All Forum Posts by: Dan N.

Thanks, Donald Hasson. I've been waiting for someone to do this!

Hi Joel A.,

Welcome from another Round Rock investor! Try to come to the next Austin-area BP meetup. Watch this space.

Regards,
Dan

Ben Hughes, is the RICH Club just in Houston?

Hi Nick Pittari,

I am a relatively new member of Lifestyles Unlimited at the FFP (basic) level. The vendor list is pretty extensive, from what I've seen. For example, I used the insurance broker and got a better deal for my last property than I would have otherwise. The San Antonio/Austin office seems to have more vendors for San Antonio than Austin, but they seem to have both fairly well covered.

The benefits I see are networking, mentorship, classes, documents, and encouragement. Some of that you can get elsewhere, but I think it's easier to get mentoring this way than through soliciting strangers. I have seen/heard discussion of that fact mentioned here at BP (including BP podcasts).

So far, I've been able to ask a lot of questions both on the phone and at the meetings. It's nice that people seem to have a good amount of local knowledge and readily admit if they are not experts in some areas. While Lifestyles recommends a specific subset of REI focus areas, they have some members that vary that model.

The higher level memberships are supposed to do more of the work for you and help to pay for the greater time and attention you get from the mentors. They offer additional classes and perks not available at the basic level, though I don't have any direct experience with those levels, I have three friends who've joined and I haven't heard any complaints.

I hope this helps,
Dan

Hi Arjun K.,

I have had good luck with Merit Properties (512) 947-9190. I have used them on one house for nearly two years. I have a friend who has 3 houses with Hill Country Property Management (512) 623-0271. Those are probably average cost. A lower cost option might be Home Simple of Texas - (512) 934-1188. I got a quote for him but I'm currently managing my latest property on my own to see how it goes. I will likely give him a try to see if the lower cost is worth it. If you take one of these recommendations I'm interested in your feedback.

Also, I'd like to know who you're having problems with. If you don't want to post it, PM me.

Thanks,
Dan

Is this an Armando Montelongo sighting? :-P

Hi Billy H.,

Welcome from another Austin-area investor. Buying all cash should give you an advantage and lower your costs. Are you looking to buy, fix, and rent out, primarily? If so, there are tradeoffs of tying up the cash. Would you plan to refinance homes after repairing them or hold them with 100% equity while renting them out ?

Are you looking for help with how to find the properties that you would be buying?

Let me know if I can be of any further help.

Thanks,
Dan

Welcome Robyn Roberts (and Kyle). I am a buy and hold investor in the area. Let me know if I can help you in any way! There is a monthly BP meetup in Austin. See Bryan Hancock for details.

Hi, Josh Gatlin from an older, newish Central Texas investor. Let me know how I can help. Keep an eye out for the next Austin meetup (typically on a Saturday morning early in the month).

Hi, T Lee. Welcome to BP from another newish Austin-area investor. Be sure to come to the next Austin-area meetup!