All Forum Posts by: Sarah Smith

@Joe S.I wish my answer was different but the answer is yes, I am still dealing with cancer. I have Glioblastoma Multiforrme😕 I don’t focus on it much anymore than I must cause it can be depressing but my philosophy is focus on living vs dying. A lot of people think I shouldn’t be doing much but heck I’m unstoppable with my health and giving cancer hell 🙂 and unstoppable with my goals and professional life,too🙂 

Quite honestly I learned value of multiple streams of income long ago. My daughters are adults now and yeah life insurance ia in place but I work hard to leave them in a good position when time comes for me to have wings🙂 They pretty much know my main business and the two of them have plans to run it as well as whatever else I have established so though future seems dim, it’s not. I gotta keep fighting and gotta keep hitting my goals. 

I once thought that due to my situation I should not pursue anything but though mentorship I learned proper planning eliminates fear of what happens to everything once the time comes. I’m transparent with lenders, business partners, etc and thus far no one refuses to work with me. I even hold a NASA contract 🙂 I learn time management well and know when I must take days off to heal. 

I’m in a different area now so in your opinion does a persons medical situation hurt business opportunities in RE? Guess I forgot to research my health in this field. Any input?

@Dave Stokley Thanks for your feedback. May just end up my niche since sadly I know most the hospitals as well as contacts and social workers who met referral needs for losing needs etc. I’m considering doing something similar near some military bases because different reasons but I network with housing offices and potential w STRs during PCS moves is great! Thanks again for feedback on this one.

My grandmother passed away last June. I had from childhood told her I’d buy her house from family one day. Well as a kid I had No idea about the real world yet🤣🤣 but my family is one who is really against family selling homes for the almighty dollar in areas being gentrified. Don’t get me wrong, I’m some cases some areas benefit from gentrification while it hurts areas and my granny’s area is the only one in her city untouched currently so on her deathbed I again promised her I’d get the home. It’s in bad shape because she moved out over 11 yrs ago to live with my mother and other family left it unattended and well we know how it goes w vacant homes so that’s that. Family before her death has offers from builders of $300K and up so I honestly was expecting family to accept an offer but it was offered to me first and my price due to being family is $127,500. I went for a hard money loan which is due to close soon and plan is to get refinanced after repairs. I’m thinking it was a smart choice so I can get to closing and repairs soon.

I’m wanting opinions as if I should have went straight to getting a mortgage or not vs hard money. I was assuming no one will lend on a home needing alot of repairs so that was my train of thinking. I am assuming getting a lender to refinance won’t be difficult, is that correct? Right now as is value is about $270K. The home is sitting on enough land to either expand the home greatly or add a duplex or another small home in the future.

Just seeing if I made the right choice. Thanks in advance for any feedback.

Oh cost of rehab will be $50K.

I am slowly strategizing my plan for STR. Most of my personal experience with STR was after a cancer diagnosis and I had to be in Houston often. I'm not a fan of hotels so STR was a blessing. Now looking back, I kind of want to get a few STRs near Medical Center (yes I know that's gonna be tough) and theme them out. See, as a patient quality of life is vital but being imprisoned to appts and treatments makes it hard to travel anywhere much unless to drs so I'm thinking if I theme each STR differently from decor down to even snacks etc I may stay booked a lot but mainly it's my way of making a difference. I have a colleague who owns a furniture business who barters with me because COVID affected them a lot so to help her hold on to caah, I get furniture as needed and she has unique items so I'd have very Minsk expense decor theme wise. Patients oftentimes can't afford the hotels in that area so end up in STR garage apts up to a month. A key to renting in certain places is to provide something different so guess due to my own experience I am wanting to do a STR for an additional reason-spread some cheer doing a bad time. I've discussed this idea w my neurooncologists, ACS local branch and others and hospital has given me a list of possible cleaners to use since we require extra cleanliness and all say great idea but wanting feedback from you all who have STRs. I honestly staycation at theme places myself lol….yep I know them all in Houston and Orlando…🤣 I actually pay a higher price for something unique.

I was also given a suggestion to find a place like a duplex or 4 plex or a large home w rooms and rent by the room. Many patients travel alone and try to find locations with like individuals to spend time with so not alone and dr mentioned he heard renting rooms out may yield more profit.

I am still getting my feet wet so sorry for questions but that’s how I grow. Thanks in advance.

@Joe S. Good afternoon. Yes sir, I am. I have been researching this for awhile and unless it is my own property, I understand above market rent will be needed for my goal however if I am wise and have STRs in the right location and market well, I should get a decent profit. In SA I have a very tight connection at the military installation housing and one of my potential plans is just to somewhat cater to covering STR needs for transitioning Soldiers, this should keep me in a decent standing profitting and goal is to save up for either a MF or a home or two there for rentals.

@Wale Lawal

Thank you. I will be connecting very soon!

@Michael Guzik Thank you for the feedback. We were stationed there and you are absolutely correct about rough areas near the base. I have not been there in years so will be sure to be boots on ground myself should I locate anything there. Thanks for your feedback esp in regards to sticking around Mahncke Park area. Thanks.

Looking for my first STR/AirBnB. I have some capital put to the side, furnishings/decor ready and two cleaning companies already in pocket but need to find an individual/company who is currently subleasing so I can finally get my feet wet. I am looking for something (units or homes) in Houston's better areas and also in San Antonio close to Ft. Sam Houston (military base). If you have anything, please let me know or if you know companies in those areas who sublease, I'd appreciate the leads. Thanks in advance.