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All Forum Posts by: Benjamin Cowles

Benjamin Cowles has started 92 posts and replied 441 times.

... be a waste of time(yours and agents')? I'm not using the MLS now to search for deals but I know many investors use it so I'm just wondering how viable a source it is for seller financing. I'm guessing as viable as any but to use it exclusively for this purpose might be a waste of time unless one had a relationship with an agent that would invite this strategy. Any input on this? Thanks

I use a standard printing app from my phone but it doesn't operate off a queue so I have to tell it to print each envelope one at a time, and my Canon Pixma MG4120 printer spits out these little 3 5/8 x 6 1/2 envelopes on an angle when the stack gets so low. Pain in the butt. I've cleaned the rollers and put it  through all the maintenance functions. 

Ideas anyone? Preferably an Android app otherwise I can use my windoze pc.  And any good sub $200 printers that can correctly hold smaller envelopes? Thanks!

Originally posted by @Mindy Jensen:

Hi @Benjamin Cowles

Can you clarify your concern? 

 Sure. These two options are check boxes under every article/blog that you can select before submitting your reply to said blog. I'm not sure what the difference between them is. "follow up comments" I'd imagine are replies to your specific replies to the blog whereas "new posts" are new replies by other members to the blog/article. But just selecting notifications for "follow -up comments" gets me notifications for "new posts" , in addition to follow up comments to my own, even though I don't select  "new posts" as that would yield , and does, too many email notifications. I just want to know when/if someone follows up with my comment. Maybe I'm misunderstanding these check boxes. Am I? Thanks. 

Hey, btw, did you/might you guys ever add mention capability to mobile, for Android specifically? I haven't checked again in a while but my heart still longs for that feature. Thanks Mindy.

I thought follow-ups would be responses to new posts but even though I click just follow-ups I get notifications of new posts. 

Post: Tiny Houses in SWFL? Naples/Estero/Ft. Myers Area

Benjamin CowlesPosted
  • Cape Coral, FL
  • Posts 469
  • Votes 32

ooh, cool subject. I'll be following it. Do we really need 5-700sf/ person? I find it wasteful. I almost bought a cute 50k 1/1 in Lehigh acres but it was in Lehigh acres lol. How much does it cost to build a "tiny home"? I would love to build and sell them but got would you "sell" one/any? Who knows, maybe it could be an undiscovered market. Like I didn't know I wanted a fat juicy Carl's Jr burger dripping down my face and shirt til I saw the billboard(years ago). Could ya build two 1/1's on single lot? I'd like to try, or watch someone else at first. 

Post: What kind of deed do you offer a seller as collateral as part...

Benjamin CowlesPosted
  • Cape Coral, FL
  • Posts 469
  • Votes 32

...of a seller financing offer? I've read there are many types of deeds. Thanx!

Post: New member from Lee County, FL

Benjamin CowlesPosted
  • Cape Coral, FL
  • Posts 469
  • Votes 32

hey Paul. I'm a local newb myself. Just started marketing. If you ever need some info/advice/perspective from someone else just starting out hit me up any time. Good luck. 

...oh hey Joe nice to see you in here. 

Post: Checking out a "moved" house tomorrow.

Benjamin CowlesPosted
  • Cape Coral, FL
  • Posts 469
  • Votes 32

Never knew homes other than mobile ones could be moved. Do they normally stay intact? Should it give me much concern? I wouldn't imagine anymore than an inspector would have which of course I'd employ if I get that far but I thought I'd fish for some insight on this strange, to me at least, situation. It was close to where a bridge was being built so they moved it a couple blocks. 

Post: Cheapest way to buy stamps

Benjamin CowlesPosted
  • Cape Coral, FL
  • Posts 469
  • Votes 32

beware anyone who reads this: I was under the impression the PO would take my many old cheap stamps like currency then re-stamp my letters at .49 each but no, you've got decorate your envelopes with however many stamps needed to equal .49 cents. 

Post: Why does it matter if a preforeclosure is "under water"?

Benjamin CowlesPosted
  • Cape Coral, FL
  • Posts 469
  • Votes 32
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
Originally posted by @Benjamin Cowles:
Originally posted by @Account Closed:
Originally posted by @Benjamin Cowles:

When qualifying a property, why does it matter how much it is under water if the bank will still only be able to get the highest bid at auction? Isn't the bank just as likely to accept a short sale vs going through a FC regardless of the equity? What am I missing here or what misconception might I have?

The short sale requires the cooperation of the borrower.....because the borrower is the owner.  The borrower/owner may or may not be willing or able to cooperate.  The borrower/owner may be dead.  The borrower/owner could have a ton of other debt issues that can't be settled so foreclosure might be the only way to extinguish them.  There might be title issues that can't be resolved without a foreclosure.  Short sales are so far from a slam dunk.  Ask any agent who works them.  It's a numbers game as to how many actually close.  And as pointed out above, the only person who gets paid is the agent.

hmm... only the agent gets paid so... I'm guessing you don't bother with them. Would you maybe hand them over to an agent and maybe get a referral fee or something, percentage ... ?

 Most of the time there is nothing to "hand over" to an agent.  The seller has to be willing and able to list the property and provide a crap ton of documentation.....for not much benefit to them. 

I've bought a few upside down props subject to the over encumbering debt and then negotiated down the liens.....as the new owner.  So there is sometimes a play.  Really depends on the lender and the seller situation.

 Ah, forgot about that possibility. Thanks!