All Forum Posts by: David Matthews

@Lauren Robins hi Lauren wanted to follow up with you, I checked comps for the last year in a ~square mile~ radius... there appears to be only one "in law suite" in the area, although it did sell at a premium. I like your hybrid strategy, may ask some friendly  realtors in the area what they're seeing out there. 

@Theresa Harris the office is large enough to be a bedroom however it's more of a throughway type room with access to the laundry room and mechanical closet as well. 

@Lauren Robins thanks!! That is really great advice !! I am in a good spot where it's a pretty even "impact" to layout where neither is intrusive of the other. I'll check recent comps in my area and see what's selling!! 

Hi all, I have a 4bed 3bath single story ranch home with a basement. Upstairs is 3/2 with a primary en-suite bathroom and two beds that share a bathroom. There is a kitchen and living room on top floor.

downstairs is a 1bed 1bath with living room, office, and second kitchen. I was thinking the other day... is it more valuable to have this second kitchen / basement apartment OR, rip out the kitchen for a fifth bedroom? I mean specifically from an appraisal perspective, not potential rents. 

to be clear - there are many homes in the area that are 5/3 so this wouldn't stick out. 

I've got a one story w/ basement ranch home. I have been living in the basement (1b1b) and have been fixing up a second kitchen down here. Last night standing in the kitchen I was thinking... should I turn this area into a bedroom when I eventually move out? There would still be a sizable living area in the basement. 

To give more info... there are plenty of 5bed3bath homes in the area. I currently rent by room for the upstairs. Purchased in Nov24. Do not have a separate entrance to the basement (received quotes way out of budget for that). That's all I can think of at the moment! 

@Marcus Auerbach thanks Marcus I will check those out. Learning is why I'm here :)! 

I use Turbo Tenant, pretty much always from the phone. I only have two properties, but do manage 6 leases. They do marketing of the listing, tracking expenses, maintenance requests, collecting rent (with late reminders), list goes on... Their customer service is also FANTASTIC if you're ever in a bind.

@Michael Plaks thanks Michael that summed it up quite well. 

@Bill B. Bill, I'm a buy and hold man, unless I'd 1031 into a fourplex or small townhome complex. I ran quick numbers and it appears I'll be negative or zero for some time... should've crunched those before :) anywho.. QBI deduction? I have heard of it but its Been a while since I did my research on it. 

@Julio Gonzalez thank Julio, and thanks for your message. I reached out to a cost seg company, it was about 3500$ and I didn't pull the trigger. My real question is... do I NEED a cost segregation study in order to depreciate? Or can I just use my structure value that was on the property appraisal? Both recently appraised in 2025.