All Forum Posts by: Anthony Navarro

@Malcolm Douglas

Yup we are speaking the same language. Lol I try to tell friends/family that when people try to time the market the majority of people are outperformed by individuals who just do dollar cost averaging. Most people just tell me that REI is different and it's just me being impatient. Thank you for your advice and reassuring I'm not crazy. haha

@Kim Stofan

Thank you for your kind words and encouragement! I will definitely be networking much more and looking forward to gain more knowledge and contribute any way I can. 

@Chris Mason

You da man!!! Thank you for all the info it is really appreciated. 

Just to continue to pick your brain if you don't mind. Since you are in the East Bay market what would you do if you were in my shoes? I know that is a super broad question but right now I am leaning towards renting locally and investing 1-2 hours away. With the idea being to cash flow enough to cover my rent, I will coin that the "California House Hack." Lol 

Thank you Chris!  

@Scott Schultz

I have thought of that before. I look at places where the cost of living is so much better then California and get jealous. But I am an independent contractor where I live and built up a pretty consistent and stable client base that affords my the ability to have flexibility in my schedule to Property Manage on the side as well as have time to continually educate myself. My job being my primary seed money it makes me kind of uneasy to leave and potentially lose and not be able to gain the income that I currently have.  But believe me it does cross my mind. Thank you Scott!

@Chris Mason

Great ideas!, the in-law unit idea is definitely something I thought about since I lived in one for the last year. Lol 

Just looked up the Freddie Mac 95% LTV MFR great stuff and something that I will look into. Chris do you know if they charge PMI?

@Brian Pleshek

Awesome advice! You definitely right I have to really sit back and look at my area and see what the advantages and disadvantages are. The entry point for my properties in my area especially B class neighborhoods are ridiculous 500K+. You are correct maybe it would be smart to rent a 1BR in my area pay cheaper rent and own property 1-2 hours away and cash flow that way. This will also allow me to just be the landlord and when I come "home" to detach from REI for a little.

My main goal is to cash flow but also to make my living expenses as low as possible and the big three are food, transportation, and housing. So I would still be accomplishing this by owning properties 1-2 hours away that will afford me to cover so if not all my rent. 

Thank you again Brian for informative stuff! 

@Matt Millard

Thank you Matt! That is a great point I believe that for my goals to be achieved I have to invest outside of my local market. But it is key that I do build relationships in my local markets to be in the best position possible and continue to learn from other investors who have done it. This forum alone is definitely an awesome learning experience. Thank you. 

@Wes Blackwell

AWESOME ADVICE!!!! Thank you for taking your time to write all that out and packing it with so much information. After reading all that I am definitely leaning towards 2. Stockton, Modesto, Sacramento or 3. Out of State Investing because of my main goal of cash flow. 

I am currently favoring staying as local as possible because of my inexperience. I am definitely going to research this. Thank you again!

@Chris Mason

Thank you for letting me know that I was definitely putting all my eggs in the FHA basket hoping to increase me cash on cash return as much as possible. But it does make sense that in this market it is not very attractive. Chris I know you are have achieved a lot in the Bay Area market are you actively pursuing deals or waiting for a cycle shift?

I will definitely be reaching out and being much more active, very nervous that I would look foolish. Also, congrats on everything you accomplished great stuff!   

@Matt Millard

Great advice! That would help me get started now and still hit my goals in the future. Two questions:

1. I was planning to use an FHA loan on my first purchase so that I could get a high cash on cash return. Do you think your idea of investing now at a lower entry point area then putting more down in the future when the cycle shifts is better then what I had in mind?

2. There is some areas in the Central Valley of California (Fresno, Stockton, Modesto) that have much lower entry points then the Bay Area would this still achieve the goal you stated above. This would allow me to be within driving distance of the properties. 

Thank you for all the help and I apologize for the rookie questions still learning a lot.