All Forum Posts by: Don Hines

I am with Carlos. Who would want to live with someone with that vocabulary and I am sure the IQ to go with it. I bet this guy has green and pink hair. Don't get me wrong; there is a time and place for profanity. I use it everyday when I get mad and ignorant. But, not when I calm down and regain my composure.
Don

Read J Scott's artical in his blog on 123flip.com
I couldn't have said it better my self.
Don

I have not been making offers recently. But, on my current project, I am pretty sure I was the lone bidder. I watched the price drop from $90k to $70k and started my offers around $55k. ARV is $125k to $130k. My point I want to make is that after over a dozen offers of decent houses, I finally won one from FNMA a billy goat would not live in. No way it could be financed for an owner occupant.
There are two more homes in the area I have been watching that aren't even listed yet (over 6 months). I don't think they are drying up. I just think the banks are sitting on them until their timing seems better.
Don

Check their documentation. If they have a legitimate SS# you will be violating profiling edicate if you investigate further.
Don

Good question.
I can't say that I have ever heard of someone shopping for a home with these modifications. I do know of several cases where a person's current home was modified in the same manor as you say with donations or insurance.
I think I would change the cabinets and electricals back at least.
Don

What is an illeagal alien?
Don

Congrats!!!
I hope your first is successful; if not, break even; if not you learn from it.
Using the lower ARV number of $280k, your numbers don't look too out of whack to me. But, $40,000 swing in the ARV guesstimate is a huge swing. Too big for my comfort. You don't say where you are from. But, this is a pricy range for what I look for in Little Rock. They are selling however (at least my neighbor).
Paying a contractor by the day is risky as Jason said. My wife got away with it when we bought and did some remodeling on our residence. But, she is tougher than I am with tha sort of thing. I like to create a scope of work that details what I will get for my money. Anything out of the scope is negotiated as needed.
I hope you don't take the negatives as a deterent. Your numbers can work.
Good Luck
Don

Use the BP card. You have earned it!!
Don

We are probably just a couple of years away. Think about all of the bueacracy that needs to be cut from govenment with duplicate jobs etc. When someone with the cajonies gets in there to do something. It ain't going to be pretty at first.
Don

Mitch
You definately want to use treated wood for all of the structure. It not only helps with the rot from the elements, you will also be worry free from termites or other boring insects. Squirrels will still chew on it though. I don't have any experience with the composites. But, it has been my experience that the protectants with the stain such as Thompson's or Baeher do need to be applied at least every other year. You can also apply stain too soon. Let some of the chemicals and treatments dry out of the fresh lumber a couple of weeks before applying stain or sealant. Opinions might be different. But, I don't like to seal the underside of decking.
Don