Dear REIP,

My husband and I have been receiving your magazine since the very beginning! It has become a staple in our bathroom library. We look forward to your articles and advice and especially the Kids Talk article. Keep up the great work!

Donna and John MacNeil
Jacksonville, FL (October 2005)

The May issue was a great one for an investor like myself. It confronted some of the circumstances I run into on a daily basis in my work, as it relates to fraud and taking advantage of people without regard to their situation. I see it more often than not. In fact, I had a recent situation where a parent actually put their adult child in on a fraudulent deal.(A 20-year-old got a zero money down mortgage on a house needing repairs, because of his parents. No one ever moved in. First payment default. The son gets his credit ruined because of a fraudulent mortgage broker and parents taking advantage of their son. The loan was done by one of the biggest mortgage lenders in the United States.)

Juan’s article in the May issue was great as well. (See the article, “Mortgage Fraud, It Hurts Everyone,” by Juan Restrepo in the May 2005 issue.) It was written in plain English, simple…I couldn’t stop once I started. As investors, we don’t want to jeopardize our business over ignorance. If you end up in court over a deal gone bad, you could be truly innocent (in your lack of knowledge of the fraudulent act), yet found guilty in court. Ignorance is no excuse, you’re still held accountable according to the law.

I also like JudyKay’s column, and Sharon’s motivational articles are good too. The kinds of articles in REIP have the content an investor should keep referring back to, otherwise the advice won’t work. It’s helpful to go back to certain articles to reinforce good habits. The information about rehab doesn’t really catch me, but the legal information really piques my interest.

Thanks REIP, for showing me how to get rewards!

Richard Housey
Investor

Dear REIP,

We signed a contract to buy a house. Shortly thereafter the seller wanted to cancel the contract because he had received a much higher offer. We didn’t know what to do and received all kinds of incorrect advice from people, including many real estate agents! We were ready to walk away when a client brought in the February 2005 issue of REIP The Rewards™ where she shared with us the article entitled “What Are the Options When a Seller Backs Out of a Sales Contract?” After reading the article, we were able to intelligently advise the seller of our rights and got back our peace of mind knowing that we would be able to stay in this great deal. We are now planning the renovations and counting our potential profits. Thanks REIP!

Mark Hasche & Pet er DeRosa
Salon Owners & Real Estate Investors, Pompano Beach, FL

Dear REIP,

REIP The Rewards™ is by far the most informative publication that I have ever read. I have read every issue and each issue continues to answer the questions that my wife and I have regarding our real estate business. We have avoided many mistakes that would have cost us thousands of dollars. We look forward to reading each issue. We believe that by taking the information from the publications and putting it to use we will become the millionaires that we are striving to become, but in a shorter time span.

Elijah Thomas, Jr.

Real Estate Investor & Band Director
Boynton Beach, FL

Dear REIP,

You have no idea how you have impacted my life today. I sit writing this e-mail with a pile of debt that has not let me sleep. Today my stress feels almost unbearable. I do not know how to get out of this one this time. I have tried and tried to no avail for some time now but I keep getting deeper and deeper. I do not know how I will survive for next month. And I do not know how to face my family. Seeing where you are today and reading that paragraph below gives me the strength to go on. Even though you do not know me, well we barely met once at a REIA in Boston almost two years ago, thank you for helping me not to give up!

Evelyn Tejada
Athens, GA

Editor’s note: Evelyn is referring to the following portion of Dwan Bent Twyford’s article, “If Flipping Property is so Easy, Why Doesn’t Everyone Do It?” (Please refer to the September issue for more information): I remember the days when I mailed the phone bill to the electric company and the electric bill to the phone company just to buy time. I’ve had my phone, electric, and water cut off at one time or another. I have let the bills slide so I could buy food. I’ve had to park my car down the street so it wouldn’t get repossessed. So how does a former waitress become a millionaire real estate investor?...By sheer determination. I truly believe that if you have a strong enough desire to be successful in this business, you will!