All Forum Posts by: Debbie Guy

Rizwan - 

I  moved here in January, and the meeting schedule has not changed. There is a large monthly general meeting with a particular topic and also monthly subgroup meetings on various topics (landlording, notes, short term rentals, mortage/title, wholesaling, flipping, multi-family investing). They also run a weekly radio show.

CIREIA just purchased its own building so that they don't have to rent even space from others, and I know they are working on doing more classes because they have the flexibility to do so.

I believe what Ross was saying about it being very different in the past is accurate. I've heard that too. But I also heard that after the board of directors changed and they hired the new executive director (who I met and is really great) that everything changed.

-Deb

Yes!!! I moved here in January and joined. It was a great decision - it's such a good value for what you get. They have several classes/meetings per week which are free for members. It's a lot of great information for all levels. What I had not anticipated was how valuable the networking time is. I've met several vendors I've started working with and a wholesaler a bought a property from. The leadership is passionate and committed to helping members.

I like to use Caliber Home Loans for my cash out refinances. Matt Tucker is the guy in the Indy office that I use. The reason I like them is that they are the only company I've found that will let you cash out re-fi within one year of purchase. Also, Matt really understands investors. Caliber is not the cheapest, but it's the only option I've found if you've held the property for less than a year. Note that it can't be held in an LLC when you re-fi.

You don't mention how long you've held your properties, but I thought I'd throw my experience out here anyway.

I'm very happy with our insurance folks and attorney.

Timothy Zeller with Zeller Insurance (he does all our personal insurance including insuring the Airbnb on the same property as our primary residence)

NREIG for all our rental and flip insurance

Attorney Chris Striebeck of Striebeck Law

Good luck!

I've been quite impressed so far with T&H Realty. They took over one of my properties, and what I'm impressed with so far:

* Great communication

* Strong processes

* I have access to an inquiry and showing report for my property so that I know how many people emailed/called in, how many people have seen the property and their feedback

They're not the cheapest, but I learned long ago that you don't want to go cheap for property management.

It's only been a couple of months, so time will tell, but so far I'm more impressed than the other 4 local property managers I've used or interviewed.

Things have been going smoothly so I haven't really had a ton of interactions. There haven't been any urgent situations - which is actually a good thing. One property has been rented by the same people the entire time. The other just recently turned over, and I felt their communication was good on move out date and what was required for the turn. I had to ask a couple of times for updates on showings and applications, but ultimately the property got rented in an acceptable amount of time and the turn was of comparable cost to other turns from our properties in other areas.

We've used Key Realty (used to be a different name but was the same people) for the past 2 years. I've found them to be ethical though not always super fast responding to non-urgent questions. I'm a remote owner but have visited the properties a couple of times. Each time the properties have looked in good repair. Funds show up as expected with monthly reports, and any expenses seem reasonable.

http://keyrealtygroupkc.com/property-management/

Good luck!

I use Heath at Anchor Inspection for all my Dallas area inspections. He's awesome and very thorough. http://anchorinspectiongroup.com/about.html

I have been using Shelter insurance for my two Kansas City area properties (one Blue Springs, one Independence), and I have been looking into REI Guard which I find to be much more cost effective and better coverage for these two properties. I find them to be less competitive with my Dallas properties and about the same with my Indy properties.

What is market rent for the tenants' unit, and when was their last rent increase? I would hesitate to increase rent over market or if the most recent increase was less than a year ago. A rent increase will also go over better if you are improving the property which it sounds like you're doing with the paint, yard and deck work.