All Forum Posts by: Amy Pfaffman
Amy Pfaffman has started 6 posts and replied 34 times.
Post: What No One’s Talking About in Multifamily Right Now…
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
I sold all five of my Indianapolis duplexes that were bleeding cash. I pocketed the money and will deal with whatever the tax consequences are, because I just don't have the cash to add to that cash to make more purchases.
My other properties are fine. All loans are long-term fixed-rate, so no crisis there. Just dealing with creeping taxes and insurance. So far, it's all sustainable.
Post: Zestimate is gone on Zillow. Is there a similar reliable tool?
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Quote from @Ryan Jenkins:
Hi @Amy Pfaffman. I noticed some Zestimates. But often it’s not listed. I haven’t looked to see if it makes a difference, but I often narrow my search criteria to listed by owner.
Now I thought THAT was something they were ending: FSBOs. That's great if you can still do that. As for me, I'm just tracking the value of my existing properties, however bluntly. I get regular emails with updates on the value from Zillow, and I use those to update my spreadsheet that tracks everything about my investment properties.
Post: Zestimate is gone on Zillow. Is there a similar reliable tool?
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Quote from @Ryan Jenkins:
I once used Zillow for a quick estimate to calculate ARV for wholesale deals. Is there another quick easy to use reliable system out there?
I don't understand. I'm still seeing Zestimates on Zillow.
Post: BPCON Early Bird Pricing Extended through April!!
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Thanks for that. I don't know why I couldn't find it. I'm sorry to say it's still beyond my reach this year.
Quote from @Rene Hosman:
Quote from @Amy Pfaffman:
Is the pricing intentionally opaque? It appears the only way to find out what the cost is is to "register" and give all my info. Maybe this is a "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" situation, but if you're marketing early-bird pricing, why not say what it actually is?
Quote from @Rene Hosman:
♠️ Exciting Updates for BPCON2025! ♠️
We’ve got BIG news to share with the BiggerPockets community:
1. Early Bird Registration Extended Through April 30!
If you missed the March 31 deadline, you’re in luck! Early Bird pricing has been extended, giving you one more month to secure your spot at a discounted rate. Don’t wait—this is your chance to lock in savings and guarantee your seat at the ultimate real estate investing event of the year.
2. Agenda is Live!
Planning your trip to Las Vegas just got easier. The agenda is now available, so you can check out key sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities happening October 5-7 at Caesars Palace.
Keynote Speakers Include:
Chris Voss: Learn FBI negotiation tactics to close deals like a pro.
Dave Meyer: Expert in housing market analysis and investment strategy
Dion McNeeley: A financial freedom legend who turned adversity into success.
Event Details:
📅 Dates: October 5-7, 2025
📍 Venue: Caesars Palace, Las VegasVisit biggerpockets.com/conference to register today.
Let’s make 2025 the year we rewrite the rules of real estate investing—together! #BPCON2025
If you scroll down on the main page, there's a block that says "invest in your success" with the pricing listed
This is certainly not a "if you have to ask you can't afford it" situation, the aim is to keep it accessible for all levels of real instate investors or soon-to-be investors, and frankly it's a steal for all the content you get access to!
Post: BPCON Early Bird Pricing Extended through April!!
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Is the pricing intentionally opaque? It appears the only way to find out what the cost is is to "register" and give all my info. Maybe this is a "If you have to ask, you can't afford it" situation, but if you're marketing early-bird pricing, why not say what it actually is?
Quote from @Rene Hosman:
♠️ Exciting Updates for BPCON2025! ♠️
We’ve got BIG news to share with the BiggerPockets community:
1. Early Bird Registration Extended Through April 30!
If you missed the March 31 deadline, you’re in luck! Early Bird pricing has been extended, giving you one more month to secure your spot at a discounted rate. Don’t wait—this is your chance to lock in savings and guarantee your seat at the ultimate real estate investing event of the year.
2. Agenda is Live!
Planning your trip to Las Vegas just got easier. The agenda is now available, so you can check out key sessions, workshops, and networking opportunities happening October 5-7 at Caesars Palace.
Keynote Speakers Include:
Chris Voss: Learn FBI negotiation tactics to close deals like a pro.
Dave Meyer: Expert in housing market analysis and investment strategy
Dion McNeeley: A financial freedom legend who turned adversity into success.
Event Details:
📅 Dates: October 5-7, 2025
📍 Venue: Caesars Palace, Las VegasVisit biggerpockets.com/conference to register today.
Let’s make 2025 the year we rewrite the rules of real estate investing—together! #BPCON2025
Post: Looking to connect with Birmingham investors for deal analysis
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Quote from @Eric Stugart:
@Amy
@Amy Pfaffman Hi Amy! Thank you for replying! I am currently saving up to get into my first seller finance investment property from NJ, how long have you been investing in Birmingham?
Hey Eric, I started buying there in 2019, though technically, my first purchase was in 1993. I bought a little condo that I lived until I moved away and rented it to a friend. I now have two little houses and a quadruplex there.
Post: Help: Property management in Birmingham Alabama
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Thanks for letting me know, Amy! I'm glad you're pleased with them so far. I'm like you. I know who to avoid. ;-)
It looks like they to have an upcharge for all maintenance work, which might even include appliance purchases. I'm hoping to avoid that, since it really eats into my profits. I'm seeing that the larger companies do that, but the small ones do not.
Post: Help: Property management in Birmingham Alabama
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
Hi Chancey, I've used three different property managers in Birmingham, and I'm on the hunt for a new one. I started a systematic screening of every company I could find on the internet, but that seems like an endless task.
I'm hoping to find a company small enough that I can speak directly to the person in charge and there aren't too many fees, and large enough that they have robust software and a system for staying on top of rent increases.
I looked at Shane Dreffs, but his profile didn't say anything at all, so I'm not clear why he was referenced.
Have you hired a new PM yet? If so, who did you choose, and how are they doing so far?
Well put! I especially like your point #4. That really spells it out.
Quote from @Kevin Sobilo:
@John Williams, a few comments:
1. IMO the 1% is just rule of thumb for filtering potential deals. If you are looking for cash-flow, you can apply the 1% rule and scan through many deals and then only focus on ones that have potential cash-flow. That's about all its good for.
2. Cash-flow is KING! Yes, appreciation has the potential help you hit the jackpot and make you more wealth. However, cash-flow is better for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most important of which is that its more predictable and more CONTROLLABLE. Except for forced appreciation, you have no control over appreciation after you buy a property whereas you can make decisions along the way to improve your cash-flow. Raise rents, reduce expenses (shop insurance, appeal taxes, refinance, etc).
3. You mention tax benefits. That is where cash-flow shines as you have an income to use those tax benefits with.
4. Appreciation is EXPENSIVE! Yes, it costs you money!!! Its locked up in the equity of the property and it will cost you money to touch it. If you sell, you pay closing costs, commissions, taxes (including depreciation recapture), etc. Even if you refinance, you have origination costs, appraisals, etc.
So, while cash-flow is tax advantaged aka CHEAP; appreciation is EXPENSIVE!
5. Most beginning investors need to and should invest for cash-flow. Most small time investors can't afford the risk to buy and hold a property that doesn't make money in HOPES that it appreciates enough. In additional new investors are more likely to understand cash-flow than how to predict appreciation.
Post: Does anyone us virtual mailboxes for LLC mail?
- Posts 34
- Votes 15
That's a good idea about using AI for that. I should give that a try. Thanks!