All Forum Posts by: Matt C.

I just purchased a single family rental property in western Houston, specifically in the Katy/Cinco Ranch area. I've got renters lined up to move in for July 1, but I have a question about utilities.

Are there any utilities that I should keep in my name and just bill the tenants for? I know I've heard horror stories about tenants not paying resulting in a lien on the house instead of on the tenants credit. Obviously they need to pay electric, but what about water and gas?

@Paul Holub No way! Here's how crazy this is-- I don't know if you remember me, but we went to church together when we were in high school, and I was friends with your little sister. Email me at [REMOVED]-- I just moved back to Houston and am starting to look around Houston for a second buy and hold property. I probably won't be buying until the summer at the earliest, but I'd be interested to try to pick some of your wisdom on the current state of affairs of the Houston RE market and to let you know what I'm looking for so you could keep your eye out.

Yeah I apologize for it being an oddly vague question. I wrote it two or three times and just couldn't make it less vague to be what I wanted it to be. I'll probably be looking to pick up a second property in the next year or two but I want to avoid as many mistakes as I can. For my style, if I can end up with 2 or 3 houses I'll turn to paying them off instead of expanding. 

@David Edgerton Honestly I know west and north, but I don't know south or east so Deer Park is an area I don't know at all. That's why I love this page-- I get to learn about aspects of RE I don't know.

@Sandra Gibson Thanks for the tips and wisdom. I've got a house in Baton Rouge where I used to live, but in Texas there are so many other little aspects that have to be considered. I'll look into that for sure.

A few days ago I was talking to a friend about rental properties in Houston and we were debating where is the best area to own a SFR. Obviously most rental properties are great at the right price, but specifics aside what does the BP community think? Considering cost, crime and chance of vandalism, schools and property tax rates, rent to cost ratio, and value forecasting, there's so many variables that it was hard for us to have enough holistic knowledge to make an educated guess. I was leaning to Cypress because it's moderate, but he was arguing for the Heights because of sustained demand inside the loop and high rent prices/quality tenants.

For those of you who are experiences in buy and hold in the area, where would you like to be in if you had your choice?