All Forum Posts by: Allen Wu

@Kenny Manchester

Investor here. I invest in a couple of areas and happy to share my team’s contact info if you want to tap into my rental unit markets below. I have a solid team working on the acquisition and PM fronts. Just private message me and I’ll share the full list.

1) Southwest FL - Close to 1% Rule, cash flow and some appreciation.

2) San Antonio TX - Close to 1% Rule, cash flow and some appreciation.

3) Pasadena CA - Equity / appreciation play, now cash flowing $200 a month

4) San Gabriel Valley CA - Equity and appreciation play, not cash flowing yet

@Todd Mason

Todd this is a great question. I own 5 rent units, but currently renting since it’s cheaper. My wife and I go back and forth all the time. We are on the verge of buying a new home, but always debate whether to pay off our rentals then snowball money to pay off rest of rentals.

For me, I want to get to a number of real estate investment units where I’m “comfortable” or “done”. For me, it’s 5 investment units, so I’ll probably follow the other users approach, pay smallest mortgage and then snowball rest of rentals to get them paid off. This then, can be used to have tenants pay for your mortgage and you take the personal write offs.

In short, I rather have my units paid off in 15 years as my “Sleep Insurance”. Then, start investing some more rental units, so if I screw up or market tanks, i always have my paid off 5 units paid in cash to take care of family etc.

Of course, I recommend checking with actual experts.

@Mark Abbate

I’m a bit late to the game here. I agree with folks here. Sellers market is tough. I stick to my budget. My wife and I are trying to find out primary and just lost for (3rd time) on a highest and best. We went 10k over listing. Overall, I understand primary home should not be viewed as an investment, but if it deviates from my budget. Hard pass, especially when our competition is bidding 50-200k over listing.

I’m just shocked about where all this money is coming from especially for SFHs. I’d rather deploy some $$ in out of CA areas and wait until Los Angeles cools down.

Good luck!

Im in SE FL. Closed on Duplex. Close 1% rule. If you can get one under 300k. Not a bad buy and hold. 

I work with 2 property managers for my 2 units in Pasadena. Feel free to Ping if me if needed. Also, have 2 realtors in 626 area. 

@Peter Davis

Wow. That is aggressive. You think a slight correction will be coming? Luckily, I bought mine in the SE area for 260k so hoping there will be some cushion as I see median is around low 300s.

@James Walker

What do you think about Northwest SA right under Helotes?

@Ian Hurdle

Congrats! I invested in a SFH in northwest San Antonio and have done pretty well. Pretty close to 1% rule for cash flow.

If you’re investing in duplexes, I’ve seen some good deals east of SA such as Seguin or San Braunfels. They might be higher on price now but it does cash flow.

@Tom Chen

Welcome to BP. I’m from CA as well. I never invested in TK, but partnered with a solid brokerage that I use to find out of state deals and they help manage them for me too, all under single roof. Majority of homes I look for are in B areas and are close to 1% rule at around .80%

I invest in TX and FL. Decent cash flow. Happy to refer you to the firm I use, if helpful. Just PM me.

@Matt May

Really good points here!

Yes, it’s been a tough journey so far. I’m trying to play the role of “what if’s” and “worst case scenarios”, but it’s a tough balance when my wife is looking at it from a community and emotional buy perspective.

I respect her point of view though as she will be the anchor for our family and kids (when we do have them) and want her to be comfortable with the “primary”. But, I’m stuck on her going over a purchase price under our “household income” vs. i want to buy assuming on one salary (my worst case scenario). This way, if things hit the fan we have a cushion or have the cushion for buying opportunities under a correction. Feel like I need to be the fiscal conservative one for some balance with this purchase! Haha.

I think we will sort this all out together, but sellers market is not helping as good homes sell 1.1-1.3m! So, we might wait if we lose our next bid again!