All Forum Posts by: Dan D.

The reason for the two phones is that one is work related which has the email app on for business/work emails, contacts, etc that the IT department gets to monitor even though I own the phone and the number.

The other phone I use for personal apps and emails.  I have several phone numbers already (google voice and others).

 I have an email app on my work phone that allows big brother to essentially see everything I do where our IT team can render it useless by a simple keystroke by accident.  Thus the reason for two phones right now.

If you mean I should get to be so successful that I don't need to work, that's my long term plan.

Okay, I currently work fulltime.  I have two cellphones.  One for work, and another that I carry most of my non-work applications on.  Phones are identical except for the case.  (Samsung S3's).

I get calls on both, and have different ringtones, but I'm never sure which one is which when they ring at work.  The ringtones sound too similar, so I'm thinking for my non-work / real estate phone, I need to change the ringtone to a song, or some other saying that will be different that would not be offensive if heard in the work place, but would be an easy enough clue that my brain can tell immediately whether it's my work phone or the real estate phone.

Long story short, give me cellphone ringtone suggestions to make sure I become 100% successful in everything I do.

Or just tell me about yours.  (could be a fun thread).

Of course, as a real estate novice, this is the final hurdle to be becoming a highly successful, financially independent, beach vacationing, attractive and wealthy real estate investor.  I expect Josh and Brandon to PM me for a show in 6 months to discuss over a podcast how this has contributed to my success.

 (Awning is gone already)

Are you suggesting putting in a bay window?  When I googled plant window I was able to come across somethign like this.

I was out at the house today and I started taking some of the trim off.  I'm thinking replacing the hole unit is the way to go.

This house needs everything, and I'll post a diary when I'm closer to done.  (This is a nine month project for reasons I'll go into later).

 Doesn't a plexiglass window look cheap and out of place?

I'm trying to attract A-level tennants.  I would think they could "see through" my cost cutting ways with plexiglass and think it's a cheap rental with a lower level of care by the landlord.

 On the outside, that is a very attractive (NOT) metal awning.  Last weekend the metal awning came down.  If you'd like to purchase a slightly rusted, repainted, brown awning, I'd gladly post an add over in the marketplace where we can discuss making a fair deal on it.  ;-)

I think I'll be able to pop one of the panes out for replacement.  I've debated replacing the whole thing, but I kind of like the look of it so I'm still debating.  Depends on what my replacement glass cost would be and how difficult that proves to be.

I just closed on this house end of December and it needs a bit of everything.

Just got a furnace into it.  Want to see if I get get the well to work next.  (Not on city water or sewer, but might be able to move it on to it).  Sorry getting off topic.

I'd be interested.  

I've been reading different financial forums like MMM and Early Retirement forums looking for opinions on paying off a mortgage whether rental property or primary.

That lead to me reading this post on why a home is a horrible investment.

http://jlcollinsnh.com/2013/05/29/why-your-house-i...

A home of course being different than an investment property.

With a primary home you have the benefits of living in it, but no rent.  But is your primary residence negatively affecting your cashflow or total net worth?

Would it make more sense to rent instead of own your primary due to the high expenses of home ownership?  (Repairs, Property taxes, mortgage payments, etc).

Is there anyone here who owns investment property but rents their place?

Maybe someone who lives with their parents but started buying property?

So a lot of people looking for housing (our potential clients) might wonder if it's better to rent or to buy in their own personal case.  There are a couple of guidelines I've found on the internet that some may use which both revolve around price to rent index (or vice versa).

One says if annual rent is >9%, you should buy instead of rent.

Another one says if purchase price is 15 times or less the monthly rent, it's better to buy.

I've incorporated this into a table along with our own % rule metric investors look at.

I'm using purchase price of $100k for easy of figuring.  First four rows are using variations of the 1% rule going from 0.8% to 1.5%.

The dark orange group says if the rent % is greater than 9%, buy.  If it's 6% borderline.  If it's 3%, definitely rent.

The lighter orange is based off of the fifth column which is using the 15-to-1 ratio.  (Purchase price / annual rent).

In our area, most homes here fall into the "Buy" category for home purchasers.

So rents are high compared to asking price.  What does this say about the overall housing market for my area?

I think one of my neighbors was doing the house trade-up thing.  They got stuck in 2008-09.