All Forum Posts by: Lien Vuong

Great to hear! Please reach out and we can connect. Would love to chat :) 

@Marielle Walter I’m not sure how apprised some of the people on this forum are but as a RE professional and active investor, I find what your goals are to be quite achievable. While to be Boston proper you are looking at some areas that are $1000/square feet you can find a lot of value in some metro areas such as Roslindale - 2 family with 5/6 beds can go for 5-600k in fair to good condition and that’s a nice middle ground location. Alternatively, my more specific is Malden and Everett which has direct access to trains and buses and you can find 2 families for the same price range and an occasional three family with work needed. Some areas that I would advise you to refrain from is Fenway, Alton/Brighton, Jamaica Plain and Back Bay. They are geographically the best locations for college students but they are incredibly saturated with rentals and prices are through the roof - 400k/ unit for 2 beds. I’m not trying to discount their desirability as rentals but you’re ultimately in this to make money right? The metro areas give you more bang for your buck while still able to appreciate at an increasing rate. I would discourage you from buying condos as they’re typically really High in HOA fees which is completely outside your control (major negative) and usually not investor friendly. They have a lot of restrictions with rental vs. owner occupied and tend to be more competitive in the Boston market as they’re more price friendly for a first time home buyer. Wishing you the best of luck and please message me with questions. I hope this has helped some!

I concur with the general consensus of the group here. As your buyer's agent, it is his fiduciary and professional obligation to deliver your offers to the sellers. While they do seem low to him I do think it is important for you to explain to him your math and why/how you have derived to those numbers. That will not only foster a better working relationship with you in the future but when your agent understands that, they will be able to convey that to the listing agent and 'fight' for your offer and make it resonate with the other side. 

Ultimately communication is the key here and if you find that this agent is not conveying your message correctly perhaps it is time to move in. Partnering with the correct 'investor agent' will move you forward and get you into the right deals. WIN WIN situation always!!

Best of luck out there! 

Malden, MA has been a great market for buy and holds with room for positive cash flow. If you're looking to 'house hack' this town does give you a residential tax discount of 30% which is a great boost and it's proximity to the city makes it very desirable for Boston commuters. Having lived in the Malden/Everett area for about five year now, I have seen it been very stable in terms of community growth and it certainly attracts the right kind of renters - young professionals, DINK (double income no kids), who will pay more than the average single tenant. If you're tighter on your wallet, Everett is the better way to go as their average 2 family goes for an average of $50k less and rents are very comparable esp. when you can offer parking. 

Best of luck to you and hope this local opinion helps!

I would suggest you definitely get your license even if it means referring business to other agents - great side hustle while you're in school. Another way for you to learn the business in investing and RE in general is if you can assist a top agent in your target market and/or work for a property management company. You'll get to know the clientele in the area, learn how people find deals, rehab units, and manage in general! Best of luck out there!