All Forum Posts by: Richard Ball

 Sorry to hear that, I sent you a PM.

Step 1. Become a member of Port Huron Area Landlord Association - PHALA.net - It is $50 a year but they have around 400 members and they have monthly meetings where they bring in local judges, tax experts, accountants, local police, lawyers, fair housing experts and the list goes on all in an effort to keep you up to date and knowledgeable as a landlord.

Step 2. Use there resources to understand the area and get trusted contractors.

Step 3. Profit.

Full disclosure I am a board member of PHALA

The area really hasn't changed too much. Rental inspections have gotten tougher so be prepared for higher repair costs. Make sure any multi-unit has separate heat for each unit, a lot of out of town owners are getting bit by that when they have there inspection. I still don't recommend Port Huron unless you really like punishment but the surrounding areas are nice and while the initial returns might look lower you save in management costs and time.

You pay yearly, it's $100 due in April or May. The inspection is every 2 years, they say you can get a 4 years cert but that's BS because they won't give you one if they find something wrong (even if you fix it) and they ALWAYS find something. There will be a loose outlet or your gutter downspout won't be long enough or whatever they feel like nitpicking that week. They claim to go off the International Property Maintenance Code but when you ask for specifics (like downspout length that is not in the book) they have a cute little law that basically says whatever they say goes.

Hello @Yuriy Tymoshenko

Thank you! Prefect timing as I will be heading to Tallahassee next week! I invest in St. Clair County, mostly around the Port Huron area.

Hey Ian! Absolutely, I'll send you a PM. I think toward the end of next week would work for a call as I plan to be near Savannah/Charleston by the end of January. Right now I am looking at Mobile/Pensacola. Next week it will be Tallahassee and then Jacksonville/St. Augustine before I head North.

Thank you both for the information. I did mention those cities but I am open to anything within an hour of them if the opportunity is there so thank you for the additional cities to look into. Actually I am open to opportunities anywhere that it is warm I just won't be able to see it in January :D. 

Hello! In January I am visiting

Mobile, AL / Pensacola, FL / Tallahassee, FL / Jacksonville, FL / Savannah, GA / Charleston, SC

I am doing my own due diligence on these markets for buy and hold rentals but am hoping to get a crash course from some locals before I go boots on the ground. 

I know returns in these areas are going to be much less then what I am getting in Michigan but can they crack a 1.5% in a decent neighborhood if I buy the worse house on a good block? Any recommendations on neighborhoods I should stick too since my time is somewhat limited? Any rental restrictions (long or short term)? How are you getting deals (hopefully a decent wholesaling network)? Any other considerations I should be aware of?