All Forum Posts by: Kevin Fontaine

Hi All!

Last I was on Bigger Pockets I had begun opening my brokerage; its been going well and got a couple of realtors with me. Now I would like to expand into the property management side of the business and look over residential properties. I managed multi family apartment complexes at my previous job I've been learning to manage single family homes in my current job.

I would like to manage single family or multi family properties as a way to keep servicing in my knowledgeable areas of real estate and gain experience in doing so for my future properties. Any stories on how you got started and or best tips to start finding clients? Where to advertise, if any where? Or just connections and word of mouth? 

I'm currently reading the E-Myth and I have that itch to start expanding the business and could use some fresh input/ideas to help expand.. 

Anything helps - I would love to have a discussion and thanks for reading!

This seems like such a simple metric to find given its public record but I can't find it anywhere.. Anyone know where I could find this? I've found this info but quarterly; looking for it per month!

Hello!

I'm currently a broker associate and I'm in the process of opening my own brokerage. I hope someone has had a similar situation but its pretty specific. I'm looking towards the shared office company Regus to have my company's office to satisfy this "vague" Florida Statute for a brokerage:

475.22 Broker to maintain office and sign at entrance of office; registered office outside state; broker required to cooperate in investigation.—(1) Each active broker shall maintain an office, which shall consist of at least one enclosed room in a building of stationary construction. Each active broker shall maintain a sign on or about the entrance of her or his principal office and each branch office, which sign may be easily observed and read by any person about to enter such office. Each sign must contain the name of the broker, together with the trade name, if any. For a partnership or corporation, the sign must contain the name of the firm or corporation or trade name of the firm or corporation, together with the name of at least one of the brokers. At a minimum, the words “licensed real estate broker” or “lic. real estate broker” must appear on the office entrance signs.

This company will be used to buy and sell my own properties so I don't need a fancy office space, or an office space at all...

Regus (similar to WeWork if you're not familiar) offers a couple options and I'm aiming for the least expensive option as mentioned above. To your knowledge, can I sign a lease for a virtual office (gives business address, phone number but no desk) or a registered office ( give business address with room #, phone number but no desk)? It's the possible inspection that I also have no knowledge of and hope some of you BP Brokers could give me some insight on. 

I really appreciate your time and help!

Good morning Juan! 

Just like mentioned above, be clear and explain everything nicely. I just did a renewal last month with a $200 monthly increase from $1250 to $1450 a month with no improvements done, just keeping up with market rates. Obviously, the tenants were not happy. But since it was raised to market rate, it didn't make sense for them to vacate and spend more on moving fees. This is just to let you know it’s been done, given you're increasing to a fair price, you should be good!

 Hi Justin and thank you for the explanation. I have some alerts set up already but I'll definitely check out those guides; great advice!

Good morning Elias and welcome!

I'm starting out on here as well. If you're looking to be close to your family in friends in Miami, a multi-family with a rental unit that could also act as a vacation home may not be a bad idea. Miami/Fort Lauderdale area being very tourist oriented places makes it possible to have properties in populated area be short term rentals (Airbnb). Hollywood might be a great fit for what you're looking for.

Although they might come with a bigger price tag due to location, short term rentals have the potential to have higher returns and it gives you the ability to come down and use the property when you want. Now some things to be cautious of is seasonal vacancy rates, high management, and as mentioned, price. I've lived in both Miami and Fort Lauderdale and would be happy to connect and bounce some more ideas with you. have a good one!

Good morning Andrew and thank you; feeling very welcomed!

Thank you Anthoney its a pleasure!

Hi everyone in the BP community-- My name is Kevin and I'm a young and aspiring investor from the sunshine state! The BP Real Estate podcast has been my go-to for learning and inspiration and I wanted to dive more into the community now through this site. I recently graduated from the University of Miami with a Bachelor's in Finance and I'm looking to work/learn for a couple years before starting grad school towards an MBA, most likely specified in real estate.

In the meantime, I got some footing in the game and earned my real estate sales associate license in 2018, my freshman year of college. And now my fresh real estate broker's license two weeks ago! I've gotten some well-rounded experience as a realtor from helping sell/buy/rent residential properties and a handful of commercial deals alongside my father. I also have a little experience and understanding analyzing deals using Excel from school classes but would definitely want to learn more about that!

The goal now? Although I've enjoyed being on the transactional side of real estate, I would love to get more work experience investing in real estate. Specifically, in the area of buying and holding multi-family/commercial properties; but I'm open to it all! To be very honest though, my capital (as most recently graduated college students) is minimal. And this is why I am looking to connect with people in the local market and to gain experience in my early years through practice.
And I'm happy to get to know and talk to anyone on here about really anything such as your own personal experience starting out, to the market in South Florida, building capital in your 20s.

Also, the concept of taking my commissions as a broker from successful real estate transactions to then invest for my own is a concept I am really interested in learning about. So if you have any comments on that please share away!

I appreciate you taking your time to read this, and I look forward to meeting everyone!