All Forum Posts by: Jumpei Matsuda

Thanks @Andy Rumple. Meaning that the crime rate improvement won't show up until prices have already gone up?

Hey everyone - jumping in here - 

I'm also looking at a potential duplex opportunity in Indianapolis, specifically in the Mapleton / Fall Creek area. Based on the crime maps, it seems to in a rougher area with relatively high vacancy rates (15-20%), though I have also seen people say that its not as bad as people say it is.

Any thoughts on this area from the experts here - is this a war zone or is this a relatively stable area?

(@Nate Hammond - hope you don't mind me piggybacking on this thread!)

@Tim C. - did you have any luck with this? I'm also looking for something similar.

I'm a bit late, but looks like there was a massive property tax increase in Cook County recently (abc7). I'm considering purchasing properties on the south side via a couple turnkeys that I am still vetting, but am quite concerned about this eating a large chunk of the profit.

Is anyone familiar w/ how this is being applied - is it a flat % increase? Or are there parts of town that may be more or less impacted?

@Mark Ainley - you mentioned you contest for all your properties. How often are you successful, and how much (on average) are you able to reduce them by?

Thanks for the update, @David Fitch. Best of luck, and keep us posted!

@David Fitch - thanks for posting this, as I am also looking at potentially working with them as well. 

Hope you've been able to close and get the units tenanted?

Hey @Jonathan G.. I'm not sure what a Japanese renter would expect renting in the States, but here are a few things that are different between renting in Japan vs the US. 

The initial renting process typically requires a few months payment up front: 1-2 months deposit, 1 month for the rental agent, 1 month 'key money' (think of it as bonus payment for the landlord). Leases are typically 2 years, with 1 month renewal fee. In terms of the house, its typical to not have any appliances - fridge, washer/drier, or window coverings. 

I haven't had any experience w/ renting a house w/ a yard here in Tokyo, so I had a look on the net - they say that it should really be spelled out in the contract; and if its not spelled out explicitly - some say that its the owner's responsibility while others say its the tenants.

Sorry there doesn't seem to be a clear answer, but let me know if you have further questions. It sounds pretty fair to chart an extra fee for landscaping if he requests it (just get it into the lease!)

Following on this thread - thanks for keeping this updated @Michael L.!

@Paul Timmins - thanks for the suggestions, I'll have a look at those.

@Frank S. - I knew the taxes were high in Cook County but I didn't realize it'd eat into it that much - good to know.

@Larry Fried - yeah that is what I saw as well, most of the turnkeys seem to be on the south and south-west which do have problems with crimes. I'm not familiar w/ the south suburbs, but sounds like that's someplace worth investigating.