All Forum Posts by: Steven Stillwell

@Peter Koch I was unaware with the background of this. Thanks for the info! I am not happy with the new apartments.com interface and prices so I am looking elsewhere.

@Jay Ingersoll Thank you! I will look into turbotenant.com

Cozy.co was a great platform free for landlords to fill vacancies, collect rent, and manage properties. It has been bought and absorbed by apartments.com. I am struggling with the platform on apartments.com at first glance and it seems to be less user friendly than cozy. Cozy also blasted out listings to multiple sites when available but apartments.com wants to up charge me for everything.

I am looking for a new back end all in one system to manage my properties. I currently use Stessa for expenses and used cozy for tenant interface. What are some other recommendations? Does anyone else feel the same way as me?

Thanks @Timothy Doenges

I have a client who owns property in the mountain ranges of West Virginia. They would like to create cash flow from the land by leasing it to a clean energy company that would add solar panels or wind turbines in turn leasing the land from them. 

Does anyone have any experience this? Any advice or recommendations on companies/ where to start are highly appreciated!

Investment Info:

Single-family residence buy & hold investment in Towson.

Purchase price: $172,500

Originally a fix and flip, will be holding after renovation using the BRRRR strategy.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Great location, had a wholesaler friend from high school present the deal to me. It is actually 2 lots to build on if all else failed but the house had a lot of value add opportunity and was in great shape.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

My friend from high school and college became a wholesaler and brought me the deal after telling him the area I was interested in. Networking and telling people your wants really help them think of you. I ended up getting the property over a developer due to my relationship.

How did you finance this deal?

Investors cash, will refinance upon completion.

How did you add value to the deal?

Repaint, refinish floors, update aesthetics, fix imperfections/wear and tear, new appliances and landscaping. The previous owners have actually converted the garage to a bedroom so I had a 4 bed, 3 bath house.

What was the outcome?

In progress but new comps are coming in higher than expected however I have tenants interested in renting as soon as renovations are complete.

Lessons learned? Challenges?

You get what you pay for when it comes to workers. Definitely need to make better contractor connections.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Not yet but will be refinancing.

Investment Info:

Single-family residence buy & hold investment in Towson.

Purchase price: $285,000
Cash invested: $71,000

This is a college rental across the street from the University. Having played NCAA Lacrosse for 4 years with the team, I saw there was no landlords that the team/ athletics would go to for their college living. I wanted to fill that gap and rented it out the right after buying it through personal connections!

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

Having connections and being an athletics alumni at the University made me want to invest in the area by the school.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

Drove by the sign in the yard and looked it up. It had been on the MLS for awhile with no interest due to some glitch in the system where it would not show up. Got in touch with the agents by lowballing offering and they came in with a counter that I accepted!

How did you finance this deal?

Traditional investor mortgage.

How did you add value to the deal?

Haven't yet but can add 2 full baths and a bedroom to make it a 4 bedroom, 3 bath house.

What was the outcome?

College Rental buy and hold.

Lessons learned? Challenges?

So far, so good :)

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

Yes worked with a lender and real estate agent. I would recommend Lee Stillwell as a real estate agent to anyone in the Maryland, Washington D.C., Northern Virginia area. Lamont Green as a lender out of Sandy Spring Bank.

Cozy.Co

I've tried multiple times but it just keeps defaulting back to the blank profile