All Forum Posts by: Melissa Utzinger

I was using the BP Rental Calculator and compared the numbers to the calculator that I created for myself. In so doing, I looked at the Vacancy %, Cap Ex%, Repairs % and Management Fee % it looks like they're being divided by 10 instead of 12 to get the monthly rate. Which I guess is nice built in protection for some investors:-)

Mindy,

Pocket is great, I also use Evernote with Evernote clipper installed on my browser.  I also email info to my Evernote account and have a real estate notebook set up.

Awesome info Jen and Ramysh, thanks for sharing!

Ramysh,

Send me a private message if you want to share your phone number. 

In Holland renters have really strong rights where if the tenants lease is up but they still pay you cannot remove them easily or at all.  I've heard of people having to pay the tenant 10's of thousands to vacate so they can sell their property.  Plus to legally rent out your place Holland strongly regulates rentals if you have a mortgage.  As in the link you've sent you need to list your home for sale for at least 6 months prior to listing it as a legal rental and have 70% equity (I thought some banks require more but okay) in the property.  I've heard of banks also getting involved in regulating how much you charge for rent as well.   I'm not sure if this is the same for commercial lending but something to look into to.  Many homeowners illegally rent there properties out in Holland but that can also be a little risky if the bank finds out they can require that you sell the property. 

It's becoming really popular in Holland to rent rooms out via AirBNB, however cities are starting to crack down and regulate so if you were thinking of doing this just keep abreast of city regulations. 

I fly back and forth because I really enjoy living in Holland but my family and real estate investments are in the USA.  It's always a constant battle finding the right balance as an expat.

Regards,

Melissa

Ramysh, (re-posting b/c original post was removed)

There's a group of us investors in The Netherlands on BP. We started a FB site and if you send your phone number we can add you to the WhatsApp group as well. We meet in person.

I fly back and forth myself between The Netherlands and USA, and haven't pulled the trigger yet on purchasing real estate in The Netherlands for various reasons (i.e. financing is hard if you have international income, renters have squatters rights, Dutch market is increasing slower than rate of inflation, stronger laws on AirBNBing and renting out property, etc.).

It's a little different in The Netherlands than in the USA when it comes turn to meeting. In the USA we usually create real estate groups which meet by region whereas in Holland we have a group for the entire country. I see you're in Eindhoven / Noord-Brabrant area. We definitely have some folks in the NLD group from that area whom you could possibly meet in person. I know there are people on that group looking to buy another investment so maybe a good start for a "buyers list"? Glad to meet you!

Melissa

Kobus Ryan,

Pleasure to meet you!  I'm also in my 30's, investing in western mass and a background in engineering, systems engineer.  Seems like many of us on BP have engineering or technical backgrounds and are using our analytical skills to dig into real estate investing.  I have buy and holds, done flips, house hacking and seller held financing.  Let me know if you'd like to meet for a coffee sometime next week (Tuesday or Wednesday) or the week after I'm around.   

Have you gotten connected with the local Western Mass REIA? It's a closed group on FaceBook type "Western Mass REIA". The next event is tonight (Oct. 18th) at 6pm, topic "Social Good with Profit" at Samuel's, Hall of Fame 1000w Columbus Ave. Springfield, MA. Maybe you'll be able to make it? The speaker tonight is one of the largest investors in the area with a large portfolio in Springfield.

Melissa

Kobus Ryan from South Hadley, Massachusetts

I've lived in Holland full time for 6 years and now I'm living between Den Haag and the USA.  I have been interested in buying in the Netherlands for my own personal use when I'm in town and renting on AirBNB when I'm away.  AirBNB in Den Haag is doing really well as in many cities.   Does anyone have experience with Dutch funding, meaning if you make your income in the USA or another foreign country can you still use the banks money in Holland to obtain a mortgage? Also, does anyone know about the laws being considered in Holland to regulate AirBNBs?

Jen, could you add me to the FB group as well? 

Could someone add me to the Whatsapp group?  

Many Thanks,

Melissa

I've been thinking a lot about moving towards an SD IRA. Does anyone know what type of accountability companies that manage your SD IRA such as UDirect have? If you get audited and say there was an honest mistake who pays for that mistake? Any advise?