All Forum Posts by: Bradley Buxton

@Williams Herrera

Welcome to BP! The Bay Area is a fantastic place for house hacking. There are still some areas that offer good investment opportunities. Speaking with a knowledgeable local lender can help you set goals and work towards building future wealth.

@Vanessa Lule

I'm in North Tahoe and there are furnished rentals. Check with the local regulations on permits and what is required. Some condo HOAs do not allow STRs or some even long term rentals. Keep in mind there is a big movement to provide housing for locals. If you area considering the area make sure that the owners know what you are doing. 

@Doug Hoang

Looks like an interesting ideas especially for investments that have an HOA and only one electrical meter. Can this be adapted to any onsite EV charger? Many EVs need at least a 240V outlet to sufficiently charge.

@Chris Kittle

Getting the rents the tenants actually pay will be very important, do they all pay on time, and, what are their current leases. This is your income for the property. Some selling agents and owners will artificially inflate rents. You likely will not be able to get this info until you're under contract. 

Second look at the expenses and see if there were any (or not) major updates to the property such as roofs, pipes, electrical panels, tree trimming, sewer laterals, or paving. I'm in the Reno, NV area and while it's not a high fire risk in many areas insurance companies are looking very closely at the mechanicals of buildings before insuring properties or before writing a policy.

@Priti Ag

Long-term residents often dislike short-term rentals (STRs). In the Tahoe area, some HOAs have a high percentage of STRs, making it easier to invest in those complexes. Finding a condo complex that is STR-friendly can lead to a better investment. Keep in mind that condos are typically a more affordable housing option, resulting in more long-term residents. I recommend avoiding condos for STRs unless they're in tourist areas like Lake Tahoe.

There is not much you can do if the residents in the HOA vote to no longer allow STRs. You can develop a coalition of other STRs to get other on your side. That seems like a longshot though.

@Josh Salapare

There are some advantages to buying now and renting if the appreciation will reward you. In the Reno, NV market there is a large shortage of housing that continues to drive up housing and very few new home starts. When rates go down there will be more buyers in the market creating more competition and driving up prices. Some people also might be sitting on the sidelines to see what the new Trump policies will be. 

@Bruce M.

I'm in the N.NV area and have a few agents here I can recommend that work with investors.  

@Philip Anderson

Investing close to home is often easier to start. While some markets offer better cash flow (Midwest) or higher appreciation (Western U.S., tourist areas), choosing the right market depends on the time, energy, and lifestyle you're willing to invest. It's helpful to eliminate markets that don't suit your preferences (e.g., CA).

Nearby places like ID, AZ, and NV can be day trips from CA, making it easier to visit properties and manage property managers. Nevada is landlord-friendly with low property taxes. Vegas offers plentiful single-family homes and affordable multi-family units, while Reno features higher-quality inventory and greater appreciation. 

@Paul B.

The LLC will offer some protection from liability not anonymity. I have a lawyer reference in NV that will give you a few minutes of time and they specialize in setting up LLCs. They may be able to help with getting it setup with some deeper level of privacy.

@Tamera McNeil

The bay area can be a good place to invest. It's more capital intensive than most other markets and the pay off can be bigger. For a long term buy and hold or depending or your strategy there is still money to be made. Downside is that there are many restrictions and laws to navigate.  Do your research and visit any area at different times of the day to get a feel for the parking situation, noise levels, and traffic.