All Forum Posts by: J. Martin

Hi Jared, and welcome to BP! I'm a "fix and hold" investor from the Bay Area in CA, and loving it! But you'll find a variety of every type of investor on the site, and everyone is amazingly helpful. Some pointers for you: The "Learn" link across the top navigation bar has lots of great info, and so do BP members! You can click on the "vote" button if you like someone's post or is helpful, and there are "awards" to earn on your profile. And you can tag people by typing @ before you type their name, then clicking their name at the bottom of the message box. Welcome to the site, and good luck in everything!

@Esther Thomas ,

There are also quite a few investors on the peninsula, including @Account Closed , and many others. You can find a lot of local contacts on BP from the Bay Area on postings from the last meetup also..

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/109953-east-bay-meetup---thurs-jan-16-2014-in-oakland?page=2

@Esther Thomas ,

Welcome! From the East Bay.. I can understand it's too expensive in Belmont (yikes!~). But not up here! You really have to go to the periphery of the Bay to get any cash flow. Or inland.. Or out of state, as you said. I like something I can go check out if I need/want to. But will probably do something out of state eventually. I own and landlord a 4-unit apartment building and some single family homes in Richmond. Put in another offer today in Oakland, but don't think it's going to stick.. Still looking around.. I'm always happy to share advice.

Also, I organize a monthly meetup of BP members in the East Bay every month - about 25+ people in Dec and Jan. It's a great group of people and great learning/networking experience, so please come join us if you're able to make it. It's on Feb 19th in Oakland. Hope to meet you there!

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/114766-east-bay-meetup---wed-2-19-14-in-oakland

ps. I've been in the Bay for almost a decade (but not as long as you!), but haven't explored a lot of the outdoors activities, so recently joined some meetup.com outdoor/activity groups and have gone on some beautiful "tours"/hikes of spots I never would have gone, and met some cool people along the way.. (if you haven't tried it yet)

I'm a 'fix and hold' investor, because I'm trying to build some long-term passive(r) income - but I understand the need to raise capital too. Get creative. You're in a low-cost area - so you should be able to get more done. I got 2 deals for >$600K done between a 4plex and 2 sfr's w/ FHA on the first and a partnership on the second - where I bring the experience and the investor brings a lot of the capital. So I did both with hardly anything in cash.

Don't let the lack of capital stop you from building the long-term income, especially if the margin is not great on the straight flip.. I recommend looking at FHA on a 4plex if you're trying to get some long-term cash flow without a lot of cash up front..

FEB EAST BAY MEETUP SCHEDULED - see link

Please DO NOT post on this forum.

Hope to see you all there for another great meetup! And please post the info about yourself on the forum if you are coming. @Ralph E. , it's on a Wednesday!

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/114766-east-bay-meetup---wed-2-19-14-in-oakland

@Jeff Weissman ,

Looks like I beat you to the punch! But... I would like to have another contact for a handyman. Happy to share mine too. It's nice to have some reliable people to call up on a bigger job. And nice to have a backup if your main person is running all over the place.. Swap? (I'll PM you)

Also, I organized another monthly meetup in Oakland - on Wed, Feb 19th (not 16th). There have been 25+ people at the Dec and Jan meetups. You're welcome to come if you'd like to join. If you get many off-market properties or "pocket listings" in the Bay - you could be a very in-demand individual..

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/114766-east-bay-meetup---wed-2-16-14-in-oakland

Welcome @Erik K. !

I invest here in the Bay and organize monthly meetups in Oakland. Hopefully you can make it out and meet some local BP members - since it looks like that's what you're looking for! 25+ at the Dec and Jan meetups. It will be the evening of Wed, Feb 19th in Oakland (ignore date in title - the other dates in posting are correct.) You'll find some more info about me on there.. Looking forward to meeting you then!

http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/521/topics/114766-east-bay-meetup---wed-2-16-14-in-oakland

Looking forward to seeing everyone there! Please copy and paste the questions below into a new post and type your responses over mine if you are coming!

In State / Out of State?
Investing in-state now. Driveable distances to Bay. Will be considering out of state investments in the future, and interested in hearing more, and talking numbers, thoughts, etc..

Strategy?
'Fix' and hold. Buy 'em cheap and beat up. Then make them pretty, and rent at top of market to better than average tenants - so far in lower-income neighborhoods (relative to the Bay)

Type of properties?
Prefer 2-4 units, or multiple SFH's on one lot. WIll also consider SFH alone.. Will look at MF and other commercial after tapped out on 30yr financing.

Looking for?
Wholesalers to bring off-market properties in the Bay Area w/ <8GRM or significant turnaround/rehab needed. Potential equity investors to invest side-by-side with my equity on deals I am looking at. I do not have any money to lend for other's deals right now, but would potentially be interested in being an equity partner on someone else's deal in the Bay Area, investing side-by-side equity with a colleague.

Can offer / knowledgeable about?
Advice: General real estate, landlording, SF/Oakland rent control, FHA loan info, general loan info, Multifamily, financial analysis, prospecting spreadsheet (CF estimates), economic analysis, references for handyman, loans, insurance, inspectors, etc in the Bay.

It's time for the next monthly meetup in the East Bay! Come one, come all! Join us to meet with some great people, talk about all aspects of real estate investing, and make some local connections in the Bay. For those who are coming, please introduce yourself on the forum by copy and pasting the questions I filled out in the post below, then replace my answers with yours. This way, everyone has an idea of who we are and who they'd like to target when we meet up. See you there!

What: East Bay Meetup - Feb Edition

When: Wednesday, February 19th, 2014 - 6:30PM to 10ish+

Where: Rosamunde Sausage Grill (& Bar)
Swans Market Place, 911 Washington St, Oakland, CA 94607
http://www.yelp.com/biz/rosamunde-sausage-grill-oakland?nb=1

Get There: Take BART to 12th St/Civic Center Oakland Station & walk down Broadway to decreasing-numbered streets. Make a right on 9th St and walk to the first corner, at 911 Washington St. It is about a 5min walk, the same location as the last BP meetup (there will be some improvements this time.)

Parking at 459 8th St, or other garages nearby at the link below. Or street parking. (as a general prudent practice in the Bay, do not leave valuables visible in your car)
http://oaklandparking.spplus.com/Oakland-459-8th-Street-Parking.html

This is the third East Bay Meetup I've organized, and we've had 25+ people each time, with great conversations/connections/tips and people. Everyone is welcome. There is no cost, except whatever you would like to spend on beer or food. BP officially has no hand in organizing this event, except for providing the forum for us to get together on - but please do not post blatant advertisements/solicitations on this forum to avoid the mod backlash. Hope to see you there!

- J Martin

Like last time, I'm going to post some keywords to alert those in the area who might be interested.. (I added a few this time..)

East Bay , East Bay Meetup , Bay Area , Meetup , Meet up , Meet-up , San Francisco , Oakland , Berkeley , Alameda County , Contra Costa County , Solano County , Richmond , Hercules , Concord , Albany , Pittsburgh , Marin San Rafael , South Bay , Peninsula , Walnut Creek , Pittsburgh , Antioch , Pleasanton , Fremont , Castro Valley

Welcome Dan R . There are a lot of super helpful people and great advice on this site! I'm a "fix and hold" investor from the

Bay Area in CA, and loving it! A lot of others doing flips, wholesaling, notes, everything.. A few tips..

You can tag people by typing @ before you type their name, then clicking their name when it pops up at the bottom of the

message box. You can click on the "vote" button if you like someone's post or is helpful, and there are "awards" to earn

on your profile. The "Learn" link across the top navigation bar has lots of great info, and most importantly, the BP

members! Welcome to BP, and good luck on your investments!