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All Forum Posts by: Chris Pelc

Chris Pelc has started 4 posts and replied 98 times.

Post: Starting Young! Any help?

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46

Going off of what everyone else is saying in here, i would start to attend some local meetups, expos, and networking events. Join as many REI fb groups relevant to Philly investing, and get to know other investors in the space. Getting your RE license would absolutely give you a leg up in this industry.

A lot of people advertise their meetups on Bigger Pockets, but you can also find some on meetup.com. 

Post: Property Manager Referral

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46
Quote from @Daks B.:

Hello,

I am looking for property manager to manage a rental property in Delaware County, PA.

Any recommendations?

Thanks,


TJ Hock from Rentwell is who i typically recommend out to my investors. 

Whereabouts in Delco? 

Post: Out-of-state property viewing via video

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46
Quote from @Kenji Tominaga:

Thank you guys for educating me, I scheduled my trip to Philly later this month! Appreciate your time to respond to me.


Great idea! I'm working with an investor from NYC doing the same exact thing this weekend. They will be coming down over the weekend, and we will be checking out some properties in various neighborhoods to get a feel for the areas.

An informed buyer is the best buyer!

Post: Trying to find a successful rental strategy

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46

Hey Matthew, 

I know that there has been a huge increase in Section 8 rentals in the Philadelphia market. Likely being due to the current increase in rental voucher payouts back in October of 23. 

You could go many different ways with rentals such as student housing, section 8, targeting specific renters such as traveling nurses/doctors. Short term rentals are tough in the Philly area though. 

Give me call, i'd be happy to give you some insight on what works for some of the investors that i work with. 

Post: Looking for advise- 1031 or DSCR-refi/cashout and purchase?

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46
Quote from @Arabella Palma:

I have an investment property (MA) with a good amount of equity, here's the math:

$385 Purchase Price - Value $570 - I want to flip it to a multi in Philly.  I just recently got laid off, but with 790 credit score, hence, my options are somewhat limited. 

Also, anyone know of any DSCR lenders that can help?

Your feedback will be great as this is my first flip. Thank you!


I have some connections for great DSCR lenders in the Philly area. The one i currently do a lot of loans with lend on 1.1% of the debt service.

Considering your current employment situation, DSCR is definitely the way to go in addition to the idea of utilizing a 1031 exchange on the property in MA. 

How are you planning on sourcing the property? Have you put any thought into off market properties in the Philly area? If you are not afraid of conversions, you could potentially even venture into RM1 conversions - single family home zoned RM1 - converted into a multi family residence. 

Give me a call if you'd like to connect!


Post: Tax Strategist and Accountants?

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46
Quote from @Daniel H.:

Hello all,

In summary, I am a new real-estate investor. I am working to close on my second property this year. My market is rentals in Philadelphia, by year end I will have two triplexes (6 units total). 

I am a high earning W2 employee and switching to independent contractor (hopefully earning more). 

Again, I am new to real-estate, so I am understanding that the passive income from investment properties starts off as somewhat minimal and is not going to make me rich overnight. But my understanding is also that there can be tremendous tax benefits / write offs when it comes to real-estate.

I am looking for more guidance from professionals on how to structure my investments and how I could potentially harness the power of depreciation and write-offs to legally save money on my active earned income. I know this is feasible (having to meet specific criteria) but I just do not know where to start. My hope is to continue investing heavily into properties and utilizing their tax benefits!

If anyone could refer me to a good tax strategist and accountant, or had any personal wisdom on this topic, I would love to discuss further!


Hi Daniel! 
I just connected with a financial advisor/ CPA at a local meetup in King of Prussia. I will likely using his services for my personal finances. If you would like, i'd be happy to send you his contact to maybe see if his services are best for you. 

Post: New Investor in Philadelphia Metro

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46

Hey Patrick

Glad to see you have an interest in starting your investing journey! 

Would you be open to SFH conversions? I work with a lot of investors who target single family homes zoned RM1 with the thought to convert into small multi family properties.

If you are looking for turnkey properties, or those that are already setup as a multi family, what is your price point and desired area?

Post: Conventional loans for primary house

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46
Quote from @Kenji Tominaga:

Hi,

I'm currently looking into Philly market and shopping around the financing options.

My scope is as follows;

     - I'm based in NYC, and moving into this Philly property might be a tough decision (I need to commute to NYC office)

     - This is my first investment property.

- Looking for SFH or Duplex around $200K

I spoke with a couple of loan officers and brokers, then some of them mentioned to use conventional loans for primary house to get 5% down payment.

Of course this is for a primary house, so a buyer "intends to move in" to the property.

I learned FHA loans are more strict and require to live for 12 month at least, then banks might come for inspections.

I would like to ask for your experiences around conventional loans for primary house.

     - How long did you live there if moved out

     - Is there any occasion that you intended to move in but you could not move in

     - Any inspections or request to provide with the proof of move-in

Thank you in advance for sharing your time, experiences and knowledge!


I would second the response above me. But i would also like to ask are you only able to produce a max downpayment of 5%? If you can afford a larger downpayment, your restrictions to financing are a lot less. The problem in the retail market is that if you are looking at a good deal, you will likely get bid out by cash buyers, and those with financing options that require less contingencies. With investment loans, you will be required to front at least 15%-20%. If you are looking to house hack especially with a property needing an extensive rehab that is not "habitable", you might want to look into hard money options, with the thought to refinance as soon as the rehab has completed. 

I also have a few sources of private equity. Which for qualified buyers, is a great resource. 

Let me know if you'd like to connect! Would be happy to help out. 

Post: New to BiggerPockets

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46

Hey @Pradeep Velugubantla

Welcome to BP and the REI world.

It really depends on your goals and what you're looking to achieve. I think the first question you should focus on, is what your intended investment strategy will be. The answer to that question will likely help in the decision of taking title with an LLC. As others have said, if you are looking to house hack, an LLC will not be best suited for you as you will likely want to go with FHA financing. In all cases you will need the certificate of organization, an operating agreement of the entity, and obviously an EIN. Forming an LLC prior to taking title to a property doesn't take a lot of time. A lot of the investors i work with either put their properties in an existing LLC, or form new entities. In some cases, they will take title in their personal name for better financing solutions.

Post: Seeking advice on my strategy and markets

Chris Pelc
Pro Member
Posted
  • Real Estate Agent
  • Philadelphia
  • Posts 104
  • Votes 46
Quote from @Vicky Kapoor:

Hello BiggerPockets Community,

I'm Vicky, a real estate investor planning to achieve a specific investment goal, and I'm eager to get your insights and feedback on my strategy. Here's a brief overview:

My Goal

  • Objective: Generate a monthly cash flow of $1,000.
  • Initial Capital: $50,000 for down payments and renovations.
  • Target Markets: Indianapolis, Buffalo, Cleveland, Cincinnati, and Philadelphia.

Strategy Overview

  • Property Focus: Duplexes, triplexes, or single-family homes suitable for a rent-by-room model, primarily targeting IT professionals and bankers.
  • Market Selection Rationale: These cities were chosen for their balance of affordability and potential for rental income, with a specific interest in neighborhoods popular among young professionals.
  • Financial Approach: Leverage the initial capital to acquire properties, possibly using FHA loans for lower down payments if applicable.

Specific Queries

  1. Property Selection: Given the targeted tenant demographic (IT professionals and bankers), are there specific neighborhoods or property types you'd recommend within these cities?
  2. Risk Management: What potential risks should I be aware of with this strategy, particularly in these markets?
  3. Additional Revenue Strategies: Beyond rent-by-room, are there other strategies you'd suggest to maximize rental income within these markets?
  4. Scaling the Investment: I'm starting with $50,000, but I plan to scale up. Any advice on managing growth and reinvestment effectively?

I am open to any constructive criticism or alternative suggestions that could enhance my strategy. Your expertise and experiences are invaluable, and I greatly appreciate any insights you can share.

Thank you for taking the time to read and respond to my post. Looking forward to engaging in a productive discussion!

Best Regards


The Philadelphia area is a great area to get started, if you are looking for cash flow. With low purchase prices, and higher average rent to income ratios, its a great place to invest. Though i would like to clarify when you say monthly cash flow of $1000/month. Are you looking for $1,000/month in GROSS income, or $1,000/month NET cash flow after all expenses.