Skip to content
×
Pro Members Get
Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
ANNUAL Save 16%
$32.50 /mo
$390 billed annualy
MONTHLY
$39 /mo
billed monthly
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime

Let's keep in touch

Subscribe to our newsletter for timely insights and actionable tips on your real estate journey.

By signing up, you indicate that you agree to the BiggerPockets Terms & Conditions
×
Try Pro Features for Free
Start your 7 day free trial. Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties.
Followed Discussions Followed Categories Followed People Followed Locations
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Jennie Berger

Jennie Berger has started 18 posts and replied 311 times.

Post: Why is Lumber so Expensive?

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208

@John Lyszczyk 

Fabulous thread and incredibly insightful. Thank you for sharing. One question remains that I only noticed 1 person address--is there something else we can use/find/develop to replace lumber? Maybe not in its entirety, for the whole project, but perhaps use a combination of materials that would otherwise not be considered but can/should now be revisited due to the current price gouging? My fiance/biz partner is a GC and I asked him this same question. Waiting to see what he comes up with. :) In the meantime I thought you might have some insight into alternatives that we (the public) are not yet aware of. Located in Chicago IL, if that makes a difference. Thanks!

Jennie Berger

Property People

Post: looking to newtwork with like-minded people

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208
Originally posted by @Mark Ainley:

@Veronica Calvillo I will send you a PM for a female only real estate investor group that you can look into!  You will like this group...sounds like just what you want.

Hey @Mark AinleyI'd love to know more about that female group as well. :)

Hi @Veronica- so nice to 'meet' you. I'm open to connecting and seeing how/where I may be of service to you. Wishing you the best!


Post: *** Find Your Joy ***

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208

Hi Ashley-

Thanks for your comment and sharing your thoughts. I wholeheartedly agree with you--helping others is incredibly rewarding. A lot of people get involved in this business with the intention of making a lot of money. There's nothing wrong with that, of course. But what I've discovered is that those who succeed and thrive ALSO have a true love of helping people. A need to contribute to humanity in some way that is bigger than just themselves. There are many people who exemplify this philosophy, but Tony Robbins is probably one of my favorites. What he preaches resonates deeply with me--he says (paraphrasing here) we must operate FIRST from a place of "How Can I Serve Others?" And then, the rest.

Have a great day and take care!

Jennie

Post: Cost to Clean a Estate Sale in Chicago

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208

Hi Frank-

I have a great crew of 2 guys whom we have worked with before on multiple clean outs on the NW side. They've even done a horrible hoarder house for us, as well as smaller/in between sized clean outs. They are very quick and super easy to work with.  Highly recommend Greg with MMG Homes! 

Give him a call, text, or email. You can mention our names (Jennie & Greg from Property People) if you like. Good luck!

Greg Kolomyjski, MMG Homes Inc. (Happy to share contact details via DM. BP won't let me post it here.🤷‍♀️)

Post: *** Find Your Joy ***

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208

Have you heard of Peloton? If so, chances are you’ve done a ride or two and have a favorite instructor. Or two or three. Umm, what the heck does this have to do with real estate? Keep reading, I promise, it will all come together. :)

Did you ever notice how dang good looking these people are? I mean does the company just hire pretty people? Let’s face it, they are b-e-a-utiful. What with their chic makeup, coordinating Peloton labeled workout gear, and professionally styled hair. They sure know how to put on a show! But have you ever stopped to ask: What makes them so dang attractive?

Yeah, they’re really fun. And they play great music. And they even sweat with us. No doubt, important factors for a successful group fitness class. But that’s all just part of the game. Their façade, if you will. Not that they're trying to dupe us. Not at all! But this outer layer that they show to the world, their students and devotees, is just that. An outer layer. There’s something else. Something much, much deeper about these striking individuals. Behind the makeup, the up-dos, and designer garb. You feel it every time they smile. It’s called joy.

Joy? Yes, JOY. Not happiness, joy. Make no mistake--happiness is a wonderful feeling, and I wish it for everyone! But joy is stronger, deeper, more reliable. Unlike happiness, joy is not dependent on any outside force. It doesn’t fluctuate up and down and back and forth, depending on what’s happening in your life on any given day. Joy comes from within, and you can connect with it at any time, for any reason. That's the key though: It’s up to you to find it. We do not wait on anyone or anything to find our joy.

Here’s a tip--Gratitude. When we feel grateful—grateful for our health, a safe place to live, someone we love, our pet, the sunset, a warm meal, the shoes on our feet, anything--it is easy to connect to joy. And when one is joyful, their whole being radiates, from the inside out.

This is what I witness in Peloton instructors. I’m not here to promote anyone, but I’d be remiss if I didn’t at least mention some of my personal faves. (If for no other reason than to give you a frame of reference for this post.) Robin Arzon, Jess King, Cody Rigsby--can't get enough of 'em. Why? Besides being totally awesome cycling instructors, it's also very clear to me that they are just darn grateful people. Grateful for what? I don't know for sure. But if I had to make an educated guess, I'd say, pretty much everything. And gratitude brings joy. And that joy brings a feeling of intense, deep, all-encompassing satisfaction and appreciation. You can see the joy in their smiles. You can feel it in the words they say, and the way they deliver their messages.

This is how Greg & I feel with the work that we do! Our job is about SO much more than flipping houses and making money. I mean, the money is great. And the adventure of being a real estate investor, in and of itself, is super exciting. But on top of all this, there is an incredible opportunity to connect with humanity. To connect with people, in some sort of meaningful way, each and every day. And that brings a real sense of gratitude.

Gratitude Leads To Joy.

Whether it's helping a struggling homeowner, or meeting with new buyers who knew they wanted our rehabbed house the minute they walked inside. Whether we are ordering from a tile supplier, or hiring a landscaper to spruce up the curb appeal on an upcoming new build. It doesn’t matter what you do for a living! House flipper, interior designer, general contractor, school teacher, fitness instructor, office manager, mortgage banker, bartender, vegan burger flipper…It doesn’t matter! You can find joy by connecting in some sort of meaningful way with anyone who crosses your path. OK, OK, it can't be that easy, right? Wrong!

How does one find joy? One method that works for us is simply by shifting my perspective about someone’s inherent value as a human being. That is I stop looking at them merely as a means to an end: eg: a vendor who can give me what I need to get my remodel done quicker and cheaper. Instead I pause and ask myself the following: Who are they, where are they coming from, and how can I serve them? Now, you don’t have to do this every single time with every single person you speak to. In fact, I'd recommend not obsessing over it because if you do, you might not get anything done. ;) The point is, gratitude can be found by simply transforming the way we think and perceive others and the world around us.

And Gratitude Leads to Joy.

Are you up for the challenge? Try it! I am confident, if you are able and willing to give this task a go, you will discover more gratitude, more appreciation, and by default, more joy. Please share your thoughts below if you are already implementing this in your own life. We'd love to hear about your experiences!

Go. Find Your Joy.

With Love & Gratitude,

Post: Digging into a basement

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208
Hey Zak- How much ceiling height do you need to gain? We have done 1 dig down thus far and are doing a 2nd shortly. Both SFH on the NW side. Neither require underpinning and we are gaining about 8" of ceiling height or so. We dug down the max allowed before this was required. So our ceilings will be around 7'6, which is a nice height in our market. It's about half the cost of having to underpin. 

Originally posted by @Zak Marinko:

Does anyone have any referrals for digging into a basement to make the ceiling height acceptable? Any advice or connections in converting a basement into livable space would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! 

Post: Digging into a basement

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208

Hi Zak

Post: What would you do: $1M "Wholetail" Deal?!

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208

@Conrad Martin Interesting! Thanks for the 101. :) Why is the house not selling, iyo?

Post: GC Realty Investments in Chicago thoughts and experiences?

Jennie BergerPosted
  • Lender
  • Chicago IL
  • Posts 323
  • Votes 208
Originally posted by @Daniel Shafer:

@Jennie Berger It's near Robichaux Park! That's encouraging to hear :D 

Ah, that's a different area than Bridgeport. :D I pulled up S Pullman Ave on the map from your initial post and saw there was one in/near Bridgeport. But the park you referenced is quite a bit further South...Hmmmm. 

Let's see what the pros have to say. Our areas are mainly on the NW side of Chicago so I'm very curious to see what people have to say.