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All Forum Posts by: Jewel B.

Jewel B. has started 38 posts and replied 339 times.

Post: First out-of-state BRRR: What went right & what went wrong

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119
Quote from @Katherine Serrell:

@Lance Stokes Thanks, Lance! 

I had to come up with 90% of the ARV. At the time, the HML was estimating ARV would be 117k. (ARV ended up being 145k.)

I did find it difficult finding and dealing with a hard money lender without getting completely screwed over in the process. I was very happy with who I chose but it definitely wasn't the economical way to go. I was ultimately able to get approved by 2 or 3 different ones but every HML wanted you to have 3 deals under your belt. I was able to make a case for myself to where I believe they had some degree of confidence in me. I had two properties, I am a CPA and Realtor, and I had worked on large commercial REITs in the financial services space so I really harped on "I havent done this before but these are the things I HAVE done before" and when I sent over deals I ran the numbers conservatively and basically tried to make them "no-brainers" and served them on a golden platter to try and be easy to work with.

After I got through the first one, the HML said if I found another one where the numbers worked he would let me do 0% out of pocket. Unfortunately, in Jacksonville, its hard to find one of those deals again in this market.


90% of the ARV???

Post: New here, new career path, guidance welcome!

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119

No degree necessary. 

Some ideas include:

Listening to podcasts (such as BiggerPockets Real Estate Rookie)

Reading books (such as many of the BiggerPockets books)

Networking (such as through the forums, Facebook communities, and REIA meetings)

Following those who are doing what you want to do

Working a RE related job / working in a role related to your goal

Post: Keep as rental vs sell home in Jack Britt district.

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119
Quote from @Matthew E Weber:

Fayetteville is one of the best Buy & Hold Markets in the nation and has been for a long time. If we went to war it would not effect your rental. The military would need more personnel and Fort Bragg is known as the Mecca in the military as well as being the largest military base for personnel. That doesn't include the DOD civilians and contractors. Being a veteran it is know throughout the Army that Fort Bragg gets everything first. (equipment, personnel, funding). 

The Housing allowances also just increased at the beginning of 2023 so that mean service members and veterans in the area using their GI Bill have more money to put towards rent. 

If you rent out your property it could bring you good returns. If you based your estimated value of your home off accurate and similar comps then you could easily buy 2 properties to buy and hold in the area and see a larger return. I regularly get and sell properties in the area working directly with investors. 


 Plus even if they get shipped elsewhere, they still usually have families who will be remaining in the home.

Post: Chester County, PA - Parksburg

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119
Quote from @James Freeman:

Hi, Colleen.

Sorry for the delayed response.  I looked at several multifamily properties and even put an offer in on one, but never ended up purchasing a property in Parkesburg, PA.  I never really could get a feel for the town and which way it is heading.  I may take a fresh look in 2019.

Thanks.  Jim


 Any updates?

Post: How to build a Tiny Home Development?

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119
Quote from @Michael Weigum:

Hi @Tony Guarino

I have a plan to build tiny homes and cabins on land to STR them. That has always been a goal of mine. I've seen people buy an acre of dirt and put a tiny home on it and then STR it for a year and then sell it for double what it cost them because it has a track record of rental income. One downside to this that I have found is that it is hard to get financing on a tiny house, if not impossible, so the next buyer will probably have to be a cash buyer. When I'm looking at exit strategy, that concerns me a little. However, if you had a primary residence on the property as well as some tiny homes, then the value of the whole property goes up and a buyer would have an easier time getting financed. Like you said, these are ideas from the watering hole, but also from what I have seen personally and have been contemplating. I do know of a couple of tiny home developements that have been done. There is one in Leadville Colorado. I also saw one in Franklin, North Carolina. I know there are others around the country. I would like to talk to the person who developed them as well and see what the whole process consists of.


 Another exit strategy is seller finance.

Post: Juggling Deal Hunting

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119

Part of my concern with bringing out contractors to bid before offering is not wanting to waste people's time repeatedly. Having to cancel on my contractor twice because it went under contract 48hrs beforehand, especially as a new investor, made me uncomfortable and a bit embarrassed, as I don't want the contractor to think I'm not serious or I'm a time waster or I'm backing out.

I'm not sure what type of contingency would be appropriate for a cash purchase in this case. Would I use an inspection contingency? Or a financing contingency? Or something else? Subject to approval by business partner (Kiyosaki style)?

Post: Juggling Deal Hunting

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119

Happy Hump Day community,

Today I would like to know how best to go about the process of finding and analyzing numerous deal simultaneously.

How do you go about this? How do you recommend I go about this?

What I mean is, I go on the MLS (I do peruse some off market deals as well, but that's not my point), I look through numerous listings, I save ones that stand out to me for various reasons (namely, looking hideous, but some other factors as well, and I'm pretty familiar with this area in terms of location concerns), and then...how much time and effort should I put into analyzing deals? Knowing when to book showings? Knowing when to get bids? Knowing when to make offers? Knowing at which point in the process to work with a HML / finance?

I have to determine the ARV (which means looking through comps, which can sometimes be quick and easy and other times be more time consuming), I have to determine the potential rents (pretty simple generally...Apartments.com, FB marketplace / local rental group, CL), but then what? Schedule a showing? Send out contractors to bid? Draw up a presentation for PML / HML / partner? What should be the timing of all this?

And not just for one property but presumably I need to be doing this for several properties simultaneously in case someone else scoops it up in the meantime or my offer is rejected. I had my eye on 2, booked showings and a contractor to come out and bid, and then BAM! They were gone like 2 days beforehand each time. So I can't help but feel I should be more aggressive in analyzing multiple deals at once.

I'm just not sure how exactly to coordinate the steps of acquiring a potential BRRRR etc., as well as juggling doing so for multiple properties at once. Keep in mind, I'm looking at "as-is" / "handyman special" / "motivated seller" types of properties, so I'm currently looking at properties that have strong potential, looking at ARV, looking at potential rents, roughly estimating rehab costs, and then working backwards using the ARV*70% - rehab costs = purchase price to get an idea of what I'm looking at, with the intention of offering around that amount regardless of purchase price (again, these are distressed properties).

Also, I've seen some that put in offers before securing financing or having contractors walk the property, but I see others who secure financing and get walk thru bids before offering.

What should I do?!

I'm thinking since I intend to use creative financing, I'll need to have contractors bid first, take it to the HML, and then offer if approved? Or should I just make an offer w/ a contingency, then get bids to hone in on the rehab estimates for the HML, and try to close quickly?

Post: Referral Request: Lehigh Valley / ABE / Allentown

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119

Happy Hump Day everyone,

I'm currently seeking recommendations / referrals for general contractors and subcontractors of any type (electric, plumbing, HVAC, roofing, framing, asbestos remediation, septic, windows, etc.) I am looking for those who are licensed and insured, where applicable. I would like to have 3 GCs in my back pocket as well as 2 or 3 of each type of sub.

I am a new investor currently working on acquiring my first property, so feel free to share as I'm certainly not about to steal your contractor with a crap ton of back to back work. My intention is to acquire 2 properties this year.

I am currently looking in Pennsylvania, in the Lehigh Valley, ABE, Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth, Freemansburg, Middletown, Bath, Emmaus, Hellertown, Northampton, Catasauqua, Whitehall, Fullerton, Fountain Hill, Trexlertown, Orefield, Coplay, Ironton areas.

Thanks in advance!

Feel free to connect with me.

Post: Lehigh Valley, PA Investing

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119

Mary, any luck getting that first property?

Post: Investing in the Lehigh Valley (Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton)

Jewel B.Posted
  • New to Real Estate
  • Lehigh Valley, PA
  • Posts 346
  • Votes 119

Did you end up investing in the ABE? If so, how has been going? Any contractor / sub recommendations?