Real Estate Investors
Bellevue, Wilmington Delaware · Member since 2026 · 53 posts · 13 votes
Real Estate Investors
5 Replies
- Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes1w
I would do the opposite, what is the thing I paid too much attention too, and that was all the information out there. It boils down to knowing an area and knowing how to underwrite the property. Far to many get tied up on what type of entity I need, how am I gonna cost seg this, how do I self manage, do I need 27 types of insurance....
Best advice I give people is "keep it simple"
7e investments53 Reviews - Attorney · 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Member since 2024 · 311 posts · 115 votes1w
Quote from @Star Moses:
There’s so much information out there that it can be hard to know what to focus on location, the neighborhood, the property’s condition, future development, tenant demand, and so on.
For those of you who have been investing for a while, what’s one thing you wish you had paid more attention to when you were getting started?
It could be something simple that you overlooked at first but later realized was really important. I’d be interested to hear what others learned from their early experiences.
@Star Moses, one thing I learned to pay much more attention to is what kind of problem I am actually buying. I’ve seen properties where the repairs were obvious and easy to price, but the harder issues were things like title, permits, tenants, access, or how the property was legally being used. Those problems can affect the deal much more than a kitchen or roof repair.
So now I try to ask early, “Is this a problem I understand, and can I put a real number and timeline on fixing it?” If I cannot answer that clearly, I am much more careful about the deal, even if the price looks good. I’d be glad to stay connected, Star. I like conversations like this because the lessons people learn after a few deals are usually the ones that help the most.
- Bellevue, Wilmington Delaware · Member since 2026 · 53 posts · 13 votes1w
"That's such a valuable insight about identifying what kind of problem you're actually buying. I've definitely been guilty of focusing too much on the visible repairs while overlooking those hidden issues like title problems, permit issues, or tenant complications that can really kill a deal.
Your question 'Is this a problem I understand, and can I put a real number and timeline on fixing it?' is brilliant. It's like a simple but powerful filter for deal analysis. I'm going to start using that framework myself.
The lesson about being more cautious even when the price looks good really resonates. Those 'hidden' problems can turn what seems like a great deal into a nightmare pretty quickly
- Attorney · 10451 Mill Run Cir #755 Owings Mills, MD 21117 · Member since 2024 · 311 posts · 115 votes1w
Quote from @Star Moses:
"That's such a valuable insight about identifying what kind of problem you're actually buying. I've definitely been guilty of focusing too much on the visible repairs while overlooking those hidden issues like title problems, permit issues, or tenant complications that can really kill a deal.
Your question 'Is this a problem I understand, and can I put a real number and timeline on fixing it?' is brilliant. It's like a simple but powerful filter for deal analysis. I'm going to start using that framework myself.
The lesson about being more cautious even when the price looks good really resonates. Those 'hidden' problems can turn what seems like a great deal into a nightmare pretty quickly
Exactly, @Star Moses. The visible repairs are usually the easier part because you can get estimates and put a number on them. The things I slow down for are the ones that are harder to price, like title issues, permits, tenant problems, access, or something about the property’s legal use that does not match what you were told.
When I run into one of those, I usually ask myself four things: Can I verify the problem? Do I know how to fix it? How long could it take? And what is the worst realistic cost? If I cannot get comfortable with those answers, I would rather slow down than let a low price talk me into the deal. That little check has saved me from getting too excited too early.
- Bellevue, Wilmington Delaware · Member since 2026 · 53 posts · 13 votes6d
"Thank you for sharing that framework it's incredibly valuable advice. Those four questions you ask yourself before moving forward with a property are exactly the kind of systematic approach that separates successful investors from those who get burned by unexpected problems.
I especially appreciate your point about the 'harder to price' issues being the ones to slow down for. It's so easy to get excited about a property with visible repairs that can be easily estimated, while overlooking the title, permit, or legal use issues that can truly sink a deal.
Your approach of asking 'Can I verify the problem? Do I know how to fix it? How long could it take? And what is the worst realistic cost?' before proceeding is something I'm definitely going to incorporate into my own evaluation process. It's this kind of due diligence that probably separates the pros from the amateurs in this business.
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