All Forum Posts by: Andrew Bosworth

Robert, thank you for the feedback.

Thanks Joe. Other than the potential for them to be the listing agent for your properties, what would you say a real estate investor can bring to the table for an agent?

Curious: What is the best way to begin a relationship with a real estate agent? Since I am not looking to obtain my own license at this time I would like to work with some local agents to assist me with listing properties, getting access to MLS, etc. What are the top attributes to look for in an agent? How do I know if they will be a good fit for my REI goals? What is the best way to approach them - cold call, letter, referral from someone else?

@Michael Siekerka, thanks for responding.

I am considering both SF flips and buy & holds. Ultimately the flips would be to help finance the buy & holds. Since I am just starting out the financing is the area I seem to need the most education in. My initial question above was regarding flips. My wife and I purchased our first home (not an investment property) a little over a year ago, but with that went a sizable chunk of our "nest-egg". We still have a decent reserve in the bank, but that is set aside for emergencies, etc. I haven't started REI yet. While I am learning though I am trying to figure out when it makes the most sense to actually get in the game - with that comes the question of financing. Should I just wait and save for a few more years or go traditional, private, hard money, etc...these are all things I am exploring right now.

Can someone please explain how to pursue financing for the mortgage versus financing for renovations/improvements? I understand that you can obtain home improvement loans when purchasing your primary place of residence...does the same apply for an investment property? In other words, when seeking financing for a property should I be applying for the mortgage plus improvements, or should I be looking to obtain two different financing options? Please excuse my newbie question, but I could use some help understanding this. Thanks in advance for the help!

Can anyone recommend reliable, reputable online auction sites? Are these even worth considering in the first place? I've looked at Auction.com for properties in my area, though inventory is lacking. Not sure if that is due to my location or if Auction.com simply isn't attracting many sellers. Thoughts?

Welcome Phil! I'm a newbie from Harrisburg as well.

David Beard,

As for cost effectiveness, the same thing crossed my mind. Getting bids from one or two on the NARI list (or something similar) versus getting bids from a referral may be a good practice to help analyze the true cost for a remodel. Certainly not looking to waste anyone's time, but it will help you distinguish the real players in your area from the rest.

This may have been posted previously on BP, but I just came across a link to the National Association of the Remodeling Industry. At the top left there is a pull-down for Homeowners. In here you can type in your zip code under 'Find a Professional Remodeler'. Seems to be a good place to start if you are looking for a local contractor. Here's a link: http://www.nari.org/

Welcome Kris. You've stumbled upon a gem at BP! All the best to you!