All Forum Posts by: Amy Friend

@Scott Diller where was this program when my family moved to Houston last year?? Sounds incredible.

@Chris Parsons

The Marine Corps brought us to Oceanside as well.

Where is the property if you don’t mind me asking? I have one there now and might be interested in the savvy agent who sold yours!

Certainly interested!

Adriel, really good point! I will look more into those areas. What is your experience with the cash flow there?

Erica thanks for your response!! Will definitely keep that in mind as we look around for schools for the kids.

 Cody, thank you so much for your response. I can dig someone who's into San Diego and Texas! I did a poor job explaining in my original post, but I think the idea here would be to buy the house, live for three years and then use it as a rental property after that. Hopefully catch some appreciation and have the rents raise. I know you don't live in Houston anymore but do you see that as a viable strategy? 

I do like the look of Montrose but buying with the VA loan I think we will be able to get more for our money out in the burbs just like you said. We would really like to buy a house and also look at buying some additional investment properties. Looking forward to your thoughts!

 Chris, really appreciate your response. We would probably be looking to buy, live in it for three years, and then turn it into a rental after that until it makes sense to sell or move on. Who knows, maybe we'll want to settle in Houston instead of Dallas. The question is, are properties out in the suburbs good candidates for cash flowing homes? Hopefully in the three years it'll appreciate some and the rents will increase as well. What do you think about that strategy?

Additionally, I see you're from Cypress. We are looking at some homes there as the schools seem on par with Sugar Land/Pearland but the prices are a little more reasonable. Any areas to avoid? Do you have experience with the rental market there? Really looking forward to your input.

Tushar, thanks for the response! I think I did a poor job explaining our intent in my original post. Our goal would be if we purchase a home, we would live in it for the three years, and then rent it out. Is that strategy viable in Houston? We are aiming to stay out in the burbs so our kids can do to better schools. 

Hey BP Houston!

My husband and I are moving to the Houston area while he is on active duty in the USMC. We will be there approximately 36 months and will arrive in the early summer. He is currently deployed and we are considering buying a home in the April/May time frame so it is ready for us when he comes back from deployment. We are excited to move to Houston as we are from the Dallas area and my husband went to school in Austin. We have been linked with an agent and lender by someone we trust and are in the process of being preapproved to use to rest of the VA loan, we used some on a house in Oceanside CA.

Situation:

-My husband will be working on the UH campus recruiting officer candidates, we want to minimize commute within reason.

-We will have two children in elementary school by the time we leave, so a good elementary school is important to us.

-We are looking at Pearland and Sugar Land as they have good schools.

-We will get ~$2000 a month in housing allowance from the military monthly, what we don't spend goes in our pocket.

-We know Houston can be prone to flooding and will avoid homes which flood.

We are coming from San Diego which has a very different real estate landscape. How do yall feel Houston is in terms of a rental market? Is there an upper limit to price and size which people want to rent? (E.g. 3 or 4 bd and no more than 2k a month). Would it make more sense to rent in an area with good schools instead of buy, or is potential appreciation a factor worth considering in Houston? Where would you avoid living? Are there any extra expenses to being a landlord which are specific to Houston? Seems many houses here do not pass the 1% test, let alone the 2% test. What else are we missing?

Additionally, last year my husband's business partner and him closed two deals which are currently being rehabbed, one in Texas and one in Virginia. We are interested in BRRRRing, flips, multi, etc while in Houston. We would love to attend any meetups in the area and talk to any like minded individuals!

We are excited to be back in Texas! Hope to see yall around!

@Michael Bonanno you can buy up to a four unit with the VA loan.

You're supposed to stay in the property one year. I've never had anyone come and check up on me in my VA home though. Depends on if you're willing to break the law. I wouldn't. I know some who do.