All Forum Posts by: Christina Swaby

We just finished up our first long distance fix and flip. Closing on July 3rd. I found the long distance real estate book from Bigger Pockets to be helpful. It provides insights, email scripts, and things to look for when building a team long distance. From that I was able to find a great realtor and a duo general contracting team that has been very reliable- chatting with them almost daily and doing a video walk through once a week. They'll be working with me on my next one (looking at other houses now.) I also joined a local facebook group where I was able to source things like lawn mowing. 

I will say we have family connections to the area we are targeting and we go up there 2-3 times a year in general. And we have the ability in life to hop up there (it's almost 1000 miles from us) should we need to. If we didnt have these things I'd be hesitant to get started in long distance.

Great information and examples from everyone! thank you for your time. This is very helpful. 

I have wonderful tenants and their lease is ending on August 31. I want to renew at the same terms of the original lease (which was created and provided by my realtor and I dont have access to that document now). Trying to do the lease renewal myself. 

Any thoughts as to using the Lease extension vs Lease agreement form?

Hello! I am looking for a lender who offers a HELOC that requires interest only payments during the draw period. Im located in Houston, TX.

 Thank you Andrew! Ill watch the video. Appreciate you sharing your tool and your insight into long distance. We do have an extensive network there, already own some property, and are in the area several times a year. Our lifestyle allows up to hop up there should there be some pressing issue. But I do recognize the extra challenge of not being to just drive there.

 oh I didn't know they had a book on that. Thank you! I will get that. My husband is well versed in excel and I think could tackle a project like that over time.

Many reasons. Cash flow, cheaper properties, significantly less property taxes/insurance, chance to improve the communities where we are from, etc. Not against Houston. We have a property here already. Just modified our goals for the near term and the area we are looking at made sense.

I am looking to do my first long distance deal and I am struggling with how to estimate rehab costs. I am decently confident with estimating cosmetic changes. Many of the homes Im looking at will need structural as well. Ex: flooded basements, rebuilding porches, repair/replace heater, repair detached garages. 

Any tips on how to estimate this? I dont have the network there yet to ask a contractor to a house I dont have under contract. Should I just give it my best guess and then get a contractor in there after the inspection?

My husband and I are considering investing in Southwestern Indiana (buy & hold, BRRRR). We already have farm land there and visit often. We currently live in Houston.

Are there any investors here in Bigger Pockets that would allow me to pick your brain a little? Would love to learn about your experience in the area.

My husband and I went down this road just this year. We recently talked to a CPA who said essentially b/c we are married we are classified as a single entity. We certainly could do partnership but that can make things more complicated tax wise (dont know how or why and that's okay). A single member LLC works fine for us.