All Forum Posts by: Brett Merrill

Good morning. As others have said, it's all about your life situation. If you have the ability to house hack that is where I would start. Find a good lender, get pre approved, make sure you practice running the #'s using the 100's of videos and guides from BP, find an investor friendly Realtor, and then start making offers on any property that meets your goal. More doors the better if you are using an FHA type of loan. Also, make sure to keep your eye out for seller financing opportunities.

Thank you for the post!

I'm an investor in MA, so obviously I would recommend here, however I have done a lot of research into Syracuse. Growing rapidly and is reasonably priced still. 

H @Matt Osborne

You have come to the right place. Looks like Jon Bombaci and @Andrew Freed would be your best contacts out that way. If you're ever interested in seeing what's going happening on the western side of the state feel free to reach out anytime. 

Very helpful. Thank you. 

Hi Jeremy,

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and Penny. Your top-notch experiences and resume will provide you with a strong foundation in real estate investing. 

My wife, Brittany, and I also own and self-manage several units in the Springfield area. She was also an educator serving our community and now we are both Realtors in MA/CT.

We are seeing on-market and off-market Multifamily and commercial opportunities popping up frequently. 

You two are going to do great things. Cheers to a successful 2025!

Hey Brody,

I just came across this post. I am BP's Premiere Featured Agent for the WMass area. Have you purchased a property yet? I'd love to help you. Please send me a direct message. You can follow me @merrillgroupsells. 

Hi @Jacqueline Lee

Very exciting news about your venture into the world of Real Estate Investing, and I wanted to extend my congratulations!

My name is Brett Merrill, and I'm a seasoned Realtor/Investor with a focus on the Central/Western MA area. I've had the privilege of being the featured agent for Bigger Pockets in these regions, where I've had the pleasure of assisting numerous investors in buying and selling their investments. The most recent success was in Gardener, and it's always incredibly rewarding to see investors thrive in the real estate market.

As you embark on this exciting journey, I wanted to reach out and offer my support. I have two promising multi-family properties that will be hitting the market in the next couple of months in Gardner, and I'd love to share more details with you. Whether you're looking to expand your portfolio or explore new opportunities, I believe these properties could be of interest to you.

If you have any questions or would like to discuss your goals and how I can assist you in achieving them, please feel free to reach out. I'm more than happy to share my insights and expertise to help you in any way possible.

Congratulations once again, Jacqueline, and I look forward to the possibility of collaborating and contributing to your success.

🏢 Revitalizing Success: Transforming a Struggling Business into a Thriving Venture 🏢

In the heart of our local community, I embarked on a journey that epitomizes the power of strategic thinking and problem-solving, resulting in the acquisition of a long-standing business and property that has become a beacon of success.

The business, once a cornerstone of the community, faced challenges stemming from distant ownership decisions that strained the business and its dedicated managers—a remarkable husband-and-wife team. Recognizing the untapped potential beneath the surface, I set out to forge relationships with both the sellers and the dynamic managerial duo.

The key to this success story was my ability to be a problem solver. Observing that the business consistently attracted a loyal clientele, coupled with high profit margins on services rendered, I saw an opportunity. The on-paper profitability did not reflect the true potential of the enterprise, and I knew transformative action was needed.

Approaching the four distant owners, I proposed a comprehensive solution—acquiring both the business and the property. The timing was opportune, as the apparent struggles of the business allowed for a purchase at a favorable market rate. Negotiations led to a groundbreaking deal with seller financing: 0% down, a 5-year balloon at 5%, and an additional $20,000 at 5% interest upon the liquidation of their business, providing a financial buffer during our transition.

Equally crucial was engaging the managers who knew the ins and outs of the business. I proposed a unique opportunity for them to become co-owners, aligning their expertise with the vision for revitalization. The acquisition unfolded seamlessly, creating a synergistic partnership that leveraged the collective knowledge and passion of the existing team.

Since the acquisition, our focused efforts have yielded remarkable results. We've halted financial leaks, brought in fresh talent, and implemented training and bonus programs that nearly doubled productivity. The acquisition extended beyond the business, encompassing the property as well. As the sole owner, I secured this asset with 0% down, a 5% interest rate, and a 5-year balloon.

These strategic purchases form the foundation for a robust future, generating excellent passive income and equity. By acquiring distressed business and property, leasing to ourselves, implementing improvements, and strategically refinancing, we are poised for sustained success. This narrative reflects not only a triumph over challenges but also a blueprint for future opportunities, where strategic vision and problem-solving can create lasting prosperity.

Here's to transforming challenges into triumphs, and to the exciting possibilities that lie ahead!

Investment Info:

Industrial commercial investment investment.

Purchase price: $500,000

In the heart of our local community, I embarked on a journey that epitomizes the power of strategic thinking and problem-solving, resulting in the acquisition of a long-standing business and property that has become a beacon of success. This was all acquired for 0% down.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

The key to this success story was my ability to be a problem solver. Observing that the business consistently attracted a loyal clientele, coupled with high profit margins on services rendered, I saw an opportunity. The on-paper profitability did not reflect the true potential of the enterprise, and I knew transformative action was needed.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

I engaged the managers who knew the ins and outs of the business. I proposed a unique opportunity for them to become co-owners, aligning their expertise with the vision for revitalization. The acquisition unfolded seamlessly, creating a synergistic partnership that leveraged the collective knowledge and passion of the existing team.

How did you finance this deal?

Approaching the four distant owners, I proposed a comprehensive solution—acquiring both the business and the property. The timing was opportune, as the apparent struggles of the business allowed for a purchase at a favorable market rate. Negotiations led to a groundbreaking deal with seller financing: 0% down, a 5-year balloon at 5%, and an additional $20,000 at 5% interest upon the liquidation of their business, providing a financial buffer during our transition.

How did you add value to the deal?

Since the acquisition, our focused efforts have yielded remarkable results. We've halted financial leaks, brought in fresh talent, and implemented training and bonus programs that nearly doubled productivity.

What was the outcome?

These strategic purchases form the foundation for a robust future, generating excellent passive income and equity. By acquiring distressed business and property, leasing to ourselves, implementing improvements, and strategically refinancing, we are poised for sustained success. This narrative reflects not only a triumph over challenges but also a blueprint for future opportunities, where strategic vision and problem-solving can create lasting prosperity.

Lessons learned? Challenges?

Be a problem solver.