All Forum Posts by: Deborah Burian

At the risk of sounding like a total BP suck up, J. Scott's book on Flipping Houses is amazing. When you have a house and you want to landlord, I really really like Managing Rental Properties for Maximum Profit by Greg Perry.

If you are just getting started and want to think about long term planning, parts of the E-Myth are useful and although the first time I got the book, I threw it away; upon calmer reading, the Four Hour Workweek is helpful too.

Hope this helps.

We don't do our SFHs at all, just like we don't cut the grass.

For the new multi-family (and this was the same Texas storm @Roy N. references) we put salt on two steep stairways and in entrance ways. There are no snow removal services here, the city doesn't plow or clear anything but main snow routes; and everything closes down if we have measurable snow. Consequently, it's virtually impossible to get to the properties when it's snowing so we try to prepare the tenants to help themselves.

If we had regular snow, we'd do a snow blower and clear after the bulk of the snow was done.

On day 4 of the ice, I actually salted a section of our city street myself so I could get to the main road without killing myself.

@Dawn Anastasi - what property are you shoveling?

I don't but I could use one. Hope someone has an answer for you.

I don't know any but the REIA meets on Thursday and someone there surely will.

Any words of wisdom for purchasing maintenance supplies in bulk? For example, doorknobs by the dozen, light fixtures, etc. I usually just go to a Home Depot but wonder if I'm missing an opportunity to save $$$, ie by going to a Graingers or somewhere similar or even on line.

Thanks for the help, you guys are amazing.

@Elizabeth Colegrove Ahhh - that makes sense. @Sean Kuhn if that's what you're referring to, no, all we have to provide is evidence of insurance.

In re: location, I'm getting killed right now on a really nice three bed on a very busy road, house has no fence.

I agreed to show it for an acquaintance and am running it through my existing marketing system. It's been up for almost a month, we've reduced the rate to $800 (approx $75 below market) and nada. Nothing. Nilch. Driveway opens on to the extremely busy road and I personally wouldn't even have considered the house. I'm guessing it'll end up $100 or more below similar properties because of the street.

My normal A/B house turnaround this time of year is 1-2 weeks and that's waiting for the right tenant.

@Sean Kuhn in re: escrow, evidently not because I don't know what you're talking about. Please explain so I can learn something new!

We do 3yr ARM at 6%, 15yr am. Notes have a floor and a ceiling. It has worked very well but when rates start to go up, we may accelerate payments. These are commercial notes so higher interest than previous poster is referencing.

We do 3yr ARM at 6%, 15yr am. Notes have a floor and a ceiling. It has worked very well but when rated start to go up, we may accelerate payments.