All Forum Posts by: Marian Smith

@Julie Williams I bought a property across the street from a sex offender. Then a sex offender moved in down the street from another rental in a much nicer neighborhood...I only found out because I print the list to argue for a lower tax assessment. It could happen anywhere as they often move in with mom. It has never been an issue for my tenants.

I have a neighbor recruiting for one of the big tech firms and also looking to buy a house.  She says it is hard as she is being overbid on houses all the while offering large packages to new recruits moving them here for her firm...only, it seems, to compete with her for houses. 

@Alex G. Hey Alex, I have a property in N. Austin with an addition that was framed incorrectly so the ceiling has a sag where new meets old. You know of a framer or someone I could hire to tell me how to fix it? It was added on in the 60's so its not going to fall down, I just want to fix the sag without adding a pillar. Thanks.

Common sense says no and no, but I have no idea.  Inspectopedia is a great site and may answer your question.

@Russell Gronsky You have had offers to look at your listing photos...by experts...but you havent posted. I agree with not mentioning the commuter rail. I also agree that the holidays were a less optimal time to list. Are you a detail person? Because an empty place needs to be q-tip clean and look about perfect. I cringe when people move out and take the refrigerator leaving behind a dirty piece of wall in a weird paint color from 1975. I am sure your flip is better than that, point being that a 3$ paint sample will fix the above faux pas...maybe the pros can give you an inexpensive, simple way to boost your listing photos and overall appeal. A turn off is a turn off no matter how easy the fix. Its emotional. I doubt your problem is a train across the street, here people are paying incredible (to me) top dollar amounts for flips a street away from a couple of rather dilapidated mobile homes. Not great schools, either. But their exteriors are black and white and the interiors exactly what people want.

You have two different opportunities.  One is to cash in on a hot sellers market and all your gains are tax free.  Nothing wrong with that.  The other is to take on a bit of risk and rent out your house and have a tenant pay down your loan while housing prices continue to rise...the downside being your house gets older and more worn down with tenants and the risk is vacancy or eviction, excess damage, etc.  And hassle.  But the area is tops in the nation for job growth and Pflugerville is a good location.  However times are weird with covid and you'd need to be extra vigilant screening tenants.  Also, I would be content with your interest rate as refinancing as an investment property would probably be higher anyway.  

@Brendon Kerrigan I have a 1980's rental with original formica in a woodblock pattern. It is a very durable surface and home depot has a nice white option in stock that looks like quartz.

I have only seen brick floors in all season or sun rooms. I don't think you will be happy with a floor as porous as brick. I tiled a fireplace in faux antique "brick" tile from floor and decor. It looked old, distressed and a bit sooty. And beige/gray so pretty neutral vs red brick. It has a matte glaze and so would clean up well. I would also recommend newer technology stain proof grout as brick has thick mortar/grout lines, also hard to keep clean. I guess you could seal the floor, the brick and grout, after installation.

@Wilson Lee No shared walls to bother anyone else. Are you wanting a reason for them to leave so you can rehab and raise rent? Not sure you can limit occupancy beyond 4 anyway so you may jump out if the pan into the fire. Besides, we are expected to enter crisis mode after the new year here..covid. Are you planning on being around for the rehab and interacting with workers? I would be patient and let it sort itself out over the next year or so. And read a Stephanie Plum /Janet Evanovich novel, pretty funny. Character talks about growing up in a small one bath with siblings and grandmother in New Jersey. The whole neighborhood was the same. Everyone used to live cramped up, one car, etc. so it is doable.

@Jose De La Macorra Maybe he could sell it to you owner finance and you give him a qualified life estate that is contingent on his paying the taxes and insurance. If he needs to move to assisted living you still pay him a mortgage. You really should talk to an estate type attorney because it seems there are minefields but it may be an opportunity for a win-win. I hope you are a good guy, and I hope I don't end up old, sick and alone.