All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

@Joshua Dorkin

Brandon Turner - no @ because I'm not connected to you...yet!

1. Just curious because I want to learn more about the topic - any plans to dedicate a podcast to Airbnb, VRBO and/or other similar vehicles? Curious to know if experienced investors do this and what their thoughts/insights are? What system(s) do they have in place to streamline?

2. Not sure if I am posting this in the correct forum category. Mods - if not, feel free to move to the correct forum.

Thanks!

I like greys, but nothing too blue or green based. I like the truer greys.

I also like black high gloss - using that for the mantle and both sides of the entry door for drama - really anchors the space and makes great focal points.

@Kyle Williams

Welcome!

You'll find a good amount of good folks from Raleigh area around here.

I'm in NY, but have family in Apex - love it down there!

Enjoy your time off and best of luck!

@Eric A.

Definitely Beacon. Also Highland Falls, Fishkill & Wappinger Falls. These are commuters.

Some folks are also doing Newburgh, but only by the water.

Rhinebeck, Saugerties and Millbrook are already way established...so not sure if they are the right places to look.

I would say follow the artists first. The hipsters follow the artists. I see artists as Phase 1, then hipsters that follow Phase 2.

Think Lower East Side and East/West Village, back in the days.

The hipsters are going up to 2 hours north of NYC now, for the last few years.

One thing to consider is the rate of your student loan. If it's low (i.e. 3.5%), then you might be able to make better a better return investing. If it's high (i.e. 12%), then you will be better off paying off the loan. You save yourself 12% on every dollar. If your RE investing makes you 10%, still better off paying off the 12% debt.

Depending on the dollar amount of you loan, it could potentially impede your taking out loans with favorable terms. Lenders will look at your debt-to-income. 

I just call it Reserves. We keep 6 months work of PITI + 2k at the ready for emergency repairs for each investment property.

We also have a separate emergency fund for ourselves which includes 6 months PITI + 6 months maintenance (we have a coop for primary residence) + 6 months spending money (with no lifestyle reduction).

Both funds help us sleep better at night. We don't touch the funds at all. Also helps when it comes time to go to lender...they see we have the reserves.

For investments, we just save up additional money outside of these two funds.

@Jamie Mathieu 

Best way would be to talk to a few local Property Managers and see what their takes are. You can probably find some right here on BP or at least can get recommendations from someone here.

You can also go online and check out some statistics. Redfin might be a good free source - they service Baltimore. When you're on a property's page, there is a section called Neighborhood Info (near the middle of the page) with a little box to the right with Demographics link. Click on it and another page will show you the housing inventory (owned v rented v vacant, turnover, crime, etc.). Granted, this is for the zip code ONLY, so gives a general overview. But a good start before you dig in by community and blocks. 

Another place can be city data. You can get a lot of info for the zip, then drill down to the community, including population growth, etc.. Some data can be a bit outdated, but again, a good place to start.

Best of luck!

In NY, we have Build It Green - great resource for those in the tri-state area. 

They will also de-construct for you.

I think checkered floors can have its place and look nice.

it depends on what it's paired with. 

The red cabinets, yellow and green paint might be a bit much to most people. Especially in the kitchen, no place for my eyes to "rest".