All Forum Posts by: Eric Jacobs

If it was easy to find positively cash flowing properties without, someone on this thread would likely have bought them.  If you are avoiding "D" areas, you have to expect the vast majority of properties will negatively cash flow.  You may need to focus on where you can add value and raise rents.  If you can't raise rents and the property doesn't cash flow, then you move on.  If there are none in the area that cash flow.  Find another area.  I live in South Florida.  Suffice it to say most areas not only don't cash flow they are so negative that the only potential upside is speculative (not my bag).  Good luck 

Wow.  So ...um...here's a thought...how about you consult a lawyer before potentially engaging "self-help" and possibly either getting yourself sued, shot or in jail?  There are different ways that people enter onto an occupy property and different ways you have to remove them (i.e. ejectment, eviction, etc...) I can tell you in Florida you could definitely not engage "self-help" though theoretically under certain circumstances you could have the police remove someone (they would likely tell you its a "civil matter" but in some cases it is possible.  I understand but cannot confirm (I'm not a lawyer outside Florida) that you may be able to in other jurisdictions but generally those jurisdictions likewise have very liberal gun laws (bad for you if you enter where someone is living at the wrong time).  Easy Answer :  ASK A LAWYER IN YOUR JURISDICTION

Um.  I think its impossible to answer your question.  The question is not can you  but why?  Not the why of the real estate but the why of your goals?  I mean whether you should invest in a city you are not familiar with depends entirely on what your goals are.  If you are looking for a one-time, one-off then ofcourse its ok.  If however you have a specific, long-term investing plan with specific measurable goals in mind then the answer should be clear to you.  If you don't have a specific, long term investing plan with specific measurable goals, then odds are whatever you invest in will not be optimal.  

---- "If You don't know where you are going, any road will get you there " :) Lewis Carroll

I don't like the word "bubble".   I'm not saying it doesn't exist but its not really appropriate for real estate for the most part (some rare exceptions).  Real Estate is cyclical trending upward.  For that reason, the upward must always test new highs and then at some point pull back only to restabilize and then test new highs again.  In a macro sense we are undeniably in something of an inflated environment but that means very little unless you are overpaying for property and planning to divest in a fairly short term.  If you are buying for cash flow then a pull back doesn't mean much.  If you are buying for the long term then a pull back doesn't mean much.  If you are fixing and flipping, a pull back probably doesn't mean much.  If you buy in the right market at the right time, a pull back doesn't mean much.  What matters is clarity of purpose on entry into an investment, flexibility in management and on exit.  

In most areas of South Florida, a very, very small one...

i'd be happy to join a group for a chat.  

See my post in your other thread.  I live in Fort Lauderdale and understand well how competitive it is.  I also see deals pretty regularly and while I don't buy in "D" areas personally ( a lack of time), I would if it made sense given my personal circumstance.  If you have your priorities straight, your objectives clear, your systems established, then there is no reason why "D" investment can't be a part of your program.  I know a lot of "D" investors that have made a killing doing it.  Its just more labor intensive and requires a great deal more planning and vigilance.  Good luck 

I'm in South Florida.  Down here there are "D" areas and then there are "D" areas...both will be hard to manage but can be profitable in terms of return though there is little prospect for appreciation.  Others will have a slightly lower return but have a great prospect of appreciation.  The issue really is what your business model is, what you want and planning thoroughly.  "D" properties require a greater deal of planning and a well documents platform of systems to run efficiently, effectively and profitably.  Most people I see investing in "D" (and most investors overall) don't have any systems in place, don't create clarity for themselves let alone their tenants and just fly by the seat of their pants.  On an "A" property you can get away with that.  On a "D" you can't.  Either way, people being down on "D" properties I would say is somewhat easy.  When you are first starting out you may not have the luxury of getting into a superior market.  I don't personally like "D" properties because I don't have time not but I do actively look at them in emerging areas where there is long term high probability of appreciation.  I have not acquired one yet but am thinking I may in the next several months.  If I do, I'll have the systems in place to deal with the challenges that go with "D" property.  You'd be well to do the same.  Feel free to reach out if you have specific questions.  Good luck 

If you are investing in "turnkey" because you think that is an incremental step along some linear path to real estate investing I think you may be disappointed. The path is not necessary linear and staring with turnkey and moving to house hacking or BRRRR or whatever is not necessarily logical. It's like saying I'm going to first play baseball because I'm hoping to make my way to soccer some day. Sure they are both sports, they both use a ball, they both have rules etc...but they are very, very different. Respectfully, I think you may be holding yourself back and you may benefit from placing your focus and energy (one in the same imho) on figuring out your ultimate goal(s) and reverse engineer from there. If that leads you to "turnkey" then you can worry about figuring it from whom you are going to buy etc... You may find turnkey is going to slow down your progress (tying up money, too much brain damage for too little return, etc...) rather than accelerating it. Good luck

If it is US Bank, there will be no one that will discuss or entertain selling to you other than once they have readied the unit for sale and placed it with their broker.