All Forum Posts by: Matt Altrich

Hi Warren,  I've only heard positive reviews about M&M but have not personally used them.  

Furthermore.......buying a house is not free.  I always thought this was a ridiculous claim. The more you pay for a property, the more your agent makes - both agents are profiting from the price the buyer pays.  Some agents have no incentive to negotiate you a lower price.  

I personally recommend dealing directly with the selling agent if you're comfortable doing so to purposely create a conflict of interest.  I did this for years prior to getting licensed and closed many deals where I was the lower bidder (sometimes much lower!). 

This is dependent on your negotiation skills too.  They have no fiduciary duty to you as the buyer since they represent the seller.  Buying real estate is no more challenging than buying a car if you educate yourself on the process. 

I've never understood why agents are allowed to collect both sides of a deal and still say they're keeping the sellers best interest in mind.  I'm a full time accredited investor and do not make my living as an agent.  I say this because I have a different mindset than most agents.  I'm not "hungry" for my next commission.  

This will not be a popular strategy with interest rates being so low but I appreciate having my primary residence mortgage free.  

Yes, there is potential to increase your returns if you deploy that capital elsewhere.  It really depends on your risk tolerance, personal strategy and short/long-term goals.  You're afraid to leave returns behind but I wouldn't invest money you can't afford to lose either.

No matter where you buy,  you'll most likely be buying high.  I have no idea where we are in this cycle or when it will change but real estate appears to be pretty expensive right now.  Unfortunately, many investors continue to buy high and will most likely be selling low when the shift occurs.  

I self manage but if you send me a PM, I'll share a contact.  

I have storage units in Kansas if anyone is interested.  Please send me a PM.  

Yes, you can sell them individually. 

As previously mentioned, at that price point you should have professional pictures taken (in my opinion).  If it's not leasing during peak season, the home is most likely over priced.  Your pool of tenants dwindles as you get into the premier units.  They're also savvy and usually do their research.