All Forum Posts by: Grigory Pekarsky

It's not always easy to find someone who shares your same passion and vision. Qualities that make a good partner in investment areas are motivation level, commitment capacity, communication skills etc. But first of all, before finding any potential partners - it's important that you figure out what kind of investment you want to make.

For instance, if you purchase a home with an intent on reselling it within weeks or months - this transfer of ownership would be considered speculative. On the other hand, if your intention is to hold this house as long term rental it becomes categorized under intended use. 

One of the great places for finding partners is real estate related forums and message boards. You need to do some research first and dedicate time into figuring out who these people are before getting in touch. Through forum participation – you can learn more about the market trends as well as finding potential candidates for flipping houses with you. You might also want to look at commercial real estate brokers or wholesalers specialized in the area you intend to invest. 

One of the most common questions I get from landlords is how to deal with non-separate utilities in a multi-unit.The law in Philadelphia states that if there are more than 3 units on one property and all apartments share a heating system then each tenant must pay their proportional share of expenses when they move in, based on what is determined by dividing total costs by number of tenants. If there is no separate heating system then you just need to ask your tenants about their individual agreements with PGW (Philadelphia Gas Works) and PECO (Philadelphia Electric Company). You should also check the lease agreement to see if the tenant is responsible for paying utilities. The law requires that the lease clearly state who is responsible for these expenses. If you have a side-by-side property with 1, 2 or 3 units and tenants share a gas system then it might be written in the contract that they are responsible for payment of all expenses including water/sewage, but not responsible for installing or repairing anything that goes wrong. The only exception to this rule would be if there is a clause giving the landlord responsibility to collect payments from each tenant. In Philadelphia, landlords can pass on costs of water/sewer bills through their rent (under Act 247). 

When you're looking for property to invest in, finding distressed apartment owners is a great way to purchase your next property. Not only will this allow you to get a good deal on the price of the property (because they need money fast!) but it also allows you access into an area that most people don't have. Making connections with distressed apartment owners can help give you insight as well as valuable information about how they became so stressed and what made them want to sell their properties. This is why knowing where and how to find these individuals can be very beneficial when trying to buy real estate at a discount. In order to find these distressed apartment owners, you must first know the signs of a distressed apartment owner. Some common signs would be:

• They have been served an eviction notice
• They are behind on their mortgage payments
• Their monthly cash flow is very low
• They do not pay their maintenance fees in a timely manner

There may be other small indicators that can help you figure out if an individual fits into this category but this is a good list that keeps a majority of people in mind. If you see one or two items from this list then it might be worth taking down some information and keeping your eye on them for when they need to sell. 

The housing market is constantly changing and keeping up can be difficult. Luckily there are many websites available that provide statistics on the current state of the housing market. One of the best resources that will help you keep up with this ever-changing industry:

• Zillow Research provides information on homes throughout the country as well as data about local neighborhoods, schools, crime rates, and more. This site also allows users to search by specific criteria such as price range or the number of bedrooms/bathrooms etc. It even offers home value estimates based off other sales in your neighborhood. You can also learn about new properties being built in your area and read reviews about local businesses. It's a great way to keep updated on the housing market in your neighborhood, city or state.

• Redfin displays homes for sale throughout the United States. It displays actual photos of homes that are located near you and allow users to narrow their search based off criteria such as price range, number of bedrooms/bathrooms etc. Users can also get an estimated value for their home depending on its proximity to these listings. Check out this website if you're currently looking to buy or sell a property - all listings are updated daily so it'll be easy to stay informed about what's available and at what price. 

If you're a property manager, one of your biggest headaches is getting contractors to make you their priority. You need them for everything from plumbing repairs to HVAC installations and they always seem to be busy with other jobs. Here are five tactics I use to deal with it:

1) Always offer money upfront - It's important that your first words are "I'll pay cash!" or "I can write you an email right now." The contractor needs money up front which means they want work done as soon as possible so it's best that they prioritize those jobs.

2) Be friendly and ask how the day has been going - Politely asking about how things have been going at work will not only help you build rapport but it shows that you care about the person's wellbeing. When they feel valued, they will be more likely to prioritize your job over others.

3) Give them a sob story - If a plumber is working on a major commercial pipe installation and your pipes are leaking, state that if he doesn't help you ASAP then his entire project will go down the drain. This creates an opportunity cost where the contractor now needs to pick from two jobs: Yours or someone else's. It also works with HVAC technicians as well as they aren't too keen on letting their customers freeze to death.

4) Do NOT be rude! - I know this one sounds obvious but some people do not seem to understand that if you are not friendly to your contractor they won't be either. It doesn't matter if you are having a bad day, the contractor is on their last straw on how many days in a row they need to work, or whatever other excuse you can pull out - unless it's an emergency where safety is on the line, don't act like a jerk toward someone who is trying to help you out. This includes picking up the phone and calling them names (such as "idiot" or "moron") if they aren't there when they said they would be.

5) Get multiple estimates - I know that some people may say that this isn't necessary but I am of the mind that it never hurts to get more than one estimate whether you are working on some new minor installations or doing a major repair.

Rehab costs can vary widely depending on what needs to be done and how much work is needed to get it up to speed. You might think you know what your budget will be for this project, but make sure you really do by evaluating all the rehab costs first. You will need to do a cost analysis of the rehab. This is done by determining all the expenses needed to get the property in shape and ready for sale. Many people shy away from taking staging into account because they think it is unnecessary or just too expensive. The truth is that if your home doesn't show well, potential buyers won't bother touring it. Most buyers start looking online and work their way through open houses until they find a place they like enough to see in person. If your home isn't staged, many buyers simply won't consider it. Even if you plan to paint and replace carpet yourself later on, you should still stage so potential buyers can imagine themselves living there.  

Rentals are good for income but can also be risky because of vacancy rates. Flipping houses is riskier, but the rewards are greater if you do it right. If you are new to investing in real estate, I recommend that you start with rentals and then move on to flipping houses when your expertise grows.

In certain circumstances, removing a large tree from your property could be the best option - but it is not without its consequences. Here are some of the pros and cons to consider when removing a huge tree near a home.

A large tree can have a number of benefits for your property and surrounding area. Most obviously, trees provide us with shade and shelter. A newly planted sapling or seedling is likely to grow into a full grown tree over time which, in addition to providing you with similar protection, could also increase your property value. Root growth near your foundation can cause structural damage; the most common symptom of this is shifting soil that damages basement walls and flooring by pushing them outwards. Although small roots pose less of a threat than major ones (and they're easier to remove), it is important to consider their removal as soon as they appear. In addition there are often ecological concerns that come into play when you think about removing a tree from your yard. For example an ecologist may consider the removal of a native plant species - even if it's just one individual - as "genetic erosion" which could lead to future negative impacts on ecosystems.

The answer is not always simple and both approaches have their pros and cons. The final decision whether to remove or keep the tree comes down to weighing up all these factors, considering the unique conditions surrounding each case, and making a balanced choice.

A good CPA can make a world of difference to your finances, help you avoid unnecessary taxes and ensure that your numbers are correct on both business and personal accounts. But finding the right CPA can be difficult. Before you research accountants in Cincinnati, make a list of questions that need to be answered:

1. What kind of experience do they have?

2. Do they maintain any professional licenses or designations? Licenses and designations show their advanced education and understanding of the profession (and sometimes licensing requirements).

3. Where is their office located? Do you have to travel far from home or work?

4. Why should you hire them instead of using an accountant from the internet ? 

5. Do they offer any other benefits, like phone consultations or online document upload?

6. What is their hourly rate? Hourly rates vary widely across the profession, so it's important to research before you hire one for tax preparation services , especially if you're looking for an accountant in Cincinnati. 

7. How many clients do they service per year? If they service too many (over 50), it may be hard for your business taxes to get the attention they need. Don't be afraid to ask what percentage of clients are repeat customers versus first-time customers; this will tell you how much other people like them!

Private money lending is a complex process with many variables. The most important variable in the process of determining what to charge for interest rates is the riskiness of the loan.

To calculate the interest rate on a loan, you need to use three things:

1. Risk free interest rates

2. Default rate

3. Loan duration in years

Risk Free Interest Rates are the interest rates that can be earned on an investment which comes with no or very low amount of risk to its holder (e.g government bonds). Risk free interest rates are usually calculated by taking the average of market yields for relevant bonds (of similar terms) over a period of time e.g 6 months, 1 year etc.