All Forum Posts by: Ann Howell

 Hang in there!  It sounds like things are getting back on track.  We had a very bad first experience as well (I posted about it on BP). After a lot of work, that property has stabilized and we are in the process of buying our third.  We learned a lot since the first.  For example, we looked at one duplex (also in KC) that we pulled out of after the inspection found mold and dry rot - after the rehab was supposedly done. Always make sure you use an independent inspector and be willing to walk away.  Trust but ALWAYS verify.

Good info. Thanks. GR is a nice city.  

What is the general perspective of GR as a buy and hold rental market.  Can you cash flow?  Is Michigan fairly landlord friendly?

I lived in the East Lansing area for 12 years and did graduate work at MSU.  We have family in GR. If we bought rentals in GR, it would give us a good excuse to visit!

This is a great discussion!  BP seems to have a lot of very young people trying to get started with no money or older folks with decades of experience.  I'd like to get some conversations going for those of us starting in mid-life who bring other experience and resources with us.  My husband and I are in out mid forties and have two rentals with another under contract.

Hi David - Have you found cash flowing deals in Katy or Cypress? I would love to invest there. Do you go through a wholesaler or MLS?

 Congrats!  I like the Bear Creek area.  We still have not found a rental in Houston that works for us.  When we run our numbers, we keep finding that the property taxes and insurance costs suck up all of our cash flow.  We have been buying outside of Texas.

I agree with the comments about the text being too light.  My eyes can't distinguish it well on the screen.  I'll have to start bolding like others suggested.

Schools in SBISD range dramatically.  There are four high schools and two of them are great and two are horrible.  I grew up in Spring Branch and would not send my kids to my old high school.  However, my kids are attending the better SBISD schools.  I watched my parent's transitional neighborhood north of I10 go from sub $200k prices three years ago to over $400K prices now.  

 You are not likely to find sub $100K properties in Spring Branch.  The prices there have almost doubled in the last few years.  You are better off staying in Cypress or going to Spring or Conroe.  

I am new to REI and I am in my mid forties. It would have been nice to get started earlier, but I still have plenty of runway. The big advantage is that I have resources, money and life experience. I figure those things will make it easier.