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I just heard an incredible story that I don't know is true or not but, the point the story makes is going to be a key to any aspiring REO agents success and that is what I want to talk about.

So, Lisa the REO Listing Agent calls me wanting to know if I had ever heard of Rodger the REO Expert. I told Lisa yes, I had heard of Rodger. She stops me mid sentence and ask me if I think he is any good. I wasn't sure exactly what she was referring to so I asked her, good at what? Lisa tells me that Rodger is selling a program where he can get you into REO Bank of North America and he only charges $20,000.00.

After I picked up my chin from the floor I started laughing, it's only $20,000.00, I would charge more than that....I thought to myself. She asked me why I was laughing and I asked her, if Rodger guaranteed she would make her money back. She said on yeah, he told me he could get me in to REO Bank of North America in a couple of months when I join him and a representative of REO Bank at the conference in Dallas later in July. So, I asked her, did he give you that guarantee in writing? She said no however, he was sending over documents via email. I told her to call me when she got the documents.

So, a couple days go by, I heard nothing back from Lisa so, I called her. She got the documents, she was all excited, she was finally going to be in at REO Bank of North America in just a couple of months. So, I asked her, did he give you a guarantee. She said yeah, it's right here in these documents so, I asked he if she wouldn't mind letting me look them over for her, what could it hurt, having an extra pair of eyes, right? A few minutes later, I have the agreement .....and.....well, I didn't see any guarantee.

I called her up and I was like, Lisa, Lisa, Lisa, can you tell me where the guarantee is. She says, yeah, look at page 3, first paragraph......

I read it over and I didn't see any guarantee but I did see, a statement on their commitment to doing all they can to help her get introduced to a Bank of America employee.

I explained to her, what my thoughts on the agreement were and I told her, Lisa...one part of this you are not catching is something the Bank refers to as "Business Need". The bank, regardless of how experienced, nice, bubbly, and charming you are has to have a business need in your area before they are just going to add you to their ranks. Without that, regardless of how much you pay for access, you won't get in. Well, she just didn't want to hear that. Rodger the REO Expert had this big, nice agreement, had a nice car, was at all the conventions speaking, he had to have the inside scoop. In fact, Rodger even gave her references of others he had helped, 2 in fact. So, against my advice, off to the races she went. Paid the $20,000...all up front and now we are about 8 months down the road and she still isn't a REO Listing Agent...with anyone, Rodger is telling her that he is going to shop her out to a couple other banks.

Needless to say, she is beyond pissed off, that $20,000 she paid was her 401k she cashed out and here we are in the midst of tax season and she doesn't have the money to pay the penalty. She can't do much about Rodger, the agreement she signed was very clear and specific, all he was doing was selling access to one person....one bank and if that didn't work out...for whatever the reason, he would shop her around to others.

I guess she got what she paid for.

I have received several emails and contacts from agents asking about a newly formed group that is soliciting memberships by the name of US REO.  They are asking for over $2000 annual in dues to "join their membership".  Their benefits are nicely laid out on their web site and there is nothing there that I can see that is worth 10% of their $175.00 per month dues.  I can find most of what they offer for much less or free for that matter.  We network with other REO Pros right here so why would you want to pay them for this service?  It seems like every one of these "member only" groups has a claim somewhere that would make you think that they can expose you to vendors and lenders to get REO Listings so let me ask you this, WHO HAVE YOU PAID TO GET LISTINGS?  I have been listing and selling REO's for over 20 years and have never once gotten a listing from a pay to play or "platinum" upgrade from any platform.  I get them the old fashioned way.  I send out resumes and signe up for BPO & REO sights each and every month, month after month, year after year, and work my way up the food chain.  I have two successful REO Branches and even in this slow time I am still listing and selling multiple REO's every month. 

BUYER BEWARE....If someone wants you to pay an annual fee, monthly dues, or upgarde fee only do this when they can guarantee you work. I bet not one of them will make this guarantee. I know I have been there and done that and all I got was less money in my bank account. Getting listed on some directory on someones web site is NOT going to get you business.  Good old prospecting will.