All Forum Posts by: Jonathan Pflueger

@Mike Smith

Bigger Pockets is am amazing resource and one you are very smart to take advantage of. I recommend not being a stranger to the forums, there is a wealth of information in them!

Best of luck!!

@Tarcizio Goncalves

In my experience they are more than willing to help. However, you may run into a couple that are less inclined due to being cranky or just not caring. The ones that do help will see you as a potential client in the future and recognize that helping you is good for business and ultimately in their best interest. 

You may want to start with some of the smaller PM agencies, that way when you call you get the owner and are more likely to get a positive response. But honestly just call everyone and the worst you can get is a no!

Between craiglslist and PM's you should get a very accurate gauge of what the going rent is. 

Best of luck!!

@Tarcizio Goncalves

Gotta agree with the posters above me, Craigslist and calling up your local Property Mangers is the best way to gauge rents. 

@Fernando E.

Maybe look into buying a multi-family property (1-4 units) and that way you can use the rental income to help yourself qualify - the multi would need to be owner occupied (house hacking). You can also take advantage of FHA financing for a very low down payment.

With all that, you still have to find a deal that pencils or is at least something you are comfortable with. 

@Jay Hinrichs

Ha! The Trout Farm fell into disrepair the last 10 years or so but a local investor has since purchased it and is restoring it to its former glory. Small world for you to know about that! Those lots out by the lake have appreciated a lot since those days, wouldn't have minded to have picked some up back then - well my dad would have needed to do that I was most likely in diapers :-). 

If you are ever in the area I would love to grab a beer sometime at the Farm and talk Real Estate, I follow most of your posts and appreciate your insights. I am just beginning my investing career here and so far its been an amazing and lucrative journey - 3 doors and hundreds more to go!

@Jay Hinrichs

Yeah, it's an amazing deal and the leverage is awesome. For some reason it is not talked about a lot and lenders never really push it. It gets even better if you are a Veteran cause you can do the full conforming amount without paying PMI and if you go Jumbo you only pay 20% of the difference down. Win, win.

@Cory Spitznagel

Check out the 2018 confirming lending limits for your county here: https://www.fhfa.gov/DataTools/Downloads/Pages/Con...

Click on the PDF for the table and you should be able to do a word search for your county. I belive your conforming limit for a 4plex is right around $750k for your county. 

If you are a veteran you could get a jumbo VA loan and pay zero down for the conforming limit amount and 20% on the difference (all assuming this is a primary residence).

@Jay Hinrichs had great advice - pull a family member into this and get them to gift you the down payment! 

Best of luck! 

Proud owner of 2 units and actively looking for more! Northern Ca is a little competitive at the moment so trying to find my niche and capitalize. 

@Keith Bussey

Welcome to BP! Best place to find the advice or expertise you are looking for is going to be a Real Estate Meet Up. There is most likely one or two within a reasonable driving distance from you. Also, get active in the forums, there is a wealth of information here. 

Best of luck!

All, 

Thank you very much for all the feedback, really great stuff. 

@Marian Smith I had no idea that Redfin was was an actual broker, very interesting.