All Forum Posts by: Brandon T.

 I moved to a different strategy of private lending / note investing. Can be done anywhere at anytime during the day. When you are the bank you also do not deal with tenants, toilets termites etc... No more sunday phone calls the toilet is clogged or rushing to go look at a property that is getting 20 offers. 

Hey everyone, Seth Baumgartner here. I work a demanding job with SpaceX that requires long hours and frequent travel. While I'm passionate about real estate investing, balancing it with my day job can be a challenge. I've been using various strategies to manage both efficiently, such as setting specific goals and leveraging technology. I'm curious to know how other investors in this community, who might have similar demanding schedules, manage to stay active in real estate investing. What tools or strategies do you employ to ensure you're giving adequate time to your investments while also excelling in your day job?

@Brandon T. I’m in NH and am getting out of the business of paying for my tenants heat. I have one building I’ve owned 3 years where the tenants regularly keep the heat on 78 and wear t-shirts and shorts and go barefoot when it’s -25 out and I bought another one this past spring that when I was doing due diligence in the winter at least 3/8 units had the heat on 78 and the windows cracked and it was -15.

I am putting in propane Rinaii heaters. There will be one for each living room and bed room and I suppose if you had dining room/other rooms they would need one too. Each tenant will have their own propane account with my fuel company and a commercial rate which is about $1.00 cheaper per gallon than rack rate. It’s much cheaper and more efficient than electric.

It’s expensive but I will recoup my cost on each building’s oil cost in 2 years not to mention the write offs which I haven’t factored in.

For 18 units for my largest building it’s going to be $40K for running gas lines, 18 heaters, placing the heaters, placing the tank, digging the trench for the line to the tank from the building and reburying it, and having the propane company out to test all the units. I’ve already used $1500 in oil in 3 weeks for heat and it hasn’t been below 45 yet. So I know the building just eats fuel.

@Brandon T.

Lets face it..  The less costly it is for the tenants, the more likely they are going to be able to pay rent to you...  So, you can go cheap and get the electric baseboards, but tenants will realize either before or after they rent from you that the the higher utility bills are just adding to the cost of living.

Look at your market / competition...  If you market can bear it, okay..  Or, be the one that is cheaper and potentially better living conditions.  It depends on what sort of landlord you want to be.  And if your issue is that you can't afford it, maybe you shouldn't be investing there.

Good luck.

Hi Brandon, I hope all is well! From my experience, rents tend to be higher with having a furnace instead of baseboard heating.  Also, baseboard heating is much more expensive which creates higher turnover. Overall, tenants aren't a fan. 

@Brandon T.

Hi Brandon, I am also interested in Cincinnati investing from out of state. A friend of my wife’s invests out there. May be you and I can chat if you want. By the way whereabout are you from? Or do you reside Cincinnati or close? Thanks