I get asked "So, how many properties do you own?"

[Robin Grimes]

"So, how many properties do you own?"
I get this question almost every time I tell someone that I'm a real estate investor. Tenants and applicants ask the same question also. I generally respond with a smile and say "At least this one." To me the question is about the same as asking a stranger how much they make. Do you get this question and if so how do you feel about it and how do you respond?.

--Robin

[Michael Seeker]

I get this question from friends, family and prospective tenants. I think everybody has different levels of comfort and to each his/her own, but I never have any problem divulging this information.

From a friends/family perspective, I like to show off my hard work and effort and don't mind if people know how many properties I have. Plus I see these people as a pool of potential partners/investors on future projects and as such want them to know what I'm up to.

From a prospective tenants perspective, this becomes a little less about showing off what I've amassed and more-so about letting them know that I'm an experienced landlord, not just some schmuck who will be in over his head when it comes time to make repairs or fix a leak.

At the end of the day, this information is public knowledge (at least in KY) - and sharing the number of properties you "own" doesn't really divulge all that much information about you or your financial situation seeing as any number of them could be highly leveraged, under-water or completely paid off. Not to mention they could have a wide range of retail values. So if you say you own 1 property or 100...what does that really mean to the person asking? To me, it tells them how experienced you are at what you do and how well you do it or maybe even how long you've been doing it.