All Forum Posts by: Liz Cole

@Jay Hinrichs  I get what you're saying, and good to know about the lender issue. I will make sure to ask about that as I start talking to lenders. I was looking further away, but decided it was too scary and did decide to look closer to home. As I mentioned earlier, I could move if I deemed it necessary and actually figured I would rent a studio in the area. My plan is to buy a multi-family too. I would live in a unit. 

Also, just so you know, because it seems like you might think I watched or read something about investing in distance areas. I am aware of David Greene's theory, however I have not watched or read his stuff. He is visiting Brandon in Hawaii and has been on a couple of the webinars recently. He mentions it briefly there.

I'm done believing it's too hard for me to figure out. I'm smart, creative and a hard-worker. I'm doing it. 

I appreciate the time you've taken to converse.

@Julian Sibley  Thanks much! I asked about finding a local RE group in another thread, but didn't get any response so thank you for the information on the Marysville meeting. 

I've talked to a couple RE Agents about what I want to focus on. I've been looking for a few months at the MV area North of me. Everything seems so expensive around here, which is why I started researching a few weeks ago on area's further away. 

Been getting on the webinars and listening to the podcasts, reading etc. I understand the formulas pretty much, just NO confidence in my guessiments of what things will cost. :) @Account Closed had a good suggestion saying:

I should have thought of doing that a long time ago. Coincidentally, I heard that same thing on a webinar today. 

My instinct is to do a couple reasonable flips, then find a BRRRR, rinse and repeat.

Thanks again!

@Jay Hinrichs   Well it takes me 20 minutes just to get to the grocery store, so I didn't really see 3 hours as a big deal, more like an inconvenience. I was looking further away for a market that was more affordable but did feel that was more than my bravery gene could handle. I'm also in a position to move if I deemed it necessary. I do have an old school background in real estate. I was a top producing agent in Mesa AZ during the 80's (that was due to my ability to bird dog great deals for first time home buyers). Owned and worked in a drywall company for 10 years with the EX. Did a rehab on a house I owned a few years ago. It's just time to jump off the cliff and make my dreams turn into my goals. And, I am aware RE Investing is not for the faint of heart and most quit before they get started. Been there too. For me it the unknown. Obviously, I want and need my first couple of deals to go well. Not a lot of room for error and the error is the contractor stuff. Not being familiar with what things cost to do  now a days. 

@Account Closed Thank you. 

I'm fully aware it's Ri$ky. I have the distance issue resolved already. I don't have the money to invest in my expensive area. You can barely buy a trash can for $250K. What I don't have resolved are trust issues regarding contractors, realtors that are investor savvy/friendly. etc. I didn't feel it was necessary to tell everything to get a little positive advice. I thought someone could give tips on things to ask or look for.   Additionally, I accidentally found a deal while half-heartily looking that has issues but would give a decent flip return.

@Michael Wilson Welcome! I'm a newbie in WA, too.

Hello! Can you suggest a Podcast or Webinar or give me your thoughts on setting up a team to do flips? The area I'm interested in is 3 hours from where I live. 1. Who do I need in my back pocket and as @David Greene would say:, How do I find the Rock Stars? ---- RE Agent ---- Contractors --- HML and PMLs, ETC. 2. How do I QUICKLY analyze a deal when the various BP calculators make Dumb ME enter the data on what things will cost? lol 3. Do I trust the listing agent on a property to tell me the truth? Or am I smarter to find my own person? Thanks for the advice!

Hello! I am new to investing and trying to get my bravery on. I'm looking for a RE group to network with. I live on Camano Island, between Mt. Vernon and Marysville. (about an hour North of Seattle). Is anyone doing meet ups? Thank you!

I think the link to WA Distressed Property law is here: 

http://apps.leg.wa.gov/RCW/default.aspx?cite=61.34

Just let it go. The longer you delay, the more wound up you'll be and the more negative energy you're allowing in your life. Chalk this up to a lesson learned, and and don't use that brokerage again. BTW. When you don't tell someone to their face how you feel they wronged you, and then tell someone else.. that's called talking behind their back. You can be honest and professional.. integrity.

Update: I had three realtors go through and two of them refused to give me what they would list the house for. One said $130K which is what the trashed houses were selling for. I did some very minor work on the house, called another realtor and told him I would list at $160K, which he was not happy with but I told him if we didn't have an offer in two weeks, I would reduce. The Zillow clicks first day were over 200 and I got 3 offers the first two days and accepted at full price with no conditions except the financial qualification, and closed 30 days later. In the end, I think the realtors were looking for a fast sale from an out of town seller they viewed as just wanting to get rid of the house because of the other heirs..