Any thoughts those infomercials such as Robert Allen, Russ Whitney, and others?
I would stay away from Russ Whitney, I wasted about $1700 on them, you can learn a lot from the people here on the forum.
NDI
If you want to watch an infomercial to learn how to market, wonderful. If you want to learn about real estate you have it all at your fingertips right here. What is it about CD’s and books that make people feel important and willing to waste money? Do you really think Robert Allen or Russ Whitney have more info than you can find here? I doubt it.
Robert Allen was bankrupt in 1996 and the head of his Nothing-Down club went to Federal prison for doing illegal nothing down deals. Russ Whitney has a long history you can find on Google.
Read, read, read and ask questions. The help is here.
Da Wiz
Hi,
With all that being said about Russ Whitney and Robert Allen, how are these guys still doing seminars?
Good marketing.
Da Wiz
I would second that.
NDI
I found a site with interesting info here:
http://www.johntreed.com/Reedgururating.html
by John Reed
No need to waste all the money they ask!
You must be new here. John T. Reed pans everyone so he can sell his own material. He’s just as bad as the rest, in fact, worse.
Da Wiz
All the gurus present basically the same information: buy low, rehab as necessary, sell or rent at a profit. The real estate business is not complicated but it is a lot of hard work - a fact that almost every guru seems to omit. Also, almost all the gurus underestimate the actual expenses involved and overestimate the profit. The reason for this is that the gurus are selling a dream… a dream of fast riches without work. Not many people would buy their products if they said that being successful at any business requires working like a dog for many years.
I believe that it is a good idea to start out by reading several books and possibly doing an inexpensive home study course or two. I started out with the Carleton Sheets course, which contains all the info that you need to get started and excellent information for new landlords.
Beware one thing about the gurus. Almost all of them are experts at upselling. They draw you in with an inexpensive book or free seminar and then get you to purchase more expensive boot camps with the promise that they will reveal their “SECRET” at the next (more expensive) event. However, in realilty, THERE IS NO SECRET and therefore no matter how much you spend, you’ll never get the “secret” to getting rich quick in real estate. The “secret” to getting rich in any business is to work hard and be persistent. Without hard work, a person is destined to fail at just about anything.
Good Luck,
Mike
Mike - Excellent post. A post which everyone thinking about getting in this business should read.
I agree this site is one stop shopping for REI.
However, my ‘guru’ presented information in a program that I could follow and succeed. I honestly don’t (or didn’t as a newbie) have the mental ability to organize and utilize all the information here. I paid for a tool and it helped me get the job done to my satisfaction.
Some programs work if you work them.
P.S. Mike: I’ve become and expert at not getting ‘upsold’ 