All Forum Posts by: Ceril S.

@Karen Margrave Those plans are beautiful!  I was just searching for narrow floor plans to start researching for a possible narrow plot urban infill (more of a "someday" plan).  I really love the flow and use of space! And you're right, nothing I've seen even comes close to what you've got. Bravo!

The smallest I've been in were Baltimore row houses. I'd guess about 12' wide. Had me feeling pretty clausterphobic!

Filing a FAFSA this year (not even with active income producing properties yet!) and we are above the level of any financial aid. Told the kids that they are working on the properties in 2015 to help pay for college and they have to get outside jobs as well.  (Will start another thread on this)

Still - bringing back this old thread to see if others have any words of advice for the future. I have 4 teenagers so I'll be in this loop for another 10 years!

Just as an update, spoke to our lawyer today who talked me down off the ledge a little. We just basically reviewed our options. We are trying to be hopefully optimistic that the owner will comply and be able to show permits. We have stated that if they don't get the permits we will not close on the property and have reserved our rights to inspect again. Waiting to hear back from the other lawyer. 

We also spoke to our realtor who is a dual agent and we feel is not really working in our interests at all. We found out that the seller is a long time personal friend of his. We tried not to speak too accusingly of his friend, but made it clear that if there isn't documentation that the work was done correctly, that we would not close. 

I've heard that structural engineers may be hard to pin down for an inspection - anyone have experience with that, or better yet, a recommendation in central jersey?

I know that there are mixed feelings here about the necessity of permits on work done, but here's our story. 

We are less than two weeks from closing on our first rental - an owner occupied 2-family. We know that she had a main support beam in the basement replaced and we asked for copies of permits from the get go. In attorney review, she stated all work done with permits, they will give us copies.  

We had our inspection and the work looked fine, some spots of the sill plate were rotten and we asked for them to be replaced and the seller agreed to have the sill work done. 

We continue to ask for copies of permits every week or so for a few weeks and finally get off our butts and go to the town - guess what? No permits! No permits applied for, no permits open, none completed!

Our lawyer says he would "discuss" it with her lawyer. We got a letter yesterday saying that the sill plate work doesn't require a permit (and other work, like upgrading wiring and a fuse in the fuse box) and that the work done to replace the main support beam - they will give us paperwork "at closing".  

At this point I'm debating my options. I feel that replacing a sill plate is too major to not require a permit? We will call the town to confirm. Do I get a structural engineer in there to inspect? Do I prepare to walk if there isn't a permit? Am I making too big a deal out of it? I guess I'm most peeved that they kept saying they had permits for the work and all the while they didn't.

Anyhow - I'm open to hear your take on the situation. Feeling very newbie here. 

@Dana N. I'm not really sure how to go about specifically searching for owner financing, I have seen them in listing information and perhaps there's a way to search the MLS for owner financing? Others may have a more systematic approach. Good luck with the search!

@Bruno Ferreira welcome to BP - so much great info here!

We have 4 kids so - Honda Oddysey for the win. We have 2.

a work honda ody (2006) will fit a sheet of plywood or Sheetrock no prob. And the people hauler a 2013 Honda ody for road trips and carpooling.  

For fun I have a classic 1991 Mazda Miata with about 70k miles on it. Great for spending one on one time with each kid and quality time with my wife.  

Took the bite on a property with rents listed, when we got a copy of the lease, the rents were 15% less/month!  Did they think we wouldn't notice? Still waiting to hear back...

^ I agree. For newbies, hearing (reading) the different schools of thought has been awesome and really educational.  Very applicable stuff here for lots of situations.  I have a lot to learn!

I'm a newbie as well, but we've been inside all the rentals we've looked at. The listing realtor had to contact the owner to notify the tenants. Some tenants wanted to be home at the time, some weren't.  Sometimes we had to wait a couple days if the tenant wanted to be home at the time.  Maybe that's just my experience? It could be the market?  And just fyi - we've looked at college student housing as well as some small towns.  Don't know if I'd make the leap to buy without seeing inside. Good luck!