All Forum Posts by: Nat C.

I own a property undergoing development in Miami.

It's only approved to be a duplex, so 2 units. Yet there are 3 folio numbers for the property under the City files.

When I recently paid the property taxes I had to pay 3 lots of taxes at around $800 each. I'm wondering why I paid 3 lots of taxes when there are only 2 units and there is only allowed to be 2 units under zoning regulations?

Interesting conversation.

I was paying my last contractor $15/hour - which was his asking price, not my offer price, plus I paid his rent at $800 a month, plus petrol money, plus food, plus loans to the point where I basically became his Sugar Momma.

I'm 27 by the way and he is 44. In the end he still screwed me over. Bottom line is look at credentials, work history and references. It saves time and money in the long run.

Hi Alton,

I wish I had of seen this earlier.

You may have already found a PM. I cannot recommend more highly Adam Bark:

Southern Shores Real Estate Group

1050 St. Andrews Blvd., Suite D

Charleston, SC 29407

Sales Agent / Property Management

Direct 843-906-5474

Email [email protected]

Adam is the most awesome realtor I've come across in 10 years working in real estate. The guy is beyond amazing. He project managed my entire property renovation while I was overseas at ABSOLUTELY NO COST.

I offered to pay him on a number of occasions and he declined. He oversaw every detail of the job to make sure it was done well. The initial idea was to sell however when we listed it the offers weren't very good.

Then Adam turned around and said we needed to find tenants so I could generate some rental income. He found some good tenants to move in straight away but there was no HVAC.

Adam actually provided his own window air conditioner whilst I was organizing installation of the central system.

Adam is one of the most hard working, ethical, trustworthy people I've ever met in my life. HIGHLY RECOMMEND

A very smart lady (@Jessica Swingle) recently said to me that many investors wouldn't buy a property where they wouldn't want their mother to live.

That's one investment method and definitely good advice. (I would only ever put my Mum up in a plush condo on Miami Beach, as she deserves nothing less).

However the times of the bottom dollar properties of yesteryear are now passed and gentrification (or premting it) is my new game plan.

@Vana G. I don't invest for the present; I invest for the future.

Look, when I was walking around looking at properties in Overtown last year I felt like I was in a circus, although I wasn't sure if I was the spectator or the performer.

I'm a 6ft blonde, very white female and the attention I was getting was unbearable. The current demographics show a predominately black neighborhood with most inhabitants living well below the poverty line.

Please see this very interesting website on overtown-

http://overtowner.com

Regarding the difference between Overtown and Little Haiti, if you view it from a sheer geographical standpoint you can see the distinct difference.

Little Haiti is a fairly large area with 2 borders that are very haute couture and 2 borders that are like a faux pas.

Overtown is a smaller precinct with hot real estate in every direction. When all the land is gone, where do the developers go next? It happens all over the world where they pay the locals to go elsewhere.

I'm happy to to be a pioneer in the Overtown take over.

@Vana G. that's a crazy statement! Overtown is a goldmine! I would LOVE to buy there. It's right in the centre of Miami. It's surrounded by premium real estate (Wynwood, Miami Beach, Downtown, Brickell) and in the middle is this little ghetto called Overtown. It's only a (short) matter of time before this place is flipped. I have been trying to buy there for the past year. There was one 4plex I looked at which went for 175k which I regret not buying and another wholesale property I just missed out on. I hope I can buy there very soon.

It was on the MLS for several months for 110K and I thought it was a good deal at that price. I really liked the property but then I got distracted with other things and forgot about it.

The listing agent emailed me some time later and asked if I wanted to put in a lower offer. I was in a whimsical mood so I pulled the figure 86K out of a hat.

I was very surprised when they accepted.

I just paid cash. It was only 86K; it's like loose change.

Jose, not quite sure what your question means exactly.....

I acquired it off the MLS?

First let's start by defining Little Haiti. Wikipedia says the perimeters are:

54th St -71st St

East of I-95 and West of Biscayne Blvd

Miami is a red hot market right now but properties are still as cheap as chips in the ghetto that stretches out West including Brownsville and Liberty City- cos yeah, no one wants to risk getting shot for buying a cheap property.

Driving around the epicenter of Little Haiti last year was like being on an alien planet. I have lived in several 3rd world countries that looked like a fine kingdom by comparison.

However on the East side of Little Haiti bordering Biscayne there are some very nice streets. On other side of Biscayne is Bayside and Morning Side which is far more affluent.

I have a strong interest in Little Haiti. It's still affordable unlike Midtown and Wynwood and yet these trendy, sought after areas are only minutes away by car.

I recently bought a duplex on 57th St. The street itself is so well kept with everyone looking after their yards. My property is only 2 minutes walk from Biscayne. I got a bargain at 86K. I inherited the tenants who pay $1700 in total per month.

I think I'm going to buy more in this area. My question to Miamian's is what do you think of the future growth of Little Haiti as a whole? As the grab for properties in the design district intensifies, do you think this will spread up to Little Haiti in years to come?

Best advice is to feed them like dogs. When they complete each task you give them a little treat and when they finish the whole job, they get a meal.

Sorry if this sounds condescending but after being screwed over by contractors that many times you have to learn to smarten up.

Also never turn your back on a dog. You may think you have earned their loyalty and friendship but YOU CAN NEVER TRUST THEM.