Archive for November, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wednesday, November 25th, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving %%First Name%%!
On this Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for … a loving family, a great group of friends, and despit recent economic problems and political controversy, I still live in the greatest country in the world!
I’m also thankful that real estate enabled me to bust out of the rat race and secure financial independence. And I’m thankful that my idea to create MyHouseDeals turned into a reality and that people like you have become members, bought and sold properties, and helped the site flourish.
I’m aware that the site means nothing without you, so I want to take this time to give a special THANK YOU for helping to make MyHouseDeals all that it is.

Happy Thanksgiving!

On this Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for … a loving family, a great group of friends, a fantastic staff at MyHouseDeals, and despit recent economic problems and political controversy, I still live in the greatest country in the world!turkey-day

I’m also thankful that real estate enabled me to bust out of the rat race and secure financial independence.

And I’m thankful that my idea to create MyHouseDeals turned into a reality and that people like you have become members, bought and sold properties, and helped the site flourish.

It’s also extremely nice to have blog readers. Yes, we do have readers! LOL. Actually, according to our stats, there are hundreds of you who tune each week. So thank you for reading because without readers like you, what’s the point!??

Well, I need to pack my things and head off to see my family in Lubbock, TX. I’m sure you’re headed somewhere, too. Enjoy your time with your family, and travel safe!

Until next time, happy (and profitable) investing!

Doug Smith
Real Estate Investor
Founder of MyHouseDeals.com

P.S. I had a great time at lunch yesterday catching up with old real estate buddies. Pictured below are me, Terry Wygal (Online real estate profits guru from Houston), Tim Mai (virtual investing guru from Houston), and Michael Jake (Wholesaling and Sub 2/Lease-Option guru from Colorado Springs, CO)…

Me, Terry, Tim, and Michael. Now you know why I never sit next to Tim!!

Me, Terry, Tim, and Michael. Now you know why I never sit next to Tim!!

Posted in Just for Fun | 1 Comment »

Wholesaling or Flipping Houses is Hot But…

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

There’s a dirty secret that the others won’t tell you. When the house you want to flip is a Short Sale or a Bank Owned REO Foreclosure, you’ll need 2 things to get in the game:
1. Proof of Funds &
2. In many (not all) cases, transactional funding, or what we call “1 Day Dough.”
<Yes, Sign me up for the Free Webinar!>
Follow the link above to register for a special training webinar with me and my friend, nationally renowned Investor Cameron Dunlap. It happens tomorrow, October 19, at <Local Time>, when Cam is going to share the secrets of funding your flip deals that generate fast cash in this market – right now.
Cam’s goal is for you to do one more Foreclosure deal per month, in your spare time. Are you in?
<Yes, Sign me up for the Free Webinar!>
Here’s to your success!
Doug Smith
Real Estate Investor
Founder of MyHouseDeals.com
P.S. I sent an invitation on Monday and the response broke a record!
We had more people sign up for the webinar from that one invitation than EVER before, which almost filled it up. So, if you want to learn more and register, I suggest you go here NOW and sign up! <Yes, Sign me up for the Free Webinar!>

There’s a dirty secret that the others won’t tell you. When the house you want to flip is a Short Sale or a Bank Owned REO

Cameron Dunlap, REO Expert

Cameron Dunlap, REO Expert

Foreclosure, you’ll need 2 things to get in the game:

1. Proof of Funds &

2. In many (not all) cases, transactional funding, or what we call “1 Day Dough.”

Yes, Sign me up for the Free Webinar!

On Monday I announced a free training webinar with renowned real estate investor and REO expert Cameron Dunlap. Follow the link above to register for this special event. It happens tomorrow, October 19, at 5pm PT / 7pm CT / 9pm ET, when Cam is going to share the secrets of funding your flip deals that generate fast cash in this market – right now.

Cam’s goal is for you to do one more Foreclosure deal per month, in your spare time. Are you in?

Yes, Sign me up for the Free Webinar!

Happy (and profitable) investing,

Doug

P.S. Registration for this webinar opened on Monday and the response broke a record! We had more people sign up for the webinar from that one invitation than EVER before, which almost filled it up. So, if you want to learn more and register, I suggest you go here NOW and sign up! Yes, Sign me up for the Free Webinar!

Posted in Real Estate Investing | No Comments »

Back in Vegas! Lessons from CEO of Zappos.

Wednesday, November 11th, 2009

Hey there!

Hope you’re doing well. I was in Vegas in January for softball, and now I’m baaaaaack! But for a web conference this time. It’s actually just as fun as softball. After all, I was a computer geek once upon a time. Ok, maybe I still am! LOL.

I’ve already picked up several tips that will help take MyHouseDeals to the next level. (I’d tell you, but it’s top secret!) I’m also hearing from business leaders, such as the CEO of Zappos (the leading online retailer of shoes). Heck, I’m even “shooting the breeze” with him. This pic was taken yesterday morning…

Here I am "hobnobbin" with a big shot, Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com.

Here I am "hobnobbin" with the big shot himself, Tony Hsieh, CEO of Zappos.com.

Tony sold his first company, Link Exchange, to Microsoft for $265 million. And he recently sold Zappos to Amazon for $887 million. $214 million of that went directly to Tony. Let’s just say that he’s  not hurting! LOL. (Not shown above, my hand is reaching into his backpack as I dig for a small slice of his fortune. Just kidding!)

Tony was the keynote speaker, and among other things, he talked about the “Keys to Happiness.” After all, that’s what we’re all searching for. He suggests that you and I spend 10% of our productive time learning about happiness. That’s what he does, and it’s what I’m going to start doing, too.

Here are the main lessons that he’s learned in his search for happiness. Happiness is about:

1. Perceived control
2. Perceived progress
3. Connectedness
4. Vision/meaning

And the three levels of happiness, from least effective to most effective are:

1. Pleasure-seeking – Always looking for the next high. Temporary happiness.
2. Engagement – Being so interested in what you’re doing that “time flies.”
3. Meaning – Being part of a bigger purpose. Long-term happiness.

Which of the 4 keys to happiness do you possess? Which of the 3 levels of happiness have you obtained? Learn more about where you are and how to reach a higher level by reading the book that Tony recommended. It’s called “The Happiness Hypothesis” by Jonathan Haidt. It’s now on my “to read” list.

Well, I’ve gotta go to the next web session. Be sure to buy and read that book! All the riches in the world won’t mean much if you’re an unhappy person! And yes, you can be happy BEFORE you become rich.

Until next time, happy (and profitable) investing!

Doug Smith
Real Estate Investor
Founder of MyHouseDeals.com

P.S. Almost forgot! Today is Veteran’s Day. A special thanks to all of the veterans who have served our country. You’ve made our freedom possible, and we will always be indebted to you for that.

P.P.S. Guess who I just bumped into at Planet Hollywood? None other than the 2009 winner of America’s Got Talent, Kevin Skinner! He’s the country boy from Kentucky that most of us were pulling for a few months ago. Here are a couple of YouTube videos that’ll jog your memory: Kevin Sings in First Round (sound kicks in at the 6-second mark) and Kevin Wins! And here’s the pic I took with him about 2 hours ago in the casino. EXTREMELY nice guy. 100% genuine! …

Kevin Skinner and me in the Planet Hollywood Casino. I should come here more often!

Kevin Skinner and me in the Planet Hollywood Casino. I should come here more often! Click on image to enlarge.

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Will the Real Gangster Please Stand Up?

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Hello again fellow investor!

Back in April, I posted a story entitled “The True Test of a Man: His Internal Compass.” Pretty popular story!

That posting included several images, one of which has a caption that calls me a “wannabe gangster.” Well, apparently Google agrees! I’m now on the first page of Google’s Image Search for “wannabe gangster.”

Below is a screen shot. Thought you might get a kick out of it! I’m in the blue shirt, bottom-middle. I’m a little concerned that some of the others on this page aren’t “wanna-be’s!”

Google's search results for "Wannabe Gangster" on 11/4/2009.

Google's search results for "Wannabe Gangster" on 11/4/2009.

See ya next time. I’m off to “chill with my homies!”

Doug Smith
Real Estate Investor
Founder of MyHouseDeals.com

Posted in Just for Fun | No Comments »