All Forum Posts by: Braden Smith

Greetings @Kevin Parnella!

I am in the New Orleans area. I don't make it to the Northshore area often, or to Baton Rouge area, but I am very knowledgeable about the GNO market. I'm a realtor and investor.

If I can be of service, let me know.

Hi @Seth Cunningham! Welcome to BP! Always good to have another New Orleans area member. I don't know of any hard money lenders that will do what you are seeking, but I'll let ya know if I come across one. I am a member of NOREIA and go to all the meetings, so I may come across one. This months meeting is tonight if you can make it!

Good luck with your investing!

Greetings @Wendell Stewart!

Always good to see a new member in the New Orleans area. Have you checked out NOREIA yet? If not, I'd highly advise you do. It's a great place to network with like minded folks and a great place to learn and make connections that lead to deals!

Let me know if I can help out!

@Mark Updegraff - What you are referring to is the Soft Second Mortgage program available through the city of New Orleans. I'm a local realtor and deal with the program. I have two houses under contract now with the program. It is for first time buyers and has income restrictions. It's designed to help working families. Qualified applicants must meet many rules and restrictions and most do not qualify for the program, and can possibly qualify for up to $65,000 in home purchase assistance. It still requires a 1st mortgage and a credit score of 640 or higher. The program is not affecting pricing as it only applies to Orleans Parish and it just helps lower income families purchase a home. Homes purchased with the program are under 200k.

@Account Closed - Not sure what is up with Housejerk, which is why I was asking. In my research on it I found it to be an MLM scheme somehow tied into real estate. Are you familiar with it?

@Gavin Welch - I'm definitely not interested in the program, or any other "guru" program for that matter. Was just curious if anyone had heard of it. I may know some of those people you are referring to that bought the properties after Katrina and almost busted the banks. I've heard the story before. Is one of them a fellow by the name of James?

Lastly, what I was saying about the newbies and wannabees in the area due to the gurus hitting the city hard is that they are paying too much for properties and cutting the margins.

Thanks for the responses guys!

I am in the New Orleans area and our market is doing great. If you haven't seen, we are getting a lot of national press and this is bringing the "gurus" to town and creating a mess in the industry for us as we now have tons of wannabees running around trying to be investors. I'm not knocking anyone who is trying to learn, but we have a lot of these wannabees running around ton bidding properties up to where it is getting harder and harder to find actual deals.

That isn't the reason for my post today though... I was wondering if anyone else has heard of this "Housejerk" that is now being promoted here by a few individuals that I dont consider to be on the up and up. I have done some research on my own and it seems it traces back to Atlanta to a Richard Simpson, Don Jacobs and/or Bill Walsh.

Anyone ever heard of those guys or this Housejerk? Looks like it is some sort of MLM scheme with real estate...

Just trying to find out more about it so I can warn people away from it.

Welcome @Ross Bruce! BiggerPockets is where it's at! TONS of great info, and best part about it is that it is FREE!

You'll find lots of useful articles here, forms, spreadsheets, you name it, not to mention many other fellow investors who are welcoming and generous with their insight, suggestions and advice.

I'm a realtor, an investor and an insurance agent in the New Orleans area. Let me know if I can be of any help!

Welcome to BP @Jack Hines! This is the best REI site on the net hands down! TONS of free information here for every subject you can imagine and many kind and helpful members.

I am also located in Metairie and I am an active member of NOREIA. If you have not been to one of the meetings you should come check out the next one which is this Thursday, Jan 16th. See here for more info - http://neworleansreia.com/. First time to attend is free, then only $75 to sign up as a member and $10 a month after. You will meet LOTS of local investors that can help you in your endeavors.

I am happy to help also and would be glad to find you those doubles. I'm a licensed real estate agent and an investor, and I know the city well. I work with a number of local investors and can find both on market and off market properties. Let me know if I can be of service to you.

Welcome to the BiggerPockets site @Chris Cook! This is site is definitely the best REI site on the net and has the most free content hands down! And the podcasts are awesome also.

I am also in the New Orleans area, and I am both a licensed realtor and investor. Have you heard of NOREIA? It is a great way to meet like minded people and learn. Check it out here: http://neworleansreia.com/

Hot spots in the city are def Marigny/Bywater up to St Claude, and maybe up to Claiborne at most. The Irish Channel has been on fire for some time, but it's beginning to dry up I think. Certain other areas of uptown are good also such as around Freret, around Carrolton, etc. Gentilly is another hot spot as long as you stay between Bayou St John and the London Avenue Canal. Properties are selling fast in Metairie also, some in as little as 2 or 3 days! Everyone I know is looking for properties in Metairie!

Hit me up if I can be of any help! Take care.

Hi @Blair F.

I am also in the New Orleans area and a member of NOREIA. We meet the 3rd Thursday of the month. There is also a class you can attend on the 2nd Thursday of the month that is free as a member of NOREIA, and in addition there is breakfast meeting you can attend as a member on the first Thursday of the month.

Good luck to you, and let me know if I can help out!

Hi Ben! I am also from the New Orleans area, specifically located in Metairie. Do you attend the NOREIA meetings?