All Forum Posts by: Brad Shepherd

@Stephen Spradley

Thanks Stephen. What did you like about it there that made it stand out for you?

Grew up in Utah.

São Paulo, Brazil for a couple years.

Costa Rica, New Zealand, Australia, Bali for several months each during a world tour.

Moved from Bali to Austin, TX 10 years ago.

We like it here, but we're growing tired of the 8-month long summers and lack of infrastructure to support the incredible growth. And we really miss mountains. (Outdoor activity in Texas seems to be limited to state parks and knowing someone with land.)

We're interested in finding another spot but don't have a strong pull anywhere, other than family in Utah but we can't get excited about moving back there, so we're stuck in indecision. We've wondered about Colorado Springs or Fort Collins, and Charlotte or Raleigh. But we'd be moving in blind with no network or knowledge and with having kids now, it feels a little trickier. I'd love people's thoughts around where to go, based on combining good weather without extremes on either side (crazy winters or summers) and good rental markets for cash flow.

@Adam Pakes

When you ask about what I have my SDIRA dollars in, it's other people's syndications. I syndicate deals and help passive investors find great opportunities, but I'd never put my IRA dollars in my own deals where I'm part of the General Partnership.

I have mine invested in commercial syndications, private lending, and rental houses that I bought sub-to. Private lending might be the cleanest and simplest.

Nice work man. Congrats. And good luck in Fort Collins.

Unlike the stocks, you control much of the outcome with your real estate. Not the overall market of course, but the deal you purchase, how you finance it, how you manage it, etc. Down cycles last for a few years. You're not buying a rental property to hold it for just a few years. I might be more hesitant to start a new construction spec home deal right now, because you'll be dependent on the market and a buyer obtaining financing to exit the deal. But buying rental properties? Sure. Just buy right, and let it run.

It's all about the comps. But try to add one feature that makes yours stand out. A piece of smart technology, a cool kitchen feature, even just a nice master bath accessory. Don't go crazy, but find something that will hook in a potential renter's brain.  Kitchens and master baths....

Congrats on landing the deal.

Now that's tacky. Maybe one or two, with some good design around them to make it feel fun or within the theme. But imagine the host who put those up. I'd pass.  We do a couple short term rentals. No signs. A couple laminated sheets in a nice binder near the TV include instructions for devices, garbage pickup day, policies, etc. Does the trick.

I earn lots of airline miles shopping online, but starting through an airline's shopping portal (https://shopping.mileageplus.com/, for example, but every airline has one). One of the two big box stores will have a deal going on where they offer extra miles, so I go with that. That approach gives me the direct airlines miles due to going through their portal, as well as the points or miles from the credit card I use. Simple way to double dip. (Do the same thing when booking hotels and then you triple dip by earning the hotel points too!)  Then someone at the store has to do all the item picking walking up and down those aisles, they text when you when it's assembled, and then you just swing by and pick it up. So it's more efficient too.

@Luciana Warman The new lender may require you to deed it back your personal name, which the title company doing the closing would handle. Easy.