Questions are great. Let’s have a robust discussion. But personal vendettas and thinly veiled jabs from the uninformed and the uninitiated don’t serve the conversation.

I replied to Kevin much the same way as those who taught me the business would have replied to me. Some would take my response as coy or even disrespectful. I guess that’s what separates those who feel they are “entitled,” to those who truly understand what it takes to work for and earn success. When I was a young investor and I asked a question that was answered in a similar tone, I would dig, investigate, and tirelessly work to learn the lesson that my teachers were trying to convey.

Now – regarding this house in Park Circle. The uninitiated and the uninformed would simply look at this house, look at the board-up next door, maybe read a few Baltimore Sun headlines and sophomorically ask, “How can you sell a house like this?” And they would automatically and almost instinctively think (and even dare to say), Craig has something to hide, or Craig is off his rocker, or Craig is pushing a student into this rehab only to enrich himself.

But, if those same people would simply take cursory but closer look, they would quickly discover a much more compelling story – and a neighborhood that belies its gritty veneer. Sure, Park Circle is rough. There is crime. There are drugs – and it is ugly! But folks, there are homeowners in this area who care. They are good people who once loved and who are dying to take pride in their neighborhood again.

What the uninformed and uninitiated “drive-by” haters don’t also know is that I have already rehabbed, sold and profited from 5 rehabs, and 4 wholesales in this very tiny area. Yes, I was the first rehabber in Park Circle, not the first investor – but the first rehabber. Now, I’d like to tell you that my strategy was always to buy and sell to homeowners in Park Circle, but I originally bought two houses as rehabs for rentals. I wanted to be a landlord. Both houses were on Hilldale Avenue. It was only after my partner and I saw a house in the area sell for $120K, that we both agreed our strategy could be refined to buy, rehab and sell. Our thinking was, why buy and hold to make a few hundred dollars per month cash flow, when we could buy and sell and make 30K? Maybe you disagree with the strategy, but you can not deny our success.

Along the way another investor came along who also saw the potential in the area. To the best of my knowledge, the gentleman (and he is a gentlemen) has bought, rehabbed and profited from at least a half dozen rehabs in this very small area and has many more projects in the pipeline.

Starting to get the pictures, doubters? Ask yourself – on these 6 streets that span only two blocks each – how many homeowners on each street does it take to REALLY transform a neighborhood?

Don’t believe me? Then I would ask you to do what REAL investors do. Drive the neighborhood. Look at the property sales in SDAT and on the MLS. I would list them all here for you, but that would be too much like spoon-feeding a three-year old who should already know how to use a knife and a fork.

But let me titillate you a bit more:

I’ve sold two houses on Hilldale, 2 on Norfolk, and one on Violet. I’ve wholesaled three on Violet and one on Reisterstown. My competition (that fine gentleman) is selling houses for 180K on Reisterstown. The last house I sold on Norfolk Ave (2915 to be exact) sold before it was even on the market for 165K. Why do I tell you this? Why would I take the wraps off my golden-goose? Why? Because REAL investors come from the “big-pie” theory. There are more houses in this neighborhood then I could ever rehab. I also know that most will never get of their butts or leave the comfort of their anonymous little keyboards to actually get out their and take a chance to make some money.

Doubt all you want. That’s what fence sitters and wanna-be’s do. Successful investors make great plans, take chances and then execute. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. There are no guarantees in this business. I can not guarantee my student will have the same success that I have had in Park Circle. No one could. But unlike the uninormed and the initiated, my student, Prencella is not looking for a gaurantee. She’s smarter than that.

Questions are great. Let’s have a robust discussion. But personal vendettas and thinly veiled jabs from the uninformed and the uninitiated don’t serve the conversation.

I replied to Kevin much the same way as those who taught me the business would have replied to me. Some would take my response as coy or even disrespectful. I guess that’s what separates those who feel they are “entitled,” to those who truly understand what it takes to work for and earn success. When I was a young investor and I asked a question that was answered in a similar tone, I would dig, investigate, and tirelessly work to learn the lesson that my teachers were trying to convey.

Now – regarding this house in Park Circle. The uninitiated and the uninformed would simply look at this house, look at the board-up next door, maybe read a few Baltimore Sun headlines and sophomorically ask, “How can you sell a house like this?” And they would automatically and almost instinctively think (and even dare to say), Craig has something to hide, or Craig is off his rocker, or Craig is pushing a student into this rehab only to enrich himself.

But, if those same people would simply take cursory but closer look, they would quickly discover a much more compelling story – and a neighborhood that belies its gritty veneer. Sure, Park Circle is rough. There is crime. There are drugs – and it is ugly! But folks, there are homeowners in this area who care. They are good people who once loved and who are dying to take pride in their neighborhood again.

What the uninformed and uninitiated “drive-by” haters don’t also know is that I have already rehabbed, sold and profited from 5 rehabs, and 4 wholesales in this very tiny area. Yes, I was the first rehabber in Park Circle, not the first investor – but the first rehabber. Now, I’d like to tell you that my strategy was always to buy and sell to homeowners in Park Circle, but I originally bought two houses as rehabs for rentals. I wanted to be a landlord. Both houses were on Hilldale Avenue. It was only after my partner and I saw a house in the area sell for $120K, that we both agreed our strategy could be refined to buy, rehab and sell. Our thinking was, why buy and hold to make a few hundred dollars per month cash flow, when we could buy and sell and make 30K? Maybe you disagree with the strategy, but you can not deny our success.

Along the way another investor came along who also saw the potential in the area. To the best of my knowledge, the gentleman (and he is a gentlemen) has bought, rehabbed and profited from at least a half dozen rehabs in this very small area and has many more projects in the pipeline.

Starting to get the pictures, doubters? Ask yourself – on these 6 streets that span only two blocks each – how many homeowners on each street does it take to REALLY transform a neighborhood?

Don’t believe me? Then I would ask you to do what REAL investors do. Drive the neighborhood. Look at the property sales in SDAT and on the MLS. I would list them all here for you, but that would be too much like spoon-feeding a three-year old who should already know how to use a knife and a fork.

But let me titillate you a bit more:

I’ve sold two houses on Hilldale, 2 on Norfolk, and one on Violet. I’ve wholesaled three on Violet and one on Reisterstown. My competition (that fine gentleman) is selling houses for 180K on Reisterstown. The last house I sold on Norfolk Ave (2915 to be exact) sold before it was even on the market for 165K. Why do I tell you this? Why would I take the wraps off my golden-goose? Why? Because REAL investors come from the “big-pie” theory. There are more houses in this neighborhood then I could ever rehab. I also know that most will never get of their butts or leave the comfort of their anonymous little keyboards to actually get out their and take a chance to make some money.

Doubt all you want. That’s what fence sitters and wanna-be’s do. Successful investors make great plans, take chances and then execute. Sometimes they win, sometimes they lose. There are no guarantees in this business. I can not guarantee my student will have the same success that I have had in Park Circle. No one could. But unlike the uninormed and the initiated, my student, Prencella is not looking for a gaurantee. She’s smarter than that.