All Forum Posts by: Brian Johnson

these are some search sites I have used in past.

Google search (I don't think I can give links on this site )

Home sales dog gov which has all different gov sales.

Home step is Freddy mac listings

PVA is a great way to gather information on your prospects.  Zillow is hardly ever up to date and very rare on the value estimates.  I have always used a real estate agent.  Realtor dot com is better than Zillow.

Good advice gave to you.  When I got started I could barely swing a hammer.  Buying a rental will for sure put you on the fast track in learning.  Working in a property management co would be the best way if the pay scale is  comparable to your current job.  The tricky part is you still need to be saving for a investment property.  Only you can make the numbers work.

If you can't change careers at this time I suggest reading all you can on this site and recommended books.

Good luck

 Thank you for the link.  Looks like a good reference tool.  Another tool I have using is school digger.  A good school tends to be a good rental area.  Right now I have been using this tool to find a good place in a good elementary school area.  I can definitely see neighborhood scout helping me narrow down the search.  I will see how well it helps next month when we go to the area and see the prospects in person.

I really like the advice posted.  I also will be moving to the Tampa Bay Area from Kentucky to start my house flipping and RE sales career.  Looking to move January or sooner.

I have offered incentives to pay early and did not work (it was low income property).  I am going to try it again on my middle income.  I think a $50. Is more than enough incentive.  Perhaps make it between the 25th to 1st of month.   After the 1st have late fees occur.

I took my test about 2 weeks ago and passed.  

The practice exam and math practice at 

Climer school real estate was a great help.  I took the real estate express class online.  So between the online class material and the climer practice information was all I used.  Climer also have YouTube math problems that they go in great detail.

Pearson Vue is the private company that will be giving the test.  They also have a practice exam but it cost $25.00 I think.

The State test was actually easier than the climer practice exam.  Good luck!

You came to the right place to gather information.  Lots of different views and strategies.   The first purchase is not really as important to have a big game plan but if you find yourself shopping for another, you might want to write down your short and long term goals.  In Lexington I found that town homes were pretty cheap and I could get good rent returns.  Much better than a house.  The great advantage about a sfh (single family home). Is if you want to sell it.  You have a very big market.  Multi family homes are good but cost more.  I purchased a duplex once.  Moved in one side and rented the other.  Was great way to subsidize your living expense.  Just some things to think about.  Good luck 

I use my 401k to buy my investment properties. Every rental I purchased I borrow from my 401k to put down on my rentals.  Then I pay myself back plus about 4.5% interest. (Going rate of my last purchase)

Maybe not all 401k plans are not setup to borrow from but the company I work for has it.

My last purchase I borrowed $40,000 to purchase a $94,000 town home.  I used $20,000 to buy the property and pocketed the other $20,000+- for my hard work.  The rent pays for my payback payments of my 401k and I had the $20k in advance.

 Some my say never borrow from your retirement but I feels it's a good asset transfer. 

In the area I live now,  it is difficult to find homes to flip and make a profit in my price range.  They are just not worth the work and cost for the slim profit.   I have been looking in other cities to find a price point I want.