All Forum Posts by: Austin Moore

Hey Alex! 

Congratulations on starting your journey. We all have to start somewhere and it sounds like you are doing things the right way. 

I work with a couple of builders who have been been a part of my community for decades. I may not be the one to ask for advice on this particular subject, but I would just say that its so hard to come by trustworthy and communicative contractors/builders nowadays. I am not sure what courses to recommend to you, but I would say to build your presence in your local community and when you begin building homes just make sure you are available and go the extra mile for your clients. Just like anything else, I am certain that building relationships and receiving referrals for more builds starts there! Depending on your equity position in your duplex, you could look into taking out a HELOC or 2nd mortgage on that property to create more capital to go towards future building projects. From a realtors perspective and from someone who has dealt with builders who leave people "high and dry" in the building process, hopefully you can take something from this response. Good luck, man!

Looking at a home in a small college town located about 2 hours from where I currently live for a potential long term rental. Home is located very close to campus and is a 6 bedroom 2 bath home. My wife attended school in the small town and is familiar with the area so that helps me to feel more comfortable with understanding the area and neighborhoods. It is currently listed at $145,000 and per bed rent is anywhere from 400-450 per bedroom. There is a catch though, it needs about 100k in foundation work.... I have contacted the foundation company personally to get a better understanding of the scope of work and have looked at a couple of other bids (they were cheaper but were not going to resolve the issues long term). Ultimately, when I break the numbers down it all still seems to make sense. Even if I offer the seller 245,000 and have them complete the foundation work prior to closing, the property should still cash flow.. Any advice? Would you do this deal?

Just in time for the spring market! What are you seeing in your local markets? 

Congratulations John! I wish I would have started at an earlier age. Sounds like you are ahead of the game. Hopefully, this is the first of many!

Welcome GD! I appreciate where you are coming from and we need those types of minds nowadays. There are SO many problems to solve in the Real Estate industry. Best of luck in your endeavors sir.

I think it all depends on what your goals are. If you dont plan to be in the residence long and want to recover some equity with a sale in a few years then yes, I think making at least one extra payment per year could be very beneficial. 

Good Morning Everyone,

Just wanted to share a noteworthy development for those of us investing—or considering investing—in Jackson County, Missouri (Kansas City metro area).

The Missouri State Tax Commission (STC) ruled in August 2024 that about 75% of Jackson County's residential property assessments from 2023 were inaccurate. As a result, they ordered that:

• Any property value increase over 15% must be rolled back, unless it was due to new construction.

• Jackson County failed to follow required legal steps, including on-site inspections and proper notifications for large value increases.

More than 54,000 property tax appeals were filed by homeowners last year—many of which are still pending.

Jackson County has filed a lawsuit to challenge the ruling. The county claims that the STC overstepped its legal authority and that its order is not enforceable. A bench trial is scheduled for January 13, 2025.

If you own or are eyeing rentals in Jackson County, this could have a few key implications:

• Cash flow forecasts might change depending on how the tax assessments shake out.

• Valuation comps may shift if the county is forced to redo assessments.

• There is uncertainty around whether tax relief will actually be applied, as county officials say the revenue collected has already been distributed to local taxing entities.

As of now, the county has publicly stated that no refunds or credits will be issued even if the court upholds the STC order.

As someone actively analyzing deals in KC, this is a good reminder of how important it is to:

• Stay up to date on local property tax policy and appeals processes.

• Understand how tax law changes may impact your buy-and-hold or BRRRR strategy.

• Have a buffer for unexpected tax hikes in your pro forma, especially in areas undergoing reassessment or gentrification.

• KMBC News: Jackson County headed to trial over assessment rollback

• KMBC Summary of the STC Order

Curious—any other investors here with property in Jackson County? Have you received updated assessments, or appealed yours recently? What’s been your experience?

#Missouri #KansasCityInvesting #PropertyTaxes #BRRRR #RealEstateNews #LandlordTips #DueDiligence

Congratulations on getting your offer accepted Rachel! Here are a few key things to focus on before closing:

1. Inspection & Repairs – Ensure the inspection doesn't reveal major issues that could eat into your cash flow. If anything comes up, negotiate repairs or credits.

2. Lease Agreement – Review the lease terms with the current tenant. Verify rent collection methods, security deposit handling, and lease expiration.

3. Property Financials – Double-check all expenses (insurance, taxes, maintenance, property management) to confirm your cash flow estimates.

4. Reserves – Have a solid reserve fund for unexpected repairs or vacancies.

As for scaling, many investors use cash-out refinances, HELOCs, or partnering to acquire more properties faster. If you're using traditional financing, saving for another down payment or leveraging house hacking/BRRRR could speed things up.

Good luck with your first deal—this is just the beginning!

Hey Zander!

You're already ahead of the game by researching early—great job!

1. Estimating Capital Needs – For small multi-family properties, expect:

   • FHA Loan (3.5% down) if house hacking.

   • Conventional Loan (15-25% down) if purely investing.

   • Closing costs (~2-5%) + potential repairs ($5K-$10K+).

2. Reaching Out to Agents – Yes, but find an investor-friendly agent and be upfront. Instead of just asking for estimates, say:

   • “I’m researching the market—can you provide insights on typical multi-family prices and rents?”

3. Other Research Methods – Check MLS (via an agent), Redfin/Zillow, and local investor meetups for pricing trends.

4. Creative Strategies – Consider house hacking, seller financing, or partnering with an investor to get started with less capital.

Keep learning, networking, and analyzing deals—you're on the right path!

Its a good idea if and when: 

The existing mortgage rate is significantly lower than current rates.

You can afford the upfront cash needed to cover the equity difference.

The assumption process costs less than taking out a new loan 

You want to avoid some of the fees and complexities of a new mortgage.

Hope this is helpful!