All Forum Posts by: Andrew Cruickshank

Quote from @Brandon Vukelich:

@Andrew Cruickshank I have not had good experiences with Navy Fed, both when buyers make offers on my listings and when my buyers have come to me already committed to using them.  After you connect with a local real estate agent, I would ask them for local lending referrals or you could search out other local credit unions/banks.  When I have listed properties, I prefer to see offers from buyers using local, familiar lenders.  Nothing against our service members but Navy Fed and USAA as lenders on deals usually don't go smoothly.  Others may have had different experiences.  Best wishes on your search!

Hey Brandon thank you for the insight! I appreciate you letting me know how Navy fed can be less than ideal. I think most people would agree with you and would much rather see a local, familiar lender.  I will take your advice and try to find a great agent that knows a great lender that can help me out. Thank you again for the help.

Quote from @John Mathew:

@Andrew Cruickshank I can connect you to an investor agent in Morris county if you still need it

 Sent you a DM thank you!!

Quote from @Vaughn Smith:

@Andrew Cruickshank you're correct about the inventory in Morris County, there aren't many multi families on the market and getting approved with VA/FHA loans out there can be a challenge due to many common misconceptions about borrowers for both products. You may need to take a look at unconventional means to find a deal out there as the MLS only provides limited options. Also, you may want to shop around for different lenders that offer VA loans so that you have more options, all VA loan providers aren't the same find a seasoned lender that knows the ins and outs of VA lending. There are also a few hacks for using VA loans that are a bit uncommon if you qualify for them they can be a game changer

Hello Vaughn, Thank you for the reply. I would love to hear of any lenders you have had success with that you would recommend that can work with either a VA loan or FHA. I will send you a DM. Thank you again for the help.

Quote from @Jonathan Greene:

What's your price point? You could get great scale in Morristown if you can get in on the prices, but if you go to towns like Dover or Netcong, there are still some multifamily options there at reasonable prices. We have closed for house hackers all over Northern NJ and with a VA it is a bit harder, but it's less competitive now so there are some opportunities out there.

My price point is between $300k - $400k, a lot of Morristown seems to be over my budget but there are some that come up right around $400k that may work. I think I could definitely find something in Dover or Netcong as they are more at my price range like you said. It is also great to hear you have worked with people you have success in North Jersey, as I have been having a hard time finding people who have. It is unfortunate about the VA loan being hard to use, it looks like I would possibly be better off maybe using a regular FHA loan to help close on a deal. I will send you a DM as I have a few other questions. Thank you for the help.

@Anastasia G.

Thank you! I appreciate your recommendation. I will reach out to him.

@Bruce Lynn

Thank you for the reply! And I have thought about Navy Federal but was unsure because I don't see it mentioned much here. But I think I will give them a call to start and maybe find a local lender to compare with. Thank you again I appreciate the help and support.

Hello everyone! I posted a few weeks back looking for your opinions on the best strategy for my current situation.  In short, I am deploying overseas and looking to find my wife a place to stay that can also help start our real estate journey.  With the an overwhelmingly unanimous response that the best option is house hacking. Unfortunately Duplexes are uncommon in Morris County New Jersey where we are looking and also over our budget. I was also introduced to finding a house with a split basement or "mother in law suite"  that we would be able to rent out, along with this she would also be able to get a roommate and cover almost all of the mortgage or more. So now the only step left to do is to find the deal! 

I was hoping to connect with a real estate agent in New Jersey to help me find a house suitable for our plans. I am looking to buy a house before november. I am in the military and will most likely use my VA loan to purchase this property. I will also need to find a determined lender to help me get a loan for this property. Thank you in advance and please let me know if you have any other tips!

@Sara Frank

Then you for the response! I like that idea very much and would be much easier to find than a multi-family, like you said. I will start looking to see what I can find. Thank you!

@Lucia Rushton

That is an excellent idea! You're right it is a business decision and should be treated that way. To help find three best option for us I will have to run the numbers and see what makes the most sense! Thank you very much.

@Nick Shri

Thanks for the advice! I think I will have to look at other states like you said. I think PA could work for me. Thank you for the help