All Forum Posts by: Justin Brown

@John William Meehan start studying for your real estate license! Then keep your expenses low, be called "boring" by all your friends, join a meetup in your area and make new friends, hustle hard and make more money for a down payment on a house hack. Search the forms for some great house hack stories! 

@Joe P. you need a french drain it sounds like. I'm a little north of you in Allentown and a month ago when we had some heavy rain I was doing some work in our old house soon to be rental.  I caught water seeping through a small crack in the concrete. And its almost unnoticeable but for the effects it has over time. Aside from this one spot the basement has a french drain system that catches the water before it rises through the floor and directs it to the sump pit. I heard the pump running about every 5 minutes. That being said maybe your current pump may just not be able to keep up, maybe a second pump too? 

Hey @Owen Michehl you have taken the right first step by joining Bigger Pockets. Hit up the events page and find a meetup first off. Do you have a w2 job? Got some free time and do you own a home yet? 10K will go a long way toward your first deal! 

What is the criteria that gets a city on your list?  

@Jared G. I would echo everything @Michael Kistner laid out for you, especially trying to find a local real estate meetup.  That will be key because you will get the motivation to make your first purchase. What's keeping you held back from moving forward? Also building a solid team takes years and lots of deals to put together. Don't feel locked into any one person for any of these roles. 

I wonder if those people are being scammed themselves by list sources selling them bad info.  When sending out mailers for my residential sales business I filter out recently sold for the very reason you are frustrated @Dean H. Oh well... you got some fire starter for your weekend BBQ.  You should keep a file of the most unique ones and pull them out for some laughs from time to time. I had not heard the "How much longer till I hear from you" one thats a good one. 

@Mindy Jensen you want to bet my mind will be blown? Whats your percent certainty of the outcome of me listening to this episode being a blown mind? Now if it were @Brandon Turner you were telling that would be 100% certainty because every episode is his favorite episode. 

Interesting question @Tyler L..  When you don't have a true comparable I start sliding my criteria back and try to see what gets me a hit first. Initially I start with sold in last 6 months, type/style of home, + or - 200 square feet, within a half mile of subject property, same number of bed and bath.  So from their I just start dialing each back...go 12 months, 1 mile out, range of bedrooms, + or - 400 square feet, etc. Then once you find something sorta close, find the price per square foot and multiply that number by your subject properties square footage.  What stage of the game are you at? How small of a market is it? You looking for something to appraise?  Offer price? Remember the same issue you are having the appraiser is going to have too so try to think like him.  A home that is very close by sold 5 years ago is not as good as one that sold close by 7 months ago but is a split level vs a ranch. 

Good luck! 

Hey @Aaron Phillips I think the best thing you can do so they don't write you off is be the best damn cleaning company in town. Then ask for referrals from the jobs you get, if you do your job right people will know you to be a man of integrity and hard work and will be excited to refer their friends and colleagues with you. Beyond getting capital, what stands in your way of investing yourself and how are you looking for your cleaning business to get you closer? 

Hey Everyone, 

Its that time of the month again (Third Thursday) where we will be having out monthly Lehigh Valley investors meeting. Its free to join, shoot me a note that your planning on coming so that we can adjust for the right amount of people. Always a fun time, hope you can join us! (September 20th, 6:30-8:30, at 40 S. 5th St, Allentown PA 18101) 

If your new looking to listen to experienced investors discuss down to earth concepts this is the right place for you. 

See you soon! 

Justin.