All Forum Posts by: Diego Curbelo

Hi Brian, congratulations and happy new year! I'd love to be a resource any time.

All the best!

Hey Chris, check out Alpine Mar. They know their stuff.

Hi Charlie, very exciting that you're planning on buying your first investment property, congrats! In real estate (and probably other industries) this is referred to as a Single Purpose Entity, and it's usually a smart move. Aside from the Debt-to-income ratio and risk benefits you've already mentioned, it also just helps keep everything organized. Just keep in mind, the costs of setting up and maintaining an LLC and the bank account that goes with it, not exorbitant but important to consider.

I'm not a CPA or an attorney, but I would suggest taking the time to diligently put together a trusted team to facilitate your long and successful investment journey! Here if you need anything.

Hi Allende, my firm handles property management here in Miami. What we do is bundle it into an application fee. Typically, we conduct background checks on only the individuals who are responsible for the lease (primary resident) and/or cosigners. On a per-owner basis the policies will change for occupants over the age of 18. 

I'd be happy to discuss this or any other topics regarding property management at length via message if you'd like. 

Just sent you an email!

Hi James, I'm not a CPA and you've already received great advice from many great professionals but just chiming in here to say I've never seen a Cost Seg not be a worthwhile investment.

Hi Elyse,

I agree with Simon I don't think it gets better than Yardi. However the truth is the best software is the one you know how to use the best. I've been using Buildium since I started working in PM and I know it like the back of my hand. They also have amazing customer service which makes the monthly payment model worth it for me.

HI Sven, I think that you're on the right track to starting your real estate journey. With the reading you've done I have reason to believe you're prepared to undertake buying a property and working on it. This is by far and away the best way to learn the business and what it truly takes to succeed. 

Some key pointers so that your operations go smoothly:

Underwriting: Don’t shy away from the process of analyzing hundreds of deals before finding one that fits your criteria. The more deals you analyze, the more you'll develop an intuitive sense of what numbers make sense. Enjoy the process—after the first few hundred, you’ll find it becomes second nature.

Focus on Value: One of the keys to success in real estate—and business in general—is finding a good deal. Don’t buy a property just for the sake of buying it. Instead, make sure you’re securing the best deal possible. This is why we analyze hundreds of deals but typically move forward with further research on fewer than 10.

Be Mindful of Leverage: A lot of the risk in real estate comes from borrowing, not the asset itself. I recommend aiming for 35-40% down to avoid being burdened by debt service. This gives you more flexibility and protection in uncertain economic times.

Scaling: Once your investment is stabilized and your systems are running smoothly, start planning to scale. Don’t get too bogged down with just one property—real estate provides great opportunities for expansion, so keep looking ahead.

Wishing you the best on all your ventures moving forward!

I recently attended this event, thank you guys for the hospitality. Great people and speakers. Looking forward to returning soon!

Hey Thomas, we're based a little further south and there's a great networking event that Keyrenter puts on in Coral Gables. Might be a bit of a drive but we've met some great people there. Still a pleasure to meet you! We work in both Miami-Dade and Broward county, wishing you the best on your current deals!