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All Forum Posts by: Mariana Kurko

Mariana Kurko has started 2 posts and replied 5 times.

Hello! I am looking for advice and ideas on a home I have that is a zoned business.

It is two lots separated by a shared private road. The lots can not be sold separately. One lot has the home I am living in. The other lot is empty with terraced gardens and has mountain views. The property sits between two good quality hotels off of a busy highway. There is significant noise pollution on the entire property but also has fantastic mountain views and mature trees in east Asheville and by a major commercial zone. I had hoped this land could be both my personal home and an investment but after being there some time the sound pollution is too much for me. I don't know if I should rent out the house and hold it for several years, BRRR the house and sell it in a year or so, try and build a business on the additional lot, or try and find a commercial property investor to sell it all. Any ideas welcome and what type of real estate consultant could I look for to help me analyse my options?

Thanks in advance!

I was just researching shower heads for water saving. I bought a house on a well and need to conserve water. This one was recommended and is very affordable. It has won innovation awards and also doesn't get clogged by minerals. It is available on Amazon too.

https://www.highsierrashowerheads.com/shop/classic/

Congratulations! Thanks for describing the steps you've taken to get to your first one. I'm in the early learning phase. My idea is to plaster the inside to make a decorative "nook." If it looks like an architectural detail that would add value.

Investment Info:

Other buy & hold investment in Saint Cloud.

Purchase price: $3,700
Cash invested: $4,200
Sale price: $67,000

Purchased a small lot of land outside of Austin, Texas close to lake access, bordering a natural park, in a planned community. Originally intended to build a home on it myself but decided to sell at the height of the Austin real estate market. This experience got me interested in real estate investing. Now starting intentionally!

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

When I first looked at the land ten years ago I thought that Austin was growing and that eventually land outside Austin would go up in value.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

I found it by looking at the MLS maps at land under $5000 (yes outside Austin you could find land for less than 5k 15yeaars ago) because that was all I had then and found this one lot that bordered the national park and was close to lake access. I thought these things would be desirable as an investment.

How did you finance this deal?

Paid in cash from a gift from my mother who took out cash from her life insurance dividends.

How did you add value to the deal?

nothing added

What was the outcome?

Held onto the land for about 15 years with back taxes owed. Sold it with multiple bids in 2022.

Lessons learned? Challenges?

To trust my intuition about what is desirable in a property, to be able to hold on to the property long term and let it grow in value, and to not discount land as an option.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Worked with a real estate agent for buying the property.