All Forum Posts by: Shauna O'Donnell

@Darrell Lee thank you for your input, good to know that about Springfield. Have you had a lot of issues with people paying rent? Wondering if there would be an opportunity to do Section 8 housing there if properties are cheap and market rent is high enough. Just a thought and a way to guarantee at least some rent each month.

@Scott Trench, thanks for this informative post!

On the supply side, you stated that there is a massive supply coming online in the next 12 months. Where are you pulling that information from and what kinds of constructions trends have you been seeing? I keep reading inventory is low and it will take years to catch up, but do you have data that this is shifting in some markets already? Curious about this because it would obviously not only impact big syndications but also the small MFR investors like myself.

I also agree with other people who posted that rates aren't likely to hold here, especially as we begin to see a slowing of inflation. What's to stop that from offsetting some of the decline in prices that you are predicting?

@Sam McCormack, I'm considering Cincinnati as one of my markets to get started in and would love to learn more about the pros and cons of investing there from a local.

I thought I'd tack onto this thread since I'm looking for similar guidance. Other markets I'm looking at are Pittsburgh, Springfield VT, Upstate NY (want to evaluate a few of the small/medium cities up that way), Greater Atlanta and Detroit (thanks to Ashley Hamilton.) Anyone with knowledge/experience in these markets I'd welcome your input. 

But just a general question to the room. How did you ultimately decide on your market when you started investing out of state? How did you know which one was "the one" when there are a lot of markets that have good opportunities for an investor. I think for me cashflow is the most important thing at this point, but I'd obviously love solid appreciation potential too.

@Andrew Horezga, I know it's been a while since this post, but I would also love to chat with you and see where you are and if you're still looking for deals and how we could potentially help one another.

@Richard Phillip Lewis, thank you so much for the advice, its very helpful! Sorry I was unresponsive for so long, it's been a hectic summer but I'm diving back into RE research and looking for deals this fall. Do you ever attend the Jersey Shore RE Investors Meetup? I see they have one fairly regularly at Battle River Brewing. Or are there others you're aware of? 

I was hoping to find my first deal nearby so I could be more hands on and learn from the first one, but I've been really struggling to find ones that work financially. I'm hoping that will change but I'm also beginning to research the possibility of out of state investing.

I just looked in the meet-up page and there doesn't really seem like there are any Vermont groups listed in the meet-up section. I'm not in VT, but I'm looking to network with people investing in the state as I'm interested in investing there.

Does anyone have experience with the Springfield, VT rental market? I know it's been somewhat economically depressed, but I see some attractive properties for sale would love to hear from anyone that has invested in that area before.

Hi all,

Another new investor looking for advice in New Jersey. I'm looking to break into investing in my area (Northern Monmouth County) but it's definitely gotten expensive in the last few years (like everywhere.) My question is, for my first deal, is it best to stick to a smaller SFR or has anyone invested in a more expensive (over 500K) BRRRR-like property to start? How do you go about calculating rents in an area with few comps? Do you have favorite local lenders that know the area and are good to work with?

I'd like to purchase my first investment property in the next 6 months and would love some advice on where you would start. I currently own a home that has appreciated about 100k in value in the last 2 years. If I rented it out it would cashflow but likely only a few hundred a month (without management.) I DON'T want to sell my current property as the plan is the expand it and turn it into our forever home (plus it's in a great neighborhood and if we add on it will be worth $$$.) If you were me would you 1) try to rent out the house and find a new property to house hack for a few years? 2) Focus on an affordable SFR somewhere cheaper? 3) Try to find a BRRRR opportunity that you probably have to beg borrow and steal to make happen but ends up with great cashflow?

Hi Jiang, have you could looked into propertied that aren't currently multi-family but have the potential to be? For example, I know a ton of houses in the bay are build up on the second floor and many have a full, underused garage that could be pretty easily converted into a 1 or 2 br apartment. You could look for a house that already has the right plumping and electrical lines run down there so the costs would be minimal. I'm far from an experienced investor, but it's always what I thought could make owning a home in the Bay Area actually affordable. I also know that most cities are open to permitting ADUs due to short housing supply.

While I appreciate the need for diversity and networking across groups, I think you are assuming that because women want to associate and network with one another in a mastermind group, that we wouldn't ever network outside the group. I think we should also acknowledge that sometimes coming into a world that is majority men (70% as you pointed out) isn't empowering to women at all. In fact, it can be very disempowering to be the only female in a group with all these men talking over you and excluding you from the conversation (and this happens a lot to many of us.)

I'm certain that we all hope to break into the majors like Jackie and take advantage of every opportunity at our disposal, but that doesn't mean that learning from other women who have already had success wouldn't be extremely valuable for many of us.