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All Forum Posts by: Chris Ayers

Chris Ayers has started 10 posts and replied 122 times.

Post: Cash-out Refi in Charlotte?

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57
Originally posted by @Souvik G.:

An upvote on my original post made 9 months back made me come back here. I wanted to add one more 'conventional' lender to the thread for individuals:

John Kotrides - Atlantic Bay Mortgage - 704.4613734

I just finished my 4th BRRR with him and got very competitive rates and superlative service. He actually helped me beat the first appraisal (appraisals working in your favor are a big part of BRRR) from a xenophobic appraiser(topic for another post - I am not Caucasian, neither are my renters) - the 1st appraiser appraised a 150K house for 105K, using 3 comps which were fixer-uppers and almost a year old. John lobbied with his bosses to get a 2nd appraisal done at his own cost which came much closer to the ARV.

Non-conventional lenders targeting LLCs/Inc's book Commercial Loans. My bank, First Citizens, makes those loans as soon as I have renters in place ~ 1 month. But the initial points and separate insurance company commercial premiums(3x) have always made me 'quit claim' title to my personal name, and wait 4.5 month before i mortgage-shop around to finish my BRRR. i know that needs to change after the 10th property...but i'm still 2 years out to that target. And at the 7th property mark, i will anyway go 'portfolio'. FACO has good program with low interest rates for that inflection point.

BTW, for those of you who are rolling your eyes at the suggestion of moving rental property from an LLC back to my personal name, my research tells me - liability protection for regular investors, thru' an LLC is overrated and over-priced. If you need proof, Just google some one like Clint Coons and talk to him and learn about his company's elaborate plan to keep the landlord safe. Looks good on paper, doesn't work in real life, and the yearly fees is mind-boggling. Then again, go back to google to see what I just said about fees vs. LLC protection not working and it has nothing to do with protecting the 'corporate veil' - (i know, topic for another post). Tort Liabilty is real guys and LLCs dont help. What helps is:

1. Primarily, take good care of your rental properties to avoid problems - physically change the air filter personally every 2-3 months and during that time inspect the property for water leaks, pests, damages, etc. Proactively fix problems, before they snowball.

2. Your renters are just ordinary folks like you and me. Treat them like you would want someone else to treat you.

3. Leave chocolate, or may be a champagne at the door during Christmas.

4. Pet their pets, compliment them on their decorating choices. "Tenant Painting wall" posts are overrated. Let them make your house their home - and stay longer(you would anyway repaint the whole house after long-term tenants leave) 

5. Give them some rent credit if they took care of a problem on their own, especially on a Sunday. Toilet overflowing...pipes frozen, Circuit breaker tripped. its just not cost of physically getting their, time is money.

6. Screen your renters before giving them the keys. 1 to 5 will not work with not-normals, or as Stephen Colbert calls it -"deplorables" 

If you liked this post, please up-vote so more people benefit. If you are in Charlotte and surrounding, I would love to buy you lunch and exchange ideas. 

Good detailed post. 

I would agree with you that Clint Coons is way overpriced and almost "scammy."  He has booths at Rich Dad, Poor Dad seminars so that should tell you all you need to know. 

I still think an LLC is a good protection strategy. I had one crated for me and it was only $150-200 from what I remember which cost just as much as 1 year of umbrella insurance. Having good insurance might work out in the beginning when you don't have much, but if you're looking to grow fast, then its better to do it up front to avoid a refinancing nightmare later. To avoid piercing the veil, if you treat it like a business then it will be appeared as one. Get your business banking accounts set up and do things properly.

I've read some cases where a guy who owned over a million in RE was sued because his teenage son was in a really bad car accident while on the dad's insurance - now they are going after the dad's assets. Your 6 points above (which they are good suggestions in general) won't stop every lawsuit. Just being a good landlord doesn't protect against things like that. 

Post: Any wholesalers in the Charlotte metro area?

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

I haven't had much luck with wholesalers in the area. Bunch of cases of flat out dishonesty.  One of them said a home needed 40K of repairs. Get inside and it was more like 120K of repairs. When we asked where she got her numbers she said a contractor quoted that to her. Asked for the name of the contractor to hold him to the numbers and she wouldn't comply. 

I know there might be some good ones out there, but just sharing my experiences. Find a good realtor with investor experience and a lot of connections and you might not need to search for wholesalers yourself. 

Post: Proponents for appreciation strategy?

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

Why not incorporate both strategies? Buy properties that cash flow in appreciating markets? 

I know it's easier said than done, but it can be done. 

Post: What's the Biggest Hold Up for Your Deals & How to Overcome

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

Haven't had any issues with the legal side of my deals in NC.  Seems like you need a new one. 

No holds up for me other than funding which is partly my fault for not utilizing OPM as much as I should. 

Post: Cash Flow Markets with the Best Prospects Over Next Few Decades

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

Post: HELOC vs Home Equity Loan

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57
Originally posted by @Arthur Voskanyan:

yes, 95% is much better. But I wonder what is the average lenders give on equity? I heard 90%+ is tough to get. And 80% is more common

I have a 90% LTV HELOC on my primary residence. Need to find the right lender.

Post: HELOC vs Home Equity Loan

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57
Originally posted by @Arthur Voskanyan:

If HELOC's have a interest rate that adjusts/fluctuates/variable based on market conditions, why would anyone take out a HELOC compared to a regular home equity loan? A home equity loan has a fixed rate, so you don't have to worry about it going up on you in the middle of your term with a big balance? Also, how is the home equity loan disbursed to a borrower? Like is it just deposited into a separate account you can draw from and place to checkings, or is it like an issued credit card? Thank you in advance.

Arthur Voskanyan

HELOC - you only pay for what you use. If I only need 30K to seal a deal, then my interest is based on 30K/

Loan - I pay interest on the entire amount if I use it or not. 

Post: College Rental Properties

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

Austin is one of the hottest markets in the country now.  You have your work cut out for you. 

Post: BRRRR Strategy with LLC?

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

@Matt Souza I invest in NC, but I normally refinance within 6-12 months so I do it then. 

Post: New investor from Mooresville, NC

Chris AyersPosted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Warrenton, VA
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 57

@John LaVecchia No opportunities up there in Mooresville?