Skip to content
×
PRO
Pro Members Get Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
$0
TODAY
$69.00/month when billed monthly.
$32.50/month when billed annually.
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
Already a Pro Member? Sign in here
Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties. Try BiggerPockets PRO.
x
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Sarah Miller

Sarah Miller has started 37 posts and replied 115 times.

Post: No Possession, rehab costs, pitching to investors

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

I have no problem estimating rehab costs as long as I have access to the property. it's when I don't have access to the property is what I am asking about. 

And yes I know there is no quick fix to private money, hence why I've been working on my track record for the last 2 years. I feel like I'm in a position to start inquiring seriously.

Post: No Possession, rehab costs, pitching to investors

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

Hello!  A lot of random questions in this post... I've searched the forums but can't find exactly what I'm after so here it goes!

1. What are some strategies you use when shopping for a foreclosure property or sheriff sale?  Do you have a formula you use? Do you mainly just rely on area/school district/neighborhood/comps to get you pointed to the ones worth digging into more?

2. How do you estimate rehab costs for said property if you do not have possession until the sale? Would a 25-30% additional minimum rehab built in "buffer" be a good start?  I plan on obviously visiting the property and doing as much publicly available research as possible (permits pulled, work done, zoning issues, etc) My purchase price will be somewhere between $50k-80k which is a considerably good foreclosure in my area and a 25-30% buffer I figure would be enough to cover major purchases if needed, plumbing, electrical work, appliances, landscaping and cosmetics.

3. I want to pitch to some private investors for the strategy of just having the money for liquidity purposes, not actually partnering on a specific property (maybe an interest only loan for 12 months).  Would it be a good idea to use an actual potential deal in my pitch to give them an idea of my work? Or is it better just to give them a general overview of my work without letting them too deep into the weeds? Is there a better strategy?

As always! Thanks!

Post: Check out my Chart of Accounts please!

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

@David Dachtera I completely understand what you're saying and I value that very thoughtful response and wisdom.  I wish I could trade my money for time and right now I am doing everything I possibly can to get to a point to where I am able to do that: I have sold my house and downsized significantly, I downsized my car, I canceled my TV, I downgraded my phone, I have been actively changing things in my life to get my mandatory monthly expenses to a point where I am able to invest more into my business.  Its just at this moment right now in my real estate investing career, this is what is necessary. 

And none of what you describe is out of my comfort zone.  I understand how to get more money but it also involves a certain level of risk and time meeting people and building relationships, which I am completely fine with but financially, I am just tapped out right now and just making ends meet, and time, I have 2 small kids and I work full time...so yes, my time is very valuable to me right now - hence why I built an automated tool to do my accounting for me.  (student loans have completely thrown a brick in my finances just to explain a little more)....

Post: Check out my Chart of Accounts please!

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

@William E. will do!  I actually don't have it VBA enabled right now... just complex index/match statements and formulas. 

@Gita Faust I had thought about splitting contribution and draws... is this a standard practice? benefit?  Also, do you mean depreciation for something different other than what I already have?

@David Dachtera If you are trying to make the point of me spreading myself too thin point taken, however I am still a new investor with little money, so if I am able to save a significant amount of money doing something I am already good at while also learning how to run and operate my business in a hands on approach, why not?

Post: Check out my Chart of Accounts please!

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

Ha!  thanks I'm glad someone understands! Thanks for the links. I'll take a look. And yes I have it pretty automated already, just put in my transactions, which accounts to debit and credit, and the financial statements automatically populate.  pretty simple really.. not any code in it (yet!)

Post: Check out my Chart of Accounts please!

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

I am a data guru/excel junky and part of my professional gig is building automated tools using Excel and Access and lots of coding and macros.  I have built a simple (in my highly automated subjective opinion) excel spreadsheet that allows you to add in line items/transactions through the months and monthly balance sheets and P&Ls are generated for the business as a whole AND for each property.  I am just curious how my chart of accounts looks.

 Too much? not enough? Should I be more detailed?  Should I split some things up?  Here is a list:

Asset Accounts:

Asset Accounts:
Property 1 Building
Property 1 Land
Property 2 Building
Property 2 Land
Business Checking Account
Security Deposit Escrow Acct
Reserve Acct for CAPEX
Deferred Maintenance Acct
Accumulated Depreciation - Property 1
Accumulated Depreciation - Property 2
Equipment & Machinery
Maintenance Tools
Appliances, Extra parts
Office Equipment & Furnishings
Computers, Printers, Electronics
Furniture
Misc Office Supplies/Inventory
Other Assets
Liability Accounts:
Property 1 Mortgage
Property 2 Mortgage
Private Lender
Security Deposit Escrow Acct
Short Term Loans
Business Credit Card 1
Business Credit Card 2
Equity Accounts:
Owner Contributions/Draws
Retained Earnings
Income Accounts:
Rental Income
Pet Fees
Storage Fees
Interest Income
Security Deposit Forfeitures
Other Income
Expense Accounts:
Advertising
Automobile/Travel
Repairs/Maintenance
Commissions
Property Tax/Insurance Escrow Expense
Misc Fees
Mortgage Interest Paid
Other Interest Paid
Water & Sewer Utility
Taxes Other than property tax
Electric Utility
Gas Utility
Telephone
Wages
Travel/Entertainment
Depreciation Expense - Property 1
Depreciation Expense - Property 2
Other Expenses
Food/Restaurants
Supplies Expense
De Minimus Items for Rentals
Trash Utility Expense
Storage Expense
Property Acquisition Costs

btw, I have never used nor do I want to use Quickbooks.... :-) Please don't recommend I go to an accountant, I have a tax advisor and thats all I need.  I prefer to do the accounting myself since I do this professionally for a large company and have a finance degree and MBA.

Post: Selling 2 Duplexes - Capital Gains

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

I appreciate the thought.  I have a finance degree and MBA.  I've run the numbers and this is the much better option:  paying off my student loans significantly faster from the capital gains from selling my properties vs keeping the properties and paying down the student loans much slower, thus resulting in significantly more interest "cost".

Post: Selling 2 Duplexes - Capital Gains

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

I am currently paying on my student loans.  My properties are not bank owned... I own them and have mortgages on them.  They are current and I am not as risk of losing them.  I just want to profit from selling them to pay off student loans that are accumulating more interest than I am currently making on the properties.

Post: Selling 2 Duplexes - Capital Gains

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

Hi!! I am currently selling 2 duplexes in NE Ohio. (BOTH POSTED IN MARKETPLACE) Both are money makers (Net around $500/mo cash flow after PITI and expenses). The only reason I am selling is to pay off student loans. I am also downsizing personally and changing my lifestyle. My question is, one of my properties I will be making a large profit from my base. Is there a way to lessen the blow of capital gains tax I will pay on that? I am not re-investing the money, I am using it to pay off student loans. From my research I have found that this is not likely but didn't know if there were some creative geniuses on BP!!

Secondly, I do plan on getting back into REI once my student loan debt is gone. I have an LLC established currently, do I close it in the meantime? Or is it better to just leave it out there for when I start up again?

Post: MONEY MAKER Duplex in NE Ohio - Alliance!!

Sarah MillerPosted
  • Investor
  • Canton, OH
  • Posts 116
  • Votes 20

Completely renovated with 2 happy tenants on 12 month leases!  No Maintenance with this one!  Both units have a 2 car garage and an extra bonus room!