All Forum Posts by: Blaise Doremus

Although this question doesn’t really have anything to do with real estate investment, I’m interested in knowing which - if any - items you are stocking in your home (basement) in case of an emergency. Certain necessities such as toilet paper and meat are apparently in low supply right now and many people are fearful of low supply getting worse. 
Being involved in real estate management has awarded me some extra space. Thinking of what I can do with this extra space has led me to the question of what I should buy in bulk to store in this extra space for a rainy day. 

Tell me your experience buying from DR Horton Homebuilder in the Tampa Bay Area

Are you satisfied?

Were there any problems with your home and were the problem(s) resolved? 

I am looking at houses in Southshore Bay, Wimauma and Epperson, Wesley Chapel. Do you have a recommendation?

 I found out that 3-4% of houses in the Wimauma community are currently being rented out, but there is a 6-8% cap. ZERO houses currently available for rent in this community, which means I should be able to get high rent. But still seems more risky here and the house I like isn’t going to be completed until around the end of the year. 

Travis Leonard - Did you buy a house built by DR Horton? If so, would you say you're satisfied with the quality of their construction?  

I am looking to purchase a 1,500 square ft 3 bed, 2 bath house as an investment in Tampa Bay and have narrowed down my search to two identical houses/lots in different communities built by the same developer, DR Horton. Here is how the two houses/locations compare:

Southshore Bay, Wimauma, FL vs Epperson, Wesley Chapel, FL

- Both communities seem very family friendly, large lagoons in both with children and their families (+ middle-aged seen alone, didn't really notice any elderly) 

- Wimauma is much more centralized located between Tampa and Bradenton, which means residents could be commuters to cities of Tampa, St. Pete, Bradenton, Sarasota vs. probably only Tampa commuters would want to live in Wesley Chapel 

     - Distances to Interstate 75 and Tampa from each are approximately the same (~10-12 minutes and ~30 minutes), but there is going to be a new road built in Wesley Chapel that makes ride to I-75 much quicker

    - Same approximate 1 hour and 15 minutes to Disney World 

- Wimauma property offers beautiful view of pond that stretches along row of houses; protected preserve with forest behind pond; backyard faces due west towards sunset VS Wesley Chapel house backyard has view of stone wall, plans for new road to be built behind this wall that could cause noise 

- Wimauma community gated at night, Wesley Chapel is not

- Same amenities - lagoon, golf cart and walking trails, internet and cable included in HOA; same appliances and blinds included

- ***Currently ZERO houses available for rent in Wimauma community (RENTING IS ALLOWED; Wesley Chapel community is bigger)***

     - ***Could this be good or bad?***

     - 6% max houses can be rented 

- More houses for sale in Wimauma and cheaper; seems to be more demand in Wesley Chapel 

       - Houses in both communities/towns are disappearing fast

       - Wesley Chapel seems to have started expanding before Wimauma 

- Higher income and higher home values in Wesley Chapel; Wimauma community seems closer to low-income old Wimauma community to the east 

- Wesley Chapel area more developed, larger; both rapidly expanding

- DR Horton Google reviews: 4.5/5 at Wimauma, 4.3/5 at Wesley Chapel

           - Spoke to middle-aged Wimauma resident - happy overall, small problem with blinds that was fixed

          - Agents at both developments seem helpful and friendly

- Much better school district + nearby charter school in Wesley Chapel, but Wimauma property seems to be better in most other categories 

Wesley Chapel is better for families seeking good schools; Wimauma serves more commuters since it is located between many more cities/businesses. Both seem to be equally suitable for the elderly (both 1-story) 

Which community do you think I should buy in? Does the importance of a good school district in Wesley Chapel outweigh the benefits of buying in Wimauma? 

Are you familiar with Tampa Bay public schools? Wimauma (Sun City Center area) or Wesley Chapel?

I am a parent with children who is trying to decide if I want to rent in a DR Horton development in Wesley Chapel or Winauma (Sun City Center). We've narrowed down our search to two communities. Although we like Wimauma's "Southshore Bay" community and its houses available for rent more than the community and available houses of Wesley Chapel's "Epperson," the school district in Wesley Chapel is significantly better. However, there seems to be more demand for rentals in Wimauma's "Southshore Bay" since there are much fewer houses available for rent in that community. The rental prices in the two communities are around the same, the communities have the same homes, and both communities seem to be family friendly with large lagoons occupied by children and their families. 

Any opinions on where I should rent? Wimauma's "Southshore Bay" or Wesley Chapel's "Epperson"? 

I’m considering buying my first investment property to rent out out of state in a hot market like Metro Austin or Denver. ***I have a flexible work schedule and get free unlimited airline tickets*** I do not want to buy in my home state of Massachusetts and am hoping to move sometime in the near future (but probably after buying). I could see myself living in a city like Austin or Denver if I can find work in one of those places. 
Would you buy out of state right now if you were in my shoes? Would you say it’s too much trouble to be far away? 

@Jordan Moorhead - A recession. But I've been told that some towns/cities in the Austin area are recession-proof, so you make a good point.

If I were to invest in residential real estate in a hot market down south (Austin, Tampa, Nashville...), do you think it would be best to do it now while interest rates are low and people are in the midst of flocking there from the northeast and CA? Or should I wait for the market to slow down and prices to drop?