Skip to content
×
Try PRO Free Today!
BiggerPockets Pro offers you a comprehensive suite of tools and resources
Market and Deal Finder Tools
Deal Analysis Calculators
Property Management Software
Exclusive discounts to Home Depot, RentRedi, and more
$0
7 days free
$828/yr or $69/mo when billed monthly.
$390/yr or $32.5/mo when billed annually.
7 days free. Cancel anytime.
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
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

All Forum Posts by: Adrian Chu

Adrian Chu has started 76 posts and replied 1368 times.

Post: THE ULTIMATE SEATTLE HOUSE HACK (no, it is not renting out rooms)

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Griffin Coxen:

@Adrian Chu Is the DADU accessible from the back of the lot or is there an easement across the lot of the original home? If choosing to sell the DADU, did you split the lot or is this wrapped into condo-izing the home and DADU?


 Just saw your question.  This one is accessed from the back of the lot thru an alley.

Post: BRRRR in Seattle/Real Estate Investing in Seattle

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425

It's challenging especially locally these days with today's interest rates. In short: rents and cash flow have not caught up with the rising interest rates since 2022.

Post: Off Market Deals and Mailers

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Max Kulishov:

Have you guys gotten any deals sending direct mail? How has that worked out?


Note that I am also a real estate agent as well as an investor/builder/developer, so I have multiple ways to monetize a postcard response. 

I recently sent approximately $30,000 worth of postcards a couple months ago. Got one mutual on a development deal and one listing from it.  So yes it can work, but you also need to be able to convert the responses you get into closing.

Post: Selling to Land Developer or Going through 'Middle Man'?

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425

Can you DM me your address? We'd be interested in taking a look and providing an additional opinion to the offers you may be getting.

Quote from @Shannon Baker:

I am wondering what a fair deduction would be from rent due to there being basically no kitchen in a 1br attached mil set up. It has the tiniest sink virtually no cupboard space a toaster oven sized toaster/convection oven a small microwave and an electric skillet but no hotplate or stove type setup. Kitchen is basically useless and cannot wash dishes in the tiny sink. The sink is the size you would find in a hotel room and is smaller than an RV sink. Basically useless. It has private entrance but is attached to house and is not private really so it is basically a glorified room for rent with a living room. The homeowners use the back entrance to their home rather than their front door which is right next to my front door entrance and comes in directly in front of my bedroom which is noisy my front window is where they park their cars so coming and going in front of my  nice big bay window. Anyhow, my question is that I'm am curious what a fair reduction in rent would be for lack of kitchen the home is on a one acre lot so is better than an apartment complex but the lack of kitchen is a huge discomfort and almost outweighs the property set up especially due to the lack of privacy and the entrance and noise right outside my bedroom door. I'm curious what a reasonable rent deduct would be for the kitchen issue as I don't want to be unfair to either the landlords or myself. This is located in oak harbor WA on Whidbey Island if that is pertinent for calculating a deduction just a general idea would give me a huge help at least would be a starting point the rent is higher than a lot of similar apartments however as I stated it's on property but the lack of kitchen almost cancels out the benefit of the setting. Thank you for any help at all even if it's a roundabout figure I would be very grateful for any input.  Please pardon my "verbose - ness" lol 

warmest regards 

shannon 


 Price it as a room rental or consider short term rental as guests don't need a full kitchen for that. 

Post: Sub 3% Interest Investment SFH and Foundation Work

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Aaron Simril:

Hello everyone!

My wife and I purchased a home in the Seattle area back in 2018. It's a single family home that we were able to refi into a 3% interest rate. 

Since then we have moved out of the area and been renting it out for the past few years.

We are slightly negative on cashflow, about $100 a month or so when you account for a 3rd party property management service and expected repairs etc.

Our challenge here is the home is old. The foundation has cracks and the driveway needs to be redone. We have had a Strctural Engineer out to the property and while we don't need to conduct repairs within the next 5 years or so, we will need to address both of these things at some point and it will likely cost us about 100k.


Any advice on selling or holding for the long term?


We always thought we would hold this property as long as we can, and cashflow is not really an issue but thinking about dropping 100k on repairs for a property that is cashflow neutral at best gives me major heartburn. 

The home has a great location and has appreciated even with interest rates coming back up, but is certainly not valued as high as it once was.

Thanks for your thoughts/advice in advance!



 Where is the home located? With the recent zoning changes happening, often times the land value can be quite a bit. 

Depending on different factors, primarily lot size and location, we have even been paying $1m+ for houses to tear down in Seattle and $2m+ in the Eastside . 

Post: Seeking Advice on Section 8 Voucher Rental Experience

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Candi Kham:

I am seeking advice on how to proceed with a prospective tenant who has a section 8 voucher. As a first-time landlord, I'm unfamiliar with the process and would appreciate any insights or tips you can share regarding renting to tenants with vouchers.

Thanks 

Candi

I have done many of these. Feel free to ask any specific questions.

Post: Timing on possibly selling my home

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Account Closed:

Hi, I live in a close-in Seattle neighborhood: Ballard 98107 in a two bedroom home that Zillow values between 8-something K to 9K. I've always been told you must sell in the spring. I suppose that means April May June. Is it really that big of a deal if I have to delay it it and sell in July or August? I will lose a significant amount? This is a neighborhood where houses go quickly. Because of "life stuff" I just may not be ready immediately. It's May 21 as I write this. Any advice / opinion appreciated.


 Also, we are always looking for homes to buy in the Ballard area. 

Post: Timing on possibly selling my home

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Account Closed:

Hi, I live in a close-in Seattle neighborhood: Ballard 98107 in a two bedroom home that Zillow values between 8-something K to 9K. I've always been told you must sell in the spring. I suppose that means April May June. Is it really that big of a deal if I have to delay it it and sell in July or August? I will lose a significant amount? This is a neighborhood where houses go quickly. Because of "life stuff" I just may not be ready immediately. It's May 21 as I write this. Any advice / opinion appreciated.


The Seattle market has been weird where q1 has a bunch of panic buying happening.  That being said, the right time is when you are ready.  

Post: How to comp a property with no comps?!?!?

Adrian ChuPosted
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Seattle, WA
  • Posts 1,484
  • Votes 425
Quote from @Kobe McDaniel:

Hi BP,

I’ve got a mixed use property I’m looking at that has zero Comps. Because it’s commercial on the bottom and mixed use on top, I’ve got nothing to compare it to. Any tips?

Thanks


 Expand the geographical parameters.  If you go far enough, I'm sure there are other mixed use buildings.