When Rural Land is Too Rural (CFFL 0206)
When Rural Land is Too Rural
Jack Butala: When Rural Land is Too Rural. Every Single month we give away a property for free. It’s super simple to qualify. Two simple steps. Leave us your feedback for this podcast on iTunes and number two, get the free ebook at landacademy.com, you don’t even have to read it. Thanks for listening.
Jack Butala:
Jack Butala from Land Academy welcome to our cash flow from land show. It’s your show too. We show you how to buy property for half of what it’s worth and resell it the very next day. Great information and instruction from me, that’s Jack.
Jill DeWit:
And inspiration from Jill, that’s me. Did you forget your name there? From me, me Jack.
Jack Butala:
In this episode Jill and I talk about when rural land is too rural. Is there such a thing? Jill, a great show. Before we start here’s some funny stuff that you’re going to share with us that happened to us recently.
Jill DeWit:
I think it’s really cool that you went out last night with the mole trap king.
Jack Butala:
Oh my gosh. Oh my god that is hilarious conversation that we had. This guy, listen to this story.
Jill DeWit:
I love this guy, so funny
Jack Butala:
This guy he’s a long time personal friend of mine. He bought a company from a Canadian guy and they sell mole, like for moles.
Jill DeWit:
It’s hilarious.
Jack Butala:
Like everything, it’s made in Canada and he gets them over here, buys a six month supply and because he just figured out SEO and Google and stuff he apparently is the only person that sells this stuff and he’s killing it. He bought a six month supply and literally sold it in one week.
Jill DeWit:
So funny.
Jack Butala:
He’s like what else can I do this with? He’s asking me. I said “I don’t know, man.” Google will tell you what to sell if you use it properly.
Jill DeWit:
That’s true.
Jack Butala:
Regardless of what business you’re in. Jill and I choose to sell products that we actually know about.
Jill DeWit:
This is true.
Jack Butala:
It’s possible that …
Jill DeWit:
We don’t have moles around here.
Jack Butala:
It’s possible to sell stuff that way. I think it’s short lived.
Jill DeWit:
I just think it’s hilarious
Jack Butala:
I told him enjoy it while it lasts because you don’t know anything about moles or traps or anything or SEO really.
Jill DeWit:
Exactly or distributing or …
Jack Butala:
That is funny, Jill. I’m glad you brought that up. Hey, let’s take a question posted by one of our members on success plant dot com our free online community. Kevin K says … This is a question from the past but recently in success plant somebody answered his question and the answer is what’s fascinating, not so much the question. I didn’t answer it. Another member did. My name is James from Charleston South Carolina. I’m a residential builder remodeler. I came across land academy’s site looking for ways to find discounted city infill lots to build spec homes. Hey they’re finding us Jill. I was wondering if anyone’s used this course to specialize on city infill lots instead of rural acreage. Looking forward to learning a lot about all the aspects of the land business. Thanks, James K.
Answer in success plant a day later. James comma welcome to the group. With my last mailer I actually did both larger acreage in rural areas and infill lots. Now I haven’t done any infill lots in a big city. I just mailed to a master plan community. Hmm I wonder where he got that idea. Jill and I do that all the time. I just mailed to a master plan community near a lake where there’s quite a few houses but way more vacant lots. I sorted for appraised values less than twenty thousand bucks and I offered five hundred dollars each. For lots appraised less than 2K I offered three hundred and fifty bucks. I ended up buying six. The most I paid was seven hundred and fifty bucks and the least was three fifty. This guy’s buying infill lots for three hundred and fifty dollars.
Jill DeWit:
I know. I’m hearing you.
Jack Butala:
Just when I think we’re buying the cheapest. I’ve already sold three for cash around three thousand bucks each. I offer terms deals on the acreage but the infill lots I insist on cash because there’s HOA’s and on and on and on and site building codes and I don’t want to accumulate all those fees. He’s very smart about that. Hope this helps and again welcome, Ben. If that’s not honest, Jill. That’s straight forward. You can’t buy publicity like that. I just think that’s a great story.
Jill DeWit:
That’s why we have success plant. That’s the whole point.
Jack Butala:
We could end the show right there.
Jill DeWit:
Helping each other, sharing it.
Jack Butala:
It makes me so happy.
Jill DeWit:
I know, working together.
Jack Butala:
That’s why we started land academy. I feel proud right now.
Jill DeWit:
I do too.
Jack Butala:
I’m proud that we started this, Jill and kind of shared it with everybody. We make way more money now than we ever have because we shared it all.
Jill DeWit:
Isn’t that funny?
Jack Butala:
People ask me that all the time. Why the hell are you guys sharing this with everybody if you’re making so much money? Now we make more money. That’s the answer
Jill DeWit:
Everybody does and it feels good. It’s giving back. We we’re kind of done anyway, let’s me honest. We were done financially but not done personally, you know what I mean.
Jack Butala:
Yeah like Rocky Balboa says. I still got a lot of stuff in the basement. I got some stuff in my basement still.
Jill DeWit:
Got it, in your gut.
Jack Butala:
Yeah in my gut.
Jill DeWit:
That’s it. Where you going there? You don’t have a tummy what are you talking about?
Jack Butala:
Like Rocky, you know.
Jill DeWit:
I know.
Jack Butala:
Rocky says some good stuff. Everybody busts my chops for that, for Rocky all the time.
Jill DeWit:
It’s all good.
Jack Butala:
Why is that?
Jill DeWit:
I don’t know.
Jack Butala:
[inaudible 00:04:59] show about. I think it’s well written.
Jill DeWit:
Anyway, our point is it’s the pride and the giving back that you get.
Jack Butala:
Cracking me up.
Jill DeWit:
You know what, Jack? Here’s what I think. I think that some people, the pay it forward thing, some people kind of balk at it and say oh that’s kind of silly. Whatever, you know what watch. Be a good person, put good stuff out there and watch what comes out, next.
Jack Butala:
That’s why you’re the inspirational piece of this.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you. Who knew? That does really happen.
Jack Butala:
If you have a question or you want to be on the show or you just want to talk to Jill, call 800-725-8816. Today’s topic when is rural land too rural?
Jill DeWit:
That’s a mouthful. Say that three times fast.
Jack Butala:
When is rural land too damn rural? You’re right I can’t say it.
Jill DeWit:
It’s awful. That’s going to be a thread. Here we go if somebody started a thread in success plant which I love about …
Jack Butala:
The stupid stuff I say.
Jill DeWit:
Well, no it’s about your Michigan accent. We should a what is he, you know [inaudible 00:06:01]
Jack Butala:
Make fun of Steve dot com.
Jill DeWit:
Oh totally.
Jack Butala:
Or Jack or whatever my name is.
Jill DeWit:
When is rural land too rural?
Jack Butala:
Oh my god, Jill.
Jill DeWit:
I’m sorry I’m a little punchy.
Jack Butala:
Would you like to learn, here’s some stuff about Jill that you may not know.
Jill DeWit:
Oh no here it comes.
Jack Butala:
You can’t tell Jill that she’s got like a spot on her dress or something. She takes it really personally in an unhealthy way.
Jill DeWit:
It bugs me, you’re right.
Jack Butala:
If I said you’re pronouncing that word wrong sixteen times I think that it would be a different reaction.
Jill DeWit:
I’d fix it. Oh I’d fix it. I’d go to a voice coach and fix it. We can thank my dad for that.
Jack Butala:
I’ll be your voice coach if you want.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you. My dad is a little bit of a perfectionist.
Jack Butala:
Somebody told me I sound like Howard Stern recently.
Jill DeWit:
You know what’s funny? Yeah I did hear that. That was interesting.
Jack Butala:
I don’t think that’s, I don’t take that as a compliment at all.
Jill DeWit:
I think the sentiment was not that you sound like him but you have a way of just being upfront and honest like that. Which is not a bad thing, Jack. You don’t hold back. Sometimes I wish you would. Like the spot on my dress yesterday.
Jack Butala:
We’re going to keep this show rated G.
Jill DeWit:
Thank goodness I had a big purse.
Jack Butala:
We’re going to keep this show rated G god damn it.
Jill DeWit:
Oh my gosh. Howard Stern. Oh my goodness.
Jack Butala:
Anyway, when is rural land too darn rural? Oh you just have to say it slower then it’s easier.
Jill DeWit:
That helps.
Jack Butala:
A lot of people differ on this. I’m not sure there is any such thing. I really think there is such a thing. The North Pole is probably too rural. I mean, it’s probably good for whatever like research or something. I guess people live there too. Maybe it’s … I don’t know what do you think Jill?
Jill DeWit:
Side of a mountain doesn’t really work for me.
Jack Butala:
That’s access you know? I should do a book on access.
Jill DeWit:
Am I going to build a ledge for my house or my cabin. I don’t know. I don’t know.
Jack Butala:
I had a piece of property one time. I honestly was going to let it go back. I bought it in a huge group and I was going to let it … It was literally the side of the Grand Canyon, like the inside of it just like you’re describing. Somebody bought it.
Jill DeWit:
How’d it slip through the cracks?
Jack Butala:
No, it didn’t slip through the crack.
Jill DeWit:
No how’d you get it?
Jack Butala:
I bought I like a group of three or four hundred properties a lot of years ago. It was a take it or leave it all of them. It was such a good deal I didn’t. I sold everything and the property was left. This guy that climbs rocks bought the property. Not for very much but I guess he wanted to say I can climb on my own property or hang a map up. A lot of people just take a picture and hang it on their wall and say I own property in Arizona.
Jill DeWit:
Oh yeah I can see that. Totally can see that. I get it.
Jack Butala:
I don’t know. This topic is … because of the business that we’re in and the experience that we have I don’t think there’s such thing as too rural. Everything has value. If you buy it for a dollar and sell it for a dollar thirty and it’s piece of real estate which is conceivable, then it’s got some value. It’s not too rural. I don’t know.
Jill DeWit:
There are some situations where it’s stuff that I pass on. That’s very very true because I can afford to pass on it. I don’t need to.
Jack Butala:
Because it’s so rural or is it access?
Jill DeWit:
Probably access.
Jack Butala:
Yeah it’s access.
Jill DeWit:
It’s access. Gosh, I tell you now a days you never know. Things keep popping up. Remember that Canadian island? Who would have thought. This really weird island I found in Canada, I was doing some research on people living off the grid.
Jack Butala:
Did you buy it?
Jill DeWit:
No they’re already there. No I was just doing off the grid research and this was two years ago. I was just kind of looking around about other people solving problems about, not really a problem but just figuring out water power and this kind of thing. I stumbled across this community in Canada where all these people live together on this island. I’m like it’s got to be cold up there in the winter time by the way. They love it and they are really off the grid as far as, like in a kooky way. You don’t go shopping. They share things. They recycle things among them. It’s really kind of interesting and they are happy and they love it. I come back to you’d be surprised. You and I might think that who would want to live there? But there’s somebody who wants to be that far out and have their own space and their own blue sky and nobody’s bothering them and they like that they can’t see city lights from their backyard. They really want their own whatever it is.
Jack Butala:
The internet, specifically youtube, is packed full of people who celebrate the fact that they left Manhattan specifically Manhattan I’m not sure why and they live in the middle of the desert in Nevada or something like that. They bought forty acres on the internet for four, five, six, ten grand. They’re completely off the grid. They collect rain water and they make videos about it and they love it.
Jill DeWit:
Isn’t that a San Francisco that I’ve been reading about too. That there’s some younger …
Jack Butala:
Tell us.
Jill DeWit:
I really think I’ve been reading some articles about some younger, like a movement in San Francisco just to get the heck out of the city.
Jack Butala:
You can have internet, satellite internet.
Jill DeWit:
Yeah why am I living here and paying all this when I can be over here. That’s another thing too.
Jack Butala:
I did see something about that, Jill or maybe you and I were talking about it. That’s not my personal choice but that doesn’t matter. What matters is whatever they’re into, they’re into.
Jill DeWit:
I guess that’s it. You have all the choices and you should never assume what you want is what somebody else wants. That’s what I come back to.
Jack Butala:
You want to change your gender like Bruce Jenner? That’s fine.
Jill DeWit:
Where did that come from?
Jack Butala:
I don’t know. God we talk about real estate so much. Let’s talk about other stuff
Jill DeWit:
What did I say that triggered that?
Jack Butala:
You know, to each his own. I don’t care. If you want to live in the middle of nowhere on forty acres and collect rain water and be the happiest and film the whole thing, that’s awesome. I don’t want to do that and I’m happy with my gender. That’s my point.
Jill DeWit:
What’s interesting is that some of the things that I’m reading, they’re doing that for a reason.
Jack Butala:
You want to change your gender, that’s fine.
Jill DeWit:
Well here’s what I think too. What I’m reading is some of these people are moving out in these less expensive areas because they want to do things that we … They do want to travel like we do. Let me back up. Some of them might live somewhere that might be considered rural to somebody else because it’s less expensive for them to be there. Now they can afford to travel and do all the things that we all want to do, or many want to do.
Jack Butala:
There’s a show on Netflix called Cut Your Expenses in Half. It was originally on HGTV and they put it on episodes. I love watching it because it’s kind of like what we do. What happens is they take a real life story, or theoretically a real life story of a couple or a family who are living usually in the North East and it’s expensive. They say they’re going to move to Corpus Christi Texas or they’re going to even move out of the country. They both have jobs on the internet so they can do this and it’s amazing. Specifically Florida, I didn’t realize how cheap it is in Florida compared to the upper East Coast like Boston and New York. They’re taking then thousand dollars worth of expenses, mortgage and stuff, and they’re reducing it to two and have like right on the water. You can buy a house on the water in Florida, I didn’t know this until this show.
Jill DeWit:
Haven’t you seen that, there’s another show I love it. It’s HGTV it’s like island homes or something like that and they really are going around trying to find really cheap waterfront property all over in the south. You’re right, Jack. There’s South Carolina. You get into Georgia.
Jack Butala:
I did see that. Beachfront Property or something or waterfront property.
Jill DeWit:
Yes that’s it something like that. It’s great. I love this show. They’re like look you have your waterfront right here view. You may not be in, you know, you’re not in Hilton Head kind of thing but who cares. You want your waterfront thing, you’ve got it. I really like that show. It’s a good show.
Jack Butala:
I do too. There’s a bunch of cool shows on HGTV. It used to be really silly. It was just all about people flipping houses, which gosh …
Jill DeWit:
We get tired of that. It’s kind of the same thing.
Jack Butala:
If I did a show on HGTV I would do like a highlights reel. I don’t need to see every last detail of remodeling a kitchen. I just want to see the math like we bought it for three thousand or thirty thousand and we put five thousand bucks into it and we sold it for eighty two. Next. We bought it for ninety thousand.
Jill DeWit:
Do you know what my show would be?
Jack Butala:
What?
Jill DeWit:
If I [inaudible 00:14:35] do a show you know what I would pick? I would do a show about anything at all about what we do. I would do a show about what we can do now. For example, about our life now. Just basically we worked hard. We figured this out. We have a great revenue stream going and look what we can do now. What we do outside or work is the most fun. I would love to follow myself around with a camera because what we come up with is hilarious. I know our friends are like what are you guys doing now? It’s hilarious
Jack Butala:
I just sent a mailer out. I found a … You’re right.
Jill DeWit:
Right? That would be way more fun like oh no where are they now?
Jack Butala:
I just got data from the coast guard and set out mailers. I sent just like we do with land for yachts. Offering thirty thousand dollars for nine hundred thousand dollar yachts. Someone’s going to sign it.
Jill DeWit:
Somebody, something’s going to come back. I just think it’s funny. Not even that related, Jack you’re still … I love that about you. You’re always thinking about that kind of thing. I’m just thinking about our normal day to day walking around existence which is pretty darn funny.
Jack Butala:
Exactly.
Jill DeWit:
We sit in the car, people kind of, our friends go what the heck do you guys talk about on you’re show? How could you possibly do a show seven days a week?
Jack Butala:
[crosstalk 00:15:51]
Jill DeWit:
We are cracking up all day long. Our normal driving in the car is comical.
Jack Butala:
You’re right. It is.
Jill DeWit:
There’s always something funny. It’s good.
Jack Butala:
This is the technical two. Two minutes of property investment advice from our fifteen year, fifteen thousand plus deal experience. We have to change that to sixteen thousand soon here. Don’t knock this rural thing just because it’s not your choice. I hear it all the time. I specifically hear it from seasoned real estate people. Who the heck would buy a piece of property out there? He just because you don’t want to do it and I don’t want to do it … I don’t. I don’t want to live way out there but a lot of people do. Don’t knock it. Spread the word. Tell everybody so that people stop saying it because I’m tired of talking about it. That was two minutes.
Jill DeWit:
That was two, awesome thank you, Check. Move on.
Jack Butala:
If you have a question … Jill’s not into that. Every time the word don’t or any negative word is in anything Jill doesn’t participate.
Jill DeWit:
Right? Have you noticed that? Very good. I rewrite things. I’m like ugh. It just rubs me the wrong way.
Jack Butala:
Stop your crap. I would name everything stuff like that.
Jill DeWit:
Oh my gosh I know.
Jack Butala:
Stop it and then Jill would just walk away.
Jill DeWit:
If you’re not a millionaire you’re an idiot. That’s how you title it. I’m just kidding it.
Jack Butala:
Jill would say it don’t start it. No how would you say it? How would you say stop it in [Jill-ease 00:17:22]?
Jill DeWit:
Try it this way. Seriously.
Jack Butala:
It’s amazing that we ever got together at all.
Jill DeWit:
This is very true. You [inaudible 00:17:33] something? I have to show you this right now. Here’s my inspirational thing. I actually wrote my …
Jack Butala:
Wait, here just let me say the sentence then we’ll do …
Jill DeWit:
Okay go ahead.
Jack Butala:
If you have a question or you want to be on the show call 800-725-8816. Jill, inspire us.
Jill DeWit:
Wait, first you have to say this. Please read out loud the two words that I crossed off right here that ties in. What does that say?
Jack Butala:
Don’t be.
Jill DeWit:
Right? I rewrote my own inspiration because I can’t do the negative thing. I can’t take it. I don’t like it. Here’s my inspiration reworded. Are you waiting for something to happen before you make a change? Be proactive, not reactive.
Jack Butala:
Like what? Give us an example.
Jill DeWit:
Oh my gosh like what’s going on in our world this week right now. We’re making it a good thing. We’re making a change.
Jack Butala:
We got kicked out of our office space.
Jill DeWit:
Well yeah, but we could ride it out. We’re not going to ride it out. We got too much going on. We don’t want to see the bitter end.
Jack Butala:
We got kicked out of our office space.
Jill DeWit:
Wait, let’s rephrase that.
Jack Butala:
All right go ahead.
Jill DeWit:
It sounds like we did something bad.
Jack Butala:
No, we all did.
Jill DeWit:
No, the owners have a different direction in where this building is going to go and they want to do something else.
Jack Butala:
The building got sold and this office space is going to be a restaurant.
Jill DeWit:
Our office space is about to not longer be office space so we can ride it out or we can make a change and go find a new office space, which we are.
Jack Butala:
What happened?
Jill DeWit:
We are.
Jack Butala:
We cut our rent in half in an awesome place. Now we own our phone numbers, which we didn’t own before.
Jill DeWit:
It’s going to be a lot quieter than it was in the last three shows.
Jack Butala:
Only positive stuff came out of that. There’s still people running around this office. Not our office but other people, just in a panic. They don’t know what to do, can’t handle change.
Jill DeWit:
I talk to people all the time who are looking at making a change in their life. They’re coming to us … I think it’s a theme. They’re looking for … A lot of people come to land academy that have good jobs and they want to make some changes. You don’t want to wait until you’re laid off and then scramble. You want to be proactive, not reactive.
Jack Butala:
Well said. Well said, Jill.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you.
Jack Butala:
I love it.
Jill DeWit:
I come to these people and they’re like oh I can afford to wait, I can afford to wait, I can afford to wait. Can you? I mean, I don’t know. I guess my big thing is if you want to make a change go do it. Don’t wait until you’re staring at something and you have to do it. It’s better if you’re proactive because you are calling the shots. You want to be in control.
Jack Butala:
You have the resources, the time and money and all that stuff.
Jill DeWit:
You’re in the driver seat. That’s what you want. Thanks Jack.
Jack Butala:
Nice work.
Jill DeWit:
Thank you.
Jack Butala:
Join us in another episode where Jack and Jill discuss how to use information, that’s me.
Jill DeWit:
And inspiration, that’s me.
Jack Butala:
To get just about anything you want.
Jill DeWit:
We use it everyday to buy property for half of what it’s worth and sell it immediately.
Jack Butala:
Get there first. Awesome show, Jill.
Jill DeWit:
Thanks. Thank you.
Jack Butala:
I said in the show about living rural. You and I had that cabin for a lot of years. I loved it up there.
Jill DeWit:
I did too.
Jack Butala:
It wasn’t off the grid crazy.
Jill DeWit:
No.
Jack Butala:
It had a Jacuzzi and stuff.
Jill DeWit:
Go get milk.
Jack Butala:
We weren’t real roughing it.
Jill DeWit:
There’s a place to get milk. There’s one place to get milk when they’re open.
Jack Butala:
We could get lost up there, you know.
Jill DeWit:
Creamer and …
Jack Butala:
I’m not even going to say the name of the town that’s how awesome it is.
Jill DeWit:
No, no, no. I think for me the point is to each his own. Don’t assume. That’s what I learned over the years. I really would sit and go who would want this? It’s funny how many people just love these way out there properties that there’s nothing there. They get excited. They love it. Then somebody else wants this one. Those people are scratching their heads going who wants to live next to neighbors? Why would you want a neighbor right there? That’s silly.
Jack Butala:
I titled this show because of somebody asked me recently again who the hell would want to live out there. I get so tired of answering it. Sometimes I snap.
Jill DeWit:
It’s kind of funny.
Jack Butala:
I’m like you know what you just don’t get it then.
Jill DeWit:
Yeah and that’s okay.
Jack Butala:
That’s not cool. I should be cooler about it. I should have a little more patience.
Jill DeWit:
Do you really snap?
Jack Butala:
Yeah. You don’t get it then.
Jill DeWit:
I’m like that’s cool.
Jack Butala:
You know, or how do you sell property on the internet? You don’t get it dude. It’s not good I got to chill out.
Jill DeWit:
My favorite is …
Jack Butala:
It’s like get out of the dark. Open your mind.
Jill DeWit:
I never say it but I’m thinking it. I guess we had sixteen thousand one offs then. Can’t explain it, that’s all I got.
Jack Butala:
Jack and Jill, information and inspiration. Let’s go buy some property.
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