All Forum Posts by: Drew Barrett

Awesome! Thanks for the response/input @Daniel Francis  ! 

Hi BP, As the title of this thread indicates, I'm not finding good deals on the MLS right now (in my desired area, anyways). So, before I consider changing my area or my strategy, I wanted to see if anyone has ever had luck with one of Ken McElroy's technique of seeing a property that isn't for sale, then tracking down the owner, and offering to buy it? Thanks! -Drew B

Once again, thank you so much, Michele, Brandon, Marcia, and Rusty, for taking the time to help me out with this question! 

Also, @Michele Fischer 

thank you for your great specific info about the Kelso/Longview area, and for showing me how to successfully tag people in posts =).

I got a few more books that I want to read through, and then will feel comfortable making my first offer.  Has anyone noticed if there's a specific time/season of year that's best to buy in?  I feel like around the winter/Christmas months, prices go down, but I don't know if this is accurate.

Once again, thank you all so much!

-Drew

Thank you both, Rusty and Michele, for your insight! It's nice to hear I'm not the only one who feels that Vancouver doesn't have a lot of great cash-flow potential, right now. @Michele, I've found that a lot of landlords in the area include utilities in the price of rent; do they do this as a work-around to utilities being so expensive and difficult for tenets? Also, when you say permits take forever - what kinds of permits? I have lots to learn, so I'm not familiar with what permits are involved. Also, we'd probably move into one of the units, to be able to use a FHA loan, so I'm wanting a nicer neighborhood. I've heard that north Kelso (around exit 40, and up to the Lexington area) are pretty decent, with lower crime, would you agree with this? Also, I'll make sure to watch my speed, when I drive that stretch of freeway at night :)

Thanks!!

-Drew 

Hello everybody :)

My name is Drew, and. I am hoping to buy my first duplex soon.  I am currently in Vancouver, Washington, and am wondering if people think that buying multi-family housing in Kelso Washington would be a good idea? Kelso is 40 minutes north of Vancouver, and is on a major interstate (I-5) but doesn't have a lot of economic draw to it (that I know of), so I wonder if people who work in Vancouver would be interested in living in Kelso or if I should really make a point to buy within a 20 minute commute to growing city centers?

Whatever advice/info you can spare,would be great! Thanks in advance :)

-Drew