All Forum Posts by: M Marie M.

Not in DC. DC's too expensive for me. But I keep an eye out, because I live inside the District of Columbia.

@Obi I. I simply lucked out with my current Baltimore tenant. I found my plumber and HVAC via Angie's List. I LOVE my HVAC people, Elmar Services. They are communicative, show up when they say they will (if not they call ahead) and have provided stellar service.  The plumbing company is alright. i think they are a little expensive for what I get. But they have been easy to work with. The carpet and painting was done with a contractor whom I will probably never use again. 

I've only been a Baltimore landlord for a year, so I have no great wisdom to add there. I've had more time as a Florida landlord and there only one tenant family, so I haven't had any turnover experience. I have been (*knock on wood*) blessed. I have had to deal with city ordinance issues, when the city decided my tenant's were keeping too much junk on the property but I managed to get it fixed with many, many phone calls. Once I started collecting rent on-line and cutting my mother out of the loop (she was my PM of sorts & would report every little thing she saw wrong) I haven't heard much from my tenants. When they do have a problem they text me a picture, and we come to a solution together. When my mother was more involved they were crazy and unreliable, remove mom from the equation and they are sane.  They seem happy, so I'm happy.

I live in DC. I self manage a tiny townhome in Baltimore, which is a hour (depending on various things and what time of day) away and sorta-kinda self-manage a SFH in Florida. Sorta-Kinda, because my 70+ year old parents keep an eye on it for me, and were more involved in the past. I'm working with and have better communication with the Florida tenants now. The rent is automatated, the tenants are willing to meet with tradesmen or fix problems themselves if I send materials or reimburse them.

It really helps to have superstar tenants, or even just reasonably responsible tenants who are sane and who will work with you.

I have three properties, my home and 2 rentals. I get these yellow letters and post cards often. But there was one, that was so unique I held on to it for about two weeks before finally tossing it.

I'm trying to remember what was so special about the one I held on to, when I tossed the others immediately.

I think it spoke more about the property and seemed more specialized to it. "We're buying houses in your area" is a very general statement, where as I think they might have mentioned the neighborhood by name. And I do remember it did look handwritten and not printed in a handwritten font. It was in an envelope and it wasn't yellow. It did stand out.

I tossed it because, at this time, I'm not interested in selling. In a year, I will sell my Florida property, but I'm giving my tenant 1st dibs. Because I keep getting these letters, if the tenants don't bother going through with buying it, I might call up one of these wholesalers, in addition to my Realtor.

DC is very tenant friendly, so beware of TOPA. TOPA is some law that allows the building tenants to buy the building, there are non-profit groups around to help them.

Getting DC Section 8 renters out is a skill I don't have so, I wish you luck. Maybe someone can point you to some one who can help for a fee.

I feel I've answered this before.

Hyattsville is all over the place in PG County. I would buy a fixer upper in the Hyattsville closer to Route 1. It's becoming the affordable Takoma Park. I'd avoid eastern Hyattsville, where the sidewalks are non-existent or cruddy. Pros: Let's say West Hyattsville is closer to more amenities and can tap into the University of Maryland student market, without having to be in College Park. Cons, taxes.

I've got friends who've moved to Deanwood. Deanwood has been up and coming for so long the "up and coming" label has expired, It is what it is. Like it for what it is now. 

My husband's parents had lied about their address, but they were in the same school district, just not the school boundary for the HS they wanted for their son. But that was the mid 80s. Ancient history.

It's interesting to know there are fake leases out there floating around, along with the fake pay stubs and fake references.

Many many years ago I used Bay Title and Escrow Company buying my Ocala property while I was out of state. The process was okay.

So @Gregory Hatcher you have a primary residence that you are house hacking? I'm still unclear. 

What I understand is you have a property, it is a house and you are renting it. I have no idea if you are house hacking (meaning you're living in the house too), but that's what I'm guessing. You could be renting your primary residence and renting a house you own, but I don't know.

If your house has untapped equity, that is one source. There is always throwing lots of money in savings and not doing anything fun for a year or more (depending on how long it takes to save enough) and using that. BP has a book The Book on Investing in Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down.

Hi @Gregory Hatcher, welcome to BP.

How did you acquire the first house?

I got my first via savings and a little cash from refinancing my main home. The second almost the same.