All Forum Posts by: Tom Harkins

@Geoffrey You I did what you are looking to do. My wife and I started with a SFH in Montgomery County (Aspen Hill area). We converted it to a rental when we moved to the Wheaton area a few miles south. We plan to rinse and repeat when the time comes to move again. I prioritized areas that are within walking distance to a metro station, which I'm hopeful will only help the already solid appreciation that homeowners in this area can expect.

@Ernest McNeil I decided the high likelihood of creating strife with my tenants is not worth a 0.4% increase in rent. That is the “voluntary” rent guideline that just took effect in Montgomery County today.

https://www3.montgomerycountymd.gov/311/Solutions.aspx?SolutionId=1-TYH51

Awesome @Adam Oldham. Can’t believe that purchase price!

@Matt D. I opened a 95% LTV HELOC on my primary residence a few years ago with Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (MAFCU). They ate based in Gaithersburg. Overall I had a good experience with them. 

There is also some more recent information in this post

@Suzanne Player If you want a counterpoint, I navigated a major claim not long ago without a public adjuster. It was in Maryland. If I had to do it all over again, I’d make the same decision. I did a ton of research and talked to dozens of people in the insurance industry before reaching a decision. Also take into account your willingness, availability, and temperament to navigate the process on your own. It will be a ton of work.  If you decide to hire one, public adjusters will take a large % of the claim when all is said and done. Best of luck. 

I take ACH payments through Apartments.com (which recently converted over from Cozy). 

@Giovanni Kenneth I second what @Russell Brazil said. I was looking for the same thing you describe when I first moved to the DMV area. Last year I converted our family house into a rental which I self-manage, and it is poised for rent growth. It is in Silver Spring near the red line. I bought a second SFH not far away and will rinse and repeat.

@Mindy Jensen Registered, looking forward to it!

@Alex Ferraro Following. I’m interested in the same information, particularly if any of the meetups are virtual as I live in Maryland 

@Cassidy Burns I opened a 95% LTV HELOC on my primary residence a few years back with Mid-Atlantic Federal Credit Union (MAFCU) based in Gaithersburg. Overall had a good experience with them.