All Forum Posts by: Vera Rosen

@Vlad Filatov

Hey Vlad . I am from Philly. I live here and invest here as well.

What are you looking for? Let’s chat.

I also speak Russian if needed and I also hold PA real estate license.

So here’s the situation: My husband and I bought a SFR under an LLC in a transitional (early stage) neighborhood. We spent the past couple of months fixing it up and just put it online for rent. Within a couple of days we noticed a scam posting of our rental with our pictures and description and address but listed for $800 instead of the $1000 we are asking. The craigslist listing had a phone number which we called - it is a google voice number. We texted back and forth to schedule a showing but got nowhere. Then we headed out of state for a week for spring break with out kids... Next thing we know a friend who was putting the finishing touches on the basement tells us that he can’t access the property and the door is “stuck”. We ask him to confirm and send photos. He goes back and says it looks like the basement window has been kicked in but he could not tell for sure (it has a set of security bars in front of it). At this point we are really worried, but we were out of state and coming back a day later so nothing more we felt we could do. When my husband gets back he headed straight over to the house and could not get in. He looked at the basement window, saw it was just propped in place and entered the house. He went upstairs and opened the doors and promptly put new locks on. My question is: if someone broke in, changed the locks and scammed someone else by renting the property to them, what should we do? Are we okay with just changing the locks back and moving forward renting the property? Has anyone experienced this, and if so, how did you handle it? Is there a good way to catch this person? The police were called and they think it is a scam, and someone may have gotten suckered into a false rental. But they had not heard of anyone doing this before in this neighborhood. Any advise appreciated. Thanks!

@Ray Lai - I like the suggestion to use google voice numbers that are local to the area I am marketing. Makes sense. 

I agree that being an agent will helps. It helps us to approach this with the idea that we can offer a solution to any seller (need to test this hypothesis, obviously). From everything I have read and seen on Bigger Pockets it seems like the successful wholesalers are those who approach this with the idea that this should be a win/win for all parties. 

I'll send you a direct message for the templates/scripts, as those sound very helpful.
Thanks!

Thanks for the details @Kevin Kite. This is really helpful! 

@Jody Schnurrenberger I'm hopeful we can get responses/deals before a year, but trying to stay realistic about this also. I appreciate your input.

Thanks for the recommendations @Matthew Teifke. I reached out to both of them. 

Can anyone out there point me to a step-by-step guide to setting up a direct mail marketing effort? My partner and I have been investing part-time for a few years now and have close to 20 units, and a reasonable amount of liquidity to start purchasing more. We have not yet tried anything other than simple SFR buy and holds, but are now ready to try something new to start scaling up our business.

While I know there is TONS of info on Direct Mail Marketing (DMM), Wholesaling, and Subject To on Bigger Pockets and elsewhere online, it is almost too much... 

Has anyone found a single go-to source that provides a nice outline of how to get started:

1. Where to find/purchase lists
2. Where to find best mailer options - yellow letters, etc.
3. What phone services to use - google voice, etc.
4. Scripts for responses/screening calls
5. Scripts/process for initial homeowner interviews
6. Strategies to offer homeowner/seller options - cash buy vs. wholesale vs. subject to vs. MLS listing by agent (I'm an agent in Philly)

Ideally, I am looking for a simple guide to get us started, but also open to hearing about potential courses/gurus that charge reasonable rates to provide the whole system in a box.

Thanks in advance!

HI Troy. 

My name is Vera and I am real estate agent in Philadelphia.  I would like to mention that I am not experienced yet. I only sold one house (I do rentals mostly), but my boyfriend Alex (who you've been talking to, Ales M) is very demanding when it comes to view properties. I think  we saw 300 properties in total all over Philadelphia and I know how to get us in.  Let me know if you are still having problems with showings.  I would love to help.

Regards, 

Vera

Hi Jeff. 

Thank you for your post. My boyfriend is not on the mortgage or deed with me. That is why he would like to use FHA 203K as a first time home buyer. He will move in there when renovation will be complete.

I agree with you,  that multifamily property will give us a greater return and he will be living pretty much for free.  Although, we found out that it is almost impossible to find a multifamily property that makes sense financially.  It is kind of frustrating actually, but we are not giving up. 

Thanks again for your reply. I will keep you posted. 

Regards, 

Vera

I bought my first house last year and we just finished renovations in it. We are also living in the house and doing most of the work ourselves. 

My boyfriend is looking for another investment and originally he thought that multifamily property would be a great start. But last week we saw new listing for a single family two doors down from our house and now he is thinking to get that house instead and flip it.  

Should we stick to the plan and look for multifamily property, or go ahead and purchase the single family one.  

He will be using FHA 203K streamline.

Regards, 

Vera