I've made the decision to move ahead and really start developing a business plan/strategy and to begin engaging with the BiggerPockets community and my local REI community.

Here's some discussion about Newport that made me do some digging on current real estate activity.  

Anna,When repairs or improvements are made to rental property which is not actually rented or advertised for rent, the improvements are capitalized over the appropriate life of the assets.  

hello everyone,I've recently made two offers on short sales, (they both happened today)as they looked like good deals when i quickly ran the numbers, so i made offers on both as things are going crazy fast here in vegas and i thought it was best to submit an offer then have the option of turning down the deal if it wasn't a good one.after using the rental calculator one cash flows for 90 and the other for 60. and this is without me allowing for cap x on either, the reason for this is that ones a town home and the other is a condo, both with good hoa's, i did allow 5% for repairs which i think is a lot as the condo has just been totally refurbished and the TH was in good condition and I've allowed 1500 for touch ups, so it'll also be like new after I'm finished. my thinking was that this 5% would cover both repairs and cap x as there shouldn't be much in the way of either. is this a terrible idea for me to allow so little for both.i would be waking in with 25k of equity on the TH and thats without my 20% down payment. and with the condo id be getting around 13k.here are the rental calculator results for both-any help would be greatly appreciated!

I had found a duplex that did, made an offer, but was beat out.

This change was made at the same time that our businesses and investments were growing and doing very well.  

Hi Sam,I'm in the same boat as you....that is, learning, reading, listening all that I can (for free, which is cool), but still haven't made my first purchase other than the house I currently own and live in (i.e. not an actual investment property).I live in Jacksonville and have been scouring the market this summer, drove by some properties today in fact (they weren't what I was looking for, though).I'll say that it's drying up a bit, but I don't mean to dissuade you at all, in fact I think there are still tons of great deals out there (here), but the time is now.

I tried to include all the pertinent information below:Rental Income: $13,200Rent: Currently has a tenant on one side at $550 per month without a lease – I’ve made it a condition of the sale that the tenant has either signed a new lease with my property management company or delivers that side vacant; other side is not rented out due to required rent ready repairs; rental comps in the area show between $550-600 (I’m being conservative and assuming $550).Expenses:Vacancy: 10% ($1,320)Property Management: 10% of gross rents ($1,188)Property Taxes: $2,065 ($905 for City of Memphis, $1,160 for Shelby County)Property Insurance: $450 per year Repairs and Maintenance Assumption: 2% of Property Value per year ($980 per year)Utilities: separately metered; all paid by tenant except for lawn mowing at $25 once a month for $300Advertising: 6% (roughly ½ of first month’s rent) $792 per yearDebt Service: Based on $49k purchase + repair price, 20% ($9.8k) down, 5% 30 year fixed is $2,525 per yearLocation:This is probably where most of my concern is coming from: Western edge of Hickory Hill, Memphis, 38115; major cross streets: just SW of Clarke Rd and Winchester RdAcquisition:Purchase Price: $42k, seller to pay closing costsRepairs: $7.5kTotal Acquisition Cost: $49.5kARV: Large range of comps in the area, best guess is $60kFinancial Metrics:Net Operating Income: $6,105Cap Rate: 12.33%Cash Flow: $3,580 per year, $298.33 per month, $149.17 per unit per monthCash-on-Cash Return: 36.5%Do you think it's a good deal?

Hi @Johnny Ho,You just made one of the best networking decisions available!

I made a promise to the seller and i keep my promises no matter what.