All Forum Posts by: Brian Gawronski

@Tiffani Baggett Thank you for the suggestion. I just went to the HUD website and its definitely something to now consider. I had been looking at Homesteps and Homepaths but must've missed HUD in my thought process...this is exactly why I posted on BP, so that I could start to clarify my thought process. Thanks again

@Toxey McDavid thanks for your input. I am looking for a place to live at the moment but am concerned about how high I am seeing the prices and am concerned as to whether it is just another bubble or if this is just how the Birmingham market was pre crash and now has leveled off and awill stay stabilized. I am ok with no appreciation in my personal house , I just don't want to get caught high and dry if another correction takes place. But your point is valid, buy under market and then don't worry. Thanks for the response 

Hello all,

As I introduced myself several weeks ago as someone moving to Birmingham... I have now arrived.  I have spent the last 3 days driving around trying to become familiar with different markets around Birmingham and have mainly been looking at Irondale and Hoover for their affordability while considering topping out my budget to break into Vestavia, Homewood or Mountainbrook.  My question to those of you who are local is- do you think this sellers market is sustainable? 

I never expected to see housing so high in Birmingham.  In Homewood (which obviously has great schools), a 1200 sq ft 3/2 is going for 150-180 $sq/ft which seems absurdly high to me.  My dilemma is that I havent fixed on a strategy yet and am between pushing my budget to the 250-300 area and buying something that will hopefully appreciate (which based on my perception of Birmingham macro economics isn't sustainable) vs buying something more on the 100-150 range that I can perhaps rent out later on down the line when I become more comfortable with the market and / or there is a correction and prices come down, thus allowing me to move into something larger... any insight into the local view on the Birmingham market would be appreciated.

Thank you

@Jeff Rightmyer is there a way to message you that is different from colleague request? So far that's the only way I've learned to contact someone 

@Jeff Rightmyer I am moving to Birmingham in two weeks and have been researching the area online as much as I am able. I am interested in finding a good turnkey operation to work with and while I have spoken to several so far, I am interested to hear more of what areas and price points your team works in? 

@Toxey McDavid Thank you and thats certainly all I can ask for.  

@Toxey McDavid you mentioned in one of your posts that you have a very savvy investor friendly agent who you are happy with. I am interested in using an agent to help me navigate homepath and the other foreclosure websites to search for my personal residence once I arrive in Birmingham. Would you mind sharing who you work with? I am not sure if asking you this is a break in bigger pocket etiquette and if so I apologize and please let me know as I am still new to all of this. 

@Ron F. Thank you for the offer to assist.  I saw on your profile that you currently have 6 properties.  Once I get into town, I would like to ask you a few questions about these if you dont mind.  Ive contacted several turnkey companies and have gotten a lot of spreadsheets and deals thrown at me which is great for my ability to learn the area and practice analyzing deals but I would really like to be able to run a few of them by someone once I think I have something that I might be interested in offering on.  Would that be ok with you?

@Anthony Jensen Thank you

@Sara Hodge Hi Sara, I am relocating to Birmingham in a few weeks and interested in finding out more about the buy and hold/turnkey market out there.  Was wondering if you had any updates on how your experience progressed after starting this post?