All Forum Posts by: Tenzapa Wakombe

This is really insightful—and I appreciate you sharing real numbers and results. I’m a real estate agent who works with investors, and I’ve been hearing similar feedback lately: auctions are quieter, and fewer people are stepping up due to fear or lack of access to cash.

From what I’ve seen, it’s not that the deals are gone—it’s that many investors aren’t prepared to act quickly on distressed opportunities. The ones who are showing up (like you) are locking in serious upside.

I’m personally working on getting into investing myself, and this makes me even more interested in digging into auctions and off-market deals. Appreciate you putting this on the radar—it’s definitely a sign to lean in.

Would love to hear more about your process navigating these auctions. Are you focusing on specific states or markets?

Great question—and I think you’re spot-on about that fine line. I work with several investors and property owners, and I’ve seen a range of approaches.

$40 is on the lower side, especially compared to what larger property management companies charge. Many go with something like a $75–$100 flat fee after the grace period, plus a daily fee of 5–10% of the rent amount (capped) until it’s paid. That said, the goal isn’t to nickel-and-dime tenants—it’s to encourage on-time payments and set clear expectations.

Some owners I work with choose a reasonable flat fee (like $75) and skip the daily charges to keep things simple and avoid resentment. Others use a daily fee but give tenants a heads-up or reminder before it kicks in.

You’re already doing great with on-time rent history, so I’d say it’s more about having a consistent policy that aligns with your values and is enforceable in your local market.

If you’re in Tennessee or considering it (I saw Knoxville mentioned earlier), let me know—I can share what’s common and legally compliant in this area too.

Hey! I really respect your mindset and the fact that you’re already taking action—especially considering a move to a more investor-friendly market like Knoxville.

I’m a real estate agent working with investors and just starting my own investing journey too, and I agree—having a mentor can make a huge difference. Some of the best ways I’ve seen people connect with mentors include:

• Joining local real estate meetups or REIAs (check Meetup.com or Facebook for Knoxville investor groups)

• Getting active on BiggerPockets and starting convos like this

• Offering value first—maybe helping with analysis, bird-dogging, or even just being consistent and coachable

You’re doing the right things already with podcasts and books, but building real local relationships will really accelerate your progress. Knoxville has a solid investor community too, so I think it’s a great place to start.

Happy to connect anytime!

Hey! You’re definitely on the right path—thinking about flips, rentals, and house hacking gives you great flexibility starting out.

As an agent who works with investors (and soon to be one myself), I’ve seen a lot of success with starting by house hacking or renting out your current home. It’s a smart way to build equity and cash flow with lower upfront risk.

Once you get your first deal under your belt, you’ll have a clearer idea of which strategy fits you best. Happy to connect or share what I’ve seen work in the current market!

Hey Devvrat! I’m just getting started on the investing side too, but I’m a real estate agent and I’ve helped several investor clients purchase foreclosure properties—so I’ve seen the process up close.

Buying a foreclosure can definitely be a great way to pick up a property below market value, but it does come with some challenges. You’ll want to be extra thorough with your due diligence since many foreclosures are sold as-is and might have deferred maintenance or title issues. I always recommend having a good contractor lined up and making sure you (or your agent) pull a full title report.

If you’re looking to connect with someone who’s bought one personally, I’d be happy to help make connections or share what I’ve seen work well in my market.

Feel free to DM me if you want to chat more!

Hey, I really relate to this! I’m actually a real estate agent who works with investors daily, and even though I haven’t bought my first investment property yet, I’m getting close and asking myself the same questions.

From what I’ve seen working with clients, there’s no one-size-fits-all strategy—but your goal to leverage and scale is spot-on. BRRRR is a great way to recycle your capital and grow quickly, but it definitely takes more time, effort, and risk. Turnkey offers stability and ease, but like you mentioned, it can be slower when it comes to scaling. Airbnb adds cash flow potential, but comes with more active management.

A mix of all three could give you the best of each world if you have the bandwidth and team in place. I've seen some of my investor clients do exactly that—one BRRRR to build equity, one turnkey to stay cash-flowing, and one Airbnb to boost returns.

You’re already thinking long-term, which is a huge win. Happy to chat if you ever want to strategize or hear what I’ve seen work in my market!

Welcome to BiggerPockets and congrats on saving up your investment capital! The 1% rule is a great guideline to start with, though markets that consistently hit it can be rare these days.

If you’re open to some outside-California markets, you might want to check out places like Tennessee, Texas, or parts of the Midwest—many investors are finding solid cash flow and equity growth there. Each market has its nuances, so definitely dig into local job growth, rental demand, and regulations.

Excited to see where you land! Feel free to reach out if you want to chat about specific markets or strategies. Good luck!

I’m sorry you’re dealing with that—it sounds really frustrating.

1. Regarding transferring bookings, from what I understand, Airbnb and VRBO don’t have a straightforward way to “move” bookings between listings. Typically, bookings belong to the listing itself, so creating a new listing usually means starting fresh. That “special relationship” the new manager mentioned sounds unique and may be a custom arrangement, but it’s not a standard feature available to most hosts. It might be worth asking them for more details or proof of how that works.

2. On ownership of bookings: legally, the bookings are tied to the property owner since it’s your cabin. However, the management company likely acts as your agent to handle reservations, so the bookings are managed by them. If your agreement with the previous manager didn’t specify ownership of bookings, this could get murky. You may want to review your contract and consider consulting a Tennessee real estate or hospitality attorney to clarify your rights, especially if you want to take back control and prevent losing those bookings.

Hope this helps and good luck getting this sorted!

Hi! If you want to submit an offer yourself, the best first step is to contact the listing agent directly—their info should be on the Zillow listing. Let them know you’re submitting an offer without a buyer’s agent. If you do not have a buyer's agent, you’ll need a purchase agreement form for your state, which you can often find online or get from a real estate attorney. Make sure your offer includes price, earnest money, inspection terms, and closing timeline.

If you’re new to this, it’s a good idea to have a real estate attorney review your offer before submitting to avoid any issues. Good luck!

You’re in a great position with $1.4M cash and a clear goal. Hitting ~$8K/month (7% net) without leverage is possible, but it’ll likely require STRs or small multifamily in strong rental markets.

Newer construction in A-class areas usually comes with lower cap rates, so you may need to look at B+ areas in emerging or LCL markets to hit that return. A diversified portfolio—like newer duplexes or build-to-rent homes—might get you closer to your target with less hassle.

Would love to hear which markets you’re eyeing—happy to trade ideas!