All Forum Posts by: Jessica Swingle

@Hunter L.

For Winchester and Front Royal insights you may want to chat with @Ben McMahon. He is an experienced income and rehab investor/contractor out there ~ knows the market intimately. 

As for the Meetup groups, I've found the best way to vet them is to attend one event and check out the "vibe." Some groups are higher quality than others. I started a list of local groups ~ email me and I can send it to you. There are over 20 Meetup groups in our region alone (and counting). 

I also have an investor/Realtor contact for you in Fredericksburg. Again, feel free to email me for Jay's info (last time I published contact info on BP they deleted my post). He's a super nice guy and is very active in the market. 

Hope this helps!

~ Jessica 

Hi @Ray P. I assume you are looking in VA?

Or do you mean outside the DMV region?

Awesome job, @Mark Cruse. Win-win!

Hi @Cesar Rebolledo, 

I tried to include a direct link to my Meetup but BP deleted my post. 

If you're interested, email me and I'll get you the information. 

Thanks for the shout-out, @Ben McMahon. 

@Mercedes Morina

Good for you ~ pursuing your passions. 

I've been licensed in 3 different states (including VA). I'd be happy to chat with you in detail about the exam or the business in general.

I'll PM you!

Jessica 

Moving for schools...100%! 

Now that we have kids, I understand this consideration on a personal level. 

How did miss that? 

Thanks, @Matt R..

@Regina Rudolph

Go to Meetup.com - there are over 20 real estate investing related groups (in our region) there alone. 

Also, @John Rubino and @Roger Lin run Capital REI Group. You can contact them to put you on the list or check out their FB page.

@Regina Rudolph

Yep. Baltimore. 

Have you thought using the 60K as leverage to purchase a larger property (still turn-key)?

@Kayla Lyon

Thank you for your service. My husband is prior military ~ I understand how moving around can be. 

Flipping is the "job" money. Income investing is the long-term game.  Some investors do both (or use one to supplement the other). 

Is it sustainable? Yes...if you have the right management in place. 

The advantage you will have is the ability to "read" the market and compare it to other places you've lived. I've found that my experiences living elsewhere have helped me understand how different areas of the country work (prices, rents, culture, opportunities, etc). 

Hope to talk more on Friday at the Meetup!

~ Jessica 

As a "millennial," I hear a lot about our generation and lack of desire to purchase.

I think it comes down to several factors (there is no one-size fits all here):

1. Financials: Student loan debt, higher cost of living, lower wages/job availability. Those things impact a potential buyer's ability to afford a home. Secondarily, even if they can afford a mortgage payment - many (most) do not have the cash to put down. 

2. Lifestyle: Yes, urban living is popular. Convenience and access to shops, bars, food ~ all those benefits are appealing to millennials (and increasingly to baby boomers, actually). People are waiting longer to marry and start families - they don't need/want the added expense of owning and maintaining a home. 

That said, millennials ARE starting families and let's face it ~ when that happens, having extra space for kids/pets becomes more of a priority. Nothing quite replaces the advantage of having a "yard." I think we'll continue to see the transition of young families to the suburbs for this reason (among many). 

Which is why single family rental housing in great neighborhoods/school districts is in high demand. For those who can't buy, they're still looking for the feel of living in a "home" in neighborhoods similar to where/how they grew up. 

3. Preference: If you own, you can paint the walls whatever color you want, change the carpet, renovate to your hearts desire. But - you have to pay to replace your own AC and call your own plumber. As someone who has rented and purchased several homes, I understand both points of view - and depending on what you want, there is no "right" option. This is a personal decision.  

4. Investment Opportunity: Unless you are house-hacking or living in a market that is appreciating (A LOT), you should never view your home as a true "investment." We could debate for hours on this one but the reality is, there is a cost to ownership (whether it's the cost of funds to purchase, maintenance, repairs/improvements, or cost to sell). If you make money when you sell, awesome. But in terms of "net" equity...it's usually less than people think.