All Forum Posts by: Craig Curelop

@Michaela G. - Wow! You have really been through the ringer here. 

I have just started hosting AirBnb myself. The only difference it sounds like is that I am actually living in the unit I am AirBnbing. I have had great guests thus far without a single problem. 

If you want to give AirBnb another shot, you might be able to create a separate AirBnb account so your illegitimate bad reviews go away. Then maybe raise your prices a little bit and only accept tenants that have had good reviews previously. 

Also - I only provide the essentials. A bed with clean sheets & towels and I like to think I am a fun person to talk to :). 

If they want fancy snacks, towels folded like animals, and all of that stuff, I suggest they check into a 5-star hotel. 

Hi @Zachary Donnelly - Welcome to BP! 

Start listening to the podcasts, reading about, and talking to people who are investing in apartment buildings. This will give you the knowledge and confidence to do it yourself... because if "everyone" else is doing it, why can't you? 

Growth starts at the end of your comfort zone. If you are uncomfortable putting an offer on an apartment building, go do it! You'll make some mistakes, but you'll learn from them.

And by the way, you have a community of 800,000 people here at BiggerPockets that are wiling to help you along the way and answer questions you may have. You have everything to gain and nothing to lose! Go for it man!  

@Adrienne Pierce - Great advice from the guys above. 

The only thing I'd add is to start a relationship with a few lenders first. You will want to get prequalified so you know what you can afford before employing an agent. Be sure to talk to 4-5 different lenders, this will give you some negotiating power so that you get the best rate and the best terms. 

@Cameron James Harmon - BP is the right place to start! Definitely start with listening to the podcast and reading the books.

Jumping right into apartment buildings is a HUGE leap. I'd suggest first starting out purchasing a house hack property. You purchase a multifamily property, live in one unit and rent the other. 

As a first step, I'd suggest saving ~$20k - $25k and then putting down 3.5% FHA for a property near your school. You can then rent it out to your friends and they will pay your mortgage for you. Not to mention, you get tax benefits and likely appreciation on the property.

Hope this helps!

@Anton Taylor - I would recommend hanging out on the forums, listening to the podcasts, and reading real estate related books. Every time you hear of some terminology that you don't know, look it up. 

A book I'd recommend is Frank Gallinelli's, "What Every Real Estate Investor Needs to Know About cash Flow And 36 Other Key Financial Measures." 

Link here: https://www.amazon.com/Estate-Investor-Financial-M...

@Jeffrey K - I don't have any crazy motivational stories for you, but I do understand the power of perseverance. 

I'd recommend you check out Grant Cardone's book, "10-X" and Napoleon Hill's "Outwitting the Devil." 

Both are phenomenal and definitely get me motivated. 

@Abdul King - Also, BiggerPockets just released a book called, "Finding and Funding Great Deals" today. You should check it out. It will definitely answer your question of how to get off market deals. 

@Katie Bond - I am down in Denver and I am using Windowwellexperts for mine. I am just doing a cover, but I'm pretty sure they do everything. 

They seem to be well versed in the window well field. I suggest giving them a call. 

@John Gach - I don't know much about you or your goals, but here is an idea. What if you move out of your current home and rent it out? Then you buy the multifamily property with an FHA loan for 3.5% down. Your tenant covers most of your expenses and in a year you can either move back home or do it again?

The 3.5% option is so great because of the phenomenal cash on cash returns.... like they say, a year from now, you will have wished you started now. 

Plus in a year from now, you have no idea where the market will be, where interest rates are, etc. 

Hope this helps!

@Abdul King - Driving for dollars is also a good thing to do. If you can't find the owner's number on the county assessors site, maybe you just go knock on the door? The worst that happens is you get the door slammed on you. The best thing is you find a great deal!