All Forum Posts by: Kristen Mathias

@Ben Guttman Any chance you got a chance to look at the quotes?

@Ben Guttman and @Dave Lin 

Thanks would love to talk about other options. 

Hello BP!

Any suggestions for homeowners Insurance for a townhome in Baltimore?

I have looked into Lemonade, Statefarm, & Hippo?

I am "house hacking" in Baltimore while I am in School at Johns Hopkins Nursing School. From all of my research and doing the numbers in the area, canton doesn't make sense. I found a place 5 blocks from JHH, on the edge of Butchers hill. I will be living there about 2.5-3 years and for me the numbers work out so that I am not paying rent while I am going to school and also the rent after I leave will covers the mortgage. Unless you find some extremely good deal in Canton (that you would probably have to put some money into fixing) the numbers (in my opinion) just do not work out in Canton. 

Best of luck!

Hey @Mike D.

I am someone that seems to view each circumstance in its own light. I don't believe that all college students or all low income tenants have the same habits. Honestly as with any renter, it is extremely important to vet people right and with college students there is the opportunity to get parent co-signers which can add an extra buffer. 

Honestly I would take everything into consideration. Is it undergrad or grad school? Which degrees and programs? how many rooms is the place (because it is has many and is a big place, more likely to be a party place)? 

Everything in real estate from my experience is circumstantial and it is important to look at the specific situation and what specific goals you have to figure out the best fit. 

Not sure if this is helpful, but wish you the best!

@A. Christopher Rose  I just bought my first place in baltimore and am interested in staying open to future endeavors. I'd love to connect, and communicate sometime.

@Alex King my recommendation is to visit baltimore if you have not. Baltimore is extremely varied , street by street, more than any other city I have been to. I would find a real estate agent and schedule to do a few days of cruising neighborhoods and touring homes. You really have to physically be there to have a real idea of the house and the neighborhoods. picture or google earth can't give this to you. 

My second recommendation is to look into the city plans and projects to see which neighborhoods and seeing a lot of remodeling and development and to call agents and other invests and get their opinions. There are many different grants and credits available in Baltimore depending on what you are looking at doing, so I would recommend taking some time to really do research and physically step food in some of the areas. 

I used Authority Inspection for the first home in East Baltimore. John James was incredibly thorough and took the time to explain and communicate to me. 

I am also in the process of using a company called Homecheck Inspection Services, I will get back to you with how they are. Best of luck!

@Solomon Morris Thats wonderful! I would love to pick your brain sometime if you are open? Do your rent out the place for live in it?

Let me know if you open to chatting at some point. 

Thanks!