All Forum Posts by: Alan Brown

I'm in.

cheers!

I think it's a great idea.  Unfortunately I don't know the answer!  But I would like to know; I am a construction project manager now, and have just moved to a new area, and though i love my job, still feel like i would be more effective in the position you're suggesting.  I have a lot of years in rehabbing for myself, and selling real estate, and I love the idea of handling the acquisitions as well as the Project management.  Seems like it would be a huge value for an investor with a different skillset, like FINDING MONEY!

good luck!

Im not sure I would totally agree that it's a no brainer;  there are a few things to keep in mind when getting licensed.  Absolutely you learn tons of valuable information, but it does certainly open you up to a lot of liability.  In fact, if you have a broker that you are planning on hanging your license with, you should let them know ahead of time that you are planning to be flipping  a lot, or whatever else you'd like to do.  I say this after 20+ years of being licensed;  you just have to be hyper vigilant about disclosures, and making sure people are very clear that you are a licensed agent.  If someone feels like they missed a great opportunity when you make a solid, well deserved profit on their property, often they look for someone to blame, and the lawsuits begin.  And the courts see someone who is licensed as having a vast advantage over the lay person, so if your written disclosures are not bullet proof, you and your broker may find yourself in court.   

I don't mean to be a wet blanket;  I have been fortunate enough to have found some great deals as a broker, some that I've even listed, and bought people out of tough situations when the house wouldn't sell (a situation that has it's own, more acute liabilities).  Just be aware that, no matter how ethical we all try to be, there is a lot of room for perceived conflicts of interest.  

On the plus side, your understanding of your market will expand exponentially, and you will see lots of deals before they hit the market, depending on how large and/or active a brokerage you join.  Good luck!

Wow you'll have to stop me from talking because I've been researching your question since 1977!  I just landed in Bozeman Montana, and am very excited for the possibilities here, much of which is the quality of life!  I believe I've finally landed in the best spot for me in the country...

 I lived and sold Real Estate in the mountains outside of Denver for 10 years... stunning country, but getting into that market at the moment would be daunting.  plus, to be honest, it's become VERY crowed in the backcountry.  I loved it there, but have been angling to get back to Montana since I left Missoula in 1989, where I had also lived for 10 years.  Missoula is one of the best towns on earth, and there seems to be a ton of affordable real estate there now, and a great, growing university which provides lots of renters.  Hunting and fishing anywhere in Montana is as good as it gets.  Boise seems to be really hot now for investing; it was one of the hardest hit bubbles in the recession but i hear it's coming back very nicely and affordably... Incredible back country just outside Boise, and lots of snow up high, but pretty warm and Dry in town itself, I hear.

Bend, Oregon has Sisters 20 minutes away, which means skiing almost all year round, Deschutes river and beautiful backcountry, and the ocean is not far at all.  Really vibrant real estate market, which also crashed hard in the recession but seems to be coming back strong.  Sorry, Brandon, Washington is too rainy for me, too

Bozeman is a little pricey, but with some diligence and good hard work I feel confident that investing here is a great proposition.

If you get to Bozeman, or if you have other questions about some of these areas that i might be able to help you with, look me up!