All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Hi,  I found this site which helps in researching investment properties.  It looks good.  

(https://www.mashvisor.com/)  You type in a city and it shows you investment properties and cash flow, etc... 

As a baby boomer,  I realize the need of such housing.  As a prospective investor in Mi, I have considered it.  Seniors are more reliable, and take care of the property more.  

We don't get hurricanes here, but there is flooding.  I live at the foot of a mountain range. Every time there is heavy rain fall, it floods. The houses that are affected most are those in the path of the water, often built on the banks of a river or on "soft land".   There are clearly places where houses shouldn't be built.  Also, we get wild fires a lot, and where ever there was a fire in the summer, there were floods in the winter. Nothing to hold the water.  In an attempt to rectify the situation, there have been efforts on a 'volunteer level" to reforest land that has been burnt.  Lot can be done by private citizens and businesses.  Maybe it would be better if there was less concrete and more grass, trees and other plants.  

Just some food for thought.  What would happen to these areas if investors didn't come?  The houses and other buildings would probably sit and rot... becoming an eye sore and health hazard to the community.  Aren't investors those who come first to a disaster stricken area?  Whether natural or man-made, the investors, many times foreign, that with not only their money, but time, skills and man-power, help to rebuild the communities. Do they make money of course.. but they're not the only ones who benefit.  I kind of like to think of it as the cycle of creative destruction in real estate.... something new comes to take the place of something old.   Investors have been around since the beginning of time, in some form or another.  They are the one's who see an old office building as a low- income apartment building,  Those who take arid land, and find ways to irrigate it.  

I am interested in Multi family houses in Grand Rapids/ Big Rapids/ Mount Clemens/ Pontiac or St. Claire  areas.  Would appreciate any information on the market in any of these cities.  

 Thanks for the replies.   I would buy it actually for both, if possible.  If it is a MFH, I would consider the possibility of living in one of the units as well.  The tenants are long term and wish to stay.  That would mean, a steady cash flow, and not having to worry about turn over. It is within our budget as well.  

Hi,  

This is actually a double question.  I often find some really nice MFH's but they are often older homes, some dating back to the early 1900's.  One in particular is really beautiful, inside and out. It is already rented out, and under a property manager.  So the questions are... is buying an older building a good investment, and is it a good idea to start with a property already managed and occupied?  I don't mind older homes, actually I prefer them because they have a certain character and charm that newer ones don't have.  If the infrastructure is good and it has recently been remodelled and bought up to code... I don't see any problems.  

Here is an interesting article from a blog on resilient investing in RE.  Not easy, but doable. 

(https://blog.principal.com/2017/01/25/resilience-managing-real-estate-in-an-increasingly-volatile-environment/)   We can't prevent these disasters from happening.... but maybe we can find ways to help the communities bounce back from them.   Especially interesting is the link to the 100 Most Resilient Cities.  

My  question would be how could we as investors, help make the communities we invest in more resilient to natural disasters. Or even if we should. 

I am also interested in the Traverse City area.  I notice that MFH are few and rather expensive.  But I like the area. My sister lives up there and I have been there many times.