All Forum Posts by: Sherwin Vargas

I have a tracked Phone line on my website that is forwarded to my cell phone. I heard for google voice you can set up alternate voicemails from your real voicemails. 

I just  can't figure out how to have my real voicemail left alone and have the alternate voicemail for only people who call through the tracked phone line. I want a way to know if the numbers coming to my cell phone are through the tracked lines or directly to my cell phone? 

is this possible? 

Sorry for not getting in touch in so long,, a few things came up. 

They are my direct neighbor so i was trying to figure out the best way to go about this but today while listening to more bigger pockets podcasts, I got frustrated and finally decided to call. 

I did not get very far. A younger adult answered than the owner, who with research i found out is 65, when i asked for the owner by name, just his first name so it sounded more casual they hung up. 

I am thinking of calling again tomorrow with more of a pitch letting them know I am from the area and whether or not they are interested in selling the home. 

or 

I was also thinking of sending a hand written letter asking if they are interested in selling the home. 

What do you guys think would be the better option? 

-Thanks in advance

I am looking to primarily buy and hold with my investing career, focusing on cash-flow more than appreciation. I seen on a few forms online for the building that it is a 3 family if that is what you mean?

I do not believe he is asking below market value, I think he is asking about market value because it does need some updating. I have been looking at multi-family homes in Rhode Island and Boston and this one just seems within reach, it seems like it'd be easier for me to manage then some of the other homes I've looked like and it really does look like an opportunity for me. 

It seems like he may have a considerable amount of equity in the property.  I did research on the seller and actually found quite a bit of information ( scary how good google is). I did some research on the property and tomorrow and talking to a sort of mentor to help me analyze the property to see if its worth it. I will also be calling the building department in RI to see if permits were pulled for the work because work has been done on the house. 

Thanks for your help Anthony, 

I set up an appointment to go see the house on friday, ill let you know how it goes! 

-Sherwin 

Hello BP users, 

I used to live in Rhode Island and moved to the Boston area. I have ran into a possible deal in the providence area that I am very interested in. I would like some help trying to analyze this deal. 

I don't know where to begin. it is a 2/3 family ( the 2 upper units where converted into one unit). The seller is from out of state, also seems to be a part time real estate investor. he gave me the expected rent, and section 8 approved, by looking around on trulia at rents being asked for in the neighborhood and what he stated seemed to correlate. I just don't know where to go from here. The home seems to be great for the 2 percent rule. 

I do see the home was purchased at an auction a few years back then sold again for 1 dollar about 2 years ago, and last year the county assessed it at about 80k he's asking for 115.  

I know I am very vague I just don't know what information to actually give as I haven't analyzed it yet. I just need help in the right direction towards what to keep an eye out for, what questions to specifically ask, and sort of where to go from here. 

If it works out and the numbers make sense since he did want this home for rental income, he is just out of the area I was thinking about asking for seller financing? is this a good idea or bad one? this would be my first home so I am completely new at this.

Hey guys,

I am researching a home in the boston, ma area dorchester to be exact to get more information to see whether the owner would be motivated to sell. 

The property came up with a $1 dollar sale in 2005 but that was from one family member to another. I found that the original owner had died in 2007 is it possible that it was just done like that for a transfer? iT was purchased originally in the 70's and in 2005 transferred to a relatives name. 

In february of 2013 an instrument of taking was filed for non paid  taxes of around 2000. Does that mean the property has already been taken? or that it was just filed and not  yet taken? how can I check any taxes owed or just find more information pertaining to the home? no more documents have been uploaded to the mass public records since that instrument of taking form. 

Thanks in advance! 

Sherwin  Vargas

hey guys , 

Thank you. You are right I need to try and if they get angry I just need to move on. 

I will spent the weekend gathering information on the mortage and the other property and I will call monday afternoon 

I will keep you guys posted!  

Thanks again!

I recently moved into the dorchester, Ma area and two houses around me are just not being taken care of one in pretty bad shape, the other in decent shape just overgrown lawn, and in need of new roof from what I can see. I have gotten the owner information for one of the homes and contact information, if they are correct and am working on gathering the information for the other home.

How do I go about talking to the owners. I do not believe the owners reside in either of the homes but I could be mistaken. 

Should I call and if you how should i begin the conversation? mention I am their neighbor?  show interest in the home? I just want to get into the home to do an analysis because a lot of the information on the homes haven't been updated in years! 

I am afraid of calling, mentioning i am their neighbor and being forever hated! I am a new investor and have been pondering this question since I moved into the area 

Thanks for all your advice, I will read all all of the suggested reading and finally attend a REIA meeting. I had been using work as an excuse to not attend the meetings, i will attend the meeting this thursday in Medford. I will also look into south shore meetings.

I have never thought of looking into Brockton for real estate and will definitely be looking into that. Student housing has always been an idea for me but isn't housing near campuses typically very expensive?

I would just like to say wholesaling is not my first choice for real estate investing I can't see myself doing all the work then handing it off to somebody else, I decided that i should go down this route because of the lack of funds. I would like to be a buy and hold investor for multifamily homes while fixing and flipping single family homes, ultimately. 

Thanks guys I will practice estimating ARV value and repair costs, something I haven't looked much into thinking it would be something that I would research when the property comes up.

Once again Thank you, I finally have courage to go to a meeting I felt being a newbie with not much practice that I would just be bothersome at the meeting. 

Hello BP users, 

I have been researching information for months now, listened to podcasts, bought many books. I am trying to get started with hopes of having a home under contract by the end of the year (Dec 31, 2012). I will begin real estate courses soon in Boston, Ma to gain a better understand of the entire real estate process. I currently work 55-60 hours a week so it can be difficult to get in touch with other investors and feel confident to make connections since I am usually always busy. 

I am having trouble deciding which route to take, wholesaling, fix + flip, buy and hold. I will be doing all three in the long run but to start what would be best? I hear wholesaling is the easiest for newbies  and the cheapest as I do not haven much cash but everything I read on starting wholesaling starts to get a little overwhelming. If I do wholesaling should would do any type of home since I would not be working on the house?

I tried building list but I am not sure exactly what would be the best list for my area. I have looked at foreclosed homes and auction sites but you need the cash right away so that is out of the question if I am not mistaken. I just need guidance I live in the Boston, Mass area (dorchester). I have been looking at homes in pawtucket,Rhode island for its relatively close distance and much cheaper prices. 

Do you guys believe wholesaling is the way to go with lack of funds? or any overall suggestions towards me getting started ?

Thanks for your help in advance! 

Hey andrew,

Yes I do have one I was asking for some pointers on how to present the material and what type of interest to offer them or if a 50/50 split is better