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All Forum Posts by: Tom Ott

Tom Ott has started 941 posts and replied 4593 times.

Post: Low school ratings a valid reason to not invest in a property?

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Erik Luna:

Hello! Hope everyone is doing well. I have been looking for properties to analyze, single residence and multi-family, but have noticed that many of the houses that have potential to be great deals, often have a low rating of 1 to 3 out of 10.

My question is, do low school ratings play a huge factor in whether or not you decide to invest in a property, or should that be one of the last things I should be concerned about?

 I wouldn't worry too much about it. If people want to live there then they are going to live there. If the rent and property values make sense to you then I wouldn't worry about the schools. If demand is still there then go for it.  

Post: Cleveland contractors for small apartment projects

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Duane Rademacher:

Can anyone recommend Cleveland Ohio contractors to help me with some small apartment remodels/rebuilds?

 Shoot me a PM I may be able to assist. 

Post: OOS Investing from California - partner?

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Dianna Vonderheide:

I currently have 6 doors in SLO county, CA. I'm trying to shift my focus to OOS investing to achieve a higher CAP with a lower cost of entry. This was a helpful post. Thank you!

 A lot of OOS investing from CA tend to look at the Midwest where the prices are lower. They also like to use a Turnkey Provider so everything is done for you and it is truly a passive investment. Everything is done in-house with them so you don't have to find as many partners. 

Post: Roofstock

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Jason G.:
Originally posted by @Alex Penalva:

@Ikra Kafayat

I am still dealing with these issues so, unfortunately I can’t go into too much detail, but the property I bought was marketed as turnkey, and it turns out that it needed a good amount of work. It failed the occupancy inspection on 2 of 2 units, and now the central ac unit is not working and needs to be replaced. All in all, I’m at about $3000+ in expenses in 2-3 months of ownership, not counting whatever the cost of central AC issue is.

Why can't you go into too much detail?  In what way was the property marketed as turnkey?  What was raised in the occupancy inspection?   The details are what will help inform prospective purchasers in deciding to use Roofstock or an alternative.  

 It seems kind of odd they market them as a Turnkey, when they are not even a Turnkey Provider. 

Post: Submetering Water in Ohio

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @James G.:

@Tom Ott

I know you can't legally evict them for not paying water because a landlord is expected to supply a reasonable amount of hot water but it seems you can submeter and try to send them the bill. IANAL a lot of people have fears about that and say they will just rent somewhere else but I think it can't hurt to try and reduce expenses. If they stop paying I would have to eat the bill anyway.

The way Serge Shukhat did it is what I would do. Install the submeter and then new tenants going forward you explain to them they are responsible for all utilities similar to a SFH. You give them the contact number for the company so they can call and activate and are good to go.

@tom Ott I know you and @holton-wise have been in this industry for years, is this reasonable?

https://www.biggerpockets.com/bpp60-serge-shukhat-podcast-transcript-zero-to-sixtyy-rentals-in-four-years

 It may just depend on the local water company. For example, I believe Cleveland Water will not allow for a split. If you do it on your own you may be fined for meter tampering. 

Post: Noob investor here need advice

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Pedro Padilla:

Idk how dumb it might sound. But since i don’t have a lot of money for a pricey home, I wanted to invest OOS where I can afford something. But since I’ve never done this before, idk if that would be the right move for me. Or if it’s okay? Yeah just need advice or a nudge in the right direction about this. Thanks in advance

 Hello and welcome! Best of luck to you. 

Post: Submetering Water in Ohio

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @James G.:

Ultimately, What did you guys end up doing? I would like to buy a duplex in Cleveland and want to bill the tenant. I know I wouldn't be able to evict them over water but I would like to try and bill to reduce expenses. 

 I don't believe you are even allowed to submeter with the Cleveland Water Department. I could be wrong, but I am pretty sure they don't allow it. 

I looked it to doing it yourself, but the time and resources are not worth it. Pretty much the main reason many investors tend to stick with SFRs in Cleveland.

Post: *NEWBIE* Father to be INVESTOR DAD (florida)

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Jonpaul Nadeau:

Hey BP Forum! 

This is my introduction to this amazing platform.

I am a 29 year old husband and father to be, ready to dive into real estate investing. 

My wife and I are big into traveling and are looking to buy and hold properties for longterm. 

Some topics we will talk about in the future are, investing in europe, florida vacation homes, credit repair, marketing real estate. 

If you are located in South Florida and would like to meet up for some coffee give me a shout! 

P.S. We are looking for an experienced Realtor in the next month or 2 

 Hello and welcome! Best of luck to you!

Post: Investing in Cleveland, OH

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368
Originally posted by @Ivan Franco:

Hi Everyone,

I'm an aspiring investor living in San Diego, CA looking to buy rental properties in Cleveland, OH. I'm posting this in the forum in hope of connecting with some of Cleveland's local players. I've tried to get in touch with some agents in the area and so far no one has responded to my emails, which led me to write a post here. I'm mainly looking to get connected with agents as a starting point in forming a network in Greater Cleveland but I also wouldn't mind any referrals to/from property managers.

A little about myself… I don’t have any investing experience though I’ve been reading everything I can about the subject and have just about completely cut music out of my life to listen to podcasts whenever I can for about a year now. I believe I’ve reached a point where I’m ready to jump in. It doesn’t make much sense for me to invest in San Diego at the moment so I’m looking out of state. I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to post how much money I have in a forum, but as far as capital goes, I have enough for a down payment and renovation for a property in the East Cleveland area, I have no debt, a healthy credit score, and add money to my savings at a rate of about $1000/month.

I know there are some areas in Cleveland that I’m going to want to stay out of as a first-time buyer so I’m turning to the forums for some guidance.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 Cleveland is a great place to invest! I like to stick to the suburbs where the growth is stable and so are the rent increases! Good luck to you! 

Post: How to Get Financially Free by Purchasing SFRs

Tom OttPosted
  • Equity Raiser and Turnkey Provider
  • Cleveland, OH
  • Posts 4,766
  • Votes 1,368

Most people dream of becoming financially free … and most people aren't exactly sure what path to take to get there. If you've got cash to invest, where should you put it? Should you start a small business, buy stocks, or invest it in real estate? What about purchasing SFRs?

Many experts agree that it should be the latter – and they point to single-family residential homes (SFRs) as a way to get the most for your investment dollar.

Purchasing SFRs — What You Need to Know

Better Financial Leverage and Diversification

Unlike many other types of investments, purchasing SFRs allows you to maximize far beyond the dollar amount you have to spend. If you have $250,000 and use it to purchase stocks, for example, you can only purchase up to $250,000 across any given stocks.

By using that money to finance SFRs, however, you can invest in a value that’s far greater than the $250,000 you put down. Even better – you can spread that money out to make down payments on several different homes, diversifying your investments across properties and even various areas. This will help insulate your investment should property values drop in a specific area.

Make Passive Income

Regardless of real estate market ebbs and flows, a SFR will increase in value over time. This will happen due to supply and demand, fiscal inflation, drops in home interest rates, as well as factors in any given area that suddenly make it more attractive (such as the development of new shopping, offices, or infrastructure projects that increase the quality of living for residents in the area). The long game in real estate investing is, of course, to take advantage of these increases to make money on a sale.

One of the best things about purchasing SFRs as an investment strategy is the potential to make passive income in the meantime. In fact, people who purchase turnkey SFRs are ready to generate cash flow from day one; some turnkey properties even come with renters already in place. As these properties increase in value over time, they are able to fetch an even higher rental rate.

Renting out an investment home may sound like anything but a passive investment to someone who isn't excited about becoming a full-time landlord. Hiring the right property management company will ensure that you can fully focus on your full-time job (or retirement, when you reach that point) as your SFR investments generate cash flow month after month.

Higher Rental Income

While passive income is rewarding, passive income from SRFs is particularly so. This is because SFRs tend to command a higher rental rate than multi-family properties. This may vary depending on size and location, but many SFRs have more square footage, more bedrooms, and more bathrooms than an average rental in a multi-family building.

In addition to the extra space, tenants are willing to pay higher rent for the extra amenities that come with a house. Items such as a garage, a porch, and a fenced yard come at a premium when it comes to rent prices.

Get Tax Deductions

Another reason many investors choose purchasing SFRs as a strategy is the ability to take advantage of helpful tax breaks. Owners of pass-through businesses (including rental businesses structured as LLCs) are able to deduct 20 percent of their business’s income. This is particularly helpful for investors looking to build long-term wealth and become financially free.

Work with a Turnkey Investment Company

Investing in SFRs requires choosing a property that will see a good rate of appreciation over time and generate enough passive income to cover expenses and even turn a profit. This is why it's helpful to work with a knowledgeable turnkey investment company, especially if you're investing in an area where you're not incredibly familiar with the real estate market and trends. The can help you get on the path to successful SFR investing ⦠and on the road to financial freedom.