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All Forum Posts by: Jonathan Greene

Jonathan Greene has started 264 posts and replied 6422 times.

Post: Starting My Real Estate Journey—Eager to Learn, Grow, and Collaborate

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
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#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572

Welcome. There are some great meetups in Northern New Jersey that you can find in the Meetups and Events section here. That is a great way to connect with others who are doing what you are doing. Are both of your properties in JC? Are you house hacking one of them?

Post: Hi! Let me introduce myself--

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
Pro Member
#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572
Quote from @Tanya Karle:
Quote from @Jonathan Greene:

Welcome. How many fix and flips have you done? All in Idaho?


 Hi Jonathan,

Thank you, I am in the Boise area. Are all of yours in NJ? I will look for your podcast.


That's a great market with a high ceiling, but how's the inventory for finding homes to flip? Here, the market is tight, first-time homebuyers are overpaying for all of our flip properties.

Post: Why You Need a "Deal Killer" In Your Life as a New Investor

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
Pro Member
#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572
Quote from @Bruce Woodruff:

I think that this BP forum takes on that deal-killer function very well......at least it can if/when investors take the time to post their questions and concerns.


It should, but because some (not all) investors are fragile about criticism or prefer an echo chamber, it often falls into a back-and-forth where we are trying to help on our own time, and they are rejecting it and calling us naysayers. I think new investors who post here and take all the feedback as a whole, with a grain of salt, can really put it into play in real life and then discuss with investors at meetups in their area to get over the hump.

Post: Have you ever used your umbrella insurance policy?

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
Pro Member
#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572

This is a good question because I've had an umbrella policy across everything for years, but have never used it. I'll be interested to see who responds.

Post: Why You Need a "Deal Killer" In Your Life as a New Investor

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
Pro Member
#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572
Quote from @Mona Lisa Harrison:

I’ve never called myself a “deal killer”, but according to your definition, I guess I am. As an agent who has worked almost exclusively with investors for years, I almost automatically take the approach of saying “no” first. If you start with “no”, then you have to prove your “yes”. That process makes everyone dig deeper. 


Yes, this is the same for me. I reject a lot of investors as clients because they can't handle no. They think they found a diamond in the rough that's been sitting for 300 days when every other experienced investor passed on the deal. The no is a test to see how they will take it and respond, whether they will listen. You know that the best investor-clients, we develop a partnership with and camaraderie over knowledge and a will to work in their best interests.

Post: Why You Need a "Deal Killer" In Your Life as a New Investor

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
Pro Member
#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572
Quote from @Jill F.:
Quote from @Mona Lisa Harrison:

I’ve never called myself a “deal killer”, but according to your definition, I guess I am. As an agent who has worked almost exclusively with investors for years, I almost automatically take the approach of saying “no” first. If you start with “no”, then you have to prove your “yes”. That process makes everyone dig deeper. 


I'm always the one looking for deals in our business. And my husband does that too! He always starts with 'NO'. It drives me crazy but it does force me to 'prove it' before we spend money. Usually I win ... but he says he use to figure, 'I don't really like the deal but if the bank underwriters will go for it... I guess' but now he says he can't believe what they'll lend on. LOL.

I would be embarrassed if I the bank wouldn't underwrite a deal I presented.


That's exactly it. Prove the deal to each other and if you can do that, the bank will be on board (unless you are both pie in the sky folks, which you guys are not). The "deal killer" name is for emphasis, but the five traits are the description. The reason I call the person a "deal killer" is because so many investors think any criticism of the deal kills it, but it's as you said, it's a way to prove the deal like arguing your case before you present it.

Post: Looking to start my Real Estate Investing journey while being Self-Employed

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
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#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572

It's really up to you and the market. Utah is a very hot market so you have to assess potential house hacking where you are in one unit and renting another versus renting a place and buying a multifamily to earn income. However, you would have to use cash or a DSCR loan and the metrics of that with the current rates in Utah won't bring too much cash flow. If you are interested in Utah, reach out to @Alyssa Holbrook - she lives there and invests there.

Post: House Hacking and Insurance?

Jonathan Greene
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#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572

I don't think you are going to be able to get insurance for two separate living units in a single-family when they are both illegal and likely do not have the correct egress windows (basement) for fire safety which could subject you to huge liability if something happens to either party. Does the side unit have a separate entrance like a mother-daughter? If so, that should be covered. The tenants should have renter's insurance to protect you.

Post: Negotiating within wholesaling

Jonathan Greene
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#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572
Quote from @Jonathan Grzeszczyk:

I agree that the motivation and problem is the core, but the first question is always where are you going when we come to a win-win agreement for you to sell me your house. There is a problem, but they always need somewhere to go and will never sell until that is clear and the path is set. You have to help with that to make deals happen.

 Great point. I've briefly thought about that, where the seller will be moving on to. With your point, it seems like living security of 'where's next' for them will be the biggest obstacle for the seller to overcome. Is it a normal practice to have a deal set up where you find a new place for the seller to move to?


If they have nowhere to go or don't know how to find a next place, and no relatives who are helping them, you will be the only person that goes the extra step to help (even with advice) which means you will get the sale at a better price and help someone.

Post: New rental - attracting a qualified tenant

Jonathan Greene
Professional Services
Pro Member
#4 All Forums Contributor
Posted
  • Real Estate Consultant
  • Mendham, NJ
  • Posts 6,627
  • Votes 7,572
Quote from @Jessica Kiely:

Thanks for the helpful advice @Jonathan Greene. What application screening service is reliable? For improvements to our process, I’ll say yes to all showings and update and reduce the # photos. Thanks again!

 

We use RentSpree. I like it more than others because the prospective tenants can upload all of their docs into the system and it auto checks things and auto emails their recommendations to confirm.