All Forum Posts by: Kevin C.

Hi Jon!

Here are a couple good sites I use to see where rates are:

http://www.aimloan.com/
http://www.amerisave.com/

AimLoan and Amerisave both provide instant quotes for investor properties.

Here's a link to a Forum thread on FatWallet.com discussing mortgage rates. it's geared more towards owner occupied rates, but there's some investment financing discussion sprinkled in.
http://www.fatwallet.com/forums/finance/788032/

I just recently refinanced my primary home using amerisave.com.

BP = everything you need to know about REI, period!
I've learned a lot since finding this site, so much of what I assumed about investing in RE was pretty far off the mark.

Appreciate all your effort to bring us this site Josh.
Also appreciate all the members who are always here to share and help.

Happy Birthday BP.

I also use http://www.realtor.com/.
Select 'Rentals' under the 'Home Type' drop-down.

It will show you current MLS listings.

LOL - Yep, the percentages are dynamic and are changing all the time, but you can still get a snapshot of where you are, at any time.

If you don't know where you are, then how can you tell if you're on the right track???

I stand by my 57% (at this moment) ;>).

Edit to add - personally, I would not be comfortable being 100% invested in anything.

57% RE.

I agree with the statement that the market is similar to Vegas, more so today than in the past with all the govt manipulation.

I still play in that pool though, been through all the ups and downs, but overall still pretty nice gains there. When the market takes a serious dump, I hold what I have and buy more - it's worked so far .

Financial info is keyed into Quicken on a regular basis as transactions occur.

I keep all receipts in folders, by property, then scan the contents of each folder at the end of the year to send to the CPA along with the income/expense reports.

Been managing mine with Quicken.

I'd been using Quicken for years for my personal finances and it was pretty simple to set it up to track my rentals, not nearly as robust as Quickbooks, but it gets the job done.

At the moment, 58% RE, 22% Cash and 20% Equities.

Equities are maybe 50% mutual funds, the rest individual stocks.
I like steady dividend plays like MO, PM, KO, SJI, O etc, but will go out on a limb for riskier bets, like F in the 4's ;>).

Was in and out of AAPL several times the past few weeks for some quick gains.

Cash position is a little on the low side due to a recent RE purchase.

In the process of refinancing primary residence and scores from all 3 bureaus were pulled.

Self 784 780 785
Wife 821 792 798

Mine had been high 700's low 800's but a few hard pulls associated with refinancing a couple rentals knocked the scores down. Bad thing is, ended up not even going through with the rental refi's, too much in fees.

I am an IT Director and also a RE Investor. I could tell you I'm a Circus Clown, but that wouldn't make me one.