All Forum Posts by: Scott Braun

If your goal is to lower your interest rate, refinancing is going to be the way to go.

However, what are your goals? Do you plan on selling in the next couple years? If so, there's a good chance it would not make sense to refinance. 

If these are rented out, are you still going to be cash flowing every month?

If your goal is to buy more properties but don't have properties in mind just yet. HELOC could be the way to go so that you have access to money quickly without paying the interest when its not being used.

I would certainly consider getting an agent. Rarely will you as the buyer have to pay your agents commission. Additionally, they may be able to negotiate on your behalf far better than what you would be able to -especially since its bank owned.

it depends on the state law. Eastern states in the U.S. primarily use Attorneys while Western States often times use Title Companies. Some states may still allow using an attorney even if it doesn't require it. However, no state prohibits the use of using an attorney to close.

Do not rely on Zillow at all. My current house is $25k-$35k below market value based off the "Zestimate".

I'd recommend working with an agent to pull CMA's for you.

If its a big name company (Chase, Wells Fargo etc.) they often operate in multiple states.

I would recommend looking at two or three community banks or credit unions located in Tennessee and shop your loan around at the local banks. Oftentimes, you'll get better rates and better customer service.

Always run the numbers, you can't only rely on responses from people.

I would recommend to spend a few $$$ to utilize the AirBnB calculator here on BP to ensure you are making a wise financial decision. If you don't want to spend the money, try googling a calculator to run the numbers with.

Every state has property taxes. However some states are significantly more than others.

Hawaii has the lowest hovering around .27-.30%

Meanwhile New Jersey has the highest ranging between 2.21-2.47%

If you're wondering where to hang your licences, call at least 2 or 3 brokers and get a feel for their company. If you're not sure what niche to choose in real estate, start shadowing and finding a mentor to figure out what you enjoy and interests you the most.

Highly recommend listening to BP podcasts. Rather you're sitting in at a desk, driving, shopping etc. plug in a podcast and start listening to what others have done and learn from their experiences. You can also check out the books in the biggerpockets book store. There are some really good books to choose from.

Luxury vinyl plank is definitely the way to go. I definitely recommend looking at lumber liquidators if you have one near by. Their products are better quality than Lowes/Home Depot and can be even cheaper.