All Forum Posts by: Stephanie Ro

@Daniel Seigel WOW! You really looked into this for me! Thank you so much and I appreciate this. How kind of you. I was just floating around Redfin and wondered about this for a while. I have seen this in many states - old musty properties sitting on the MLS. Apparently this listing in Crack House Alley and is a definite no-go. Some one posted this.

339 pages?! This isn't typical, is it?! WOW. The inspector really did his/her job! Are these documents only REA can access? (I'm assuming so). That is a huge dollar amount for a renovation. I see what you are saying about the break even... 

Again, I appreciate your reply. Yeah, nah (Aussie saying), I am not looking for a big fixer upper from overseas!
-Steph

@Justin Sullivan Thank you for getting back to me. I am trying to reply to all of the responses! Thanks for the tips. I started to keep a journal. You're right about a property going under contract then going back to active some days later. A bit of a red flad. I will always get a house inspection. 
Let's just say a property has been sitting for 100 days then I approach a real estate agent. Would this person be able to determine the history of how many times it went under contract and back on the market? I am looking forward to a nightlife in general! Too much lock down down under! Thanks again!
Oh - I was looking at Arizona. I am used to the desert life from living in Las Vegas. There are not a lot of multi-family homes out there and a lot of nice areas are a bit high in price, but it still looks like a nice place to live. I might try close to ASU and find college kids to rent my property :) mmm IDK!

@Sheryl Sitman Yes! There is so much opportunity in RE in the US, plus I will be treated better (hopefully) as an American in my own home country. I am looking forward to a day of financial independence and thriving in real estate! You're right about me really researching in depth a few locations and learning about the whole lay of the land. Right now, I am blowing with the wind and am very adaptable as long as I am safe and there are people with whom to build great community as well as a bit of nature to escape them all! I think I was being silly about wanting warmer weather b/c here I am sitting in a cold, old, and uninsulated home and we have just reached Spring though winter lasts very long because of the proximity to Antarctica! I have been to Philadelphia once and really enjoyed it. I hear it is growing! I thought it was already "grown". How is each market VERY different? Weather wise? Foundation issues? Soil? (Someone was talking about Texas soil and foundation issues compared to Arizona) - is this what you are talking about? 
"Investing in a market without truly knowing the risks, benefits, numbers etc - is not investing, it is gambling." - 100%. I feel like I will need that team that you are talking about. I really need to narrow down where I want to live and build my team right now so that I am prepared for when the move comes. 

The right information - yes! I see conflicting messages all the time online. 
$60k to $260k after being on the MLS for over a year at $100k?! That is amazing and I would love to strike gold like that. I am hoping for that one day, but won't expect it to be on my first home. Thanks for keeping in real. I want solid advice, not fluff! You did it, too! Bought from overseas. That's a big accomplishment. I wish I desired to go back to Las Vegas, I know that area VERY well, but just don't want to regress. I am excited for the future. Thanks again for your help and time that you put into replying.

-Steph

@John Teachout Thank you for the reply. You're right, who am I kidding regarding warmer weather? It's because I am cold Melbourne and their homes are horribly build. No insulation and no heat in homes except in an electric heater in the living room. Most have a column oil heater. I just want to be comfortable in my own home! I don't want to return to Las Vegas. When I was in Colorado, it was so nice to have sun even after a blizzard. 

A common theme in this thread is what you are saying regarding price. Someone else said that people advertise the highest price b/c they know people will haggle and negotiate. Knowing the area is key. It is a bit risky to buy without living in the state, but I will have to rely on nice people like you and a good REA! Thanks again!

@Jim K. This is my favorite response in the history of threads. I feel like we could be besties. I **** myself laughing. (Aussie saying). I was just bopping around Redfin just checking out places and having a look. I, indeed, need to rent first and not dive right into a Swissvale type area. Maybe I came across this property to learn about Lemon Juice dude and interact with you. I need to ask people in the community about properties before I buy. Surely. 

Secretly, I needed to hear this because one cannot just look at a picture/property and get a feel for the place by looks alone. 

Thanks again for the reply :) 

 Sorry I forgot the + sign @Alan Ouellette

@Nicholas L. Thanks for the reply! I didn't know that about PA. Why the heck would the builders not find a solution to this issue? You're right about renting and knowing my personality type, I would want to check out the place and have a job before purchasing. I dove right in when I went overseas and flew by the seat of my pants, but upon return, I want to be smart and strategic. These are thousand dollar moves and I don't want to make big mistakes that cost a lot. 

Warmth is a must. I am so tired of the cold. Melbourne housing is decrepit. There is no insulation in the homes and it's cold inside for at least 4 months- yes a warmer climate is a must. This is why Northern states are OUT. Wisconsin, North Dakota, Minnesota...etc., are beautiful, but snow for months are a no go. I would love a NICE college town where renters are a plenty. 

You have no photo or title or anything, but lots of interaction. Where are you based? Are you a REA with lots of investments? Thanks again for helping me out. 

@Joe Hammel I appreciate this reply so much. This community is fantastic. I didn't know about the warranty deed title. I feel like advertising high is very common. Like selling a car. You want to go higher that KBB b/c people always haggle and negotiate the price. Another is at garage sales :) 

@Charlie MacPherson Thank you very much for your response. I am taking in all the helpful insight I get from this BP forum. Run the numbers, run the numbers. I will have to be an expert at this, soon. I'd like to clean up a property and put in a few upgrades. I am getting excited to have a place when I return home to the US! So much to think about. 

While I have you here, I read on another post that it's best to kick out existing tenants b/c they are most likely the problem for the original owner. Do you agree? Does this pertain to Multifamily? I would if it involved a renovation. Thanks again!

@Nicholas L. Thank you for replying and being nice about things and not saying my logic is incredibly flawed like someone else. I think people need to be more kind in this BP space. Why is a dream in Pittsburgh not a dream?! For me, it would be my sports dungeon! Are you from there? 

I am thinking more and more that I should return home and just continue with my life. These lockdowns are giving me cabin fever. Anyway, I am up for anything, I do not have ties in the US. Do you have a recommended area for singles and sports fanatics? I just want a nice suburb and a big city for socializing. I am thinking GA/NC/IN/TN/OH/PA