All Forum Posts by: Nikki Yankowski

I would diversify.

First, 400k would go towards securing a home for myself and a low-maintenance rental in an area with promising equity returns. 

(Since my brother is in land development and I work for a home building, we are buying land and building new from the ground up. Not everyone has this option though. )

Then as a 1099 I would do the max contribution in into a IRA (20% your income) -20k roughly

now you have 380k

Stocks: I would find companies that have strong fundamentals, high dividends and good PE ratios that I want to be invested in. With 200k over the next year I'd build a portfolio with a goal of 12% annual returns. (There are private companies that target a 12% return each year you can invest with as well, if you know the right people)

You've worked hard so take 20k and spend that on fun and family. 

I would set aside 5k for an accountant and fees required to register your LLC/ S Corp, non profit, licenses ect...

Now you have 155k cash to hold for repairs/upkeep on your property or personal emergencies. 

Good luck!

I have been using mail chimp to send out marketing emails but they just switched from a free model to a pay model since I have over 500 contacts. If the paid subscription rate was low, I'd just pay it but since my contact list is high, it's looking to be over $100/ month. I've compared it to Constant Contact and that's pretty pricey as well. 

I was thinking of just doing a bcc, email through gmail instead since most of the graphics and designs come from Canva anyways. I loose out on knowing my click rate numbers or open numbers but I'm not sure that's worth $100/month to know. My primary goal is just to stay relevant in my market. 

I wanted to hear what others' thoughts were or if they had any other suggestions for a mass emailer they like using. 

Thanks in advance.

Nikki

Hi, and thank you for your service!

I would suggest working with the niche you already know. For example, my market in Huntsville is fueled by Redstone Arsenal and manufacturers in the area. A lot of my clients are Veterans now working in defense. 

I get a lot of investors as well because the cap rates are good, price of entry low, and if you look just drive down the road you can see industries being built nonstop. Being a Veteran I am sure you can understand being relocated on the fly, those families make ideal renters.

These are just some factors easy for those who served to recognize but to the average American, it is a whole new way of life they have to learn to understand. 

If you told me you were in medical research I'd suggest buying in areas where laboratory facilities and hospitals were being funded like Boston, since that knowledge would always be firsthand and easy for you to understand. 

Just want to follow up on this. I had a walk in (I sit in a model home) who told me others within city limits were restricted from selling to him as investor. I may have mis-understood this, it could be builder specific. I was hoping maybe others on here had heard more.  

I am advising on a deal where there will be multiple owners, not related, buying a multi-family under an LLC with intentions on buying more together if this one works out. Some can contribute more than others. I suggested writing the terms out just as a condo association would their bylaws. Where a person would be responsible for just a % of maintenance and upkeep based on their share of financial contributions in relation to the total agreed upon value. This % would apply toward the return on investment as well (rent, refinance, or sale).

Does anyone have a template or better way they know to do this?

Thanks in advance! 

Air BnB is making sure to highlight stays and properties that are out of the norm. I think Florida is already highly competitive and creating a unique experience or highlightable listing along the coast will be hard, given so many big players are already there. 

I would look at other vacation experiences and locations that aren't so obvious. For example, maybe Ginnie Springs, FL.? . It's a beautiful spring that can give marketable photos, you can create experiences with kayaks and bikes.  There is a small airport in Gainesville and you can even advertise to those visiting the university of Florida. I didn't do the numbers so this could be bad advice, but its just an example of a not so obvious markets I'd be looking into. 

Thank you for sharing. I saw those two 4 plexes by Sparkman and 72 just list for the 400s. First time I've seen something like that on MLS.

Post note: I am hearing rumors about the the city of Huntsville passing a zoning law against SF purchases for investments. I haven't had time to follow up on this, but if you do please let me know!  

 I am in a month to month rental right now until I can get approved for a second home loan (my first property is a rental in another state), and I just found out they sold the whole street, 8 buildings, 4 units each for 3.8M/ average rent $900/month.

Yep, you made a great choice. The community you are building in has all it's lots under contract and homes closing at a higher price/sqft. than what you signed at.