All Forum Posts by: Chanté Owens

@Thomas Neely Good for you! Keep 'em coming!

Hey Everybody (especially Flippers or folks who stage homes). 

I just got back from Lowes. Was looking for plants and flowers, but didn't see anything I really wanted; however, I did pick up two lamps for dirt cheap! If I'd gotten them at regular price I would have paid $200+, but I only spent $50 for two awesome lamps!

One was a display, so they took an additional 10% off, and it was also put together so I don't have to put that one together! At least 50% of the lamps were on sale. The salesperson said they would be getting new stuff in the next month, so they were clearing out  a lot of models.

As you know, nice lamps are not inexpensive so this was great. I did cruise through other areas, and some of the lower end washers and dryers were on sale (and higher end ones too). Plus, I saw some of their cabinetry on sale too. A kitchen display they had in the store that was regular retail price of around 5k was down to like $2800. Now, I don't know if the 5k original pricing was overpriced and this $2800 amount is where it is supposed to really be priced, but I thought I'd throw that in too!

Happy shopping. Now, on to find some plants and flowers!

I have two RE friends in AZ. If I hear of anything from them, I'll make sure to post it. I just need to make a concerted effort to ask them, so they'll let me know.

@Osiris Estrada Nope, you don't have to be a RE Agent. You can simply join as a regular  member. I am a business member, but that's from my insurance business, as I am not a RE agent either!

I believe there are several RE types of associations that you can join, with REIA WA and REAPS being the largest. There are some others, but they are smaller and/or serve only specific areas in WA State.

Hi Osiris, welcome, and good luck to you! I know that there is a LOT of information on here regarding wholesaling. With that being said, you will see there are those who are pro and con.

I belong to REIA WA (Real Estate Investors Association), and while I've not attended any of their wholesaling classes, I've heard they are very good. The only problem is, I think you may have to be a member to attend the wholesaling classes, but I could be wrong.

Best to you!

The apartment that I moved from was going to increase my rent by a bit shy of $100. I'd lived there for a year, and while I liked it, I didn't feel (personally) that it was worth that increase.  I had to make a couple of concessions, but I saved $160 from my prior rent to my current rent. 

They increased rent because they could. The property I lived in had a quite a few college students that lived there. While it's not close to the Univ of Wash, it wasn't far, and it was less expensive for the students to live in that apt than to live closer to the University.

The cost for me to rent movers was the amount I saved in one month from moving, so it was worth it for me. 

Again, I don't grouse about things like that. I get that it's a business, and I also know I have choices too. I don't need to complain about it, I can just move. It's pretty simple.

Sounds good! You're kicking butt with the rentals. You picked your niche and you're working it; nothing wrong with that. I'll be reading along.

@Dawn AnastasiCongrats! I'm glad you're doing a diary. Where do you usually buy your supplies like your flooring, faucets, etc? 

With me being a renter, I definitely see both sides of the coin in respect to whether or not to increase rents or keep them the same; especially if you are currently under market value.

As a renter, if my rent increased every other year about $25 or so dollars, I'd be fine with it; however, if my rent increased every year arbitrarily because they "can," then I might be more apt to look for another apartment, even if the new apartment was a comparable price. I think that being a good, clean, and responsible tenant should provide for a few concessions from the landlord, in my opinion. 

I get that it's a business, and that if people have been somewhere for 4-7 years with no rent increase that you could be under market value; therefore, some increases would be justified. With that being said, short of water/utilities that may be included in the rent, if you are increasing the rents, but are not providing any additional services/amenities for the increase, then it will make me give pause. If I lived somewhere, and they increased my rent by $25, BUT, they had a landscaper there every weekend keeping things nice, and they kept all of the common areas clean with updated equipment, etc, then I would be able to see and appreciate the benefits of my increased rent. 

However, if they had some vacancies and were increasing the rent because they had to do a lot of work to a vacated property, and they were passing that cost on to me and my apartment wasn't being updated, etc, then I'd have a problem with that, because I would feel that they should price that unit accordingly in order to recoup that money they put into it. Just my .02.

@Wendell De Guzman As always, it's encouraging and enlightening to see your goals, progress, high points and "areas of opportunity." I'm glad you are doing the transparency without giving away the farm.

Also, I appreciate that  you show that a lot can be accomplished,but only by hard work and doing your due diligence. 

All of the information is invaluable.

By the way, looking forward to cheering you on to your goals for this year, and hoping I can exceed some of mine too!