All Forum Posts by: Aaron Poling

I would consult with a real estate attorney before attempting to evict. You may want to call a property manager also just to get some advice on how to evict. At this point it may be better to make them move at the end of their lease than to evict now and end up in a lawsuit. Send them written notice 90 days prior to end of lease and request that they move at the end of their lease because the unit needs remodeled. 

As far as the previous owner, it sounds like you have an agreement with her to let her stay for a period of time at the reduced rent. I would honor this and not try and get her out. Once the agreement is over, then put her on a plan of rent increases to get her to market level over a period of time. 

I am sure you will get this all straightened out. Good Luck! 

Welcome to the BP Community! Sounds like you are getting off to a great start! I typically like to invest close to home in a market that I am familiar with, but have heard from many investors that are investing across the country and doing well. My suggestion would be to really analyze any markets that you are considering, and make sure to buy in good areas. It is easy to get pulled in because of low prices to a bad area. 

I spoke to a good friend of mine who has friends and family in Buffalo. He said that he has heard that is a good market, prices are low, but a lot of revitalization going on. In case you are looking to stay in state but outside of NYC. 

Good Luck! Aaron 

This isn't normal wear and tear so typically the renter or his insurance should pay. Unless your lease or local customs and laws say otherwise. It sounds like he is a great tenant and you want to treat him well so it may be worth splitting it with him, or having it replaced and let him pay a little additional per month until its paid. Sometimes that type of good will pays off in the future. 

Good Luck! 

Bill, I really enjoyed the meetup. I have been telling everyone about it and am hoping to bring a few people with me over the next few meetings. This type of atmosphere is exactly what  I need to get me going. Let me know when your available for Lunch in the next few weeks! Thanks Aaron

I have worked for a modular housing builder, and have sold many of them as resales working as a Realtor. They are typically rated just like a stick built home, so financing shouldn't be an issue. They are built well as they have to meet the national code for modular housing, and meet whatever the local code is that they are being placed. 

I think they could be a great option, but be careful about the pricing. Typically when building a stick built or turn key home or multifamily they are including everything. If you buy a modular you can buy the units completed but there are lots of hidden costs such as: dumpster fees, onsite bathroom for workers, excavation, driveway, foundation, utility hookups, landscaping & sod or seeding. These are just a sample. I think it could be a great option but make sure to look at the whole picture and not just the price of the modular part itself. 

Hope that helps a little! Aaron

Hello Bigger Pockets Community! I joined a few weeks ago and have been busy figuring out how things work within the BP community. I figured it was time to tell everyone who I am, and what the heck I am doing here! 

I am a native of and still live in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. I work full time as a Realtor with Long & Foster Real Estate and am licensed in WV, VA, and MD. I have been a Realtor for the past 10 years. Before Real Estate sales I was in construction. My father was a general contractor and I worked for him and eventually was his business partner. I have built new homes, modular homes, multi family, commercial, flipped properties, and lots more in my construction career. I have been involved with real estate between construction and sales my entire life.

I have always had a passion for real estate, since I was a kid. It was one of my fathers passions also, and he always stressed that it was the best way to build wealth and security. Having a strong belief that you constantly have to learn I spend my free time reading, listening to podcasts and every other way that I can take in information. I found myself  listening to lots of different podcasts about real estate investing. In every podcast that I listened to I would hear them bring up bigger pockets. I had no clue what it was, but eventually I thought it would be a good idea to search and find it. Within minutes of finding the website and quickly looking around, reading a few posts and looking at everything the site had to offer, I called my wife over and said "Babe this is exactly what I have been looking for!" Her response was "Did you just have me walk over here to look at more of your silly real estate stuff" I guess I should mention that she doesn't have quite as much passion for real estate as I do! 

My goals for investing are to use the BRRR strategy, and a modified BRRR strategy (build, rent, refinance, repeat). I am starting out with a few single family properties to build some residual income and then will work my way into some multifamily. I currently own a rental property that I am rehabbing and also a few building lots that I am planning on building on in the next two years. I would like to make connections with like minded investors, and build a network of people that can give advice, and may need my advice. Hoping that I can give back as much to this community as I will receive.

Thanks for allowing me into your community! Aaron

Welcome to BP! If you are serious about getting started then you are at the Right Place! I am pretty new to BP myself but have been amazed at all it has to offer, especially this community of like minded people! 

I really enjoyed this podcast. It really hit on something that I know I need to do but put off and never get done, which is to put proper systems in place. I know what systems and how to do it but always procrastinate or start and don't finish putting them into place. This was a good reminder for me. Thanks! Aaron

I agree with the other responses. Visit your courthouse, speak to the sheriff, and to a local real estate attorney and they can let you know the laws and process. You want to follow this to the letter of the law. I typically start out with sending a registered letter by mail explaining the situation and requesting they contact you. I then follow that up with a hand delivered letter but don't deliver yourself, you can typically pay a bail bondsman to do this. 

If you offer cash for keys give them a few options: two weeks, one month and 45 days. Have them pick one and sign off. Require the home be in good broom swept condition, with no personal property or trash left behind. This would include trash at the curb. If they don't follow it, they don't get the money. Explain this in detail, and if possible have someone else handle this process. It will keep your liability low if things go wrong. Bad tenants want the owner to act out so they can have an arguing point. 

The best lesson I have learned is no matter what process and agreement you have, proceed with the eviction. Tenants and holdovers will agree to any process possible in order to delay the eviction process and then they don't leave. I just explain to the tenants that the eviction process is underway for legal purposes but you want to work out a deal outside of the eviction. Always be nice and professional but firm and always follow through with what you say you are going to do. If they see a way to exploit the process they will. 

I have worked on many of these for Freddie Mac and this was close to their process and in most cases it worked. 

Good Luck and keep us posted! Aaron

There are some basic timelines for transactions and working with clients but so much of it is per your local area, and case by case. I highly suggest finding a brokerage that offers real training, and that has experienced agents that will help or possibly even mentor you.

One way to learn that could possibly be done at your current brokerage is to find an experienced agent, and offer to help them for free for a few weeks if they let you shadow them. I know its hard to work for free but getting that experience before getting in over your head on a transaction that you are unsure of will pay dividends, I promise. 

I will say that you are on the right track because you are asking for help, that says something there. I know many agents that refused to admit they needed help and didn't make it in the business. 

I am in a different territory than you are, but if you have any specific questions feel free to reach out to me and Ill try and answer anything that I can. 

Good Luck! Aaron