All Forum Posts by: Ben Hughes

Does anyone have experience working with or using the Lifestyles Unlimited mentoring/coaching program? 

I am reaching out to investors in the Area North of the Hobby Airport in SE Houston.  My property manager say all is well, but I would like to hear what you are seeing out there.  Thanks BP community for any assistance.

I hear that Corpus is getting hit pretty bad.  How is Beaumont?

@Eric Tait

@Ben Hughes

At my bank, the house you will be buying would have to be bigger than your current property as the new house would be considered an investment property which requirers 20% down and a higher interest rate. Owner occupied properties always have to be considered upgrades if purchased in the same area. The other poster, said dti on both mortgages, this is correct at least at Bank Of America which is my employer. If you have rental history of 2 years showing on your 1040's, the underwriter will allow rental income from the current property. Also, keep in mind the "buy and bail" rule which is going to require assets for mortgages payment for both properties for 6 months. This can be a big sum of cash.

In my opinion the two programs are complementary and if you are going to compare best bang for buck you need to stick to $500 LU only as BP dies not purport to offer the same opportunities as the more expensive memberships at LU.  To answer the best bang for buck question, Bigger Pockets free membership is hands down the best bang for buck as it does not even cost a buck.  In my limited experience with the $500 membership at LU, the face to face access to real life local people via networking events etc. cannot be matched by bigger pockets currently.  However, I have found the information on bigger pockets to be superior in comparison to lifestyles.  I have no experience with the more expensive memberships at lifestyles.  I have simply heard mixed reviews.  BP is my go to knowledge tool.  Lifestyles is my go to networking tool.

Here's a story about another Harvard grad, showing that smarts and education don't always add up to the result you might expect (not knocking you personally BTW so please don't take it that way):

http://www.philly.com/philly/news/special_packages...

Why do you have to be like that?  It wasn't me who wondered why one would pay for something he could get for free with all the information out there in the world.  Is it not true that you can access all the information that a university teaches - for free?  Way to avoid answering the point of my message.

@Ben Hughes, are you a $500 member or higher?