All Forum Posts by: Gary Kurtz

@Ned Carey

You are right, I've not been around here very long. I have read the 2% and 50% rules but had not really connected them in a practical way as you illustrated. Thanks! I'm tired of reading about this stuff and I'm ready to go do it. I'm headed to my first REI meeting in two weeks and I can't wait to network!! I appreciate your input as well as everyone else's in this thread.

@Ali Boone

@Marco Santarelli

I will look into turn-key investing as well. Until this thread I had never heard of it. The big problem with it for me at least is the out of state part. I feel like I need to get my feet wet in my own back yard first. (Maybe that's just me...)

@Jerry K.

What a GREAT idea! Thank you so much for sharing!

@Ned Carey

Thanks for the post Ned. Is there any sort of indices or characteristics that are used to be able to tell if a market is like yours ("great cash flowing rentals (that) are easy to find on the MLS")?

Also, is there anything in particular to look for, or tell an agent to look for, when looking on the MLS for a potential rental home purchase or does it boil down to picking some homes at random and running numbers on them? (In our area "rental" homes is synonymous with "run-down"). Again, thanks!

Welcome Jake! I've found this to be a great place to learn and be encouraged!

@Ali Boone that post is a breath of fresh air!!! I sure need to learn HOW to do that! Thanks for the encouragement!! I haven't heard anyone (granted I haven't been on BP very long) even hint at an investing paradigm such as yours. How did you learn to do that?

@Ali Boone Yes, exactly. I am a hard worker and I work lots of hours and I'm figuring out that I have little pie left to devote to real estate. I think ultimately I'm trying to figure out if that disqualifies me to be able to pursue this. You summed it up well, thanks.

@Ellis San Jose Thank you. I was actually beginning to feel a little guilty about even asking the question. I appreciate that everyone's needs are unique - me included. I think your suggestions above are excellent. Thanks again Ellis.

I have a pretty good job that I've been working at for many years. We have good credit and some money saved. I've listened to many of the podcasts on BP, ready many posts here and have learned a lot.

What I'd like to know is if it is a viable option to simply work with an agent and find properties to buy and hold that would cash flow? Are those properties out there?

Of course anyone wants a great deal but I understand that my main objective is to find cash flow with the trade-off of a great deal for the time not spent in having to find that great deal. I hope that makes sense? Thanks!

@Joe Delia You make an excellent point - I do need to know a deal when I see one and be able to execute once there. I find it amazing that anyone would want to share their contact list with me?? I would think they would view me as a competitor!

@Karen Margrave Thank you for the wise advice. We have an upcoming meeting in two weeks and I plan on being there. I was on the fence about it but not now. I have a lot to learn - I don't even know how to gauge what shape our market is in!

@Mat Lewczenko Thanks Mat, It seems the learning curve is huge. I think if I could figure out my niche to get to buy and hold, and then just "do it" (all that that entails) consistently, I will be an old pro at it at some point. I don't know what your niche is but I have a friend who has a house in Grandview that he can't sell (not sure why) but if you're interested I can put you two in touch...

From what I can tell it seems that most folks in RE investing are ultimately after buy and hold.

I've listened to the podcasts with Anson Young who gets many of his deals off of the MLS, and Sam Craven and Aaron Mazrillo who are wholesalers and today I hear Kenny Estes' podcast that suggests that I shouldn't invest (as a newbie) until I've saved $50k... I would appreciate some direction: If the goal is to buy and hold what is the best way to get there? Is it necessary to market with (yellow) letters and postcards or is it better to find an agent and put them on the hunt? I'm interested in the most direct route. Maybe the answer is both? Any comments would be appreciated!

Probably not very motivated...