All Forum Posts by: Peter Sanchez

I agree with the Cash for Keys offer.  You are going to lose a month's rent because they can't be evicted during the holidays, and it could be longer if they find a way to delay it again.  With the Cash for Keys offer, they are gone, haven't damaged your property, the eviction fees stop and you get a better tenant in there who won't be giving you unneeded headaches during the holidays.  

When they re-do your bathroom, be sure to keep some extra tiles around, so that next time it has to be repaired, you will have the right tiles to match it with. 

I bought in Columbia Heights 9 years ago, which is what Petworth was like 6 years ago, LOL. 

If you're not sure about your job situation and whether you will switch jobs or move, why not buy a efficiency or 1BR condo to dip your toe in the water?  Those are easily sellable if you have to change jobs or can be rented out fairly quickly. 

If you're looking for a house, I think you can still find something in Petworth that's reasonable, and H Street keeps gentrifying and "safer" area boundaries keep moving, giving you more opportunities.

@Account Closed that's a good option if you want to get it done quickly because you wouldn't have to remove the tread that's in place.  I'm sure the price would be higher to reflect the time it's saving you.

@Julie Kern  that's a cupcake, all it needs is a good cleaning and to carpet the plywood and it's a ready to go!   Congrats on your first!  By the way, if you to spend a little extra, those interior doors can be replaced with 6 panel doors (like the front door, but hollow) for about $50 each from Home Depot or Lowes.  It's a small thing, but looks a lot nicer. 

12% In fees and 18% annualized interest sounds pretty steep, so after you have this one under your belt, shop around for a better deal on your next flip.  

If you don't make much on this (or even if you lose some money), you will learn a LOT about fixing houses, which will help with ever other house you ever buy. So this is an investment in yourself.    Good luck. 

Hey @Eduardo Cardena !  I just joined BP.  I live in DC but have a couple of investment condos in Greenacres/Lake Worth (and a lot of family down there).  Good luck with the real estate agent thing.  When you get your license, check out my brother who owns Highlight Realty.  They have several offices and offer 100% commission for agents.  

Prices are picking up in Palm Beach county, but there are still a lot of good deals around if you are patient (short sales can take months to approve) but are worth the wait.  

I think the answer will vary by region.  When I lived in the northeast, PC Richard (a large appliance store in the tri-state area) had a wholesale division that sold to mom & pop appliance stores.  They also sold to apartment complexes and real estate developers if you have a corporation and set up a commercial account with them. 

A lot of places also have "scratch and dent" items that they will sell you at a discount (generally stuff that got dinged or scratched during a delivery and the store had to take back). 

There was an article in the City Paper a few years back about several people who have been getting away with not paying rent for years.  After months, sometimes years, of not paying they move into a new property and start over again.  I don't mind owning in DC, but wouldn't want to be a landlord in DC, for that reason. 

They sell a rounded stair that you can stain and then put that on the tread/landing/flat part of the stairs.  (take the existing tread off and replace it with this) Then just paint the riser (vertical) a semi-gloss white.  Do a google image search for "oak and white stairs" and you'll see what I'm talking about.  

For the last stair (where it meets the laminate), they have a bullnose hardwood flooring that you can get which is about 4 inches wide.  It won't be perfect because it will be thicker than the laminate, but it will look 100x better than anything else you can do with plywood stairs.