All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Thank you very much, Rich. Good advice.
best, Alina

It's feast or famine..or something in the middle. We all need to eat and in some cases feed others..Question : Same area, SW FL should one look for a house ( poolman+gardner expense..) or a condo (HOA expense) for renting out? Is the vacancy rate higher for houses or condos ?For ex. In So. Cal they cannot give enough incentives to rent out condos/apartments.(one month free rent !!) But Houses are hard to come by, specially in good school districts, but this is here. How about SW Florida ? Thank you all,

Since I am not interested in flipping I am not familiar with the state of affairs in FL. In So. Cal where I live, is very slow, almost to a stand still. Short sales and foreclosures take forever here and even so there are no deals.Since the fires of 2007 insurance has skyrocketed Houses all over are $200K under... It's a good time to buy, rent to some decent tenants but not flip.. Back to FL : I read enough about the dry wall issue to want to stay away from houses build after Katrina. Our limit is $120K. Should we look at houses or condos in SW Florida ? ( you all are not talking me out of FL.. ;-)) It has to be near the ocean, a few minutes drive max. What is more desirable for long term renting? Any thoughts? Thank you..

Thank you Jerry R. and everybody. I think the flipping business is over for everybody in all states. Those days are gone for a variety of reasons that we all know. I don't understand why, Jerry, you don't like Ft. Myers, Port Charlotte, etc.. Naples is gorgeous but let's say one is Denny's the other Ruth Chris (good steakhouse, more expansive). We would like to buy something for now, hold on to it and eventually retire to FL (sooner rather than later, I'm 52) then either sell (I doubt) or manage it myself while I buy my "dream house" in Naples or Sarasota. Two houses in San Diego should pay for one there so that I do not have a mortgage when I'm 60. I would appreciate a few names of management companies. (good to know they are good in FL, in So. Cal they stink)

Hello everybody, When I signed up for this site I was so skeptical and now I am so grateful.... RE investing is not easy, and I've dealt with awful tenants in the past, and by awful I don't mean non-rent-paying types.
I plan on hiring a property management company ( is 8% the going rate?) to deal with the screening, collecting, etc...I am managing mine here, locally.I will fly out there at least 3X year to check on the management company and tenants myself since I've heard horror stories about management companies here, in So. Cal.
Just like others, we fell in love with FL and want to retire there eventually. Coming from San Diego, you might think it's crazy, but I've lived in So. Ca (love it !!) over 25 years .
I would like to interview some property managers in a month when we go there : Ft. Myers, Port Charlotte, Englewood..around Sarasota. Any referrals ? (for property managers).
I would like to specially thank Raymond B., Michael Power and Aly L. for their replies.
Alina

I really appreciate everybody's input. I already have a property in the San Diego area that is a rental, in addition to our own property (purchased as an auction/foreclosure..what a nightmare that was !!) and indeed it's not all fun and easy money but ..what is ?
Frankly speaking, I've been to FL only 5 times in my life and I would like to know what to stay away from. Best, Alina