Okay. Where do I begin? I need some advice! My husband is in real estate. sm
Posted By: New To Penny Pinching on 2006-09-03
In Reply to:
He owns 5 houses (rents 4), and just closed on a house on Friday that he needs to "flip" really quick! Basically, it's a 30,000 profit IF he sells it quick! We've never bought a house to flip before, but have purchased them for rental property and to gain the equity. Okay. I'm spoiled. Very spoiled. Or you could call it blessed! We are both Christians with good jobs. I only work part-time and then we live off of his salary and the 700 we make in rent that is extra after paying ALL the mortgages. But we are in a real bind now. We have renters who owe us 2 months of rent, well now 3 months of rent! They won't take our calls, you know the rest of the story! This house that my husband bought on Friday cost us ALL of our cash because we had to put some down and then pay closing costs (close to 4,000!). So now, for the first time, we are broke (NO cash flow whatsoever now). And I'm struggling over here! I mean, we can't even go and get ice cream tonight. I'm really questioning our decision to purchase this house.
See, we had no idea UNTIL closing (honest to God), just how much it was going to cost! So, we couldn't back out of it. We were thinking 2000 on the high end. I completely flipped out when the attorney told us how much we needed to write a check for!!!!
We've gotten a couple of calls on the house, but obviously no takers. My husband went straight from the attorney's office to the house to put up for sale signs in the yard! It's a cute house. We just need someone to buy it ASAP!
So, if you've ever wanted to meet the people on the Carlton Sheets infomercial - here we are!!! yes, we've made a lot of money in real estate, but there are huge, gigantic RISKS! You could go for the gutso (like we did and buy all these houses) and you could lot a lot if it doesn't work out. The loan we got on this new house is a type of loan I've never heard of before. It's just a "quick" loan where you need to pay it back pretty quick in the hopes that you will make the 30,000 in equity that the house did appraise for.
What do you do on a budget? What do you do when you are so broke you can't even buy ice cream for the kids? I want to cry now, even though I know some of you out there have zero sympathy for crazy folks like us...Well, I need some ideas on food. What's cheap to make and cook? I put 30.00 in my SUV last night and that will have to last me until the 15th!
To all of you who struggle every week like this, my heart goes out to you. It truly does. Now I know what it feels like to live in desperate need every day.....
Complete Discussion Below:  marks the location of current message within thread
The messages you are viewing
are archived/old.
To view latest messages and participate in discussions, select
the boards given in left menu
Other related messages found in our database
Because real estate is so soft right now, there are
a lot of home for sale and it's difficult to sell. I would not recommend selling by owner or going through a by owner agent. If the market was hot like it was before it wouldn't be a problem, but right now you need a bulldog real estate agent to represent you. As well, you'll probably want to consider offering some incentive to any third party agents. That's what I had to do. There are so many brand new housing developments out there and the incentives that are being offered are crazy. I had to be competitive because my house was not brand new, but had a ticket price that was about the same as a brand new house. I did sell, but I took about $15,000.00 less than what I had hoped for. The good news for me is that I don't have dual house payments anymore. Good luck!
As a real estate broker, I can tell you...
I have seen a lot of people get into BIG messes when they tried to sell their house without an agent. Believe it or not, agents and their sponsoring brokers DO have a lot of knowledge, most importantly of real estate law, that can save both sellers and buyers many, many headaches. We also know how to get the best price for your home. We can be sure buyers are qualified BEFORE they view your home. Can you imagine what happens when you accept an offer from a prospective buyer who cannot get a mortgage for the amount they need to buy your house??? Your house can be tied up in escrow, and you just wait. Did you know how to protect yourself when you all signed a contract? Did you know how to legally protect yourself? Did you be sure to disclose all that legally must be disclosed? Did you now how to set time limits on every aspect of the sales and closing process? Did you know how to get the best possible title insurance rate? Did you know what should be paid by the buyer and what you should be responsible to pay? When you set the price of your home, did you make sure it will appraise for that amount so the buyer can finance it? There is a lot more, but you get the idea.
I know many people think we don't deserve to make the commissions we do, but I would argue that any day of the week. Yes, I make a lot in real estate, but I also make both buyers and sellers very happy!
Jan<<<~~~Real estate broker and proud of it. 
Also check craigslist.org for real estate
They have some of the Florida cities listed if you are looking around.
I thought about that too. Real estate out here is booming.
I bought my house 2 years ago and the value has gone up almost $200,000. WOW!!
Unfortunately, real estate investing at that level
is really only for the already wealthy who can afford to take risks. Sounds like you both got in over your heads. A $700 profit is not real good on four homes, also. There is always lots of money needed for repairs, etc. Unfortunately there's always a catch to these get-rich quick schemes. Good luck to you and your family.
I agree with using a real estate agent...
especially with the market being what it is right now. I will be putting my home on the market in a few weeks. I will want someone who sells homes full time, is a go-getter, has contacts in the field, etc., etc. I think the commission is worth it...especially considering the legal battles that could possibly ensue with the sale of real estate. PLUS, an agent will not deal with FSBO....so that eliminates a LOT of possible buyers right off the bat.
Just my opinion.
Good luck to you.....well, to both of us!!
I hear ya. Who's to blame? Real Estate Developers
I'm rural enough that the only four lane road that goes through our county is the interstate and one other 30 mile road to the big city of 30,000 people.
About 10 years ago, the real estate developers started buying up all the farmland cheap, putting in postage stamp yards and $200,000 homes and up (some cost close to a million now), and our real estate prices and taxes went sky high for the rest of us. Every year, our school district has to raise taxes because they have to keep building the school larger and adding satellite schools.
Who were they targeting? The city folks, calling this a great bedroom community. Well, our 2 lane roads cannot handle all the traffic now. People are driving 60-70 mph on these windy roads. Accidents that were a big deal when they happened now are the norm.
There is no courtesy when driving around here anymore. People don't wave you through an intersection if there is a lot of traffic behind them, and others make a turn right in front of you trying to beat you out. Horns blow for no reason except the light changed a second ago and it took that long for you to take your foot off the brake and put it on the gas pedal.
I hate it. Younge people are moving out. Those that can't move go to another county for work because they can't afford to work here. The taxes have doubled, property values have tripled, wages are still low. Who the heck around here can afford a $200,000 home?
Senior citizens are losing their homes because of the high taxes and this county has one of the highest senior citizen populations in the state.
I could go on and on, but better stop before my blood pressure goes up. Just my 2 cents.
My husband learned real quick
When we moved across the country and I had to quit my clinic job (tapes) he learned real fast what a contribution my income made. I started working full time since and we split the housework right down the middle. Plus, if we don't have time, oh well. The only thing we stick to like glue 100% is that every night after dinner we each spend 30 minutes doing nothing but picking up, cleaning etc. HE took over the laundry and outside work. I take care of all the bills, cooking etc. We take turns going to the grocery store or go together when we both have time.
If my husband dared acted like my job wasn't important, you would all be reading about it in the papers because I think I would have to hurt him!
Jeez, take your own advice for your husband/dog/kid/house/money problem. nm
nm
Cook it real slow at real low heat; simmer, don't boil.
nm
DH is dear husband or any number of colorful adjectives preceding husband. (no message)
;)
Where to begin?
Brandy,
Where do you live, most importantly? I am a mom to 3, in Georgia, and am currently homeschooling my son in kindergarten. I can give you some tips, if you want, but there is a lot, too much to post here. IF you want more info, post back and I'll give you my e-mail address or e-mail you privately.
Oh, where shall I begin. sm
The *hoopla* about offshore not being secure is absolutely a valid threat. It may have nothing to do with transmission and everything to do with the value system of another group of people though. At least three VERIFIABLE instances of offshore MTs holding medical records for hostage and at least one where the MT threatened to publish the records on the internet if she was not paid, exist. Hardly *hoopla* my dear. I seriously doubt if the CMT will ever become a mandatory credential and I seriously doubt that for several reasons. After nearly 30 years, the AAMT has fewer members now than it ever had. People are leaving in large numbers. I also have it on good authority that the test the offshore MTs take is not the same one given to US MTs. Personally, I don't put someone down for having a CMT, I just have no great real respect for it or the association. I trust I am allowed my opinion. I worked at a local hospital where the transcription supervisor was a CMT and she could not answer one blank when asked! I actually know a lot of CMTs who are not all that.
Maybe it's your attitude to begin with.
Change your tune. Be sugary sweet when you think someone is being rude to you and see what happens. Pay it forward. Give someone a smile or a kind word. Let someone in line in front of you. Just do one little nice thing per day and it will multiply. People are never rude to me. Everywhere I go, they know me by name because I take the time to be kind to them. Gas station, grocery store, bank, school, doctor's office. You might have to fake it 'til you make it, but you can change your outlook and how you perceive the world treats you. If someone is "rude" to you, blow it off. Maybe they're having a bad day and it's nothing personal.
To begin with, I would suggest
Paying for your rent/mtg, food and utilities without fail first.
I ended up in BK 13 so I can't help you with a company name but this is what I learned, food and shelter come first.
That's Why I Posted To Begin With
I didn't make the assumption that 'fast typing' was all it took. I still believe that you have to be able to type fast, but I also have 'top notch computer skills' and can learn well. I wanted to know more about training in this field because I assumed training was a necessary evil. One thing I didn't assume was that the folks on this forum were just downright rude!! Not saying you are, just most of the others that replied to my initial post. I am certainly not looking at MT as a way to pay my mortgage or put my daughter through college. Just a way to fill some free time.
Thanks for your post!
You should have a system to begin with. SM
I recommend mining the Productivity Talk forum for tips and a book such as Saving Keystrokes by Rolland. One high producer strongly recommends Easyscript Express by Levin, an old ABC-based ShortHand method that can be used with a keyboard.
When I first started with expanders, in the Ice Age seemingly, there were no forums like this to consult and I just started dropping definitions in without a good system. I've since had to redo everything a number of times as I wanted my Expander to do more and more for me.
As time goes on, you'll also want to abbreviate EVERYTHING for you, which requires system, both because you can't possibly remember thousands of abbreviations but remembering a few rules is easy AND because you need to have a way to enter various terms that seemingly need the same letters.
One tip just to jump you off: Some systems start two-word phrases with the first two letters of the first word and the first two or three of a second word. However, if you look up "lesions," say, in a medical dictionary, you'll see immediately that starting with three letters of the describing/adjective word and two of the noun (i.e., cocle for cochlear lesion and corle for cortical lesion) would serve you much better. Although if you gaze over just at the ones that start with intra- you'll realize more system than that is going to be needed for more complex terms. I personally start that prefix with "ia" to differentiate from ones that start with inter- "ie". Best wishes.
ADD vs. MT - Let the Battle Begin
Have you tried setting a timer for 20-30 minutes, then giving yourself permission to get up from the desk (setting the timer again for 10 minutes or so), wander around, surf the web a little (on a different computer if you can, it will help keep the surfing bug separate from the MT'ing bug), then when the timer goes off again, go back and set it again for 20-30 minutes and start typing again?
These days, I'm working in bed from a laptop due to back and wrist issues that don't play well with conventional desks, but in some ways that actually helps keep me focused, because it's such a pain in the neck to get up and walk away... I still struggle with wanting to surf while typing though - a problem I never dreamed of having back when my shiny new computer was an IBM PS2 or something like that - where the floppy drive held less information than my cell phone does today!
Good luck!
Does it have 3 letters, begin with an M?
If so, I'm there too...Ain't life grand???
The one time I asked for one, they said no. Ask and if they say no, begin looking elsewhere.
dd
The rules for Op notes are a little different. You may begin a....sm
sentence with a numeral; so, you would never spell out cc for blood loss, IV fluids, urine output etc. In the indications section, if a sentence starts with a number e.g. "Three days ago the patient" or "One day prior to surgery, I spell out the number. Otherwise, in the body of the report or in the headings, I use the number.
Don't get excited. You should have provided it to begin with. nm
x
The head set worked to begin with so
if it was in the wrong hole would it have worked in the beginning? Because it worked until I downloaded the pedal software.
How do you begin to come up with a line rate..
to pitch to a new account? Been working for others as an IC, now contemplating approaching an account on my own. No clue how to not hang myself and selling out at too low of a rate vs giving a quote that's too high and will make them back off quick. Would it be a good "rule of thumb" to take what you make as an IC on someone else's accounts and add .05cpl? From what little I've gathered over time, that's about the ballpark of what the MTSO gets paid per line for the account vs what the IC gets paid to do the typing. Does this sound about right to those of you who have experience with this? Tks
I promise you - I begin work at 7:00 p.m. - I'm only PT, and my day always begins with
stat, H&Ps, consults, etc! I love it!
When they have me working mornings I am getting special procedures, ops, caths, and don't like it one bit! Maybe 2nd shift would work for those who just can't see themselves working from 11 to 7. Good luck!
Nope. It was a small account to begin with.
The work never went anywhere. The company has not lost contracts. I'm not being "phased out" either. The workload simply doesn't suit my needs any longer. I can do it in my sleep, so I'd like more work that's more challenging.
I would never begin a sentence with an abbreviation, for one thing. nm
x
I begin my day, every day, with a nice 2 to 3 mile walk with
This gives me time to think, alone time, fresh air and of course exercise. I love to walk and it seems that since I began doing this I am less stressed out. Have you had your thyroid checked??? Just wondering if that could possibly cause hair loss. I wish you the best.
Was taught in my program that all those eye words begin with
s
That is assuming they could even understand the dictation to begin with.
I would love to see the doctors having to listen to dictation.
Utilize the speed typing engines and begin
storing in their favorite phrases so that a few letters will bring them up. I am working for several physicians. Took me a few months to get all the words into speed typing mode but now that I have, the time I spend typing is cut in half.
Never type a word larger than 4 letters.
chest pain - cp
pneumonia - pnea
atelectasis or infiltrate - aoi
so on and so on - whatever works for you. This is how to make money these days, high production. And the speed typing engines lessen change of typos and other erros.
They're not thrown to the dogs when they had no work to begin with!
nm
I totally understand but if your husband is like my husband... sm
When it comes to something like that, that I usually take care of but for whatever reason I can't, I will tell my husband exactly what to do, but when he comes back - to use your case as a "for instance" - I will ask him, "Did the doctor look at his foot?"
Him: "No."
Me: "Did you ask the doctor to look at his foot?"
Him: "No."
Me: "I told you to have the doctor look at his foot!"
Him: (shrug)
etc., etc., etc.
Your husband may not be like that - I sure hope he isn't. And yes, they should have checked his vitals and checked his foot without being asked. But sometimes you have to be assertive with people. And while my husband attained the rank of major in the Air Force and had no trouble ordering people around, there are times when he should be assertive but isn't. And he is not intimidated by doctors - he started his AF career as an x-ray tech (that's how we met). I dunno....(Rad MT wanders off, mumbling....)
Advice to YOU..1st learn to spell before insulting poster and trying to give advice...sm
Sound advice from a fellow MT if you want advice or support (sm)
I have been an MT for over 10 years. I also am getting burnt out, tired of my job, day in day. However, I do love transcription and make excellent money at it, have grossed over $50,000 per year the last 5 years. I decided to go back to nursing school and am very happy with my choice. However, over these 10 years of transcription I have had my ups and downs. My biggest issue with being at home working is lack of socialization, being home day in and day out with just the kids and the animals really gets to a person, sure hubby is home at night and thinks working from home is the easy life, thus the return to school and boy has my overall enjoyment of life changed once I realized I was the problem, not everyone else and I needed to find myself again.
Anyway, my biggest advice to you three-fold:
1. Get into counseling for yourself, find out who you are and what your needs are, whether or not you think you need to, I sense you are feeling overwhelmed and need someone other than your family to talk to that can be nonjudgmental to your feelings and needs.
2. If you're only making $100 after you pay preschool you can either keep doing it and be miserable, or quit because you are lucky enough to have a husband who can support the family without your income. (See how fast his mind changes just by losing the income you do have as to whether your job means anything.) Or look for a different company or office that you like more and are more productive if you really want to do transcription (lots of fish in the sea as far as companies).
3. Find a local "mom's" group where you can get out and socialize. MOPS (mother's of preschoolers) is an excellent one that is nationwide, they have a website. Also Mom2Mom is in a lot of areas. They provide a once a week time for moms with kids the same age to get together, socialize, (some offer spirtual guidance some don't) and each week a different mom takes a turn watching everyone else's children at the facility that hosts it so the other moms can talk about things they have in common. Every stay-at-home and work-from-home mom needs to socialize with adults, without their kids, or they will have a nervous breakdown eventually no matter how much they love their kids.
Sorry so long but it does get better but you have to take the first step at making yourself happy.
yes, real med.
x
is this for real?
if so, Lord help us all. We are in a world of trouble if this is what our profession is coming to! 
I think my real ? is...sm
can I pick it up by just doing it, or do I need some "real" training? It definitely sounds like something I want to check into! Thanks everyone for the input!!! 
I am real
Don't be jealous! If you do your math and learn to read, you will see that I lost this weight over a 6 week period (I even said in my post I started on August 17th). My first week I lost 12 pounds and then averaged about 5-7 pounds per week thereafter. Most of it was water weight (told to me from the doctor) and YES IT IS POSSIBLE.
Ever watch the series "The Big Fat Loser?" They were my inspiration and I can tell you that some of those people on there the first week lost well over 15-20 pounds!
Again, don't be jealous. I can't help you will be stuck at your 600+ pounds for life. I decided to get my life back and that is what I am doing. My weight continues to decline and all is good, as I have been monitored by a doctor for this! So a big "WHATEVER TO YOU!"
get real.
I was a 70s teenager too, smoked pot, etc. Nothing shocks me - I've seen and heard it all. Believe me, I've been around so many losers I think I am starting to get pretty good at spotting them and every 40 something pothead I've seen is a big time loser. Furthermore, if you are in your 40s and cannot construct a sentence without swear every other word you really need help, you might be lacking a little in imagination along with class. I hope for your sake you're not over 21.
I really like Real.com....SM
If I remember right, we downloaded the player, and from there you go to their Music Store, where you can browse, sample, and buy tunes. They seem to have a great selection. Usually they are 99 cents per tune to buy, but sometimes they have "sales." Burning CDs is super easy. If *I* can do it, anyone can. I have made several of my own CDs that I love to listen to in the car.
Oh, and no monthly fee either!
http://www.real.com/
(It's the Real Player download over to the right, which includes access to the Music Store.)
any of them....get real and get over it....nm
x
Get real ---
First of all, why in the world would anyone have to wait 6 weeks for a first check? Second, I know for a fact that they run out of work especially around the holidays. If you have plenty of work it is only because the smart MTs have left that joint! -- MTs like you take whatever the amount of their check is and never question management. That's why you love it there --------- when they say "jump" you say "how high?" --- LMAO 
get a real job
YES, all my friends who are lucky never had to work get mad at me cause i dont have time to go to lunch, do church work, come over and hang out, go canoing etc.etc. etc. "you never want to do anything"
Is this for real...
I'm sorry, but I'm having a hard time buying this story...please forgive me for being insensitive...but each time you post, it gets more and more bizarre. Sounds like a movie...I'm skeptical, sorry, not buying it...
of course I'm for real and you are....sm
typical of so many Americans who want to KILL rather than RESCUE. This is most probably a harmless snake. I happen to like most snakes and asked what the color was so perhaps I could help decipher dangerous snake from nondangerous snake.
If an endangered species came flying your way, into your neighborhood, into your garage or patio......you'd want to kill it rather than rescue it.
Snakes are not cockroaches, they are not rats, they are not vermin!!
I live in a reptile state......we do not go around killing the critters unless they STRIKE (alligators/crocodiles/other reptiles) and if they don't strike and they catch them, they get sent to places that house them, show them, and don't kill them.
God didn't say go kill all the animals nor did Jesus.....
Lord help you when your time comes.....
Let's be real....
The only docs and facilities that need 24- hour turnaround time is radiology. The rest of the docs who get the work in 24 and 12 hours basically just sit on it - that's after the MT has broken her neck getting it to them.
your welcome.... just trying to keep it real..
 Let me know if it works!!!!
MT not a real job.
Your husband and mine have a lot in common. I have the same problem. I have actually been told I was lazy because I work at home. And he says it isn't worth the money because as a newbie you dont start out making a lot of money but this is something you have to work your way up to. I have a good friend who makes an excellent living at this. But she has been doing it for 8 years now. I know one day it will pay off but in the meantime he doesn't take it seriously at all. He makes me feel like I dont even have a job. So I know exactly how you feel.
yes, i am for real-sm
I stammered a bit and then asked for more info about the dishwashing job. I told her I had not considered it before. I honestly didn't know what to say! Where- I'd rather not say.
that's real nice
|
