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All Forum Posts by: Andrew Sparks

Andrew Sparks has started 1 posts and replied 14 times.

Post: Should I allow pets in a rental?

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

As a renter and aspiring house-hacker with a pet I have interest in this question from both sides! My rental market has hardly any pet-friendly rentals available, which is disappointing but understandable. Being able to have a pet is is one reason I've stuck with my current apartment for so long. 

I would recommend, however, that the pet rider in your lease includes instructions that the tenant needs to keep pets on a leash at all times outside the apartment and they are 100% expected to pick up after their dog. The other tenants in my complex let their dogs off lease all the time and don't always clean up after their dogs, meaning that other people can't use the common area as often as they're entitled to. If you require renter's insurance as well it's a good way to make sure that if a dog hurts someone else that the liability is covered by the tenant.

Post: Hello from an Investor in Connecticut

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

welcome @Chad Spooner!

Congrats on your already-successful portfolio. I'm living in NYC currently but am from CT, so it's great to see someone from CT jumping into the community!

Post: A Texas RE License Journey

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

@Shane Woods thanks for sharing your story and congrats on getting your license! I've been thinking about getting licensed in order to build my sales skills in real estate and learn while doing. Would you recommend it as a path for learning real estate to eventually build a portfolio of rental properties?

Post: Increase monthly cash via solar power?

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

@Ronald Perich thanks for checking back in with the info you found. Although it isn't viable for your situation I really like the idea of thinking outside the box in terms of diversifying incomes from a property.

Post: Newbie in NYC/Portland, OR

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

Hi @Robert Fullum,

Welcome to BP! You'll find a lot of great information here in the forums, on the podcast, and in local meet ups to help you reach your goals. I am located close by in Ridgewood, Queens, so please feel free to reach out with any questions!

Post: My first flip at 26, a woman, ZERO construction skills.

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

Congrats @Alex Applebee!

This is really encouraging - you just got PAID $19k to get a great education. 

Thank you @Darren Sager for another fantastic meetup! It was great seeing @Joshua Dorkin discuss BP in person. I experienced firsthand the BP community mindset during the networking sessions - exactly what Josh talked about.

Post: New, Living in NYC (Queens), Looking for Rentals In or Out of State

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

Welcome to BP @Michael S.! I'm in Ridgewood, Queens now, looking at rentals in CT (most likely, perhaps NJ). This site is a great resource - let me know if I can help with anything. 

Big thanks to @Darren Sager for organizing this and @Brandon Turnerand Heather for stopping by. This was my first BP meetup and will certainly not be my last! Great info and great networking all around.

Post: Condos as First Investment?

Andrew SparksPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • New Bedford, MA
  • Posts 15
  • Votes 8

@Josh Gangi I am really interested to hear how you do due diligence on condos - could please explain? Aside from crunching the numbers, are there any ways to case out the HOA? It seems like that's the biggest unknown quantity that can make condo rentals extremely unprofitable. I mean, even if you ask around regarding the HOA, I would be concerned about new personalities going on power trips after I invest. Thanks for any feedback!

@Kevin Choi, great thread topic. The points you raise are what I've always heard on the podcast and they make sense to me, but sometimes condos look pretty lucrative as a first step now that I'm learning more about REI and trying to figure out the best way to jump in.