All Forum Posts by: Pablo Pinasco

Justina R. Good luck on your plans to start REI, I wish you the best. I am also a newbie and am just trying to learn and get my finances in order for that first deal. I need to be less of a spender and more of a saver.

Thanks for sharing. Will keep following this thread.

Cool, thanks!

@Irko Maurizio Sera you hold these meetings every Wednesday at lunch?  I work in Studio City and would really like to check it out.

Because we were having an issue with the unit blowing hot air, and then the fan not cranking I had a repair guy come out again, it was only two days after the first call so it was free. The HVAC repairman refilled the coolant on the first trip ( was about $300 for 2 lbs and the service call fee) and I took the opportunity to go up there with him and ask him a ton of questions.  

He told me and I saw that we have a cheap Haier unit that's 10 years old, the SEER ratings was 10.  The guy showed me the hard start attachment that gets added when the unit struggles to start up, and he also tested the compressor, capacitors and then told me how to replace the capacitors myself. 

I ordered the part online and changed just the fan start capacitor and it is working great! Part only cost me $10 from Amazon, and I saved like $200 from not needing them to come again.  It was really useful to be up there and learn about the AC system myself and it saved me some money in the end.  I also watched some Youtube videos just to feel more confident, and it was really easy and very informative.  I will probably clean the fins as that can reduce the efficiency and I am sure it hasn't been done in the last ten years. Hopefully, this will help the unit hold up another year or two before I have to upgrade.  

Just thought I'd share my experience in case any one else runs into the same problem.

Thanks to everyone for all the input!

Originally posted by @Chris Erwin:

@Pablo Pinasco

Are you opposed to get a refurbished unit? We use a group out of Florida that provides used units. We have been using them for a couple of years and haven't had any issues with the units they provide. Let me know and I can get you their information. 

 Not opposed to it, but I am in Los Angeles. Let me know, thanks!

Los Angeles, CA

Hello,

Any recommendations for a good central AC brand.  I don't want top of the line, just a good middle of the road AC.  I believe the unit has to be a heat pump (AC/heater) with an in unit condenser.  Its for a condo I own.  I have never had to replace an AC, and I wanted to poll the community for real experiences with different brands. Even if your suggestion is simply to stay away from a particular brand, I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks all

Thanks Manolo for the link, I looked into it further and it looks like I will be eligible for $100/ton in rebates as long as the unit exceeds 15SEER.

My father owns a machine shop and the M1 (limited manufacturing) zoned land it sits on in Southern California in a partnership with my uncle.  At this time they are both nearing retirement and they are looking for an exit strategy.  The largest asset in the partnership is the land that the shop sits on.  It is technically two plots that are joined together, I am unsure as to the feasibility of separating into two plots but will look further into that possibility, but we would prefer to keep both lots together since we recognize the value of the land.  There are other tenants and people who pay for storage and it pulls in about 8K in rent/storage monthly.  

My father is not that interested in selling out to a third party, but my uncle is interested. At this time my brother and I are interested in taking over the shop and buying my uncle out, and my father has always wanted us to do so and is willing to support this since he sees the value in keeping the land and keeping the business going for recurring income. 

So at this time our family is interested in buying my uncle out.  The question I have is whether we could secure financing against the land, if we plan to buy my uncle out, even though he owns half of the land?

Some information to help: The land based on comps and price per sq.ft. probably support a rough value of about 2-2.5 million. There are mortgages on the property and business left for about 400K. So there is probably around 1.5 million in equity the land.  Half of which would be my father's so let's say 750K.

Other sources of equity/collateral that could be used: My father's homes. My father has a 450K house paid off, and a second home in his name has about 250K in equity and around 200K mortgage on a 450K home.  

1) Based on the assets that my father has is it feasible to finance the buyout? 

2) Does anyone recommend any finance companies that I could work with to determine the feasibility of a loan for this buyout?  

Additionally, if anybody has any experience doing  something like this, I would love to pick your brain. Please feel free to reply or message me directly if you prefer.

Thanks for reading!