All Forum Posts by: Anderson Banegas Cerrato

Jorge, this is gold! Aligning expectations with investors is such a critical part of building trust and ensuring long-term success. I love how you emphasized the importance of educating investors about the market cycle and long-term strategies—it’s all about creating a win-win partnership.

As someone just starting to explore syndications, I’m curious: what’s been your biggest challenge in managing diverse investor expectations, and how did you overcome it? Thanks for sharing your insights!

Hey Chris, that’s an interesting strategy, and I can see why you’d want to clarify the rules. From my understanding, you’re spot on that the VA only requires intent to occupy the property within 60 days—there’s no hard-and-fast rule about staying for a year. However, lenders often add their own requirements, and many interpret the “intent to occupy” as a longer-term commitment, sometimes defaulting to the 1-year rule as a safeguard.

The key will be the lender’s terms. If you’re working with VA-savvy lenders who are comfortable with your plan and don’t impose stricter rules, you might be able to rinse and repeat as you described. That said, I’d make sure to document your intent to occupy each property clearly to avoid potential issues later.

It sounds like you’re setting up for a solid multifam portfolio—between you and your dad, the combined entitlements give you a lot of flexibility. Keep us updated on what your lender says, and I’d be curious to hear if anyone else has pulled off multiple VA loans in a year successfully!

Good luck!

Hi Daniel,

Great first post! It sounds like you’ve built a solid foundation with your Florida townhouses. Transitioning to multifamily can be a smart move, but as you’ve noticed, finding positive cash flow in today’s market can be tricky.

From what I’ve learned, focusing on properties with under-market rents can be a game-changer. By repositioning the property (like improving tenant quality or adding amenities), you can boost the NOI over time. Also, looking at slightly less competitive markets might open up opportunities with better cash flow potential.

What’s drawn you to Sacramento and Florida so far? Would love to hear more about your thought process as I’m prepping for my first multifamily deal, too!

Best,

Anderson

Hi Michelle,

Welcome to the group! It’s great to see your focus and dedication—door knocking and working the FC list takes real grit. Wholesaling and flipping sound like a solid plan to build momentum in real estate.

What’s been your biggest takeaway so far from the WREIN course? I’d love to hear more about your strategy and how things are going in San Jose. Let’s connect and learn from each other!

Best,

Anderson

Hey Marshall, thanks for sharing this breakdown on SB 9—it’s a game-changer for California investors! I’ve been exploring the idea of value-add multifamily projects, and SB 9 seems like a great way to maximize ROI while addressing the housing shortage.

The flexibility to split lots and develop up to four units is particularly interesting. How have you seen local ordinances or restrictions impact these projects? I’d love to hear about any challenges or strategies you’ve encountered working with SB 9.

Looking forward to learning more from your insights!

Best,

Anderson

Hey Jason, great question! I’m not in the game yet, but I’ve been diving into this to prepare for my first multi-family deal. From what I’ve learned, investors often use a percentage of gross rental income as a baseline—usually around 10-15%—to estimate maintenance and repairs.

Others recommend tools like Stessa or Buildium to track actual costs and project future expenses.

How do you usually approach unexpected repairs or big-ticket items? I’d love to learn from your experience!

Hi Andrea,

Welcome to the world of real estate investing! Short-term rentals can be a great starting point, especially in markets with high tourism or business travel. One tip: focus on areas with year-round demand and check local regulations early—they can make or break a deal.

What market are you looking into? I’d love to hear about your goals and share insights if I can help. Let’s connect and learn together!

Best,

Anderson

Hey Keenan,

This sounds like an interesting opportunity, especially with a quick rehab timeline and solid profit margin. Northern California can be a competitive market, so having clear numbers and a transparent breakdown of the assignment fee will help attract serious buyers.

Have you already lined up interested investors, or are you still looking for connections? Feel free to share more about the property—I’d love to see if it’s something I or someone in my network might be interested in!

Best,

Anderson

Hey Nicholas,

Welcome to the Section 8 space! One tip on rent valuations: it’s helpful to provide strong comps during the inspection process to justify your rent expectations—be sure they align with HUD guidelines. Sometimes a second inspection or negotiation can also help adjust the valuation.

As for timelines, expect paperwork and approvals to take longer than usual, especially for first-time landlords in the program. Staying organized and maintaining open communication with your local housing authority can help streamline things.

What’s your biggest concern right now? Happy to share more if it helps!

Best,

Anderson

Response for Vanessa Switzler:

Hi Vanessa,

Congrats on expanding into Little Rock—adding a new MSA is an exciting step! While I’m not in Little Rock, I’ve found that networking with local brokers and property managers can be key to uncovering neighborhood-specific insights. Have you looked into leveraging local REIA groups? They can be a great resource for referrals.

What’s been your biggest challenge so far with the expansion? I’d love to hear more about your approach to value-add plays and connect further!

Best,

Anderson