All Forum Posts by: Patrick Bross

Hey everybody!

I bought a duplex recently and am having issue with the tub/shower pressure. This unit (bottom of a two story duplex) has 3 beds and 1 full bath. I have posted a video helping illustrate the situation and to provide a visual.

VIDEO - https://youtu.be/hi522pm5vqw

In a nutshell - the shower pressure is so low that taking a shower would actually be impossible. The tub faucet seems to be delivering more water, but not by much. My observations:

- the bathroom sink pressure seems ok

- the kitchen sink pressure seems ok

- water from the outside hose bib delivers plenty of water

What could be causing this? It has been like this since I bought the home. I believe its a more recent thing as the tenants (moved out just before I purchased the home) would have certainly not put up with it. Also, this would have shown up in the inspection. There are no tenants living there now but the top tenants have never complained about water pressure.

If anyone has any tips/pointers, I would greatly appreciate your feedback!

@Tim Schmitz - thank you for your input. I hope installing LVP turns out well for you. That is the route I am leaning. 

@Scott Winbigler and @Russ Scheider, thank you for the advice Here. Sounds like it's fair to say that the preference would be LVP or wood, and to not even consider laminate. I hate the idea of tearing up the current crappy carpet and replacing with another soon to be crappy carpet, but that might just be personal preference. Since I am very new to all of this, I suppose I thought laminate and vinyl were pretty much the same. Is there really that big of a difference? 

This was great feedback and please feel welcome to leave any additional thoughts.

Hey thanks for the input @Ben Leybovich! 

I think my concern is less about durability to normal wear and tear, tenant preference, and cost. Its more about the viability of laminate flooring actually standing up to the test of time (minus tenant abuse) given the age of the home and all things that go with it. For instance, I don't want to install laminate only to discover that investors in my area prefer tile or wood because older houses don't "take to" laminate well, if you will. 

i.e. I think I am looking for confidence that laminate flooring will agree with the structural integrity of older Charleston homes. 

Does that make any sense?

Hey BP,

I am in the process of ripping out the old carpet in one unit of my downtown Charleston, SC duplex. I am looking to replace with a hard flooring. My original thought was simply a wood-look laminate. I spoke with a neighbor recently and he said that idea could turn out to be a nightmare down the road with these older Charleston homes (mine was built in 1930). He warned about the gaps, peaking, and other problems sometimes associated with floating laminate flooring. 

• Does anyone have experience installing laminate flooring in older homes (like those in Charleston) and would be willing to share insight? 
• Would you suggest re-carpetting, wood, tile, other?

I appreciate all your feedback, guidance, and pointers!

Is it just me - or is finding a good buy and hold multi deal in Charleston, SC dang near impossible? 

There are certainly deals out there, just not very good ones (at least from what I can tell). Prices are high and rents comparatively low making cash flowing opportunities scarce. I know its a hot market and all, but what gives. Is anyone succeeding at the buy and hold game in Charleston in the market? If anyone from Charleston or the neighboring towns (Summerville, Hanahan, Folly, etc) can recommend decent buy and hold areas under an hour drive from the city, I'm all ears!

Thanks all!

Hey BP,

Question for those of you familiar with the Charleston, SC market.  I know the calculation is a bit tricky but could someone give me a "back of the envelope" calculation on the tax bill for the following:

- primary residence duplex (assuming 4% rate?)

- appraised at 380,000

Thanks all!

Hey BP,

I was poking around the site a bit, but couldn’t locate my answer. Hopefully you guys can provide some color.

What are the implications of:

• Purchasing a MFH (lets say a duplex) with FHA financing and 3.5% down - owner occupied
• Lets assume this place needs some work but is livable and manageable
• Using cash reserves, put work into each unit (assuming no long term tenant), essentially forcing appreciation and closing in on 75% LTV (theoretically)
• After the 'seasoning' period, refinance into a conventional loan dropping PMI and hopefully gaining more attractive P&I payments
• Convert to investment property —> Move out —> raise rents —> repeat
• Is this a strategy that is utilized often?

I apologize if this topic has been beaten today. Please share your feedback, comments, and experiences! 

Hey All,

I have been reading The Book on Investing In Real Estate with No (and Low) Money Down but ran into a snag.  I ordered the book on my Kindle and many of the examples (picture format I believe) are being cut off, screenshot example attached.  I hate to get wrapped around the axle about something so small, but I don't want to miss out on that info!

If anyone has tips or feedback, please let me know!

Hey everyone,

I am a newbie so go easy on me if this is old hat.  Quick question on whether a tenant lease can be broken if the property is acquired and the new owner wants to owner occupy.

For example, I buy a duplex using FHA financing that currently has two tenants with leases until August 2015. If I wanted to owner occupy (which I must), is there any way to remove one of the tenants legally? Is there a way to bypass the lease agreement?

If location makes the difference, my question pertains to Charleston, SC.

Thank you!!