All Forum Posts by: Nathaniel Cherubini

@Bradford R. I am still figuring out the right "balance" as it can be very challenging at times (as you know). When deployed I spend as much time as possible reading or listening to books while working out (still hard when working 18 hour days but what else will I do). I commute an hour to work each way so I listen to books and podcasts. I get up at 4 am to spend my first hour of the day looking at deals online and running numbers. I section off time on Sunday for REI time (typically 4 hours). I also work out 6 days a week and work long hours so balance is tough when mixing in kid's sports and quality time with the wife. So long story long, striking a balance is a challenge. I have four kids and a wife, lol...best I can suggest is doing a time budget (not a hourly plan) just commit time each day to different priorities and give yourself flexibility to make it work. If you want it bad enough you will just do it.

@Bradford R. Welcome to BP! Solid plan to take the time to learn as much as possible so you will be armed with knowledge before diving in. A great advantage for us active duty folks is leveraging the VA loan program to get into a property with no money down...this is especially powerful when used with 2-4 unit properties as you fit the requirement of living in the property as your primary and then PCS away and fill your old unit with another tenant. This strategy can follow you from one duty station to another. There are rules involved and ways to maximize this program so look into the forums for more details on this. Congrats on your decision to get into REI and good luck!

Hi @Tom Wagner, I own a home down there and am active duty out of state. The market is steady right now and the Marine Corps is growing in size meaning Camp Lejeune will be gaining more residents. Base housing is trying to incentivize living on base but many families chose off base. The rental market is pretty strong in my opinion but there will be high turnover. In my opinion the inventory is stacking up regardless of the base growth and it scares me. Lots of new developments going up (my home is in one of them). Due to this I got my tenants to sign a lease option and will hopefully be selling this year. The home values in my neighborhood (Town Point) have gone up this year which is nice, I just don't know how long it can last with the expanding inventory. @Jim Stallings knows better than me on the market, so I would get his take on things. Best of luck!

@Ernest McNeil @Andrew Kerr I will advise that the base in Fayetteville isn't going anywhere and not subject to the BRAC considerations back when that was a thing. It is a very stable base from my vantage point. Hope this helps

@Kevin Snyder Welcome to BP and sounds like you are already off to a good start in REI. Keep reading and listening to the podcasts and reading recommended books so you are only committing "original" mistakes. So much info out there to assist in your next RE move...make it deliberate and now that you are looking at your current properties in a new light, build a plan with clear intent in mind. Best of luck to you!

I am interested in the next meetup, let me know if there is one in the works.

Welcome to being active on the forums! Good luck with your house hacking goal in Yucca Valley outside of the "stumps." keep us posted on the multi market in the area, lord knows I will be following suit in FY19 if I end up with orders there myself. Stay motivated!

@Malcolm Lawson I totally get your predicament. The numbers for this investment do look promising and even offer just under a 10% CoC return (not counting your 5K appliance costs which knock it down to 8%). I mainly keyed in on your language and "pitch" for this idea and think you have some conflicting thoughts of this as the right investment for you right now. I would follow that "gut" feeling whatever you feel that is. Despite some good numbers, are they home-run numbers worth your cash? This deal could quickly turn into a not-so-much deal, if there is a special assessment in the near future. You hit the nail on the head with what is prominent on my mind right now, money is cheap so leverage into something with more long term upside such as principle paydown and potential appreciation, and put that 70K to real work for you...my opinion would be to hold off for something that will really put that 70K into returning for you. Potentially a pair of 175K SFHs or maybe a duplex. Good luck either way, this deal isn't a loser by any means.

Welcome and good plan! I was stationed in HI on K-Bay back in 04-08. I will likely be heading back in FY19 and have a similar plan. I have friends that bought there and made out really well (Kailua area). Don't write off condos (despite not liking them myself for investing they can make lots of sense in HI). Keep an eye on Zillow, I have seen some really great deals like a gutted 4/2 (townhouse) right outside of the Kbay gate for 265K and was ready for renovation. Good luck and maybe we will cross paths once we both PCS out there.

Thanks @Odie Ayaga, I am pretty shocked to see you are from Delran! My father lives there and I grew up building boats there. I am very familiar with Delran, Delanco, and Riverside and grew up myself in Mount Holly. Small world :)