All Forum Posts by: Mark Shaffar
Mark Shaffar has started 27 posts and replied 316 times.
Post: Most dangerous neighborhoods in America
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
a little fuel to the fire about Chiraq:
http://www.cnn.com/2015/06/06/entertainment/chiraq...
I think the issue a lot of us want to revitalize neighborhoods and part of that is changing the stigma.
Post: Does Real Estate Investing Revitalize Neighborhoods?
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
So My friend @Dawn Anastasi
just posted a story: http://www.biggerpockets.com/forums/311/topics/201...
about rough neighborhoods in the US and it got me thinking. I know that in the roughest neighborhoods you have a hard time spending money on rehabs and still making a good return with vacancies and maintenance as well as keeping equity in the house. I have heard that investing around the edges of the rough neighborhoods can help though. You bring in cash in the places where it's needed and provide quality housing while enforcing the rules. So you have a decent ROI and in theory you help out the neighborhood. So my question is: do you believe that real estate investing helps revitalize neighborhoods? In other words, are we like a for-profit Habitat For Humanity or is that just dreaming?
Post: Most dangerous neighborhoods in America
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
Originally posted by @Richard Dunlop:
Originally posted by @James Wise:
Looks like Chicago is catching up to Detroit in number of bad neighborhoods.
Interesting stuff.
Chicago went zipping past us! 3 of the top four in Chicago.
Detroit's worst ranks way down at #11!
I guess your strategy of spreading the bodies around in Cleveland is working to keep Cleveland neighborhoods off the list is working. Good idea, Chicago should try that.
I love looking on the bright side!
Post: Is it better to invest in my area that has sky high prices or invest in other markets?
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
It seems like the issue isn't so much can money be made in every market, but rather how much time and risk is required. I guess my experience is different than @Aaron Mazzrillo
in that I didn't find flipping easy. Buy and hold with cash flow actually is pretty easy once you've found someone who can source, rehab, and manage those deals.
Post: Invest while still renting??
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
@ryan
welcome to Bigger Pockets! It will change your life. There are tons of great ways to invest in real estate. good luck!
Post: Is it better to invest in my area that has sky high prices or invest in other markets?
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
Disclosure: I am also a turnkey provider
Originally posted by @Gregg Cohen:
A common problem that many investors make who are considering investing out-of-state is they ONLY focus on the market and just assume they can find a good property management company. They find a market they love and find a property where the numbers work for positive cash flow (at least on day 1.) Very little time is spent interviewing the property management company.
When looking into cash flow markets, you'll find a handful that have low prices, high rents, strong and growing economies. What I would do is make a short list of those markets that you want to consider (3-5) and then focus on finding the best property management team in those markets. Stay disciplined and only pull the trigger when you have fallen in love with both the market and the property management team.
The property management team is the only thing that turns your numbers on your spreadsheet into actual money in your bank account. :)
PM is a big deal anywhere but especially when investing out of state. @Chris Clothierhad list of great questions to ask a PM/turnkey provider.
Post: Any good turnkey operations in Florida?
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
I second that!
Post: What did you sacrifice?
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
@Nathan LenahanI haven't watched a television show in forever. Does that count?
Post: Juwai JV for listing US properties in China
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
Hey BP, I got my start in investing in the US while working in China. I now work for that same US turnkey provider and am looking to find more Chinese buyers for my turnkey rentals. I'm in talks with Juwai.com about listing US properties in their chinese language site hosted in China. They want $100 per month to host up to 100 properties at a time. I would like to have them host a few at a time. Anyone want to JV with me? I speak Chinese so I can help you get started. I want to pay less than $20 per month for a handful of properties and others chip in to host theirs.
BTW I just moved this from the Forum section sorry about the confusion
Post: Need advice - Turnkey opportunity in Philadelphia - 54th and Girard
- Real Estate Agent
- Madison, WI
- Posts 328
- Votes 88
@Account ClosedPhilly has a lot of great opportunities other than that. Good Luck!