All Forum Posts by: Samantha N.

@Tyler Franca

@Joel F.

@Pinank Parikh

My husband and I are also exploring investments in DR. (Currently looking at Samana province). Would love to discuss your experiences with any/all of you. 

Thanks Jeremy!

One related question: we just realized we're going to need to also get an asbestos inspection before we buy since we are remodeling and the home is quite old, with plaster walls and we don't have dates for whatever renovations have been done. 

Anyone have recs for a local asbestos inspection company they have liked?

Hello all, we're looking at purchasing a Pittsburgh property (planning on offering this week) and the roof on the property is 15 years old. Wondering is there such a thing as an inspector who specializes just in roofing and would come check that out specifically?

If so, any recommendations in PGH?

The downside of a couple hundred dollars is fine for me if we can have a better bargaining position and/or know more going in. 

Recommendations?

Wondering if anyone has any good news for me on Brighton Heights... in terms of where is it going, are there any pending plans for development in the area? I'm at a loss, I don't understand why this place hasn't blown up, have more restaurants, nicer bars, a brewery or at least people talking about it? Is this just destined to be a bedroom community forever?

We're looking at doing an FHA 203K gut rehab. Any recommendations for this position? There are only between 5 and 7 of them even operating in PGH from what I can tell, but does anyone like one guy a lot? Maybe someone reasonable and flexible, who will allow at least most of my recommendations for contractors?

Oh man. We spent the day in Pittsburgh touring neighborhoods. We are moving there for work, and so we are looking for something to owner-occupy while still living close to work and hopefully enjoying the neighborhood we are living in. 

We REALLY liked the neighborhood of Allegheny City/Mexican War Streets, as in the title. Especially bordering the east side of the Allegheny Commons park. 

My concern is that all the properties we saw walking around were either a) freshly rehabbed and look like they would be priced at a premium, as well as being SFH, OR b) literally, completely falling apart (windows busted, roofs half off, walls open to the outside) and would require a gut or even more hardcore rehab and rebuild to make habitable. We do not have experience either in construction nor in managing contractors. 

My question to anyone out there is: Do you think it is possible to find any kind of suitable property in this neighborhood that could either be a multi or be made into a multi, and NOT have to buy one of the cheap, falling-down, gonna-cost-300K-to-fix properties that seem to be the only non-retail ones on the market?

I hope that made sense. 

@Alex Deacon I absolutely will look you up when the time comes, thank you!

Thanks so much for your reply!

We were thinking of getting a small multifamily, doing a BRRR, but not any major layout overhauling, wall moving, or hardcore plumbing work. But our plans may change as we explore the area. It may not exist and that's okay.

This does really seem to make sense for why things look the way they do. Now we kind of just have to figure out how to profit from how things are right now. 

Hi Everyone,

A little about me & my fiance to start this question: 

We are moving to Pittsburgh in the next several months, and he'll be working at Allegheny Hospital. He's primarily interested in a non-stressful commute and we are looking at owner-occupying something that cash flows at least a bit. 

We've lived all over in the last several years: Boston, Chicago, Iowa, Ohio... and soon Pittsburgh. We've always been renters and rented B+ or A apartments.

No matter where we lived we have always ended up paying ~800-1200/mo for an apartment, whether 1 or 2 bedroom.  And we never lived somewhere considered "expensive" for the city we were in at the time. But even in 1 large and 1 very small town in Ohio, it was around the same. 

Now the question: What is UP with Pittsburgh? Except for Shadyside, the rents seem very low compared to other cities I have been even for nice rentals, but there don't seem to be a ton of those. Like, crazy low rents from my frame of reference. 

However, the condos, multi-families and even single family houses that I have stalked on the MLS seem very high priced for what they are offering compared with other cities we have lived in. And especially compared to what rental prices seem to be in the area. To me most of what I have seen on the MLS seems to be very old, not updated and oddly laid out, like row houses that are very tall but insanely skinny with very steep staircases, condos with wallpaper from the 80s and window A/C units, etc. Or WAY too expensive and a crazy level 10 modernized penthouse or townhome. Where's the middle ground?

What's up with the old, non-updated vibe I'm getting from looking into the market? Is it just where I am looking, and I should direct my attention elsewhere? Or maybe what I'm looking for doesn't really exist in the PGH market right now? I guess I'm just looking for a cool, walkable neighborhood that is up and coming but offers some nicer home options with larger size rooms that would just need cosmetic updating, not a ground-up rehab to modernize it. Bonus points if it's an easy commute to Allegheny Hospital. 

Educate me about PGH, BiggerPockets!

I'm in for any IC area investor meetups! I'm currently looking for my first property (multi-fam, I hope). Hoping to purchase late winter or early spring.