All Forum Posts by: Jonathan Tavarez

@Carl LaPiedra  Look for a good real estate broker and ask around, find other realtors with similar investment interests and offer to do open houses for them, maybe partner up.  The investors will come after you are able to get good deals for them.  

Best of luck!

@Lauren L.

Agree the unknown can be stressful but you just need to focus on the things that you actually have control over and don't let the irrational fear get a hold on you.  Your numbers are solid numbers for a deal, specially for your first deal, what you did is already 10x better than just getting a huge mortgage that you can barely afford on a nice big house just for yourself.  Get the house, build your emergency fund in case you run in to some issues and remember the house value dont go to 0 after you buy lol, if things get hard just sell, you might lose a few dollars but it is hardly the amount of money to ruin a family. 

@Jaz McWilson

I agree with previous comments regarding fixing your credit but right after you get a loan in terms of what deals or strategies to go after you should focus on house hacking if you have the opportunity.  In my opinion the most powerful tool for someone just starting and with the opportunity to take immediate advantage of real estate benefits.  BP has all the information you need for this strategy, here is a good link https://www.biggerpockets.com/...

Best of luck!

@Alex Heidenreich

After a few years of trial and error I use a tier approach to determine if its a property that I should pay attention to. For example in some of the areas that I focus on for rentals I have a good idea of what will bring 1%+ so any property over 1100 sqft with an ARV of $150k to $180K, that I can purchase for a number close to $100K goes to tier one, etc.

But if I'm not familiar with the market I still use 1% rule and 75% all inn (but this in my market is close to impossible unless you get first hand on a off market deal)

Hi @Adam M.,

Sounds like a good solid deal, congrats!  It is a great filling when you are done with a project and your numbers where correct.

Just wondering since I see you are from Frederick, was there a reason for you to decide to invest in Jacksonville vs Baltimore?  I have a friend in Germantown that is doing a similar approach (getting properties down in Florida) because he doesn't even want to see his rentals or do any work on them but I'm constantly telling him that in Baltimore the cash flow numbers are better.  Just curious what was your criteria to be an out of state investor.

Great story!

I'm constantly thinking about work/life balance and with family, fitness journeys (things like marathons, Brazilian jujitsu, gym, you name it lol) and my different businesses it really feels like I'm burning the candle from both ends and constantly saying this quote from Bilbo Baggins

"I’m old, Gandalf. I know I don’t look it but I’m beginning to feel it in my heart. I feel thin… sort of stretched, like butter scraped over too much bread."

But it is important to get that balance and for sure it needs to be a priority.

@Craig Anderson

Nice! Putting time and money in your real estate education will be returned to you 10 times over. 

@Paul De Luca

I have on my list Buy, Rehab, Refinance, Repeat by David Greene but I agree with you that some of the content around real estate investing books is fairly repetitive and that's why I haven't rush to read it.  Regarding the course on Wholesale it was more like a class with book and some conferences, it was incredibly useful information (if you are interesting in the wholesale side of real estate).

Thanks for sharing your list of personal development books, sometimes people don't realize that "you are the business" so if you want your business to get better then YOU have to get better.  Reading, eating healthy, meditation, exercise, etc. all of that is what will make you better and by consequence your business.

Here are some of my personal development books as well:

• Wild at Heart -John Eldredge
• How to win friends and influence people - Dale Carnegie
• The biology of belief - Bruce Lipton
• Extreme Ownership - Jocko Willink and Leif Babin

Hi BP fam!!,

I love learning about real estate and have done some serious investments in the past 5 years to learn as much as possible about this beautiful business.  What are you learning before 2020 is over? or right after as a new year goal?  Below is some of my favorites, feel free to ask any questions!

Real Estate Note Investing - by Dave Van Horn

Book on flipping houses - J Scott

Book on estimating rehabs - J Scott

(course) The Real Estate Goddess's Guide to Wholesale - Vena Jones-Cox

The Millionaire Real Estate Agent - Gary Keller

I'm with @Alex Heidenreich on this one, being active in BP, providing value for other people sharing your stories, etc. is the best way to learn the ropes that will eventually give you the opportunity to find a mentor or a business partner.