The circus almost never comes to town anymore, but mark your calendars for February. I received an invitation in the mail to attend Tarek and Christina El Moussa’s FREE “Flipping Dallas” real estate class.
I say “free” because they make sure to tell us how much we’re saving:
$147 for each ticket and another $510.97 for their whiz-bang “Quick Start Kit” that includes a FREE MP3 player ($49 iPod shuffle pictured but fine print says “promotional materials may vary in color, model and appearance” so who knows what MP3 player it’ll be), FREE CD containing “50 ways to Find Your Next Flip” and if you’re one of the first 100 attendees, you’re entered to win an iPad (five given out each quarter from the many, many classes full of rubes). A photograph of the booty also shows a book.
If you’re smart enough to spot the irony of giving someone an MP3 player and a CD, you likely don’t need this class. A smart promoter would have preloaded the CD onto the player or put the whole mess onto a memory stick … but I digress.
It’s also ironic that a get-rich-quick seminar is being held at such swanky hotels as the Hilton Garden Inn in Las Colinas, the Holiday Inn Express in North Dallas and the (Ooo-la-la) Days Inn Sherman! Also, suspiciously looking at the schedule, there are two classes scheduled at the exact time in different cities. This leaves me wondering if this is the Tarek OR Christina Show or in fact, neither one.
| February 2 | Days Inn Sherman | 6PM |
| February 2 | Holiday Inn McKinney-Fairview | 6PM |
| February 3 | Hyatt Regency Richardson | Noon & 6PM |
| February 3 | Embassy Suites Frisco | Noon & 6PM |
| February 4 | Grapevine Convention Center | Noon & 6PM |
| February 4 | Hilton Garden Inn, Allen | Noon & 6PM |
| February 5 | Castle Heights Bijoux Events Center, Waco | Noon |
| February 5 | Hilton Garden Inn, Las Colinas | Noon |
| February 6 | Holiday Inn Express North Dallas | 9AM |
| February 6 | Magnolia Hotel, Dallas | 9AM |
I vote for neither Tarek nor Christina being on-site because reading the brochure I see, “We have teamed up with local sponsors and personal contacts who will provide you with a truly once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
Equally cheesy is the attempt to create scarcity by saying, “This exclusive program is limited to the first 100 registrants,” and that, “If you are not one of the first 100 registrants, your name will be put on a waiting list.” Really? How much you want to bet most of these hotels don’t have a parking lot or a meeting room capable of accommodating 100?
So if everything is free, how do Tarek and Christina make money? I think the back page of the brochure gives a clue. First, the fine print says that this scheme isn’t affiliated with HGTV, “Flip or Flop,” et. al. However, SuccessPath is Tarek and Christina’s company and with prominent Citibank and Chase logos it’s easy to guess who’s underwriting this boondoggle. I’m sure these benevolent financial institutions will be on hand to help rubes attendees fill out all the paperwork to finance their dreams of retiring rich … but only if they have the courage! Ha!
Remember: Do you have an HOA story to tell? A little high-rise history? Realtors, want to feature a listing in need of renovation or one that’s complete with flying colors? How about hosting a Candy’s Dirt Staff Meeting? Shoot Jon an email. Marriage proposals accepted (they’re legal)! [email protected]
