All Forum Posts by: Ashleigh Medina

Hi! I am located in San Antonio and out here it seems to be that Lennar is the least expensive just because they have most upgrades included in their pricing. They are pretty restrictive though as far as personalizing it any further than what is already included. KB and Centex seem to be the cheapest for adding upgrades. They are also overall less expensive for builds. 

Hi! I am not a current renter but I have helped quite a few people rent in the San Antonio area. In my experience, HOAs don't really cause a lot of grief for renters as long as they follow the basic restrictions such as keeping the lawn mowed and keeping trash cans out of sight. The newer neighborhoods will always be a little stricter because they want to keep a standard for the neighborhood as people are still buying into them. I would always just communicate with your renters to let them know what the restrictions are. 

Hi! In my experience in San Antonio, it has been better to try to keep a good paying tenant. I agree that you should definitely raise it to at least cover your property taxes and insurance but I don't think it is a good practice to raise the rent on tenants who have been good tenants just to raise it to the market rent. Like you mentioned, it would be much more expensive to get the property ready for a new tenant to move in, rather than just keep the one you have. This is always a tough situation though so I get the hesitation!

Hi! I completely understand your frustration because I have had a lot of clients here in San Antonio with the same concerns. We as a team have had a lot of success finding STRs in more centralized areas near the Airport and near the military bases. I feel like STRs have always been pretty successful here because we have a constant influx of tourists and people who visit San Antonio for a variety of reasons. I would look to see if you can find any data on the areas that you are looking into to buy to see which have been the most successful. Good luck!

We have had the best luck with Lennar properties due to their ability to buy down rates and pay closing costs. They are in the range of high100s-high 300s. They range in rent usually from $1500-$2300 a month depending on size and location

Hi! The best way to go about this is to contact a lender who can point you in the right direction. You can also maybe contact your current mortgage lender to see what they recommend. 

I am located in San Antonio and although the rates have affected our market, we still have a lot of affordable options to start investing, usually as a new build. I am not as familiar with the market in California but I do completely agree with you assessment to carefully evaluate each deal before making a decision. I also think reaching into different markets might be a really great option for you as a first time investor as well. Good luck!

I have also noticed that here in San Antonio, we have certain builders that are buying down rates and giving 0 down payment options while also covering closing costs. This is a great opportunity for investors as well!

Hi! I am so happy for you! This is an exciting step! Usually the next step would be to decide if you want to go through a management company to lease or if you want to try to lease them yourself. In my experience here in San Antonio, having a third party such as a management company to lease and be the "go between" makes the process a lot smoother. They also usually have safeguards in place to make sure the tenant is qualified. Best of luck on this part of your journey!