All Forum Posts by: Jason C.

The Macon, Ga area in general is a good area for rentals, anything from Class A - D depending on what you are looking for. North Macon and growing areas above are Class A & B areas with anything from new construction to classic 1960s - 1980s single family starter homes in the 2/2, 3/2, 4/2, 4/3 bedroom/bath range. 

Downtown central is slowly growing and hip to the younger crowd and professional 25-35 year olds. Anything from older remodeled bungalow or colonial style housing on the outskirts as well as polished lofts/studios above businesses in the heart of downtown. Its a smaller downtown but all the bars, restaurants, etc are concentrated in a particular 5-10 block square. 

South and East Macon are older with less expensive housing in the Class B - D range respectively. 

Also Warner Robins, right outside of Macon, is a growing military town with a booming military base that brings new tenants in every year. Most houses in that area are newer construction with older houses on the outskirts as well.

There are also community publications, social media pages and property management companies to help with keeping the rental houses full. Property taxes/Insurance aren't too high since its not a large metro area.

Many multi family opportunities through out the city ranging from dublexes to 100+ apartment communities. I actually remember a Bigger Pockets Podcast I listened to recently where an out of state investor purchased a larger apartment building/complex in Macon, Ga a few years ago. @Brandon Turner or @David Greene  can probably help out with the actually podcast number and guest.

Hope this helps, feel free to ask more questions. I'm a local native to Macon with a handful of single family rentals that I've acquired over the past 8 years. I stick with the 1% rule for my houses but its easy to get at least 1.5% with the right properties.

If you purchase a second property and its a rental, you will probably have to put down at least 20%. If you move from your first house to your second as a primary, you could put down as little as 3-5% but will have to pay PMI (Private Mortgage Insurance) if its under 20%.

I always try to avoid PMI because its just more money in the long run. For me, putting down at least 20% on a primary or a rental is the way to go. Getting that money is where you get creative; savings, equity loan, line of credit, private lender, etc.

Looking for a dependable all in one retail store offering cabinets, countertops and flooring in Atlanta or the surrounding areas? Of course there are the big box stores, Lowes and Home Depot, but what else is out there?

Would like to rehab a rental and it would be nice to have it all in one location...

Always refer to the lease that the tenants signed. That's documented proof of agreement for both parties. If they violated the lease, they are to be held accountable. If the current tenants agreed on a 24 hour notice for all showings, have it in writing. Sounds like they are fighting back in a passive aggressive way making the house look undesirable for interested buyers. Remember you own the house and they rent from you; the tenants have rights but so do you. Many times, tenants will assume ownership of a property after a period of time. Changing fixtures and wall colors without approval demonstrates this. Being black and white with clear communication will eliminate any questionable areas.

along with bullet proofing, I also focus on safety and security. I ensure bulbs, switches and electrical is working and up to code for all external flood and entry lighting. I make sure all doors and windows open, close, lock and unlock correctly. if you have a home alarm, testing and replacing panel and unit batteries; also checking window and door entry detectors.

the peace of mind for a tenant goes a long way when they feel safe in a new place.

I have a few sets of washer/dryer that I offer with my rentals too. I know it might be more than necessary but I know when I was a renter, I didn't have a set. Usually just used the apartment setup or somewhere else. I think its a nice bonus for my renters to not have to worry about lugging a set around with them when they move.

In my area, most SFH have at least a crawl space if not more. When I check out potential properties, I have no problem going under the house and checking around tub, sink and toilet drainage lines for wood rot/water leak history. Also, floor reinforcement history in regards to support pillars and/or joist repairs. I think its a must to be able to check under the floor for any surprises that you don't see when you are in the house.

definitely check out meetup.com. I checked it out last night and found an REIA monthly meeting for my area that's well established and has a strong community of investors and real estate professionals.

...and of course frequent BP!

Thanks everyone.

Seolhyun Lee and Josh McCullough, what are the details about the meetup? When and Where?

@Brandon Turner, you're welcome! Thank you for all the help and knowledge!

New to Bigger Pockets but have been investing buy and hold for five years.  Came across the website just recently and have become consumed with the forum and podcasts.  I have really been enjoying all the information given.  Joshua Dorkin and Brandon Turner have been educational and entertaining to say the least. I also believe Jason Scott is in my area and in my field of interest. I would love to ask questions and get more involved.

I have slowly been buying rental properties for the past five years using the old fashioned and conservative method. In a nutshell,  I work to save enough for a 20% down payment, purchase a rental, and begin renting that unit, rinse and repeat.  This process takes about one year for each house. I have a full time job and do the renting on the side. I would really enjoy real estate investing to be my full time career. In search of insight from the pros to decrease my down time between property purchases as well as increase my purchases per year.

Thanks BP!