All Forum Posts by: Jerry Westhoff

I finally closed on my first duplex in Grand Rapids, MI.  The property currently has tenants upstairs.  The lease that I inherited does not list anything about access to the basement.  The tenants do have access to the basement though because they have a ton of junk down there.

My question is can I ask them to remove all of their items from the basement and change the locks to eliminate their access to the basement?  

Also can I ask them not to park in the driveway?  

Lastly, the house has a front porch and a back porch on the lower level.  The upper tenants access door is on the back porch.  They have made a mess on the back porch by attempting to grow plants out there and they are all dead and scattered everywhere.  Can I eliminate their use of the back porch?

The lease unfortunately does not cover these items so I am unsure about handling the situation.

Thanks,

-Jerry

Good info @Kyle Gregg 

Thanks

Experience in multifamily would be a plus.  Also an inspector that does infrared would be great.  

The loan will be a streamline.  

I recently had an offer accepted on a property that I will be using a 203K renovation loan on.  I can do a lot of my own work and would like to save money on labor by doing some stuff myself.  I am wondering if I can do some basic things like paint and refinishing hardwood floors while the other work is being done.  Does anybody have any experience with this type of situation?

Regards,

-Jerry
 

Trulia and Realtor.com are good but they are not necessarily up to date. With those sites you can filter multifamily. I would recommend contacting a realtor and requesting he/she set you up with automatic notifications from the MLS on properties that fit your criteria.

Regards,

-Jerry

@JoshCaldwell is right about Pittsburgh.  Pittsburgh is known for being slow and steady.  The Zillow Book: "The New Rules of Real Estate" even talks about how steady Pittsburgh's returns are.  

Regards,

-Jerry

@Jean Bolger Thanks for the comment.  I am jealous that you live in Colorado.  I used to live in Avon and I miss it very much.  

Hello,

I am looking to purchase my first owner occupied rental property in the downtown Grand Rapids area.I would like some opinions from other Grand Rapids natives.The property I am looking at is located just south of Wealthy st.You can view the property here http://www.trulia.com/property/3199391082-845-Logan-St-SE-Grand-Rapids-MI-49506

What do you think about this location?I have rented in the downtown area for almost 5 years so I know the area very well.Currently the location that this property is in is not good.The crime rates are higher than properties north of wealthy.If I purchased this property I would live in the back house and rent out the front house.I am estimating rents for the front house to be around $800.

I plan on holding this property forever and continue to add properties to my portfolio.I feel like the wealthy street area is really growing and it is only a matter of time until this small pocket neighborhood known as Baxter will catch up.

Opinions?

Thanks,

-Jerry