Do It Now is a chapter—and an episode—about urgency with wisdom. It draws a clear line between motion and momentum, between planning and progress, and between fear-based hesitation and principle-based action. Through personal stories, real-world investing examples, and decades of market perspective, this episode reinforces a foundational Moneyball truth: There is no perfect market—only principled investors. Listeners learn that inaction is still a choice, active action can sabotage belief, and only productive action creates results. Whether facing high interest rates, market uncertainty, or outside voices urging caution, the episode makes one thing clear: Time in the market matters more than timing the market. Real estate rewards patience—but only after courage. And the courage to act doesn’t arrive someday. It arrives when we decide to step off the bench, trust the principles, and swing. The message is simple, timeless, and unmistakable: Do it now.
The perfect time to act—especially in real estate—is not someday, not when things feel safer, and not when the headlines calm down. The perfect time is now.
If you’re waiting to feel ready, comfortable, or certain—you’ll be waiting forever. Progress begins when preparation turns into productive action.
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Chapter 10 Do it now. The perfect time to invest is always now. General principle. The best time to create success is to do it now. Keep your head in the game. It's an indisputable truth that the most critical point in history is the present moment. It's the only time you can influence. You can't revisit the past and you can't rush the future. The only way you can shape your desired future is by taking action today. Get off the bench.
step up to the plate and swing at the ball today. Being fully present and ready to act in every aspect of our lives, whether it's real estate, business, family, or faith, is the secret to accumulating small victories. Steve again, life is a whirlpool of uncertainties and confronting each moment with a sense of urgency is crucial. One day we'll look back and realize how quickly time has passed, making our existence seem like a fleeting dream. We might encounter unforeseen grueling challenges.
Can we confidently say we've poured our hearts into our relationships? Have we devoted our resources toward our genuine interests? Have we fully savored life's precious moments? Or will we harbor regret for having lived in the past or always anticipating a brighter future? My worldview transformed radically in the fall of 1997 following a life-changing event. The morning unfurled just like any other. As per my usual routine, I got up, prepared for the day, and embarked on my commute to the office.
I was the man behind a thriving painting contractor business, and that day held a rather special event on the calendar. It was my best friend Augustine's birthday, and I was set to treat him to celebrate lunch. Augustine was not just a friend, but part of our work crew, a group as tight-knit as family. That day, they were engrossed in a project involving a duplex in a rental district. I drove to the site, picked up Augustine, and headed to his favorite lunch spot. I still remember our meal.
laughter ringing out as we bantered about aging and cheerfully mapping out our forthcoming weekend plans for a company retreat at the lake. After lunch, I watched Augustine head back to the job site, his broad smile a parting image in my rearview mirror as I drove back to the office. My afternoon was ruptured by a call that instantly iced my blood. There had been an explosion at the job site. The blast described to me was monstrous. The shockwave shattering windows, the inferno stripping the paint from the walls,
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and morphing the linoleum floor into a molten mess. Arriving at the nightmare scene, I spotted Augustine being hurriedly loaded into an ambulance. He had been in the basement when the disaster had struck, enduring an agonizing five minutes trapped in the flaming building before his escape route through a window. The fiery nightmare had left him with horrific burns covering over 90 % of his body. I found myself inside the ambulance, my heart pounding in sync with the blaring sirens. As I held Augustine's hand,
His eyes met mine, flickering with disbelief and pain. In a voice barely above a whisper, he asked, why did this happen to me? His next words would be etched in my memory forever. Steve, please don't let my little girl see me like this. His request was his final spoken words. Just five days later, Augustine was gone, leaving behind a bereft wife and two fatherless daughters. This catastrophic incident left an indelible imprint on my soul.
It threw me into a whirlpool of despair and forced me to confront my faith and resilience. I found myself grappling with deep introspection, haunted by the frailty and transience of life. It was a bitter wake-up call, compelling me to appreciate each day and strive to infuse every moment with meaning. Embracing the present, living each day with intention and purpose, soon became my modus operandi. Amidst life's chaotic whirlwind of distractions and experiences,
staying grounded and focused evolved into my strategy for living a life not just fully, but with meaning. Taking action. The caveat with a phrase like take action is that it's somewhat ambiguous. To achieve your goals, you have to take consequential action. Otherwise, it could be an inefficient use of your time and effort. When I was studying political science at Brigham Young University, I had the chance to delay my graduation and intern for local legislators at the Utah State Capitol.
I served as an assistant to a few House representatives, writing letters, administering surveys, and reviewing bills my representatives would be discussing in their respective committee meetings. This exposure to the political system at various local levels was invigorating. I loved the involvement and aspired to make a difference through politics. The prospect of holding a prestigious title like an elected official was appealing. Hence, I decided to run for city council without knowing the nuances of the city.
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or the responsibilities of a councilman. In my mind, I was acting decisively. I assumed that my candidature would be my ticket to bring it about change, but I didn't assemble a team, understand the community and its issues, strategize a campaign, or tackle the other complex tasks associated with running for office. Adding my name to the ballot seemed like a meaningful step to me. My perspective shifted after watching a YouTube video where the presenter assessed each of the city council candidates for any concerned citizens that wanted to watch the video.
After discussing the impressive feeds and community engagement of the other candidates, he stumbled upon my name and admitted, and then there's this Kevin Clayson guy, I've never heard of him. He might be promoting his business, no idea who this joker is. That's when it dawned on me. I was also clueless about who this joker was. Overwhelmed with embarrassment, I withdrew from the race. To win a prize, you need to participate in the game, but you can't mistake movement for achievement.
We champion small wins because they're individual successes on the path to a broader achievement. But declaring your desire to play the game and maybe even buying all the equipment to play the game may make you feel like you're winning, but you're not winning yet, you're just moving. When it comes to projects, entrepreneurship, and real estate investing, most people are enamored by the idea of becoming or doing something. However, the leap from thought to action often leads them to sit on the sidelines.
Purchasing a bat and a glove might feel like an accomplishment, but that equipment won't benefit you unless you step up to the plate and get on the field. This is why we founded Done For You Real Estate. We observe many people who wouldn't leave the bench and start investing in real estate. They would attend seminars, invest in education, and perform all the preliminary steps, but never commit to a property. We wanted to make the process easier. Recognizing when you're not taking significant action isn't always clear.
You can't predict the usefulness of a seminar before attending or determine the value of the program materials before purchasing them. The steps you take in preparation for your goal may be meaningful to an extent, but at a certain point, preparation must give way to productive action. Degrees of action. Did you realize that there are degrees to taking action? It's well understood that all actions are not equal, but let's shape this concept a bit more distinctly. Let's start with inaction.
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Interestingly, the choice to not act is an action in itself. When we decide to do nothing, we're still making a decision that leads to a result. Opting not to take any action is indeed a form of action itself. Consider this. You look in the mirror, decide you need to lose weight and tone up, perhaps even Google a nearby gym or research the cost of a gym membership. But then you opt to sit in front of the TV and order a pizza. You may even comfort yourself with common excuses like, I'll start tomorrow or I
would start right away but... Inaction is a direct byproduct of procrastination and procrastination in turn is born out of fear. The fear that our capabilities are insufficient or that we'll mess something up. And fear is the polar opposite of love. If we don't love ourselves enough to take meaningful action towards what we truly desire, we'll continue to stew in inaction. This results in discomfort, frustration and constant dissatisfaction with our lives.
and it's no way to exist. The second type of action is something we call active action. Active action demands far more effort than the daydreaming and wishing of inaction. Precisely for this reason, active action can actually be more damaging than inaction. Active action confuses movement with achievement, leading to doing the right things, but only to the barest extent. Consider the gym analogy again.
Active Action is looking in the mirror, acknowledging the need to shape up and lose weight, and researching to find the nearest gym and its costs. You drive to the gym, pay the membership. That night, you set your alarm for 5 a.m. You get out of bed the next morning to head to the gym. Once you get there, you do a set of three bicep curls, walk for five minutes on a treadmill that's set at a tortoise pace of 0.2 miles an hour, then you order a 500 calorie protein shake and head home. You repeat this for a year and when nothing changes, you sigh and say, ugh.
tried as hard as I could. I went to the gym and worked out every single day, but working out just didn't work for me. This is why active action can be so damaging. When we do the bare minimum and see negligible results, we find validation in telling ourselves that effort is pointless and action is futile. We teach ourselves that trying equals failing. So then we may stop trying at all. We self-sabotage repeatedly until we surrender and regress.
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back into an action. The third form of action taking, productive action. Productive action builds on everything we just talked about in active action, but it looks like doing three sets of 20 reps with 25 pound dumbbells plus three sets of hammer curls, a few rounds of shoulder presses, some tricep extensions, some skull crushers, some tricep dips and so on. You might even hire a trainer or an accountability coach and maybe start practicing affirmations each morning.
Adding on some calorie counting and balanced nutrition to all of this and carrying that on for a full year, that would bring about game changer results. A highly successful businessman, podcaster and author, Ed Milet, talks about the power of one more. He suggests that the last extra rep when your muscles are screaming and trembling, the final extra phone call before the ending of your day, or the additional step when you feel you can't go further can create a substantial
difference in attaining the results you seek. Ultimately, productive action is all about committing to the tasks that genuinely make a difference, then taking meaningful, forceful action. With productive action, you may set aside your desire for comfort in order to create meaningful results. You find joy in accomplishment rather than joy in ease. The power of Do It Now. W. Clement Stone
A renowned businessman and co-author of the celebrated book, Success Through a Positive Mental Attitude, was a true embodiment of the micro-win mindset. Starting with a mere $100 in savings, managed to cultivate a staggering multi-billion dollar insurance empire, demonstrating that success is built not from monumental leaps, but rather from a series of small, strategic, and consistent steps. One of Stone's personal mantras was, do it now, a phrase he repeated to himself 50 times each morning and night.
This simple phrase was a reflection of his commitment to achieving micro wins often and immediately. It was his way of making sure he was always making progress, no matter how small the step might seem at the time. Every phone call made, every appointment scheduled, every policy written was a micro win that helped build his empire. This was not just a personal mantra. It was a guiding principle for his entire business operation. From meeting with prospective clients to making strategic business decisions, the concept of do it now guided his actions.
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ensuring that every small opportunity was seized and every minor task was completed promptly. This commitment to MicroWinds allowed him to keep ahead of the competition and continually grow his business. Shout out to our friend Arlene Wilder for introducing us to W. Clement Stone. Stone's legacy goes beyond just building a successful business empire. His do it now philosophy also fueled his philanthropic endeavors. Over the years, his company donated hundreds of millions to charities.
demonstrating that micro-wins can lead to significant impacts beyond just millions. Stone's story serves as a powerful testament to the transformative power of the micro-wins mindset. His success story shows us that it's not just about the big wins, but the countless micro-wins, the small, consistent actions that truly lead to remarkable achievements. The next time you find yourself wavering on whether to take real, powerful, productive action, remember W. Clement Stone.
recognize that each small step you take, every do it now moment is a micro win, propelling you toward your larger goals. In essence, just, you know, do it now. Real estate application of principle. The best time to start investing in real estate was 20 years ago. The second best time to start investing in real estate is today. Now is always the right time to buy. Getting off the real estate bench.
Yahoo for you! By progressing to this stage in the book, you've already equipped yourself with the essential baton gloves for real estate investment. Namely, the knowledge of the Moneyball real estate system and the micro-wins mindset. However, simply listening to this book alone might only inch you into the realm of active action. Now, it's imperative to make the shift toward productive action. You've secured your gear. The next logical step is to leave the shelter of the dugout
Make your way on deck and begin your stride toward the batter's box at Home Plate. Do you have funds earmarked for real estate investment? Without the necessary finances for a down payment of closing costs, the advice and insights we've shared throughout this book can only serve as theoretical guidance. If you're not quite there yet, that's perfectly fine. Just be aware that your journey to Home Plate might require a little more patience and persistence. Remember, however, that financial resources are only part of the equation.
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If you wish to leverage the power of real estate singles, you'll also need to ensure a good credit history and a strong FICO score. Additionally, lenders will need to verify your sources of income. But perhaps most crucial of all is the genuine desire to step up to the plate and start swinging your investment back. Even the most substantial resources, credit and income, mean little without the mental and emotional readiness to collaborate with a team and take decisive, productive action
toward making your real estate dreams a reality. When is the right time to buy? In our podcast, the question about the right time to buy is often discussed and our response invariably echoes the answer to when is it the best time to plant a shade tree? Just as with the tree, the ideal time to buy an investment property was 20 years ago and the second best time is always the present, it's right now. Time is invariably an ally to real estate.
Hence, the sooner you venture in, the more benefits you'll accrue over time. Recall the discussion in principle one about the very types of investors. If you haven't yet, identify where you stand among the preparing to prepare investor, the emotional investor, the someday investor, the short game investor, or the principled productive investor. Now let's explore how these different investor personas might have fared during the 2008 real estate crash. The preparing to prepare investor was engrossed in studying and learning.
failing to invest in anything tangible. Following the 2008 market collapse, they breathed a sigh of relief, glad to have avoided purchasing at the peak. Now they're learning about foreclosures and short selling before deciding to buy at the currently depressed prices. The emotional investor, having availed a loose loan, bought a high-end property that looked cool. Sadly, most potential tenants couldn't afford the rent, and those who could weren't satisfied with the high cost.
When the 2008 crash happened, the emotional investor found themselves facing foreclosure. The someday investor understandably was shocked by the 2008 crash and felt vindicated for not having pursued a more aggressive investment strategy. But instead of using 2008 as a cautionary tale to drive principle-based investments, they sat back and continued waiting for someday, assuming the market hadn't bottomed out yet. The short game investor bought a quaint fixer upper intending to flip it for profit, but the
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The property required more repairs than expected. After exhausting their savings to mend the house and repay private investors, the market crashed and they found it challenging to sell the house even at a break-even price, let alone for a profit. Lastly, the principal-based investor acquired a single-family home in a thriving community using a reputable lender. Post-2008 crash, they experienced a few challenging months, but they survived this period and continued to enjoy a steady monthly cash flow.
If they lost a tenant and had to find a new one, they might have even seen their cash flow dip because they were forced to lower rents. They didn't mind because they knew their investment was long-term, not a short-term cash grab. As their equity eventually grew, they leveraged it to invest in the property and grow their portfolio. If you follow a principle-based approach to investing, the right time to buy is invariably now, even during a market recession. You may perceive certain market conditions as unfavorable for purchasing.
But what's intriguing about any market is that despite the potential drop in appreciation or dip in cash flows or rise in interest rates, opportunities for conservative principle-based investing are omnipresent across all market cycles. To illustrate this, consider the history of mortgage interest rates. In the early 1970s, rates were over 7%. By the 1980s, they soared past 11 % and the 1990s saw rates around 9%.
It wasn't until the 2000s that rates dropped back to the 1970s levels, with 1971 having a rate of 7.33%. If you'd waited for lower interest rates, you might have delayed buying until the mid 2000s, potentially wasting money on rent and missing out on decades of real estate investment opportunities. The value of the property you could have bought in 1971 likely increased tenfold by the time you would have decided to invest. The key takeaway?
Invest in real estate and weight, regardless of prevailing conditions. As the saying goes, marry the house and date the rate. During periods of high interest rates, remember interest rate is a temporary condition, it is not a permanent affliction. This mindset underscores that while rates may fluctuate, the long-term value of real estate investment remains solid. Time is the most critical factor in real estate investing.
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The more patience you have and the more time you allow your investments to grow, the more successful you'll be. Period. Addressing market apprehensions. Charlie Munger, widely recognized as Warren Buffett's right-hand man, made a profound statement about wealth accumulation. He said, the big money is not in the buying and selling, but in the waiting. How does this wisdom relate to real estate investing?
It simply advocates for the idea that you should maintain a long-term hold on your real estate singles, not necessarily retaining the same property indefinitely, but holding onto properties, as in single-family homes, for the long haul. Do you see the distinction? The financial gains in real estate investing are found in the holding onto well-chosen, purchase-worthy, conservative investment properties for an extended period.
leveraging against their equity in most circumstances and only selling when the timing is right to allow you to multiply your portfolio. In late 2022, as the real estate market began to cool, we had a conversation with a friend of ours who also happens to be a successful D.F.Y. client. was assisting us with our nationwide radio advertising. He asked us whether he should be investing in more real estate at that moment. His question kind of surprised us as we were aware that he'd recently acquired multiple properties and had always been enthusiastic about how well they were performing.
At that time, we, Steve and I, were purchasing as much property as possible despite property values reaching record highs and interest rates being the highest they'd been in roughly two decades. We conveyed to our friend that we plan to continue buying as much real estate as possible, both personally and for our company. We stressed that as long as one is consistently hitting real estate singles with moneyball real estate, there's never a bad time to buy. Of course, we exercised caution, but
due to our adherence to the Moneyball real estate principles for achieving economic independence, we understand that a principle-based approach always bears fruits regardless of the prevailing market conditions. Investing during the 2008 market crash. Looking back to the tumultuous years of 2008 and 2009, the financial markets and the global economy were plunged into a period of unprecedented uncertainty due to the burst of the housing bubble, which led to a severe and prolonged global economic downturn
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now known as the Great Recession. At that time, there was an overwhelming sense of doom and gloom as the values of assets plummeted and millions of people across the world saw their life savings erode. The years leading up to 2008 had been characterized by an unusually high surge in property prices fueled by easy credit and overzealous lending practices. As a result, homes were being purchased at inflated prices with many buyers being approved for mortgages far beyond their means.
This created an artificial property value increase, particularly in markets such as Phoenix and Las Vegas, where demand was high and lending was easy. This bubble could not be sustained, and when it burst, it resulted in a wave of foreclosures and financial turmoil leading to an overall crisis in the real estate market. As real estate and mortgage professionals, we were on the front lines of this crisis. The easy loan products we'd come to rely on disappeared overnight, and lenders began to go under.
Our Utah based real estate company seemed to be on the brink of disaster as the flood of foreclosures made us fear that we were no longer the best option for our investor clients. It was a challenging time indeed, but as we all know, challenges often bring about opportunities for those willing to look for them. Despite the economic downturn and the fears associated with it, we were able to identify a potential investment opportunity. We began researching other markets and discovered that in areas like Phoenix and Las Vegas, where property values had been artificially inflated, then subsequently crashed,
we could now acquire properties at significantly below their rebuild cost. Even more interestingly, we identified a promising trend. As a result of the foreclosure wave, there was a large number of displaced families who needed quality rental properties. This surge in rental demand created an upward pressure on rental rates, leading to increased cash flows for those holding rental properties. This insight revealed a unique opportunity. The principal-based investing we'd been
practicing encouraged us to view the situation not with fear but with a critical eye for potential opportunities. Yes, the market was depressed and uncertainty was rife, but there was also a unique chance to buy in a market that was temporarily undervalued, where rental demand was high and a careful, principle-based approach to investing could yield significant results. We decided to take advantage of this opportunity, investing in these depressed markets despite the uncertainty of the future. In a time when many were afraid to make financial moves,
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we chose to follow our principles and invest. As history has now shown, the decision paid off handsomely, demonstrating the value of principle-based investing even during the most challenging market conditions, investing during the 2010s and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. The period between the Great Recession of 2008 and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic was characterized by a return to normalcy in the real estate market. Property prices began to recover.
There was a healthy annual appreciation and interest rates remained stable at around 5 to 6%. However, this period also witnessed some significant changes, particularly in the lending environment. Due to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and the Consumer Protection Act that was passed in 2010, the act enforced stricter lending standards and led to a more rigorous qualification process, which discouraged many potential investors. Despite the tougher lending environment, we helped our clients navigate this new landscape.
We educated them on how to meet the stringent qualification criteria and to appreciate the benefits of conservative 30-year fixed mortgages. This allowed them to take advantage of recovering markets like Phoenix, Vegas, and Orlando. As the real estate market continued to stabilize, we started exploring less volatile markets like Indianapolis and Memphis, which were characterized by strong economies, robust rental markets, and home prices that were still below the median. As we moved into the late 2010s and near the 2020s, however,
we started hearing about a new virus emerging in China. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit the world in 2020, bringing the global economy to a standstill as lockdowns were enforced and people were required to stay home. The pandemic induced a climate of fear and uncertainty that led to a sharp reduction in investment activities. The Federal Reserve responded by slashing interest rates to 0 % in an attempt to stimulate investment and growth. Despite the prevailing climate of fear and uncertainty, we recognized an opportunity for principal-based investors.
The low interest rates meant that cash flow could be maintained, even though the lenders now required a higher down payment of 25%. After crunching the numbers, we found that the higher down payment, though it increased the out-of-pocket expenses, was a worthwhile investment. It added to the equity of the investment and facilitated access to incredibly low investment rates. However, there was widespread apprehension about a potential market crash due to the pandemic. Instead of succumbing to these fears, we continued to invest and advise our clients to do the same.
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Our conviction was rewarded when a mass exodus from major cities created a surge in demand for quality rentals in suburban areas where we were already investing. The low interest rates also fueled purchasing demand. As fears abated, the market landscape shifted dramatically with property prices soaring and demand escalating. Throughout this period, we remained steadfast in our commitment to principal-based investing, recognizing the opportunities that existed amidst the tumult and fear.
Despite the rapid appreciation and increase in purchase prices, the low interest rate environment still made property investment and asset class too good to ignore. Cash flows decreased due to the lag in rental rates, catching up with the property prices, but the potential for significant appreciation was a powerful counterbalance. The fear then shifted to the possibility of another massive foreclosure scenario similar to 2008 due to the swift appreciation in property prices.
However, we realized that given the acute shortage of homes in the market, the difficulty builders were experiencing in securing materials, and the well-qualified nature of buyers, the likelihood of a mass foreclosure scenario was minimal. So even during those uncertain times, we knew it was the right time to invest in single-family homes with a principle-based, long-term view. The investors who trusted our advice and overcame their fear and uncertainty, reaped significant benefits as they witnessed substantial levels of appreciation during that period.
This proves yet again in real estate, the right time to invest is always now, provided the investments are made based on sound principles and with a long-term perspective. Investing in the post-pandemic return to normalcy. In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, governments across the globe injected trillions of dollars into their economies to counteract the global shutdown's repercussions. This led to noticeable inflation as an increased money supply chased after a finite amount of goods,
driving up commodity prices, including those of homes. In response, the Federal Reserve implemented a series of interest rate hikes, causing mortgage rates to soar. This shift led to a mass exodus of would-be homebuyers, creating apprehension both among investors and prospective homebuyers. Yet, we view this period as a golden investment opportunity, possibly one of the most opportune times in recent U.S. history to invest in single-family residential real estate. Contrary to popular belief, interest rates hadn't skyrocketed.
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they merely reverted to historical norms, far from the double-digit rates of the 1980s. Moreover, home price appreciation in several markets still hovered within a reasonable 3.5 to 5 % range. Reduced competition also meant that investors often secured properties for less than the asking price. The fundamentals of supply and demand remained in favor of real estate investment. Despite higher interest rates dampening the accessibility of homeownership for many,
pent-up demand was ready to be unleashed when rates eventually lowered. We maintained a consistent message. A normalized market can yield predictable and impressive results, frequently outperforming other investment types, including stocks. To clarify, consider the impact of interest rates on a $300,000 home investment. At a 5.5 % rate, the property could generate around $300 a month in net cash flow, compared to $50 a month at an 8 % interest rate.
a difference of $250 a month or about $3,000 a year. While some investors might consider waiting for rates to drop back down, delaying by three years would mean forfeiting $1,800 in modest but positive cash flow. Yet cash flow isn't the only metric that matters. There's a real cost to inaction. If one had moved forward with an 8 % rate, the investor would still benefit from the approximately $150 a month in principal pay down
totaling around $5,400 over three years and roughly $200 a month in tax deductible depreciation expenses totaling around $7,200 over three years. When you combine these figures with the reduced monthly cashflow, the investor would be $14,400 ahead. Add that to the estimated appreciation of $31,500 over three years and the cost of waiting totals a staggering $45,900 in lost wealth.
Also worth noting is the risk of re-entering a market suddenly crowded with other investors when interest rates decline. This increased demand rapidly inflates property prices, causing those who waited to face higher costs and reduced supply, effectively penalizing their hesitation. So the question at that time became, do you want to seize the opportunity now in what may have looked like a less than ideal market to realize greater long-term gains or wait for the perfect time and risk diminished investment potential?
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Despite media-driven fears, the post-pandemic landscape offered abundant opportunities for those savvy enough to understand market dynamics. Echoing Warren Buffett, quote, I buy when everyone else is fearful and I sell when everyone else is greedy. This wisdom continues to shape our unwavering conviction that investing in single-family homes in the right markets and with the right strategies is a prudent decision regardless of prevailing market conditions. Beware the teeny tiny pockets brigade.
There are always going to be voices that discourage you from pursuing your investment dreams, claiming that it's not the right time to invest in real estate. It's crucial to evaluate these voices critically before you allow them to influence your decisions. Before accepting anyone's advice on real estate investment, you need to probe a little deeper, asking things like, have they actually done any research on the subject at all? Or are they well-versed in the ins and outs of the real estate market? Or...
Have they invested in real estate themselves or assisted others in doing so successfully, especially in the current market? If the answers to these questions are negative, then it's in your best interest to view their advice with a grain of salt. Many times we put our faith in someone's opinions merely because we know them or like them. But when it comes to investing in real estate, it's essential to ensure the advice you're receiving comes from a place of knowledge and experience. Think about it.
You wouldn't take health advice from someone living an unhealthy lifestyle, wealth creation tips from someone who's broke, or relationship counsel from a person unhappy in their marriage. Similarly, taking real estate advice from people who lack experience and success in the field is a misguided approach. If friends or family members are warning you against investing in real estate, claiming the market is on the verge of a crash, ask yourself, how many of them have successfully built wealth through real estate?
Equally, if the media is fear-mongering because bad news gets more clicks and views than good news does, why take their word for it? How many of the teleprompter-reading plastic people have actually successfully or unsuccessfully done real estate themselves? If the answer is none or next to none for either of those questions, it's probably time to seek counsel from a true real estate investor, a person with big pockets filled with properties and experience and not just
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teeny tiny pockets filled with lint and resentment. Our decades of experience coupled with securing more than 5,000 properties for our D.F.Y. clients, at least at the time of the writing of this book, have reaffirmed our belief. If you choose the right property in the right place with the right tenant and don't make hasty decisions, it's nearly impossible to fail in real estate investing if you give it the time it needs. So it's crucial to stay focused.
Rely on advice from trusted, successful investors and make your decisions on proven principles and facts, not fear. Crabs in a bucket. Life has an interesting way of mirroring the peculiar behavior of crabs trapped in a bucket. Whenever one crab tries to climb out, the others pull it back down. I've witnessed this phenomenon firsthand as my sons and I collected tiny crabs on the shores of a Mexican beach near Puerto Vallarta.
The crabs in a bucket phenomenon presents an apt analogy for the resistance one might encounter when venturing out of their comfort zone. Adopting a micro wins mindset and employing the moneyball real estate strategy will invariably stir up opposition. The naysayers might include members of the teeny tiny pocket brigade, echoing market pessimism or individuals who've had unsuccessful stints in real estate warning you against buying. Surprisingly, you might even grapple with self-doubt battling thoughts of perceived inability or lack of aptitude for real estate investment.
Irrespective of the source of the resistance or the crabs attempting to drag you back into the proverbial bucket, it's crucial to rise above. Foster a vision and allow yourself to dream. Convince your mind that lucrative deals exist even in a market where a whopping 98 % are convinced otherwise. If your desired life seems elusive, it's perhaps your thought patterns that are holding you back.
A client once shared an inspiring story of her grandmother who, despite her limited third grade education, meticulously maintained her inherited land. Even when deceit led to her losing part of her land, she remained undeterred, eventually reclaiming some of it. She went on to construct a beautiful house on it, which she rented out, bringing immense joy to herself and her descendants. Her perseverance and vision serve as a stellar example for future generations.
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Her grandmother's story is a testament to the power of having a clear vision and the determination to bring it to life, even if it entails stepping outside of your comfort zone. The world of real estate investment might indeed seem intimidating, particularly if you're a novice. If you're waiting for a sense of comfort to set in before making a move, you'll likely be waiting a long time. It's crucial to remember that attaining what you currently lack necessitates stepping out of your comfort zone.
If comfort were enough, you'd already have it. That said, remember that you don't have to embark on this journey alone. Once you're ready to take action and have secured pre-approval and the necessary resources, people like us are here to assist. We can handle everything for you, if you want us to, from selecting and financing a property to securing a tenant, all within a matter of months. If we're not the right fit for you, we've provided a comprehensive blueprint.
covering everything from property analysis to market selection and strategy and overall investment philosophy, enabling you to succeed on your own. So don't hesitate. Do it now. Here's a personal anecdote to underline the point we've been emphasizing. Steve here. Recall the commercial building I purchased with seller financing. Around two years post acquisition, I sold my business and transitioned into real estate full time.
The purchaser of my business eventually expressed interest in the building as well. I agreed and the transaction yielded a profit of approximately $120,000. I reinvested this sum to procure multiple properties, thereby expanding my portfolio. At the time of this writing, I still possess those properties, and their value has more than doubled over the decades. This resulted in a near $1.2 million gain, all stemming from a singular decision I made in 2006 to invest $10,000 in a building with seller financing.
Regardless of the duration one requires to reach home base, the game always commences at home plate. Once you've accumulated 20 to 25 % for a down payment on a conventional loan, what's the next step? We recommend initiating your journey by gathering information. We're continually engaged in discussions, aiding individuals in strategizing their real estate plans, even those who choose not to become DfY clients. We provide detailed reports, facilitate introductions to our team,
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and if you're inclined to collaborate with us, assist in market selection and property hunting. The process of purchasing a home is intricate, with numerous steps that can potentially be overwhelming. That's why we're eager to introduce you to the micro-wins mindset, enabling you to fragment your objectives into manageable actions. This approach allows you to concentrate solely on the immediate goal, rendering it always achievable. If you persist in your hesitation, waiting for the perfect timing,
you're bound to witness promising opportunities only in retrospect. The price of missing these chances often exceeds the cost of taking a leap before the market reaches its peak. In 2021 alone, our DfY clientele witnessed a collective increase of $175 million in their property values, amounting to an average of $50,000 per client. Meanwhile, countless individuals refrained from action.
fearing the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic. This apprehension resulted in significant opportunity costs. It's vital to realize that fear of jumping in too early or too late should not paralyze you. As one opportunity fades, another arises. Maintaining awareness of ongoing prospects is key. You can't predict when the next grand opportunity might arise, so act when you're prepared. Timing is secondary to taking action. It's imperative to step up
be a principled investor and participate in the game. So take the plunge and do it now. It's always the right time to buy. In conclusion, this comprehensive exploration of the 2008 crash, the COVID-19 pandemic and the post pandemic return to normalcy reaffirms a foundational truth about real estate investment. There's never a wrong time to invest provided you're strategic, discerning and grounded in sound principles. During the cataclysm of 2008,
We learned that even amidst economic uncertainty and hardship, opportunities to generate long-term wealth through real estate abound for those who recognize the potential in undervalued markets. This period illustrated the power of principal-based investing in the face of adversity. The COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by global uncertainty and heightened market fears, may have sidelined many potential investors. Yet for those who held fast to principal-based investing, the time represented an unprecedented opportunity.
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The exceptionally low interest rates and increased demand for suburban rental properties presented a unique window for robust asset acquisition, despite the increased down payment requirements and soaring purchase prices. the post pandemic world marked by inflation and rising interest rates, many potential buyers retreated. However, discerning investors saw this as a golden opportunity. They understood that these weren't high interest rates. They were a return to normal.
With a fundamental grasp of the market dynamics and an unwavering demand for homes, these investors capitalized on the moment to amass valuable properties. These varied scenarios underscore one constant. There's always an opportune moment to invest in real estate and it's always right now. The key is understanding the market, adhering to sound principles and courageously seizing the opportunities presented, irrespective of the broader economic climate.
Whether you're a seasoned investor or just stepping onto the playing field, the message rings clear. The time to act is now. Waiting for a perfect moment might rob you of the chance to build wealth through real estate. Equip yourself with knowledge, remain steadfast in your principles, and you can navigate any market to your advantage. After all, real estate investing is a realm where power resides in proactive decision making
not in waiting. As we turn the page on this chapter, remember to seize the opportunities at hand and let the market serve you. In the end, the right time to invest in real estate is always now. Chapter 10 Idea Summary Understanding the difference between inaction and active action and productive action can shape your approach to investing. Knowing which type of action to take is key to making progress. Inspired by W. Clement Stone,
This chapter encourages you to seize opportunities and act without unnecessary delay. Waiting for the perfect moment can mean missing out on significant opportunities. No matter the market conditions, the moneyball way of investing in real estate is designed to be applicable. Whether it's during a market crash or a booming economy, the principles remain consistent. Success in real estate investing often resides in taking decisive, informed actions rather than waiting for the market to dictate your moves.
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Equip yourself with the knowledge and be bold in your decision making. Chapter 10 Micro-Wins Identifying your Action Level Have you analyzed where you currently stand in the three levels of action? Moving from inaction to productive action is a significant micro-win on your investment journey. Acting on Opportunities Every time you seize an opportunity, instead of waiting for a perfect time, it as a micro-win. These small steps can lead to big successes over time.
Applying the Moneyball Way Successfully applying the Moneyball Investment Principles regardless of market conditions is a micro-win that solidifies your investing approach. Embracing Proactivity Have you begun to take control of your investing decisions rather than being reactive to the market? Every proactive decision is a micro-win that builds confidence and momentum in your real estate investment journey.