Posted by Sherm on July 26, 2009 at 10:31:30:
Yeah, I was in the shipwreck discovery business. The thrill of seeing the ocean floor littered with gold Spanish coins and then actually being able to touch them is unbelievable!
My book is unrelated to treasure hunting it is a crime thriller loosely based upon many folks I have met over the years.
What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Tony Colella
Posted by Tony Colella on July 19, 2009 at 22:05:22:
One of my favorite topics when sitting around after hours at the boot camps or seminars is finding out the unique and interesting side line businesses.
Let’s face it, buying/selling/renting mobile homes is a pretty “outside the box” endeavor. Folks come to this line of investing from all walks of business life.
I have met folks who have owned pawn shops, made knives, whistles, owned bars, restaurants, farmers, (you can’t swing a cat without hitting some kind of engineer)… the list goes on and on.
I would not only like to hear the jobs folks have but more so the side line businesses that folks have. Each time I hear some new twist I know I get motivated and I hope you guys will to.
So let’s here it. What else are you guys doing to make money besides mobile home investing?
Tony
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Vic-OH
Posted by Vic-OH on August 12, 2009 at 21:51:41:
I am currently an airline pilot based out of Cleveland, OH. After coming to OH 10 years ago and starting at a regional carrier making about 18K a year, I started looking at real estate for ways to make money on the side. (Not a misprint, 18K a year)
Having previously been a realtor in the Chicago area part time, while working for the Federal Aviation Administration full time (I have a Masters in Public Administration), I figured real estate was the way to go. Needless to say, I clicked on the mobile home section on this site thinking “who in the…makes money on mobile homes??”
Six successful deals later I’m hooked and looking at other options to further myself from my job.
I’m making good money now and have seniority at the company, but working for a large corp where you are only a number, in an industry that can change overnight isn’t quite my idea of a great career…
Thanks to everyone on here that I’ve learned so much from!
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by keith Cag.
Posted by keith Cag. on August 11, 2009 at 01:44:10:
I am a self-employed windshield repair technician…
I work for $ at least 3 days a week. The state I live in is 3rd in the nation for rock chips on vehicles. On a good day, I can pocket $5-600 in a few hours time.
I am not an employee type and I could never work for someone else…My feet are firmly planted in freedom over security. I have been doing this for about 3 years. The number one skill of an entrepreneur is the ability to sell, knowing this, I started repairing glass so that I could fail faster and learn how to sell, didn’t start doing it for the money (although I don’t do bad…) but for the skill I would learn…I mean-how hard could it be to sell someone on a free windshield repair? I have learned a great deal on dealing with people! before this, I jumped into starting a business of my through a partnership with my brother. We went $80,000 in debt-on excitement and enthusiasm…We were successful…too successful! We could not keep up with demand and had cashflow problems because of it. It was trial by fire…Massive learning! I have just about finished digging out from the hole of debt-I have been lurking on this site for a while-the info is priceless! I intend on studying to become an insurance adjuster ( a friend of mine does really well with it), I’m single and as has been mentioned-It won’t take a lot of cashflow for me to be free! I can grow my portfolio once I am free…I’m going to use the money from adjusting to fund my deals…
Before all this-I was studying chemical engineering and had tunnel vision and no time…got involved in network marketing and changed some core beliefs about money…widened my perspective outside of working for money and I’m better for it-not many people can relate-but you guys on this site can!!
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by shawn sisco
Posted by shawn sisco on July 26, 2009 at 08:59:26:
Mobile Homes have provided my living for more than 17 years now. Before that I worked as a laborer on constuction projects, I paved highways during the summer and worked in power plants during winter.It was during this time that I began to invest in SFR rental property, which led me into mobile homes. At first I was content with getting late model rental MH’s at a discounted price, the oil price collapse and glut of repos in Oklahoma during the years 1990-1993 provided that opportunity.I later began selling some of these MH’s and that led to selling my new MH’s.
Loose lending by GT and others created a Boom, and I benefited from that boom by opening and operating 8 sales lots,also an insurance sales operation, then selling those sales operations to a Manufacturer from which I had been buying homes from. I then worked for that manufacturer. Early in this boom cycle I built a MHP, and developed some tracts of land reselling lots for Land-home packages.
I have also bought and sold some farms,as well as billboards. I had not heard of Lonnie Scruggs nor his writing, nor this website until a couple of years ago. While I had been profiting from the MH biz, I must say that had I brought the perspective and knowledge contained in DOW into my business, I surely would have been far wealthier today.
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Todd(AZ)
Posted by Todd(AZ) on July 25, 2009 at 18:08:29:
Full time Firefighter, 17 years. Also do personal loans on the side. Todd(AZ)
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Dr. B. (OH)
Posted by Dr. B. (OH) on July 22, 2009 at 09:56:00:
These are the major jobs I’ve held in reverse order:
Lonnie Dealer/Man about the House
Board Certified Sleep Doctor
Licensed Clinical Psychologist
Doctoral Student
Mental Health Worker on locked wards
Master’s Student
E.R. Volunteer
Stainless Steel Factory Worker (sheer and press operator)
Body shop Technician & Painter (again)
HUD housing rehab Project Mgr.
Body Shop technician & painter
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
Concrete inspector of Pennsylvania Ave, Wash, D.C.
Corvair mechanic
Owned small remodeling Co.
Research technician for an international chemical Co.
Hardware store floor salesman
College Student/House painter/Food service worker at horse racetracks/Janitor
Very interesting so far,
Steve
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Babacar
Posted by Babacar on July 22, 2009 at 09:38:24:
I was a successfull six figure car salesman untill I came accross DOW and later you and Scott’s book.I started buying Lonnie deals literaly during my lunch time while working 10 hrs days selling cars, trading hours for $.
But when I completed my first L/H Deal, I was hooked.
Now I have quit my job, manage several rental L/H full time,and am happier than I ever been.
By the way I also have a Truckmount carpet cleanng business to run when I am not under or above a MOHO.
Your book rocks and your posts are always invaluable.
Before all that I graduated from Chemical engineering school in France( by the skin of my teeth)and worked several years as a business to business chemicals salesman in Senegal(West Africa) before immigrating to the US.
It has been an interesting ride.
Babacar
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Sherm
Posted by Sherm on July 22, 2009 at 24:51:02:
I guess that I am one of those “outside the box” people. I currently have 12 Lonnie deals that are generating a nice income stream while I continue to write my book. After I graduated from college with a degree in engineering I took the unconvetional path, much to the dismay of my parents by being a dive instructor and a boat broker in the Bahamas for 10 years. The pay was not outstanding as a dive instructor but you got to meet some interesting people.
My most interesting time was after that when I spent 5 years on an Odyssey Marine exploration ship as an engineer. It could get boring between finds, but the excitement of a find made it all worth it. About three years ago I decided that I was getting too old for the nomadic existance and thought I would get more land bound and settle down. Lonnie deals have been great, but sometimes lately the call of adventure gets mighty loud.
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Don-NY
Posted by Don-NY on July 21, 2009 at 06:23:34:
I am fascinated by the ways people come up with to make money. TT the buying dollar coins idea is pure gold, what a great idea. I have always tried to figure out ways to get cash advances without the penalties. I also bore easily so my mind is always on new things. My “day job” is in manufacturing skilled trades. But I have had several side gigs: mowing lawns, moving heavy machinery, sealing driveways, building circle track racing transmissions to name a few. My stupidest one was buying table/bar top machines that resemble “plinko” on the price is right show. The idea is to drop a quarter and try to catch it and win a prize beer, pizza, sub, etc. I way overpaid for them from a snake oil salesman at one of those small business shows. They did not generate enough income to pay for gas to pick up the money. Right now I am looking into parking lot striping as a way to keep a guy busy when he’s not working on MH’s
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by EdC So Cal
Posted by EdC So Cal on July 21, 2009 at 24:31:16:
I am on my fourth MH deal.Still learning but moving forward. Have been contractor for over 30 years so one of my current sidelines is Consulting to small contractors. I focus on SALES SALES SALES! Almost all small contractors know their trade but do not understand that you have to sell yourself. Sound like an idea we can use in L/Ds and other business ventures.I give my advice for couple of months and move on to othe contractors to help. I charge a hourly fee. Remember sales is what gets you work this week but marketing gets you work nest year! Ed
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Tim
Posted by Tim on July 20, 2009 at 12:34:11:
I’ve been doing LD’s for the past 3 years after finding/scouring this site and buying DOW. I’m a special education teacher in a middle school and have my summers off, which has worked out well for doing deals. After a school year filled with administrators, students, parents, etc., it’s darn near therapeutic for me to get out and work on a trailer. I also have a line on my first land/home deal so I’m starting to branch out a bit with the money I’ve built up from LD’s.
So, thanks to everyone on this site who’ve provided me with such useful information!
Tim
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Mike Scarbrough
Posted by Mike Scarbrough on July 20, 2009 at 10:44:47:
Hi Tony, I also have a small martial arts school in the Columbus, Ohio area. I’m a fourth degree black belt and have been practicing martial arts for almost 20 years now. I teach taekwondo and also study taekwondo, hapkido, karate, kali, jujitsu, and silat.
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by TT
Posted by TT on July 20, 2009 at 07:06:50:
I get bored easily. My wife thinks i have been to the end of the internet and she may be right!
I am quite acitve playing very small low risk arbitrage-type deals in the stock market. Odd lot tender offers, reverse split cash-outs, etc. Deals where you can put maybe $500 in and receive $700 out in a couple months with practically no risk.
Another thing i have been doing is the USMINT’s “$1 COIN DIRECT SHIP PROGRAM”. There is a program that allows anyone to buy new mint wrapped $1 coins in bulk, with no shipping, on a credit card as a purchase not a cash advance. The reason for this program is to help get the coins distributed faster and cheaper. Use a 2-3% rewards credit card. Quite possible to cycle through 15K a week, and the cash back really adds up! Another benefit is the exercise you get carrying the coins into the bank for deposit. HA!
Tracy
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Celeste-fl
Posted by Celeste-fl on July 20, 2009 at 06:50:31:
I was a blackjack dealer at one of trumps casino in atlantic city and then moved to fl and was a dealer on the cruise ships. I still deal part time for fun at corp parties and other events. I have had a few other jobs, but dealing was the most fun.
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Darrel F. Smith
Posted by Darrel F. Smith on July 20, 2009 at 01:29:12:
Tony
I attended your last boot camp. I have been buying, selling and renting stick built housing and commercial structures for many years on a small (very) scale. The present economic situation has almost brought me to my knees.
I was always advised by real estate agents to stay away from MHs because they depreciated. The day I told my agent that I had bought a mobile home he put his head on my dining room table and pounded on it saying “NO NO NO”.
I explained to him what I had learned in NC (it took about 10 minutes) and his parting remark was “if you ever need some money for one of your deals give me a call”.
I have now been involved in a total of 12 mobile home deals. I have learned a lot by doing and from your website. I have made many mistakes but on an annual basis have averaged at least 30% return on investment. The bank will offer you about 3% at best.
I owe you a lot. I plan to keep on doing Lonnie deals while keeping an eye open for a good deal on a park.
I am having a great time with the whole adventure!
OH, I forgot, the question was what was/is your “other” business.
I was an Airline Pilot for a major international airline. I was required by law to retire at 60 years of age.
I am having more fun and freedom in this business than
I ever had in my previous occupation.
Keep up the good work!
Darrel
I plan to keep on doing Lonnie deals with my eyes open for a park for sale that fits the guide lines set forth by you and the good folks who post on your website.
Thanks for everything
Darrel
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Anne_nd
Posted by Anne_nd on July 24, 2009 at 07:36:26:
We have a lot in common. When I was in college I worked at two racetracks between freshman and sophomore year- as a hot walker. The backstretch is an interesting place, that’s for sure.
Thanks for sharing.
Anne
Re: What Else Do You Do? - Posted by Mark(GA)
Posted by Mark(GA) on July 23, 2009 at 11:11:34:
Is that one of those treasure ships that you were on? I bet you do have some stories to tell. Is the book you are writing about treasure hunting?