All Forum Posts by: Jennifer Soelberg

Brian Garrett Braden Smith That has been my problem. My county only displays the site address, not the owner’s address.

After you drive for dollars and have a list of dilapidated/vacant properties, what website or source do you use to find owners' addresses (preferably at a low cost or free)?  

Thanks in advance!  

E-myth Revisited by Michael Gerber isn't necessarily a real estate book, but it changed my mindset how to grow a business and create systems. I would highly recommend.

@Margie Fuller we have purchased many manufactured homes in our area and used them as rental properties, as well as flips. We have found it is much easier to resell manufactured homes on lease options. The people who are looking to buy mobile homes, tend to be looking in low price ranges. We do lease options so that we have time to help them build up a good down payment and purchase the property at the end of the lease period. 

If you plan on using manufactured homes as rentals, we have also had good luck with that. In our area, we get almost the same rent for a 3/2 manufactured home as a 3/2 stick built, so it really depends on your area and how much you can get in rent for a manufactured home. 

Let me know if you have anymore specific questions!

Grant, Yes, there has been a lot of debate on the forums about this topic. We have had great success with manufactured homes. I am from Washington and we like to invest in the rural areas around the city. Most of our manufactured homes are buy and hold or sold on lease options and have worked very well. The benefit you get from manufactured homes, at least in our experience, is a lower price compared to stick built with almost identical rents as stick built. When it comes to differences in maintenance/rehab, it is no different than a stick built. One thing I can say about the opposing side of the manufactured homes argument, is it does tend to attract a certain kind of tenant. We are extra careful in our screening process for this reason. Let me know if you have anymore questions! I’m sure you’ll get many helpful replies from people on both sides of this argument.

@Sam T. I am thinking about doing the same thing in a couple years when I go to physical therapy school! From my understanding, you only have to live in the property for a year and then you can use it as a rental. If you decide to purchase a 2-4 unit. You can even live in one of the units and rent out the others. @Brandon Turner coined this as "house hacking."

@Sarah Metzger

That is uncommon in my market as well. The realtor we work with makes sure we were able to look at the inside of properties even with tenants. But, as mentioned before it could vary depending on the market. I agree with @Josh Dillingham to just make sure you have the inspection contingency in place. Good luck on your first property!

@Kevin S. 

In the past, we have had applicants hand in their applications in person. This way we can meet them in person and get a feel for their personality. If we know a property is going to rent very quickly, I usually have applications at the house when I show it so they can fill it out right then and there. 

I also agree with the previous comments though. We have more rentals now, so I have been looking into online platforms to streamline our application process. I would test out some different ways and see what you like best! Good luck on your first rental!

@Sarah Wade sorry it took so long for me to reply. I have only dealt with manufacture/mobile homes on their own land, which we just use the standard way of pricing which is comps. I would look at past forum posts if it is in a mobile home park or on a rented lot.

@Sarah Wade is it a mobile home or a manufactured home on it's own land?