All Forum Posts by: Freddy Alban

Hey, sounds like an exciting project! For under $300k, both shipping containers and modular homes can be great options—modular might offer a bit more flexibility with design. 

Focus on locations with growing populations like the outskirts of Atlanta, Charlotte, or Greenville, SC—these areas have strong rental markets and good business potential. Just make sure to check local zoning for mixed-use properties before you dive in. 

Happy to chat more if you need help with the real estate side or finding the right spot!

Hey Josselyn, that’s awesome—you’ve got a great story coming from Wall Street to the property tech scene. I’m from Ecuador too, so it’s cool to see someone with a similar background getting into real estate here in Charlotte. 

If you ever want to chat about the NC market or need tips on starting your rental journey, feel free to reach out. 

Would love to connect and help you make that first investment a success!

Hey Mike & Rachel, welcome to the area and congrats on the next step in your REI journey!

I'm a realtor and investor, and it's great to see you both taking the plunge with your LLC setup. Charlotte has a solid network of investors, and there are definitely a few meetups that could be a great fit.

I’d be happy to connect you with some groups and resources in the area. Feel free to reach out anytime—would love to chat more about your investment plans and how I can help!

Hey, great question! 

As a realtor, I’ve seen deals like this play out. Since the property’s listed $70k below market, that’s a solid start. After you do those minor fixes, it should appraise closer to the market value of $450k, especially if the upgrades add value. 

When it comes to cash-out refi, lenders will look at the new appraised value rather than your purchase price, but they often want to see a bit more seasoning—usually 6-12 months ownership. That said, some lenders are flexible if you can show the improvements made. 

Happy to chat more if you need help finding the right lender or just want to discuss the numbers further!

Hey Yana!
I’m Freddy Alban, a Realtor and real estate investor in Charlotte, NC. I often find great off-market deals that could fit what you're looking for. Let’s chat about your investment needs and see how I can help!

You can easily schedule a call with me here: https://calendly.com/freddy-alban/discoverycall

 Looking forward to connecting!

Best, Freddy

Starting off, it's crucial to pinpoint your investment objectives. Are you aiming for consistent cash flow, or are you more interested in the property's appreciation over time? Consider how involved you want to be in the management of the property. Are you looking for a turnkey property that's ready to rent out immediately, or are you interested in a property that needs work, where you can add value and potentially utilize the BRRRR (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat) method?

The type of property you choose—whether it's a project you can rehab or a ready-to-move-in option—will also influence the type of financing you'll need. Another important consideration is whether you plan to manage the rental yourself or hire a property manager to handle tenant issues and maintenance.

I recommend starting by answering these questions. A common strategy among some of my investors is to acquire at least one rental property per year. This approach can be a good fit if you're not keen on day-to-day tenant and property management tasks.

Hey Brian! Congrats on your first flip! Send me a DM—I can connect you with some local wholesalers, and I also have access to off-market properties. Would love to connect and see how we can work together!

Investment Info:

Single-family residence note investment investment.

Purchase price: $78,000

I bought a single-family home for $78,000 and secured a private money loan to cover the full amount over 30 years. We later sold the property on seller financing terms, asking for $139,000 with an $18,000 down payment, also spread over 30 years. Thanks to private investors, this transaction required no upfront cash from us.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I attended a conference where I met individuals who specialize in wraparound mortgages. Originally, I had planned to wholesale the property for a quick $15,000 profit. However, I quickly realized that I could ask for a down payment from the buyer. Since my private lender did not require a down payment, this approach would work well.

How did you finance this deal?

Private money

I market myself as an investor and often start with a cash offer, but if that's not the best option for the homeowner, I'll switch to listing the property on the market. Targeting the right list of homes is crucial in this approach. This strategy not only increases the likelihood of generating more leads but also positions you to offer the most appropriate solutions, whether that's a fast cash deal or a traditional market listing.

We initially started with Podio, but found ourselves constantly needing to hire a developer for new adjustments. Next, we tried RESimply, which was robust but not very user-friendly, especially in terms of automation. It simplifies the CRM into categories for buyers and sellers, though its app is somewhat lacking. Eventually, we switched to Follow Up Boss. Although it's expensive, it effectively keeps us top of mind with our sellers and buyers, providing features like email open rate tracking and call recording. My advice is to choose a CRM that does the job effectively until you're ready to upgrade. The key factor is the follow-up capabilities, so pick one that excels in that area.