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All Forum Posts by: Carlos Ramirez

Carlos Ramirez has started 4 posts and replied 25 times.

Post: Building a portfolio dashboard

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11
Quote from @Will Daugherty:

I've seen posts on here from a few years ago about rental portfolio dashboards, but all seem to be inconclusive or suggest a software subscription to have such a reporting tool. I am planning to build a portfolio dashboard for my properties in Excel, and I have a pretty good idea of what I want to see about them individually and combined. I already have an investment analysis workbook built that tells me everything I need to know to make a purchase decision, NOI, COC, ROI, and if the property will achieve the appropriate coverage ratio to be funded. I've been at this a while and have over 70% equity in my combined portfolio, and I'm over 50 years of age, so I don't look at creative financing options. Fortunately, I just call the bank and tell the address of the property I am under contract on, and when I want to close. So, I don't want to expand that tool beyond what it is today.

1) If anyone out there knows of such a dashboard for a small investor (I have 5 commercial leases and 14 residential), please share the information on where I can buy a template.

2) If any of you are interested in working together to develop this tool, I am happy to meet and build a wish list for features that we can divide up the work and complete it faster.  I suspect I can build this in 6 to 10 hours, but it is always helpful to have another brain on the job. 

3) There is an advanced function I would like to build, but sadly I can't recall the mathematical functions necessary to make the calculations.  I would like a payoff planner that helps me navigate the various maturity dates and interest rates of my (15 due in 5) mortgages so that I gain the best financial advantage when paying down principal balances.  If anyone can point me in the right direction for this math, I will see if I can get it built into this dashboard.

Thank you to any who can provide guidance, insight or want to collaborate. 


 Hey Will, there are many tools to which you can go with, some that I've worked with are Lookerstudio, Tablue, and PowerBI these are all great. It's a good way to visualize perfomance and with the correct data sourcing we could analyze competitors or other portfolios with each other. I'm open to discussing further

Post: 📍Looking to Acquire a Laundromat Near Home

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11


Hey everyone,
I’m in the early stages of acquiring a laundromat within 30 minutes of my hometown (Santa Barbara, CA). The goal is to generate ~$150K/year in mostly passive income from the first location, with systems, staff, and tech in place for smooth, low-stress operation. Then scale from there. 

I’m building this for freedom, family, and long-term wealth — not just a quick flip.

Here’s what I’m focused on right now:

  • Vetting my first deal solo (happy to split a finder’s fee for the right opportunity)

  • Learning from operators who’ve been through it

  • Building a simple but sharp vision deck to stay focused

  • Eventually duplicating this model across cities

I’m open to smart partnerships or collaborations but only if there's alignment on values (systems, transparency, long-term mindset).
I’m also down to jam with others working on something similar — even if we just trade notes or check in monthly.

If you:

  • Have owned or operated a laundromat

  • Know brokers, sellers, or good deal flow

  • Are local to Santa Barbara, CA

  • Or just want to connect over process & strategy...

Let’s chat. Drop a comment, shoot me a DM, or connect directly. 

Looking forward to learning from this community.

— Carlos

Post: My lead generation sucks, I need help

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

Jerryll,

While your critique of the advice to "pick one lead generation method and go all in" is valid, there are several pieces of evidence and expert opinions that support the effectiveness of focusing on a single lead generation strategy. Here are some key points and stats to consider:

  1. Sales Performance Improvement:
    • According to the Sales Benchmark Index, sales reps who concentrate on mastering a single lead generation tactic can see a significant performance increase. Their study found that focusing on a single tactic can lead to a 21% increase in sales productivity​ (Zendesk)​.
  2. ROI from Consistency:
    • MarketingSherpa's Email Marketing Benchmark Report highlights that consistency in lead generation efforts yields higher returns. Consistent application of a single lead generation method, such as email marketing, can lead to more predictable and higher ROI​ (Zendesk)​.
  3. Inbound Marketing Success:
    • HubSpot reports that inbound marketing, when executed consistently, generates 54% more leads than traditional outbound methods. This shows the power of committing to one effective strategy and refining it over time​ (Zendesk)​.
  4. Referral and Repeat Business:
    • The National Association of Realtors found that referrals and repeat business can lead to a 40% higher transaction volume. This suggests that focusing on building a strong referral network as a primary lead generation method can be highly effective​ (Zendesk)​.
  5. Real Estate Direct Mail:
    • Direct mail has been shown to be effective in certain markets. For instance, real estate investors in New York City have seen up to a 15% year-over-year growth using direct mail campaigns, highlighting the potential success of committing to this method​ (GTMnow)​.
  6. Psychological Principles:
    • Dr. Robert Cialdini's principle of consistency explains that people who commit to a single course of action are more likely to follow through with it. This psychological principle supports the idea that focusing on one lead generation strategy can lead to more consistent and reliable results over time​ (GTMnow)​.

In conclusion, while market saturation and external factors do play a role in the effectiveness of a lead generation strategy, the evidence shows that consistency and focus on one method can lead to significant success. By committing to a single strategy, refining it, and ensuring consistent application, businesses can often see better results than by spreading efforts too thinly across multiple tactics.

Best, Carlos

Post: My lead generation sucks, I need help

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

Christian, 

Stay patient and pick one and go all in... All lead generation works. In the beginning for me it was skill that needed improvement. I.e sales skills and assuming the close. One of my friends said he just shifted his perspective and deals started flowing to him. That's been working for us thus far.

Best, 

Carlos

Post: Thank you BiggerPockets

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

Spencer,

Your story is incredible! Your journey from learning about financial independence to owning multiple income properties is truly inspiring.

Thank you for sharing your experience. It's amazing to hear how this community has played a role in your success. 

Keep up the great work, and look forward to hearing more about your journey!

Best regards,

Carlos 

Kyle,

Here's some simple advice for building your cabin in Gatlinburg:

  1. Do the Math: Make sure the rent you can charge will cover your costs and give you a good return.
  2. Check Demand: Unique cabins can attract guests, but the market is slow right now. Make sure being unique will keep it booked.
  3. Think About Timing: If you build now, you're hoping the market will be better by the time it's done. If you’re okay with that risk, go for it.
  4. Have a Backup Plan: Make sure you have extra money saved in case things don’t go as planned.
  5. Follow Your Passion: If this is something you really want to do and you have the money, it might be worth it.

Let us know how it goes!

Good luck! 

Carlos

Post: Have a tenant that is $150 short (Florida)

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

Ryan,

Here’s how you can handle the situation with your tenant who is $150 short on rent:

  1. Check the Lease: Look at your lease agreement for rules about late payments and fees.
  2. Communicate: Remind your tenant in writing about the missing $150 and any late fees that might apply.
  3. Stay Firm: While it's good to be understanding, don’t accept partial payments going forward. It can set a bad precedent.
  4. Plan for March: Make it clear to your tenant that the full rent needs to be paid on time next month to avoid further issues.
  5. Consult a Professional: If the issue persists, consider talking to a property management professional or an attorney for advice.

Good luck, 

Carlos

Post: Using security deposit as last months rent

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

Ashlee,

If your tenant wants to use the security deposit as last month's rent, here’s what to do:

  1. Remind Her: Tell her again that the security deposit can’t be used for rent.
  2. Keep Records: Save all messages and emails about this issue.
  3. Legal Action: If she doesn’t pay rent on the 1st, start the eviction process. It might seem like it’ll take longer, but it’s the best way to protect yourself.
  4. Talk to a Lawyer: A lawyer can give you advice and make sure you’re handling this correctly.

Starting the legal process can help you get a clear timeline and avoid bigger problems later.

Good luck, Carlos

Post: Tenant left home without giving notice

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

Dee,

Sorry to hear about your situation. Here’s what you should do next:

  1. Check the Lease: Look at your lease for rules on early termination and notice periods.
  2. Document Everything: Take photos or videos of the property to document its condition.
  3. Send Final Accounting: Prepare a final accounting of the security deposit, showing any deductions for unpaid rent or damages, and send it to the tenant’s last known address.
  4. Re-rent the Property: Start looking for new tenants immediately to minimize your financial loss.
  5. Consider Legal Action: If the deposit doesn’t cover what they owe, you can take them to small claims court.
  6. Keep Records: Save all communication with the tenant, like texts and emails.
  7. Get Legal Advice: Consulting a local attorney who specializes in landlord-tenant law might be helpful.

Best of luck getting this resolved.

Carlos

Post: Wholesale Contract Templates

Carlos RamirezPosted
  • Investor
  • Santa Barbara
  • Posts 26
  • Votes 11

DM