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All Forum Posts by: Christopher B.

Christopher B. has started 26 posts and replied 686 times.

Post: Learning the market in Knoxville, Tennessee

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

North is a desirable area for young professionals. Get more bang for your buck and very convenient. Just depends on where you bought the house. 

Post: Who has the best tenants ever? Great tenants DO EXIST

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

I've had tenants offer to pay me more money when they renewed their lease. Help with labor and costs of building an outdoor patio. Paid to have carpets cleaned. Got to screen them properly and treat them right. 

Post: Rental Property MUST be shown by agent in TN?

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

In TN if you hire an outside mgmt company they must be a licensed broker. Managing yourself from afar and allowing grandma to show the unit is ok. 

Why Clarksville? 

Post: Knoxville Rental Property

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

A "B" rental in one area of the country rents for a different amount than a "B" in another. A "B" in North Knoxville is different than a "B" in West Knoxville. I think you're on the right track, follow rental rates in the area and see what wirks best for you.

Post: Closing on 3/31, Help Needed

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

@ChristopherVargas (the @ isn't working on my Droid app if anyone has a tip) I think we're suggesting eviction because based on the reactions the current tenants have had they're obviously going to be a problem. I agree with your intention on wanting to handle it as amicably as possible but this tenant has already threatened a court order against you. They're not going to allow it to happen easily, they're on a nice free ride and don't want to give it up. Try cash for keys, then evict.

I've been in a similar position and it got handled in court before our closing, which I required. Woman inherited houses from father, her bf and another tenant was squatting not paying rent. She went to court to get bf out of her house and other tenants showed up to court to see results because he threatened same 15 days against me as yours has. Judge ripped the bf apart, both squatters were out by that weekend. Hope you get same results.

Post: Learning the market in Knoxville, Tennessee

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

You do monthly bookkeeping? I like to barter and I hate bookkeeping, it's why I chose finance over accounting in school. North Knox is a good area, I personally live in Fountain City. What exactly are you looking to do with your $25k? Invest in a deal with someone, use it with other financing to acquire and renovate? 

Post: Anything I can do about abused woodwork?

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

When was this house built? That is oak wood work. If you wanted that in your personal home you'd pay a very large sum of money for it. I don't suggest tearing it out, it's old, has character, and people love that. If you want to leave it stained you can always hit the bad spots with some wood filler. Yes it will show but that's ok for a rental snd the old wood will still have beauty to it. If it still doesn't look good to you then use the wood filler on the worst spots then paint it. You'll have to prime it with an oil based primer like killz first then paint it but this is still cheaper than tearing it out and replacing, which is a bad idea imo. Good luck.

Post: Harrington's are moving to Knoxville, Tennessee

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

Mark PM me, I'd be happy to help you out.

Post: Closing on 3/31, Help Needed

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531

Value is the priority in this business, don't try to be cheap and cut corners on major steps. If you trust your numbers, use a title company to close the house, pay a lawyer to evict the tenants. Expect some extra costs there, a good deal always has a little wiggle room, if it doesn't then it's not a good deal. 

Post: 6 Deals in 9 months. Over 2 million dollars.... Whew!!

Christopher B.Posted
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 701
  • Votes 531
Originally posted by @Nnabuenyi Anigbogu:

Hi All, It has been a very hectic and busy 9 months for me going from 0 to 60 in real estate. I always get a rush from reading some of the success stories posted on here so i figured i might as well share mine. It has been a good 9 months.

My first investor deal was an OO buy and hold 4 unit that kicked everything off for me. After that i closed on my first flip about 4 months later. I then proceeded to close on 3 more flips within 1.5 months, sell a condo and finally close another buy and hold closed yesterday.

The best part about all of this has been trying not to give my fiancee (wife in 2 weeks) a heart attack. She is a lot more risk averse than i am. However she has fully supported me in all of it and contributes funds and credit when needed. I look forward to enabling her to retire and pursue her passion for non profit.

It has been fun trying to do this while working full time but i am glad i went for it. Succeeding in this for me is a testament to working with partners. I own all my rentals on my own but all the flips are being done with construction partners which allows me to keep working full time and manage my rentals. I would definitely like to give a shout out to @Frank Ponticelli my attorney who has attended 6 closings with me so far, my partners and fellow investors to bounce ideas off @chidi Osuji, @John Casmon, @neil thakkar, @Xavier Y., @brie Schmidt and @George foster (i believe i met all of my partners at their meetups).

Also thanks to all the BP members who have answered my questions and guided me through some of the deals as they kicked off. 2016 should be a great year. Especially with the sale of all the flips that are in progress

Deal Synopsis

Albany Park 4-Unit
Acquisition: $495,000
Down payment: $100,000
Gross Rent: $49200 (I live in one of the units)
Vacancy (5%): $2460
Expenses + Capex: $14760
NOI: $31980
Annual Debt Service: $30,000
Annual Cash Flow: $1980 (my unit can rent for about 1K a month once I move out which adds over 10K to cash flow)

Albany Park 2-Unit + Garden
Acquisition: $375,000
Down payment: $13000
Gross Rent: $33600 (Living in the garden unit)
Vacancy (5%): $1680
Expenses + Capex: $10080
NOI: $21840
Annual Debt Service: $20892
Annual Cash Flow: $948

The building appraised for 25K more than purchase price (with FHA appraisal which is usually stricter) so once I hit six months I will refinance and remove PMI which will add $292 a month to my cash flow. Also rents are low for the current tenants and I plan to increase them at least 75-100 for each unit by June which will significantly increase cash flow.

Portage Park Flip (this has been presold and contract is signed. Just finishing construction)
Acquisition: $181,000
Rehab: $140,000
Permits & Holding Costs: $52,000
ARV: $450,000 (under contract at 450K)
Projected Total Profit: $77,000

Uptown/Ravenswood Flip
Acquisition: $415,000
Rehab: $185,000
Permits & Holding/Financing Costs: $100,000
ARV: $900,000 (very conservative as some comps are over 1mil)
Projected Total Profit: $200,000

Albany Park Flip
Acquisition: $215,000
Rehab: $130,000
Permits & Holding Costs: $60,000
ARV: $500,000
Projected Total Profit: $95,000

Irving Park Flip
Acquisition: $340,000
Rehab: $195,000
Permits & Holding Costs: $50,000
ARV: $730,000
Projected Total Profit: $145,000

Condo Sale - non investor deal (I bought this condo in 2013 to live in and it has served me very well and helped kick everything off. Lived in it for 2+ years then sold it)
Acquisition: $77,000
Rehab: $8000 (Replace HVAC and repaint and some minor fixes)
Permits & Holding Costs: Essentially 0. - I had a roommate paying rent that covered all of my PITI+HOA fees. I lived in it so routine maintenance was done by me and HOA took care of the rest. All utilities except electric were part of HOA fee. No vacancy cause roommate was there till i sold it.
Sold: $132000
Total Profit: $40,000 (Tax free since i lived there for over 2 years)

Congrats and great work. Good looking numbers, apparently I should move to Chicago