All Forum Posts by: Erin L.

I should mention that my cash flow is usually better but we just upgraded some HVACS so will be down at that range for about 12-18 months, but at least my tenants will hopefully keep renewing since their energy bills will be better.

My niche is exactly where @Kerry Baird is at. We have a duplex and keep the rents just at that E-5 area and we get solid renters. Either E-5 with small family or E-6's that are looking to make smart financial choices and live cheaper than BAH. Either way it's worked great for 20 years now, no vacancies and no advertising, even a few repeat tenants of people from years prior. We did the owner occupy for several years while rehabbing but we are getting approx 150 per door cash flow with a less stressful tenant base. Good luck to you, military areas can be very good if you make good choices at the beginning of the deal!

Thanks, @Brie Schmidt , hopefully my email "reminder" will have an effect.

@Brie Schmidt I just checked back and it is blank under the reports - I see where they "accepted" the link, I'm thinking they went in there and created their account and didn't enter payment info in or bailed for some reason before completion. I am going to email the tenant to see if they "have any questions" and were able to complete it. I will check back in and let you know what the issue is/was! Thanks

@Brie Schmidt thanks for replying! I have one applicant, I see an income verification but no report icons. Exact wording under column heading reads "smartmoves recommends pending". Hmmm… maybe I will give it a few more hours?

I am using mysmartmove for the first time. I have already had issues with the login process not recognizing the password, customer service couldn't figure out why either. Finally in this morning, and I see that my tenant's application was "accepted" and that recommends are "pending". Anyone else experienced this? I know that this is supposed to me a streamlined and almost instant process yet my tenant's check is just "pending". Are there reasons a credit check wouldn't come back immediately?

Welcome, Michael! Not only can you do it while on active duty, but you will be a big step ahead of the game if you get started before your military retirement! We are an active duty family in Virginia Beach and bought our first duplex on a VA loan and have lived on one side while fixing the building up, what a great way to learn about everything from DIY rehabs on up to tenant relations and by living there you will KNOW your particular rental "market" or niche very well. Military towns are great once you can target a certain income/neighborhood/base etc. We have found our "niche" seems to be E3-E6 with a small family. Give them what they need at a fair price and they will find you. Ours has never had a vacancy in 20 years, with no advertising other than word of mouth and have even had repeat tenants. Research your area and this site and you will have great success!

I'm afraid to read it. I finally got rid of my Professional Tenant, it's only been 3 weeks since she has moved so I'm still in the throes of PTSD. The night she left we watched Duplex and Pacific Heights and vowed to do better on our screenings in the future! Luckily the new tenant has moved it who is a repeat GOOD tenant so I can start to heal :) Working up the courage to read it …..!

Welcome! I had to laugh because I do the exact same thing for my 2 boys. My 11 year old is reading "Investing for Teens" right now so he can earn Halo and Minecraft time, ha! As for the rest, I can tell you that living in one side of a duplex is a fantastic way to get in the game and learn a whole lot. We have been doing that and DIY'ing most of the reno and brought rents up from 425 per side to now 1200 10 years after we purchased. You are a great age to do something like this since once kids come along duplexes get to be tight quarters… ask me how I know LOL. As for the other, I don't know your area but maybe get an inspector or mentor involved to help with your investigations and search… you will learn the major things to look for as you get experience but until then get a pro to help and prevent some of the mistakes that many of us wish we had prevented :) Good luck to you!

Pins and needles! This really is a suspenseful thread, can't wait to hear the outcome and hope it's a simple remedy :)