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All Forum Posts by: Steve Babiak

Steve Babiak has started 70 posts and replied 12704 times.

Post: Landlord Insurance Recommendations - Philadelphia

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349
Originally posted by @Danial Qureshi:

Thanks a ton, @Steve Babiak for mentioning builder's risk insurance, that wasn't something I was aware of. Follow up question, how much should builder's risk insurance run relative to landlord's insurance based on your experience? 

 Don’t be surprised if it is double or even more.

There is another gotcha to watch for with builder’s risk, how the premium paid is considered earned. Premium will be paid in advance. Some companies will consider that entire premium earned right up front, and will not pro-rate and thus not give a refund for the tail end of the period after you cancel (once work is completed or because you changed insurers or you sold the property). You want your builder’s risk company to pro-rate the earning of the premium.

Post: Judicial tax Sale in PA

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349
Originally posted by @Chad U.:

Somewhat related, we acquired a mortgage (as part of a pool otherwise would never buy on its own) where the underlying property, a vacant parcel, was sold at a tax upset sale in 2011.  The buyer obviously did not pull title to see that this lien was attached.  We are currently foreclosing our position out, and the buyer will lose the property.  

That illustrates the difference in PA between an upset tax sale and a judicial tax sale; with the upset tax sale, the liens and encumbrances remain in place. Since your lien was not divested by the upset tax sale, you still have all the rights you originally would have had as a lien holder. 

Had your parcel been through a judicial tax sale, you would then have to explore whether the original note owner had been given proper notice of that tax sale.

Post: Judicial tax Sale in PA

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349
Originally posted by @David Krulac:

@Barbara Sheppard  there is no secret sauce.  Besides working hard, I have lots of experience and bought hundreds of tax sale properties.  i do have 3 rules:  1.  Know the specific rules of the tax sale you want to go to.  Even within the same state rules are different.  2.  Do your due diligence including title searches, code violations, zoning, etc.  3.  Physically see each property don't rely on internet photos, they may be years old.  I could write a book!  Check out my Bigger Pockets Podcast #82

 Correction - you’ve already written a book, I have a copy ;)

Post: Landlord Insurance Recommendations - Philadelphia

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349

I just got off of a Zoom meeting where the attorney presenting (Brad Dornish) emphasized that builder's risk coverage is a must for properties undergoing construction, for many good reasons.

Post: Landlord Insurance Recommendations - Philadelphia

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349

Since you plan on first rehabbing this property, you should consider a builder’s risk policy first, and convert to a landlord policy once it is rented. Many companies do not offer builder’s risk, so using two companies is a reality for some.

And you might want to consider adding an umbrella policy once it is rented.

I used USLI for builder’s risk, and Erie for everything else.

Post: (Current) Tenants say the dumbest things, too...

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349

@Bob E. - you now have to REALLY rehab that place ;)

Post: Anyone used CliqStudios for Cabinets?

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349
Originally posted by @Halle Borges:

Just tried them in my latest project. Costed me way more in time and extra costs since several pieces came with defects and they take additional 5-7 weeks to send the corrected items. By the way took them several attempts to finally correct the matters.

 In the Philadelphia area, I suggest you try KitchenSearch - you can tell them I sent you.

Post: Cost per square foot - BRRRR

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349

Originally posted by @Matthew Irish-Jones:

@Jack Korbutov ...

We can paint a roof for anywhere from 1-$5 per square. ...

Roof - $22,000

...

Painting the ROOF?!?! LOL, no wonder it costs that much ;)

BTW - I am getting quotes for replacing a shingled roof on a 3700 sq ft house (roof size ~38 squares) where the quotes are coming in at $16K to $18K from the low price end; the high price roofers wanted $23K to $28K for that same roof. So unless that $22K roof is really big, that could be an excessive price ...

Post: Zoning / CO Issue in Philadelphia

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349

Confirmation that L&I stands for “Loony & Insane” ;)

Post: Still no 1031 in PA ?

Steve BabiakPosted
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Audubon, PA
  • Posts 13,450
  • Votes 8,349

I used 1031 Corp. Even if you don’t use them, their website has lots of good information for those looking to perform a 1031 exchange.