Hello all,
I think it is time for an introduction after being a reader and student of this site for the last year.
First of all thank you to all of you that bring us this wealth of knowledge in one place for free. I have enjoyed reading the "The Ultimate Beginner's Guide to Real Estate Investing", and have downloaded and listened to the majority of the podcast's on my daily commute. I also have all my keyword's set up, so I keep checking on those posts as they come in.
So a little about myself, I live in Columbia, South Carolina. I hold a full time job, but I have been a part time buy and hold investor for the last 8 years and I am looking to extend my portfolio, but I would like to keep my buy and hold properties close to where I live. I have also just finished my first Flip with a business partner, which was very educational and also had the benefit of making some money in the process so it was like being paid to learn. We look forward to doing other deals in the future as a way to raise financing for my Buy and Hold Portfolio which I hope to grow. In order to do that I would like to increase my knowledge and exposure to the real estate business and see where that takes me.
So how can Biggerpockets help me?
I am looking to network with local investors to discuss potential deals/income streams/strategies and get on as many mailing lists as I can because with my full time job, I cannot give enough time to the wholesaling side with yellow letters, dealing with calls throughout the day etc. Are there any local REIA's that people attend and if so where and when do you meet?
Provide details on reliable/reasonably priced contractors in the area. I know that bids for jobs can vary, but knowing who has delivered exactly what they quoted on budget is a must so having a resource to identify who to use and who to avoid is a must for a real estate investor.
Finally, I know the laws have changed on selling a property on a lease to own / owner financing, but wondered if anyone in South Carolina or local areas were still doing lease to owns or owner financing and if so how difficult is it these days and who if anyone do you use to service your loans? Also with the extra fees and interest rate caps is it still worthwhile? Any information on this subject would be gratefully received.
Thank you in advance for any feedback/information and I look forward to contributing and giving back to the community
Andy
