New Member Introduction - Pennsylvania

[Joseph Sangimino]

Hi Everyone, 

I've been a member for some time now and am a big fan of the bigger pockets podcast. I have recently upgraded to a Pro membership because I'm actively trying to acquire my first property - and have been for some time now. I have done what I feel to be a good amount of due diligence for determining my investment criteria, but am lacking good resources to answer some of my questions and provide general guidance. I'm interested in buy and hold properties and my target area is South Pittsburgh suburbs in Allegheny County. I'm open to flips as well, but I have a much stricter criteria for that type of investment to be considered.

I've been actively looking at a number of foreclosures, and an issue that I've run into is conventionally financing one of these properties. The banks that own the REO properties I've been looking at are not willing to turn on the utilities for a general inspection, even when I notify them that I'm willing to make an offer. My bank will not provide a loan without verification that all the utilities in the given property are functional. I've looked into non-foreclosed properties, but am finding that its much more difficult to find prospects that fit my strict finnancial criteria. I'd appreciate any advice on the subject.

Thanks!

[Andy Ballester]

If you find a property you are truly interested in why not have utilities turned on temporaly most utility companys will turn on for a small fee. If you find what is in your criteria, and feel it is a deal it may be worth spending the extra 150$ to turn on temporaly. Just explain the situation I recently purchased a property last summer all cash but could not get the deed untill dye test was complete 40$ water company came out and turned the water on. You may just have to go the extra mile and deal with the situation yourself rather than depend on the banks, or sellers.