All Forum Posts by: Tanya S.

David Holland I think the next meetup for the BP group that met up last month is late May. Jason Cohen is deciding on a good venue that will be large enough to hold everyone, but not too noisy. Suggestions welcome.

David - I'll be at the REI Expo in Baltimore so will see you there.

Welcome Lucas! There are quite a few of us from the DC/MD/VA area here on BP. A bunch of us got together about a month ago to exchange ideas/experiences at an initial meeting, and there is another meetup planned later in May. (Look for a thread called New Member from Washington DC... something like that... for the group link/more details).

There are also several real estate associations here in the area that meet monthly, and I would suggest going to a few of these and talking directly to people who are investing here in the area. It can be done. There is actually quite a bit of investor activity in Baltimore and in PG County at the moment. In VA, I think you have to look further out, as everything within a stone's throw of DC will be more about an appreciation play than cash flow. Hard to get both the closer you get to the city. Cheers

Hooray! Great choices

If you find a good title company, you shouldn't have any problems getting papers in before closing. mine prepared all the documents about a week ahead of time, and I signed everything and overnighted all docs back to them the very same day.

I'm a California native, but invest in VA. Glenn is right on the money.HI and CA have high entry costs. VA is great for all budgets, depending where you invest.

Hi J,

My job needs me to live overseas for several years at a time. I have bought properties while overseas and will continue to do so because it is really not that difficult. Note - I do not buy turnkey. Here are the key ingredients I use to invest in my local market when I'm overseas:

- Good real estate agent who works with video. Mine basically walks through properties I am interested in using the camera on his IPhone and as he is filming, he points out potential costs ( broken items, stains, age of appliances,anything that is easily visible.) He also meets with the home inspector and films that for me too.
- Title company that will do all closing documents by snail mail. I closed on two properties while living in Brazil, because my title company did closings by mail. They basically sent me all the docs I needed to sign by email and then I printed them out, signed them, and Fed Exed them back with the fastest delivery possible before the closing date ( cost me about $100 from Brazil for guaranteed delivered within 2 business days.) No power of attorney even necessary.
- Property management company you trust. My realtor got keys at settlement and drove them over to the prop mgmt company I had selected beforehand.

Granted, for this strategy to work, you need to know what you want to invest in and have a good team that you are working with in that local market before you can buy remotely. My realtor does all this for me, for example, because I really only bother him when I really want something and am basically ready to make an offer already. I don't send him running around for just any old property.

You also have to be comfortable making offers on a property you haven't actually seen except on video. some people are comfortable with this, others not so much. A lot depends on your goals and your comfort level doing transactions from a distance. I was very nervous with my first one, but after that, it gets easier and easier.

good luck!

I should be able to make May 22. Ned Carey You should definitely come down to DC and share your wealth and meet the rest of the BP folk. Some interesting peeps at the last meeting.

A little off topic, but anyone here attending the Baltimore REI Expo on April 27-28? www.reiexpo.com On the fence about attending.

I don't know anyone who has personally been through any of the online classes recommended on the list. I suggest doing some research on each of the schools and maybe call them a few with questions to see how responsive they are. Some also provide sample material on their website or if you request it.

Generally, since all of the schools on the list have been approved by the VA board, they should be covering the same material. Some schools also have a physical location, and you can use their reference materials or ask instructors questions. Some provide study tips and additional exam prep books for a fee as well. I would say you need to feel out what works best for you in terms of price, materials provided, support provided beyond the course (access to instructors), etc, and then compare what a school offers to what you think you need/want out of the experience.

Let us know how it goes.

Hi Chad,

I thought about doing the same thing at one point and there are a number of online programs that are affordable (less than $200 for tuition).

The State of Virginia has a pdf list of VA Board approved pre-license courses here that will fulfill your 60 hour requirement:

http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/Boards/Real-Estate/Pre-License/

Cheers

Trying this again... hope the link works this time

[url]http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/55/topics/75564-new-member-from-washington-dc