All Forum Posts by: Mark Cohen

if you watched someone choose the red button and he lost, would you still choose it?

green is a no brainer unless 1 million has little value to you

I have decided to start direct marketing to absentee owners, primarily to find investment opportunities for myself, but with intentions of passing along deals to other investors if it doesn't meet my criteria.  I don't have a "buyers list" although I have read up on different strategies here on bp of finding them. (Some ppl. here are Really creative!) 

My question is that being that I am marketing to landlords, there are obviously some of them still more interested in buying than selling, and you know they are the real deal as they are owners, not time wasters, so is there a way of sticking in the message that if they are interested in buying I may have inventory for them.  Not sure how I would phrase it without getting tacky "I buy houses, (and also may have some to sell)".   I also don't want to confuse my message, I am a big believer in simple, clear messages.

Has anyone ever tried this double marketing? Have you had success?

Sit down in a quiet room with a pen and paper, think about your personal strengths and  your interests, and decide based on that in which specific area you want to specialize.

Then write your game plan.  Don't work backwards ( i have 20k what should i do) work forwards - have a goal, how am I going  to start to achieve that goal with 20k.

Good Luck!

Certain things in my mind are small enough to let a tenant take care of, especially when you have to mix in the hassle of coordinating when the contractor/painter comes and that it works out with when the tenants home, and also paying the contractor, (especially small jobs where they expect cash)  I'm just debating if I should have a steadfast rule or not.

Happens to be in this case the tenant made the suggestion, and I know she knows how to paint as she did the interior (at her own cost).  I suppose thats an entirely different question as to if you let tenants paint inside.  

Thanks all for the feedback

The hoa of one of my units has required everyone to paint their front door from green to red.  Not a job I want to drive there for, and while in general I hire contractors to do work, I am leaning towards letting the tenant paint and take it off the rent, as its a fairly simple job.

Would you make an exception?

Nope, they couldn't provide a clean title. They did return my emd and my lawyer didn't charge me (i gave him an amazon gift though).

I am a little farther out than you (rockland county) but why not put your agents license to work by signing with a broker and getting mls access which can greatly aid you in researching areas a little further out which may be more affordable, like dutchess county.  Also don't forget about seller financing.....

Cost to take out a bp member to a nice steakhouse (with your wife) = $150

Cost to buy your wife Rich Dad Poor Dad (+dozen roses that you love her and appreciate how concerned she is about your financial future and that you don't mess up) = $50

That should leave $9800. 

Welcome and good luck,

I have spent a little time researching condos in middletown/orange.  It's a good rental market, but it is important to know which school district (pine bush or middletown). The county website is very useful (http://propertydata.orangecountygov.com) for seeing last sales price and comps.  Don't mean to be nosy but if you are looking in Rivervale complex (no hoa) there is currently a listed short sale around 65k if you want to go down that path.