its the step I was wanting to make but was not ready to make by myself. Its a very small office with a small team, a machine actually, that concentrates on investment property acquisition. Its exactly what I want to do....

SO why do I feel guilty?

Leaving a group of friends, thats it. One of them said, can't you stay here and do that. No, not at this level. Its an opportunity that looks like exactly what I have wanted to do, but I will miss the interaction with my friends. Its been great working in a company with so many agents, and the training for Real Estate here at Exit is hands down the best I have seen. But I am ready for more, its on to Broker level for me from here.

But we will stay friends,and we will continue to do business together. I will finish my broker training be ready to expand the business after the first of the year. I feel I have learned more working with cash investors in the last few months than I did in the 20 months before. Or maybe, because of the 20 months before, I was able to make the move into the investor side of Real Estate.

Either way, tomorrow morning I will clear my desk, and say goodbye to friends.                                                I am not looking forward to leaving; yet I can't wait to go.

I want to get started on learning to build teams of professionals that acquire, rehab, finance and resell properties. The present way of listing and waiting for buyers is not working in this market, working with cash investors will. Its what I did years ago, we just got creative and bought houses. Plus, why shold I work only for commisions, when you can have the profits from the rehabs too.

My goal is 50 properties a year, we will buy low and sell low, we will owner finace and do lease options and credit repair. I remember how good it was to put families into homes, ya felt like ya did something worthwhile.

We helped people buy those houses. I have the opportunity to do all that again.

Active Rain has been very instrumental in making the transition happen, due to the amount of info in one place to learn from. I can also recommend anyone out here buying the Cd set of Mike Watson, the most up to date in your face small to medium investing workshop I have ever seen or heard.

If someone said to me, would you recommend Exit for someone looking for a career in Real Estate, I would still say yes. I really do like their concepts. I will incorporate much of what I have learned here in my future company that I want to build. Exit is a good company, and has super management. But its time to say thank-you, and Good-bye.

I will of course, continue to get my therapy here on Active Rain...I love this place....thanks for reading this..

Jason Sardi has a post of weirdly true things that have happened to him, a different kind of me- me  I replied that I have seen some wild top ten list, But your list is all by itself. 

    But I have a few weird good and weird bad things that have happend in my life.

          When I was selling door to door, my hot prospect of the day was in the car, Uhhh...hot and dead in the car

                  When working construction setting trusses I was working the center and unhooked the crane, I got a large splinter and got down to pull it out, on the next truss set the crane malfunctioned and killed my replacement.

         As a teenager of 19, I dated a wild red headed older woman who later wanted to perform a joint suicide, I declined, she was serious and is gone.

While in college, I was working in an upscale restaurant, I walked in on my boss shooting up in his office.

    When my youngest son was born, it went really bad. I was told that he had would not make it, I should make arrangements. Luckily for me, he was a strong baby, terrible diagnosis, he is now 23 and happily married.

          As a young boy I lived on a ranch, with a barn full of cows and horses. One night I had a dream of being in the barn and feeding the animals. The barn was about 300 yards from the house. It was so real. The next morning I woke up and my bed was filthy and the floor muddy.

         One day I had a tooth pulled, was in pain, but had a meeting scheduled at a lounge later that night so I went anyway. I saw this amazing woman dancing, and with a swollen mouth, declined to approach her. The friend of mine invited me over to his dates house to continue the conversation, and low and behold his girlfriend brought this amazing woman along. That was nearly 22 years ago, that night I met my wife.

       In my early twenties I was in a terrible financial jam, and needed a bank loan in the worst way. I was turned down, and was due to lose my truck and more, the bank made an error and accidentally put 14,000 in my account. I promptly took the money and paid my bills and saved my business, the bank was upset, but suddenly was in the mood to give me a loan for the whole amount, interest free!!

        I ran away from home at the age of 15, took my saved money and got a bus ticket to my grandmas in Jax, Fla. I got off at the wrong stop, and with bag over my shoulder, walked down a street and knocked on a door in the hopes of using the phone. When the door opened, the very gruff bearded man told me to get off his porch, and I just said I needed to use the phone to call my Gma Florence. He stopped, and said Florence who? Long story short, I had somehow  ended up at my uncles house 22 miles away and he took me in and took care of me for the next few years!!!

 I once bought and old Jaguar car from a lady and placed an ad for it in Car & Driver. I wanted 2,000 and the mag made a mistake. $20,000!!! A man who wanted that car for his collection called and said his highest offer would be only 18,000.....I accepted...

              I tell you all of these are true!!  So, when people say how did you turn out this way...Go figure!!

It's that time.

            For many people it's a day off. But for the cooks in the family, its a day that starts early in the morning, possibly the day before. There is a list to make. Shopping for ingredients. Searching for all your pots and pans. What is company stops over. Do we have enough chairs, bring all the chairs back from the other rooms of the house.

Well, we can buy pies. Pies are easy. With all due respect to your Aunt Mary, Mrs Smiths has pumpkin pies and apple pies down cold. Mental Note: Cool Whip!!  Edwards has fabulous pecan pies. They do have more, but we only buy the pecan!!

My latest trick is to peel about 10 nice potatoes and mash. Then I add in a box of instant. Everybodys happy, espeicially me. To all you purists, peel your own and whip your heart out. For me, Football is coming on soon.

Cranberry comes in a can and already sliced....done Cooked carrots buy the baby carrots, 2 bags, boil and butter done!                                                                                                              

Dressing is in a box, mix with water, bake...done! Ditto on the scalloped potatoes done!

The Green Giant sells fresh frozen corn on the cob, in a big pot, boil 15 minutes..done!!

Oh My God!!!!Turkey.Turkey.....What is the best way of cooking the holiday turkey....Well we could oil and stuff and baste and baste and baste and baste.....Never Again...I have found :

The Turkey Baking Bag from Reynolds. 

 Directions...Pre heat oven    Place 2 tablespoons of flour in bag, spray turkey with Pam, tie turkey lifting string harness around turkey, place turkey in bag, cut a few 2 inch slots in bag, set timer....Done!!!! No Basting, no Worries, Its perfect!!!! Cooks faster and is guarenteed moist and juicy!!                                                                

Start to Finish   3 hours, and I have a huge feast on the table.....How do you do it??

Why does everyone post non newbie stuff in here

WARNING: THIS IS HUMOR...............WARNING: THIS MAY MAKE YOU SMILE....       

  Is this the place to ask why over 80% of the blog post entered here have nothing to do with  newbie stuff. Listings do not belong on newbie    Listings do not belong on newbie..get it now???

1. Listings do not belong on newbie.This need to be repeated often
2. How to sell better does not belong on newbie, if you are a new Realtor, thats your problem, find a different group
3. How to stage better does not belong on newbie, moving furniture has no place here
4. Upset about not getting comments does not belong on newbie, or anywhere else for that matter
5. New toys and gadgets you have do not belong on newbie, But I am always interested
6. Thanks to Mom, Dad, My broker, Veterans, do not belong on newbie, we all have families, please refrain from posting your cards and letters here
7. Guess what happened to me last week does not belong on newbie, and who cares anyway( just kidding, this IS humor)
8. Short sales , foreclosures info does not belong on newbie. There is a lot of groups for that
9. Most things written by Jason Sardi does not belong on newbie. Let them meet Jason later, much later
10. Recipes for pumpkin pie, market reports, & 10 steps to being a better agent does not belong on newbie

Well, what does belong on newbie.

How about articles that pertain to learnig to function here on Active Rain. Most of what Jeff Turner writes can go on Newbie. How to set up a profile belongs on newbie. How to link belongs on newbie. Reciprocation stories belong on newbie. That mortgage Mike guy has some good info for newbies.

Basically, the Active Rain Newbies group is here for new members (hence Newbies) to have a segregated place to go to find info in one place. To have a place for newbies to post without being told "What the hell does that have to do with Real Estate?"

Lets give our newbies a nice bottle fed view of Active Rain before they go wandering out into the wild blue yonder.  Newbies have a short shelf life, so lets promise to be nice to newbies. Encourage newbies to "find their Voice, break out into song , offer a nice cup of Cocoa with the little marshmallows.

Take a minute to consider the repercussions of hitting that submit button. Violators will have their little newbie hairs plucked out one by one. I sorry, wrong post. Please be nice to newbies because

Newbies need our help. The are so fragile, so helpless, its up to us, the oldies, to make them all feel welcome. Take them under our wing and caress them gently. Be nice, the newbie you save might be your own. That didn't make any sense.....skip that part..how about ...did you here the one about the newbie, a zebra and a rabbi go into a bar....