All Forum Posts by: Andrew DeWeerd

@Nikolay Izmerli wow I'm in your same shoes, looking at properties in Ruskin and drooling over what you get for the price. Although I think if you BRRRR'd it, it'd be a home run for you! That area is growing faster than any in Tampa area, and you'd get your cash back out to keep moving! Thanks for being vulnerable, good stuff!

@Noah Norton there's quite a few duplexes near the campus off 34th St, and easy across US41. Neither is a great neighborhood, 34th street area is much better than Oneco. Hard to get good deals out here right right now. The same duplex I bought for 200k a year ago would easily be $250k now. Just learn the area, there's some good duplexes in some mixed SFR and multi family zones locations that'll be better than all multi family neighborhoods. Holiday heights is a mixed bag (N or 53rd/SR70 and just west of 14th/US41. I lived in a condo directly south from SCF for 2 years so I know the area very well and really you want to be west of 26th street IMO.

@Noah Norton Also quiiiiiick tiiip - I've NEVER seen a quad on the MLS here, for some reason they seem to always be represented by commercial realtors, and I see them on LoopNet.com.

@Noah Norton hey Noah, that would be an awesome first step to take at 18 if they’ll qualify you for the loan! Additionally the home path offerings are very few, and I’ve NEVER seen one on an investment property either. I’ve lived in Bradenton for 4 years and just moved to Sarasota, and I’ll say 4-plexus do not come on the market often and you’ll likely have to get into St Pete or Tampa if you’re set on doing that in a quad. However Duplexes are a dime a dozen here, but prices now are up north of $250k for them even just 1/1 or 2/1 a side, which won’t hit the 1% rule. But if your house hacking it, it pays your mortgage still so still worth doing! My wife and I are doing it now actually.

You might also look at a possible large duplexes where you even rent out the other rooms in your unit- that would definitely be what I’d do if I were you moving as a young single guy for college. Are you going to Lecom, SCF, New College, USF, or Ringling?

Hey all, what about for cabinet install? Was lookin at buying their in stock wood shakers, I can have them delivered for $80 and hire own work out, or I can have them install. Thx

 Did you sand or prime before the final coat?  If I got Behr premium or Valspar signature, would you need to prime the paneling?  

 Also on the glossy paneling then?

Thanks @Wanda Wilkinson that's good feedback!  We actually planned on going with that grey color, but did do a light color test, and it doesn't not go on easily, kind of smears on (slick surface), and it also scratched off easily.  I'm going to test sample spots after sanding and see if that helps rough it up at all.  What's the trisodium phosphate do?  

Jay, do what Michelle is saying, run the numbers as if you were not living there and somebody else was renting the room/unit. Then you can determine if it's an acceptable return for you in the area. I'm happy to house hack just a 7% COC projected return type home that cuts my monthly housing expenses down to next to nothing. But I wouldn't buy a 7% COC projected home that's purely an investment property, in my area of Florida - I'd look for 10-12% if it wasn't a house hack opportunity.

Thanks everyone!  I found what I'd consider the cheaper end of the upper end style flooring - MSI luxury vinyl plank with the underlayment pad attached for $1.70/sq ft at HD.  It's about 30% thinner than their nicer Lifeproof brand, but nearly half the cost.