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Frequently Asked Personal Questions Are you married? Yes.
Barb and I have been married for about 20 years. Barb is a real estate agent who specializes in primary home buyers. We often help each other but we don't share clients. I only do investors, she only does primary buyers. That's why we are still married :)
Do you have kids? No.
We were never interested in having kids. We like our professions and enjoy traveling the world. We mentor lots of kids, take kids camping, let kids swim in our pool and enjoy kids. We just don't want any.
Where are you from? I have lived in 8 states and 30 different cities.
My parents were hippies. I have lived in (no particular order) - Rhode Island, North Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Texas, Arizona, California and now Nevada. I left home when I was 17. The most recent and longest stay was in San Jose, California (aka the Bay Area). We lived there for 12 years and extremely happy we got out that rat cage.
Where did you go to school? Highschool - Sedona Arizona / College - University of Arizona.
I have a degree in Aerospace Engineering. Technically, I'm a rocket scientist! However, I was laid off from General Electric in 1992 and haven't done anything close to rocket science since then. I am an uber geek with skills in programming, data bases and websites.
What rank where you when you were discharged from the Air Force? First Lieutenant.
I started off in pilot training in Del Rio Texas but was eliminated becuase of back problems. From there I was assigned to Los Angeles Air Force base monitoring contracts for the Space Defense Initiative (aka Star Wars). I was witness to the mind bogling waste of tax payers money and was extremely fortunate to have been discharged shortly afterward. I am forever thankful for the Air Force putting me through school and teaching me discipline. No hard feelings.
Why did you leave California? We love the desert and have always invested in real estate opportunities.
At the end of 2004, we believed the real estate party in the Bay Area was going to end. Our 2 businesses were also suffering from the 911 debacle. In summary, we wanted out of the rat race and wanted to maximize our investments. Our current home is on a half acre lot with a pool overlooking the strip. Our home in the Bay Area was a 1100 square foot home in the hood. That was a no brainer move.
Where do you live in Vegas? Near Sunrise Mountain - Edge of Area F
Our neighborhood is extremely eclectic (like ourselves) and you have to travel through the hood to get there. There are no sidewalks, no street lights, no HOAs and our neighborhood only has custom homes. In summary, we live in the opposite of Summerlin.
Do you like living in Vegas? We love Vegas.
It's warm. There is awesome entertainment. This place is full of very interesting people. This place is paradise. We wish we had moved here earlier.
What are your hobbies? Volunteering, biking, yoga, throwing parties, camping, working in my yard...
I try to stay in shape and donate my time mentoring folks who need help. Giving unconditionally is the backbone of my success. Younger entrepranuers and real estate agents meet with me on a regular basis because I believe in giving back.
Are you religious? I don't belong to an organized religion.
The closest thing I could possibly hang my hat on is Buddism. However, I wouldn't describe myself as a practicing Buddhist. Religion is a very powerful thing and I don't try to push my religious beliefs on others. I also appreciate when folks don't push their beliefs on me :)
How many homes do you own? 5
Most of our investments are in Area E. These are average homes, in average neighborhoods with average rents. The only mistake we made is that most of our homes have pools.
Who is behind IFINDPROPERTIES.com? Me.
Me, myself and I. I built the web site, built the data base behind it and work solo. I don't have employees, assistants or headaches. I am a real estate agent and just a simple sales agent for Las Vegas Realty. My broker is the bomb. He leaves me alone because I don't give him problems. My commissions are paid promptly and I don't have to deal with office drama.
Why don't you become a broker? I like being independent.
Being a broker in Nevada requires an office, secretaries, filing cabinets and more responsibility. Not interested. We sold our businesses in California because we wanted to simplify our lives. I roam at will and choose my own customers. If a customer is a pain in the neck, I kick them to the curb.
How many deals do you do a month? About 4 houses & about 2 lease/options deals.
I am fortunate in that I can decide how busy I want to be. It is not uncommon for me to travel for a couple weeks at a time. Don't worry, I won't leave you hanging. When I travel, my clients know months in advance and I network with enough agents to take care of business. In fact, half my business is done with competitors I trust.
How do you handle your own investments? I only do lease/options on my personal properties.
Having managed properties for almost 2 decades, I wouldn't do it any other way. Better tenants, better cash flow, less drama.
Do you prefer to work with new or veteran investors? I have no preference.
The only investors that I won't work with are the ones who conspire to waste my time. Investors who don't show up on time or don't respect my time get kicked to the curb. Veteran investors are usually the ones who suffer the most pain. They don't read my common mistakes or tips and often end up at the back of the line.
Do big pocket investors get preferential treatment? No.
Investors who schedule in advance, respect my time and return phone calls/emails in a timely manner get just as much of my attention is the big boys. I enjoy working with newbies because they are more eager to learn and less likely to make common mistakes. Big pocket investors who pay attention and don't waste my time are just as fun to work with.
Why are you such a time freak? My time is more precious than money.
Time is the only resource we have in common. I make more than enough money to meet my needs. Real estate is a passion I sincerely enjoy. Investors who try to make the experience miserable are not tolerated.
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