All Forum Posts by: Crystal Smith

I work with investors in Chicago who are actively buying off-market properties, and Ive noticed that everyone has a different approach when it comes to sourcing deals. Some focus purely on numbers, while others look at long-term value, location trends, or creative financing strategies.

For those of you investing in Chicago (or similar markets), whats your mindset when evaluating off-market opportunities? Are you primarily looking for cash-flowing properties, distressed deals, or value-add opportunities?

Would love to hear your perspective and how you approach your decision-making process!

Looking forward to the discussion.

Hey everyone,

I have a buyer ready to submit a full asking price offer on my flip, but the 90-day flip rule won’t be lifted for another two weeks. I really don’t want to lose this buyer—what’s the best way to make this work?

Would it be a good idea to take a deposit to secure the deal until the rule clears? Or should we sign the contract now and set the execution date for two weeks later?

Any advice or experiences with this would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance.

Hi Community,

I have been thinking of some creative financing ideas and this one has been intrigued. Would it be legal to wholesale a family members home (est. 1M), and receive a fee for the wholesale services? 

Theoretically, I should be able to collect the funds from the deal, should my family member decide to go through with the deal. And they will get their payment from the buyer.  

Hi everyone,

I’m new to real estate investing and just finished reading Brandon’s book on investing with no money down. I’ve found myself particularly interested in multifamily properties, but I’m struggling to grasp what exactly defines a “good deal.”

When evaluating listings, should I primarily focus on properties that seem undervalued? Are there specific market indicators or property traits I should be paying attention to? I feel like I’m missing the bigger picture of what makes a property a great investment opportunity.

If anyone could share some pointers or insights on how to identify a “good deal,” I’d really appreciate it!

Thanks in advance for your help!

Good morning, 

I have been a lurker of this website for a while. Got analysis paralysis few years ago. I also allowed the fear of others to take me away from my long term goals. This year I am ready to make my first step towards financial independence. My plan is to start house hacking. I do get nervous with finances and want to be financially responsible. I am divorced. Currently changing my mindset of I can’t do that, to how can I?

Hey all, I'm a smalltime investor currently living in a flat of a Chicago 2-flat while renting the other out, and also have a SFH rental in OH. I'm not looking to scale anytime soon. I have my personal emergency fund stored away in a HYSA, and am working to build up a15k property reserve as well, but am conflicted on where to keep that 15k. We don't have kids (might in the future), my husband and I are young and healthy, have stable high-income full-time jobs, and just put in a lot of work to both properties so don't expect huge expenses in the near future. Both properties are in A areas with great tenants. I know that the general guidance is that emergency funds aren't to be invested, but given our financial security and the fact that we already have a personal e-fund in a safe, non-volatile location, would it still be crazy/unwise to invest this 15k in an S&P500 index fund in a brokerage?

I've looked through the forums and can't find answers to a question similar to mine so I thought I'd post. Would love to know your thoughts and hear if anyone does anything similar with their personal vs property funds. Thanks in advance! 

Im currently looking at a property that has tenants living in them. I thought the posting said 3 unit but my realtor gave me the paper work on it. I looked at the paper work and its  a 4 UNIT  property. Im waiting to hear back to go look at the last unit. The 3 units one is renting out for 950, 700, and 650. Everything is functional in the property it is a older home. The property does have heated radiators through out each unit. everything is separated for each unit electricity, gas, and window units in each property. Year built 1922. The property is selling for 224k. All units are occupied. This property does look good in my perspective. Im still waiting to see other unit and see what is it renting for so i can crutch some numbers on it. 

I looking to take action 

Can anyone help with some questions I have

Will this property cost me to much down the road?

What are other ways to get this property with out having to owner occupy, FHA, conventional?

I would like to know more about ways to use OPM

Hello BiggerPockets community!
I'm new to real estate and have recently become interested in wholesaling as a way to get started. I’ve been researching a lot about the basics, but I know there’s so much more to learn, especially from those who’ve been in the game for a while.

I’d love to hear from experienced wholesalers about their journeys and any advice you have for a complete beginner like me! I’m willing to put in the time and effort to learn and grow in this industry, but I could really use some guidance on where to start. If there are any books, podcasts, or resources you think are essential, please share them!

Thanks so much in advance for your help—I’m excited to be part of this community and learn from all of you!

Hello Everyone,

I'm preparing to purchase my first investment property in the new year, which I plan to house hack. I already have an LLC that I originally set up as a business entity to facilitate managing, overseeing, and expanding my real estate ventures. My goal is to grow in the real estate space, and I plan to self-manage this property.

I'd love your insights on how best to utilize my LLC in this process. Should I use it for asset management, rent collection, property management, or other roles? Are there specific advantages or potential pitfalls I should consider when structuring these activities through my LLC?

I also understand accounting and legality may play a role. I'm more so wondering what makes the most sense as I do want to treat my investing journey as a business.

Thank you in advance for your advice!