Newbie from Cheyenne, WY

Newbie from Cheyenne, WY

Rental Property Investor · WY · Member since 2016 · 243 posts · 221 votes

Hi BP Community -

Been following BP on and off for a while, and excited to finally have an excuse to join. After a few life changing events, I've finally been able to try house hacking and real estate investing. 

I'm currently under contract for a 4 unit, 2 duplex property (yes, it's a bit odd) in cheyenne where my plan is to live in the most beat up one and fix it up while renting out the other 3. Since this is not my full time job, i'm hoping I can have this process completed in 6-8 months. The deal is supposed to close may 6, and i'm planning on getting started right away. There's a fair amount to do but this is my second house rehab, so I've made quite a few of the mistakes before and know what to avoid. 

The plan as it currently stands is to try and get 3 deals done in 2016, including this one. Ideally, I'd house-hack all of these, but it's not a requirement. Once the repairs here are underway and almost finished, the plan is to begin looking for a duplex/triplex (or something that could be easily converted into one) and use an FHA loan on that to secure the property, and move into that as well.

I plan on using savings from my day job and side income streams to purchase future properties.

Im curious about legal structure (i've heard that it's best to have an LLC for every rental, then a holding company for all LLCs) which is not a problem where I live because they are very cheap to maintain.

I've got a solid team so far, and am planning on self managing these properties for the time being. 

Im looking to meet anyone in the denver/boulder/fort collins/northern colorado area, as well as any BP members from wyoming, and would like to talk with investors/hard money lenders or people who have used hard money lenders. 

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  • Rental Property Investor · Surprise, AZ · Member since 2014 · 196 posts · 86 votes
    10y

    Hi Jeff,

    Glad to see you posted an intro. I will be sure to add you to the REI list for Cheyenne. Shoot me your email address will ya. I plan on doing another meetup soon.

  • Real Estate Investor · Cheyenne, WY · Member since 2014 · 71 posts · 37 votes
    10y

    Hi Jeff!  Sounds like you are off to a great start!  If it's the property im thinking of, it should be a nice project.  I will be looking forward to seeing the results!

  • Jerry W.Pro Member
    Moderator
    Investor · Thermopolis, WY · Member since 2012 · 4k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    10y

    @Jeff F., Welcome to BP. Mt advice is not worth anything more than you have paid me, but I think a separate LLC for each property is nuts. Unless you are buying million dollar properties, just go with one for now. Don't get me wrong I set them up and get paid for it by folks to do it, but they are more work than you think. Each will need its own tax return, each will need its own bank account, each will need its own set of minutes for each meeting, each will need its annual statements filled out for the state, each will need it's own set of books, if you have a vehicle or other tools owned by the company each will need its own depreciation tables and you will need to show almost exclusive use by that company, etc. Get the idea? Even if keeping up the corporate formalities is only $800 per year if you have 4 of them that is over $3K each year. That eats into profit quickly. Maybe do one now and after you hit $500K or $1,000,000 add another one. How will multiple LLCs help your business? You have to personally guarantee your loans unless you have a nicer banker than mine. If someone is injured on your property they will claim that since you did the work yourself you are personally liable. You will not have huge amounts of equity since you are starting out. Just get some good insurance.

    Anyway good luck on your investing, give me a PM if I can help you with some advice.

  • Specialist · Rockland, MA · Member since 2010 · 7k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10y

    @Jeff F.

    Welcome. Amanda  Han is a real estate CPA active on BP work out legal entities and tax strategies with her.

    Locate and attend 3 different local REIA club meetings great place to meet people gather resources and info. Here you will meet wholesalers who provide deals and rehabbers (cash buyers). Find them through Google and meetup.com

    Two Great reads, I bought both J. Scott The Book on Flipping Houses, The Book on Estimating ReHab Costs http://www.biggerpockets.com/flippingbook

    Download BP’s newest book here some good due diligence in Chapter 10. Real Estate Rewind Starting over

    http://www.biggerpockets.com/files/user/brandonatbp/file/real-estate-rewind-a-biggerpockets-community-book

    Good Luck

    Paul 

  • Mindy JensenPro Member
    BiggerPockets Money Podcast Host · Longmont, CO · Member since 2014 · 7k+ posts · 10k+ votes
    10y

    Welcome to BiggerPockets, @Jeff F.. It's nice to finally see you on the site. Super excited for your new prospect. Are you renting out your other house? 

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