All Forum Posts by: Matt Littlepage

Hi All,

I feel I should update this post as my original post was fueled by frustration and now I am three weeks older and wiser...LOL 

In all seriousness I found a decent realtor in Cleveland who has put in a few offers for me with no luck but we are still trying and I am sure will get something in the Cleveland market soon.... 

With the help of a BP member here, I did find a ROCK STAR realtor in the Akron market! You really don't know you have a great realtor until you have a great realtor. Chris Parsons with Howard Hanna in Akron is amazing! I text him a property that I am interested in and he books a showing almost instantly. He has looked at several properties for me this week and yesterday I made an offer on a duplex and it was accepted! I am super excited but this is more about my realtor as I just want to say that there are a lot of good ones out there. I feel extremely comfortable knowing he is my boots on the ground. You can find him online or contact me and I will put you in contact with him.

Brian, I think you nailed it. The culture and lifestyle is just a slower pace and that is not a bad thing.... I wish it was slower here. Jay I am not making low-ball offers. I believe the lowest offer I made was 10% below asking.

My sister-in-law bought a home here 5 years ago and was shown almost 80 properties before she finally closed. It was not all her fault with multiple offers, inspection contingencies and having to offer above asking price but that poor realtor really earned her money at the end. I see things like this and find it hard that the realtor in Ohio is going to make the same commission when I find the properties myself online, I am fully financed and I have zero emotion in the deal. I don't care if the carpet is blue, if the numbers work I want to buy it..... You don't have to waist time driving me around and laughing at my dumb jokes.

Hi Bonnie,

Thanks for the lead. This is my frustration! Yes, I feel I have done everything possible except for getting on a jet and flying out to Cleveland. I did the phone interview which I felt went well both times. We would email and text back and forth and they would always say they would get right on with whatever the task is we were/are concentrating on accomplishing and then I feel no action would be done on their part. Again, I know people are busy and I guess I am just wondering if people investing from afar take a back seat to local investors? 

Thanks,

Matt

Hi Joe,

I ask prospective agents if they are investors in real estate. I ask about their experience and how many sales they had last year. I make sure that they know that I am 2,200 miles away and may have to tour homes without me. I ask how long have they had their license and how long they have lived in the area. What are their strengths and drawbacks? Do they have lenders, contractors and property managers they recommend? 

Basically we agree that they will not get paid until I close. I tell them I will do everything possible to close and ask if they will do what it takes to get me there... Both agents promised the world and basically fell flat.

What would you recommend I ask?

Thanks for your time,

Matt

Hi Everyone,

I currently own properties here in California and I have recently been looking for investment multi-family properties in North East Ohio. I am new to out of state investing but not new to real estate. I have already been pre-approved and have over $100K in the bank to use as my down payment money. I am finding and analyzing properties on my own. I have already worked with two realtors there in NE Ohio and to be honest, I am very disappointed. 

I basically call them up and ask if they can put in an offer for me. I have missed a few properties because of slow offers (24-36 hours after asking them to make them). I completely understand everyone is busy and are not waiting by the phone for me to call. I get it... At the same time, I feel that I am an easy client. I have done all the hard work on my own. I ask simple questions and get the answers a day or so later. 

Am I expecting too much? Is this just how it goes in that part of the country or have I found two realtors that are either too busy or don't care about my investing. I hope this doesn't come out as a poor me story but I am just trying to get a grasp on realtor mentalities there. 

How would you go about finding a realtor interested in helping an out of state investor? I interviewed both and both had the right answers on the phone but when it came time to act they fell short.

Thanks for your time,

Matt

Great post David! I am glad it worked out for you guys. I hope to do the same very soon.

Wow, thanks for everyones help! I wish I had known about this site earlier. So many kind and knowledgeable people. PM's inbound!  

Thanks again!

I totally get it and was not expecting an office shut down BUT would have appreciated a call back (I did not leave my email address as I left a message on someones answering machine, just a phone number). I am not new to real estate investing but just new to real estate investing in the Ohio markets. In California (the market I know), if you were to leave a message at a brokerage firm you would probably get call backs from a few agents trying to earn your business. I understand not all markets work the same way and that is exactly why I am here trying to expand my knowledge. 

Hi James,

Thanks for the reply! I have been studding up on the area and know your videos well. I have spent the last several months educating myself on the Cleveland market. In fact I have a few properties I want to move on but need a realtor to help submit the contracts. I actually called your offices today with some very disappointing results. I was transferred several times, spent several minutes on hold and eventually left a message and never received a call back. This is actually what prompted me to ask here about someone who may be a little smaller and less busy to help me in my hunt. I am sure you guys were just having a busy day.

Thanks again,

Matt

Hi All,

I am new to Bigger Pockets and am amazed with the amount of knowledge and information here. I am an out of state investor looking at the Cleveland Ohio market. Can anyone recommend a honest go getter realtor? 

Thanks in advance!