Can WE do this?

Question

I am overwhelmed by the amount of information that I will need to absorb!  I am scared of risk .. my husband is anxious to get his hands dirty!

If we have little to no money to invest, a bankruptcy in our past, and are renting a home currently (do not own a home).

Can we do this?  Can we get ourselves a better life by investing into the real estate business and having our own tenants?  I don't know where to start!

Thanks so much!

Amy Brocious · Answer

Aaron - you are correct!!  I just had this same conversation with my husband ... I am a worrier .... and feel like I need to know everything with all the risks beforehand .... he is more willing to make it work.  I think that together we are going to make a good team in tempering each other ... after I do my research and due diligence!  ;-)

Aaron Junck · Answer

The answer can be answer very simply.

What is your answer to this question...

Can you do it?

Whatever you have for an answer to that 1 question is your answer no matter what.

If you say "YES" then you will figure out a way to make it work, if you say "NO" you will be correct and not make it work.

Jeremy Tillotson · Answer

@Amy Brocious I am assuming your husband has construction experience? They dont have any properties listed but I would call and see if they have any properties for sale, and what happens to the properties that dont sell at tax sale. Finally see if you can get a list of all the homes with code violations and see if you can work a deal on one. These are low cost entry points. I bought a house for $1,000 this way.

http://cityofbutler.org/initiatives/houses-to-home...

Ned Carey · Answer

@Amy Brocious  I never but a deal I think is a good deal.  Yes you read that right. I only buy deals I KNOW are a good deal. I know it is a good deal because I know what the values are in the neighborhood. I know how much it will cost to repair. I know what the rents are I know how much another investor would pay for this.

OK I may be off on what I "know" but I am not guessing, hoping, or speculating. I am making well calculated moves based on my knowledge.

A good place to get a start on that knowledge is the Free Ultimate Beginners Guide.

Amy Brocious · Answer

Thank you Ned ... this is exactly what I am trying to do .... increase my confidence by increasing my knowledge!

Ned Carey · Answer

@Amy Brocious  Can you do this absolutely. Will it be easy, absolutely not. Do most people in your position succeed? I would say no. But anyone who does the things that successful investors do often enough and consistently enough will also succeed.

Real estate investing is very risky if you do not know what you are doing. It can be pretty low risk if you know what you are dong and move carefully. If you buy a $100K house for $70K and it has solid positive cash flow of $5000 a year, that is pretty low risk. (assuming REAL cash flow not pretend numbers)   If prices dropped 20% and rents dropped $100 a month, you'd still be doing pretty well.

You risk drops and your confidence improves as you gain knowledge. You can learn just about everything you need to know here of BP.  Good Luck - Ned

Mark Brogan · Answer

i agree with @Dell Schlabach the best way to get involved if u can do your own work and do not have money

good luck @Amy Brocious

Amy Brocious · Answer

Thank you Dell ... I think that is also an option for us ... I think I need to figure out risk vs reward and where we will best find our niche .. and also long term goals.  Right now we are open to our options!  :-)

Dell Schlabach · Answer

I am a fix and flip guy, I tend to think it is easier, lower risk and more profitable, in the short term than rentals, especially if you can do much of the work yourself and avoid a lot of the labor costs.

A highly motivated person, or family that is willing to spend their free time renovating a house instead of watching tv or other non productive activities, can do a couple rehabs a year part time,  in our area and pretty easily profit 15-25k per property. Thats much better than a couple rentals if you are trying to get ahead financially.

Amy Brocious · Answer

Thank you AJ ... will definitely look into that!!

Can WE do this?

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