I am wondering if anyone out there has experience with older metal fire escape related concerns or issues in MD DC and VA metro. 

@Lamont Marable check your local building and fire codes...putting living space below grade carries a lot of life-safety requirements and needs to be permitted...worst case...if there is a fire and tenants cannot escape...and you knowingly put living space below grade without the required safeguards in place...RE investing career over...Just do it right if you venture down that path...hiring an architect is always the best approach to something like thisBest of luck

People are paying well over asking routinely and have lost sight of whether it is a good investment because many are simply buying to as a 2nd home to escape to on the  weekends.

(if so, please let me know).As for the seismic retrofitting of older homes, I'm no expert on the topic, but from the few articles I've read, the retrofits are often aimed at preventing the roof from collapsing and chimneys from falling--the goal is to give the occupants a better chance of survival/escape (which should obviously be the top priority).

Congrats on escaping CA

She has recommended us considering in-state investing, but we are nervous investing in CA given how renter-friendly it is.Our philosophies for starting now are 1) we want to achieve financial freedom/escape the 9-5p in our 40s by building a strong passive income real estate portfolio, 2) we want to start gaining experience now/we've only heard anyone's regret ever being that they wish they started sooner, and 3) we sense that if the math works, the math works (and not with rosy numbers, but with very realistic numbers with plenty of risk baked in like vacancy, maintenance cost emergency fund, etc)Thanks, really looking forward to some constructive feedback/conversation!

You may pay a slightly higher percent interest, BUT you'll pay fewer dollars in interest because every dollar you pay toward principal lowers the amount of money you pay interest on, whereas a mortgage is a set cost and no matter what you do, you can't escape the monthly set cost.Once you have the First Lien HELOC, start using it as your checking and savings account.

.- CO alarms, fire alarms, fire extinguishers, and escape ladders if its more than 1 storyHope that helps.Mike

Currently, I'm in my real estate journey where I signed a contract for a year's stay at an apartment because I didn't find a property to house hack in time. I was wondering how can I get out of an apartment contract t...

Currently, I'm in my real estate journey where I signed a contract for a year's stay at an apartment because I didn't find a property to house hack in time. I was wondering how can I get out of an apartment contract t...