All Forum Posts by: Matt M.

Everyone seems to have turned the conversation to insurance and loans with these panels. People’s safety should be #1.

@Jonathan Greer A quality painter will never have to tape trim to carpet.

@James Allen I’ve been a contractor for 15 years. 50% of my business is painting. It’s really hard for me, or anyone to judge the cost being high or not without seeing the property. It would be like someone calling me and asking how much... can’t quote something I can’t see. While the place is small, it doesn’t seem high to me. How much prep work is involved, does the trim need to be wiped down, doors painted?, etc etc. I have never once bid a paint job on square footage as every job is different.

@Bosko Mijatovic My wife is a W2, I am self employed. Our personal home mortgage- mortgage is only in her name, but the bank counted my monthly $ contributions towards our qualifying income amount. Deed is in both our names. A good loan officer will make it work.

@Steven Primiano Ultimately I think it’s going to be on you to pay. We had a bedbug issue, our leases state tenant pays for bug/pest control. Tenant was told she was responsible, she moved out. At the end of the day, it’s your house, that you don’t want bedbugs in.

@Terrez Jarrett It all depends on the area and overall condition and market values in the area. I bought a property (got super lucky) in Jan 2016 for $23,100 (Bangor, Pa). Took me less than $14k (I am a contractor) to get it rent ready with some upgrades. I get $1200/month rent with the garage and I could list it at any time for around $105k. My first home in 2000 I paid $45k, did some updating, sold 2 years later $89k My clients buy lots of properties in the $30-50k range and so far none have turned out to be total bombs.

@Rich Hupper I am a self employed contractor 15 years now. Back in 2010 I tried to buy a house for myself to live in. Foreclosure, $80k, 750 credit score, I had full 20% down. I couldn’t get a loan to save my life. Ended up having to have a non-occupant co-borrower co-sign for me. Got married in 2014, we bought a house together, but only my W2 wife on the mortgage. I then sold the old house, bought a rental property for cash. It’s to difficult anymore. I’d love to get a loan on my rental to buy another, I’m just not sure if I’m up to the task of trying to qualify. Gone are the days of no-doc stated loans. For those of us that actually paid our bills, they were awesome.

@Tracy Jelliff I agree with the comment about having your dad help qualify. After my divorce, I bought a house for myself, 20% down. Since I am self-employed I couldn’t qualify (no more no-doc loans). My mom co signed as a non-occupant co buyer. It stinks it has to be hat way sometimes, but you have to play their game. I had all the down $, monthly payments were peanuts, 750 fico, and I still couldn’t qualify myself. Good luck!

Has anyone ever won a Hudson and Marshal auction (no reserve price) and then been told a different price? It happend to me, and a client of mine. How do they get away with that? Shouldn’t they have to sell it at the highest winning bid if there’s no reserve price?

@Clark Jarstfer I started out with cash proceeds from the sale of my personal house. Dec 2015 I picked up a SF by pure luck on a Hudson & Marshall auction for $23k (cash). It cost me $13k to rehab it (mostly myself). Monthly rent from the house and rented garage is $1,205/mo. Expenses are around $300/month. I will never find another deal like this one. Good luck to you sir!