All Forum Posts by: Jeff B.

Picking up a new SUV and a computer to write off 50% and putting business cards for my wife, the "Real Estate Professional" putting in 750+ hours this year (Real Estate loses off-setting income on our W-2's. :) Got to get my deductions! :)

Good points @Jon K. I'll take it into consideration. Your right on when it comes to the bottom line, they will move out when they find a better deal.

@ Andrew Wu - Usually when you have a plumber hiding costs or doesn't give you an invoice many times they charge a ton for the replacement. Do you mind telling us the price he charged you for the water heater with labor? Condo size my guess is the water heater was a 50 gallon unit?

@wade Sikkink - Don't think about it and just do it, I know what your thinking. What about next year, the year after, will i have to do this every year? What about the year that I struggle? It's fair game, i'm sure your tenants won't expect it every year especially when you had to replace a new roof or new appliances et. al. It's just a nice gesture, it's not a contractual obligation to give them gifts, just the thought that counts.

I think it's a PR stunt to do this and you will get your tenants talking and may get a list of future tenants wanting to move in. Most importantly don't expect anything from your good gesture/good will, just know that your helping out your tenants and in return I'm sure they will help out you voluntarily or involuntarily.

First year Landlord here and I decided to give my tenants $50 off their rent for the month of December.

I figured this would promote the holiday spirit but also gain a little respect and hope the respect they show to me reciprocates to the property that they are renting. I try to be a very good landlord, when there is an issue I try to have it resolved within 24 hours, I try my best to fit the customer/tenant with high expectations and I believe everyone deserves a little break. I made plenty of money this year from them, I can afford to give back and instead of giving back to a non profit organization which I don't know, I would rather give back to the tenants that I do know and take care of week in and week out.

@Trevor Lohman I'm from Irvine, California, born in Glendale, family lives up and down the coast. Almost one year to the date I moved my wife and 1 year old son to Albuquerque, New Mexico to pick up some rentals, it has been a success story so far. I was determined to do this remotely, but thought I needed to understand the area and be a little hands on. I looked at 30 to 100 homes a night on Trulia and Zillow, checked the foreclosure listings with banks and finally picked up a 4 plex 2 months after moving here.

Yesterday, I just talked with my Bank and will be looking to purchase my second property in the next 4 months. Just use the formula's and calculations within Bigger Pockets to see your numbers before you pull the trigger.

Ups and Downs - In my first year, I evicted 1 and had a 2 year contract least with another to find out that he had to move because of an emergency but was able to put 36 hours over a weekend (up all night) to get the place ready to show to the public, was able to rent it out within 10 days. My goal is to get a maintenance guy to handle all my needs on the property, until then i'll be doing most of the work and getting a certified guy (electric/plumbing) to check my work which will save me in the long run.

I haven't been on Bigger Pockets since because of how busy I am, but I do listen to the podcasts and articles from the email but you will get all the info you need from this community. Study hard and hope you endure a little luck on your way.

Thanks Brandon, much appreciated! I've read over 100 posts by you in the past month or so, thanks for all the positive feeds! Thanks for the notes on Keyword Alerts, i'll pick my 5 for now until i decide to take the "Pro" route. Thanks bud!

Boom goes the dynamite!!!

i've been a BP addict the past few months but just signed up tonight!

I'd get on a few times a day from my work computer, iphone and my personal iMac and just read the forums pretty much anywhere...got to love the research on the search engines and just sponging it all up on the forums!

I don't need the leads or contacts within New Mexico but It doesn't hurt to see who from the Albuquerque area is on this site and is making cash in RE.

I moved here 5 months ago from Irvine, California to buy up property, there was no way i would make any substantial dent when renting $1,800 for a 2 bed/1bath in Irvine when I could just come out here and buy a 4 plex for a portion of that rent in Irvine....so i got approved to work remote and I made the family move (I have my father and brother out here already so it wasn't just a drop of a pin on the US map, lol!

I'll have plenty of upgrade questions regarding swap coolers and furnaces here in the near future...This first unit i bought has old units in each and need to get the utility companies to play along with the reimbursements with energy efficient units, its homework, but nothing like a final exam for your BA....lol!

Anyone got a contractor(s) that play nice in the NE area?