Active duty military prepping for next deal

[John Guinta]

The objective behind this post is to develop a strategy through general discussion in order to take my next deal head on.

I am currently deployed overseas and return back to the US in the June-July time frame.

I currently have a three flat and a two flat, both of which were house hacks.

The three flat is entirely rented out and the two flat has the recently rehabbed first floor rented out and the top floor acting as my "safe house" when I am home. Just requires new paint, appliances and minor touch up work in order to make it rentable. 2-4 weeks of solid work, if that.

Option 1: Return home, fix up the safe house, continue living there and turn the basement of the building into a unit and rezone the two flat into a 3 flat.

Option 2: Hire some people now to fix up the top floor and get it cleared out, cleaned up and rented. Then begin searching for a new multi unit to get into and close on while still on active duty orders so I can take and use my VA benefits again.

Option 3: Seek advisement from the brain workshop here at BiggerPockets.

Thank you for your time and for reading this!

Excited for this discussion.

[Scott Mac]

Hi John,

Both 1 and 2 seem like good plans. 

Is one better than the other? Well, that might come down to how you rate the "risk" of these decisions.

#1 Has the added "risk" of possibly not getting rezoning approved, or it taking a very long time.

#2 Means the "risk" of possibly not making as good of a choice of location or structure due to not being boots on the ground in the area when you choose the new place.

Those are my thoughts.

Good Luck!