All Forum Posts by: Lisa Montana

Thanks Susan!

Hey, do you put granite countertops in your rentals? If so, how much do you pay per square foot? Can you recommend cheap granite suppliers? I'm replacing 36 sq ft of kitchen countertop in a relatively high-end rental. If there's a better deal on 40 or 50 sq ft, I could replace the countertop in another unit as well.

Hello. Looking to refinance my mortgage and wondering if anyone can recommend banks or other lenders who might be inclined to give me a better deal than a 5/1 ARM portfolio loan on my primary residence. My goal is 4% fixed, but a 4.25% fixed with no points would significantly improve my cash on cash ROI.

I'm househacking a triplex in Bolton Hill, Baltimore. Just purchased the building on February 29, 2016. My credit scores are 779 (Equifax), 762 (Experian), 759 (TransUnion). Net worth is between 900k and 1mil--most of it in an IRA and a Roth. Because I spent 2015 traveling in Asia, was self-employed for 16 years, and my 2014 income was mostly from capital gains on the sale of an investment property, the best mortgage I could get was a 5/1 ARM with a 5% adjustable interest rate that can go up or down as much as 2.5% in 5 years.

Current mortgage lender said I could refinance once I showed 2 months of income from a full-time job along with rental income. So I’m working a full-time job with an hourly wage while renovating 2 properties: the triplex I live in and a single-family home. I’ve gone on LendingTree and discussed my situation with various lenders, but frankly, my job doesn’t leave much time to field phone calls. I’d love to refinance sooner, rather than later, so I can drop the job and be more involved in the renovations. Can anyone recommend a lender who might give me a lower rate? Thanks!

I'm working on my first 2 deals in Baltimore. One is a few days from closing. I have one plumber and one electrician, but would like to get several estimates for plumbing and electrical repairs. Looking for high-quality work, honesty and reasonable pricing. Any recommendations? Thanks!

Hello Maryland investors,

Can anyone recommend a property inspector who can do an inspection in Baltimore with relatively little notice? Fannie Mae is supposed to get back to me on an offer today, and I'd like to get the property inspected before the 24th, if possible.

Thanks and best wishes.

Thanks to all of you for the hearty welcome!

@Account Closed Thanks for referring me to other posts on out of state investing. I could hire a property manager and/or temporarily relocate.

Hello. I’m excited to meet others on this site. Financial freedom is my goal, and my primary interest is buying a multifamily or possibly house hacking.

I've leased, managed, and sold one single-family home in Baltimore County, Maryland. When I sold in 2014, I did not do a 1031, because I'd inherited the property right before the 2007 crash, so the capital gains were small.

Can you recommend good markets for multifamily properties? I grew up near Baltimore, Maryland, lived in San Francisco for 14 years and New York City for 12 years. I'm sure there are bargains in these cities, but I’m primarily considering other markets, like Detroit or Austin, TX.

I'm also interested in learning about unconventional financing. I'm self-employed and just spent 9 months traveling n South Asia, which makes it harder to get loans, even though my credit score fluctuates between 787 and 812. If I paid cash, this might limit me to less than $300,000, and I’d rather avoid buying real estate through a Roth.

Any advice on hot real estate markets or alternative financing is much appreciated. Thanks in advance!