All Forum Posts by: Matthew Morrow

 All good points. eventually they become an annoyance if a heavily trafficked area. even the most "secure" areas still have bad actors and cameras could help in identification or deterrence. 

 Hey @Mark Bennett-  most of my portfolio is mixed-use properties around the Lehigh Valley. They can be great cash flow plays, especially when the commercial side is stable, but there are definitely some local curveballs to watch out for with zoning and lending.

Happy to talk through what I’ve seen work (and not work) if you’re seriously looking at one. Feel free to shoot me a message anytime.

 @Kurt Meehan 

Love seeing this level of drive at 19 — seriously impressive. You're already thinking the way a lot of successful investors do after their first few properties.

Our team is based in the Lehigh Valley and I actually built my whole portfolio here starting with house hacks, so you're definitely headed in the right direction. A 4-unit is an awesome first move if you can find one that pencils out — especially with the right financing and reserves. It’s a great balance of scale and risk.

As for your other questions: we can’t give financial advice, but many of our clients start shifting from stocks to cash or liquid assets when they get serious about buying — just helps with down payments and lender seasoning. Getting pre-approved before full-time employment is tough but not impossible, especially with a co-signer or creative loan programs. A real estate license can be a great tool if you want to stay in the business long-term, but it’s not required to get started. And hiring a PM while you live on-site? Not a bad idea at all — some of our clients do it just to set clear boundaries and keep it professional with tenants from day one.

If you want to run your numbers by us or talk through local options, feel free to reach out through our portfolio info — happy to help however we can.

 @Dozar Real Totally reasonable — as the owner, you can absolutely install exterior security cameras, especially for ongoing protection once you’re no longer living on-site. Just make sure they’re pointed only at common areas or exterior spaces (like entrances, driveways, etc.) and not at any private windows or inside the units. That should keep you compliant with privacy laws and avoids tenant complaints.

I have cameras on multiple properties in the Lehigh Valley. make sure your leases state that footage is yours and yours alone, and be prepared to provide it to law enforcement if something happens nearby.  Obviously consult your attorney on all this but just based on our experince you are clearly permitted as long as you are not in any private areas. 

 @Mark Morosky 

Not crazy at all — just needs the right team and a little extra due diligence. we work with a lot of first-time investors buying in PA from out of state. The key is having boots on the ground: agent, PM, contractor, etc. If you’ve got that, it can absolutely work.

Feel free to check out my portfolio and reach out directly if PA ends up on your radar — happy to share what markets are working well right now.

@Michael Steinbergen   Totally understand the frustration — this kind of thing happens more than you'd think, especially with tenant-occupied properties.

Here’s the deal: tenants have rights, and most leases (especially in states like PA and NJ) require reasonable notice — typically 24 hours — for showings. But even with that, a tenant can still make it tough. If they flat-out refuse access or constantly delay, it puts pressure on the seller and their agent to step in. Ultimately, it’s the seller’s responsibility to ensure access per the lease terms, not yours or your agent’s.

If you’re serious about the deal, ask your agent to press the listing side to resolve it quickly. You can also request a video walk-through or virtual tour of the unit in the meantime — not ideal, but it keeps things moving. Worst case, you can always submit an offer contingent on viewing that unit later or have your agent include language that protects you if access never happens.

Feel free to reach out through the contact info on my portfolio if you want to talk through how we handle these kinds of house hack deals on our end — happy to help however I can.

 Thats what we thought also- just trying to gather as much info for the clients as possible. However after speaking to several local insurance agent- they all feel the claim history on follows the person, not the property which i found baffling. 

We've built a team of 10 on BP connections and leads. Drop in the forums, chat up with people, and just be yourself. the leads will convert at 5+% easy if you have a system and follow up. We have done 400+ now and absolutely love it. Happy to talk thru it if you need real intel. DM Me. 

Hey everyone,

We’ve got a promising lead on a single-family home in eastern PA that’s currently sitting over a significant sinkhole. The insurance company has declared it a total loss, and the seller is essentially looking to give it away post-claim. We’re considering stepping in to help, but only if the numbers and end value justify the work.

We’ve already spoken with two geotechnical engineers. Both gave the same verdict: either repair in place—which would cost more than the property’s ARV—or demo the home, fill and remediate the site, and then get it certified for future use. The second option seems more viable, but we’re still wrapping our heads around the true costs and implications.

Has anyone here dealt with something like this before? Specifically, what kind of stigma (if any) does a remediated sinkhole lot carry when it comes time to sell or build?

We also checked with a couple of insurance agents who mentioned that claims tend to follow the person, not the property. So, a new owner may not face any issues getting insurance if the site is properly remediated.

Appreciate any input or war stories from those who’ve been down this road.

Thanks!