All Forum Posts by: Cindy Meyer

@Aaron Mikottis

Pongo is a great nickname.  

As an investor, I like the familiarity that a nickname brings.  It may be baseless, but I much prefer taking away a layer of stuffy professionalism.....especially when I am sharing my intimate financial details with an individual. 

@Pavel Sakurets

In that case, it would seem that the 3 car would definitely add value!

@Pavel Sakurets

So glad you chose #4 - it is going to be beautiful.

My personal choice would be for the 2 car and larger living/dining rooms; however:

1) My husband's truck does not fit into most standard garages, so we just need room for my car and his two motorcycles.  We have a 30 x 40 shop for him to store his tools and build/repair as needed for his work. 

2) No kids, so don't have to worry about an additional vehicle now or in the future.

3) As a female, bigger garage would by my husband's thing, not mine.  I would want more square footage in the living space, he would be O.K. with that if he were allowed to park the bikes in the house (and, yes, we have had that conversation).

@Will G.

Thank you for the link.  Had seen the product in one of my husband's home building trade magazines a few months ago and was very intrigued, but could not find any local vendors or a U.S. website that showed a price.  We like to be aware of what is on the market to give his clients their full options.

If you decide to try it or get a sample, please update with your opinion.

I think it probably depends on the type of repair/change you are doing and the term you are planning to stay in your home.

When my husband and I lived in California (where he was a licensed GC), we purchased a fixer for our personal residence.  He completely gutted and rearranged the kitchen with no permits. Few years later we decided to move to Texas and sell the home, which meant actually finishing all the half done and never done projects in the home (contractor's wives rarely live in finished homes).  He got the necessary permits for the new work so we could show any prospective buyers that the work was done correctly.  Made us more money in the long run.

The silly part of the whole thing was that the inspectors that signed off the permits already knew him and the quality of his work, so when they did come to the house they would spend 30 seconds looking at what was done and then kick back with him a while catching up or asking his opinion on other worksites in the area.

@Engelo Rumora

Mistakes may have been made, but you had a huge success in proving what kind of man you are. We all like to believe we are honest and fair to others, the question is whether we will be that person when it is tested. When the market turned in 2006, I saw many people that I had utmost respect for throw their integrity out the window in a heartbeat when their own treasure chest was threatened.

As years go by the sting over your financial loss will lessen, overtaken by the pride you feel when you can look an investor in the eye and promise to take care of their money. Now you have the battle scars to prove that you will.  

Wow!

Best of luck to your new real estate agent........and you, of course.

@Phillip Joo  

Do you WANT to go to school?  It is a lot of money and time to spend to be somewhere you do not want to be.

Are you so passionate about the Investment world, that you are willing to gamble the security a degree may provide?  Almost like an artist or actor enjoying the journey as much as reaching the destination.  Similarly, if your motivation doesn't go beyond, "I want to be rich," you're going to have a hard time.  You have to really love the game.

As an investor, I am looking for an intelligent, logical individual with a dogged determination to make us both rich.  I could care less about a degree.

Oh!  And they have to laugh at my jokes.

Ooops!  Forgot the @James Pollock for the above.....oh, dopey me

A really good place to start are the Nolo books and website.  Their "Every Landlord's Legal Guide" really got me thinking about things I had not considered and made me realize the questions I should be asking about doing business in my state as well as the importance of a solid system.  The book comes with a CD with all their forms and letters.

They also offer other books related to PM, but the above Is the only book of theirs I have.  

My stepmom has the one specific for California and now she is like Ninja Landlord with her tenant.