Bibi LeBlanc is a Real Estate Investor who was born and raised in West-Berlin, Germany. She moved to Florida after she married her husband whom she met on a skydiving vacation. She currently resides in Deland, FL.
“I have done about 60 different deals, anything from rental properties, rehabs, lending and land. My average return on investment for rehabs is 25%. My best deal was a rehab I did earlier this year in which I profited 45% in 4 months.”
NV: How did you learn about self-directed IRAs?
BL: I learned about self-directed IRAs during real estate seminars. I liked the idea of being able to decide what I want to do with my money rather than having to choose what risk I was willing to take and which type of fund I wanted to invest in. It all seemed risky to me because I didn’t really know anything about the companies I was “investing” in and didn’t want to study them to be able to make smart decisions.
Also, the potential for growing my money is a lot better investing in real estate which is not possible with your typical retirement account!
NV: When did you make your first self-directed investment?
BL: I made my first self-directed investment a few years ago; I held a mortgage for a friend where I received a percent of return of 8%.
NV: What is your preferred method of investment?
BL: Real Estate is definitely my preferred method of investing. I like a combination of rehabs (income now) and rental properties (income later). I have done about 60 different deals, anything from rental properties, rehabs, lending and land. My average return on investment for rehabs is 25%.
NV: What was your most successful investment regarding your self-directed IRA?
BL: My best deal was a rehab I did earlier this year in which I profited 45% in 4 months. If I could repeat that three times in a year I would have a 135% ROI/yr.
NV: Do you have any tips for fellow self-directors?
- Build a great team! That to me makes it all even possible. I have an excellent broker I work with, Kathy Aparo-Griffin of Aparo-Griffin Properties, and a team of companies who can handle all my repair and rehabbing needs, and, of course, NuView!
- Educate yourself! Read, go to seminars and your local REIA or NuView for classes, LEARN, LEARN, LEARN. If I can do this, so can you!
- Network
- … and Just Do It!
- oh, and play Cash Flow (board game by Robert Kiyosaki)
