All Forum Posts by: Darius Ogloza

This is really hilarious.  Some guy, who apparently lives in a foreign country, shows up with a piece of paper purporting to authorize him to sell a deceased person's property.  No probate case has been opened.  Nothing seemingly evidences that this "power of attorney" is genuine.  The realtor is (properly) skeptical.  The realtor, along with 2 million residents of Western PA,  is castigated as racist and stupid.   

If you believe this one, I have a hoard of gold waiting to be shipped to you for a small advance payment to my Swiss account . . . .   

I would focus on finding a home on a large enough lot in Lamorinda to one day build an ADU on it of 500-800 square feet. Whereas these accessory units were frowned upon in years past by the zoning/planning departments in the tonier towns in the Bay Area, many are now coming to the realization that they can best preserve their character and increase available housing stock by permitting current owners to set up ADU's on their properties. I think this is the path for growth in southern Marin, Lamorinda and in similar communities.

It's not 16th Street and Mission in SF but it is a rough area.  I do not know of a lot of folks doing rehabs in the area.  My best guess is that you will be a pioneer.  Rehabbing and Renting is probably  the way to go as I do not think there will be a pool of ready buyers for your finished project.  

I lived in Chicago in the 1960's and early 1970's back in the days when you identified your neighborhoods by which parishes you lived in (St. Helens/St. Hyacinth's - Wicker Park/Logan Square/Avondale). A close friend recently moved to the North Shore from out of state - Lake Forest to be exact - and looking around I have been blown away by how much the prices in those once super-ritzy areas have come down relative to city prices. Is anyone here pursuing a SFH buy and hold strategy in the North Shore suburbs? I understand property taxes are mind-bogglingly high but otherwise the economics seem tempting at the lower ends of the market.

 They have a right to discovery so they will get the lease sooner or later.  That's time consuming, however.  By withholding the lease you are prolonging the fight. How does that benefit you?  

I view investments in different markets as analogous to the difference between stocks and bonds.  My investments in SF/Marin County I analogize to growth stocks.  My investments in upstate NY are like bonds.  They serve different purposes but together they help create a diversified portfolio of RE investments.  

Ditto

Good idea.  

You are putting 20% down so the $5K-$6K you are suffering angst over means $1,000 to $1,200 out of pocket.  Seriously?  Do you want the property or not?  That's the real question you are asking.  If you want it, negotiate honorably IF you see a genuine basis to ask for a reduction in the purchase price.  if not, walk away now.  

Sorry if I sound like a your parents, BUT . . . dropping out of high school when you have 2 years left to go is the definition of "penny wise, pound foolish."  More to the point, if you can't discern the returns you will receive over your lifetime from a diploma, there is serious doubt about whether you have the foresight to be a successful investor.