All Forum Posts by: Amanda Roderick

We bought a duplex last year essentially sight unseen but we knew the area very well and had driven that street numerous times. 

@Brandon Sturgill is right, you can write an offer as contingent upon satisfactory walk-though or inspection and have the ability to see it after you're in contract with the right to terminate if you're not satisfied with the condition. 

I wouldn't recommend buying something that you don't plan on seeing yourself, or someone you trust, or at least the management company you plan to use. 

Good luck!  

@Stacie Elizabeth How are things going with this? I see it's now listed as a duplex. Have you had many showings? 

Thank you @Julio Navarro! If we do decide to buy there it won't likely be for a few years so we still have time to research. I'm sure I'll have a million questions when we get closer to making that happen. Do you have any opinions on which parts of the island are more stable? We were reading that home prices in the northwest didn't decline quite as sharply as other parts of the island. What are your thoughts? 

I've definitely seen other Puerto Ricans on BP, so you're not the only one! It's great that you have family in the business that you can learn from too. Where are your grandfather's rentals? 

If you do decide to move to the states, have you thought about where you would move to? Feel free to ask me any questions you may have about Columbus, Ohio if you have any! It's about to turn to winter here so not as nice (in my opinion) but overall it's a great city to live in. 

Best of luck with everything!

Amanda 

Hi @Julio Navarro - welcome to BP! I'm in Ohio but my husband & I would love to invest in PR someday. We really love it there and were just there last month for a short trip. We didn't make it all over the island but I understand that some areas have been put back together a bit better than others. I also understand that the population is declining rapidly, especially with younger folks fleeing. As a resident there, I would love to hear your thoughts on investing on the island if you're willing to share?

If you have any questions about Columbus, OH, I'd be happy to share what I know too! :)

Amanda 

 I wrote you back with a ton of options! Good luck getting started! :) 
Amanda

Hi @Jon H., welcome to BP and to investing in Columbus! You've found a great place to start with this website. There is SO MUCH information on here! 

I saw your second comment about the possibility of getting your GC license if you stay at your current job a bit longer. I think it would pay off in the long run if you're able to stick it out. We have a shortage of contractors in the area right now so I'm sure you'd have plenty of side work opportunities if you wanted or needed them! Plus the ability to pull your own permits, etc, will make things easier for you as you get deeper into this business. 

As someone else mentioned, there are networking groups locally for "people like us", feel free to message me and I can pass along more info. There are a few general property investor groups as well as wholesale-specific groups that I know of, and I'm sure others that I'm not yet aware of. They've been valuable as well and good opportunities to talk with people on a local level. 

Best of luck as you learn more about the industry and work your way through your plan! 

Amanda

We're definitely still in a seller's market in Columbus, OH. Our local Realtor board said in a class I was in a few months ago that a balanced market here has around 12,000 homes on the market. At peak recession we were around 19,000. Right now we have a little over 5,000. 

@Robert Ellis I'll email you! Thanks! 

@Robert Ellis Good point about the turnover... I've heard that it is lower than MF but since I've never owned a SF rental, I don't have that data to compare! 

Just curious, who do you refer as a property manager here? We may be looking to pass off our duplexes into management because we've been so busy lately! 

Hi @Mohamed Ahmed, congrats on choosing Columbus, OH for real estate investment! It's a great city to hold property for cash flow. I have an awesome real estate attorney I can refer, feel free to reach out and I can pass along his contact info. He's an investor as well, and it has been very helpful to work with someone who understands our goals and challenges. 

Best of luck in finding the perfect properties to add to your portfolio!