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All Forum Posts by: Greg Pawluk

Greg Pawluk has started 7 posts and replied 24 times.

Post: Newbie: Raleigh, North Carolina. New Investor looking to learn!!!

Greg PawlukPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Greater Raleigh
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 21

Thanks all.  I look forward to this new chapter.  

@seanmcdonnell, let me know when you're in town next.  When we do beach trips it's usually to Surf City or Topsail, coincidently! 

The next step for me is to get settled with managing this property. Getting a business model/plan in place. Show the managing partner (wife) how successful it can be, then duplicate. I will most likely tackle a BRRRR next as I know some contractors/builders who have shown interest in partnering. Have been looking into multi-family as well.

Post: Newbie: Raleigh, North Carolina. New Investor looking to learn!!!

Greg PawlukPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Greater Raleigh
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 21

New to bigger pockets.  New to investing.  

My name is Greg.  Originally from upstate NY.  I moved to Cary, NC in 2010.  I am a 34 yr old full time slave to a paycheck and a pension.  I'm married with a daughter and another on the way.  I'm going to NC State University part-time, to get my masters, and decided to buy my first investment property just recently, despite this crazy market.  

I've been drawn to real estate since 2012 when buying our first house.  My father-in-law became a realtor after that purchase.  Since then, the wife and I have always paid attention.  We enjoy looking at homes (yes we're those people who walk in open houses just for fun, or used to be anyway).  We've had some success with timely buying/selling/repeating in this growing Wake County, North Carolina market.  

I have been heavily researching, obsessively, over the past 6 months.  YouTube/books/ podcasts... Of course Bigger pockets is at the top.  There's really no excuse to not know something now a days.  If you are interested in learning about something, it is out there to learn.  In this game the scary part is pulling the trigger, especially as we've been pretty conservative... Dave Ramsey was good for our youth, but it's time to compound our net worth now.

Looking to network.  I know, personally, 1 investor in Wake County.  I have made some good connections through my work with realtors, builders, inspectors, and have just recently found a broker who I will remain working with for some time.  I am in search of a good CPA if there are any recommendations.  

Look forward to meeting you all...maybe even doing business one day.

Post: Relocating to Raleigh, NC this July!

Greg PawlukPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Greater Raleigh
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 21

@Alfred Uda. Sure.  I am not expert, and I am sure there are plenty that would have something to say about this... but essentially I decided to take a long term stance for my first investment, that's more on the safe side.  Ultimately, they all say for the first one, just get one under your belt and learn from it.  As I said above, I was getting out-bid quite a bit, even during pre-listing phases, in the Raleigh market.  After what homes were going for, capital improvement costs, expenses were getting high anyway, as rent rates seem to be lagging behind a bit in this market.  I knew a guy who was basically flipping new construction...(days prior to production price increase with lumber prices).  Basically he was buying new during opening phases (best pricing), building bare bones, doing his own upgrades after closing and selling.  So I took a page from his book and started looking, just out of curiosity.  I found a new townhome community in an up-coming area-Garner.  The waive hasn't quite hit it yet like some others, as everything seems to be following Interstate 540 (south and east).  For example, my realtor just sold practically the same townhome in Apex, NC for $372,000.00.  I got in on the last home of the first phase, spec home.  They have already raised second phase pricing 6-10k (basically covers my closing costs).  I did a cash out refi on primary residence (we've done well in past, buying, living, appreciating, selling) to come up with 25% down.  Raises my mortgage about $200.00 a month.  Aside from closing costs, this $2,400.00 a year is my true out of pocket costs, to purchase a brand new, maintenance free-ish home, that actually cash flows.  

Investment: 3 bed 2.5 bath/garage. HOA ($145/ month) covers all exterior maintenance (roof/siding/lawncare)-that was an important factor for me. Everything is builder warranty for 1 year, big ticket items have 5 year warranty. So, essentially maintenance free for a while.

Price $291,900.00

25% down: $72,975.99

P&I: $938 (180 day lock at 3.124%- had to hardcore shop around for this)

total expenses including HOA: $1,422.50

Projected Gross monthly income $1795-$1895 (still being built- not a ton of true comps-realtors think might be more with big pharma and Amazon moving in, along with all the development/proximity to RDU/Downtown)

NOI (cash on cash): 6.13% - 7.8 %

5 year ROI: 14% - 17.7%

*Already has gained equity and isn't finished being built.  I don't see this market slowing down for a while.  Demand is too strong.  Even if it only appreciates 3% a year, in 5 years it will appreciate 40k... principal will be paid down 25k....cash flow will bring in 25k.  (+80-90k).

I know I shouldn't look at it this way... but again, my true out of pocket cost is $2,400.00 a year from pulling equity from primary residence. I paid closing, down payment, all expenses to include washer/dryer/refrigerator with the cash-out as well.  To get my foot in door for first one without totally knowing what I'm doing, in this market, made sense.  I'll re-assess in 5 years.  

Hope it helps.  Again, they all say for the first one just don't lose money.  Get in and learn.  
 

Post: Relocating to Raleigh, NC this July!

Greg PawlukPosted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Greater Raleigh
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 21

Just bought my first investment property... new construction believe it or not. That’s how crazy this market is here. Hard to find anything in the triangle right now not selling 25-40k over asking, while waiving due dilligence addendums, waiving inspections, waiving appraisals. Definitely a sellers market. But it’s a hot market. High demand. People are moving here and for good reason.  Getting pricey though.