(Please read other post, first.)

> Being an info junkie myself, (Ask Gordon.
> He's seen my bookshelves. (g) ), I'd be more
> than happy to hear about other players
> offering better products at cheaper prices.
> I'm serious. I know who most (if not all) of
> the RE info marketers are but I would be
> interested to see which ones you know about
> in case I missed some. For one, I think Pete
> Egeler has an interesting idea with FSBOs
> and I'd like to learn more about it.

Haven't been exposed to P. Egeler.

> I disagree with you on this one. While
> LeGrand does get plenty of newbies into his
> (edited)
> Is someone taken advantage of if they buy
> the material, put it to work, and profit
> from it? Not IMO.

I don't think this is the test. Because you can find somebody who will learn something from a blank piece of paper, and still go out and make money due to dumb luck, natural aptitude, chance, hard work, whatever. The test needs to be: How does the info. work AND how does it stack up compared to the rest of what is on the market.

> On a different note, I took a look at your
> RE site. I liked what I saw. Just out of
> curiosity, if you wouldn't mind telling me,
> which RE "guru" (so to speak)
> was/is your mentor?

I've done a lot of study, since we last talked about this. My internet company puts food on the table and only requires a couple of hours a day to make a full time living, so I have a lot of time to spend goofing off. I joined the local RE Investment club, became great friends with the top RE Attorney in Texas (we have lunch now, once a week), and have picked up two mentors-- one, a man who own 30 houses and started about four years ago, and the other a woman who owns about 14 houses. I've also been devouring most of the more popular info. courses and have been running newspaper and radio ads. Last month I talked with a ton of motivated sellers, and I've been fortunate to have made the contacts I have, because even though I could have bought probably 5 or 6 houses no money down last month, I don't feel they were actual "deals." Surprise, surprise.

I have most of Legrand's stuff... and to tell you the truth, there is a lot of good stuff in there. Much more than Rob. Allen's. But there is also a lot of dangerous stuff.

One thing that bothers me about Legrand in particular, is that he (when last I checked) still sells his course on buying using Lease Options. But according to several people who are affiliates of his old company, SDI, he no longer advocates buying on L/O. He recommends that you DON'T do it.

So, if he's still selling (to the best of my knowledge) courses on how to buy with L/O strike... isn't this dangerous, and possibly unethical?

I've also reviewed the course by Randi and Charlie Frances... one of Legrand's top students. Their course is expensive, but very complete for the beginner. However, if you took this course alone and used their strategy in the market here in Austin, you'd get creme-ed. I'm sorry, but the no equity deals they preach that you should do will get you slaughtered when the market drops and you can't unload it, drop rents, or have enough positive to cover vacancy and maintenence.

I've read one of Joe Kaiser's courses... awesome stuff. A real straight shooter.

There is a book called 5 Magic Paths to Real Estate by a guy named Lumbley, if I remember... which is pretty good.

Some of Bronchick's stuff is good... but not AS GOOD as everyone hypes it up to be.

Conti & Finkle's books sounded great... until I learned how it really works in the real world. Met Conti at our local club and he seemed like a conman. Wouldn't answer ANY questions at the end of his lecture/pitch to sell his stuff at the back of the room.

Tim Randle is coming out with a course that I've been able to preview, and his stuff is dead on. Watch for it... It will save you a lot of money.

Dwan and Sharon's stuff is kind of on the light side. Buy it on E-bay if you can get a cheap enough price. There is some good descriptions about the foreclosure process and short sales (although light and not worth the money)... and one of the women's voices really annoys me to the point of drinking.

I've heard a one hour lecture by John Schaub, and I'm interested in hearing more on his approach.

Legrand's marketing course is fairly good... but mostly Dan Kennedy re-hash.

Nickerson's stuff is dense and hard to get through, as is Al Lowry.

There's probably more I'm forgetting. Throw some names at me, and I'll have an opinion. I have an opinion on everything.

- Adam.


Adam buys houses....