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All Forum Posts by: James Call

James Call has started 1 posts and replied 119 times.

Post: Current Tax Levy affect on rental property investment

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Dustin Nygard,

You got a great answer from @Yasir Einaudi about the tax levy.

While you are looking at the property taxes, I would also take a look and see if the owners show that tax rate as their primary residence.

I know we have seen clients who bought a property thinking that the taxes would be $X per year since that is what the other owner paid, and then find out that the other owner was getting a tax break since it was their primary residence.

Good luck!!

Post: Duplex buy and hold in Austin Texas

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Shawn Muncy,

Thanks for sharing.  It sounds like you rocked it with this one.  The appreciation was great. 

That flood plain can be a killer.  Especially when there are some mean hurricanes bearing down in your area!

Good luck on your real estate journey!

Post: What utilities do you cover/pay for your tenants ?

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Sehun Kook,

I think that what you have as responses from @Neil Aggarwal and @Mark Martinez

are accurate as far as the owner paying for the building expenses and passing other things like repairs and such to the tenant. 

I will touch on the insurance part a bit.  You want to have good landlord insurance of course, but I would also recommend that you require your tenants to have renter's insurance. 

If your properties are nice, most tenants won't have a problem.  When I rented, it cost about as much to have renters insurance as not, because my insurance company would bundle my autos and renters. 

So the math looks something like $200 for auto insurance w/o renter insurance.  Then if I got renter's insurance that would be $50 and my auto insurance would go down to something like $150 or $160.  So the net is that it would hardly cost anymore.

The important thing about renter's insurance is that when your tenant has a guest who comes over and spills boiling water from the stove on their hand and gets 3rd degree burns and now can't work for a month after an expensive hospital visit, who do you think they are going to come after for some money???

Yep, you as the landlord. 

So if your have renter's insurance as the first line of defense, then if there is a claim for $5000 or $10000 it would probably be covered by the renter's policy before it would go to your landlord coverage. 

It really adds another line of defense for you as a landlord. 

It is a hassle to get your tenants to show proof of insurance and in some cases the tenants won't do it. 

Good luck on your real estate journey!

Post: Multiplex investment in Dallas area

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Kumar Gaurav,

I really think that you got some great advice from @Christy Keeton about looking for properties in the outskirts of Dallas more than just in "Dallas Proper".  You may find nicer properties on the outskirts. 

I have family from Denton to Burleson and even though those areas may be WAY too far away from what you are doing, there are a lot of places in between that are great investments.

Good luck!

Post: College Grad Interested in DFW Real Estate Investing!

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Andrew Ajewole,

Welcome to BP.  DFW is loaded with opportunities.  It sounds like you have a great connection now with @Jorge Gonzalez!

Post: Finding investment properties in El Paso, TX

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Juan Martinez,

I lived in El Paso off and on over the years. I would think that there are opportunities on the MLS like @Yasir Einaudi mentioned. 

I would also look for a great real estate agent who sells the types of properties you are looking for.  They will usually have a lot of clients who move those types of properties.

Post: DFW *True* MultiFamily REI Group

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Christy Keeton,

Can you let us know what you find that you like?  I have a client who has asked me about the same thing.

Thanks,
James

Post: Amount of time for a partner/property manager to vest?

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Andrew Troxel,

Those are all good things.  I wish you well.  

Post: Amount of time for a partner/property manager to vest?

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Andrew Troxel

That is an interesting question.

If you are going to give him credit for 10% why wouldn't you just hire a property manager?

I would prefer a situation where he is going to put money down with you and you just pay him the management fee. 

Having relatives in deals like this can get really messy really fast.  I would avoid that in any way possible.

Let us know what you do!

Post: Newbie from Kingwood, Texas (Northeast Houston Area)

James CallPosted
  • Specialist
  • Denton, TX
  • Posts 126
  • Votes 84

@Hector Toro,

Welcome to Bigger Pockets!

I hope you have great success on your Real Estate Investing Journey!