All Forum Posts by: Dionne Brunson

Huge split level 5 bedrooms, 3 full bath home. Split floor plan with 3 bedrooms downstairs and 2 bedrooms upstairs. Large upstairs bedroom has large sitting area with french doors. Family room with 2 bonus rooms. Ceramic tile in the kitchen and 2 bonus rooms. Unfinished enclosed carport with laundry. Unfinished carport has working central a/c and plumbed for additional half bathroom. Great buy in a great area! Close by to downtown, shopping, dining, i-95 and the beaches. No HOA fees.

More pics here: http://dionnebrunson.jacksonville.larosarealty.com/property/54-880509-4218-Lori-Dr-West-Jacksonville-FL-32207

Welcome to BP @John Beasley!

Hi @Stephan Coetzee. I agree with Maxwell. You can certainly find a condo in Jacksonville, FL under $100k. 

Hi @Devin Alvarado, Welcome to BP and to real estate. I'm a tad biased because I absolutely love real estate but many people say it's hard. I tend to disagree. I think it can be challenging but not hard. I'll give you some advice from MY perspective: 

1. If you want to work with investors know, at least, the basics. Know that many investors think real estate agents are useless. But also know that we are not if you, as an agent, are doing your job correctly. In fact, once investors find an agent they work well with they will often pull you in the deals you weren't originally a part of. Because you will be managing the transaction for them and they will be sure you get your commission from the seller and give you the listing if they sell. Win-win. 
2. Don't be ashamed of wanting and achieving multiple streams of income. This business is cyclical and you want to be able to sustain during the down times. Sometimes other agents will want to shame you for doing more than real estate. You don't have to broadcast it but you don't have to be ashamed either. This is YOUR life. You really can do what makes YOU happy. 
3. Don't spend a ton of money on marketing when you get started.  Just keep plugging away at tried and true methods. They work. The Internet helps a great deal but there are MANY agents that are successful without it. Find out why and learn from them. 
4. Treat your $20k investment property exactly the same way you would treat your fourplex $900k property. Integrity, honesty and solid morals go a long way in this business. 
5. JUST BE YOURSELF! Not everyone is going to like you or want to you use. That's okay. It's simply the way life works. Your goal is to find the people that will work with you and not to stress over the people that won't. 

Sorry so long. lol lol Again...welcome. 

@Robert Lorenz There are some lenders that are not fond of them and it could be because they are not well informed. It could also be a bad experience. lol I'm a big fan of working with someone you trust (even if they aren't completely informed) and learning together. Perhaps you and your lender (if you trust them) could begin to research a little more about the 203k process. Not everyone agrees with this but it's worked for me. I would simply begin by asking around and finding a contractor that has done a few 203k's and ask a ton of questions. 

HI @Collin S.. You can pick your contractor but they must be licensed and insured in the type of work they are doing. But, I would suggest getting a few suggestions from your lender since they are probably familiar with a few contractors from having gone through the process with them. Some contractors understand how the 203k program works more than others. It's my opinion that you'll want to be sure the contractor understands the 203k process and how important it is to do things the right way at each step. Plus you'll want to be sure the contractor understands the payment process. 

Also, let me know if you need help with finding properties or a lender referral. I've helped some on here and would be willing to assist you also. 

Inventory is low but there are a few duplex properties out there. I showed a couple this past weekend. Not in your zip codes but rather at the beach. There's one that just hit the market in Riverside that I want to go check out. That would be 32204.

@Kara Haney If you don't see the value in having the agent then THAT agent may not be a good fit for you. There should never be a question about the value your agent is providing you. 

eeeekkk...My real estate agent peers are gonna get me for saying this but honestly I think it comes down to the investor or person regarding why some prefer to sell on their own. I showed a property just this weekend to my investor where the owners sell on their own MF units. These properties are above $300k up to $900k. They've been doing it for YEARS and you'd think with these properties an agent would be a benefit for them. It absolutely works for them. They have an amazing process. Honestly, I try to win them over every time and I always get told no. lol lol But their system works. On the other hand I've seen investors that have trouble selling a $100k property. I noticed it has much more to do with the organizational skills and resources of the owner than anything else IMO. 

Good Morning. I don't mind taking a look for you. I'll message you a little later today. 

@Bill Goodland You're 100% correct. Because I can admit that I had to learn there's a huge difference between a good deal as a Realtor and a good deal as an investor. But I also learned that many investors don't realize each investor has different strategies and different preferences. So, it's not always the real estate agent. One property may be perfect for Investor "A" but not for Investor "B". I have a couple of investors I represent here in town and they are vastly different. VASTLY. lol  What's a good deal to one is a horrible deal to the other. I've seen first hand one investor say something is a horrible fix/flip or horrible buy and hold and another investor come along with the same property and get it done. So, sometimes as an agent we see things even the investor may not. Like Bill said...you have to look at it to determine if it works for YOU and YOUR strategy. You have to find an agent that keeps a record of what their investors are looking for since each investor is different. Or give your agent your investment strategies ranked. I find investors are my easiest customers.