New investor & new to Bellingham Washington

New investor & new to Bellingham Washington

Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes

Hi everyone,

Wow what a site and community! My wife and I are moving to Bellingham this spring - gee I hope it's still raining when we get there ;) We're both originally from WA, and are so looking forward to settling in there soon.

Since 1995 I've bought and sold 5 properties, but not always with the intention and approach of an investor. I've lived in and rehabbed (good way to go crazy?) many of these houses, developing my building and estimating skills. Worked as a loan officer, now better understand some of the financing options. And studied to take the real estate brokers license in Oregon, but did not get my license at the suggestion of a broker who said it could be a liability for an investor (not sure if that was good advice or not). Lastly, I have managed renting both a rental house for 1 year leases, and another property as a vacation rental.

My goal is to build a portfolio of properties which produce positive cash flow. I look forward to participating in discussions and connecting with many of you, building strong relationships, and learning from your generous contributions.

All the best,

Greg Gaskill

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Investor · Marysville, WA · Member since 2014 · 146 posts · 62 votes
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Welcome @Greg Gaskill from Marysville, WA! I have never heard from an investor with a broker's license who said it was a problem. If anything it helps you take control of your own resources using the MLS to check out properties, run your own comps and list your own properties without having to rely on a Realtor to get back to you.

Don't forget to listen to the Bigger Pockets Podcast with @Joshua D. and @Brandon Turner .  There is tons priceless info their guests share!

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  • Kyle KargesPro Member
    Investor · Gilbert, AZ · Member since 2015 · 59 posts · 11 votes
    11y

    @Greg Gaskill Living in and rehabbing the properties is a great way to get started.  Now you just got to start keeping them properties so you can get the cash flow :).  Welcome to the community and good luck.

  • Ann Arbor, MI · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 997 votes
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    @Greg Gaskill hi!  drop me a line when you get a little closer.  i loved to see if we can work together someone.  although i am a loan officer, I am heavily into wholesaling and will do first flip later this year.  

    welcome to the neighborhood. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Kyle Karges Yep, keeping them seems like a smart strategy. I recently read a Robert Kiyosaki book and it made a lot of sense. Build that cash flow baby.

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Patrick Britton Will do. It would be great to learn what you are doing in wholesale and  mortgage. Could be a great fit with where we are heading. 

  • Specialist · Sibley, LA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 190 votes
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    Welcome @Greg Gaskill 

    Great to see another awesome investor come aboard the ship of success.  

  • Investor · Fayetteville, NC · Member since 2014 · 916 posts · 190 votes
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    @Greg Gaskill 

    Welcome to Bigger Pockets!

    Need some quick motivation for remaining focus on your investing journey? Check out a quick blog post I wrote:

    http://www.biggerpockets.com/blogs/6240/blog_posts...

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Antonio Coleman Thanks, although fitting into the awesome shoes might take a while. Here's to sailing on the ship of success!

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Chaz Reid thanks - enjoyed your post on motivation too.

  • Investor · Marysville, WA · Member since 2014 · 146 posts · 62 votes
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    Welcome @Greg Gaskill from Marysville, WA! I have never heard from an investor with a broker's license who said it was a problem. If anything it helps you take control of your own resources using the MLS to check out properties, run your own comps and list your own properties without having to rely on a Realtor to get back to you.

    Don't forget to listen to the Bigger Pockets Podcast with @Joshua D. and @Brandon Turner .  There is tons priceless info their guests share!

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    @Aaron Ramm I am so glad you brought this up. 

    This was in Oregon, and my managing broker friend had just agreed to allow me to hang my license at his business, then gave me the warning. According to him the controlling body over brokers in Oregon has the power to convict someone and put them in jail, if it is determined they used their "unfair advantage" in a real estate transaction they are involved in as an investor. He described sweating about a deal he was currently involved in because the other party in the deal felt that certain aspects were not properly disclosed. I was about to take my RE exam after months of studying. I have wished I had taken the test several times since for all the reasons you mention.

    I am really curious to hear from others at BP if this is / or could be correct in their areas.

  • Investor/RE Broker · Eugene, OR · Member since 2014 · 3k+ posts · 968 votes
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    @Greg Gaskill Hi and welcome to BP!  Where in Oregon are you now?  I am in Eugene, and lived many years in Seattle area in the last millennium.

  • Investor · Marysville, WA · Member since 2014 · 146 posts · 62 votes
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    @Greg Gaskill maybe @Patrick Britton can hook you up with a good RE attorney to advise you on the matter in the B-ham area.  I have yet to hear anything negative from investors who have their licenses.  

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Larry Fried Hi Larry - BP is such a great site, and getting welcome messages really mean a lot  - thanks. We lived in Bend Oregon, and moved to Prescott AZ in 2011. It is surprisingly a lot like Bend in Prescott. My wife Lindy is from Seattle originally and I am from Vancouver WA. We're looking forward to being near family and friends, and getting out amongst the beauty of Washington again.

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    Thanks @Aaron Ramm I look forward to talking with @Patrick Britton  in the near future.

  • Investor · Renton, WA · Member since 2014 · 68 posts · 25 votes
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    I am a realtor transitioned to be an investor.  I still have my license active, and have been using it to find my own deals--two of them currently undercontract through NWMLS.  I have two real estate lawyers and none of them said anything against me being a licensed RE agent and an investor at the same time.  Anyway, welcome aboard!

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Rey Orinion Thanks Rey. Seems it would have been better for me to get some second opinions.

  • Dave VisayaPro Member
    Moderator
    Audio Engineer and Investor · Cebu City, Cebu · Member since 2013 · 7k+ posts · 881 votes
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    Hey @Greg Gaskill welcome to BiggerPockets! This is a good place to start learning about REI. Make the most of the site by checking ‘The BiggerPockets Start Here Page’

    BiggerPockets
  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    Hey Dave @Dave Visaya - yeah, this looks like a great place to start. I've been going through the site daily, reading, exploring - wow! Having this much support for a beginner is so great. I see you are in Cebu, I am interested in investing in Mexico so would be interested in hearing what you might have to share about investing in another country besides the US.

  • Michele FischerPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Seattle, WA · Member since 2013 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
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    Greg, welcome to BiggerPockets!  Being from Vancouver, you may know where Longview is!  Bellingham seems like a good place to invest.  Stay active on the site!

  • Brandon TurnerPro Member
    Investor · Maui, HI · Member since 2009 · 13k+ posts · 3k+ votes
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    Hey @Greg Gaskillwelcome to the site! It's great to have you!

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    Hi Michele @Michele Fischer,

    Yes, I know Longview & Kelso well. Thanks for the welcome. I most definitely will be involved in this site for a long, long time!

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Brandon Turner

     Thanks for the welcome, it's really great to be here. As someone who has been on the investor sidelines for some time, this site provides me a wealth of information, and support from industry professionals that could not be possible otherwise. I have much more confidence in what is possible in real estate investing, and look forward to learning and doing.

  • Investor · Bellingham, WA · Member since 2013 · 210 posts · 138 votes
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    You & your wife have been traveling a similar road as me and my hubby.  We fell in LOVE with the general Seattle-metro (and mostly north) area way back in late 2007 after a business convention brought me out this way for a visit.  We came back in the Spring, and I vowed that not only would we move to Washington, but I wanted to live on a very specific street that we wandered down (and I fell in love with).  Finally, in 2010, hubby got Navy transfer orders to Everett........and I ended up in Salem.  Ugh.  I just couldn't find any openings up there at the time.

    About a year later, I found a position in Mt.Vernon, so I moved up to Everett, we rented on the very street I loved, and finally bought our house, on the view-side of the same street, in 2012.  And then I resigned from my toxic job.....and ended up down here in Klamath Falls, ROFL!!!  We are currently renting out our house in Everett, and we are actively making plans to get back up to the Anacortes / Bellingham area, asap.

    Welcome!

  • Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
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    Welcome to the BP Family @Greg Gaskill! Wishing you the best!

  • Rental Property Investor · Sedro Woolley, WA · Member since 2015 · 42 posts · 9 votes
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    @Karyn T.

     Hi Karyn - yeah, sometimes it's not a straight line to where you want to be. We've had several steps in the right direction to get where we wanted in the past, so you are not alone. Thanks for the welcome & best wishes for getting where you want to be.

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