This $10,000 Assignment came completely out of nowhere!

I rarely mention my wins, but I've been using XLeads for 5 months now and within my 1st 60 days I closed two wholesale deals by switching to XLeads software! -Last month I closed a wholesale deal and picked up a $10,000 assignment fee. But honestly… the check wasn’t the biggest win.

This deal reminded me of something I still can’t fully explain — that when you genuinely focus on helping the seller get what they need, and you’re willing to problem-solve, jump through hoops, and think outside the box, the deal has a way of working itself out.

This one started completely randomly.

I got a call through my CRM from a number I didn’t recognize. No name, no record — which almost never happens. I missed the call, called back, and found out how unusual this really was. Somehow, this seller found my business number — a number I don’t even put out there much.

Turns out, he searched “AZ subject-to buyers in the East Valley” on ChatGPT, and my name came up.

Here’s the twist: The seller is a professional NFL player. He played for the Cardinals and was recently signed by the Giants. He never lived in the property — it was a rental. He originally bought it subject-to and now needed out fast.

He had a tech investment opportunity and needed $100,000 quickly, and this property was his least-performing asset. He asked if I’d buy it subject-to, so I brought in one of my subject-to buyers for a three-way call.

That’s when reality set in.

He needed his equity now, not over time. The numbers didn’t work for a subject-to structure. So, I stopped the call and told him honestly:

“It sounds like what you really need is a wholesale exit.”

After the call, he and I talked one-on-one. He was clear: If he could net $100,000, he’d sign the contract.

I didn’t know for sure if I could make it happen — but I locked it up and went to work.

Here were the numbers:

Purchase price: $350,000
Mortgage owed: $250,000
Needed repairs: $15k–$20k
Value: $450,000+
Goal: Seller nets $100,000

I debated keeping it as my first flip. I asked trusted investors for advice. The consensus was clear: the market was slow for retail flips in that area — best move was a buy-and-hold investor.

So, I posted in East Valley Phx Fb investor groups, explaining the opportunity: $100K equity, cash-flowing rental, tenant wants to stay.

Within a day, an investor reached out. We walked the property that Sunday. On the spot, he and his wife said, “We want it.”

They agreed to $360,000, leaving me a $10,000 wholesale fee.

But here’s where the real work started.

I had to deal with the seller’s Sports Agent — an attorney — who was every bit the “Jerry Maguire nemesis-Bob Sugar” type. Cutthroat. No fluff. He challenged my integrity, threatened legal action if I asked for a price reduction, extension or canceled oh and he needed a $5,000 nonrefundable EMD with a 0-day inspection period, then he openly said wholesalers were “the scum of the earth.”

This all happened in a three-way text… while his client was literally playing in an NFL game.

Instead of backing down, I stood my ground — professionally.

I told him:

“Let’s be respectful. This is my business. I’m not doing anything shady. If you feel the need to threaten me, we can end this deal right now.” (Note: "My wife in the background was saying, are you crazy this is a $10k assignment fee!")

When the seller finished his game and caught up on the messages, he called me and apologized for his agent. He said something I’ll never forget:

“It was refreshing to see you stand up for yourself and your business like a professional and not come back and be disrespectful, even though my agent was just trying to protect his client. That rarely happens when dealing with my agent”

That moment gave me more confidence than the check.

Don’t get me wrong — I’m incredibly grateful. $10,000 matters. It helps my family. It validates the work. But the confidence, the professionalism, and the ability to handle pressure — that’s what builds longevity.

This business isn’t about shortcuts. It’s about:

Integrity
Problem-solving
Communication
And learning to carry yourself like a professional, even when challenged

To anyone just starting… and to those who’ve been in this game for years still sharpening your RE Skills: The battles are part of the process. The wins come after.

One principle keeps proving itself true for me:

If you focus on giving the seller what they want, you’ll eventually get what you want.

I’m grateful. I’m humbled. And I’m excited to keep building — for my family and our future — through real estate.

Wishing everyone a strong year ahead, and a special thank you to

for creating a system and community who continue to push standards, confidence, and integrity higher!

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This $10,000 Assignment came completely out of nowhere!