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All Forum Posts by: Dominic Mazzarella

Dominic Mazzarella has started 5 posts and replied 36 times.

It sounds like the issue is with the Debt Service Coverage Ratio (DSCR), which lenders often use to determine how much they're willing to loan. If the rental income doesn't sufficiently cover the debt payments by their standards, they'll limit the loan amount, even if the property is worth more.

You could try a few alternatives:

• Look for lenders who specialize in commercial real estate and have more flexible DSCR requirements. Credit unions or smaller regional banks might be a better fit.

• Consider a cash-out refinance with a lender that focuses more on the property’s appraised value instead of just the income.

• Explore private lenders or hard money loans if you need higher leverage, though the interest rates will likely be much higher. Be really careful if you go this route, there are some shady actors in this space. 

• If you can, raise rents or find ways to increase the property’s income before applying again.

Have you already tried talking to multiple banks, or is this feedback from just one? Some lenders might evaluate the same deal differently. I’ve been in your situation and have had to call dozens of banks before I found one that gave me what I needed. Prepare to be tenacious to get what you want here. 

I’ve dealt with tenants like this before, but I’ve never owned property in Texas. You’ll want to handle this carefully to stay within the law. Start by documenting everything—dates, incidents, and any communications. This will be critical if you need to escalate.

Serving a notice to vacate is the right move, and having a constable present can help ensure things stay calm. If the tenant doesn’t comply, filing for eviction will be your next step. Texas tends to favor landlords in these cases, but follow the legal process exactly—any misstep could delay things.

As for protecting against retaliation or property damage, installing security cameras (if you haven’t already) to monitor common areas might be worth it. If you haven’t already, consult with an attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law in Texas(sorry I have no recommendations here). It’s better to spend a little now than risk costly mistakes later.

Post: Multifamily apartment deals

Dominic MazzarellaPosted
  • Sarasota, FL
  • Posts 39
  • Votes 12

If you’re looking for multifamily deals in NC, try connecting with local commercial brokers who specialize in multifamily properties—they often have access to off-market deals.

Also, check out LoopNet or Crexi for listings, though keep in mind that the best opportunities might not be listed publicly. I’ve heard lots of professional investors bash LoopNet but I’ve had multiple home runs from deals I picked up there. It’s just that like 90% of what’s on there isn’t good. However, that’s been my same experience with off market deals as well. 

Networking with local real estate meetups in Raleigh or surrounding areas could also help you find leads directly from other investors.

Post: Sober Living Operator

Dominic MazzarellaPosted
  • Sarasota, FL
  • Posts 39
  • Votes 12

Hey Dan, renting to a sober living operator can be a great idea. To find someone, I’d start by reaching out to local rehab centers or recovery organizations as they often know operators who are looking for housing. You can also check out groups like the National Alliance for Recovery Residences (NARR), which might have some leads for you.

Another option is to talk to property managers who specialize in group homes or sober living. They might have connections or advice. And if you’re listing the house online, try platforms like LoopNet or local Facebook groups for real estate or community housing.

Just make sure to do your homework and ask for references, check their track record, and make sure they’re following any local zoning or licensing rules. Good luck in your search.

Post: First Time Real-Estate Investment

Dominic MazzarellaPosted
  • Sarasota, FL
  • Posts 39
  • Votes 12

With $20k saved, you could look into house hacking—buying a small multifamily property (like a duplex or triplex) and living in one unit while renting out the others. FHA loans only require about 3.5% down, so it's a great way to start generating passive income while keeping your housing costs low.

If you’re leaning towards renting for now, you could still invest by looking at fix and flip properties or even partnering with someone more experienced to get your foot in the door. Either way, start networking with local real estate groups and agents, they’ll help you learn the Cleveland market better.

Congrats on the house hack, Keith! Whether or not to set up an LLC for each property really depends on your goals and how much liability protection you want. Some investors like having each property in its own LLC to limit risk, like if something happens with one property, it doesn't affect the others.

That said, managing multiple LLCs can be a hassle and add costs, especially with only a few doors. An alternative could be putting all your properties under one LLC to start, then reassessing as your portfolio grows. Some states allow series LLCs as well. I have used LLCs individually for the properties that I've owned and I'm glad I did.

Might be worth chatting with a CPA or attorney who specializes in real estate to figure out what works best for your situation.

Quote from @Corby Goade:
Quote from @Natalia Perlova:

Hi there BP community, looking for your advice on the following please: i inherited a section 8 tenant who pays way below market, acts shady, had an issue with the leaky toilet for years, which damaged the floor and cost me $$$ to fix. She now says her heat is not working all of a sudden. A contractor was there that day to fix the floor, and said there was not problem with the heat. She denies and keeps texting me every day to "fix the furnace". With now being a weekend, and going on Christmas week, what would you suggest i do? I had a plumber inspect the furnace a couple of months ago and said it was in good shape. Thank you for your wisdom!

P.S. I am serving her a notice to vacate at the end of her lease in feb.


 A plumber said the furnace was working? What value does that have?

It's the middle of the holidays and you own the property. Hire an HVAC contractor to go check it out, of course. 

The fact that you think the tenant is a pain has nothing to do with how you maintain the property, you could be creating legal and maintenance problems for yourself by not taking action. 


 This is a fantastic answer and I agree completely. Regardless of your feelings of the tenant, this isn't something you can ignore. If this is a problem tenant who continues breaking rules, that's something you can work on later but for right now you should do the right thing and look into this.

God forbid if something bad happened to the tenant because of this, you'd be on the hook for negligence because they informed you of the problem. 

Wow, that’s a tough situation. It sounds like there was some misrepresentation, either intentional or not. First, I’d check the sale documents and listing details to see if the property was explicitly marketed as a triplex. If so, you might have grounds to pursue legal action for misrepresentation against the seller or even your realtor if they failed to verify zoning.

Next, confirm with the city if there’s any way to get the property rezoned or grandfathered in as a triplex since it’s been rented that way for decades. Sometimes cities will allow this, but it depends on local zoning rules.

If neither option works, it might be worth consulting a real estate attorney to explore your options. Sorry you’re dealing with this—it’s a good reminder to double-check zoning before closing, even when it seems straightforward. Hope you get it resolved!

First thing, check with your county’s zoning office. If the property isn’t already zoned for multifamily, you might need to go through the rezoning process. Sometimes they’ll let you add meters and mailboxes without rezoning, but that depends on local rules, so definitely ask.

For the septic, upgrading is probably a must. Make sure it can handle the extra capacity before you get too far along. Separate HVAC systems are a good idea too—makes things easier for tenants and utility billing.

I’d also recommend talking to a contractor or local utility company about what’s needed for separate power meters and mailboxes. It’s usually doable, but the costs can add up.

Post: Mobile Home Park Development

Dominic MazzarellaPosted
  • Sarasota, FL
  • Posts 39
  • Votes 12

While I’m not a developer myself, here are some thoughts and resources that might help:

  • Zoning: Start by meeting with the local planning and zoning board in your target area. Hiring a local land use attorney or consultant can be invaluable—they’ll know the nuances of upstate NY zoning regulations and can help guide you through the approval process.
  • Startup Costs: Reach out to civil engineers or contractors who specialize in mobile home parks. They can give you accurate estimates for infrastructure like septic systems, water/electrical lines, and roads. Many developers also recommend using a cost estimator tool or building a detailed pro forma for your business case.
  • Ongoing Maintenance Costs: Speak with current park owners to get a sense of recurring expenses. I believe Biggerpockets has some useful calculators for this. Don’t forget to include reserves for unexpected maintenance.

If you’re looking for an experienced developer to chat with, try networking at industry events or reaching out to organizations like the Manufactured Housing Institute (MHI). And I'm sure there are more than a few people on here that could help.

While I have owned multiple MHP's, I have personally been involved in the development process for a MHP in central Florida but the deal eventually fell through so it wasn't completed. I'm sure there are more knowledgeable people out there but MHP development is certainly niche. Good luck!