All Forum Posts by: Alex Hileman

Hi Itai!
I would be happy to help. I will DM you so that I can learn a little more about you and what you're looking for.

Hi @James A., there are a handful of lenders that I have had positive experiences with and that actually closed on time without any delays or surprises.

Most big banks are not very motivated to close because mortgages are just a small portion of their business, whereas mortgage brokers only make money when they close. I've learned that mortgage lenders tend to provide better service and communication because their business and livelihood survives on referrals.

One thing I've learned is that a lower interest rate means nothing if the lender bails before the transaction closes. With that being said, here is a list of lenders that my clients and I have had positive experiences with:

Conventional, FHA, VA:

Tom Hanft with Movement Mortgage

Todd Stainbrook with AJM Mortgage

Shannon White with Keller Home Loans 

Hard Money and Rehab Loans:

Kyleigh Haynes with Spring Garden Lending

All Types of Loans:

Wyatt Wolff with Motto Mortgage

Refinance and DSCR but I'm sure he does more:

Mark Hilderhoff with Loan Lion

I see @Jamie Dietz on here and he has helped out some of my investors too!

I've also heard great things about local credit unions. They tend to have great interest rates but require a little more paperwork from the borrower up front.

BP won't let us post contact info in the forums, but feel free to DM me for the contact info to any of these lenders.

Last tid bit of advice: Each lender has different programs or incentives that they offer, but make sure you ask how to qualify for those programs. Some have income limits, some require a minimum purchase price, etc.

I would not recommend estimating rehab costs from a video. It's definitely worth paying a contractor to walk the house for you and give you a professional opinion. It may cost about $100 for the walk through and bid, and that's really not a lot in the long run. 

Professionals should be compensated for their time, and you should hire a professional to walk any property you're considering spending thousands of dollars investing in. This will protect you in the long run! 

Hi Davin, there's an apartment in Bellevue that comes to mind. I will send you a DM.

Hi @Sasha Josephs, I am an investor friendly agent in the Pittsburgh area and I'd love to connect!

For local wholesalers, check out New Western and City Life. They're all licensed agents and put out inventory regularly. There's also a ton of Pittsburgh REI Facebook groups where wholesalers post their deals.

Welcome Zac! Do you have any interest in attending local RE meetups?

Welcome Ashni! I used to be a property manager in Los Angeles and moved back to Pittsburgh, PA during COVID. I would strongly advise against being a landlord in California or New York. The laws are not landlord friendly at all and it's common for landlords to get stuck with a non-paying tenant or squatter and have to legally keep paying the utilities, taxes, mortgage, etc. while the eviction gets delayed in court for months or years. It is a fast way to go bankrupt. It's easier for landlords who own a lot of units or an apartment complex to bear the burden of non-paying tenants.

Look for areas with population growth and population changes. For example, there was a huge migration of renters from California to Texas during COVID. That would be a good place to invest if you're looking for cash flow and appreciation. Rentals near hospitals and universities tend to have lower vacancy rates and more steady cash flow. 

Since you have $100k to work with, you have the option of investing in a few different markets instead of putting all of your eggs in one basket.

Hi Jen, yes we meet every month and the next meeting is on April 18th from 6-8pm in Carnegie. We post our events and share resources in our Facebook group. I believe I just added you to the Facebook group, but if that's not you, send me a DM and I'll get you added!

Pittsburgh is very affordable and the taxes are low outside of Allegheny County. Right now rentals are performing well in Carnegie, Bethel Park, Allison Park, Mckeesport, Murrysville and Apollo.

Wherever you are considering investing, I would strongly suggest visiting the area in person first to get a lay of the land. I am happy to chat Pittsburgh real estate anytime! 

Welcome Autumn! There are a lot of local RE meetups here in Pittsburgh like ACRE, SWIG, WIRED, Gather, REI on Tap, and Broke to FI. They all have their own Facebook groups and I think that's the best way to stay in touch and see when the next meet ups are. I noticed a lot of meet ups don't get posted on BiggerPockets.

I am part of Gather which is an all female monthly RE meet up. Message me if you want more info on these events! I go to most of them.