All Forum Posts by: Austin M Margarida

Here are some neighborhood grades, do your research on flood zones, crime, etc.

Murray Hill (B) ---the closer you get to i-10 the more it is a C...but the closer you get to Riverside, the more opportunity, I'd say because Riverside/Avondale will always be one of the most desirable areas in North Florida. 

Avondale (A)

Riverside (A)

San Marco (A)

St. Nicholas (B-)

 Arlington(C+) Near JU and North Arlington has some very nice neighborhoods

Springfield (C+) Just so close you could hit a pitching wedge from your front door and be in a terrible neighborhood with gunshots and sirens all the time (I work in and around here)

Argyle Forest (B-)

Cedar Hills (C+) Some nice homes and I think if more desirable commercial $ comes in it could be a really nice area.

Oretga (A)

A lot of money is east of the river, in my opinion, more desirable areas- especially for under 40 crowds, more bars, restaurants, more places for families to hang out, just more (newer &nicer) commercial which brings more people in making it more desirable! And there is still a LOT of land that will get built on. 

32254 and 09 look great when you are seeing them on a screen. It's a D/F neighborhood with barely anything that attracts people to it. Also a lot of old homes with bad foundations and bad neighbors. Jacksonville has a lot more to offer

Murray Hill (B) ---the closer you get to i-10 the more it is a C

Avondale (A)

Riverside (A)

San Marco (A)

St. Nicholas (B-)

East Arlington(C+)

Springfield (C+)

Argyle Forest (B-)

Cedar Hills (C+)

Oretga (A)

Become a helper for a general contractor! There are always people wanting help...I would lean away from ones looking for plumbing/electrical

Would learn how to do installs (cabinets, flooring, appliances, countertops, exterior items, etc.)

Just learning efficient ways to work, in real estate, and save $ from having to hire everything out will be extremely useful in my opinion

I know the first question I got asked was if I had two years income on the LLC...but on reddit I think I saw somewhere that if it's to an LLC it is much easier if it has more than one member...if not I think it is a lot harder which = much higher rates as well

@Alan Brooks any websites you recommend looking at for this area? I don't know if Springfield would allow it but there is open lots all around Springfield that would and are cheap, but some streets higher crime than others, obviously

Based on my opinion- have been up and down most, but Jacksonville is very funny with some of these...Some streets are great, and then you go over a block and it is a wreck...I tell people it is hard to invest without driving the area and really getting a feel. I would rank these like this but being able to move either way just a tad- from C+ to B- and vice versa 

Murray Hill (B) ---the closer you get to i-10 the more it is a C 

Avondale (A)

Riverside (A)

San Marco (A)

Southbank---mainly commercial buildings

St. Nicholas (B-)

East Arlington(C+)

Springfield (C+)

Argyle Forest (B-)

Cedar Hills (C+)

Oretga (A)

I would get a credit card as soon as you can- and just have small purchases on it that you pay off right away. Even if it's right after it's charged or ask your parents/family if they can put a couple charges on your card if they don't mind. Credit is important. 

As for FHA...FHA is more expensive than conventional, and you can even get a lower down payment through conventional...a 3% loan is possible. I would shop around as much as you can for the best deals that banks are offering- I recommend you using a local credit union/small bank as they are able to work with you more than banks like Chase/Wells Fargo/etc...you can find deals that the banks offer like down payment assistance/help with closing costs (which are very expensive, I would offer more money to the seller and ask them to pay for closing costs as it keeps more money in your pocket for the initial investment- do some research on how much they would cost on a $100k-200k house)

There is tons of great information throughout this site and in each podcast! Get studying whenever you have time and start talking to people and researching. Best of luck!

There are plenty of duplexes sprinkled throughout Jacksonville...mainly north and northwest of the river. I would avoid Moncrief- have done a lot of work in and around there and it can be pretty ugly- area with more crime than the rest of Jax. There are good pockets though in North Jax youjust have to drive the streets and check the neighborhoods to see if it's something you could work with.

East of the river and below i-10 (west side) is more expensive and has less crime/rundown sections in my opinion and that's where I like to look. Much more to do too, more commercial areas. 

 there are a lot of posts about our city- you can scroll the Jackonsville forum to see a lot- same with google just typing "Biggerpockets Jacksonville" and then whatever your question is.

Good luck!

My preferred as of now:

Ameri's,

121 Financial (can work with 10% down payments, and no PMI, last I heard)

Jax Federal 

Community First Bank

If you need anything past the MEP's... I'd be glad to help out