All Forum Posts by: Justin Aymer

I have a real estate agent helping me find duplex properties in my area. She is a friend and also an investor. She has provided me with several listings to consider and shared her knowledge of the market. I found a possible duplex as a for sale by owner. I ran it by agent and she thinks it is a good choice as well. She told me that she would do the contract for $1375 and that the buyer and seller usually split that cost. Is this normal? I am new and this will be my first real estate property as well as my first for sale by owner purchase.

Hey @Glenn Lucas . I am new to Bigger Pockets as well. Welcome to the site. I have found this place to be full of super helpful information. Ask a question and there will be experience investors with great information. The podcasts are amazing. Check them out.

Like I said, I am new, so I don't have much advice to give. I can tell you our plan. I am 29, married and have a little baby girl. Our plan is to rent out our current home (Single Family Residence) and then move into a duplex and rent the other side out. If all goes well, then we won't have to pay our own mortgage. That is our plan to get into real estate investing. We plan to execute this plan in the first quarter of 2014.

Good luck with your investing!

@Jeff Greenberg Thanks for the reply. I am worried about a property like that being lost in the sea of similar units. The area is well maintained. It is a nice looking neighborhood.

@Karen Margrave

@Karen Margrave Thanks for the input. What is CC&R? I am new to the game.

Welcome to Bigger Pockets @Michael P. The podcasts are an amazing resource. I can't get enough of them!

I was looking online at a duplex as a potential investment in my local area. I took a drive to check out the neighborhood and found out that it was in a subdivision full of duplex properties. There are only 3 designs.

I have heard to look for rental property in areas with a majority of owner occupied. Would this style of subdivision turn you away?

There is an Air Force Base within 15 minutes and 2 solid schools. Major road access. All properties are well maintained and landscaped. This duplex was built in the 80s.

Daren H. Thanks for your thoughts. I love "we all gotta live somewhere." My wife and I currently live in a part of town that isn't thought highly of, but we love it. Kinda historic architecture and nice people. Never had a problem with the people in our community.

Thanks @Ali Boone

@David Krulac I spent some time looking at properties on my county's assessment website. There is a line for Fair Market Value. Do you use that information when considering offers on the property?

@Andy Collins Thanks for your input. We have a lot of older neighborhoods around here. 1900s - 1950s. All the new stuff is on the out skirts of the city.

@David Krulac Thank you for that awesome tip on the assessment office website! My county assessment office website is going to be a huge resource for me.