All Forum Posts by: Mike Reynolds

This is not my expertise but construction is. I would think that STRs are like construction. Different rules in different areas of every city. Ordinances, HOAs and local busybodies keep everything confusing. 

Yes, but not the way you think. 

The joist is designed to carry the weight but each component acts different. The top cord is under compression and the bottom cord is under tension. If you mount it to the bottom you stand a good chance of failure. 

Take a sheet of plywood and rip it the width of the joist. Then rip another piece the width of the inside measurement and attach these 2 together where it will fit inside the cords. Then do the same on the one next to it. Brace across those 2 joists and hang the swing between them. 

Glue the plywood and staple to the cords. 

Quote from @Michael Patton:

Quote from @Brenda Whittaker:

I am here because I have not found a specific RV forum, and assume it may be a commercial real estate related topic.  Please correct and redirect me if Im wrong.  Is there anyone out there who can teach me something about RV Park investing/building?  Where might I find some education on the topic?  Please let me know and thank you.  

I just finished building a small RV park in Texas and currently moving heavy equipment to a new property to build a 60 site park. Happy to share any development knowledge with you. 

I may have heard about you from a lender. He didn't drop any names, but he did say "There is a guy in Texas building RV parks and flipping them." He only told me because I may be helping a friend build one and he offered to finance the construction. It will all depend on the powers that be right now but it's looking good so far. 


Either way, I wouldn't mind picking your brain on the subject. What area of Texas are you building yours in?

Quote from @Javaras Thomas:

Hello, 

New market alert!!! I have a few properties in the Center, TX area do I have any natives out there with a little feedback for me? This is a commercial building and its 2.5 hours from Huston and Dallas. 

 I live 30 miles from there. What would you like to know?

Quote from @Larry Toups:

I’m looking for RV park financing. 
I have the a beautiful 30 acre tract with a 10 acre lake in the middle under contract. 
I’ve hired a engineer to design a 200 space park. 
I have met all of the preliminary governmental requirements and set for final approval in April. 

 Make sure the local water company has enough water pressure. 

There is a proposition on the ballot to do away with property tax in Texas. A little late now if you didnt vote though. 

Quote from @Marcelle Green:

I have 2 acres in Livingston Texas that I have had for years. I've just been paying taxes and doing anything with the land. I have recently gotten serious about real estate investing and am working on getting into STR, LTR, and flips, but decided maybe I should start with the land I own. I've been doing some research and am still unsure of the exact steps I need to take.

I went to get a survey done but 2 companies have had trouble finding the deed with the metes and bounds. The warranty deed I have is not what they need. I'm not real clear on why.

Also, I have created my investment business structure but not sure if I should go ahead and transfer the land to the business or not.

Just looking for a little direction. Thanks!

 Also, if it is rural, you still have to get permission from the Neches River Authority as well as the state for septic if it's in Livingston. Not all that big of a deal but could be if it's close to a waterway. 

Let me know if I can help out in any way and good luck. 

Quote from @Marcelle Green:

I have 2 acres in Livingston Texas that I have had for years. I've just been paying taxes and doing anything with the land. I have recently gotten serious about real estate investing and am working on getting into STR, LTR, and flips, but decided maybe I should start with the land I own. I've been doing some research and am still unsure of the exact steps I need to take.

I went to get a survey done but 2 companies have had trouble finding the deed with the metes and bounds. The warranty deed I have is not what they need. I'm not real clear on why.

Also, I have created my investment business structure but not sure if I should go ahead and transfer the land to the business or not.

Just looking for a little direction. Thanks!

 What is your property zoned right now? I am working with a guy right now trying to get a property zoned for an RV park on Sam Rayburn lake right now. It's do-able but not easy. 

Another issue is water pressure. Rural water companies always seem to be at the upper limit and just squeak by state standards. Parks require water and you may get everything right and signed only to have the water board deny you for reasons unknown to you. That reason will be water pressure though. They have to maintain that and you may set them over the limit. Start with the water first if it's rural. 

I second what @Bruce Woodruff said. 

Originally posted by @Alicia Marks:

I typically do smaller, older pier and beam remodels, but I may have an opportunity to flip a well preserved home. The 12ft ceilings, wood details, dental mouldings are all still intact. There was some damage to a 1960s addition added to it, and it needs central heat and air as well as insulation upgrades. I would also plan to update the kitchen and bath while still staying in a style that works with the rest of the home. Anything I need to consider when the majority of it needs to be preserved? It’s not on a historic register. Overall budget for rehab is about $150k. 

I have done old house/historic register houses in Texas. There are some things you can do to mitigate the costs if you know what they are. It all depends on your situation. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions. 

Look for old knob and tube wiring in the walls. In the 80's they used to "cut and cap" above and below the plate and run Romex in the attic/crawlspace. That means you may have either black tape or Scotch Locks at the plate and old, old wiring in the walls. Good news on that is, there is most likely no fire blocks in the wall so you can fairly easily replace these.  Cast iron drains were all the rage back then with lead filler. It is considered grandfathered, but you need to think in terms of replacing that if you have to do any plumbing in these areas. It will be way too brittle and cost more in the long run. 

Speaking of walls, in Texas BA (before air conditioning), there was a little-known building science trick. You may not have a bottom plate or top plate. You may have studs on the sill beam with rafters attached to the studs up top. This was on purpose. The trick was that as heat rises, the wall cavity was clear, and air flowed up it and out the vented attic. It kept the house cool[er]. If you are going to insulate this, you need to fill it in at the bottom plate level and fill with cellulose insl. Otherwise, it will fall out the bottom where the plate should have been. Ask me how I know lol. Insulation is not that hard, and I can walk you through a DIY on how to do that with rented or free equipment. 

I would be happy to field any questions you may have though.