Avoid These Hidden Title Risks When Buying Investment Property

Quentin (00:03.158)
Hey everyone, and welcome to the Investor Fuel podcast. I am your host, Quentin Edmonds, and you know, better known as Q, you know how I do it. And today I am joined by someone, listen, I know y’all are really, really going to love. I’ve been looking forward to chatting with them on this podcast. I’ve chatted with them just a little bit. Y’all don’t need to know that, but I have. And so I want to introduce to you Ms. Schultz.

who’s been making some serious moves in the industry that I’m gonna let her talk about, but she’s done so many different things and she’s gonna fill us in on so many different things that she does, her unique spaces, her niche spaces. And I’m just so glad to have Ms. Leisha Schultz. Like, I’m glad to have you here, my dear. How are you feeling today? It’s an amazing day. Thank

Lisa A Schultz (00:56.859)
It’s an amazing day. Thanks, Quinton.

Quentin (00:59.186)
Absolutely. That’s amazing. I think and I know that our listeners are really going to take something away from you today. I know they’re going to take away a lot of your wisdom. The way you approach investors and how to prepare people and how to help them to prevent pitfalls. Like I know your unique lens is going to shine through for today. And I just want to dive in.

I wanna get you talking. I want people to get this wisdom that you have to offer. So if people who may not be familiar with you and your world, I want you to give us a short version of what’s your focus these days. And also let them know Ms. what market you’re operating out of as well. You got it. Well, good day everybody.

Lisa A Schultz (01:49.549)
You got it. Well, good day, everybody. I am a title and escrow salesperson. I’m out of the Puget Sound. I do the state of Washington. However, I help my investors go to other states and connect and get to know those states as well. And I’ve been working with investors, residential consumers, some commercial for over 25 years.

Quentin (01:58.792)
it sounds I do the same.

Quentin (02:08.501)
get to know those states.

Quentin (02:13.66)
investors, residential consumers, some commercial for over 25 years, helping them understand the title and escrow process, plus all the resources a title and escrow company can provide that so many people don’t realize we have. Absolutely. Absolutely. I love it. I love it. And what caught my attention is we talk about the escrow trying to provide opportunities that people may not be aware of and may not look at, right?

Lisa A Schultz (02:19.671)
helping them understand the title and escrow process, plus all the resources a title and escrow company can provide that so many people don’t realize we have.

Quentin (02:42.665)
And so I absolutely love that. Thank you for sharing. Now I know like in this climate, that’s not easy, right? So what’s been the key to keeping that machine running smoothly?

Lisa A Schultz (02:54.463)
Great question. First of all, you’ve got to have a good title and escrow team with a big research side. So I have several different divisions. I’ve got commercial builder and property information. You’ve got to be able to dig a little bit deeper, have experts who understand how to read legal descriptions, map out things that may be unclear, and also have deep research, meaning

Quentin (02:54.785)
Great question. First of all, you’ve got to have a good title and ask for a team with a big research side. So I have several different divisions. I’ve got commercial builder and property information. You’ve got to be able to dig a little bit deeper, have experts who understand how to read legal descriptions, map out things that may be unclear, and also have deep research, meaning they can go back.

Lisa A Schultz (03:23.368)
They can go back into public records. It’s just not a simple piece when you’re dealing with investment properties. got it. might have to go four, five, six sales prior to in today’s process because you could be missing easements, right aways, permissions. So when you’re spending a lot of money, you want it. You want a team that can do that deep research for you.

Quentin (03:24.577)
into public records. It’s just not a simple piece when you’re dealing with investment properties. got it. You might have to go four, five, six sales prior to in today’s process because you could be missing easements, right aways, permissions. So when you’re spending a lot of money, you want a team that can do that deep research for you.

No, absolutely, absolutely. And it sounds like you built a pretty good team around you that are able to tackle those issues. And so, yeah, so that’s a beautiful thing. Now, every operator I know, right, they have a moment where things kind of get real, right? Maybe Adele went sideways. And you said this earlier, maybe a…

and they don’t know you said it, but a time when you had to pivot fast. And so, yeah, do you mind sharing one or two of those moments that you had, you know, within your career? Sure. We’ve had situations where…

Lisa A Schultz (04:35.083)
Sure. We’ve had situations where I’ve had an investor buy a property at a foreclosure option, thought it was absolutely fantastic. And as soon as he got his occupancy permit, he found out that there was an alley easement that literally came four feet from his back door. So it took out the garage, took out the bulk of his new wall he put in.

Quentin (04:45.634)
Fantastic and as soon as he got his occupancy permit he found out that there were

that literally came four feet from his back door. So it took out the garage, took out the bulk of his new wall he put in, and it dropped the value of his home significantly by 30%. So how do you recapture that, right? And what do you learn from that?

Lisa A Schultz (05:03.367)
and it dropped the value of his home significantly by 30%. So how do you recapture that, right? And what do you learn from that? I’ve had others where we’ve done research on liens and persons purchased it and then they turn around and someone’s knocking on their door saying they were an error and they weren’t properly notified of the sale.

Quentin (05:16.738)
where we’ve done research on liens and persons purchased it and then they turn around and someone’s knocking on their door saying they were an error and they weren’t properly notified of the sale and they want the property back so now you’re in court hmm hmm

Lisa A Schultz (05:32.309)
and they want the property back. So now you’re in court.

Quentin (05:41.346)
Wow. I don’t know if I’ve heard that, well, I guess on TV, but where really somebody is an heir to the property and they come in and say, yeah, you can’t do what you thought you could do. Like that, that’s a real, wow. Oh man. Wow. Yeah, they just want their share. Yeah. Right. They just want their share. So.

Lisa A Schultz (06:02.889)
Yeah, they just want their share.

Quentin (06:07.746)
Help me out with Ali Eisman. Can you give me in layman’s terms, what is that Ali Eisman? Am I pronouncing that correctly? Yep, you are. Who’s that? So when cities line out their areas, they may create a back alley. Sometimes those alleys are never used. It’s really common in the 1930s to 1950s neighborhoods where these houses

Lisa A Schultz (06:14.686)
Yep, you are. So when cities line out their areas, they may create a back alley. Sometimes those alleys are never used. It’s really common in the 1930s to 1950s neighborhoods where these houses have all this extra backyard and they just think it’s theirs.

Quentin (06:38.876)
extra backyard and they just think it’s theirs. But then you go deeper in and you start reading easements or look at old maps from the 30s and 40s and you’ll see a 12-foot part of your yard and you have to go to the city and at any time that city may have the option to blow through and build that alley. My own personal property had that. I had an

Lisa A Schultz (06:42.964)
But then you go deeper in and you start reading easements or look at old maps from the 30s and 40s and you’ll see a 12 foot part of your yard. And you have to go to the city and at any time that city may have the option to blow through and build that alley.

My own personal property had that I Had an alley adjacent. I looked at it It looked fine Didn’t realize it was a full street They decided to Cute that full street and took 10 feet in my side yard

Quentin (07:08.642)
It alley adjacent. I looked at it. It looked fine. Didn’t realize it was a full street. A full street. They decided to execute that full street and took 10 feet of my side yard. You just said 10 feet of your side yard. Yep. Just like was a 100 foot lot deep.

Lisa A Schultz (07:32.893)
Yeah, it was a hundred foot lot deep and they said, thank you very much. We’re, we’re going to exercise our right on this alley. So now you’ve got about three and a half feet from your garage to the side yard.

Quentin (07:37.89)
And they said, thank you very much. We’re gonna exercise our right on this alley. So now you’ve got about three and a half feet from your garage to the side yard. And see people, this is why Ms. Lisa and her team talk about doing this research, keeping up on what’s changing, keeping up on what codes is changing. And this is why again,

I thank you for your wisdom. Your wisdom is shining through. And this is honestly the stuff that people are not talking about enough these days, honestly. And so this is kind of, for me, what separates people, right? People that dabble and people who kind of are in it long-term is having the wisdom and foresight that you have. And so I really, appreciate you, Ms. Now, if you don’t mind, let me ask you this. What are you focusing on?

solving right now, like, or what’s scaling next? Like, what’s the next real goal for you right

Lisa A Schultz (08:45.235)
There’s two goals right now. One of them is lead generation for investors. How do they find the properties that are gonna fit their portfolio? What is their portfolio? A lot of people don’t dig into really what’s my niche. So we really need to refine what we’re gonna do, do well, be profitable in, and then lead generate to that niche.

Quentin (08:45.548)
There’s two goals right now. One of them is lead generation for investors. How do they find the properties that are gonna fit their portfolio? What is their portfolio? A lot of people don’t dig into really what’s my niche. So we really need to refine what we’re gonna do, do well, be profitable in, and then lead generate to that niche.

Lisa A Schultz (09:13.672)
I see so many investors look at shiny toys and I’m going to do this way, multi-family flip, land hold, but it’s not their niche. So really refining that. So lead generating for profitability. The second piece is like Quentin, like you and I discussed, really digging in and you might have to work with the city.

Quentin (09:14.562)
see so many investors look at shiny toys and I’m gonna do this way, multi-family, flip, land hold, but it’s not their niche. So really refining that. So lead generating for profitability. The second piece is like Quentin, like you and I discussed, really digging in and you might have to work with the city or the county

Lisa A Schultz (09:42.724)
or the county based on all these quick zoning changes, law modifications that are coming in because people are worried about inventory shortage and homelessness.

Quentin (09:44.896)
based on all these quick zoning changes, law modifications that are coming in because people are worried about inventory shortage and homelessness.

Quentin (10:01.352)
Hmm, nope. Miss Lisa, that’s big. That’s big. And I hear you, you know, especially, you know, you got the team in place, you have so many different resources in place, but then also you got to stay on top of what’s changing and making sure you educate the people to understand exactly what they’re getting into and try to minimize that pivot ratio, how much you have to, you know, change at the last minute. Like, no, that’s…

That’s, that’s good. And I’m sure, you know, like the next move that you make and you’re making a lot of moves, you’re, you’re staying on top of things, but the next move, can either, let’s say like compound things, or it can kind of create chaos depending on how you play it. Right. And so I know a lot of people that are listening and they’re either like early on their journey or they’re looking to level up. And I think it benefits them.

Lisa A Schultz (10:50.075)
Yeah.

Quentin (11:01.228)
hearing like this point right here. So when it comes to building relationships and growing your network, what’s made the biggest difference for you in that regard? Patience. Woo!

Lisa A Schultz (11:15.931)
Patience.

Lisa A Schultz (11:20.679)
You know, you jump into something and you’re saying, I’ve got 24 months of financing to get this moving around. I could have made a lot more money in my world as an investor if I would have budgeted for another 24 months.

Quentin (11:21.09)
You know, you,

jump into something and you’re saying, I’ve got 24 months of financing to get this moving.

Quentin (11:42.409)
it in for another 24 months.

Lisa A Schultz (11:46.468)
Right? I made good money. I lost some money. If I just would have gold planned a little bit farther out, I would have netted more.

Quentin (11:46.711)
Right? I made good money.

money if I just would have

Quentin (11:58.402)
would have netted more. Yeah, can’t fake that. Patience is something you definitely cannot fake. Goal plan and finance to patience. Goal plan and finance to patience.

Lisa A Schultz (12:14.833)
Goal plan and finance to patients.

Quentin (12:27.042)
No, absolutely, absolutely. How do you feel about building relationships in this space? Have you found building relationships and partnerships with other people advantageous, like as a strong point or a helpful point, you know, within, you know, your journey? 700,000%. You said, let me write that down. You said 700,000, right? 700,000%. I got you. Yes. My business.

Lisa A Schultz (12:44.199)
700,000%.

Lisa A Schultz (12:51.527)
My business is all built on network and relationships. And having podcasts like yours, who connects other investors out of state, in state, is paramount. Every single one of my investment properties came to me through a relationship.

Quentin (13:12.354)
came to me through a relationship. My lead gen’s great. I have given those things that I’ve generated to other people because it fit their niche. So you have to have a network. You have to join in those communities. Take every opportunity to meet other people because you’re just expanding. It’s kind of like 10x.

Lisa A Schultz (13:15.855)
My lead gen’s great. I have given those things that I’ve generated to other people because it fit their niche. So you have to have a network. You have to join in those communities. Take every opportunity to meet other people because you’re just expanding. It’s kind of like 10X. You send a thousand postcards. Someone else sends a thousand postcards.

Quentin (13:41.268)
You send a thousand postcards, someone else sends a thousand postcards. You know those people. You’ve got 2000 postcards out there working for both of you. Crazy not to, absolutely crazy. Plus the networking within your vendors are so key.

Lisa A Schultz (13:45.775)
You know those people. You’ve got 2,000 postcards out there working for both of you. Crazy not to, absolutely crazy. Plus the networking within your vendors are so key. I am referred monthly, other investors, hey, I heard that you did this for this person. And it’s all about serving each other, it’s humanity.

Quentin (14:01.844)
monthly other investors. Hey, I heard that you did this for this person and it’s all about serving each other. It’s humanity. Yes, ma’am. Y’all see why I love it. Yes, ma’am. That wisdom serving each other. mean, when you put yourself in a role to serve people and to serve a need with integrity and authenticity.

It creates an ecosystem that we all can feed off with serving each other. Right? It’s just not, it’s just not.

Lisa A Schultz (14:35.782)
And learn from each other.

Quentin (14:40.802)
Absolutely. Miss East, I’ll be honest with you. There’s no more, like all of my written questions out hit, but I do want to know, is there just anything that you’ve been musing over? Is there any kind of last word or wisdom that you wanted to give the listeners? I mean, anything that comes to heart, especially with some of the topics that we talked about and people that’s out here grinding, out here needing.

real tools and resources. Like is there anything, part and wisdom that you want to give the people before we wrap up? Thank you for that. And I don’t want to sound like a commercial.

Lisa A Schultz (15:16.998)
Thank you for that. And I don’t want to sound like a commercial, but go to your title company or escrow company or attorney in your local area and ask them what resources they have. I have a financial calculator that will do closing costs, net to sell, seller’s closing costs, amortizations, what’s it going to cost to get in this place? What’s the appreciation? I’ve got

Quentin (15:22.848)
to your tongue.

Quentin (15:40.446)
What’s it gonna cost to get in this place? What’s the appreciation? I’ve got

Lisa A Schultz (15:46.662)
phone numbers emails farming tools all Electronic or you’ve got a really great team So go have a cup of coffee Hear what they’ve got ask three key questions How do you help me build my business? how do you keep me from danger when I buy a property and What do you do for me to get out of a property? and if they don’t

Quentin (15:48.405)
emails.

Quentin (15:54.114)
great team. So go have a cup of coffee. Here what they’ve got. Ask three key questions. How do you help me build my business? How do you keep me from danger when I buy a property? And what do you do for me to get out of a property? And if they don’t have that investor piece, move to the next one. I can proudly say in my 25 years,

Lisa A Schultz (16:15.705)
have that investor piece, move to the next one. I can proudly say in my 25 years, I have made my investors hundreds of thousands of dollars by being a partner with them. And they have reciprocated by teaching me how to look at properties better and fine tuning and giving me free advice when I was in that kind of space with my investments.

Quentin (16:24.962)
have made my investors hundreds of thousands of dollars by being a partner with them. And they have reciprocated by teaching me how to look at properties better and fine tuning and giving me free advice when I was in that kind of space with my investments. Absolutely. Ms. Lee, I haven’t said your last name. I’m going call you Ms. Shortz. I feel like I need to some respect. I that.

Lisa A Schultz (16:51.544)
love that.

Quentin (16:52.436)
Okay, then put some respect on your name, Ms. Schultz. I’ve been calling Ms. Lisa all through this whole podcast for Ms. Schultz. Putting some respect on your name, Ms. Lisa Schultz. thank you so- back at you, sir. Yes, ma’am. I thank you so much for your wisdom. I thank you so much for imparting just knowledge and takeaways that I’m sure our listeners are going to benefit from. So I just want to say thank you so much. I really believe that they’re going to, so.

Lisa A Schultz (17:04.076)
And back at you, sir.

Lisa A Schultz (17:16.675)
I hope so.

Quentin (17:21.73)
Before we wrap up, if someone wanted to reach out to you or connect with you, let’s say maybe even collaborate with you or just learn more about what you’re doing. What’s the best way for them to reach out to you?

Lisa A Schultz (17:35.919)
You know, I’ve got all sorts of socials. So I’m Lisa, L-I-S-A, Schultz, S-C-H-U-L-T-Z, Chicago title on Facebook, laughs on Instagram, L-A-F-S-W-A, or you can go simple in email, Lschultz, L-S-C-H-U-L-T-Z.

Quentin (18:03.562)
c-t-t

Lisa A Schultz (18:06.09)
at ctt.com. You’re welcome to text me as well. 253-241-6317. And I can help connect you with other great title people throughout the country. I’m in an elite top performing coaching and mastermind group around the country.

Quentin (18:12.94)
You’re welcome to text me as well. 253-241-6317. And I can help connect you with other great title people throughout the country. I’m in an elite top performing coaching and mastermind group around the country. Perfect. Well, listen, I appreciate your time, Ms. Schultz. I appreciate your story, Ms. Schultz.

I appreciate your perspective, Ms. Schultz. We need more people in this space who are doing it the right way. So thank you so much for being here. Appreciate you so much. Thank you, Kyrgyz. And for those of you tuning in, if you get value from this, make sure you subscribe. We’ve got more conversations with people and operators just like Ms. Lisa Schultz, who are out here.

Lisa A Schultz (18:54.157)
Thank you for everything. Thanks, Clinton.

Quentin (19:10.56)
and they’re building real business and doing things the right way. So we’ll see you on the next episode. Thank you so much.