Don Johnston - a "re-newbie" or newbie again - from CA and FL

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Don Johnston - a "re-newbie" or newbie again - from CA and FL

Don Johnston
Chula Vista, CA · Member since 2015 · 90 posts · 25 votes

Ok...so I have an entry here in this forum somewhere buried under at least a years worth of others' introductions.  I have been MIA off and on over this time span but plan on being on here regularly from now on.  

I currently live in the San Diego area of California and lived in the Tampa Bay area of Florida for 12 years.  I also lived in Littleton, CO for a half dozen years.  Yes, extreme heat and humidity to freezing cold to Goldilocks-Just-Right-San Diego...but extremely expensive.  I am 63 and my goal is to live off social security and the "passive" income from 2-4 plex rentals in Central to North Florida.  I am halfway through "The Ultimate Guide..." and I am reading @Brandon Turner 's Book on Rental Property Investing and after that his book on Managing Rental Properties.  I have been a renter.  I have owned 4 homes...one at a time and one after the other.  My "fall-back" job is construction and handyman.  I have been a computer programmer.  I have $20,000 to invest now (but that is the cart before the horse...need a little more "education first") and will have another $50,000 when I sell the townhome my ex is living in in Littleton.  I am thinking/researching student rentals near universities in Orlando, Tampa, Gainesville or Tallahassee.  I have married kids in Tallahassee, Port Orange and Ft. Lauderdale and as I mentioned, I lived in the Tampa Bay Area.

I know there are great and knowledgeable people on this site as well as just plain "normal" people.  You ALL have something to offer and I look forward to hearing from you.  I will freely share what I have to bring to the table.  If I come across negative or critical on any post, call me out on it.  I don't like that in others and hate it when I fall victim to my own "non-filtering" of my opinions.

When I am no longer needed as caretaker of my mother here in San Diego, I plan to move to Florida to be near my kids and investments.  AND, no matter how big or small a unit I live in, it will have air-conditioning.  I remember the summers.

Thanks and looking forward to "meeting" many more of you on this site.

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  • Josh Whitney
    Port Orange, FL · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 0 votes
    10y

    Hi Don,

    I currently live in Port Orange and am always looking for new investors to send deals to. Message me and ill get you my contact info so we can discuss some of your options. Thanks!

    0Reply
  • Account Closed
    Wholesaler · Tampa, FL · Member since 2015 · 168 posts · 25 votes
    10y

    Welcome... Back? I am a wholesaler in Tampa. Let me know how i can help!

    0Reply
  • Paul Timmins
    Specialist · Rockland, MA · Member since 2010 · 7k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    10y

    @Don Johnston

    Those areas cited are in the top 10 US markets for student housing. Shoot me an email I have an article about student housing.

    Paul

    0Reply
  • Don Johnston
    OP
    Chula Vista, CA · Member since 2015 · 90 posts · 25 votes
    10y

    Thanks @Paul Timmins  Email sent.

    0Reply
  • John Kent
    Real Estate Agent · Orlando, FL · Member since 2008 · 551 posts · 159 votes
    10y

    Hello Don, 

    I am an investor friendly agent near the University of Central Florida. If I can aid you with your research in this area please feel free to contract me. 

    0Reply
  • Tim Hall
    Flipper/Rehabber · Tallahassee, FL · Member since 2014 · 463 posts · 237 votes
    10y
    Hey Don I'm Tim Hall from Tallahassee. I'm a wholesaler flipper here. If you need anything, boots on the ground or a sounding board, I'm here.
    0Reply
  • Don Johnston
    OP
    Chula Vista, CA · Member since 2015 · 90 posts · 25 votes
    10y

    @Tim Hall @John Kent  Thank you.  I will be in touch.

    0Reply
  • Christina Arango
    Investor · Gainesville, FL · Member since 2016 · 19 posts · 5 votes
    10y

    @Don Johnston...well we could argue about San Diego as it's too cold for me in the winter, but we won't. :)  I'm just getting started with investing in Gainesville, but I've lived here for about 15 years.  I am quite happy with my agent if you'd like a name.  A friend of mine swears that Ocala is a better place to invest, but since I'm new to the game I want something that is within a 5 mile radius of my house.

    And I just learned that Gainesville has a landlord permit system in the city where you can earn demerits if your tenants draw complaints from the neighbors.  I'm not sure how often that happens though.

    0Reply
  • Daria B.
    Rental Property Investor · Gainesville, FL · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 432 votes
    10y

    the landlord permit is just on SFR that are "zoned" RS1-RS3, RC, and another that slips my mind. If you find a multi in the city there is no permit.

    The permits are only for SFR but they are specific to zones.

    I've seen SFR use that is zoned Residential Multi and they are not subject to the permit.

    I have had long conversations with the city about this to learn what rules are in place and why.

    They also have a rule that says no renting to more than 3 unrelated individuals again for SFR in those zoned areas.

    0Reply
  • Don Johnston
    OP
    Chula Vista, CA · Member since 2015 · 90 posts · 25 votes
    10y

    @Christina Arango  You are absolutely right.  San Diego can be down right cold in the winter compared to Gainesville or Tampa area.  But not this year thanks to El Nino.  Your agent's name would be appreciated.  BTW...my son in Ft. Lauderdale comes up to Gainesville once a month to attend classes for his masters degree (the rest of the month the classes are online).  He stays at an air BnB.

    0Reply
  • Christina Arango
    Investor · Gainesville, FL · Member since 2016 · 19 posts · 5 votes
    10y

    @Daria B. Thanks so much for elaborating on the landlord permit rules.  I found the city's website very frustrating in that respect.  And I had forgotten to mention the 3 unrelated individual rule, so I'm gland you did.

    0Reply
  • Terry Martin-Back
    Property Manager · Gainesville, FL · Member since 2014 · 47 posts · 20 votes
    10y

    I ask you to check us out at Invest Gainesville where you can learn the ins and outs of property... Daria can vouch for Invest Gainesville

    0Reply
  • Daria B.
    Rental Property Investor · Gainesville, FL · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 432 votes
    10y

    @Christina Arango yes the web sites are a little less to be desired at times. They list information that they don't allow to be searched on. I called them and asked why and the answer was, "they don't track that information since it was in the zoning department". But I'm thinking, you have it to display, all you need to do is take that same field and put it in a drop down box and allow it to be searched upon. Ok that was the IT person speaking in me, what can I say. :)

    0Reply
  • Daria B.
    Rental Property Investor · Gainesville, FL · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 432 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Christina Arango:

    @Don Johnston...well we could argue about San Diego as it's too cold for me in the winter, but we won't. :)  I'm just getting started with investing in Gainesville, but I've lived here for about 15 years.  I am quite happy with my agent if you'd like a name.  A friend of mine swears that Ocala is a better place to invest, but since I'm new to the game I want something that is within a 5 mile radius of my house.

    And I just learned that Gainesville has a landlord permit system in the city where you can earn demerits if your tenants draw complaints from the neighbors.  I'm not sure how often that happens though.

    That's a good idea to invest close by. This way you get to learn the market. I've started looking in Ocala myself to spread out and learn another market that is relatively close by.

    0Reply
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