Realty411 Magazine Featuring Missy McCall-Hammonds | Page 50

Don’t Flip This House! Why this home flipper pivoted to buying notes, and created an online note buying community… Fuquan Bilal, Founder of National Note Group, kicked flipping houses to the curb. Here’s why he did it, and how more investors can enjoy a rewarding transition to investing in highly profitable mortgage notes… In Pursuit of True Freedom Leader of the NNG Note Academy, Bilal recognizes flipping houses, and spending hours drooling over eye candy at interior design stores can be enticing, and finan- cially rewarding. After all, he has been a successful flipper himself. However, for Fuquan, these days are now focused on acquiring pools of mortgage notes, and helping home- owners. I dial 973.855.4922 (the head office of NNG)…the phone rings. And just when you are mentally preparing yourself for facing the grueling process of navigating yet another automat- ed phone system…a REAL person answers! To the background beat of live deal making in process, in the active New Jersey headquarters of National Note Group, Bilal’s calm voice, conveys the confidence of a highly experienced, and unflustered money manager that would be just as at home in the center of the Wall St. bull Realty411Guide.com by Tim Houghten pen, as on the couch, watching TV with the kids. In the exclusive interview that follows, Fuquan breaks down how easy it has been made for investors to buy notes, how they can stay safe doing it, and why more should. After joining the ranks of house flippers vying for big paydays buying and fixing up houses in the early 2000s, Fuquan says he woke up one day and realized that he had become a “slave to money,” a position which was “robbing him of a real life, and true freedom.” As all house flipping investors know, it is an easy trap to fall into. Flipping houses can be incredible profitable. Yet, the promise, and potential for a four hour work week, often instantly dissolves in the face of ambition, and the thrill of the chase of the next deal. Before long it can become more than a full time job, and a highly stressful one. So Bilal, assembled a top team with almost three decades of experience in the mortgage note, and debt investing industry. National Note Group was launched, and eventually, the Note Academy, which equips and teaches others to invest in notes safely and successfully. Now the industry thought leader spends his time turn- ing others onto the incredible perks of note investing, and PAGE 50 • 2014 reWEALTHmag.com