You've seen them. The TV infomercials, the full page newspaper
ads, the direct mail letters. Take cover! We are under attack
from the real estate gurus. |
Copyright © 2003, Mark Walters
The Power Letter.com
http://www.ThePowerLetter.com
You've seen them. The TV infomercials, the full page newspaper
ads, the direct mail letters. Take cover! We are under attack
from the real estate gurus.
The real estate riches craze seems to hit the country every ten
to twelve years or so. The real estate gurus may or may not
really be successful investors, but there is no doubt that they
are masters of marketing. There they sit, on the patio of
water front homes with yachts clearly visible in the background.
They are chatting with an alleged student who only a few days
ago lived in abject poverty, but now earns millions buying real
estate. "Yes, you can do the same if you only attend the free
seminar soon to be held in your area."
You've seen exactly that on TV, right? What gives? Is there
any truth under all of that hype? Haven't you been a little
tempted by such an expertly designed sales pitch?
The truth is that anyone can make money investing in real
estate. It is one of the great wealth building opportunities
available to any American who is determined to succeed. You
literally can achieve financial independence starting with
little more than determination and knowledge. The gurus are
able to mount massive marketing campaigns, because they make
millions promising to provide the secret knowledge of success.
Those free seminars offered by the gurus are amazing lessons in
the psychology of selling. Attend and you will witness a few
hundred people expertly whipped into a frenzy of greed. The
crowd is carefully led step by step into an uncontrollable need
to buy the "magical wealth building secrets" offered by the
guru's "boot camp".
These super sales people have become so good at creating lust
for wealth that they can now sell their educational seminars
for as much as $15,000! Many "up sell" from there with on
going mentoring services and other extras. Let's see, 100
students at $15,000 each for a three-day boot camp. Hey,
there really is wealth available in real estate!
Let's be fair. Most of these people really do teach the
mechanics of successful real estate investing. Carleton Sheets,
Robert Allen, Russ Whitney and others have been promoting their
seminars for years and have had thousands and thousands of
students. It stands to reason that after teaching that many
people at least a few would become successful investors. Those
are the ones you see in the infomercials telling about all the
money they've made after attending the seminar.
Sure, only a small percentage of the students ever make any
real money in real estate, but let's not be quick to judge.
Four out of five new businesses fail within the first 5-years
no matter what field they're in. Real estate investing can't
be expected to be much different.
So what's the complaint? Well it's not the education. The
author's experience shows that in most cases the information
being taught is valid and useful. BUT. should it cost
$3,000 to $15,000?
As a real estate investor and creator of educational material
I am often asked for advice from people considering a guru
seminar. These people are excited about the earning potential
presented in the TV ads. What they really want to hear is an
endorsement of the particular guru and a positive review of
the seminar to help convince their spouse and themselves that
the thousands will be well spent.
Here's how I reply. I ask if they have read every real estate
investing book to be found on the shelves of their local
library? Next I ask if they have checked to see what real
estate books are available from bookstores like Barnes &
Noble or Borders? Have they searched for real estate books
at Amazon.com? Have they attempted to locate and join a local
real estate investor club? There's one in most any city of
any size. Have they done an Internet search for "real estate
investing"? That's where you find privately published education
from real investors.
I try to direct folks to the real estate investing material
that's available free or at reasonable cost. I have even found
the tapes and books from expensive seminars at used bookstores
and thrift shops for ten dollars or less. Real estate investing
information is everywhere if you will just look for it.
You see the real secret is. there is no secret. All the
gurus are teaching the same things. It is basically the same
information successful real estate investors have been using
for decades. You'll find it in the books at your library.
It's available from others at investor clubs. It's been
focused and updated by private publishers and vendors at a
fraction of the cost demanded by the gurus.
It's true! You can make plenty of money in real estate and
you don't have to be a guru to do it.
Mark Walters is a real estate investor and the editor-publisher
of The Power Letter. This monthly, online newsletter is read
by over 40,000 investors. Subscriptions are free. Please visit
it now at... http://www.ThePowerLetter.com
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