National Association For Optimum Achievement
I went to a recent seminar presented by Saen Higgins - anybody had any experience with this group re tax lien investing advice? They sell info - but it's pretty expensive. Thanks.
Thanks to all of you for repling to this topic because now when you go to Google, something on this conference comes up. I live in Portland Oregon and it has just arrived out here and is scheduled to take place tomorrow. I wasn't sure about going so I decided to see what I could find on the net. After ready all the replies, I am grateful to know that I can spend tomorrow making money rather than at a conference hoping to make money.
hi caber, With information regarding Tax liens I wouldn't pay too much. If you do your own research you can find everything you need to know.
-Dave-
Just an update - it has been 2 weeks since I attended the seminar, and the package of materials promised in 4 - 5 days has still not arrived. Cost was about $2,800. I have decided to cancel my order.
I also attended the saen higgins workshop here in Ohio, where did you attend at? I also thought the materials were expensive, but the information seemed pretty sound. However, I cannot find much out about this guy, is he really that new? Was the conference you attended entitled Financial Superstars???
I also attended Saen's workshop. Was the overal conference entitled FInancial Superstars?
I don't remember the name now - but for me, I decided that it really wasn't worth the money. One additional problem for me was that I live in a no-tax lien state - so to get involved now would mean driving so much that I wouldn't recoup much gains. But I also was really upset that (1) I never received the packet from the company and (2) when my credit card company contacted them for a refund, they initially insisted I had received the package at the forum (I hadn't). It took considerable time on my part to get this all straightened out. I THINK you can find a lot of the information from other sources at much less cost. But since I never received the packet to review it, I really can't say for sure. Good luck!
I live in MD.and called the local court house in every county ,they have been informative and friendly always consult them first before buying expensive materials
Have a Great Day
Tim
I attended the financial superstars seminar in dayton ohio 10/24/03. I tried google and have not found any info on the presenters. Sounds weird that these Millionaires have not been quoted in mag's or newspaper if they are so talented. I agree research on your own before dropping $3K on a stranger with a slick pitch.
I just attended the "Financial Superstars" Workshop presented by the "National Training Conference. All of the information sounded wonderful but all of the seminars were overpriced. I signed up for the "Business Week" stock investing seminar but then changed my mind, returned the materials, and my credit card was not charged. I also find it very strange that there is so little info on the web about these guys.
I have not (yet) invested in tax liens, but what is complicated about them that makes them worth an expensive seminar/course? Am I missing something?
I think the trick is getting the right state/county for the best returns, and making sure you don't by a lien for an old radioactive waste site.
Do yourselves a big favor. Get the refund on the $2800 and purchase the materials from wwwdottaxsalelistsdotcom which gives the best advice and information about tax lien investing by the most experienced and informed person in the industry that does this, Mr. John Lane. Make no mistake. I am not connected to Mr. Lane in any way, nor do I get any compensation of any kind for doing this, but I am a hedge fund manager who uses his stuff regularly and finds it the best in the industry, and I hate to see people spend money in this industry on many other so called informed sources with little to no experience at all in doing this stuff. You will be thankful you go to John Lane at this website. If you have any problems, just let me know.
RC
The book from the website is OK. (but not cheap at over $100 -- and it is a PDF file with 12+ point font double spaced to make it seem bigger than it needs to be).
But I would advise against purchasing lists and property info from that site. There was a topic discussing the info (or lack thereof) provided.
I have been able to get the info they are selling on properties directly from the counties where the properties are located and suggest you try that frist before you by their propery info.
Glenn
I have the Ted Thomas program and as far as I can see, The info is acurate and for the most part updated. A little on the steep side, but I have lots of info that helps me. I haven't used the training yet, but from what i have seen here and compared to what I have studied, the info is quiet good. Like I said, just a bit pricey. I also feel that if you are going to buy programs, you need to find out how good they are and then weigh the options. Good luck!
tax lien investing is WAY MORE hype than actual reality. Um, if I found out about tax liens twenty years ago, and I was a gazillionaire, I think I would have bought all of them up, and continue to do so, then sell them at a discount for cash, which is probably what happens.
Anyone get rich off tax lien certificates here??? Step up, and let us know. I think tax DEEDS could be good, but only in midwest, south, west, or rural NE areas for land purchases that can be flipped to developers, type of thing.
My intuition just tells me the whole tax deed and lien investing arena is way overblown, and is used to sell a LOT of information to unsuspecting people who don't know better. Dave
So is it worth even going to the "Financial Super Stars" conference? I received an invitation in the mail ("The normal tuition fee of $149 is waived JUST for you"
and was thinking about going, but I hate to waste a day.
Is the 'Financial Conference' just a day long ad for their $3,000 seminars?
Please let me know your opinions I have to decide by Thursday (2/26).
Thanks a lot!
[ Edited by blizardz on Date 02/24/2004 ]
Investing in tax liens and deeds is a specilized area. The trouble is that marketing companies have tried to convince the public that it is risk free and that it can be done with little research.
I have invested in close to a hundred transactions and have been involved either directly or indirectly (i.e., through students or legal issues) in over 1000 transactions. I still have some properties acquired trhough sale, that bring in good monthly income.
The first thing you should determine is where you want to invest. I suggest you ask around and determine which states may or may not suit you. Obviously, investing in your home state makes the most sense IF you cannot travel to another state and your local laws are favorable.
You should then determine what you end goal will be. If you want a simple rate of return then you can focus on properties in the tax lien certificate states that also have a first mortgage attached to them. If you want actual title to the property then you may want to look at deed states, such as Texas. Texas does have a right of redemption so it is almost a 'hybrid' state. In deed states you must view the property as well.
The third area you need to get a handle on is your information and research. First, read through all the state law relating to taxation of real property and delinquent tax collection and sale procedures. Second, you may invest in a quality product. Try to contact the author. If you get a marketing company...think twice.
You next task will be to learn about searching title records. My belief is that for your first 5 deals you should hire a title company to abstract titles for you. After you get your feet wet and if you decide that this is something you wish to pursue then consider learning to search titles yourself. I know of an excellent program that teaches you how. In the alternative you can hang around the recorder's office and talk to title abstractors.
Tax sales are a specialized area (like any form of REI). Just use common sense and never invest more than you can stand to lose when starting out. Once you learn the process then you can move on to bigger deals.
Also decide whether you want to focus on redemption or attaining title to property. In tax lien certificate states about 5% to 8% of tax liens are foreclosed and result in land title for the purchaser. You can look for attributes to raise the likelihood of redemption or non-redemption. On the other hand in Texas about 30% of properties go un-redeemed. Your target goal of ownership or redemption will determine your research efforts.
[addsig]
you gotta love the legal disclaimer in the footnote! I know it is critical you do that, it just makes me laugh how litigious this society is...makes me a little sick also
I know what you mean. I became an attorney because I wanted to help people...little did I know that it also can make you a target!
I am convinced that we graduate too many lawyers each year in the United States today. Protection of wealth is just as important as creation.
Enjoy the forum!
[addsig]
Saen doesn't have a clue what he is talking about. First - if he has bought five liens in his life I would be amazed. He is a "seminar" speaker who started with Tony Martinez (now out of the business)
Saen's big deal is buying from "the comfort of your home" - we have looked at over 35,000 Florida assignment liens and found exactly 10 that were single family residential and available. Save your money.
I'm embarrassed to say that I did attend the financial superstars seminar and bought the course.... it is not worth it. All it offers is a website with a map and links to the state and it's counties - some counties have websites others don't.
The "course" has cd's that has Sean and some other guy talking casually about investing in tax liens - they don't tell you anything spectacular - the main book has about 100 copies of the same questions that you need to mail off. You could actually generate the questions yourself and print them out of your computer for a fraction of the cost.
You also get 4 sessions with a counselor - my counselor has done more than just four sessions with me and she actually explained to me that liens are pretty simple but what I really needed to know was how to invest in real estate and that I actually needed to understand how to crunch numbers and evaluate a property before buying. She says she is a real estate investor and appraiser - she advised me to get a real estate license but she said she would teach me to "think" like an investor instead of a realtor. She will also walk me through my fist deal.
I have learned a lot with this lady and I am getting my real estate license - and I made the choice of not getting my money back because I did not keep track of the 30 days money back guarantee. I choose to keep talking to this lady because the things she has taught me I can research further and acquire more knowledge - and now I can understand it. I have also learned that there's a great deal of informationa available for free.
In reality if anyone else was going to buy this course I would advised them not to - not at that price - it is not worth 3k. Most of the sites are free and online.
ok - I have confessed I was ignorat and now I'm trying to make the best of it.
[ Edited by cerivas on Date 05/08/2004 ][ Edited by cerivas on Date 05/08/2004 ]
I heard his talk. He is a very powerful salesman. I bought the package which cost $1995. After examining it and comparing it to what he said (and most importantly) what he didn't say, I requested a full refund. Most of these sales at seminars require a 5 day cancelation period. I found nothing in his materials that was not easily available on dozens of websites. The materials are highly padded. The website that he implies in his speech has all sorts of valuable research information is just a copy of material in the books and is all publically available in a more usable format at several websites and for no fee. So beware! You will enjoy his talk and the other talks, but each of the people at these investor conferences is trying to sell multi-thousand dollar seminars and books that are not worth $100.
Hope this helps someone.
Doc
Yeah. I went to a similar seminar called The Millionaire Conference. I expected a lot of slick marketing talk... but it they outperformed even my wildest dreams. I purchased two courses, just because I wanted to look at them, and have returned both. I did not get the tax lien course at that time, and now tried to get it through their 800 number. And as soon as I asked whether they had a return policy, the conversation was over very quickly. Anyway, I'll do the research on my own and save money. Does anybody have a couple of useful links for me? :-D