New member and avid podcast fan from San Diego

New member and avid podcast fan from San Diego

Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 8 votes

My name is Gary and I live in San Diego, CA with my wife and children. I own a neighborhood lounge/nightclub, the Air Conditioned Lounge, and my wife is the owner of a day spa, the Rockefeller Center.

How did I discover Bigger Pockets? My wife kept mentioning BP podcasts to me and I would courteously nod and say “That’s great, babe.” She was getting fired up about the incredible information being shared, as we were in the middle of buying a vacation rental in Palm Desert, CA. She was turbo about our new property and even more turbo about the possibilities of acquiring more. Admittedly, I was a bit dismissive about a real estate-focused podcast; I was more interested in my business books and marketing webinars.

Was I wrong! (And yes, I admitted it to my wife.)

Some of my heroes have been guests on the podcast including Grant Cardone and Perry Marshall. Now, whenever I start my truck it automatically starts playing BP Podcasts. PURE GOLD! Thanks Josh and Brandon!

I hope to find ways to contribute to the BP community, though I am not a real estate expert, just a budding real estate investor. We have a tiny portfolio of commercial and SFR properties, and are investors on Groundfloor.

In my recent past I was also President of a business development & networking company that has leading executives as members. I firmly believe in the power of investing in people and serving others without the expectation of getting something in return. I’ve repeatedly seen the principle of Learn, Serve & Grow work successfully.

We are definitely interested in starting a free regular networking meet-up our lounge in the centrally-located neighborhood of North Park in San Diego. I’d be happy to comp non-alcoholic beverages for everyone. If anyone wants to further this along, please contact me here on BP and we can brainstorm on ideas for structure.

As someone who’s facilitated many, many networking events I am a huge fan of face-2-face interaction and am open to out-of-the-box ideas for keeping things interesting. My venue has microphones and screens, so from an A/V point of view, it’s all set.

Thank you, Gary

5Reply
75 views

Most Popular Reply

Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
9y
Originally posted by @Gary John:

@Cody L., 1000 units?  My hero!

@Evan Bell, the change in the 13 years since I opened my business here has been extraordinary.  And the prices are reflecting that.  I'd love to talk about City Heights with you soon.  We've been looking there, as well.

@Kevin Fox, I'd definitely like to attend your event first before I do anything.  I'll ring you tomorrow.  I'm a better talker than typer.

The properties are not without debt.  So it's not like I own 1000 units that I wrote checks for and own free and clear.

It's amazing what you can get when you buy, refinance, use that money to buy again, refinance, etc. Basically BRRR with apts.

See this reply in the discussion

18 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Investor · Escondido, CA · Member since 2017 · 55 posts · 15 votes
    9y
    Hi Gary John welcome to BP. I have been a contractor for almost two decades. Now I am pursuing REI when ever I have some time. Networking on BP has been great I have met and talked to a lot of people. I would be definitely interested in attending another meet up. Keep in touch Martin
  • Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y

    Keep my contact info.  I might be able to make it some night if you start something.  I don't own anything in SD (other than my home) but I have about 1000 units in Houston. 

  • Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 293 posts · 109 votes
    9y
    Gary John welcome! I've just put an offer in on a house in City Heights. What are your thoughts on the transformation that the North Park/Kensington/Talmadge areas have seen over the past few years?
  • Kevin FoxPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 635 votes
    9y

    Hey @Gary John

    Welcome to BP!

    A few other members and I organize a free meetup that hosts an event at a different active investment deal somewhere in SD each month.

    I'd be more than happy to chat or help organize the event you suggested, so don't hesitate to reach out!

  • Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 8 votes
    9y

    @Cody L., 1000 units?  My hero!

    @Evan Bell, the change in the 13 years since I opened my business here has been extraordinary.  And the prices are reflecting that.  I'd love to talk about City Heights with you soon.  We've been looking there, as well.

    @Kevin Fox, I'd definitely like to attend your event first before I do anything.  I'll ring you tomorrow.  I'm a better talker than typer.

  • Kevin FoxPro Member
    Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 635 votes
    9y

    @Gary John

    Sounds great! 

  • Rental Property Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2013 · 3k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Gary John:

    @Cody L., 1000 units?  My hero!

    @Evan Bell, the change in the 13 years since I opened my business here has been extraordinary.  And the prices are reflecting that.  I'd love to talk about City Heights with you soon.  We've been looking there, as well.

    @Kevin Fox, I'd definitely like to attend your event first before I do anything.  I'll ring you tomorrow.  I'm a better talker than typer.

    The properties are not without debt.  So it's not like I own 1000 units that I wrote checks for and own free and clear.

    It's amazing what you can get when you buy, refinance, use that money to buy again, refinance, etc. Basically BRRR with apts.

  • Robert LindsleyPro Member
    Real Estate Investor · Orlando, FL · Member since 2016 · 185 posts · 53 votes
    9y

    @Gary John Nice to meet you.  Welcome to BP!  I used to live in San Diego, but lost my shirt in the crash of '06 LOL.  Good luck man -- SD is a beautiful place!

    @Cody L. Congratulations man!  I just bought a 7-unit apartment building in Connecticut and I'm hooked.  I want to get to 200 as quickly as possible....can't even imagine 1,000!

  • Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 54 posts · 30 votes
    9y

    @Evan Bell and @Gary John  I also believe the area of City Heights and the surrounding communities will do well.  Many of the home/apt can be older, but you could potentially find distressed property with a good upside.  As the cost of San Diego has risen so much in the last two decades, some of the more run down areas were forced to rise up from being called slums, if you will.  I wouldn't call it a trickle down effect, but maybe a trickle east effect.  I'm in University City and Bay Park, but I think I might start to focus on some of the Clairemont areas now in between my target neighborhoods.  I think the schools will start to follow and get a better ranking soon.

  • Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    9y

    @Gary John

    Welcome to the BP family! Great that you joined the site! Here are some recommendations for you:

    Find and connect with other BP members that are in your area: http://www.biggerpockets.com/meet
    Set up keyword alerts to be notified of the topics that interest you: http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts
    Read Beginner’s Guide: http://www.biggerpockets.com/real-estate-investing
    Check out BP Podcasts: http://www.biggerpockets.com/renewsblog/category/podcast/

    Wishing you the best!

  • Surveyor · Hemet, CA · Member since 2015 · 797 posts · 112 votes
    9y

    Welcome another north county member here! Wow there is a lot of us glad to see that. Getting ready to do some serious investing for our first time this year. Thinking rentals in the Temecula Hemet area maybe a vacation property in San Diego county.

  • San Diego, CA · Member since 2015 · 273 posts · 226 votes
    9y

    @Ryan Phillips I agree with you about the Clairemont areas, especially as you go west from the 805. We'll definitely be looking there for our next purchases. I disagree with City Heights improving significantly as I don't see the fundamentals there to support the transformation. There are deep socioeconomic issues in that part of town, and not a lot of opportunity for SFH owners to come in and have a stake in the neighborhood as it is mostly small multifamily. People seem to like City Heights because it's cheap (for SD) and it's close to the 'cool' areas. But good renters don't flock there, they seem to skip over it. All the areas surrounding City Heights are transforming, so maybe in 10-15 years it will change but not in 2-5 years.

    So a general question to all the San Diegans- what do you like about City Heights?  Personally, if I'm investing in C/C- class I'd like better returns than what you get in San Diego.

  • Real Estate Investor · Spring Valley, CA · Member since 2016 · 288 posts · 98 votes
    9y

    Welcome. I would love to have a more consistent meet up for SD.

  • Real Estate Agent · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 28 posts · 4 votes
    9y

    @Gary John, welcome to BP.  Love your idea for organizing another meet up.  

  • Dan H.Pro Member
    Investor · Poway, CA · Member since 2015 · 7k+ posts · 8k+ votes
    9y
    Originally posted by @Sarah D.:

    @Ryan Phillips  I agree with you about the Clairemont areas, especially as you go west from the 805.   ...

    So a general question to all the San Diegans- what do you like about City Heights?  Personally, if I'm investing in C/C- class I'd like better returns than what you get in San Diego.

     Mostly I agree with Sarah but San Diego area returns are primarily on appreciation (rent and property).   The total returns for financed buy n hold San Diego RE is historically near the top in the country.  C class properties typically appreciate in relationship to the class a and b properties.  So I claim there is virtually no location that historically has a better return than the San Diego financed buy n hold RE regardless of the property class.  

    So the San Diego C class has similar appreciation as class A and B (better if the c class area is an area that is improving toward class A/B) with potential better cash flow.   But class C properties/areas often have tenants that are more effort than tenants of class A/B properties.  

    I do agree with Sarah's sentiment on city heights.  The SFRs that are converted to duplex/triplex makes it difficult to get the pride of ownership improvement that areas like North Park experienced over many years/decades.  In addition, few of these duplexes were permitted (if they had any permit it was for a granny flat).  

  • Investor · Palm Desert, CA · Member since 2016 · 51 posts · 11 votes
    9y

    @Gary John Welcome to BP forums. And people minded like you will take this site to much better known place. I wish I could have joined to your meetings but I may join you in future meetings. 

    I wish best for your REI journey!

  • Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 8 votes
    9y

    @Emre Görü, I will keep you posted as we move forward.  And keep me in the loop on any meet ups in Palm Desert.  Always looking for an excuse to go the desert.

  • Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2017 · 5 posts · 8 votes
    9y

    So @Kevin Fox is having my wife and I as the case study villains for his monthly meet-up:  https://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521-events-an...

    I invite all of you to attend so we can also discuss the creation of a different type of monthly get-together.  Kevin and I have been swapping some ideas on creating a fun and dynamic event, but we could definitely use some BiggerPockets SD member input.

    As denoted in the post about the event, I'm providing complimentary mimosas so you can start your Saturday off right, then ease into your weekend nap...

    Gary

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.