Intro | New Investor | DFW

[Max P.]

Hello BP, total n00b here. Looking to learn and invest in the DFW area initially, maybe remotely later on.

I've read BP for a while, so I'm now thinking of practical questions. Questions like the following.

1 - Where to find an investor friendly agent.

2 - How to really appraise a property myself without relying on the listed appraisals (listed on zillow, loopnet, or other listings). How to get a fair assessment of the property (appraisal?). How to estimate rent (rentometer and RE agent?). Does the 50% rule apply in DFW markets (Save half for repairs/expenses, pay the bank from the other half, remaining cash is actual profit)?

3 - Will the RE agent be able to find off market listing.

4 - What if there's a listing on zillow or elsewhere that is in pre-foreclosure. Can one just ask their agent to scope it out in terms of how much is owed, before the investor tries to approach the homeowner. Or is it just better to knock and face the disgruntled homeowner.

5 - Does an investor just line up credit first and then go into the wild.

6 - If the credit lined up via a bank/credit-union is for more than the price of the home, does it still require your own 20% down.

7 - Duplexes/Triplexes/Quadplexes don't seem to be listed very often on many sites. Or maybe the search needs to be improved.

8 - Is zillow zestimate worth anything? They listed every property for 40-45k lower than the zestimate making it to be instant equity even if one doesn't get a lower price than the asking price.

9 - SFH and then Multi? Or if you're gonna deal with the hassle of it all, why not multi to begin with.

10 - So what about taxes. Is it possible to separate investing tax stuff from personal.

Thanks.