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My husband and I bought our first home (condo) 7 yrs ago. It has gone up 70K since then however the board is a pain in our rear. One of the board members is retired and has nothing better to do than to walk up and down several times a day with his clip board, making notations about every little thing, then calling the Management Comp to fine the owner for such things as : too many flower pots on the patio/balconey, anyone who has decorated their front entrance with holiday decorations such as hearts on valentines day, bunny rabbits on easter, Christmas lights are out of the question. Any cars parked in the visitor parking overnight have to have board approval and must be reported. No oil changes on the property, in fact we got a letter because my husband is the first to get up in the morning and places everyones newspaper at their front door. WE received a letter from the board telling him not to do this. We know everyone in our building (there are 4 units) and the only one who would complain is a neighbor who hasn't subscribed to a daily paper and is used to stealing someone else's. The list goes on!

Thank you Charles, I will take your advise to heart and do more research on the wholesale aspect of RE.

Hi~

I have read all of your comments and now I feel really ashamed. I am not a dude I am a dudette. My name is Barbara. I don't feel that i have any issues, I just don't want to do something stupid or impulsive.
The classes that I am talking about are quicky 2 hour real estate stuff at a local community college, one was a landlord class, another was on real estate investing which basically was an infommercial from a team of attorneys, CPA, real estate agents and the like who pretty much just passed the message along that you need a good team when dealing with REI. I still have all their cards. It hasn't been a consistent class lasting 2 yrs, just a string of quickies. I did take the real estate class just to educate myself more but had no intentions of becoming an agent. I earned a B+

I have also read alot and TRIED to get my husband interested in investing by turning him on to the potential deals that can be made by watching Property Ladder and Flip That House. It doesn't look like he is going to join me in this venture so I have decided to do this on my own.

Networking with others I met at the REI club will get me where I want to be. So far, there's been no one except this board to "talk to". It felt good to have several intellengent conversations because I have felt very alone in this.
This is my dream, not my husbands so time to go solo.

Barbara

I have taken real estate classes for over 2 yrs and went to my first RE investment club tonight. Everytime I go to a seminar or class and tonights RE club, I leave with my head swimming. There are so many ways to start out that I feel overwhelmed. I met a person who has a mentors team, and I really think I need some help to start out. It just seems so daunting. I know that I want to buy and hold, I want to rent out a duplex/fourplex, (flipping seems like a bad idea right now for a newbie) :crying: but my options are limited due to not having any money to start. I am not clear on lease options, quick sale, assumables, assignment on contract.....LLC, S Corps.......it makes my head hurt.
Any comments? :crying:

Hi Jason,
I was impressed with Melbourne and Palm Bay. What can you tell me about these areas? Is there good employment opportunities in Melbourne and what does home owners insurance run?
Nightowl

Noodog,
I haven't yet bought any properties. I have been learning a great deal so I will make the right decisions when I do. took a real estate class, real estate investing class(s) how to be a landlord, alot of reading and joined a local REI club. My dream has always been to live and invest in Florida but suddenly I am afraid of the hurricane factor. I hate the winters here but the one thing I know is the real estate here and the worst thing here is a tornado which really doesn't happen too often and insurance is managable if it does. I guess it is the fear of the unknown.
I can't believe I would even have second thoughts because I LOVE Florida.

I wanted to move to and invest in real estate in Florida for along time. I am having second thoughts now, insurance is high, hurricanes can destroy everything, and I just don't feel as confident as I once did. I love Florida but that has always been a place for me to vacation. I live in the Chicago area and hate the cold winters but know the real estate and the areas, wages, real estate values ect. I was thinking of Ocola or Melbourne / Palm Bay but now I am not so sure.
Those who know Florida, what do you say?

I spent the week here looking at real estate on both coasts. Wasn't impressed with Inverness but Ocola seemed ok. The area that impressed me the most was the Melbourne/ Palm Bay area. Good growth and reasonable priced real estate. I will continue my search but that is what I found on this trip. That will also give me more time to learn and join a RE club.
I welcome Any advice?

Hi, I am in St Augustine this week looking at real estate to buy in about 2 yrs. I have driven down the east coast as far as Palm Bay/ Melbourne and tomorrow I will drive to the gulf side to see Inverness and the surrounding areas. I have heard these will soon be the next areas of growth. Right now I live in the suburbs of Chicago and am looking to move down here in 2/3 yrs to buy a home and a rental property as a start of my real estate investing. Does anyone have comments on these areas or on my plan? I'd love to hear advice, comments or suggestions.
Thanks!

I am a new to this site as well and live very close to you. Crystal Lake. This is a great forum. I have found a wealth of knowledge here with many people willing to help.

Nightowl