All Forum Posts by: Grant Smith

Quick question for the forum: 

Does anyone use the Bureau of Labor Statistic's CPI Inflation Calculator when assessing the value of a potential investment? I use this as a gauge of the actual appreciation of the property, but of course this is only one tool in the overall process. 

What do you think?

BP forum! I am in search of a good realtor and property management company in Fort Worth, Texas or the greater Dallas area. If anyone here fits these categories occupationally or has worked with individuals from here, I would really appreciate a reference! Happy investing. 

Hey BP community,

        Does anyone have a particular website or application that they would recommend for the organization of prospective tenants and current tenant repair requests, etc? I can handle the volume of email and various things that I need to keep in order currently, but with respect to scale I feel as though I will inevitably need a more effective system that is intuitive for others to understand and not solely logical in my mind. I am alluding to hiring out someone to handle the day-to-day in the future, but I think establishing a system to introduce to this hypothetical person would be wise in the long run. Thanks in advance

Hey BP community,

I am considering out of state investing for my first deal as I currently live in the Bay Area and am struggling to combat the exorbitant housing prices in the greater area in which I live. I am highly considering the Dallas area, yet through hours of research through listening to the podcast, I have become aware of the precautions that should be taken with this mode of RE investing. My best friend from high school who I still communicate with on a weekly basis goes to school in Dallas currently, so I am beginning to voice my interest in the area and accumulate knowledge of the general status of Dallas as a city. I recently listened to a podcast wherein an out of state investor referenced google maps in order to judge the vitality of a given neighborhood, but I have qualms with putting my (and my partner's) money behind a virtual litmus test of a neighborhood. I also question the legitimacy of sites such as neighborhoodscout in their altruism as you are required to purchase a subscription for access to their information. Do any of you invest out of state, and if so, did you have a previous connection to the area that enabled you to confidently put your money down on a property? Any information on Dallas, or any input from investors from Dallas whether you are an out of state investor or live in the Dallas area would be appreciated, I would love to start a thread regarding this topic in the BP community.

Namely, I am struggling to gather what I can confidently claim as reputable data on property management companies, and every real estate agent I call understandably pitches me on the influx of quality tenants in their respective area emphasizes the beauty of Dallas and their listed properties. How do I trust the information given by these essential pillars of out of state investing and remove the veneer of these representatives seeking their commission or monthly dues allotted to PM companies and effectively gather the data I need to move forward?

Hey everyone,

        I am beginning to look into accumulating off-market deals in my marketplace, however after several sessions of "driving for dollars" I cannot help but think there is a better method to this niche process under the overall spectrum of RE investing. I am familiar with direct mailing, and am curious as to whether anyone in the forums has had success with this method of marketing. I understand that every market and the consumer psychology within a given market varies, but a general consensus pertaining to the feasibility of direct mailing would be appreciated. Has anyone seen success from online advertising, or do  physical yellow letters increase the perceived legitimacy of one's investing operation to a prospective buyer? Any feedback would be appreciated. 

Hey everyone, I am a new prospective investor seeking primarily multi-family homes in the greater Northern California area; I'm looking for feedback from anyone on this platform regarding their recent experiences with rentals of this category. I have scoured 50-60 possible properties in a number of cities to no current avail. Obviously, it isn't a cake walk finding deals especially in semi-coastal areas and California in general, but if anyone has any insight or if anyone is willing to share their experiences with the current climate I would be really appreciative. Thanks in advance for your guys' input, this is my first forum post so I am also looking to connect with many of you and especially any users in my area.