Fortune Builders Jonathan Steingraber Charged $200.00 For a INFOMERCIAL SEMINAR. No real evidence of proof other than pictures with Blurbs. San Diego, California

I attended the 3 day seminar. I found the seminar worth the 197.00 that I paid. I am new to real estate so I did receive information that I thought was valuable. I also thought that the days were extremely long and there was a lot of "fluff" added to keep people there for long hours. It was definitely a sales pitch for the mastery program.  I guess I was one of the gullible ones because I actually thought it was going to be a training seminar. There was some information sprinkled in with the Mastery Marketing. I was enjoying it, was excited, and went out on a limb and purchased the program. The MAIN reason I purchased the program was the software applications that were offered.

One being the back office (I have not seen hide nor hair of it yet) and the other being an application that would actually put in SKU numbers of items you need to rehab a house. All set up and ready to go based on normal recommendations of items to use. Have not been able to find that one either. Have asked about it a couple of times. They do offer training seminars and coaching that are all informational. What I really wanted was the software that was offered as I know that can be an expensive investment. I dont have it!

Lots of pre-made forms and templates that you can find on the internet. Other things that I was told before I signed up for mastery have proven to be untrue by their own course instructors. They will tell you that you do not need to be a licensed Real Estate Agent in the seminar and then later they really push the MLS and the only way to get access to it is to know a RA that will do the work for you or to get your license. Also a lot of the applications they promote that you should use to build your business will cost you a monthly fee. Mastery students get a month or so paid for. 

I am sure that some will say that I am just not motivated enough but I really feel that I did not get what I signed up for. I did not get access to the Mastery Site until I signed an online agreement that I am sure protects them completely from any misgivings I now have. I signed wholeheartedly still thinking that I was going to get some automated applications to help run my business. I have not found them yet. If I am wrong about this I will happily retract my posting. At this point I just want my investment back as I feel that I was not delivered what was promised and what I expected.    

A couple of weeks ago, I responded to a radio commercial toattend a free 90 minute seminar. As I expected, the free seminar was just tointroduce you to the potential of making money in real estate investing and to get you to pay $197 to attend another three day seminar. I have invested inenough other programs (mostly worthless) to know that $197 is a very low price to pay for a three day seminar.  Most ofthese companies, once you pay the initial feesusually in the neighborhood of about $400-$800to attend a one day training, teach you just enough that you know that you need to know more. Then they try to upsell you on personal coaching, which usually costs between $5,000 to $10,000.

So, before I paid the low cost of $197 for a three day training, I tried to find out what the upsell costs would be. I asked the speaker afterwards how much more I would need to invest in addition to the $197 to get personal coaching or whatever the rest of the program consisted of.  He finally said that if I was one of the few chosen to be a Mastery Student there would be no cost. I had a hard time believing this, but decided to pay for the seminar anyway. Having watched the  program, Flip This House many times (which is a weekly TV show about how the owners of Fortune Builders make money flipping houses), I knew that, unlike the other companies that sell money making systems this company really does make their money from actually doing what the teach. They were probably the most successful real estate flippers inthe country long before they started teaching their system.

As I expected, the first speaker had lied to me. It does cost money to be a Mastery Studenta lot of money. I had taken what he said with a grain of salt anyway so I was not surprised. I knew that I had put him on the spot and he said what he did to get out of discussing a topic that was not supposed to come up at the initial seminar (which, however, doesnt really excuse him for flat out lying).

What did surprise me (in addition to just how exorbitant it is to be a Mastery Student), is just how much I learned at the three day seminar. It was worth every penny of the $197 plus the two nights motel costs I paid. At the end of the first day, they offered to refund the entire $197 to anyone who felt it was not worth attending the next two days. There were about 200 people in the room and, judging by how many came the next two days, there were not many people, if anyone, who took them up on their refund offer.

The second day, they spent one hour after lunch discussing the different levels of the Mastery Program, what you get in each level, and how much they cost. The three levels, if purchased at the seminar, cost $14,995, $19,995, and $25,995. Purchasing later it would be $10,000 more at each level. In reality, however, if you dont purchase, they call you later and offer you lower prices. I do not know what is included at the lower costs because I did not have the money to proceed any further. At the levels discussed in the seminar, the cost was pretty much for purchasing a complete turnkey business with all the software and processes you need provided for you (similar to buying a franchise business),  in addition to further training events and one on one coaching.

Aside from that one hour about the Mastery Program, the rest of the seminar was cram packed with useful information on topics such as, how to find houses, how to market, both for selling and buying houses (lots of good tips there), what to look for in a house, how to estimate costs and profits, how to find financing and resources, and how to structure your business. It was pretty much a mini MBA in real estate investing. On a scale of 1-10, I would rate this seminar a 10.

In addition, at various times during the three days, they asked for a show of hands of people attending who were private investors who might finance other peoples purchases, contractors who could be hired in rehabbing houses, and others who might be able to provide resources. Then, they made sure we had time to network with them. As a result, my business partner and myself were able to hook up with someone who has the money available to finance us on a profit sharing basis. Will that money be expensive? I am sure it will. However, if we are able to also make a few thousand ourselves and get a start in this business, it will be worth it.

I would love to be able to buy the complete business with all the software used for estimating costs, building websites, etc., etc., that comes with the Mastery program. Putting all of that together myself will be very time consuming and it would be nice to not have to reinvent the wheel. The couple sitting next to me bought in at the $25,000 level. I plan to contact her soon and see how they are doing. If I find out, I plan to come back and post again. I dont have that kind of money myself, but I still consider the $197 I paid (which covered attendance for two people) to be money well spent. Hopefully, we will have our first deal put together soon.

I paid the 200 dollars, 197 to be exact.  Was told I would learn how to write contracts, how to find house's, buyers, and how to rehab.  The first day of the class's I was excited and learned some information.  Although, they go so fast it's hard to take notes or to keep up.  I even signed up to be interviewed for the mastery class.  The 2nd day of training, my husband and I arrived on time and the first speaker was educational.  That lasted an hour.  

The rest of the day was spent selling the mastery program.  Telling us why we should want to do this and what it involved.  I was getting upset after the first 2 hours of talking about the mastery class.  So, I went to one of the speakers and asked when we would be learning about real estate, as we were promised when we paid for the class.  He said that they were just covering the mastery class to get all questions out of the way.  

After 4 hours of still talking about the mastery class and finding out it costs anywhere from 15-40K, I decided to ask for a refund.  Which, I got but was incredibly disappointed that I wasted two days of my life, gas, and energy on something that wasn't what I was told it was going to be.  I think that if their program is so great, why charge so much for it.  Why not say, pay us between 1,000-5,000 to get started and because we know our program is so great and you'll be successful at it.  

Then, after doing a few deals we want the rest of the money?  And, why do an interview and fill an application where they ask for your financial information for the mastery class?  When I asked why they did an interview.  I was told it was because they used to take anyone but was tired of being paid 30,000 and the person wouldn't do the work to be successful.  I said, "what would that matter?  

If someone is dumb enough to pay 30K and not do the work to be a millionaire that's their fault.  At least you got paid,"  The guy instantly told me that the program was not for me.  I wanted to say, "But, didn't the speaker just tell us he made 20K in a day and who else would like that?"  So, for them to say making 30K in 5 hours was frustrating because some people don't want to follow up with it, is a joke.  All I can guess is, they do the interview so they know who can and can't afford it.  

I don't know if it's a scam but think that if  their information and education is so great, why does it cost so much?  I actually went to another seminar where their 3 day training would be 1300 but it included a coach and they would finance your first deal because they were so sure you would be successful.  Wish I would of done that instead of waiting for this class.  But, all I can say is if it's too good to be true, it usually is!

I want to thank Than Merril for getting me the slides AND refunding my $200.00.

I had a great conversation with him and he is a sincere person.  I would venture to say that Thans program, although not for the seasoned veteran, may very well benefit rookies looking to get into the investment business. 

I do hope that someday he will offer some of the automated programs to seasoned veterans looking to tweak their business without the large outlay it costs for the less experienced, I would be interested in taking a look at that program.

Best wishes Than.  

Hi,
Disclaimer: I am not in any way connected to Fortune Builders, or Ct Homes or any of their employee or students. In fact, I am not even in real estate business. I am actually, an executive in biotechnology industry and my only connection to this was my spouse wanting to start her own real estate business and my support to her when attending Fortune Builders seminars.

I may sympathize with above rip-off report but i don't think it paints balanced picture on FB seminar.
My spouse and I just completed 3 days seminar March 16-18 in Sacramento, CA; my spouse was interviewed  and selected to enter mastery program but we did elect not to pursue at this time. Probably,  due to not enough information, time or just it was all new to us and we just wanted to let it sleep before we make an informed decision. Perhaps, my spouse would decide to pursue Mastery program later on.
Here are some of my comments:
1. 200$ spent was worth every cents - in fact more than, what we have learned during these 3 days could potentially be a money savers for us, for example: just a few tips given at seminar on retirement could be quite beneficial etc. There were many, many other quite useful tips it is my opinion.
2. Although tiring (seating 8 hours, 3 days in a row), coffee free (talk about cost management) and small not comfortable chairs, meeting were highly professional, motivational, positive and have also thought about life in General with quite a content and references. Great presentation from Ryan Burk and JD! Good job - Consequently, I might be using some ideas for my Team building, as well.
3. Tuition fees for mastery students although high at first (15-40K) were not transparent prior to the Seminar. I would highly suggest to Than and his Team to consider being more transparent about prices and curriculum just like any University program would be with of course their own touch. They should not be afraid to this, at all. In fact, if my spouse (we) had more time to evaluate the program prior to the seminar, she might have made her decision during if not prior to the seminar, to consider pursuing mastery program. More importantly, it is my opinion that by being transparent that FB would be able to attract higher quality of students, which should be the goal of any quality educational program, anyways.
All the best to FB, mastery students and all of the rest of seminar participants.
1,2,3 Crash it!