All Forum Posts by: Arlen Chou

@J. Martin you know I am down for another meet up!

@Jay Hinrichs yes I know J, he is the one that got me drinking the Oakland Kook-Aid. @J. Martinhas worked so many of the REI angles effectively in such a short period of time, listening to him is a study on the importance of being fluid in your own market.

@Bryan C. really take what @Jay Hinrichs has to say to heart. Buying in the Bay Area is totally within grasp of many people if they really put some effort into the search. I purchased two 4 plexes in Mountain View in 2013 for $840k each. They are located near Google and Symantic near 237 and 101. In 2015 I purchased 4 condos in North Oakland, near Berkley, for a total price of $600k. It's actually 5 doors... These deals were on the MLS. Most recently I just purchased a 6 plex within easy walking distance of Fruitvale BART for $678k! This was on MLS but expired. Get in the car and drive the cities within the Bay Area proper and see the opportunity around you before committing to another state. In case anybody is wondering, I don't need to carry a concealed weapon to visit my properties...LOL

The real kicker is the appreciation you get here. PM me if you want more details on the upside?

-Arlen

@J. Martin the Kool-Aid has been great and you know I have been two fisting since you got me hooked! I admire your ability to reach your goal at such a young age! I am really happy to hear that you will keep working the REI angle while you are traveling.

When we meet up in Asia, the first bucket of beer is on me!

@Account Closed thanks for the shout out.
@Armand P.

@Armand P.

@Armand P. I would be more than happy to share my contact info with you.  If you are still looking, drop me PM and we can chat!

@Tim Richardson if you are just starting out, one of the most important tools in your bag should be a strong W2.  Trying to get a loan without a track record or a W2 income is more difficult then most people believe...

@Chris Mason the strategy of "substitute collateral" is a great one for hot markets like ours in the SF Bay Area. I just did this with a first position heloc to buy a 6 plex in Fruitevale area of Oakland.  All cash offer, low interest rate, fast close... lots of benefits with this strategy!  But if you use your primary residence, just be careful that you don't loose the roof over your head!

@Simon Alderwick welcome to BP and I hope you like PI.  I travel there often for work, down in Laguna.  You definitely need to spend time traveling in the country... 7000 islands to cover!

 Unfortunately you cannot directly buy land as a foreigner, but there are ways to get around it by setting up some contracts with a "trusted" local.  Just be very careful before you start going down this road. 

Does your firm also do accounting for Filipino companies or or do localized audits?

@Jason D. All silicon is tested during production.  They do it to eliminate the cost of "packing" of bad die. Basically, no probing of wafers means that chips are not being shipped, which in turn means less consumer products being assembled...

@J. Martin all this chart stuff is to high level for me.  All of you guys are way beyond my brain power in this analysis.  I wish I could keep up!  I just look into the anecdotal information I get from my W2 job that effects my little Bay Area world.  At my little company we make products that test silicon wafers.  Every single piece of silicon on this planet is tested prior to it ending up in a F22 fighter, your car, Ipad or printer, and what I have seen in the past tech down turn was a distinct decline in orders prior to the over all market going down.  It started with push outs on orders and then extend holiday plant schedules then quiet 1 or 2 week shut downs of manufacturing plants in South East Asia.  Maybe one of you data miners can find some info that would better highlight or debunk my observations.  

But guess what, my canary in my little coal mine is looking sick right now...