Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here

Join Over 3 Million Real Estate Investors

Create a free BiggerPockets account to comment, participate, and connect with over 3 million real estate investors.
Use your real name
By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions.
The community here is like my own little personal real estate army that I can depend upon to help me through ANY problems I come across.
New Member Introductions
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

Updated over 9 years ago, 04/03/2015

User Stats

8
Posts
1
Votes
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
1
Votes |
8
Posts

New User - Georgia (North Atlanta Metro and North Georgia)

Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
Posted

I'm Jeff Stone.  I live and have some properties in north Georgia.

I own a large parcel of raw land which I bought from a bank (no specific plans for it yet) and a rental property in a college town (which currently houses one of my own kids going to school there because buying a small house turns out to be a lower monthly cost than room & board at the university).

So, counting my primary residence, I own 3 properties -- but can't really consider myself an "investor" because I haven't made a dime on any of them.

I'm interested in figuring out a way to do buy-and-hold rental properties to start building a cash-flow cushion to back up my day job.  I'm a good carpenter and handyman and would love to do flips, but skeptical that I could do a good job at that and my 60-hour a week day job at the same time.

Happy to be here.  And yes, I'll scrape up a profile picture soon...  :-)

User Stats

67
Posts
9
Votes
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
9
Votes |
67
Posts
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
Replied

If you have equity in any of the property, you can take the equity out and use that money to buy a REAL rental property.

Pros of rental property vs flipping houses:
1. Less time consuming-You can outsource much of the day to day work to a management team.
2. Build up equity in this property and you can do another rental all over.
3. Appreciation in house can be taken out through equity or when u sell it

Cons of rental property vs flipping houses:
1. Slower return- You can get the same amount of money faster with flipping

User Stats

605
Posts
103
Votes
Anil Samuel
  • Investor
  • Baltimore, MD
103
Votes |
605
Posts
Anil Samuel
  • Investor
  • Baltimore, MD
Replied

@Jeff Stone

Welcome to BP! This is a really collaborative environment. Please reach out with any questions if we can help you.

Baselane logo
Baselane
|
Sponsored
BiggerPockets prefers Baselane The #1 REI platform that integrates banking, rent collection and bookkeeping to save time and money.

User Stats

631
Posts
184
Votes
Pyrrha Rivers
  • Investor
  • Yokosuka, Japan
184
Votes |
631
Posts
Pyrrha Rivers
  • Investor
  • Yokosuka, Japan
Replied

Welcome to BP! @Jeff Stone

 I would consider the money you are saving on your college child's room and board earned money. Not cashflow, but it's there. Have you considered house hacking for your kid? Can be the start of your cashflow and when your kid graduates, you can replace them with a rent-paying student or you can sell the house and get the return college room and board does not provide.

Best wishes,

Pyrrha

User Stats

8
Posts
1
Votes
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
1
Votes |
8
Posts
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
Replied
Thanks for the advice @Pyrrha Rivers.
The house still needs some minor rehab before I feel good about taking on a true (non-family :-) renter, but will definitely be planning to get a renter in there at some point.

User Stats

8
Posts
1
Votes
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
1
Votes |
8
Posts
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
Replied
Originally posted by @STEPHEN YUAN:

If you have equity in any of the property, you can take the equity out and use that money to buy a REAL rental property.

Thanks Stephen.

Is there a way to use the equity as a sort of collateral on a loan for additional purchases or would I have to actually pull the equity out first (e.g., cash out re-fi, HELOC)?

User Stats

24
Posts
15
Votes
Taheem Bellz
  • Atlanta, GA
15
Votes |
24
Posts
Taheem Bellz
  • Atlanta, GA
Replied

Welcome to BP.

User Stats

631
Posts
184
Votes
Pyrrha Rivers
  • Investor
  • Yokosuka, Japan
184
Votes |
631
Posts
Pyrrha Rivers
  • Investor
  • Yokosuka, Japan
Replied

@Jeff Stone

 I think you ARE an investor already and perhaps before venturing into additional properties you may do well concentrating on making those minor repairs and getting a non-family renter in. Does your college kid have some leadership skills and personality to live with others? If so, the renter will pay for the rehab and get you on your way to owning more. Your kid stands to learn valuable life skills as well, but they must have the personality and be willing to take this on. If not they're likely to resent it and you better wait until they're finished. 

User Stats

181
Posts
38
Votes
Julie Hicks
  • Investor
  • Cumming, GA
38
Votes |
181
Posts
Julie Hicks
  • Investor
  • Cumming, GA
Replied

@Jeff Stone, welcome to BP...It is always good to see people from North side of the Atlanta.  That is where our office is located.  Need anything, let me know

User Stats

3,825
Posts
967
Votes
Larry Fried
  • Investor/RE Broker
  • Eugene, OR
967
Votes |
3,825
Posts
Larry Fried
  • Investor/RE Broker
  • Eugene, OR
Replied

@Jeff Stone

 Hi and welcome to BiggerPockets! It’s a great place to learn more about investing and meet the people you want to meet. If you haven't yet, be sure to check out the The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing and don't forget to set up your Keyword Alerts!

Having positive cash flow is not what determines whether you are an investor or not, but it helps with the feeling of it. Making money eventually will determine if you a successful investor. All best in your REI ventures.

User Stats

49
Posts
12
Votes
Rob Gleason
  • Investor
  • Atlanta, GA
12
Votes |
49
Posts
Rob Gleason
  • Investor
  • Atlanta, GA
Replied

Welcome to BP @Jeff Stone!  I agree with @Larry Fried.  IMHO owning ANY property outside of your primary residence makes you an investor, although not necessarily a good one :).  

User Stats

6
Posts
0
Votes
Jai E.
  • Renter
  • Atlanta, Ga
0
Votes |
6
Posts
Jai E.
  • Renter
  • Atlanta, Ga
Replied

Hello, my name is Jai. I'm new to the community and really interested in flipping houses as well as wholesale. Let's network or just add me as a friend. Help is greatly appreciated

User Stats

67
Posts
9
Votes
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
9
Votes |
67
Posts
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
Replied

@Jeff Stone

I have not heard of using equity as collateral. You need to go through either cash out refi or the HELOC route.

House hack sounds like a good starting point too. Maybe you can try yard hack by building a tiny house in the back yard.  Check this out:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSzgh3D7-Q0

Baselane logo
Baselane
|
Sponsored
Baselane is the Ultimate All-In-One Banking Platform for REI Built with integrated rent collection & bookkeeping to save time so you can grow your RE business.

User Stats

8
Posts
1
Votes
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
1
Votes |
8
Posts
Jeff Stone
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Acworth, GA
Replied
Originally posted by @STEPHEN YUAN:

@Jeff Stone

I have not heard of using equity as collateral. You need to go through either cash out refi or the HELOC route.

House hack sounds like a good starting point too. Maybe you can try yard hack by building a tiny house in the back yard.  Check this out:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RSzgh3D7-Q0

 Hi @STEPHEN YUAN

I like how you think.  I had actually been thinking about a tiny house (not necessarily a mobile version though -- I'll have to revisit that).  The current house is only ~850 sq ft and it is on a full 1 acre rural lot with no garage or other outbuildings, so I think getting permitted for another structure would be easy enough).

A tiny 1-bedroom / 1-bath place probably goes against conventional wisdom for a rental house, but the place has mountain views and I think something like this might be able to attract a good renter, even with the small size:

http://www.houseplans.com/plan/262-square-feet-1-b...

I should probably just be focused on renting the main house and stop the daydreaming about the cool tiny house for now though.  :-)

Thanks!

User Stats

67
Posts
9
Votes
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
9
Votes |
67
Posts
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
Replied

jeff stone

How much would you pay to rent a tiny house that you like on airbnb.com or some other vacation rental sites?
My girlfriend asked me that question and my answer was $100/day for the one I showed u...even though I know it only cost like 23k to build it. The fact that someone's offering a tiny house on airbnb is reason enough for me to shell out $100 to have the experience. 

It's a growing market and people are interested in it. 
Check out the new bp

Tesla Model S was renting like $650 a day a year ago on p2p car lending sites like relayrides.com in the bay area. 

Maybe there's economics behind you getting your Tiny House. 

User Stats

67
Posts
9
Votes
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
9
Votes |
67
Posts
STEPHEN YUAN
  • Investor
  • West Covina, CA
Replied

Jackpot. 
People are renting out their tiny house from$50-$175.
http://tinyhousevacations.com/