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All Forum Posts by: Dustin Lin

Dustin Lin has started 2 posts and replied 10 times.

Post: Best Ways to Learn Appfolio, Buildium, and Other PM Software?

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

@Kathleen Osborne
assuming you have less than 10 units and need to consider the price, I would recommend TenantCloud. I have been using TenantCloud about 3  years. It can do everything you mentioned except for 1099s.

Post: TenantCloud vs RentRedi vs Avail

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

used TC about 3 years. I think it's the most cost-effective solution for self-manage landlords. It can do almost everything you need as mentioned by @Nick Sanders

Post: TenantCloud accounting doesn’t work

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

I have used TenantCloud about 3 years. We managed from 15units originally to 45units now. It has lots of good features and their price is great (I noticed they increased their price recently) since we were small. We are thinking to switch to other PM software, since TC only has one way to pay out through ACH but we are still growing. This will be a big challenge if you 50+ units.

It's a very cost-effective solution for self-manage landlords with small amount of units.

Post: Pittsburgh long term rental ROI expectations

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

Congratulations. 
couple things come to my mind: the rent $1700 seems little too high at that area. Also don't forget the property management fee after you move out. Counting those two, the ROI will be lower, maybe 8-10%, but still good ROI for long term.

Post: Security/Holding Deposit Issues

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

@Account Closed, less than a week. Thanks for your reply

@Kelly N. I see. Lessons learned.

Post: Security/Holding Deposit Issues

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

I got the security deposit from someone and verbally told him this was used to hold the apt for him. But he told me he couldn't take the apt in the last minute before we signed the lease(so we didn't sign the lease yet), because of some personal problems; and asked for the deposit back. He stated the security was for the damage of property. 

After googled, I just learned I should use the term Holding Deposit instead of Security Deposit.

So my questions:

1. Can I keep all or portion of the money by PA's law?

2. What's the best solution for this case?

Post: Beechview, Sharpsburg, Avalon/Bellevue of Pittsburgh

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3
Originally posted by @Devin Woods:

"I'm pretty certain that there is zero correlation to vacancy rates or rental income and the incline of the street in which the property is on."

This is something I want to know but couldn't learn by myself or analyze! 👍🏼

"If there was anything worth considering in this regard, it would be whether the house is on the high or low side of the street."

How this works? Which side is better and why?

any other factors need to be considered?

Post: Looking for a good granite company in Pittsburgh area

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

Chad,

check Pittsburgh Kitchenrama in Pittsburgh Strip district. got some from them, good deals. 

3340 Smallman Street • Strip District • Pittsburgh, PA 15201

Post: Beechview, Sharpsburg, Avalon/Bellevue of Pittsburgh

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

@Jennifer Lee@Jeremy Pace@Devin Woods

@Gary Swank 

Thank your for the useful information.

personally, I like Sharpsburg because it's flat, no hills and FC school District, but houses are relatively small and very close to each other, 

Beechview: of course the T is a plus, but with hills

Bellevue/Avalon: easy access to 79,279 and 65, but with hills

I know I shouldn't complain about hills since we are in Pittsburgh. but do you(or tenants) have any negative experience with it in those areas?

Post: Beechview, Sharpsburg, Avalon/Bellevue of Pittsburgh

Dustin LinPosted
  • Investor
  • Pittsburgh, PA
  • Posts 10
  • Votes 3

Hi everyone,

I'm a new investor in Pittsburgh. Does anyone have any rental property in Beechview, Sharpsburg, Avalon/Bellevue area? I'm checking some multi-units in those areas, looks like I can get good cashflow. But I'm not familiar with those areas, any ideas of rent, future selling price, appreciation...

Thanks

Dechen