All Forum Posts by: Robert Prell

Hi Everyone.

I remember listening to a BP podcast on a guy that I think was an Alaskan Salmon Fisherman. He stopped doing that, moved to a bigger city and jumped right into buying an apartment building. He than did that many more times. He even sold his car, a jeep to help fund a downpayment. Along side him were his sister and mom, helping him paint and fix them up in  their spare time.  I cannot find this show. I have been trying to find it for months. I listened to it years ago, so it is an earlier one. Anyone know what the show number is .

Thanks

Hi Everyone, 

I have a question about how/if anyone has built a tiny house just for the purpose of renting out. Anyone have any experiences?

Also, my name is Robert. I live in Muskegon MI. This is my first post.  I am a long time listener of Bigger Pockets Podcast. It actually inspired me to become a real estate agent. I did that for just over a year and decided that I didn't like working 7 days a week. I met my wife about that time, we bought a house and flipped it over the course of a couple years. We just sold it and are now buying a duplex in a much better area than where our house was (we close next week!). Before we came to the decision to buy a duplex, my parents gave us 5 acres of land in a great rural area, on a bike trail and only about 10 minutes from a smaller city and 25 from a much larger city (Grand Rapids). They wanted us to build out there and some day we may. However, right now we are focused on buying the duplex, paying it off in 3 years, and buying something bigger, while keeping the duplex of course.  

Back to the land...We were recently booking hotels for our honeymoon. This is an experience we have never done before as we are 20 and 21. They were all too expensive, so we went with air b and b. I was surprised to see many tiny homes in rural Michigan. Also, most of them were solidly booked all summer. Hmmm light bulb. Anyway... some questions.

-We want to build something small, and unique. Probably under 400sqft. Zoning. I am way under the 700 sqft the township requires. (Sullivan Township)

-Should we do sewer/septic/electricity/water? Or just call in rustic with a composting toilet? Is this legal?

-Could I keep it under $15,000? This is my budget. I will build it myself. I am confident I can build a house for much under that, it just comes down to, do I have to meet code? The septic and hvac and water is what will cost the money. Do I need it?

-Also, I have seen some nice permanent style tents on air b and b. Is this an option if the house isn't? 

Am I wasting my time? Is there any possibility of me being able to make some money on this blank piece of property. It costs me about $1,100 a year in taxes...I would like to offset that. One other thing I would like to add, it is less than 30 minutes from lake Michigan. Also it is fully wooded with a grassy meadow in the center of it. The neighbors are blueberry farms. It truly would be the perfect spot to do something like this. On top of all of that, it is right near my duplex I am buying, so there will be no long drive for me to go there, if needed. 

Thanks to anyone who reads this and responds. I can't find much on google for this. Figured this might be a good resource.