All Forum Posts by: Victor Trujillo

Hey there!

My real name is Victor Trujillo! One of three brothers. Yep, all boys. I say I'm from Mesa, Arizona as that's where most of my conscious years were spent, but I've lived in Washington state, as well as Florida in the past. I currently reside in Fort Bragg, North Carolina and indeed plan on moving back to Mesa once my term is up, which is in just a couple of months.

So my experience in Real Estate is negligible. The only experience/memories I have of it, is my family failing to rent out our home in our previous state of dwelling, to other family members... Which was a major catastrophe. A mistake I will never be making.

My goals on this website are to network myself in with like minds, investors, partners, clients, you name it. Half of the time, it isn't about what you know, but who you know. That being the goal only because I have MASSIVE goals in real estate! So I can use all of the connections I can handle, with the main goal being to help you (them) achieve their goals. I reckon the fastest way to the top is to help others get there as well. Moving on, my Real Estate goals are as follows:

Short-term: 

Get real estate license, and then hired into a PM firm so as to acquire practical experience as to how managing is done properly, as well as finding tenants, making deals, etc.

Acquire first multi-family property, ideally a four-plex/4-unit apt.

Gain experience in other types of Real Estate deals such as wholesaling and flipping to see if I take an interest in them, or am particularly good at conducting those operations.

Long-term:

Own and rent 1,000,000 commercial/residential multi family units.

Have my own PM company for my properties, and perhaps others properties as well.

I found Bigger Pockets through my real estate studies and discovering the BP podcast, and figured joining this forum is an excellent step in my real estate campaign. Glad to be here. Let's make some deals!

After acquiring my first 4-unit rental property, I will be self-managing it. I understand that an important part of property management is having a rock solid lease. With that being said I've got three questions for you:

1) Should leases be 1 month long for say, 4-6 months? Then after they've proved they're a suitable tenant, offer up to a 6 or 12 month lease?

2) What have been your biggest mistakes with leases?

3) What are the most important things to include in a lease?

Feel free to link examples of your own leases, if possible! 

I appreciate your time.

Originally posted by @Jonathan Klemm:

My first deal was a long 3 year house hack flip in Louisville, KY, which was quite successful.  I profited close to $80k!!  I doubled down and closed on a 2 flat in Chicago which was quite expensive ($665k).  Now that I closed all my friends, co-workers, and family are constantly asking about how much the new placed cost, what I am going to put into it, etc.  

As seasoned investors do you disclosure a lot of your financials to co-workers, friends, and family? 

 I reckon if they realistically pose a threat, not to divulge such information. But as a few have said on this post already, the information can be accessed online if that person has insidious intentions anyhow. Criminals will always have a way of doing evil, stay tight on your security and it may bring you more confidence my friend.

I will be attending.

Awesome information here.

Excellent point Lumi. I definitely agree that I should work for a PM company and get paid while I learn, as well! Perhaps a few months into that business, I'll then attain my 4-plex. Similar to what you've suggested. Andrew, awesome advice man. Perhaps immediately getting my real estate license after getting home, and heading straight to work for a PM firm full-time would make me more effective/attractive as a PM. Much appreciated advice.

Awesome man plan man. Let's connect!

Hello there! Thank you for you time. As the title suggest, I'll be sharing my plan of action. Do post in the discussion where I can improve upon it, or perhaps what you'd do differently if in my shoes.

I'm a couple of months away from getting out of the military. 

Upon ETS I'll be heading straight into employment, will be a 6-5 job 5 days a week, weekends off (when I plan to do my real estate work).

When I've received my first paycheck from this company I'll be able to begin applying for pre-approval on a VA home loan (according to the lender I've been in contact with I must have my first paycheck before I can begin this process, and cannot line up a property to move straight into out of the military, even with a letter of intent to hire from my future employer). My county limit is upwards of $700,000. The property will be a 4-unit multi-plex/apartment/town-home (the most units you're eligible to acquire with this type of loan).

After a month or two, or however long it takes for me to become a decent/good property manager of my own property, I'll become a property manager for other landlords in my area. The aim of this is to get a very good idea as to what the best practices are for managing real estate on a variety of properties. 

I see this as my way of getting into the real estate game, and assessing how things are in my county with regards to the REI game as far as local investors/property managers/tenant types. Perhaps I'll even run into a mentor through doing this (one of the landlords I manage for).

This is the extent of my plan I'll be sharing here, if you've read up until this point, I am truly grateful. Time isn't refundable! 

I appreciate your advice Cesar, thank you for your time

Hey Cesar thanks for posting! I do plan on using it in Maricopa County. I am currently serving at Fort Bragg, NC. I appreciate your help! When I expand out to your area I'll certainly be contacting you. As of right now I plan on using Low VA Rates as my lender, and am in contact with one realtor back home. I plan on recruiting at least 3 realtors in my search for a suitable property upon ETS. Was told I cannot get approved for my loan until I've received my first pay stub from job following the Army.