All Forum Posts by: Christina J.

Welcome, @Jordan Tebbs! You're in the right place to launch your investing career....and it sounds like you've got both the plan and the work ethic to make it happen. Look forward to following your journey!

In addition to @Aaron K.'s excellent points, be aware that many investors are wary of townhomes with a monthly HOA fee and possible unknown assessments. I own several of them, and they've been great for me. But it's not a natural fit for many traditional SFH investors.

Best of luck!

I specify in the lease which appliances are provided and maintained by the owner - in SE Tennessee where I lease properties, refrigerator, stove and dishwasher are customarily provided. The few times a tenant left behind a washer / dryer, we left it as a courtesy, but did not replace / remove when it died. Best of luck, @Susan Grinde!

I've closed deals with and without a realtor. I would not recommend going alone on your first few purchases. There are too many variables, and until your business resources are strong enough to withstand a costly error, it's best to bring a professional along for the ride. And I strongly agree with @Daniel Vandenbos, it's important to be respectful of their time and recognize their minimal commission on most investment properties. Best wishes on your journey - sounds like you're asking all the right questions!

Hi, @Katrina E.! Here is a link to some of the podcasts covering the strategy (if it doesn't connect directly, just go to the search bar at the top of the page, filter by "podcast" and type in BRRR Strategy - should take you to the same page)

https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/podcast?term=...

If you haven't already, subscribe to the podcast as soon as you can....it's been the most valuable tool in my real estate investing journey. 

Best of luck to you!

Hello, @Brooke McGilvery! Sounds like you're doing all the right things to prepare yourself to make that first deal!

I agree with @Richard Sherman - you can absolutely build a relationship with a local title company and they can help you with all required paperwork. However, I did that for the first time on my 6th deal. And even though it certainly saves money on fees (the seller pays the fees, but it gives you more leverage to negotiate as a buyer if you don't bring an agent to the table), if I had to do it over, I would still stay with the realtor for those first deals. For me, it was critical to have someone who was knowledgeable about the market, and about home repairs and value and who could identify potential problems that I wouldn't have known enough to ask about. 

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

Hello, @Abner Gomez! 

One option you might consider is to rent your current primary residence when you purchase your larger home. As long as you have savings to cover your down payment for the new home, this can be one of the easiest ways to get into buy and hold rentals. You'll need to be sure you have a sustained and stable rental market there in Garland and that your home will cash flow at market rental rates, but it's something to consider.

Best of luck as you on your real estate journey!

Welcome, @Robert Anderson! You've definitely come to the right place for learning about real estate!

A few recommendations that may be helpful to you as you gain more real estate education here on the Bigger Pockets website:

You can set up keyword alerts so anytime someone posts about the Chicagoland area or specifics around contractors / referrals, you can be notified. That could be a great way to find and stay engaged with local investors, funders and opportunities. http://www.biggerpockets.com/alerts

You can also search for other investors in that area and follow their journey on Bigger Pockets here: https://www.biggerpockets.com/search/users

Finally, if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Bigger Pockets Podcast - huge source of information about real estate investing in every different way and in every kind of market. Always educational and inspirational - it's a can't miss for me.

Best of luck to you and look forward to following your journey!

Hello, @Mandi Martinez! Sounds like you're asking all the right questions as you start this process. You already have some great suggestions in this thread....a few additional for you to consider:

- connect with your local Real Estate Investors Association so you can build a network of knowledgeable investors and real estate professionals. While you're gathering neighborhood info through MLS research, having some "human intelligence" can be a great supplement to expand that research and verify your findings.

 - if you haven't already, be sure to subscribe to the Bigger Pockets Podcast. Lots of episodes detailing different strategies on studying individual markets and developing a niche that works for you within that market.

Best of luck to you! Look forward to following your journey.

Hello, @Isidro Alcantar!

Sounds like you're doing a lot of good work to get your portfolio launched. A few more recommendations - driving for dollars - meaning cruising through some of the neighborhoods your targeting looking for FSBO signs, houses that look vacant or needing repairs. That can be a great opportunity to snap up houses before they hit the market, or when they aren't on the MLS. (if you search "driving for dollars" on this site you'll find lots of insights)

You might also network with your local Real Estate Investors Association and talk with fellow investors about where  they are finding local deals - some tips can be very location specific and they could give good insights. 

Best of luck!