We were married on a hot sunny day in September of 2000; we were like many other Canadian newlyweds, focused on our future, in love and in debt. We started off life together sharing a house with a childhood friend of Carol’s where we paid rent and 2/3rds of the utilities.  Our original idea was to rent for a year, save money and buy our first house.  We some how strayed for 4 years losing focus of our future. Carol had a successful career in a local building supply company and was working her way through the management ranks.  I had taken a job at a start-up software company with the hopes of learning how to run a business after quitting a job that kept me on the road 3 weeks a month. 

During the first three years of our marriage, we, like many struggled through financial issues; some investments, lots of debt, and high hopes.  Financially, we were not very responsible and did not manage our savings.  By the end of our first year, we were carrying a massive loan for an investment gone bad, student loans, high interest LOC, and irresponsible credit card debt.  We knew better but it just kept happening.  We went into debt counseling through Carol’s work in the fall of 2001 and we were looking at a bright future again.

The plan they gave us – watch our spending by tracking it in MS Excel or Quicken, pay off the highest interest rate card, then the next highest, and so on.  After one year, go to the banks and request a consolidation loan to reduce payments and repeat.  We met weekly, arguing about spending $10.00 over on a budget item and we managed to pay off $25,000 in debt within the first year.  No small feet considering the effort it took.  In October, 2002, I read the Rich Dad Poor Dad book which I forced on Carol and we embarked on a one year mission to learn about investing in real estate. The number one problem was every program was expensive, American based, and nothing was concrete, everything was over simplified or incredibly confusing.  Through several of our first dealings with training companies and mentor programs, the ethical question kept coming up.  This was clearly not the way to go but we knew real estate investing was the critical component to our long term success.  We just didn’t know how critical it would become.

We found two groups.  First, Fast Track to Cashflow. A company based on the books and ideas by Robert Kiyosaki.  Fast Track was the first company we found that took the American ideas and put a Canadian spin on them.  Fast Track and the work Darren has been doing to help people across Canada is one of a few key steps we took along the way.  Since meeting Darren, we have participated in every Toronto based event and even participated at the first two Super Business Conferences.  It was this knowledge we gained that is helping us invest in businesses, real estate, and to create our real estate investing like a business.  You can see our success story.

Finally it came to us, in June of 2003, we learned of The Real Estate Investment Network (REIN) and the Quick Start program through another training group.  The REIN Quick Start program is a Canadian based system by Canadians for Canadians.

On a conference call, we were introduced to Don Campbell of REIN who was outlining how simple strategies based on economic fundamentals were the key for success in the game of real estate.  Upon receiving the Quick Start package, we devoured the information and even fought over the audio portion.  Carol took it to the gym and listened to it on the tread mill, and I listened to it when I could get my hands on it. After many moments of enlightenment, we realized where we were going wrong, what needed to be done, and the steps to get their. After putting in several offers, the major problem was qualifying for mortgages and finding the down payment for properties.  This was about to become even more challenging before it got better.

In September 2003, me and the rest of his co-workers were called into our company board room and greeted by an unknown man wearing a designer suit, Rolex watch, and Italian leather shoes.

“I’m actually surprised to see everyone here at the office today.  I was told by the CEO of the company that everyone was terminated on Friday.  I guess you weren’t… but you are now.” the mystery man announced.

While everyone looked around at each other with dumbfounded expressions, and a co-worker of mine, who was expecting his second child, worriedly asked, “What am I going to do?”, my first thought was “What am I going to do… next?  What is going to be my next opportunity?”

Quickly, and with the support of Carol, I started up a consulting company and began to support a few of the clients now in turmoil from the closing of the software company.  This new company, created the freedom, the courage, and the opportunity for us to put into practice what they were learning and working towards. 

While life was just getting good I also had the fortunate opportunity to have dinner with Don Campbell and another person, a long time REIN member, only days after becoming unemployed.  It was this face to face meeting where I saw light and the possibilities of Real Estate as a vehicle to success.  Before we knew it was an important component, now Real Estate was going to be the foundation for our dreams to be built upon.

That chance dinner with Don also provided the opportunity to meet Arland Dalan, who had been able to amass an incredible amount of properties utilizing the principal of OPM – Other People’s Money.  Arland was using the notion of Joint Venturing to bring investment partners to the table.  Arland shared how the investor had money invested in other vehicles and wasn’t satisfied with their returns. Arland said that the potential JV partner wanted to invest in real estate but didn’t have the time or the interest to do the hard work of finding and managing the properties.

THIS MADE SENSE to us, utilize the REIN System of simple economic fundamentals, ethical investing methods and the vehicle of Joint Venturing to provide excellent returns for investors.  So in we jumped with both feet because finally someone was making sense about Real Estate.  The next step was to find partners to invest with us.  Several people had agreed to do a JV with us but when asked to step up to the plate, no one came forward.  With time ticking on the financing and no partners willing to join in the deals, the properties were cut loose and so were a few relationships with agents.   Since we spent over $3,000 on inspections, mortgage applications, etc. we knew we could not continue on this path.

Within REIN, we met Mr. RRSP Valdan Palm.  More importantly, we learned the next key in how we buy Real Estate, RRSP Arms Length 2^nd Mortgages.  Now we could simply apply for 75% 1^st mortgages, and have private 10% or 15% 2^nd mortgages requiring less of a down payment from our investors.  We also learned a very valuable lesson from Arland - ask for the partner’s money up front or at minimum, get a substantial financial commitment in the form of a deposit.  We then went looking for the property.  Simple really, but it was all in the sequencing of the program.  Get the Joint Venture Partner and RRSP 2^nd Mortgage Lender on board first, then go and find property.  Our key contacts with other REIN members helped us to take action as we proceeded to buy Real Estate.

We closed on our next three properties in March of 2004, and then began to perfect the process.  Sadly, we had to release our very first investor because we had not learned to properly qualify the investor prior to working with them.  One of the key lessons we learned along the way was about investing ethically.  Many mortgage brokers we met asked us to sign gift letters, falsify income statements, and other “common practices.” We made a stand and decided against this type of practice and only work with full disclosure.  “This is a hard way of doing business but I know I am doing everything above board and my investors won’t be affected.”

After attending a two day REIN meeting in Calgary, meeting real estate investors who had been focused for 3 and 4 years, with some coaching from other REIN members, Carol began to look at her exit into full time real estate investing.
 

Setting Goals

In REIN, we spend a lot of time on goal setting.  We have always been goal setters but this time it was different because we saw the vision.  We took the time to sit down, plan the future and understand what makes us move.  Goals serve many functions but, within the context of real estate investing, when set backs occur; we can focus on our goals and possibilities to steer us through the maze of chaos.  When things are good, we know we are moving towards our goals.  When we are stopped, and need motivation, our goals are there to move us forward.  In REIN, we talk about our goal as going to Belize.  When ever we think of Belize, for us, it is much bigger.  The word Belize instills excitement, possibility, encouragement, and the future for many REIN members and it is the one word that gets people off their butt, shake off the issues, and take action.

Investing is not a straight line and a simple get rich quick activity.  We found there are a lot of opportunities that set us back, got us distracted, and prevented us from moving in the right direction.  Utilizing grounding activities and fundamental systems such as the foundation we were provided through the REIN Quick Start Program, we stay focused.  We created a simple plan, set our goals, did our home work, took action and repeated.  What is your Belize? 

Originally, our idea was to help ourselves finally get a place to call home.  Then we saw a way to augment our finances through investing in real estate and now we earn our living by investing in real estate.  But our focus is not in making money for us, but rather, we help others get started.  We help others who are nervous, busy, or on the fence to take small steps into a new possibility in Real Estate investing.  It started out as an idea to help ourselves and now we are helping others reach their dreams by creating an opportunity to invest in Real Estate through joint venturing.  REIN suggest an individual goal of 17 properties in 3 years, we have a goal to help 2020 Families in the first 15 years.  We use a quote from the Power of Focus for Women to sum up our progress; “And the day arrived when the risk to remain tight in a bud was more than the risk it took to blossom……..” (Anais Nin).

Mark and Carol are working towards a massive 2 week party, retreat, and thank you gift in July 2012.  It will be in Bora Bora and all their investors will be invited with one key promise – they have to have helped someone else get started the same way they were.  “It’s funny what an idea can create.  We just wanted to move out of our friend’s house.  Now we have purchased 23 properties.  I am so excited about the future and all the new people we have met as a result of our new found goals.  We have new people in our lives that are more important than any amount of money.  For that, I will always think an idea is a great one.  Now, the question I have for you is – what are you going to do to make your goals a reality?  Just think of the possibilities that idea can create!  I hope to see you at our party in July 2012.  Good luck and if there is anything we can do to help, please ask.” 

Best Move

• Married the best business partner in the world.
• Read Rich Dad Poor Dad, started Cashflowportal.com
• Attended a Fast Track to Cashflow Seminar.
• Took action and purchased our first property.
• Mark lost his job.
• Joined the Real Estate Investment Network - REIN. 
• Through this, we have a built in support network, have the time to help others, and have met some amazing people who continue to help, guide, and inspire us and others like us.

 Worst Move

• Investing without a system and not doing home work
• Not following a proven system.
• Getting emotional. 

 Personal philosophy

• You can get everything in life you want if you will just help enough other people get what they want.  - Zig Ziglar
• Follow a system and stay focused.
• We buy what works for our investors, not what always works for us. 
• Simple, Consistent, Ethical. 
• Pay for what you need, don’t be greedy, and provide a warm and comfortable home to the most important people in the game, the tenants and new home owners.
• Appreciation is the objective, Cashflow is an added bonus.  5 – 7 years from now, this will change to more Cashflow.

 The #1 key step to becoming successful over the long term

• Staying focused on our goal and taking consistent, daily action toward that goal. 
• Playing ethical and helping others get where they want to be. 

At printing, Mark and Carol have completed 27 properties, with several more in progress; the Cashflow Portal (www.cashflowportal.com), a Web site with over to 900 members that is dedicated to bringing together like-minded individuals who are ready to take control of their financial future; the Right Side Group (www.rightsidegroup.com), a company dedicated to helping people create Generational Wealth; have acquired two businesses and are in the process of acquiring two additional companies for 2005.

You can take an idea and, through some basic principles and philosophies, you can grow it as big as you want.  More importantly, one of the biggest things has been the fact that it’s about helping people get to the next level in their lives, giving them support and knowledge, and showing them that there is a path in life that they can create on their own. 

Mark and Carol are now in the position where they can take what they have learned and help others reach their goals, “Define your dreams and compelling vision so clearly that you can see it, feel it, and taste it.  I know what I am having for breakfast at 7:30am the morning of July 10th, 2012 and where I will be.  With clear vision, and a passionate desire to reach this goal, take daily, incremental action towards your dreams with one underlying thought: you have to help other people get where they want to go and fulfill their dreams.  Think about how you can help rather than how much money you will make.  You will be that much more successful.  Success without people around you is a lonely road.”

To contact Mark and Carol, please send an email to info@rightsidegroup.com