There are lots of paths into a full time real estate  investing career. Mark Ferguson got into investing after being an agent for many years. Today’s guest, Jim Huntzicker did the same. Both men had fathers who were real estate agents, which could seem like an advantage to getting into the real estate investing world, but both of them feel it was a hindrance. Why? Because neither of their fathers had actually done investing, and the retail side of sales and purchasing is a night and day difference from real estate investing. In today’s episode you’re going to hear Jim’s story of how he got into investing, how he’s making a great living doing fix and flips, and how and why he buys and holds rental properties. You’ll learn a ton from this conversation.

From almost the beginning of Jim’s first fix and flip project Jim Huntzicker ran into troubles of all kinds. From problems negotiating the price, to issues with unreliable contractors, and problems getting the money to purchase and rehab the property, Jim found that every project is an opportunity to be educated. He considers it to be the equivalent of a college education, the harder it gets. Listen in as Mark Ferguson asks Jim about the lessons he learned on that first failed fix and flip and how he recovered to move ahead and become a very successful investor. It’s all on this episode of Invest Four More.

Jim Huntzicker has perfected it. He’s got a step by step process that includes going out to look at the property multiple times (or not), consistent communication with the agent about the price, your interest in it, and the issues you’d have to address if you purchased it, and brutal transparency about your desire to make an offer but fear offending anyone by making one that might seem too low. He’s found that the process he takes, though more lengthy than what most investors do, results in him getting more accepted offers in the end. Discover the details of this ingenious way of getting offers requested of you by listening in.

Jim Huntzicker has a wife and twins at home and he loves that his success as a real estate investor enables him to spend more time with them and less time at work. He intentionally stays at home each morning until his children are off to school and enjoys that though he likes to work, he’s got the luxury of being at home whenever he wants. It’s a benefit he hadn’t thought about seriously until his twins were born, and one he wouldn’t trade for anything - including more money. Find out how Jim to to that point through building a successful real estate investment business on this episode of Invest Four More.

The common complaints about finding good deals for fix and flips on the MLS is that there’s too much competition and that there are only about 3% of houses listed that would actually be feasible for a fix and flip. But Jim sees those as ideal reasons TO get his deals there. The MLS is actually the “Motivated Seller List” in Jim’s eyes and compared to sending out direct mail, he thinks the MLS is a better deal. He’s not paying the expense of formatting mailers and sending out letters. He’s got a list right in front of him of motivated sellers, and the 3% of deals there that fit his buying criteria would be equal to the 3% of responses he’d get from direct marketing - and he didn’t have to go find them. Hear more about Jim’s logic of using the MLS to find great deals, on this episode.

[1:00] Introduction of Jim Huntzincker.

[1:30] How Jim began his real estate investing career.

[3:11] How starting out in real estate with a family member already in the business can be a disadvantage.

[4:15] The nightmare deal that Jim did first and how he advises you to get started in your first deal.

[6:34] How Jim gets the property owner to ask HIM for an offer.

[8:37] Why being a real estate agent worked against Jim at first.

[9:57] Jim’s biggest learning point on that first terrible deal - contractor selection, partnerships, borrowing money.

[15:02] Learning the terminology of real estate investing and educating yourself to do flips and rehabs wisely.

[16:43] The ONLY reason a real estate investor should get a real estate license.

[16:59] How Jim got to the point of doing 15 flips at one time.

[18:59] The family perks of becoming a successful real estate investor.

[19:35] When Jim began buying rentals and why he did it.

[21:57] Jim’s approach to buying rental properties now.

[22:56] How Jim also sells turn-key properties ready to go.

[24:09] How Jim balances real estate sales business with his investing deals.

[25:13] Why Jim likes using the MLS to find properties to buy… and why he has as much success as most investors who do direct marketing.

[28:42] Making strategic offers through the MLS by staging your offer effectively.

[32:59] Why listing agents likely don’t know what the seller is really going to accept for their property.

[36:48] Step by step: Jim’s process for finding the right deals on the MLS.

[42:18] Jim’s program for finding deals on the MLS - MLS Domination

[45:27] Situations where Jim pays over list price for properties and why he loves estate sales.

[47:44] Why Jim never lets potential buyers know when he has multiple offers.

[52:48] The best ways to get in touch with Jim.

Jim’s MLS Domination program. - http://mlsdominiation.com

Jim’s website - www.JimHuntzicker.com  

Contact Mark for a $100 discount on all his programs - [email protected]

PLEASE LEAVE A RATING AND REVIEW FOR US OVER ON ITUNES

How to get great deals from the #MLS for #FixAndFlips, on this episode

How to get #RealEstateAgents to ASK YOU for a low offer on their listings

Why you should never let potential buyers know you have multiple offers on your property

The family perks of becoming a successful #RealEstateInvestor

The only reason a #RealEstateInvestor should ever get a #RealEstateLicense