Sleaze-Free Real Estate Investing

Jeff Stephens

Sleaze-Free Real Estate Investing is a show for those of us who never felt at home in the “we buy houses” crowd. In this show, we take a stand against what we call the Lowbrow approach–the mainstream guru-seminar, distressed-seller approach that ends up giving real estate investors a slimy reputation. Instead, we discuss the strategies, tactics and philosophies we call the Thoughtful way–an enlightened approach to real estate entrepreneurship that focuses on constantly sharpening the sophisticated real estate entrepreneur’s three most critical capabilities: Seller relations skills, deal architecture skills, and opportunity vision. When all three of these capabilities are successfully in motion, you can make an excellent living today, AND build long-term wealth while creating value for everyone you touch along the way.

  • 16 minutes 59 seconds
    You Don’t Actually Invest In Properties

    We think of ourselves as real estate investors.  That means we invest in properties, right?  Not so fast.  It may be properties that we buy, but it’s not properties we actually invest in. In this episode, Jeff explains that the investment we’re making is not in the property, because the property is just the investment vehicle.  Rather, the investment is in ourselves and our ability to take a property and make it into a winner.  This important reframe can change your perspective on what you’re doing and can empower you to further invest in yourself. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    4 January 2024, 1:07 pm
  • 17 minutes 3 seconds
    Don’t Underthink It

    There are certain decisions we must make in life and business that we recognize as being big and important decisions, and we allocate much time and energy to them. There are other decisions we must make that seem small and insignificant; in fact, sometimes we don’t even realize they are decisions at all, and to these we allocate very little time and energy. In negotiation, though, the seemingly small decisions can be of large importance, and it’s critical that we give them the thought and consideration they deserve.  In this episode, Jeff provides a simple and common example of a seemingly small decision that represents a bigger point in a negotiation, and encourages listeners to not underthink the right way to handle it. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    28 December 2023, 1:00 pm
  • 17 minutes 51 seconds
    From People Come Numbers

    Most real estate investors have been taught to focus on numbers, numbers, numbers.  And numbers are indeed very important, but numbers without CONTEXT are meaningless.  In this episode, Jeff explains the expression “from people come numbers,” and discusses how people are the needed CONTEXT, while numbers are the needed CONTENT.  Without understanding the context (people), we can’t possibly negotiate the best and most optimized deals. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    21 December 2023, 1:00 pm
  • 29 minutes 38 seconds
    Client Case Study: Pasha Buys Four Off-Market Duplexes at Once

    Often times the best way to learn is to hear the real life deal stories from other real estate investors doing great things! In this episode, Jeff interviews The DEALS Workshop and coaching client Pasha, who purchased four off-market duplexes at once, all from the same Seller!  Pasha tells the story of how the lead originally started, the hurdles in the negotiation and how he conquered them, how we ultimately financed the acquisition and what he learned along the way!

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    14 December 2023, 1:00 pm
  • 15 minutes 17 seconds
    The #1 Most Important REI Skill

    There are many different things a real estate investor must know about and be able to do. From deal analysis to understanding construction to having property management knowledge and beyond, there’s a lot to learn and know. But there’s one skill that rises above the others.  In this episode, Jeff explains a huge irony for most real estate investors:  the desire to seek financial independence through real estate, but the dependence on lenders, appraisers and others in doing so. Jeff shares the #1 most important skill that can be cultivated to create true independence and why it’s so important.

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    7 December 2023, 1:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 10 seconds
    The Best Type of Competition to Have

    As buyers of real estate, we wish we could have every great opportunity be competition-free.  After all, who wants to compete with other buyers for every great deal?  But the truth is, we can’t avoid competition; we can simply choose which type of competition we want to face.  In this episode, Jeff explains the different types of competition that come from different types of Sellers, and ultimately shares which type of competition we as Thoughtful Real Estate Entrepreneurs should choose to have. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    30 November 2023, 1:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 14 seconds
    Two Different Things We MUST Gather From Sellers

    When we meet a new Seller lead, our tendency is to immediately begin gathering lots of information. After all, with real estate, there’s a lot of information we need, right? Information on the condition of the property, age of mechanical systems, rents, expenses and more.  But while information is important, there’s another thing that’s also equally—if not more—important than information, that we hardly ever speak of:  Insights from the Seller.  In this episode, Jeff explains what insights are, how they differ from information, and why insights are so critical to our negotiation. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    23 November 2023, 2:00 pm
  • 31 minutes 43 seconds
    Client Case Study: Tom Uses the Power of Relationship to Negotiate a Great Off-Market, Seller-Financed Triplex

    Often times the best way to learn key concepts in real estate are to see and hear them in action in real-life deal case studies!  In this episode, Jeff interviews Tom, a coaching client in The DEALS Workshop.  Tom shares the case study of how he recently purchased an off-market triplex with Seller Financing, by using a highly relationship-oriented approach to negotiating the deal.

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    16 November 2023, 2:22 pm
  • 16 minutes 7 seconds
    The Best Seller Financing Isn’t From Sellers Who Are Doing a Favor

    Many real estate investors have an underlying belief that universally all Sellers would prefer to sell their properties for cash, and that selling via Seller Financing is an inferior backup plan they would only reluctantly agree to.  This leads to a belief that if the Seller agrees to Seller Financing, they are doing the Buyer a favor, and would want to be compensated accordingly for that favor.  In this episode, Jeff explains that the best Seller Financing deals do not come from Sellers who feel they are doing the Buyer a favor; instead, the best Seller Financing deals and terms come from Sellers whose needs are being perfectly met by the Seller Financing proposal. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    9 November 2023, 1:40 pm
  • 20 minutes
    Should You "Always Be Willing to Walk Away"?

    “Always be willing to walk away” is fairly standard real estate investing advice.  And like with all standard advice, it’s important to examine them so that we can formulate our own philosophies to guide our investing.  In this episode, Jeff discusses how “being willing to walk away” is a two-layered conversation:  the internal dialog with ourselves, and the external negotiation with the Seller.  Jeff discusses the merits of being willing to walk away, but also the merits of showing your sincere commitment to NOT walking away. 

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    2 November 2023, 1:15 pm
  • 14 minutes 17 seconds
    Why to Always Pay for an Inspection Report

    Conducting due diligence and physical inspections of a property in contract is an important part of the overall real estate investing business. And it can be tempting sometimes to simply do one’s own “inspection,” instead of hiring a professional, licensed home inspector—especially when the buyer has experience in construction and renovation. But in this episode, Jeff explains why it’s important to always pay for an inspection report—and the reason has less to do with inspection findings, and more to do with relationship-based thoughtful “incremental negotiation.”

    Learn the art of buying properties off-market with Seller Financing using the power of Relationship Capital in The DEALS Workshop:  http://www.thedealsworkshop.com

    26 October 2023, 12:58 pm
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