a year on my own

**meatdrink9** · 11-02-2006, 10:45 PM

It's been a year since I quit my job in Denver and left the corporate world. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. I guess I made it. I don't know. It's just weird. I know I can't go back to work fulltime for someone else ever again. It's like I've tasted this little bit of freedom and I'll do whatever it takes to hold onto it (which has meant swinging a hammer at times, although by choice to go even bigger).

It's been a weird year. There's no way I could've made it on my own without friends helping me along the way. Basically almost every dollar I've earned this year came through friends who believed in me or took a chance. It's humbling and I'm grateful. It's pretty cool, because I think most of their perceptions of me run something like: "That crazy asshole Jared", but said with a grin on their face. It's cool having people you respect believe in you.

This year I had time to ski, to play with my daughter, to learn how to handle the code portion of simple websites, and got my real estate license. I just finished my first house "flip" project and listed it today. That was an insane experience and not for the faint. It just about ate me alive. I've still got one place to go, but it's a much simpler project. As crazy as it was...I'm already thinking about tactics for more flips next spring when the snow melts.

Anyway, I guess I was just feeling a little bit contemplative as another year has passed. There were more scary times financially than any other time in the past, but there were also bigger checks than any other time in the past. Feast or famine. In my very first job interview when I came out of college I remember the owner of the big prestigious ad agency asking me where I saw myself in 10 years. I have no idea where I'll be next year let alone 10 years from now. There are a lot of roads out there. It's fun running down as many as you can.

**iceman** · 11-02-2006, 10:48 PM

Get a job, hippie!

one of us needs one

**GBB** · 11-02-2006, 10:51 PM

Good job man.

A friend of mine did the fix-up and then flip gig for a couple of years in Summit Co. and he did pretty well for himself.

**pointedem** · 11-02-2006, 11:19 PM

Hopefully the turns will be just as good this season.

catch ya @ SB..

Peace........

**Ski Monkey** · 11-03-2006, 12:09 AM

Right on J, I know how it goes.

I've been having similar thoughts this week about my future as well and my inability to work for someone else full time again. I'm at a bit of a crossroads these days as my first real estate portfolio is winding down and I'm looking at options for the future.

This past year I've also had more scary financial moments than I care to remember and I think I'm ready for a break for a bit. Take a few months on the DL to recenter myself, give some attention to some web projects I've had brewing, do some skiing and most importantly focus on my skeleton skillz....2010 is closer than you think.

It's amazing how much emotion comes with all of this. Some times you feel like you've been kicked in the nuts, and other times you're so damn happy you feel like you're on another level. I guess that's what keeps you coming back and jumping in for another round.

**seanyob** · 11-03-2006, 01:03 AM

Nothing wrong with swinging a hammer....especially if it gives you your self back. Excellent work MD9.

**truth** · 11-06-2006, 02:35 PM

Fuck you ya crazy asshole.

**Hutch** · 11-06-2006, 02:44 PM

that is inspiring, dude. I hope the next year is even better for you.

pm me the listing if you don't want to post it here (and why not?)

**Crinkle** · 11-06-2006, 05:36 PM

if there is someone that has the drive to make it happen no matter what, its that crazy monkey, congrats you went huge in many ways this past year. Hence you were the second phone call that I made when I found of my untimely demise in the corporate world, which I am going to follow your lead and make rainbows and lemonade.

**freshie247** · 11-06-2006, 06:38 PM

Hey,..Don't hurt 'em Hammer!

I call BS, I know where you're going to be in a year, making Pow turns with me & the rest of the crew! It's all about perspective & perception.Compared to some, your life is a model of stability!

Congrats on making the Leap Of Faith .

**zion zig zag** · 11-07-2006, 02:14 PM

You definitely inherited your fathers work ethic and drive to succeed, and then tweaked it to fit your own brand. I have no doubt that you'll continue to flourish in this world no matter whats thrown at you. Congrats on your success and your ability to recognize and enjoy it!

**Buzzworthy** · 11-07-2006, 03:36 PM

I must say I applaud your efforts and your success over the past years. You have set goals and acheived them, time after time. From St. Louis, to Denver to Farmington to winters in the office gondola, you made it happen.

It takes a certain persona to do these things and you have a gift. Actually many. The Meats family knows no bounds.

**tonghands** · 11-07-2006, 03:45 PM

Good work! Looks like I might be heading down a similar path in the near future, thanks for the inspiration.

**meatdrink9** · 11-07-2006, 08:31 PM

Heh, thanks for all the kind words. I'm actually the closest to broke (checking account) that I've ever been, but there's also the biggest check I've ever had just on the horizon as well. Sometimes you think you're crazy and then other times you think you're set. I think there's a model out there for a new ski bum lifestyle where you get to ski all you want and still have a career.

ice, there's really only one job I'd go back to full time for. You know it.

What job would pull you in full time? You brother is the luckiest SOB alive. Other than Matt Stone and Trey Parker.

Ski Monkey, I'll be asking you tons of questions Friday night.

truth, may your future be filled with PR girls.

pope, here's the URL for a little online brochure I made for the house: www.269vine.com The listing that realtor.com is serving up is crap (no house photos or my contact info at all), but the one on the MLS is great (unfortunately password protected for agents only). It looks like I've got to shell out some cash to realtor.com to get them to make their listing match the one on the MLS. Argh!!!

crinkle, thanks man. I know you'll kick ass on your own. You've got your field completely dialed. Hopefully we'll be seeing you in Northern UT this year.

flyk, thanks. You better buy soon or I'll be kicking you in the nuts. This season is going to kick ass. If I sell these houses we will be sled shuttling middle earth.

tong, do it. Things haven't always gone my way this year, but having the freedom to jump on other opportunities I would've missed if working full time has been tremendous.

**Ski Monkey** · 11-08-2006, 12:35 AM

Originally Posted by meatdrink9

Ski Monkey, I'll be asking you tons of questions Friday night.

For sure and ditto. See ya then.

**truth** · 11-08-2006, 12:41 AM

Originally Posted by meatdrink9

truth, may your future be filled with PR girls.

May a horde of horny locusts descend upon you.

**SKISC** · 11-08-2006, 10:04 AM

Glad everything has worked out for you. Been thinking of leaving corporate America myself lately. I have had my real estate license for 15 years and am thinking about gong that route again. Just sold my first flip. Did ok but need to find a few more.

Good luck to you in the furure.

**LaBelle23** · 11-08-2006, 11:23 AM

Nice work MD! The place looks beautiful.

**Woolph** · 11-08-2006, 12:46 PM

Congrats MD9 on the life change and project completion.

I dig what you've done on the remodel of 269 Vine and the online brocure is beyond professional. It is a great showcase of your massive abilities in both graphic design and interior design / construction skills.

A few questions if you don't mind. I am not in the UT market but just curious.

- The staircase shown on tab 1. Is it a combination of two different woods or is the dark material steel and the tread stone? Either way the contrast looks great. Also, will you get hassled for not having a railing?

- Is the recessed lighting low voltage halogen or line voltage (looks to be 4" diameter)? There seems to be a design trend towards smaller opening lights and I've seen some nice 4" low voltage halogen. If you used these are you happy with them?

Nice work. That place should sell fast.

Woolph

**Buster Highmen** · 11-08-2006, 01:04 PM

J.A. SuiteWorks Design and Festering. Pumping styling cribs, flashing life with industrial crotchguard fungusware and tweezing the tractortread..

w00t!

**meatdrink9** · 11-08-2006, 09:04 PM

Originally Posted by Woolph

- The staircase shown on tab 1. Is it a combination of two different woods or is the dark material steel and the tread stone? Either way the contrast looks great. Also, will you get hassled for not having a railing?

- Is the recessed lighting low voltage halogen or line voltage (looks to be 4" diameter)? There seems to be a design trend towards smaller opening lights and I've seen some nice 4" low voltage halogen. If you used these are you happy with them?

Woolph

The staircase is all pine. I stained the rise and stringers in a walnut stain before adding the steps (which I left natural and just coated with polyurethane). As far as I know a railing doesn't really matter unless your buyer is looking to get FHA financing. They make properties they finance jump through a number of hoops. It would take me all of about an hour to add a railing, but I like it without.

The lights are a standard size can light, but I put a flange with a smaller opening over them. Not exactly sure of the size off the top of my head.

I hope it sells quick. But it is in a price range that's on the high side for UT so I imgaine we've got a limited number of potential buyers. I'm in the process of coming up with a new flip strategy that keeps me in the hunt with a lower price range where there are more potential buyers.

SKISC, I just saw in a newsletter that FHA is trying to do a bunch of things to curb flipping (or at least the financing of said properties). I guess there's just too much loan fraud going on and people not actually fixing up the homes (selling inflated homes to other scammers and then walking with the cash they added to the top) . It'll be interesting to see how all of that works out.

**Dirty Hoar** · 11-08-2006, 10:08 PM

Originally Posted by meatdrink9

I think there's a model out there for a new ski bum lifestyle where you get to ski all you want and still have a career.

Amen brotha

**mitch buchannon** · 11-08-2006, 11:49 PM

Originally Posted by meatdrink9

SKISC, I just saw in a newsletter that FHA is trying to do a bunch of things to curb flipping (or at least the financing of said properties). I guess there's just too much loan fraud going on and people not actually fixing up the homes (selling inflated homes to other scammers and then walking with the cash they added to the top) . It'll be interesting to see how all of that works out.

Will this affect you that much? Doesn't seem like the properties you've done thus far are really in the realm of the typical FHA customer. I know due dilligence depts at the major lenders are starting to really, really buckle down on fraud, but I don't think they're against flipping if the property value is legitimately supported.

Had a client in today that said they've gotten 500% more loan volume repurchased this year than last due to underwriting violations. Pretty crazy. Rumor is that HR Block is selling their lender (option one) due to being on the hook for shitty loans...