Dave and Melina sit with Frank and Catherine Luna. Frank and Catherine had originally been tax clients of Dave's, before they even went into real estate. They had known Dave and Melina for a couple years before Frank was suddenly laid off in 2009. Inspired to make a drastic change, Frank followed Dave's lead and dove into real estate. They discuss their early struggles and the mirrored struggles of other club members who they now get to mentor. This moving discussion also encapsulates what the club means to so many.
Episode 14 - Batman is Just a Man
Dave, Melina, and Tim Wilkinson have a chat with Chris Albin (aka Batman). Over a decade ago, Dave and Melina sought mentoring from Chris. The beauty of the relationship is that Chris wasn't a former real estate investor who subsequently decided to teach; he was an active investor with contemporary tools in his belt. If you're gonna do this business, you need to get off your computer and get with people who are doing what you want to do. The discussion centers on surrounding yourself with people doing actual deals who have developed teams with the tools needed to succeed.
Episode 13 - Imperfect Action
After Mark Strayer got laid off he tinkered with the idea of becoming a real estate investor. Not yet ready to pull the trigger, he ended up working for the man to get back on his feet. Once his head was above water, the itch for a change, for something better, wouldn’t go away. This is when Mark circled back to a familiar home: New Wealth Advisors Club. Mark knew he had the social skills to build relationships and find motivated sellers, two cornerstones of real estate investing. But he needed more. He needed a community to guide him through closing deals and flipping houses and he wasn’t afraid to ask questions. Through NWAC, Mark was able to recognize his skill set and, more importantly, recognize what he needed and where to find it. Mark set aside his pride and asked for help. 65 days and two deals later, that humility paid off.
Episode 12 - Get Around The Right People
Coming from a mostly blue collar background, Kevin knew from an early age that he wanted to be his own boss. When he came to New Wealth Advisors Club he was a shy 18 year old with braces. Kevin's very first deal was a BIG win, but forced him to learn some lessons that most kids don't get. According to Kevin, after eight years of growth in the club, learning from Dave and Melina, and partnering with various other club members, the most important lesson: "Get around people that are successful and doing what you want to do."
Episode 11 - Reputation Capital
A club is a community. A home for collaboration, resource sharing and answers. Tim and Oscar had been good friends and members of New Wealth Advisors Club for years. However, they only recently began to partner on real estate investment deals. Each knew that the other had unique experiences and expertise to bring to the table and that, in order to successfully tackle complicated real estate transactions, it would be necessary to work with the right folks. Information and financing is easy to come by, but in order for them to architect solutions out of chaos, problem solving based on an intentional relationship and team building was imperative.
Episode 10 - Don't Try This At Home
Melina Boswell broke one of the first rules of real estate investing: There is no such thing as a real estate emergency. Actually, she stretched the rule to prove that real estate deals are not found, they are created. Melina came across a filthy and uninhabitable home saddled with a divorce, substance abuse, a non-judicial foreclosure, an imminent auction, multiple people on title, 1st and 2nd mortgages, a collection agency, liens from the Franchise Tax Board and an attorney, a homeowner with children who needed a roof and, of course, negative equity. She should have walked away. Instead, she put her head down and went to work executing a strategy called Forced Equity by crafting four legs to a sturdy stool: her network, her experience, her bravado to negotiate and her will to help a distressed homeowner.
Episode 9 - The Path of Life
On a journey from personally experienced struggle, Dave and Melina discuss building a food bank then joining forces with an important local charity. In a chat with Damien O'Farrell, CEO of Path of Life Ministries, they explore their growth and evolving opinions about how to serve. As a society, we label homelessness; our initial thoughts might make us hesitate to support or participate in such an effort. At New Wealth Advisors Club, what we do isn't nearly as important as why we do it. If you'd like more information, please check out thepathoflife.com.
Episode 8 - Back on the Horse
Oscar was driven. He started busing tables at 13, married at 18, spent 14 years as a decorated Marine, climbed up through leadership as a consultant, raking in over 6 figures. Burnt out, he returned to the military, took a massive pay cut, and kicked up his heals. He was comfortable. Too comfortable. When the feds stripped his security clearance without a reason, he ended up jobless. After trying his hand at real estate alone and hitting a dead end, he got back on the horse and tried again. However, the second time around, he didn't go it alone and learned an important lesson on his journey.