1/1/10

Happy New Year Jane and thanks for doing what you do!

I am a rehabber and landlord and every sentence in your letter runs true for me.  I am seeing great deals.  The really good ones are going fast, so there must be investors out there with money.  Rather than buying more cheap junk, I am using the price declines to get nicer houses in nicer areas.  Everything I bought in 2009 was brick, in middle class areas.  Getting financed is difficult.  I am using a small bank in Lemont that keeps all their loans in house.  Rates are high, terms are bad, but at least I can get some money.

I was able to rehab and sell a couple of homes with my buyers using the 8M tax credit.  I found another 2 REOs to rehab this winter.  ( I am praying I can get them fixed and sold before April!)

My fear is what happens to the retail market after this tax credit ends.

Agree with you that there will be lots of  foreclosures for at least another 12-18 months.  

I have had decent luck with renters.  Many are good renters whose landlord lost their building and they are not ready to buy yet, but just need a good place to live in the meantime.  I don't know why so many landlords lost their buildings, but I must have had 25 people tell me that last year.  I guess they were taking rent money and doing something else with it.  You are 100% correct about screening.  I am also pushing for higher security deposits.  ( 2 months if I can get it)

Would like to see more creative financing options next year.  I am really trying to make owner financing and "subject to" work, so any help you can provide would be great.  My wife and I have 16 loans so getting conventional financing is nearly impossible and I want to keep on going.  I just have to believe there are owners that just want to get out of their property and cannot wait 15 months to get a retail price.  

I love the brown bag workshops.  I would rather spend a half day with you than some guru trying to sell me junk!

Take Care and Thanks Again!



Gary
Independence Homes, Inc.

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1/1/10

Hi Jane,

as always, good to hear from you.

Soneryl joins me in wishing you & yours a mighty Happy New Year. May it bring you all you'd want it to.

I'll touch base in Feb after I finish financing my latest 48 unit multi-family acquisition. Our investing is so much easier with all the help & support us CCIA member investors get from you & from each other. A big Thank you to you for all you do.

best wishes,

Anil

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July 2, 2009

Hello Jane (Hi Pam),
I just wanted to say Thank you for the journal as well as the recognition in the CCIA meeting on Sunday.
Trust me, I look forward to the meeting every month as nobody else in my family is into Real Estate so I need that support and connection every month.

Thank you for providing such a great group setting as well as all the information/education.

I love volunteering with Pam as I borrow some of her energy.
Again, Thank you and see you next month.

Sam

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May 9, 2009


Dear Jane-

Thanks for lining up the Mike Watson Investing "Seller Financing" event that
was recently here in Chicago! Mike and his team introduced a 3rd dimension
of deal creation. To my surprise, no other speaker has gone down this path
at this length before. My ability to structure creative deals has easily
tripled. A top priority in this current market.

Thanks for bringing quality to Chicago,

David D
CCIA member since August '06

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April 8, 2009

Dear Jane and Paul,

Thank you for the update. Thank you for your good work with this legislative action.

I really appreciate what you are doing for us; for this industry and for the community.

Gracias!

Jose A

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March 31, 2009

Hi Jane - My name is Pete Lopez and I just recently joined the CCIA. I want to tell you that I am super thankful for all that you do in putting the CCIA together. I have learned so much in the past few months but most importantly I have met some really great and helpful people. Before I started, things were looking very grim at my Job and in regards to the current economy, but now I am very excited about my future because knowledge is power and the control is back in my hands.

Thanks again and I hope to talk with you soon,

Sincerely,

Peter L
Real Estate Investor

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Date: Mon, 30 Mar 2009 21:03:02 GMT
Subject: Re: real estate license

Hi Jane,

I just wanted to thank you for your direction concerning locating a real
estate school and getting my residency, reciprocity, class waivers, etc.
questions answered.

I have since taken a review course and passed the Illinois real estate
broker's examination.

Thank you again.

Joe

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From: Donn S
Date: Fri, 30 Jan 2009 09:20:46 -0800 (PST)
To: Jane garvey
Subject: Good Stuff!

Jane,

WoW! Just wanted to say you are one smart lady@ I just finished reading all your articles listed on your site from Jan 06 to present. You've written some very sage advice. I realize behind those words is much time, sweat, and life's learning experiences. Thanks for your expertise, patience and willingness to share. What you do isn't easy!

Your friend,

Joni S

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November 19, 2008

Hi Jane,

Glenwood, and University Park (both south suburbs) also require annual rental inspections. The killer is that I am harassed for minor things on my properties and owner occupied homes next door are falling apart and the local villages don't care. There are two property standards: one for rentals and a much lower one for owner occupied!

Gary M

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August 2008

Jane:

I am sitting at my computer this morning and it pops into my head that I am guilty of what most of the CCIA member's are guilty of....

Namely we take all of the hard work you do for granted.............

I just attended two weekend of workshops that you made possible: Wendy Patton last weekend and Bill Gallen's this past weekend.

What a wealth of information!!!! for Free!

Wendy is always a pleasure to listen to and I see that Bill is a little off center (that matches my personality) - he is both informative and entertaining.

So, I just want to say a BIG THANKS to you for all you do for CCIA. You are the reason that Chicago's real estate group is considered the best in the US.

And I will volunteer to do whatever you need to help CCIA - whatever it may be just give me an email or call.

Thanks for everything you do,

CCIA members
Joe & Isabelle G