Sharon Vornholt - Let's Talk Real Estate Investing

95% of all real estate investors fail. So, what is it that determines whether you succeed or fail in this business? Marketing will likely determine the success or failure of your REI business so I’m excited to dive into this topic today. My guest today is Rufus Thibodeaux. Rufus is known as “The REI Marketing Guy”. He is a real estate investing marketing expert with 29 years of experience, and he has generated over $350 million in sales for himself and his clients. Rufus is on a mission to lower the failure rate of real estate investors which is a staggering 95%, and that’s what we are going to talk about today. Why do 95% of all real estate investors fail?  Key Highlights: [00:01 - 06:53] Opening Segment Rufus's background in real estate investing as a marketing expert  An overview of why 95% of all real estate investors fail The importance of words and copywriting Rufus's insights about cold calling and how it positions you as an annoying pest [06:54 - 13:35] Stand Out From the Crowd How cold calling a

In part 2 of this series, "the real estate investor’s guide to marketing and branding" the focus is on branding. So, why you should care about your brand? You should care because your brand shows your potential customers who you are. It speaks to your values. Your brand gives you credibility, it builds authority, and it helps make people want to do business with you. When done properly, your brand will also make all your marketing work better. Freebie… Stop by the blog to get your FREE Marketing Plan Template and your FREE Brand Assessment that you can implement in your own business. You can find that at the Louisville Gal’s Real Estate Blog Key Highlights: [00:01 - 04:37] Opening Segment • Why branding is what people say about you and how they feel about you Make sure to present yourself in a way that is in alignment with your brand • How branding starts with your website, online, and social media presence Ensure your online presence reflects the way you want people to think of you [04:38 - 08:44] Buildi

Today is part 1 of a two-part episode of the real estate investors guide to marketing and branding. Understanding how each one of these things functions individually and together like a “couple” is vital to the success of your real estate investing business.  Marketing is how you get leads, but branding is why they choose YOU. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 04:25] Opening Segment How everything that you do is marketing Branding is the way people feel about you and your presence at every touchpoint Be aware of building your own credibility and authority [04:26 - 08:52] Build Your Brand and Become Known Different ways to get leads Direct mail, lead generation, networking, and follow up People now look for credible evidence of a real business and trustworthy person online [08:53 - 13:21] Unlock the Gold of Off-Market Deals Why you should take advantage of probates and networking for lead generation How probates are the gold of off-market deals A lead generation website is needed for credibility and au

You might be wondering, “Do real estate investors need good sales skills” to succeed in this business? Personally, I believe that a good sales foundation helps most investors when it comes to negotiation. I also believe it’s not a skill most of us aren’t naturally good at. Let’s face it; we are always negotiating with someone. Negotiation doesn’t only happen when we are making offers. We negotiate with contractors, tenants, and/or property managers, and for other goods and services. I believe that sales skills are actually people skills. They involve the ability to hear and be heard. It would stand to reason that it’s a good idea for real estate investors to have sales skills. My guest today is Matt Cavanaugh, and he is going to dive into sales skills, understanding human psychology around sales, and how this helps him run a large-scale wholesaling business. Matt is a visionary, strategist, a real estate investor, and he is the co-host of the Freedom Chaser’s Podcast. He has a passion for helping people achie

A staggering 95% of all real estate investors that go into this business will ultimately fail. So, what do the 5% that succeed know or do that the others don’t? I think it boils down to 5 things. Get these things right and you are well on the path to success. Listen in as I do a recap of these 5 success tips. And here's a bonus tip. If you really want to stand out in this business or any other business, you need to be different. I always say that “different is better than better”. One of the ways you can stand out is by becoming the "go-to" expert in a particular niche and as you know, my niche is probate investing. There is no other lead source other than probates where you have an endless stream of leads month after month, year after year. This niche puts money in your bank account. These are some of the most profitable deals you will ever do. Another thing that is so great about working probates is that there is so much less competition when you work off-market deals.  Check it out for yourself, and make t

What happens when you realize one day that you have no joy around your business? The very thing that used to make you so happy, has lost its spark? Maybe, you are feeling like a ship that’s completely off course. I have talked to a lot of entrepreneurs that have found themselves in exact situations in the past 18 months. And the funny thing is, not only are they unsure of how they got there, but they also have no idea how to “course correct”. The question is, what do you do? How do you fix this problem? That’s what we are tackling in this week’s episode. Reinvention: finding joy in your business again. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 06:20] Opening Segment • How losing passion for one's business can lead to struggles in both personal and professional life • Melissa discusses her journey from a corporate background to becoming a successful business coach • The importance of talking openly about business struggles and finding solutions together [06:21 - 12:30] How to Quit Your Job and Start Over • How Melissa realized

It’s often said that “Success leaves clues”, and today we’re going to lay out some success tips for real estate investors that you can implement in your business no matter what your investment strategy is. Successful businesses are built on a strong foundation, and today my guest Charles Carillo will tell you what he believes are some of those key components for any business. Let’s dive in! Charles Carillo is the managing partner of Harborside Partners; a real estate syndication firm and has been actively investing in multifamily and commercial real estate since 2006. Since that time, he has invested in over $150 million worth of investment real estate. Charles is also the host of the Global Investors Podcast, where he interviews professionals about investing in US real estate.  Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:03] Opening Segment • How to build a successful real estate investing business • Charles's experience as managing partner of Harborside Partners They have invested in over 150 million worth of investment p

I’m sure you’ve heard that entrepreneurs often have “shiny object syndrome”. What that means is we tend to jump from one thing to another often without actually finishing anything. My guest today is Pili Yarusi of Yarusi Holdings. Pili is a wife and a busy mom of three, so she is as time-crunched as anyone can be. However, Pili has really mastered the art of focus and time management. She is going to tell you how she gets so much done each day by following a basic structure for her day, how she implements strict time blocking as a way to stay on track, and the non-negotiable “one thing” time she puts in her calendar. It’s safe to say that Pili accomplishes more in the 5 hours she spends at her office each day than most people do in 8 hours.  If you find yourself thinking you need more hours in the day, I want to challenge you to listen in and learn some strategies that will help you to get more done in less time. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 08:27] Opening Segment • How to lead with Aloha and narrow your focus to

Interest rates are soaring today across the country. Smart investors are using master lease options to acquire property now more than ever before. So, what exactly is a master lease option, and how can I use this investing strategy to acquire property?  Master lease options allow you to control commercial property like apartment buildings, storage facilities, etc., and then buy them at a specified time in the future. You can generally do this with no money down. Bill Walston is one of the most sought-after business and tax strategists in the real estate investing community. He has been an active real estate investor for nearly four decades as well as an author, mentor, and coach. His passion is teaching and creating strategies that help real estate investors do more deals, make more money, and live a tax-deductible lifestyle. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:52] Opening Segment • An overview of the benefits of using master lease options • Bill's background and work A business and tax strategist in the real estate

With just over two months left in the year, today I want to talk about how to finish the year strong. When you are focused and you have a plan, two months is actually quite a bit of time if you are focused on things that will actually move your business forward.  I also want to talk about something we don’t often think about and that is decluttering. Specifically decluttering both your mind and your physical space. Here are 6 things you need to take a look at: Your marketing Your existing branding Your CRM and follow-up systems for your leads Your website Systems and processes Outsourcing If you take this time to review these 6 things now, you will be able to walk into January 1 feeling like your business is in order and you are ready to hit the ground running. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 06:16] Opening Segment • Let's dig into 6 things to do in the new year to finish strong • Make sure to take a look at what is working and not working • Why marketing is one of the most important areas to focus on in the new y

We have just over two months left this year and as I was working on next week’s podcast, it came to me that there is really something that comes before the topic of the next podcast which is, “Setting yourself up for success in the new year”. Now is the time for some front-end reflection and planning before taking those next steps to actually work on those things in our business. It's also time to think about leveling up. Making the decision to level up is all about your mindset. So, this week I wanted to create a mini-episode that lays out some pre-work; things you can do to prepare for the next episode. So here we go; this is going to be short and sweet!   About Next Week's Show... Now I’ll just give you a little "heads up" that in next week’s show we will be talking about these 6 things: Your marketing Your existing branding Your CRM and follow-up system for your leads Your Website Systems and processes Outsourcing Next week, I’m going to give you some simple steps for getting all those things in order b

My guest today is Al Nicoletti, a Florida Probate Attorney extraordinaire. We’re going to be talking about advanced strategies for structuring probate deals as well as some of the more common problems with estates you will run into from time to time. Al has carved out a unique niche in solving simple and complex probate matters that once stalled real estate deals. He has also developed a strategy to structure probates, so they are fast, efficient, and done right. Al works with real estate investors, real estate agents/brokers, and other real estate professionals. In addition to managing his law practice, Al has a live weekly podcast show, he is a speaker, influencer, and social media content creator. You’re going to love this show. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:21] Opening Segment • How to structure probates to avoid problems • Al's background in solving simple and complex probate matters How he developed a strategy to structure probates so that they're fast efficient and done right [07:22 - 14:48] Advanced S

My guest today is former NFL player, Dean Rogers. Get ready to learn what the #1 trait is that you must have to successfully make the transition from the NFL (or any other career) to becoming a real estate investor superstar in your area.  One important thing you will discover in this show is how this self-proclaimed “underdog” used this to his advantage to excel along the way. Real estate is very much a team sport like football, and Dean talks about how he wishes he had focused more on networking and collaboration earlier in his career. (Don’t we all?) Dean Rogers began his career in the NFL with the San Diego Chargers. Dean soon realized that if he kept playing his health would be at stake. After walking away from the NFL, he has been in the real estate industry since 2013 leading him to build a successful business in California. Since then, Dean has flipped and wholesaled hundreds of houses and has a rental portfolio of eight figures. He is passionate about real estate and helping others learn how to build

I am so excited to share this show with you because we are going to talk about teaching kids how to achieve financial freedom through real estate. This is not just theory, but this is a real-life case study of parents teaching their children not only how to generate passive income, but how their own knowledge around money and finances can have a huge positive impact on their own future. My guests today are my Chicago friends, Marta Piechnik, and her son Jakub. Marta has run a masonry company for many years.  3 years ago, she started investing in real estate.  Marta has built a portfolio of 25 properties in this short time. In addition to running two businesses,  she also has a husband and is a busy mom of three.  Jakub is 12 years old, and at the time of this recording, he had his first property under contract. Jakub has since closed on that property and has a second property under contract. He is moving forward with his real estate “side gig” in addition to school and regular sports and activities that kids

How many of us have given up on turning dead leads into hard cash, because we either don’t know how to do it or we haven’t been successful at systematizing this process? Today, we are going to do a deep dive into how real estate investors can make money from those dead leads. My guest is Chris Craddock, and he is an expert on this topic. You are also going to learn how real estate investors can work hand in hand to make more money in your business.  Chris Craddock is a nationally certified Life Coach in Leadership and one of the top real estate professionals in the world closing 65 deals+ per month. Chris is the host of the Uncommon Real Estate Podcast, a Realtor, and an entrepreneur who runs multiple successful businesses in the Washington DC Metro area as well as Richmond, VA. Chris and his companies consistently bring in close to 10 million in revenue year after year. The Redux Group sold just over 160 Million in Volume in 2020. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:02] Opening Segment • An overview of how real esta

One of the most common questions I get from investors is how to get started in probate investing. I love probate investing because they are an endless source of leads, and they are such lucrative deals. So why don’t more investors dive into this niche? There are a number of things that hold real estate investors back when it comes to probate investing. But generally, it’s for these reasons:  • They don’t understand the process • They believe they need to know a lot of “legal stuff” • Their mindset around probate • They don’t know how to have conversations with these folks They just don't know where to start. I have some tips for you today that will help you take those “first steps” and help you get started in probate investing. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 06:37] Opening Segment • How to get started in probate investing The process of probate • Why the decision maker is in a probate proceeding • What is next once all assets have been sold [06:38 - 13:05] How to Market to Probate Sellers • Reasons why people are

When we talk about what it takes to become a successful real estate investor, there is one trait that is always present. That trait is extreme focus. My guest today is Jason Yarusi of Yarusi Holdings. I’m excited to do a deep dive into the importance of habits and focus, and the profound effect these two things can have on your business.  What exactly is different about real estate investors that manage to maintain this focus day after day? There is no doubt that this one trait is what allows them to go on to build successful businesses. Jason is the founder of Yarusi Holdings with his wife Pili. They have acquired $180M in real estate across 1900 Multifamily Units since 2017. The firm repositions properties through operational efficiencies, moderate to extensive renovations, and complete rebranding. He hosts The Multifamily Live Podcast and 7 Figure Multifamily Mastermind and is an active Real Estate Syndicator and Real Estate Investor.  Key Highlights: [00:01 - 06:52] Opening Segment • Jason shares how he e

Have you ever wondered how to approach potential money partners and ask for capital so that they actually want to partner with you? This can be tough! Today we are going to dive into the 3 biggest mistakes real estate investors make when raising capital and how to avoid them. My guest, Dave Dubeau, is an expert in having these conversations. He’s also the first one to tell you he did it all wrong in the beginning. Dave is the creator of the “Money Partner Formula”, and today he’s going to show you how to do it the right way. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:42] Opening Segment • An overview of the 3 big mistakes real estate investors make when raising capital • Dave shares his background and work Creating a podcast and the money partner formula • How Dave switched to a more conventional way of real estate investing and self-financed his first couple of deals [07:43 - 14:53] Don't try to Raise Capital from Strangers • The first mistake is thinking that anyone and everybody can be a good perspective investor • The

My guest today is Tim Winfrey, and we are going to dive into tips for making a business partnership work. Becoming and staying successful business partners is no easy task, but he has successfully navigated this process. Tim co-hosts the Freedom Chasers Podcast and that’s how we met. He is also a real estate broker, marketer, and BPO expert. Tim has completed over 100 fix and flip projects and has managed the repairs of an additional 50+ REO homes. He currently manages a team of 5 agents as the Broker/Owner of 1st Class Real Estate Great Lakes. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:42] Opening Segment • Tim shares his background and entrepreneurial journey A real estate broker, marketer, and BPO expert • It is crucial to have a partnership agreement in place before starting a business together [07:43 - 14:29] Keeping a Business Partnership on Track • What's the most important aspect of partnerships • How Tim and Matt use their strengths and weaknesses to create a successful product • Communication between partners is

What does it take to build real wealth? Is it just about money, or does “real wealth” have a totally different meaning? I believe you can be rich, but not be wealthy, and this is what this show is all about. My guest today is Rich Fettke, and we are going to talk about his philosophies around this topic as well as his new book, “The Wise Investor: A Modern Parable About Creating Financial Freedom and Living Your Best Life”. Key Highlights: [00:01 - 07:09] Opening Segment • Rich shares his journey writing his book The Wise Investor • How Rich and his wife got into real estate investing • Improving your financial intelligence, creating passive income, and securing financial freedom [07:10 - 14:15] Building Real Wealth • How to become wealthy and create financial security for you and your family • The book is designed to be compelling, inspiring, and emotional to get readers to take action • How to help people build a lifestyle that they can enjoy [14:16- 21:01] The Foundation of Financial Freedom • Why how diff