All Forum Posts by: Dolly Caswell

 I agree with @Erik Nosich, I live in Eagle River, Alaska and want to have my tenants pay all the utilities possible - if anything is separately metered, they pay for it. As Erik said, they are the ones using them! Especially gas and electric, which can be dreadfully abused here. Heat turned up full blast in the winter and doors or windows left open, lights left on in the summer, etc etc. If you put it in your lease that's part of their expense then they take it or they don't. As for properties that are several units and not metered separately, I've been reading about the RUBS system. Don't know a lot yet but what I've read makes sense. I actually ran into a realtor/property manager who is using RUBS with all the properties they manage in the Anchorage, Alaska area. He said it makes them all pay attention to their usage.  You can google it and get a lot of info. 

Is anyone selling notes in Alaska? Or does anyone need HML in Alaska?

Yes, yes, I know, I'm still in my own backyard, but that's what I gotta do until I get my big-girl pants!!

@Paul Vincent, the Paper Source Symposium is a marvelous venue for a newbie learning about notes. I went last year for the first time and learned a lot! I'll warn you...it's like a fire hose of information and at times it's almost overwhelming. Most speakers hand out worksheets or copies of their slides. I can't go this year because of other obligations, but I'd love to; great people, great information, extremely well-done program. 

Thanks, @ Tom S. I REALLY appreciate your reply.  I was beginning to think my post wasn't working.

I was just hoping I could put it all in one of the calculators here in BP. They are so neat and professional looking......

I'm not sure this questions was posted. Is there anyone out there with an answer?

I'm an avid fan of BP and especially appreciate the calculators in "Tools" that have been provided for us, however, I'm finding a need to consider "alternative financing" such as making offers to include 2nd trust deeds as part of my decision process. I don't see a way to "click" and input other financing, does anyone know how to include that or can you suggest a workaround? While I'm at it, is it possible to consider assumable loans and a remaining life on the loan of maybe 3 or 5 or 9.5 years (for example) at XX% with a current balance of XX? Or can you suggest a workaround for that as well? Thanks for your help. 

@ Marion D, you asked about Scott Carson's course but I thought I'd also tell you about Bill Mencarow's "PaperSource Seminar" that he does every year, usually in April and I think mostly in Las Vegas. He brings in amazing speakers as I'm sure Scott does as well. The PaperSource Seminar is an amazing program and very inexpensive compared to what I've seen or read about here on BP. (Note: I have no idea what Scott Carson charges so I'm not comparing the two). You might want to check it out https://papersourceseminars.com/. I have been impressed with the level of honesty and integrity in Bill and his speakers. They teach those of us interested in buying notes, a way to actually help the borrower, as well as making notes a profitable business for us, the note buying investors. 

My particular problem with buying notes is that I live in Alaska; we have very strict money/lending/real estate laws, a relatively small market and I prefer to invest here, in my own backyard. The "big note buyers" who do this all the time think that's silly, that we should buy anywhere in the country and then have a HUGE network of people everywhere to take care of the problems! I'm sure if I had someone standing over my shoulder the first time or two (or ten) advising and telling me what to do next I'd be successful. I even have years of experience talking and counseling investors on the phone, but somehow can't get kick-started here! Oh my, I did go on and on didn't I? ha ha

Hey @Nick Armstrong and @Jim Pintchuk. I want to be a HML also. I have done one loan which was very profitable, but I stumbled around with legal docs - was not sure what I needed for equity protection. I'd be very interested in some sort of "List of Everything One Needs to be a Successful HML", or something like that. I only plan to lend in Alaska and there are legal lending limits here if the property is a residence. Thanks for any help and advice.

Thanks for sharing, however, I can't make it work. Won't take larger numbers for property buy price or ARV.

Some very interesting insight into the state of Washington economic scene . Is there anyone out there that knows specifically about values on Whidbey Island in Washington? I have a single-family lot just outside of Coupeville in BonAir. (Not waterfront, but a corner lot). Has public water in the street and I forget what the sewer situation is. I've owned it for prox 10 years. Should I continue to hold or sell it? Don't really need the money and would prefer to do a 1031 exchange. Ideas are welcome I live in Alaska so have no clue about the reality of what's happening with values.