Dean Graziosi’s Live Event! Scam or Worth the Trip?

On occasion I watch Television and on rare occasions I take a leap of curiosity and check out seminars in the area. This week I attended Dean Graziosi’s Live Event hosted at the Hilton in Oak lawn, IL on Tues. February 19, 2013. I enlisted my cousin to go with me because at the very least I’d have someone to share curious eye brows and giggles with. Upon attending the event we were asked to fill out general information forms that basically did some digging into your financial information (you can only imagine why they asked for this). The seminar was not an event where they shared valuable information on how to purchase houses for penny’s on the dollar but a sales pitch program on purchasing their $1997 3 day workshop which was said to reveal valuable information on how to invest in real estate as well as to take advantage of Tax Liens in the area.

Sadly Dean Graziosi was not attend the event. He wasn’t there to share his personal experiences or ideas. There were 2 gentleman speakers who hosted the event each speaking for about 1 1/2 hours each. I assumed the event would be atleast 2 hours but wasn’t aware that it would go for 3 1/2 hours. Could of very well been a foresight on my part. The first speaker, Lynn Alder, who says he has been investing for over 30 yrs, spoke using a slide show as a nice visual. He shared how he made money purchasing homes as well as a hotel that he himself receives substantial income from. He had several photos of him at the location and spoke very convincingly. During the seminar I had taken notes in hopes of learning a few tips and details along with valuable information.

For the the most part during the very first 2 hours I didn’t learn anything other than the guy in front of me was a really fast talker and I should of ate breakfast cause my stomach was growling and I was really hungry. Lucky for me they provided a granola bar and 2 bite sized chocolate treats to give us all a small sugar rush. Coffee was provided in the back of the room and many attendee’s took advantage to stay awake.

Key Points to his presentation

• Believe it’s possible to be wealthy
• Think like you are wealthy
• Ask “How Much money will the transaction make me”
• Never buy property with a negative cash flow
• Investing without Using your own money
• Not all Foreclosures are a good idea to invest in
• Buy Low Sell Low
• Bank Problems
• Market Troubles
• Pay $1997 to come to the 3 day workshop
• Refund of $1997 if you did your 1st deal within 90days (limited people were offered this)
• Buy homes while the neighborhood and market is in the momentum stage

Lynn Alder shared valuable information but never revealed specific details on company’s that will help you borrow money. He shared what the 3 day workshop “could” do for you if you chose to apply their teachings and invest in real estate. The program offered a money back refund if you should happen to close your first deal in a specified time window.   The part that was really drawing was that they had a program set up where you could “buy real estate no money down” and no credit checks.  How does that sound to you?

While that sounds fabulous and we all raised our hands because who wouldn’t want to buy property and not use any of your own money it sounded like there would be a hoop or two to jump through. By using their lender you would pay a small percentage of your sale earnings, after you sold the property, to the lender who in turn would share a small percentage with Dean Graziosi team.

The Dean Graziosi Workshop would share such details as:

• How to find and buy Real Estate Below Wholesale
• How to sell at Wholesale for big profits
• 7 Ways to buy property using none of your own money
• Show you how to do your 1st deal
• How to sell before you buy

And more. While I don’t know if the workshop will do what it says because I am not a customer of Dean Graziosi nor did I attend or pay for the 3 day workshop. I didn’t get to review the company’s exact curriculum or talk to anyone who has. They say the company has an average customer satisfaction of 4.73 out of 5 which actually is ranked higher than the happiest place on earth which we all know  “Disney” but you and both know that the crowd that goes to Disney is by millions higher than those who actually attend that class so the rating could be swayed a bit in his favor.

There was quite a few people maybe as high as 40 who signed up initially for the workshop and during the break time Mr. Adler also said that if you didn’t want to pay or couldn’t pay the $1997 but would still like to come to the work shop you can head back and talk to the team for more details on there. (no clue what was offered to those people)

The one thing that really stuck a bad cord with me was when I was having a conversation with a gentle sitting next me and Lynn came by to ask what we were talking about. I replied, “Business. I’m a blogger and was just telling Cel what I do for a living.” Lynn’s reply was, “Blogger. Good for you.” Obviously not realizing my amazing potential for promotion.  Why his tone was snippy and condescending I can only add that that after that remark it would of taken a big incentive to hand over even a quarter for this program.

I actually sat around hoping that the second speaker would have some valuable information. His name was Wayne Gray. Not only was he cute as button but he actually was pretty down to earth and pretty excited about what he shared. Mr. Gray shared information on Tax lien Certificates. He shared where you can get them and how they work and how you use them to your advantage.

3 Key points to ask before making an invest:

• Prove to me it’s a safe investment
• Prove it can make me alot of money
• Prove Investment is not complicated or time consuming

Doesn’t that sound like the perfect situation that can be applied to most any money making situation?  While he talked about Tax Liens being an excellent investment of gaining more than a 15- 50% return on your investment I couldn’t help but think no matter what I’d still need to find cash to even do any of those profitable deals and it could actually turn out to be a long term investment that could mean I would have to wait up to two years to get a return on depending on location.  Now I don’t know about you but I don’t have $1500 – $5000 laying around to pay off a tax lien and borrowing money wouldn’t prove to be smart so that won’t work either.

On a rare occasion purchasing a tax lien could also prove to be profitable where by you could possibly end up being the home owner had the original home owner not pay the tax lien and penalty percent to get out of trouble and where the bank doesn’t pay it either after being notified of the tax lien in which you placed on the property.  I’m sure there’s a lot more technical jargon and details that goes with that but I only attended  live event and not the workshop so there quite possibly could be something else to this that I am missing.

Upon staying til the end of the event we were provided with 2 CD’s that has Dean Groziosi’s books on them (I have not played these yet so can not comment on their content).  We were also given a Insiders Financial Magazine with Dean Graziosi Real Estate Millionaire & Best selling author photo and articles inside. A coupon was also provided for the Free Digital Camera that you register on line for, as well as details on where you register for the Investment property Giveaway for attending the live event.

Do I think the Dean Graziosi’s Live Event is a Scam?

Well let’s just say it’s not what I expected. On the television infomercial to advertise the live event they were giving the impression that you would learn how to buy and sell property for no money down at the event. NOT that they were going to sell you a spot at the Workshop that taught the very valuable real estate event.  To me it was a bait and switch scam.  Had it been said, “Come to this free event so we could “sell” you access to the REAL WORKSHOP event where we’ll teach you and set you up with a mentor and show you exactly how to find, buy and sell property not using your money” then I certainly would of not attended the free event.  But why would they want to do that? Because then they would waste 3 – 4 hours of someone’s day who could possibly be pressured into purchasing their program.

The workshop could quite possibly be a very good investment for some, but it just wasn’t the right investment for me.  The event talked about having a positive attitude to change you way of thinking that you can’t possibly afford something that you just can’t afford.  They talked a lot about changing your way of thinking. If your a sensible person and can add 2 + 2 and know that it doesn’t equal 400 then make your best judgement.  My husband is laid off and I make income to barely pay my son college tuition loans and we live pay check to pay check with NO Investments. I can’t just go beg from Peter to pay Paul to get into a program that does not guarantee you success, but if your plan is to invest in property and you have resources to invest in the workshop then attend the Live Event. If you don’t want to part with your last earned valuable dollars in savings just stay home.

Many times people who take a chance can have great things happen. You just need to know when the door of opportunity is open for you, but don’t put your self in debt for the possibility of   “possibly” getting a refund on a program when they put a “DEAD LINE” date on your return. Reality of success doesn’t happen for most people over night. You have to put in a lot of hours with blood, sweat and tears to earn it!

Have you ever attended Dean Graziosi’s Live Event or Workshop? What are your thoughts and /or experience?

Disclosure: I was not asked to attend this event. I chose to go to the event to have a personal experience. Thoughts are 100% my own an honest opinion. Others may have a different opinion.