Podcasts about we buy ugly houses

On this episode we're joined by Mollie Simon. Mollie has been a research reporter for ProPublica for the last 5 years, working oftentimes behind the scenes on stories such as ones we've talked to past guests about. She's also been a newspaper reporter in South Carolina and a data researcher for LegiStorm.She is a graduate of the University of Georgia with dual degrees in public affairs journalism and political science. Mollie talked about the skills needed to be a researcher and work behind-the-scenes on stories and projects. She also provided examples of the types of stories she's worked on, including one about a homebuying franchise that was using inappropriate methods to take advantage of seller desperation.Thank you as always for listening. Please send us feedback to journalismsalute@gmail.com Story example"The ugly truth behind We Buy Ugly Houses"https://www.propublica.org/article/ugly-truth-behind-we-buy-ugly-houses Mollie's salutes: Specialty team members, copy editors, newsroom lawyers, newspapers that invest in investigative reporting, and journalism "ex-pats."Visit our website: thejournalismsalute.org Mark's website (MarkSimonmedia.com)Tweet us at @journalismpod and Bluesky at @marksimon.bsky.socialSubscribe to our newsletter– journalismsalute.substack.com

From Tax Liens to HomeVestors: How Asim Ghani Built a Real Estate Empire Flipping homes!In this episode, we sit down with Asim Ghani, owner of a HomeVestors franchise in Massachusetts and New Hampshire—the largest home-buying company in the U.S., known for the iconic “We Buy Ugly Houses” brand. Asim shares how he got his start with tax lien certificates and transitioned into full-scale real estate investing and franchising. After getting licensed in both NH and MA, Asim developed a strategy for agents to double-dip: earn commissions on the front end and win listings on the back end.We dive into the marketing that works (yes, mailers!), why consistent lead generation is non-negotiable, and how small tweaks can lead to big paydays—like his first $55K deal. He breaks down smart renovation strategies for maximum return (hint: think front doors, landscaping, and kitchens) and covers key exit strategies including wholesaling, assigning, flipping, and whole-tailing.If you're a real estate investor or agent looking to level up, you won't want to miss this episode.

It's Friday, and we're rounding up the biggest stories of the week. First, Aurora councilwoman Danielle Jurinsky made an appearance at Trump's rally at the Gaylord last Friday, now she claims she's in possession of “haunting” video related to Venezuelan gang activity and is calling for an investigation into Denver Mayor Mike Johnston. Then, a reddit thread popped up with some wild urban legends about the Mile High City. Are any of them true? Producer Paul Karolyi, host Bree Davies, and producer Olivia Jewell Love dig into the lore, speculate about Jurinsky's video, and share their wins and fails of the week.  Our fall campaign is happening now! It takes a lot to keep City Cast Denver and Hey Denver running strong. Your membership helps us cover the cost of bringing you the local stories you care about. If you believe in what we do, become a member of City Cast Denver today. Every member makes a difference! Paul spoke in more detail about his experience at the Trump rally on friend of the show JD Lopez's podcast Left Hand Right Brain. He also talked about CBS's 2023 report on Denver sending newcomers to Aurora, the mysterious building at Denver Federal Center, new business filings, and a big pumpkin. Olivia talked about some great voter guides for suburban elections and MAKfam. Bree mentioned our episodes about those “We Buy Ugly Houses” signs and Denver's old Chinatown, as well as the Broadway Halloween Parade this weekend.  What should we ask Mayor Johnston next week? Something about the election? How he feels about the Broncos' rookie quarterback? His favorite new donut shop? We would love to put your questions to him directly. Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and he might answer you directly: 720-500-5418‬ For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver at denver.citycast.fm. Follow us on Instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Support City Cast Denver by becoming a member: membership.citycast.fm/Denver Learn more about the sponsors of this October 18th episode: PineMelon - Use promo code CITYCASTDENVER for $35 off your first delivery Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Reality Behind 'We Buy Ugly Houses' | Santa Clara County Market Insights In this episode, Vito from Abitano breaks down the truth behind the 'We Buy Ugly Houses' offers and explores Santa Clara County's real estate market trends. He covers new listings, the demand-supply gap, price reductions, and specific property highlights including distressed, Apple, and Mountain View houses of the week. Vito also discusses the factors influencing the current market, such as institutional investors and high rates, and provides practical tips for homeowners thinking about selling. Don't forget to register to vote and check out the recommended home inspection checklist! The Ugly Truth Behind “We Buy Ugly Houses” Register to vote today REO of the Week Homes for sale near Apple Mountain View home of the week FREE HOME BUYER CHECKLIST HERE Home Inspection CHECKLIST HERE 00:00 Introduction: The Ugly Truth Behind 'We Buy Ugly Homes' 00:16 Santa Clara County Real Estate Trends 00:33 Inventory and Market Dynamics 01:29 Price Reductions and Market Behavior 02:28 The Dark Side of 'We Buy Ugly Houses' 04:17 Voting Reminder and Home Inspection Tips 06:51 Market Snapshot and Conclusion

If you live in their franchised territory, inevitably you have seen billboards and commercials for "We Buy Ugly Houses" also known as HomeVestors of America, Inc. They are the leading home buyer in the country, helping more than 10,000 people sell their homes every year. What does it look like to run one of their franchises? Jeff Hotz is a top franchisee of the company, is based out of Columbus, Ohio, and has ran his franchise with HomeVestors since 2013.Prior to being in real estate, Jeff served in the Marines and US Navy. Today he discusses how linking up with a proven franchise has helped him grow his investing business and his real estate portfolio, and how he's had to adapt and shift as the market has changed over the years. We also discuss their in-house lending and private money arm that has allowed him to acquire properties and execute on the 5 exit strategies for each property he runs across: Assign, Wholesale, Wholetail, Retail, and Rental.In this episode hosted by Mike Swenson, we discussed:

Days after a standoff in Garfield over a home ejectment, the Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group released a studythat found corporate home buyers have been buying more and more property in the region. Lead producer Mallory Falk joins host Megan Harris to break down the impact of corporate purchases on homeowners, including when buying practices become predatory. We love to cite our sources: Check out Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group's new study on corporate home buyers in the region The New York Times covered the ways first-time home buyers are losing out in markets where investors and corporations are buying up houses ProPublica did a deep dive on the “We Buy Ugly Houses” company and how it targets desperate homeowners The P-G's editorial board found a local example of a family who'd been pressured into a home sale at a vulnerable moment Bloomberg covered a new tactic some Pittsburgh flippers may be taking to try to get homeowners to sell Philadelphia requires flippers to provide prospective sellers with a homeowner bill of rights Senator Sherrod Brown introduced legislation to crack down on larger corporate investors Want some more Pittsburgh news?  Make sure to sign up for our daily morning Hey Pittsburgh newsletter. We're also on Instagram @CityCastPgh! Not a fan of social? Then leave us a voicemail at 412-212-8893. Interested in advertising with City Cast? Find more info here.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We've all seen the signs for “We Buy Ugly Houses” – what's really going on with this business practice? ProPublica reporter Anjeanette Damon joins host Krys Boyd to discuss their long look into how HomeVestors of America acquires homes, and the way the business model is set up to reward franchisees. The article is “The Ugly Truth Behind “We Buy Ugly Houses.'” 

You've probably seen the “We Buy Ugly Houses” fliers on the streets of Las Vegas promising quick cash in return for selling your home to them. According to the franchise, owned by national corporate company HomeVestors, they are America's #1 home buyers. But does it all seem too good to be true? Reporter Anjeanette Damon shares with co-host Dayvid Figler what her team at ProPublica found while following the story of Las Vegas homeowner Royanne McNair who was targeted by the company's aggressive business practices.  If you are selling or already sold your home in Vegas recently, we want to hear about your experience! You can call or text us with your story at 702-514-0719. We're also on social media! Follow us @CityCastVegas on the formerly known Twitter and Instagram.  Trying to avoid all the scams and shady businesses? Then make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter here to stay Las Vegas savvy.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Darren discussed these topics:Hunter Biden's plea deal may be in jeopardy as the judge has questions for federal prosecutors and the defense attorneys.Eight Michigan state legislators have had recall petitions filed against them, including two Republicans.A federal judge has declared Oregon's gun control measures outlawing large capacity magazines and requiring permits to purchase firearms Constitutional.The CEO of "We Buy Ugly Houses" will step down after ProPublica published an expose about some of their franchisee's business practices.A Michigan clerk charged with being one of the fake electors in 2020 has been barred from running elections in his township.Ocean temperatures in Florida have hit over 100 degrees Fahrenheit, causing damage to the coral reefs.Israel's Supreme Court said they will hear arguments against a new law that weakens the court's power. Israeli's have been protesting against the orthodox conservative government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu since the law passed.And collective bargaining chalked up another win as United Parcel Service and the Teamsters have reached a tentative agreement.

A Henderson home was searched in connection to the murder of rapper Tupac Shakur, real estate company ‘We Buy Ugly Houses' targeted an elderly woman with a faulty contract, and a new bill positively changes how street vendors can run their businesses.

On today’s Morning Magazine, we'll hear from someone who treks up canyons for their sounds. Then, a dive into what’s behind all those “We Buy Ugly Houses” signs and billboards as City Cast Denver sits down with a Pro Publica reporter […]

You ever see one of those signs that say “We Buy Ugly Houses” stapled to a telephone poll? Or plastered in giant block letters up on a billboard? Did you ever wonder what happens when someone calls that phone number? ProPublica investigative reporter Anjeanette Damon cracked the story wide open, and she's on today with host Bree Davies to explain how the mysterious HomeVestors' business model works, how they scoop up the deeds to so many perfectly good looking houses, and who is paying the price.  For even more news from around the city, subscribe to our morning newsletter Hey Denver by texting “Denver” to 66866. Follow us on Twitter: @citycastdenver Or instagram: @citycastdenver Chat with other listeners on reddit: r/CityCastDenver Text or leave us a voicemail with your name and neighborhood, and you might hear it on the show: (720) 500-5418‬ Learn more about the sponsors of this episode: Levitt Pavilion Looking to advertise on City Cast Denver? Check out our options for podcast and newsletter ads at citycast.fm/advertise Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you live in their franchised territory, inevitably you have seen billboards and commercials for "We Buy Ugly Houses" also known as HomeVestors of America, Inc. They are the leading home buyer in the country, helping more than 10,000 people sell their homes every year. What does it look like to run one of their franchises? Jeff Hotz is a top franchisee of the company, is based out of Columbus, Ohio, and has ran his franchise with HomeVestors since 2013.Prior to being in real estate, Jeff served in the Marines and US Navy. Today he discusses how linking up with a proven franchise has helped him grow his investing business and his real estate portfolio, and how he's had to adapt and shift as the market has changed over the years. We also discuss their in-house lending and private money arm that has allowed him to acquire properties and execute on the 5 exit strategies for each property he runs across: Assign, Wholesale, Wholetail, Retail, and Rental.FOLLOW JEFF:https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-hotz-a557174b/https://www.homevestors.com/SUBSCRIBE IF YOU'RE LOOKING TO BUILD WEALTH THROUGH OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY ✅ http://relfreedom.tv  GET STARTED INVESTING TODAY AND ACCESS OUR DEAL LIST! 

Paul talks about used car sales and companies like We Buy Ugly Houses to explain what value stocks are and why their long-term performance is strong. Paul finds an article that reports We Buy Ugly Houses is accused of taking advantage of people who are in desperate situations. Listen along as the advisors talk about how often companies like these (and even investment professionals) claim to be fiduciaries, but take advantage of what people don't know to sell them things they don't need. They all agree that everyone needs to be called to a higher standard. Later in the episode, the team talks about a Bloomberg article called, “Young Americans Struggle to Hit Adult Milestones.”   Get a copy of our new book, Confident Financial Planning, at paulwinkler.com/book.

Today, on The L.A. Report, recently closed due to slope collapse Metrolink and Amtrak trains resume service through San Clemente today. Then the rainy winter gives way to unfamiliar plants to approach with caution and an effort in congress would expand local land protections under the San Gabriel Mountains national monument. Drag shows have become a hot-button political issue in several states, but not in California. We'll bring you the story of one innovative club that encourages patrons to come dressed in drag. Also, some of the ugly practices behind the "We Buy Ugly Houses" signs seen around Los Angeles, we take a look at the controversial findings from a recent investigation into the parent company. Support The L.A. Report by donating now at LAist.com/joinSupport the show: https://laist.com

#105: You've probably seen those "We Buy Ugly Houses" signs all around LA...and the country. They're part of an elaborate advertising strategy for a pretty ugly business: Patriot Holdings. It's a franchise of the real estate investment company, HomeVestors of America. A recent investigation by the non profit newsroom ProPublica found that a number of the company's franchises ….including ones right here in LA…have taken advantage of people, oftentimes the elderly, to make a deal. Today, we chat with one of the reporters on the story should you – or your abuelita – ever have to deal with a house flipper.   Guest: Anjeanette Damon, reporter for ProPublica  For more, check out Anjeanette and her team's story here.

The ugly truth behind "We Buy Ugly Houses"--is this a social justice issue? Then, Dwayne Johnson talks about his depression, and we play a hilarious new card game that takes the Bible totally out of context. Follow The Common Good on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram Hosted by Aubrey Sampson and Brian From Produced by Laura Finch and Keith ConradSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Times of London explains how Ukraine’s expected offensive against Russia may unfold. A ProPublica investigation reveals the ugly truth behind “We Buy Ugly Houses.” Turns out the sun is actually green. Scientists explain to the Washington Post.

Special counsel John Durham issued a report that criticizes the FBI for its investigation into the 2016 Trump campaign. Washington Post reporter Devlin Barrett joins us to talk about the report. And, you've probably seen a sign that says "We Buy Ugly Houses" in your neighborhood somewhere. A new report from ProPublica uncovered the ugly side of the company's business tactics. Anjeanette Damon, one of the ProPublica reporters who reported the story, joins us. Then, Bisa Butler creates vibrant, electrifying quilt portraits using scraps of clothes. Her pieces weave together the culture and history of Black American life. Her new exhibit, "The World is Yours," is on display now at the Jeffrey Deitch Gallery in New York. Butler joins us to talk about her work and inspirations.

Migrant crossings at the border with Mexico are reported to be dramatically down after the end of Title 42. Adolescent medicine doctors at Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin are out amid calls from politicians for an investigation of gender-affirming care at the hospital. A bill to preempt new local regulations on a variety of […] The post How the ‘We Buy Ugly Houses' company preyed on desperate and elderly sellers appeared first on KUT & KUTX Studios -- Podcasts.

Pamela Currie, Host of the Franchise Business Radio show and Founder of Franchise Intellect, Inc. www.FranchiseIntellect.com To learn more about guest topics, contacting a guest or becoming a guest on the Franchise Business Radio show simply email Pam@FranchiseIntellect.com or call Pam at 847-970-8765 David Hicks, the CEO of Dallas-based HomeVestors, better recognized for their marketing message and the original “We Buy Ugly Houses” company. With more than 1,100 franchises in 170 markets across the country. David joined the company in 2005 as director of franchise systems and developed a process for coaching franchisees.       Don Cameron has been a We Buy Ugly Houses franchisee since 2005.  His goal has been to grow his business every year and he has been extremely fortunate to have been recognized as the HomeVestors franchise of the year 5 of the past 10 years.  Don originally joined HomeVestors to grow his business by becoming part of a nationally recognized brand and to take advantage of the fact that HomeVestors allows franchisees to focus on buying houses - something he has proven to be very successful at doing. Since becoming a franchisee in 2005, Don has purchased more than 1,500-2,000 homes from local sellers. Interview Questions Asked: Tell me a little bit about HomeVestors and the work your franchise does? How is HomeVestors different from a traditional real estate business? Tell me a bit about your time with HomeVestors and the work you have done for homeowners in the South Florida market. What is the biggest benefit a homeowner who wants to sell gets in working with HomeVestors? When you first saw the home that was later designated as the Ugliest House of the Year, what was your reaction and if you could renovate it to a point in which it was livable again? What was some of the work that you and your team put into the house, and what were the biggest challenges? Can you tell me a bit about the final outcome of helping the previous homeowner out of a bad situation by offering cash for the house and then renovating it for a new homeowner? What are some of the characteristics you look for in an ideal franchisee?   Learn more about “The Ugliest House of the Year” and this man, Don Cameron, a franchisee, orchestrated a dramatic turnaround. He then provided a home to a young family, and donated $20,000 so other families could afford homes.  HOW IT GOT UGLY: There was a single candle lit outside on the back patio of a single story ranch house in Hollywood, Florida. The wind blew the candle over onto a rug, which caught fire, and within minutes the 1,035-square-foot home was engulfed in flames. extensive smoke damage extensive structural damage the home was unlivable the owner did not want to spend any time or money to repair it. HOW IT GOT PRETTY: Cameron bought the house “as is” Gave the homeowner instant money without having to make repairs prior to the sale He then completed a full renovation that included extensive work and upgrades on: drywall electric plumbing paint floors landscaping FAMILIES BENEFIT - $20,000: Cameron then sold the house to a family with a young child They appreciated being able to move in without needing to do any work to the house or property Thrilled with the total makeover of the home Now enjoys being able to host family and friends in their first home and large backyard As an added bonus, Don Cameron and HomeVestors recently made a $20,000 donation to the local Habitat for Humanity, a global non-profit housing organization, to support its mission to help families in need of decent and affordable housing. Don Cameron: Cameron has worked on many similar projects as one of HomeVestors' longest tenured and most successful franchisees. His group owns five franchises in the South Florida market He buys and sells more than 200 houses per year

Eddie Speed, 30+ year seasoned investor and expert of the discount note buying industry, shares his story of how he got into note buying more than four decades ago, back in the era when you had to advertise in the local classifieds and actually go to the courthouse. Eddie is one of the all time great teachers and leaders in the private mortgage, seller financed mortgage note buying space. He's been sharing his passion and teaching with his experience since 1980, notably helping design and implement effective seller finance programs, with the very well known Homevestors of America ("We Buy Ugly Houses").As founder of NoteSchool™, his immense range of experience is packaged into comprehensive training programs, available in home study courses, live seminars, and mentoring programs.Connect further with Eddie Speed at:noteschool.com To learn more, visit:https://billbymel.com/Listen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/bill-bymel/

We interviewed Jared Peterson today. Jared works for We Buy Ugly Houses, Homevestors, the number1 real estate investment company. He's a 23 year old real estate investor from Las Vegas who relocated to Kansas City, where we interviewed at the inaugural Millionaire Mentorship Mastermind, where he also was a speaker. Jared shares some secrets about how to get started wholesaling, as well as what he believes to be the key to success in business.

Welcome to the Real Estate Ballers Show. Our guest today is Chris Evans, a real estate investor, a real estate broker, and a father. In this episode, Chris shares many of his career turning points on his real estate journey. We talk about how they started in Los Angeles, CA then expanded to Tampa, FL. He also reveals why he and his family moved to Texas.  Vee, the founder of REBallers, is a franchise owner and a Developmental Agent of HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses”.  Today, Vee is actively buying and selling properties in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, TX while growing her rental portfolio of long term and short-term rentals. Follow us on Social Media:Instagram @reballersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/REBallersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reballers/Join our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764098016997548Wanna be on our show? Email info@reballers.comConnect with Chris Evans on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-evans-12534017/Please visit our sponsor, which made this episode possible: Buzz Vacation Rentals, a premier short-term and vacation rental manager in Houston and Galveston, helps investors to maximize earnings on their investment properties.  https://buzzvacationrentals.com/If you enjoy the show, would you please leave us a short review on Apple Podcast? It takes less than a minute, and it really makes a difference in helping to spread the words. I also love to read them and share them with our guests!Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available in these episodes are designed for educational and inspirational purposes only. We are not financial advisers. We only express my opinion based on our experience. Your experience may be different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. There is no guarantee of gains or losses on investments.#therealestateballersshow #reballers #realestateincali

Welcome to the Real Estate Ballers Show. In this episode, Vee is joined by Johnny Hays of Jet Lending.Johnny is an owner of Jet Lending, an asset-based lender for real estate investors in Texas. Johnny has seen the rise and fall of many real estate investors. Today he is here to share with us the Rookie's Mistakes you should avoid.  Vee, the founder of REBallers, is a franchise owner and a Developmental Agent of HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses”.  Today, Vee is actively buying and selling properties in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, TX while growing her rental portfolio of long term and short-term rentals.Connect with Johnny Hays on www.jetlending.com, www.homevestors.comFollow us on Social Media:Instagram @reballersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/REBallersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reballers/Join our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764098016997548Wanna be on our show? Email info@reballers.comPlease visit our sponsor, which made this episode possible: Buzz Vacation Rentals, a premier short-term and vacation rental manager in Houston and Galveston, helps investors to maximize earnings on their investment properties.  https://buzzvacationrentals.com/If you enjoy the show, would you please leave us a short review on Apple Podcast? It takes less than a minute, and it really makes a difference in helping to spread the words. I also love to read them and share them with our guests!Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available in these episodes are designed for educational and inspirational purposes only. We are not financial advisers. We only express my opinion based on our experience. Your experience may be different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. There is no guarantee of gains or losses on investments#therealestateballersshow #reballers #Rookiesmistake

Welcome to the Real Estate Ballers Show. In this episode, Vee and Adam are joined by Sami Abdallah of Temple Homes in Detroit, MI. People might be leaving Detroit, but not Sami. Sami first dibbled in real estate while he was still in high school. Today, Sami and his partner, Freddy Antar, are making serious impact to their community in Detroit by turning ugly houses into pretty houses. Join us as Sami share his principles of being in the real estate business after 15 years, his biggest takeaways, and his profound moments. Adam Schneider is the owner of Homewood Realty and CEO of Oakwood Lending. In 2012, Adam left corporate America to start his own real estate venture. Today, he is one of the thought leaders in HomeVestors - America's #1 House Buyer and in his own local real estate community in Raleigh, NC.  Vee, the founder of REBallers, is a franchise owner and a Developmental Agent of HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses”.  Today, Vee is actively buying and selling properties in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, TX while growing her rental portfolio of long term and short-term rentals.Follow us on Social Media:Instagram @reballersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/REBallersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reballers/Join our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764098016997548Wanna be on our show? Email info@reballers.comPlease visit our sponsor, which made this episode possible: Buzz Vacation Rentals, a premier short-term and vacation rental manager in Houston and Galveston, helps investors to maximize earnings on their investment properties.  https://buzzvacationrentals.com/If you enjoy the show, would you please leave us a short review on Apple Podcast? It takes less than a minute, and it really makes a difference in helping to spread the words. I also love to read them and share them with our guests!Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available in these episodes are designed for educational and inspirational purposes only. We are not financial advisers. We only express my opinion based on our experience. Your experience may be different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. There is no guarantee of gains or losses on investments#therealestateballersshow #reballers #RealEstateInvesting

Welcome to the Real Estate Ballers Show. In this episode, Vee and Adam are joined by Rich Drake. Today, Rich is a thought leader in Houston area. We invited him on the show to share his vast knowledge on today's market and advice on buying rental properties. He further talks about how to interview a property manager for your rentals. After serving in the US Navy, Rich purchased a HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses” franchise in 1997, now the oldest We Buy Ugly Houses franchise in the country. He has won just about every award in HomeVestors there was - Franchisee of the Year, Most Buys, Most Sales, and Lowest Marketing Time. After 16 years of owning the HomeVestors business where he purchased over 1,500 houses and accumulated over 200 rental properties, he and his partners purchased a Renters Warehouse franchise. Over the years, Rich has grown Renters Warehouse Houston to be the largest franchise in the nation in terms of revenue, growth rate, and number of units.Adam Schneider is the owner of Homewood Realty and CEO of Oakwood Lending. In 2012, Adam left corporate America to start his own real estate venture. Today, he is one of the thought leaders in HomeVestors - America's #1 House Buyer and in his own local real estate community in Raleigh, NC.  Vee, the founder of REBallers, is a franchise owner and a Developmental Agent of HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses”.  Today, Vee is actively buying and selling properties in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, TX while growing her rental portfolio of long term and short-term rentals.Follow us on Social Media:Instagram @reballersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/REBallersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reballers/Join our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764098016997548Wanna be on our show? Email info@reballers.comPlease visit our sponsor, which made this episode possible: Buzz Vacation Rentals, a premier short-term and vacation rental manager in Houston and Galveston, helps investors to maximize earnings on their investment properties.  https://buzzvacationrentals.com/If you enjoy the show, would you please leave us a short review on Apple Podcast? It takes less than a minute, and it really makes a difference in helping to spread the words. I also love to read them and share them with our guests!Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available in these episodes are designed for educational and inspirational purposes only. We are not financial advisers. We only express my opinion based on our experience. Your experience may be different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. There is no guarantee of gains or losses on investments#therealestateballersshow #reballers

Welcome to the Real Estate Ballers Show. In this episode, Vee and Adam are joined by Joni Wolfswinkel of Real Property Management Preferred. Joni is a CEO, an author, a podcast host, a mom, and a wife. This show is high energy, exciting and full of knowledge on how Joni started her real estate journey at the age of 19. Listen to learn from Joni's life lessons and experience of managing 1000+ properties in Texas and New Mexico.Joni Wolfswinkel is the CEO of Real Property Management Preferred and co-founder of Texas Turnkey Properties. She is an accomplished business entrepreneur, who frequently speaks on many real estate expert panels. Adam Schneider is the owner of Homewood Realty and CEO of Oakwood Lending. In 2012, Adam left corporate America to start his own real estate venture. Today, he is one of the thought leaders in HomeVestors - America's #1 House Buyer and in his own local real estate community in Raleigh, NC.  Vee, the founder of REBallers, is a franchise owner and a Developmental Agent of HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses”.  Today, Vee is actively buying and selling properties in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, TX while growing her rental portfolio of long-term and short-term rentals. Books: The Choice is Yours by Joni WolfswinkelThe Miracle Morning by Hal ElrodAtomic Habits by James ClearFollow us on Social Media:Instagram @reballersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/REBallersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reballers/Join our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764098016997548Wanna be on our show? Email info@reballers.comPlease visit our sponsor, which made this episode possible: Buzz Vacation Rentals, a premier short-term and vacation rental manager in Houston and Galveston, helps investors to maximize earnings on their investment properties.  https://buzzvacationrentals.com/If you enjoy the show, would you please leave us a short review on Apple Podcast? It takes less than a minute, and it really makes a difference in helping to spread the words. I also love to read them and share them with our guests!Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available in these episodes are designed for educational and inspirational purposes only. We are not financial advisers. We only express my opinion based on our experience. Your experience may be different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. There is no guarantee of gains or losses on investments#therealestateballersshow #reballers

Welcome to the Real Estate Ballers Show. Performing a property inspection is typically a part of the buyer's due diligence. The cost of one is nominal in comparison to what an investor could lose if he or she misses an item or several items in need of repairs. In this episode, Vee and Adam discuss how they handle the inspection and the inspection report when they are buying and when they are selling. Listen to learn how this episode could keep you out of trouble. Adam Schneider is the owner of Homewood Realty and CEO of Oakwood Lending. In 2012, Adam left corporate America to start his own real estate venture. Today, he is one of the thought leaders in HomeVestors - America's #1 House Buyer and in his own local real estate community in Raleigh, NC. Vee, the founder of REBallers, is a franchise owner and a Developmental Agent of HomeVestors “We Buy Ugly Houses”.  Today, Vee is actively buying and selling properties in Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Corpus Christi, TX while growing her rental portfolio of long-term and short-term rentals. Book: Profit First by Mike Michalowicz Follow us on Social Media:Instagram @reballersFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/REBallersLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/reballers/Join our community:https://www.facebook.com/groups/1764098016997548Wanna be on our show? Email info@reballers.comPlease visit our sponsor, which made this episode possible: Buzz Vacation Rentals, a premier short-term and vacation rental manager in Houston and Galveston, helps investors to maximize earnings on their investment properties.  https://buzzvacationrentals.com/If you enjoy the show, would you please leave us a short review on Apple Podcast? It takes less than a minute, and it really makes a difference in helping to spread the words. I also love to read them and share them with our guests!Disclaimer: All information, content, and materials available in these episodes are designed for educational and inspirational purposes only. We are not financial advisers. We only express my opinion based on our experience. Your experience may be different. Investing of any kind involves risk. While it is possible to minimize risk, your investments are solely your responsibility. It is imperative that you conduct your own research. There is no guarantee of gains or losses on investments#therealestateballersshow #reballers

Welcome back everyone to “The Really REAL Real Estate Podcast!” In 2022, more companies like We Buy Houses and We Buy Ugly Houses are coming onto the real estate scene, promising to pay all cash for any home, no matter the condition or how much work needs to be done. Today, we talk about the pros and cons of selling your home to one of these all cash, no contingency, rehab. companies vs. hiring a professional, licensed realtor to sell your home. TALKING POINTS (3-5): - Introduction - What are companies like We Buy Houses? - Pros of selling your home with a company like We Buy Houses. - Cash offer (and possibly handle your closing costs, which may not be as much as you think) - Sell your home fast - Usually, the offer is contingency-free - No repairs, remodeling, or staging needed - Easy, smooth process (including having the buyers address the municipal requirements after closing – however, this is a perfect transition into the cons of selling because the municipal requirements still have to be completed prior to closing, even if the buyers are not willing to complete them after closing or if the municipality wants everything completed before closing occurs) - Cons of selling your home with a company like We Buy Houses. - You will net less money than if you listed it with a realtor - Sellers don't care what repairs or improvements you've made to the property; no chance to repair or replace to increase the selling price of the home - Many times, you give up control of the sale - May have hidden fees (watch b/c you may not be signing a traditional sales agreement) - Many of these companies are not licensed realtors, which means they don't follow the moral and ethical codes that realtors follow when running their business - Watch for scams - Who are the best types of sellers to consider this option? - Someone who needs cash quickly - Someone who is holding off a short-sale or foreclosure - Make sure you won't have any issues AFTER closing if you are staving off a short-sale or foreclosure - Someone who has a house that is in need of MAJOR repair - Final thoughts HASH TAGS: #webuyhouses #cashoffer #whatyouneedtoknow LINKS: JASON: https://jasonwilcox.cbintouch.com/ https://www.zillow.com/profile/jasonwilcox1987/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCrRksfKiMNteHKYRYrinAug?view_as=subscriber https://www.facebook.com/jason.wilcox.186 https://twitter.com/jason_wilcox1 https://www.instagram.com/jason.wilcox1/ CONTACT INFORMATION: JASON: Cell Phon

Where are the Heirs? Cindy Veit shares a project that she has been trying to close on for just shy of TEN MONTHS!  This is a great episode to listen to if you are considering going after probate leads.  Cindy has been put through the wringer trying to locate all the parties that must sign the closing docs for an estate sale that was never recorded properly TWENTY years ago!   Cindy is a wholesaler, lender, landlord, flipper, Airbnb owner and does deals in her self-directed IRA. She joined HomeVestors 3 years ago, that's the “We Buy Ugly Houses” franchise.  Cindy contributes a lot of her success to her supportive husband of THIRTY YEARS not to mention her super systems for following up.

Property has always been a lucrative area for investment, which has led to countless property-centric franchise brands to emerge and thrive within this brick-and-mortar space. One such brand is HomeVestors of America, perhaps better known as ‘We Buy Ugly Houses'; the home buying and renovating brand that has swept across the States since its founding in 1996.  Just last year, HomeVestors' franchisees purchased almost 10,000 houses, generating sales of more than $1.6bn. It's clear that this house-flipping model is proving more than viable to all involved, so we wanted to get a clearer picture of how the process works. To understand the brand, we're joined by David Hicks, CEO of HomeVestors. As well as unpacking what an ‘ugly house' truly is, David explains the brand's development agents, and how they help to turn even the newest franchisee into a true house-flipping expert.  To keep your finger on the beating pulse of franchising, sign up for our newsletter at https://www.globalfranchisemagazine.com/, subscribe to our definitive magazine, and join the conversation with our experts today on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook. Ⓛ https://www.linkedin.com/company/global-franchise/ ⓣ https://twitter.com/globalfranmag ⓕ https://www.facebook.com/globalfranchisemag/ This episode of the Global Franchise Podcast is brought to you by School of Rock, the world's leader in performance-based music education. For more information, visit https://franchising.schoolofrock.com/.

Jen and Adam had a little too much fun on this episode... Listen in as Adam discusses accreditation, owning a franchise, being a lender, and running a meet-up for wholesalers.  He also shares a few crazy investor stories including the woman that sounded like Don Corleone and the woman who didn't know she was married! Buckle up...this is a fun one!   Adam lives in Raleigh, NC. He was in the corporate world for a long time and jumped into real estate investing in 2012.   In 2012, he got his real estate license joined a home-buying franchise (HomeVestors, the We Buy Ugly Houses people), and joined the local real estate investors association.   In 2014, he was asked by the franchisor to be a development agent, helping other people to join the system.   In 2015, he became a private lender. He became accredited through the American Association of Private Lenders, and partnered with a friend to start a private lending company in NC -- called Oakwood Lending.    Adam has built up a modest rental portfolio and is just now dipping his toes into the world of AirBnB.   And now, in May of 2021, he is taking his biggest jump in real estate, and joining the BadAss podcast!

David Hicks is CEO of Dallas-based HomeVestors of America, Inc., the largest professional house buying franchise in the U.S. with more than 105,000 houses bought since 1996. He joined HomeVestors in 2005 as Director of Franchise Systems and developed a process for coaching franchisees. From 2006-2009, he coordinated franchisee support as VP of operations. In January 2009, he became co-president of the company and was named CEO in 2017. The company now has 1,100 franchisees nationwide.This week, David Hicks helps explore how Covid has impacted real estate investors, how HomeVestors leverages data to drive deals, how Realtors and investors benefit from working with each other, and how ibuyers are not a true competitor.

Linda Ballesteros is host of All Things Franchising and also the owner of Mpower Franchise Consulting where she works with those who want to be in business for themselves but not by themselves with the franchise that best fits their skills, passion and what they want their lifestyle to look like.  She is also very aware of those industries which are more recession resistant. Contact Linda today: Linda@MpowerFranchiseConsulting.com Today's Guest: Mark McKeller who is National Area Developer and Franchisee with HomeVestors of America.  HomeVestors is the nations number one home buying company.  Mark started with HomeVestors 20 years ago in Atlanta and now buys houses and hold rentals in Alabama, Florida, Oklahoma and Texas. In addition to buying houses Mark spends time coaching other franchisees on how to get the best deals for them and their sellers.  

Tim Herriage has an interesting path into real estate investing and even more interesting path since he started. He started flipping once out of the military, worked extensively in the Homevestor's We Buy Ugly Houses brand, and helped start one of the first Wall Street hard money lending companies (B2R Finance). Lots of insight insights into how the we-buy franchises work and their hardcore approach to data and advertising.

Dean’s mission is to teach the average person how to take that first step and get into real estate through buying and flipping single-family homes. He started selling and creating income opportunities when he was only seven years old. Growing up in a lower-middle-class household motivated Dean to become an entrepreneur. He started repairing and selling cars to owning a multi-family apartment building in his mid-twenties. He then branched out and became a land developer. He created and aired his first infomercial in the late nineties titled “Motor Millions”, which was a $59 course to wholesale and rehab cars. After that he created “Think a Little Different, a successful business-opportunity infomercial teaching people how to make money in real estate. During the recession, he became even more famous with his “We Buy Ugly Houses” campaign, which was how to wholesale houses. --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/getu-chandler/support

In this week’s Real Estate Roundup, Steve and Terry Story, who’s now got 31 years of experience with Keller Williams Realty in Boca Raton, had a conversation about selling your house quickly for cash. They also talked about the effects of aging baby boomers on the housing market. Sell Your House For Cash Today You’ve seen the signs on billboards or posters that read, “We Buy Ugly Houses”, or just, “Cash for Your House”. Steve asked Terry to explain the nature of that part of the real estate business. She calls the people in that business “wholesalers” because that basically describes how they make their money. They look to buy houses at “wholesale” prices and sell them at “retail” prices. Terry explained how it works. “They buy houses, sometimes fix them up and then flip them, or they just buy them and flip them the same day. Say you want to sell your house right now. You call one of these numbers you see in an ad, and they write a contract to buy your house. A lot of times they assign it to a real buyer they already have lined up. As a seller, what’s really important to understand is that you’re selling your home at a severe discount.” How The “Cash Right Now” Business Works A successful real estate wholesaler makes their money by buying houses at a large discount and then quickly reselling them for a hefty profit. They can get a low price because they’re offering cash, and they’re offering to do the deal right now. If you’re a strongly motivated seller, for whatever reason, the offer of cash-in-hand right now may make you willing to sell your house for a lot less than it’s actually worth. Steve offered an example to clarify things for listeners. “Say I’m in this business, and I have a buyer already lined up, willing to pay, let’s say, $140,000 for this house that’s worth $150,000. I go to the house. Maybe it’s owned by an elderly person who’s owned the house free and clear for years. I tell them, ‘I can give you cash today, no hassles, no long real estate closing time. I’ll give you 30 days to move out or whatever and I’ll give you $90,000 for your house.’ And they may think, ‘That’s good cash. That’s more cash than I’ve ever seen before.’ If the homeowner takes the deal, then I’ve already got a $50,000 profit locked in, since I have a buyer waiting with $140,000.” The huge discount from the home’s value may make this kind of transaction look bad, like the buyer is maybe taking advantage of an elderly person, but there’s nothing illegal about it. Terry stressed the point that what homeowners need to know is that even if they’re desperate to sell their house quickly, they should still take the time to consult a professional real estate agent and get an appraisal. That way, she said, “If you still decide to sell it, at least you’re informed.” Steve agreed, urging sellers to at least do some minimal research on what their home is worth. He said, “I mean, at least go on online and pull up Zillow or something.” That specific bit of advice prompted Terry to note to listeners that sites like Zillow don’t really provide accurate home values. The numbers you see on a site like that should be ignored as valid appraisals and only taken as very rough numbers. Those numbers are neighborhood averages. Zillow hasn’t really seen your actual house. For instance, they don’t know if you’ve completely remodeled the kitchen or the bathrooms. You might have a house right on the beach, but Zillow is averaging prices in the neighborhood that includes homes that are four or five blocks off the beach. The Effect Of Baby Boomers On The Housing Market Steve next turned the subject to the impact of aging baby boomers on the housing market. He started things off by quoting some recent statistics, saying, “Basically, boomers own one-third of all US properties, single-family homes and the like. And 27% of them will sell their home sometime within the next 20 years.” Terry contributed some more information: that between 2007 and 2017, roughly 730,000 homes were offered for sale by seniors, those over 60. She added that this is a trend that’s projected to keep growing for the next couple of decades. According to Terry, “From 2017 to 2027, they anticipate that number rising to 920,000 homes. And then from 2027 to 2037, we’re looking at 1.17 million homes for sale by boomers – and that’s per year for that whole decade.” She then made the point that this could lead to a really nice buyer’s market, since adding that many homes to the “for sale” inventory should put downward pressure on prices. Terry wrapped up their conversation by joking with Steve, saying, “So, call me now to sell your house while prices are still up. Don’t wait 20 years.” To learn more about buying or selling your home, you can connect with Terry at Keller Williams Realty.

The HomeVestors idea began in Dallas, Texas in 1989, when real estate broker Ken D’Angelo bought so many homes, he decided to transform his real estate brokerage into a home-buying business. By 1996, he took his business even further, when he created HomeVestors and sold his first franchise in the Dallas area. He figured out how franchises could advertise together, share vendors, and route calls to each other through a phone system and he eventually expanded to Kansas City. When he had 20 offices up and running, he expanded to Atlanta. HomeVestors of America® is now comprised of more than 1,100 franchises spanning 46 states and D.C and is growing dramatically.  All of their independently owned and operated franchisees are supported centrally with mass advertising from their nationally-recognized “We Buy Ugly Houses®” brand, proprietary home evaluation, and lead management software, deep knowledge of the industry, and financial resources.  Today we are joined by their CEO David Hicks, who has doubled the size of the company from 500 franchisees in 2014, to more than a thousand today. 

Dave and sidekick Kerri talk with Aaron Katz and Mike Falotico of We Buy Ugly Houses to hear the true tales of how the company buys distressed houses and rescues frustrated sellers. And what's up with that lovable caveman mascot? All is revealed. Visit www.webuyuglyhouses.com/boston for more info.

Winning Over a Seller (029) Steven Butala:                   Steve and Jill here. Jill DeWit:                            Hi. Steven Butala:                   Welcome to the House Academy Show, entertaining real estate investment talk. I'm Steven Jack Butala. Jill DeWit:                            And I'm Jill DeWit, broadcasting from sunny southern California. Steven Butala:                   Today, Jill and I talk about Winning Over a Seller. It seems like a real simple title, but- Jill DeWit:                            There's a bit to it. Steven Butala:                   ... there's a lot to it. What I take this title to mean, and maybe you take it differently, is you sent a bunch of mail out. A certain number of people sign it or call you back and say, "Yeah. I'm interested in selling my house, but I'm not sure that price is going work for us." Or, "I'm not sure the time frame is [inaudible 00:00:35]" So you got to win over the seller, win over their trust. Jill DeWit:                            Right. Steven Butala:                   I think that's what this means. Jill DeWit:                            Well, part of it is, too, sometimes now you warmed them up to selling. They might start shopping, too, because we've had that. They might say, "Oh, you sent me an offer. I'm going to see what We Buy Ugly Houses would give me, or So-and-so." And you want them to pick you. Steven Butala:                   Exactly. Jill DeWit:                            Thank you. Steven Butala:                   Before we get into it, let's take a question posted by one of our members on the HouseAcademy.com online community. It's free. Jill DeWit:                            Jackie asks, "I've had two sellers change their minds. Is this normal, and how do I manage it in the future?" Steven Butala:                   Well, that's kind of what this topic is about, managing a seller or winning over a seller, so ... Jill DeWit:                            Stuff happens. It's funny. Even as buyers, we've changed our minds. Steven Butala:                   Yes. As buyers, we've changed our minds. Maybe we get the inspection back, and we're like, "Wow." Jill DeWit:                            Right. Steven Butala:                   Actually, we had a house recently where the foundation ... This is in Arizona, which is unusual. The foundation for the garage was very uneven for their driveway. We chose to go ahead and purchase the house anyway, and it all worked out with a storybook ending, but- Jill DeWit:                            Some of our buyers were not- Steven Butala:                   ... we used that. We used that foundational potential issue to get the price that we really wanted, which I would call managing the seller. What it's titled? What's the title? Jill DeWit:                            Winning Over the Seller. Steven Butala:                   Winning Over the Seller. Jill DeWit:                            Yeah. Steven Butala:                   People change their minds for all kinds of reasons. Actually, that's really what this topic is about, so let's just get into it. Jill DeWit:                            Yeah. And you know what? I don't really care. Honestly ... No, I'm serious. I mean, I just move on. There's always more deals. All you can do is do your best, and you never want to say ... I want to talk about this for just a second about this question. You never want to say, "Well, you signed a paper," or whatever it is. Steven Butala:                   Yeah. Jill DeWit:                            Things happen. People change their mind. The best thing you can do is move on, and hopefully you didn't spend money on it getting inspection. Even if you did, that's okay. Stuff happens. I would do my best to work with them and find out what it is, and if you can save it, do it within reason. If they come back and say, "I want retail now," well, that's not going to happen. Steven Butala:                   So what's your approach on this? You find out what triggered the change of heart? Jill DeWit:                            Mm-hmm (affirmative). Talk to them. Steven Butala:                   And talk to them about it. Can I give you a couple ... Go- Jill DeWit:                            Hopefully you've got the relationship with them that they're honest with you and they tell you. Steven Butala:                   I mean, let's say- Jill DeWit:                            Want to ask me about it? Steven Butala:                   ... it's price. It's obviously ... Let's say, "You know what? I talked to my sister, and she's like, 'The house is worth $50,000 more than that.'" What do you say? Jill DeWit:                            Is she going to ... "I talked to my sister. The house is worth $50,000 more." "You know what? This is my offer. This is what I prepared to pay, and I can close on Tuesday. I'm not even going to discuss it. Is she going to buy it from you?" "No, but she thinks I can get more." "Well, I wish you well." I mean, I don't really have an answer. Steven Butala:                   I do. Jill DeWit:                            I mean, that's part of like ... What is your answer? I would keep moving through the process quickly. Steven Butala:                   My answer is it depends on the markets. Because long before we send mail out into a market, I know what the days on market is. I know all the stats. Jill DeWit:                            Right. Steven Butala:                   So if it's a soft market, meaning it takes a little bit longer to sell, my speech is always, "Well, good luck with that, because do you want $252,000 in your checking account on Thursday or not?" Jill DeWit:                            That's what I'm saying. Yeah. Steven Butala:                   So, "You can take your chance to get 310." Jill DeWit:                            "You could sure try, but you got a sure thing right here." Steven Butala:                   Yeah. That's right. Bird in the hand. Jill DeWit:                            Exactly. Steven Butala:                   So there's lots of reasons that people change their mind. Jill DeWit:                            Well, I always think about the one that happened to me recently, too. Not recently. Like a year or so ago, where the guy was ... It was a good lesson for us about due diligence and following up quickly. Back then, we didn't have a team that was so accessible. I think that would have made a difference if we like powered on through and really had a quick timeline. But he had time to shop his deal with We Buy Ugly Houses, or somebody like that. Steven Butala:                   Yeah. Jill DeWit:                            They came out, and here's what happened. They talked him into signing an agreement, which we already had a signed agreement, too. But they like coerced him- Steven Butala:                   That's right. I remember that. Jill DeWit:                            ... and hardcore sold the guy and had the guy freaked out scared that if he went to us. And I'm like, "Dude ..." And it was like a difference of $2,000 or something really minimum. Like, "If that's all you want to get out of it, I would have given you $2,000. I don't really care. It would have been a lot easier." Steven Butala:                   I remember that deal. Jill DeWit:                            I felt bad, because I know the guy was kicking himself later on in the end, going, "I wish I would have ..." I don't know how it all played out, but I'm pretty darn sure they weren't as nice and easy and good to work with as us. Because they're obviously ... Again, they were like hardcore scaring the guy, and that's not cool. Steven Butala:                   It was a difference of opinion between husband and wife. I remember that. The wife wanted to close with the Ugly Houses, and the husband wanted to close with us. Jill DeWit:                            Well, and I hadn't had a chance to talk to her, and that's fine. But you know what? In the end, we all know how it works out. We all know how that went. Steven Butala:                   Would you rather do business with Jill or some Ugly Houses guy who's angry? I know which one I'd like. Jill DeWit:                            Thank you. Steven Butala:                   Today's topic, Winning Over a Seller. This is why you're listening. Jill DeWit:                            Well, that ties into this, too, with the We Buy Ugly Houses thing. It's like shopping with a local store versus a big chain. We all know it's different, and that's what we bring to the table. And that's what you would bring to the table as an investor, and that's why our whole House Academy community is successful. We are real people, too. I can't go on We Buy Ugly Houses and look up the guy's Facebook page, and see what he does, and make sure he's a good guy. Steven Butala:                   Yeah. Jill DeWit:                            It's very different, and I think ... I know we are. We're going to pass them. We are all individually doing more deals ... I'm sure of it ... than they are. And I don't want to be that. I like being a small, individual company where I can make the decisions. I talk to my team about that, too. That's one of the beautiful things working for a company like us, that you don't have a time clock. You don't have all these rules and regulations. We can do our own thing. Steven Butala:                   Here's a fact. We send out these offers, and we purchase houses and land at very predictable and consistent rates. So if somebody comes back and says, "I changed my mind," in the end, really what should happen is, "Okay. Thanks very much. But please don't come back to me when the deal falls through on the next one." Or, "If you do come back, it's going to be a lot more. The price is going to be less." Because somebody's going to sign an offer and send it back, and next day, it's going to be on your desk. That's the truth of it, so there's no reason to fret. Jill DeWit:                            Mm-mm (negative). Just send out more mail. It's not a big deal. Jill DeWit:                            So I was going to say about the topic, so winning over sellers, I have four points. One is listen to their stories, and trust me, they have them. That's whoever of the things that I've found is that people, they get our offer. They call us. We connect with them. They feel good about it. They have no reason to call anybody else. They feel good about the price. They're happy they don't have to do anything. We make it easy for them, and we get to know them. I can tell some of the stories that have got to me about So-and-so's son. "My son needs to come from New Orleans." Steven Butala:                   It's a personal story. Jill DeWit:                            "He's going to help me pack, and here's the reason why. Here's why he lives there. Here's why I'm selling, because now it's just me rattling around this great big house." All those things. Listen to their stories and get to know them. Steven Butala:                   That's it. Jill DeWit:                            It's important to build this relationship. Jill DeWit:                            Number two, talk to them like they're family. That's what they want. That's what you want. You don't want someone bulldozing over you, and neither do they. They want you to go, "All right ..." For example, the back tax thing you brought up on the show yesterday. Halfway through the process, we've had a like, "Oh, shucks. We were off by a couple thousand dollars on the back taxes." We worked it out together. In that situation, I think we ate it, as a matter of fact, I think we just said. Steven Butala:                   Yeah. I know we did. Jill DeWit:                            You know what? This is what, for me, is why we're here and makes a difference. We promised them a net to them price. We found out we were off by a couple thousand dollars on back taxes. That's on us, not on them. Sure, I let it be known that, "Hey, by the way, we're off. I just wanted to you to know that we're eating it, because we really want to get this deal done, and we made a promise." And that's [crosstalk 00:08:55] follow through. Steven Butala:                   You know what happened in that deal? Very specifically speaking, taxes. I don't want to wreck your train of thought here. Jill DeWit:                            Okay. Steven Butala:                   But on that deal ... It's because it's valuable. We looked up the back tax amount, and it was X. I think it was like $8,000. It was a lot. We said, "Great. We factored it all in. Yep, there's no problem." When escrow went to go pay off the taxes, they said, "Oh, yeah. It's 8,000 bucks, but it's so far back, that there's all these admin fees and punitive fees." Jill DeWit:                            Right. Steven Butala:                   So it ended up costing us 2,000 bucks more. Jill DeWit:                            Right. Steven Butala:                   Even us. Of all the deals we've done, you still can't predict exactly what's going to happen. Jill DeWit:                            It happens, so you have to roll with it. Steven Butala:                   Mm-hmm (affirmative). Jill DeWit:                            It's okay. Jill DeWit:                            My third point is winning over sellers is you need to simplify the escrow/closing process for them. Don't turn around and use the same verbiage that the escrow company or the closing person used with you, because your sellers don't ... They don't necessarily understand all that. They haven't closed a deal since 30 years ago, traditionally, when they bought the house. Steven Butala:                   Before the internet. Jill DeWit:                            They're not in the same level with you, and they don't really understand, so simplify it as much as you can and make it really easy for them. This is one of the things I think a good real estate agent should do. I don't think all of them do that, and I wish they would. Steven Butala:                   Yeah. All of this stuff is really the behavior that real estate agents should have, and you're taking over that role and managing it. Jill DeWit:                            It's true. Steven Butala:                   I think people value customer service. That's what this is. You're putting yourself in a customer service role and making sure they're happy. Jill DeWit:                            Yep. Steven Butala:                   They didn't chose you because of their price. Price is not the first ... Jill DeWit:                            That's true. Steven Butala:                   Price is not their first priority. If price was their first priority, they would call a listing agent. They would get their act together, clean the house out, maybe put some flowers out or whatever happens when you have an open house, and take that route. And many, many, many people do, and they get our letters, and they throw them away, and that's fine. But it's all built into our back end numbers. Jill DeWit:                            Right. Steven Butala:                   They're calling us, because they have something that they need to deal with. They don't want to show their house. There's some garbage in the basement. Who knows? Jill DeWit:                            Right. Or they need it fast and easy. Steven Butala:                   Whatever it is, we're there to solve it for them. Jill DeWit:                            Exactly. Jill DeWit:                            Then my final thing is, for winning over sellers, always deliver as promised. One of the fastest ways to mess up a deal is for them not to trust you, because you say you're going to call, and you don't call. You say you're going to do something, and you don't show up. You say you're going to have this, and you don't. Then they doubt you, and you can't have that. So even if there's a delay, tell them, "You're not going to believe this, but my home inspector got in a car accident." Not to say ... But tell them honestly, and say, "I've got his second in command coming, and he'll be there at 4:00. It's not going to be noon. Does that work for you, or do you want to do the next day?" Be in communication. Don't just let it happen. Steven Butala:                   Yeah. Jill DeWit:                            That's my list. Steven Butala:                   That's a great- Jill DeWit:                            Do you want to add more? Steven Butala:                   No. I think that just be a human being, you know? Jill DeWit:                            Yeah. Steven Butala:                   When we started Land Academy in 2015, and now House Academy, we're trying just look straight into the camera and tell you like it is. Jill DeWit:                            Like right now. Steven Butala:                   That's the whole model. That's it. We're not here to upsell anything or sell a product. We're just telling you how these deals go. If you treat a seller that way, that's all anybody wants, you know? Jill DeWit:                            Yep. Exactly. Steven Butala:                   Hey, we know your time's valuable. Thanks for spending some of it with us today, anyway. Join us next time for the episode called, The Perfect Timeline for a House Flip. Jill DeWit:                            And we answer your questions posted on our online community found at HouseAcademy.com. It is free. Steven Butala:                   You are not alone in your real estate ambition. Jill DeWit:                            That was good. I liked the way you wrapped that up. Steven Butala:                   That's what everybody wants out of everything in life. Jill DeWit:                            I know. That's the thing, too. Now with House Academy, I'm telling people, too, "Be a real person. They're going to look you up. They're going to look up your LinkedIn. They're going to look up your history. They're going to look at your Facebook page. And you want to make sure that you're presenting yourself well, and you show that you're an investor. Then they're going to trust you and want to sign it and send it back." Steven Butala:                   As consumers, we're just so set up to be disappointed constantly. Like even when you're a kid, you see a commercial on TV for like a toy. Then you get it, and it's like, "Yeah. It doesn't do anything like that. It doesn't fly at all." Jill DeWit:                            It breaks after one use. That's true. That's kind of sad, but you're right. Steven Butala:                   You don't want this to be that way. Jill DeWit:                            No, you don't. Jill DeWit:                            Wherever you're watching, wherever you are listening, please subscribe and rate us there. We are Steven and Jill. Steven Butala:                   We are Steve and Jill. Information ... Jill DeWit:                            ... and inspiration ... Steven Butala:                   ... to buy undervalued property.  

When we say the words “house flipper,” do you picture a yard sign jammed into the grass next to a freeway entrance that says something like “$$$$ We Buy Ugly Houses for Cash $$$$”? If one of the US’s biggest real estate companies has its way, you might have a different association soon. In a recent Bloomberg Businessweek article, “Zillow Wants to Flip Your House,” writer Patrick Clark explores real estate database Zillow’s unconventional decision to get into the home-buying game themselves. That’s right: the site where you spend countless hours pettily judging how much your third cousin spent on her condo might be renovating a run-down bungalow near you soon. And they’ll be using the massive power of their data (and, of course, a super-secret algorithm or two) to do it. What are the implications of big tech literally buying and selling our neighborhoods? Is Zillow poised to be a top-down monster-buyer who uses low-ball offers to snap up whole blocks, or is their business model a fragile mess that will probably fall apart on its own? Is an impersonal algorithm that sees that cute little ranch next door as nothing more than a set of numbers on a screen really any worse than a local sleazeball who’ll buy it for a song and let it crumble until it’s time to cash in? Strong Towns president Chuck Marohn is back this week to talk through these and more questions with host Kea Wilson. Then in the downzone, the two talk about what they’ve been binging to get through the winter: the TV series Justified for Chuck, and the podcast Believed for Kea.

David Hicks, the CEO of HomeVestors of America, grew his company's revenue from $34.6 million in 2014 to $78.8 million in 2017, a 128% increase, and another 35% YoY in 2018. HomeVestors of America are the "We Buy Ugly Houses®" people who are the #1 buyers of houses in the U.S. In this interview with Eversprint's Malcolm Lui, David shares how he and his team accelerated their high value sales by: Steadily adding franchisees each year -- 120 were added last year. Helping franchisee increase their same store sales by over 20%. Providing vendors and lenders who give their franchisees attractive pricing. Providing advertising and loans to franchisees. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

DJ and Jessica Savoy have been married since 2006 and have been investing in real estate together since 2014 when they opened their HomeVestors®, We Buy Ugly Houses® franchise in Lake Charles, LA. In less than 3 years in the business, they have purchased over 100 properties and currently have a rental portfolio of 44 units, which allowed them to leave their corporate careers and pursue real estate investing full time. DJ has more than a decade of experience in safety and environmental risk management and Human Resources in the chemical, manufacturing, and oil & gas industry, where he was a manager for multiple Fortune 500 companies. Jessica has been a full-time Stay-at-Home Mom for the last 5 years, after leaving the medical and dental industry where she worked as an Office Coordinator. Jessica and DJ currently have 3 children. What you’ll learn about in this episode: Making real estate investing a family business Diversifying your income sources to protect your future Why taking calculated risks with your career can set you free Dreaming large even when you’re facing adversity Where to find confidence even when it seems hopeless Networking with successful people to draw on their knowledge The ins and outs of real estate in Louisiana Unique legal issues that can arise when starting out in real estate Inspiring your business partners with your strategic vision Communicating with legal advisors when building your business Finding mentors that fit your style and career strategy Resources: REInvestorSummit.com/Savoy REInvestorSummit.com/capital REInvestorsummit.com/mypodcast REInvestorSummit.com/101 REInvestorSummit.com/100 REInvestorSummit.com/aof

HomeVestors, the "We Buy Ugly Houses" folks, has purchased nearly 60,000 houses. Ken Channell, Co-President of HomeVestors of America, has gotten to know hundreds, if not thousands of real estate investors in a way like no one else - he can read their personalities...and specifically, helps them learn more about themselves for the purpose of operating a successful real estate investing business. Ken Channell worked closly with HomeVestors founder, Ken D'Angelo for decades, and has seen and helped lead the company from nothing but an idea, to the largest home buying company in America. Check out this episode to learn more about what it takes to be successful as a real estate investor, and more about HomeVestors, America's #1 Home Buyer. Get your copy of our FREE "Profiting with Rental Properties" Guide!

It's clear that HomeVestors, the "We Buy Ugly Houses" folks is the 800lb gorilla nationally in the real estate investing space, with nearly 500 independent franchisees buying thousands of houses per year. Have you ever wondered "who are those guys?" Watch this episode of the FlipNerd.com VIP show to find out. Get your copy of our FREE "Profiting with Rental Properties" Guide!

Segment 1: Beau Lotto is a world-renowned neuroscientist who specializes in the biology and psychology of perception.  He has been conducting and presenting research on human perception and behavior for more than twenty-five years and has published over sixty publications and two academic books.  Segment 2: Charles Goslin is the author of “Understanding Personal Security and Risk”. He is a retired Central Intelligence Agency operations officer who served throughout the world in a wide range of capacities that bridged covert technical and human intelligence operations. Segment 3: Paul Rasori is VP of Global Product Marketing at First Data. As a 25-year veteran of the electronic payments industry, Paul has held positions in product development, product management, corporate strategy, marketing, and business development. Segment 4: Joe Sprague is currently Vice President and leader of Nationwide Business Solutions Group (NBSG). Segment 5: Dr. John Hayes is a franchise educator and author, and a former franchisee on numerous occasions, as well as the former president and CEO of HomeVestors of America and the We Buy Ugly Houses franchise. Sponsored by Nextiva and Alibaba.

I bought my first business when I was nineteen. It was a stock market simulator called CoolWallStreet. After selling it, I saw the benefits of buying a business instead of starting a new one. While attempting some startup business ideas, I played around in the stock market. I found it nearly impossible to get ahead, as my savings continued to dwindle. I was tired to not being able to afford the freedom to follow my passion for travelling and connecting with people, but I was terrified to try anything. After selling my business, I was offered an opportunity to enter corporate America, which I accepted. It may have been 2002, but to me it felt like yesterday. I was young, and the thought of what the next 40 years would look like scared me. As a college dropout, I knew I would hit a glass ceiling in the corporate world. Yet, I had neither the time or money to afford further education. I quickly found myself thinking cynically about the path I was on. Talking to coworkers who were nearing retirement, I saw a future for myself where I lived on little more than social security. It was obvious when I spoke to my older coworkers that their retirement plans weren’t working for them. I didn’t enjoy the work that I was doing and it was impacting my quality of life. Eventually, I was let go and found myself with a choice. I could go find another job or take a risk on something grander. My freedom. I didn’t realize the impact this choice would have on my life, but I don’t regret a single second of it. I pursued something bigger than I had ever dreamed possible and had no idea what I was getting myself into. I knew that I couldn’t risk my future with another startup. So I decided to find another business I could buy. I made some sacrifices, found a mentor, and bought my next business. To advertise this venture, I put billboards up all over the city saying, “We Buy Ugly Houses”. I grew that company to be my first million dollar business and sold it. I took some of the money I had earned and bought two retail stores. At one point, each business was doing over $1 million in revenue. Before I knew it, I was on the path to becoming a dealmaker. But it was nothing like I thought it would be. I was self-employed but was working harder than I ever had before, at more than 80 hours a week. I found myself dealing with the headaches of running a business and putting out fires constantly. The money was good, and I enjoyed the work more than when I was an employee, but it wasn’t the life I wanted. That’s when I decided to sell the businesses. I took some time off and traveled, while collecting the cheques from selling my businesses. I spent some consulting and built a relationship with a certified billionaire. This experience taught me that wealthy people didn’t reach that level of success because of their businesses. Rather, they attained their wealth from growing a business and selling it. This time, I wanted to do things differently. I knew that starting a business from scratch was too risky, so I chose to buy existing small businesses with established client bases and profits. I quickly realized that I could buy these businesses with less money than it would cost to start a new from scratch. I also decided to design my life and build my business strategy around it. That choice led to me buying over 40 businesses in the past 16 years. I discovered unique strategies to finance businesses and help other people leverage those strategies. To me, the secret to success is about providing more value than you can take. By working this way, compensation becomes a bi-product of your value to society. The process is simple, by learning more skills you’re benefiting the greater good and reaping the rewards from your efforts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode we discuss some of the pros and cons of “active” real estate investing — the opposite end of “passive” real estate investing. That means you’re actively involved in the deal — whether that is wholesaling, rehabbing, or flipping properties. It’s certainly not for everyone, but it can be a good business for those with the desire and time to do so. Our guest is Mike Hambright. Mike is real estate investor, mentor and entrepreneur who has purchased and renovated hundreds of houses from when he started in 2008. Mike recruits and mentors new franchisees into the “We Buy Ugly Houses” system. And he’s also the founder of FlipNerd.com. If you missed last week’s episode, be sure to listen to Nationwide Rental Property Insurance. Enjoy the show! – – – – – – – – – – – – – – Download your FREE copy of: The Ultimate Guide to Passive Real Estate Investing. Get your FREE coffee mug by leaving us a Rating and Review on iTunes. Here’s how. See our available Turnkey Cash-Flow Rental Properties. Please give us a RATING & REVIEW (Thank you!) SUBSCRIBE on iTunes | Stitcher | Podcast Feed Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 58, Accredited Investor Markets Radio chats with David Hicks of HomeVestors of America, a.k.a."We Buy Ugly Houses," to discuss how company franchisees find the dormant capital (the "ugly houses") and bring it to market, and how the company finds and trains the franchisees to perform these feats.   You can find out more about David Hicks and HomeVestors here.   Or you can find them here: Twitter: @HomeVestorsNews Facebook LinkedIn: David Hicks; HomeVestors     About David Hicks   David Hicks is co-president of Dallas-based HomeVestors of America, Inc., the largest professional house buying franchise in the U.S. with over 60,000 houses bought since 1996. HomeVestors recruits, trains and supports its independently owned and operated franchisees that specialize in building businesses based on buying, rehabbing, selling and holding residential properties. Most commonly known as the “We Buy Ugly Houses®” company, HomeVestors has over 600 franchises in 49 states and over 120 markets across the US. In 2015, for the tenth consecutive year, HomeVestors was among the prestigious Franchise Business Review's "Top 50 Franchises," a distinction awarded to franchisors with the highest level of franchisee satisfaction. In 2015, HomeVestors was recognized in the 25th fastest growing franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine.   Since joining HomeVestors in 2005 as Director of Franchise Systems, Mr. Hicks quickly developed a process for coaching franchisees. From 2006-2009, he coordinated the franchisee support for the company as vice president of operations. In January 2009, he became co- president of the company with Kenneth Channell, and since then, company growth has been record-setting with the total number of franchisees more than tripling to over 600.   Before joining HomeVestors, Mr. Hicks was president of NEFX, Inc. in Richardson, Texas from October 1999 to March 2005, and president of Success Motivation Institute in Waco, Texas prior to 1999. Mr. Hicks graduated with a BS degree from Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos.

It was 2002 but it seems like it was just yesterday. Ace Chapman was 22 and just the thought of what the next 40 years would look like terrified him. He had tried some business ideas here and there and nothing seemed to work. It seemed nearly impossible to get ahead. He had little savings, student loans, and credit card debt. He was so sick of being broke and not being able to afford to finer things in life or the freedom to follow his passion for travel and connecting with people.    A college dropout, Ace knew he would hit a glass ceiling in the corporate world. Yet he had neither the time or money to afford more education. Talking to my his workers nearing retirement, Ace saw his future as retiring on a little more than social security. It was obvious speaking to them that despite all the hype around retirement plan they weren’t working in reality. It was a pathetic existence spending so much of his life doing something he didn’t enjoy.   Well, eventually he was fired and he had a choice. Either go back and find another job or shoot for something bigger…freedom. Ace didn’t realize then how drastically different his life was going to be depending on that decision but he was so happy he made the decision he did. Ace went for something bigger and honestly he had no idea what he was doing. He made some sacrifices, began investing in real estate, and realized he had a knack for it. Pretty soon Ace was making more money than he was at his previous job. He went on to buy a franchise business and put up billboards all over the city saying, “We Buy Ugly Houses.” He grew that business to be his first million dollar business and sold it.   Ace then took some of the money and bought two retail stores, one in Chattanooga and another out of state. At one point each business was doing over $1 million dollars in revenue. Before he knew it, he had become a true entrepreneur. But it was nothing like he envisioned. Ace was working for himself but he was working even harder than he was at his previous employer – 80 plus hours a week! Dealing with more headaches each week and putting out fires constantly. The money was good, and life was much better than being an employee, but it was not the life he had envisioned. It got to the point where he decided to sell those businesses. Ace was glad to be rid of the headaches and have the opportunity to start from scratch with his new knowledge. He took a little time off, traveled and just collected monthly checks from financing the sell of my different businesses. Ace had the opportunity to do some consulting and build a relationship with a certified billionaire. It was then that he realized that the wealthiest people in America were not wealthy because of cash flow from their business but from growing a business and either selling it all to a a single buyer or portions via the stock market to shareholders. Most importantly Ace learned that you really can create you own your reality. Imagine how much more rewarding it would be if you could tap into 100% of your own potential. Imagine how much different your bank account would look. The secret to me has always been about providing more value than you take. Compensation is just a bi-product of your value to society. Your income is really defined by your value to society. Its pretty simple. Learn more skills, both left brain technical like Google and also right brain, less technical stuff like leadership skills and being able to inspire people. To be able to look someone in the eye and tell them you can help them get where they want to go and know that you can is one of the most powerful things you can provide the world.

Since 1979, John Hayes has worked in the franchise community as a consultant, franchisee and franchisor. He is the author of several franchise-related books and countless articles that have appeared in media worldwide. He is also the co-author (with Zig Ziglar) of Network Marketing for Dummies. Areas of Expertise Dr. Hayes has served for many years as an advisor to franchisors, franchisees and small business owners internationally. His areas of expertise include management leadership, development, marketing, customer service, training and strategic planning. Widely Published Author He is the author or co-author of 18 non-fiction books including the Franchise Pre-Investment Checklist, Franchising: The Inside Story, Start Small, Finish Big, You Can't Teach A Kid To Ride A Bike At A Seminar, and most recently Get It! The Secrets of Cultivating the HomeVestors Millionaire Mindset. His articles about franchising and business-related topics have appeared in Reader's Digest, Inc. Magazine, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, International Herald Tribune, etc. and many publications sponsored by the International Franchise Association. Corporate Level Expertise From November 2004 until January 2009 he served as President & CEO of HomeVestors of America, Inc., the We Buy Ugly Houses® company. He was a franchisee of HomeVestors from 2002 until 2005. He has been a franchisee of several other concepts and he served on the Board of Directors for both HomeVestors (Chairman of the Board) and The Dwyer Group (1992-2003). Seminars & Workshops Dr. Hayes leads a variety of seminars including How To Capture & Keep The Right Customers, How To Capture & Keep The Right Franchisees, and he facilitates Masterminds for franchisors, franchisees and industry suppliers. He is a popular speaker and trainer at franchise conventions and meetings internationally. Dr. Hayes has provided services to dozens of franchise companies during his career.