A few questions for anyone that can help.

A few questions for anyone that can help.

Rental Property Investor · Montclair, VA · Member since 2020 · 11 posts · 3 votes

Good evening, everyone.

This is my first post and I really enjoy everyone’s insight reading through BP. I am writing this from my partners couch in the U.K. I am currently stuck here due to COVID and waiting to return to my place of work in Germany. I have a few “loaded” questions.

A little about me and my plan.

My intent for investing in real estate is primarily cash flow.

I would like to buy 2-3 houses over the next year. I am doing this remotely as I work primarily overseas (Already read David Greens long distance real estate book- Amazing). My plan is to focus on multi-family homes MFH) but I am open to single family homes (SFH). I am a veteran and have access to a Va Loan. I currently have 15K in waiting for my initial deal and I can save at the least 5k each month and could potentially squeeze 6500k if I'm real actively frugal.

Here are the questions I have.

1) I have a car loan that was converted to a 15% personal loan because titles work differently in the UK and I couldn’t send it to my bank without having my registration which is required by law. I have sold the car off and have the money. Should I pay it off or save the money and hold it in reserve towards a down payment? I want to keep it open and not completely paid off to reflect on my credit score positively.

Original loan: $16k

Balance: $7500

Amount from sale: $9k

2) As I said before, I have 15k now and will save at least 5k each month. Should I look to get into a deal sooner and go with a SFH or should I wait and look for a good MFH deal- taking into consideration the developing financial environment.

3) I planned on using my VA Loan towards a quadplex and I think I could justify this in Tampa as that is where I will be moving in under a year and I would likely rent 3 while holding the other as legitimately my home with internet and utilities set up for when I am in the states on business. (Also I want to be able to vote in Florida in November).

4) Ultimately I want to get my real estate license in Florida. Is there a way to “hang my license” while “working” for a brokerage remotely? I wouldn’t mind paying dues (within reason) to have my license. How much are dues? I’m sure they fluctuate between brokerages and localities.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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  • Specialist · Riverside, CA · Member since 2015 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    6y

    1. For sure pay off any loan that is charging you 15% interest that is throwing money away if you keep it

    2. I'd do your primary residence first which it sounds like you want to do with the VA

    3. Not super familiar with exact living requirements but I believe you need to move in immediately or close to immediately

    4. Yes you don't have to live somewhere to be licensed there, that is why many people are licensed in multiple states, dues vary by realtor association, brokers are usually free until you complete a transaction, unless they have a desk fee or something like that, but that kind of stuff is old school pre-internet hangovers in many places.

  • Investor · Tampa, FL · Member since 2016 · 681 posts · 288 votes
    6y

    Hello Richard Mace,

    You know that there are many way to skin a cat...David Greenes "Long Distance Real Estate Investing" may be one of the worst ways I can think of. The one thing you want to have with your Money is Control. What control do you have as an Absentee Landlord? We were at the top of the Market before Covid Virus hit and now we are looking to have a reduction in property values as everyone is out of work. If you can save your money for a year and do your research, then, find an area you want to live in and wait for the prices to come down to make your offer to buy something. "He who has the Gold at a time of Crisis, makes the Rules."

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