All Forum Posts by: Karyn T.

Was perusing Facebook this morning and came across an article about waking up earlier in the morning, to be more productive...open the link and saw none other than our Brandon Turner ! I'm on my phone, so sorry if someone has posted already or is old news...it was new to me!

I agree with the guys.  You need to look neat and tidy (like in the military) but definitely do not need to be in a business suit.  I suppose if you were looking for money from a "Big Bank" you might want to wear a suit, but it seems most folks around here are using private money, hard lenders, or already have money coming through their own banks, etc.  No need for a suit.

I'd have no problem doing business with someone in jeans and a button down, if he was otherwise neat & clean.  Smelling good would be a bonus.... ;)

Great job and congrats!!!  Always love reading Success stories!

BUMP - 2016???

Make sure you have consulted an attorney (for land use / deed restrictions, etc) and architect PRIOR to applying for permit / board review...

@Annette A. Don't you give those people one bit of leverage on your psyche.

I have done EVERYTHING that society says you're supposed to do to achieve the "American Dream".  I went to college (as an older student) and excelled.  I went to professional school...and survived.  I went to residency...and watched my already huge student loan debt...BALLOON to a size that will buy a 4000sqft house in all but the most expensive markets.  I got out and found out that the economy had collapsed, my house was underwater, my "employed" salary was barely enough to pay my mortgage, student loans, and taxes....leaving me less than $40K a year to live on, while working 80-100hrs a week in one of the most litigious specialties out there.  Not exactly the "Dream" I had been sold.  Where is my gated community?  My Ferrari?  My Yacht? (actually, I never wanted any of those things, but I *DID* expect job stability, meaningful relationships with my patients, and a personally-rewarding career....it has been NONE of those).

Oh, and worst of all?  I was a WIDGET for my employer.  A scapegoat.  Someone to sign things and take all of the liability away from them, while having absolutely NO say or control (autonomy) to change ANY of it.

At this point, I am working fulltime in locums medicine (that means I travel to communities who desperately need my help), while spending my evenings working 2 fun little direct sales businesses (to learn how to market and sell, since I have no experience), finishing my real estate course for this new state (in case we stay longer than anticipated AND because more knowledge is ALWAYS better), AND working on an master's level certificate in Financial Planning (so I can get a much better understanding of the "business world" before committing to something as pricey as a MBA (I have enough debt already!)

Like @Jay Hinrichs , I will be completely unemployable very, very soon. ;)

Do your thing and know that all journeys are different, but the knowledge that being your own boss is the best gift you have ever given yourself.  

Way to go!!!!

Do it whatever way makes sense to you financially and with the way you learn.  As an "expert" student, I've more than done my fair share in the classroom.  Now that I know how to study on my own, I have no need for bricks and mortar classrooms unless I just "want" to be there for the fun (like for an art, music, or dance class....or other interest that is better with other people).  Getting your license means a LOT of rote memorization.  If you do better in study groups to accomplish this, go to school...if you are better by yourself, go online.

Online is also usually cheaper, more convenient, and can be done just about anywhere, at any time, making it a better choices for professionals / working folks.

Unless the seller and agent have VERY poor lawyers, this case "should" go nowhere. The key to disclosure is whether you KNEW about it. If previous owner did not do the work, and never had problems, then they sold the house in good faith and the buyer should be going after her INSPECTOR, if she bothered to get one. It looks like they were military which means likely VA loan which will insist on inspection. Even the inspector may be fine though, since they are only liable for "reasonably accessible" spaces. If the damage was behind walls and siding, it's unfortunate, but the buyer is at fault.

However, it looks like the seller / agent promoted the house with a "newly refinished" basement....if the seller had that work done, it should be easily provable, and shame on them.  They'll get what's coming, legally.

She bought in an old Norfolk neighborhood, the whole of which is within walking distance to the Atlantic Ocean.  Norfolk gets hurricanes pretty often....and the entire area is surrounded by river deltas dumping into the Chesapeake Bay.  She could have had flooding the first year (Hurricane Irene came through in 2011....ask me how I know...) she lived there and didn't fix it herself.  

I dunno.  I smell a fish....

(back when Alief was a REALLY nice place to live....)