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All Forum Posts by: Ben McMahon

Ben McMahon has started 30 posts and replied 316 times.

Post: New member from Nova DMV area!

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137
It's the last frontier of D.C. The Wild West. Send me pm. If you want to chat

Post: New member from Nova DMV area!

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137
Jonathan Weaver I'm living and investing in front royal. I would highly recommend you come out this way and look. The numbers are far better than the metro area. Let me know if you want to meet up.

Post: Know any Finished Carpenters in Shenandoah Valley VA area?

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137
I know of a very good finish carpenter. Pm me if you want his info. He's done some work for me.

Post: Newbie from Stephens City, VA (Looking to connect)

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137
Welcome Scott. I'm right down the street. Best advice I can give is to do your first deal. So many people want to do this business, but most people never do because they don't act. Feel free to reach if your really ready to take action.

Post: Problem with a contractor - advice needed!

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137

I agree with @J Scott and @Michael P.

However, I do know what its like when your the GC and your sub comes in with a change order.  Of course he is going to kick that cost to the owner.  It might be worth talking to his electrical sub and seeing just how much more his bill cost, and why.  Sometimes unforeseen things happen, and there has to be some flexibility in your budget for that.  I would dig a little.  Maybe the electrician is part of the problem, and it could be solved with a simple phone call.  

I will say that my personal opinion is this is a very typical contractor, and its a classic scenario.  Contractors are always late, and always cost more than they are supposed to.  That is going to happen again, I can guarantee it.  1900 bucks isn't worth going to court over in my opinion, so I would probably just make his life difficult until he drops it.  One letter from a lawyer scares the heck out of these guys.  

Where in Upstate?  Hopefully not my hometown of Gotham City..... I mean Binghamton

Post: offmarket duplex, need to sell

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137

Sounds good, if I don't answer shoot me a text and I will call you back.  Thanks

Post: What is a turnkey rental provider?

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137

I guess it wasn't really that silly of a question.  Given that it does seem to mean different things for different people.  

Post: Need some money, what should I sell?

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137

@Jerry W.

Interesting angle.  That property is also in the flood plane, which is part of the cashflow issue.  It also has the least amount of equity.  Which is kind of annoying.

Post: Need some money, what should I sell?

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137

@George Taylor

All the properties are leveraged to different degrees.  Which obviously plays a role in the decision making process.  1 and 2 are wrapped up together, and 3 and 4 are wrapped together.  There is more equity in 3 and 4.  Maybe 50% give or take

Post: Need some money, what should I sell?

Ben McMahon
Posted
  • Contractor
  • San Diego CA
  • Posts 334
  • Votes 137

So I am having a cashflow issue right now, and Im not sure what to do about it.  Without getting into the nitty gritty of why I need the money, I am planning on selling one or more properties.  I really don't want to sell anything because I worked hard to get these properties, and over the last few years I have only kept the ones that are solid.  It seems like a step backwards to sell anything because my longterm plan was to grow a large portfolio of properties.  

I have a lot of money tied up in some other projects, and I don't know when those are going to pan out.  I owe money to some people, some people owe me money, but its been tough lately.  So, the question.

Which property should I sell?  There are a few that are tied up with other investors, so they are off limits, but the ones that I plan on possibly selling are 4 different ones

1) Hot Corner - Single family that we renovated a few years ago in an almost exclusively commercially zoned area.  I can rezone and make into an office without many upgrades.  Its at an extremely busy intersection and can be used as small office or flex space.  Problem is that it would take months

2)Picket Fence - Perfect little 3 bedroom in quiet area.  Really good rental, and have had a solid tenant for a couple years.  Not amazing cashflow, has been almost maintenance free

3) Double up Duplex - Bought this sucker at the bottom of the market, and is worth twice what I paid for it.  Its got tons of upside because the whole area is currently getting new roads and a new bridge etc.  The place itself has good cashflow, but its an old building.  

4) First time Townhome - My first investment property I bought in 2010 and like the others has been a great property.  Its worth more than double what I bought it for, and I've always had good tenants.  It also has some sentimental value, although I am pretty good just looking at what makes sense.  

I realize there are a ton of variables here, but I have to do something.  So which one?