All Forum Posts by: Jessie Walls

Sounds like the discussion indicates risks, damage, problems relating to pets but in order to make it worth it for landlords, put a barrier to entry that benefits to the property : fee and better yet, a monthly charge.  Sorry for those places that can't discriminate against pets (Canada post).  The few applicants we came across that wanted dogs in our No Dog Duplex in popular Los Angeles Los Leliz, appeared to be not ideal dog renting folks.  Non-profit & PHD student reserved a puppy (likely $500-1K) after moving into our $2500 2bed/1 bath house with no fence.  Several other applicants that wanted dogs had a month of savings. Risky. Didn't pick any of these applicants.

I'd rather them save their monies to improve their savings or situations. 

Working in law enforcement and veterinary medicine, parents own 3 animal hospitals, my sister is a K9 officer, I would agree that situations depends on the owners which makes this a risky business policy.  Depending on others to abide by shaky "noise, bad behavior, barking, smelly" rules [is mainly dependant on he said she said between tenants] isn't somewhere I like to invest in.....unless it's profitable!

Newbies should use pick a few cities near them and try the investment calculators.  This 1st step allows for newbies' local knowledge of good/bad neighborhoods to get a complete picture with the numbers.  Then hit 3-4 cities on zillow and run those numbers.  Be cautious with no or low money down.  Safest to use the $15-20% down into the calucations with extra $5-15K for rehab, fixes, emergency.  Good luck!

Been researching Ohio and like what I see in the burbs.  I may contact a few of the posters here.  THanks.    -Investor : buy and hold, $45K down, up to $400K.  Mainy of the city listings I see don't have quite the numbers to make it work.  A local specialist and expert would really help determine which pockets are good. 

Summary first:  I just heard of low money movement. 

While touring with my residential agent in Vegas , I asked him about his experience w/ Chinese investors. Agent said when he showed (2) $3-5 mill properties to an Asian investor, they got quiet and said let's go to get a nice lunch.  At the lunch the investor said this place is nice.  How much to buy?  The restaurant?  No the entire plaza and maybe the buildings in the back. 

But you probably are so aware of topics like this with your Chinese background.   I do feel for the Chinese, when their RMB fluctuates they can lose value from 3-9% in a week.  For a client I worked with in San Francisco, I was asked to listen in on a meeting (I know simple Mandarin) .  Lawyers and agents were presenting investments to client.  Conversation was some buildings deals are so complicated.  We don't like senior care homes numbers.  How much for hospitals?  Why do we need to give so much consideration to the labor?  Can we purchase the doctor unions? 

Sorry tangent.  These stories are so eye popping for a little old girl from Pasadena.

Good info here, much insight from running the numbers. On 1 project we over built in order to capture more net metering, incentives were there, all vendors came back in 2018 stating their estimates are increase by 12% due to China trade war, plus we were anticipating building an ADU/granny flat. One small vendor didn't get much business and had inventory so he kept this prices the same. So we went with him. So far it's producing only 80-85% of claim and we've had him out 6x. Checking on solar forums, low performance is being reported by 30% of residents. In California, the incentives were good, they are expiring.

Some other post said a landlord added some utilities and or internet.  The lower apartment renters enjoyed it because they have terrible history or credit that the utilities won't turn on for them.  This may seem like a red flag but the poster said it worked for him.  

This arena is majority for investing/risk taking.  So I am surprised to hear lots of encouragement to consider your goals and some people enjoying having less debt.  My friend is a bankruptcy lawyer sees more failures than 500 investors in this forum.  He is heavily invested in different vehicles and ocassionally reminds me it's not a bad idea to pay that mortgage down.  Very few people including richer people than I ever have that delight in getting that notification "Congratulations, you have paid off your mortgage".  This month I'll be refinancing and bringing additional monies to pay down a multi-family.   

As ones leverages more, it increases your chance of bankruptcy.  Paying debt down, decreases chance of bankruptcy.  I question  myself:  Would I hate myself more for not being brave enough to earn good money or will I hate myself more if I lost a lot of money?  When I answer those questions with "but this is really good, the numbers are above average, I could weather 1-2 years of problems" then I know it's good to move ahead with more investing/leveraging.  Good luck.