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All Forum Posts by: Kenneth Garrett

Kenneth Garrett has started 81 posts and replied 3705 times.

Post: What inspections are a MUST?

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

When you make the offer if you use the MLS offer form it has the inspection contingency. It gives you 5 business days to have an inspection and you can get an extension if need be. If you are not comfortable with analyzing inspections a home inspector or a general contractor will do the trick. The types of inspections are endless. Lead, radon, well & septic, building, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, etc. This is why we want to build a team so we can use our strengths and outsource our weaknesses.

Good Luck.

Post: Moving in without a Certificate of Occupancy (CO) in Chicago?

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

When projects are involved in a multiple unit building it really depends on what you are doing.  A new C.O. is not always required.  Provided the common areas are free and clear and the life safety issues are compliant then approving individual units one at a time is perfectly acceptable.  They may ask for individual permits for each unit to allow occupancy in each unit.  Unfortunately this is very subjective.  I have issued building permits for many multi-unit buildings and if the owner explains what the plan is upfront than I will try to work with them.      

Post: Cash out refinance without a seasoning period

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Nich,

I use commercial loans no seasoning required.  I invest in buy n holds.  If you buy a fannie or freddie it might have a 90 day period.  Otherwise I have not had any issues.

Post: Are short sales good avenues for deals?

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Short sales are time consuming. It takes patience.  I had one take 15 months.  Its a long process but you can get good deals by getting them under contract.  I currently have two under contract, time frame is 12 and 8 weeks respectively.  I continue to purchase properties and when the bank is ready I will take them.  If others are scared off by them that's just fine by me, less competition. 

Post: No family support, only negative comments. What to do?

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Absolutely.  I didn't  share with my family and friend due to the negativity.  Now that I have a number of properties under my belt they now ask me how I did it.  Isn't that interesting. 

Believe in yourself, they will come around unfortunately, it will after you have succeeded. 

Prove them wrong.   

Post: Private Funding for Investors

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Hard Money can be a great tool but they generally will only loan up to 65%.  Private lending can fund 100% of the project.

Thoughts?   

Post: Best way to get started

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Welcome Mike.

Educate yourself. I listen to a number of podcast including BP. You can learn a lot from them and you can take out the pieces that fit into your Investor Identity. Develop to be an expert in a market. Could be your current neighborhood. Attend local REIA's but be careful some of them always want to sell you a program. Learn and network.

Figure out your strategy; flips, buy n hold, wholesale.  It might take a while.  I spent my first year as a sponge learning from others. 

Good Luck.

Post: Financing for investment properties

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

You can create a Limited Liability Partnership or General Partnership. The partnership will be listed as the mortgage and note holder. Each member is part of the partnership and the agreement lays out the responsibilities of each party. Use a LLC as the participants versus you personally. I use commercial loans to avoid the limit on the number of mortgages.

The LLC for each property is for asset protection. It is based on the amount of equity as far as determining whether you want multiple LLC's. There is no limit on the number of properties in an LLC. It is up to you. I would limit it to three as a rule of thumb.

Hope this helps.

Post: Private Funding for Investors

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Good points John.  Networking is critical and build your own credentials.  I couldn't agree more.  I pay 12% and up.  They always come back.

Post: Has anyone used a service like EvictionRecords.com?

Kenneth Garrett
Posted
  • Investor
  • Florida Panhandle/Illinois
  • Posts 3,758
  • Votes 3,110

Sam you can select the depth of the background.  I have very happy with it and it gives me a comfort level s I can make an informed decision.  They do a lot of background checks for employers as well.