All Forum Posts by: Wilhelm Nothnagel

Hi Anthony,

Just giving out some basic helpful info, not advising. At our firm, we typically request a site survey from a licensed surveyor, and as-built drawings in CAD format from an as-built measuring service. 

The site survey is necessary for establishing setbacks for the building envelope and topographic information for the design if there is a slope. This is also necessary for permit submittal along with the plans. 

The as-built drawings establish the existing conditions and provide a base to work from. You will have to show the planning dept. existing and proposed plans, with a demo plan showing any existing parts of the house being altered by construction. The as-builts help get accurate square footage which the planning department is going to want to know about. 

Others may have a different process, and it all depends on the scope of work you are doing, but this is generally what you may expect just to get an architect to begin working. If you are on a time crunch these services tend to set you back a couple days to weeks. Definitely talk to your architect about what they will need and they can probably set it up themselves. 

Hi Mimi, 

Came across your post and am interested in how your rehab is going. I am deciding between a HELOC and a construction loan as well. Thanks to @Joe Villeneuve and @Yoochul C. for the advice as well.

@Brian Burke

 @Tom V.

Thanks for the great advice and inspiration guys. I am going to start small and work my way up to new build. 

Great info here, I would like to hear more or even be pointed in a different direction. It has been a goal of mine to develop my first apartment building to rent and hold. I will be getting my architecture license early next year and designing a simple and efficient apartment building. I am currently looking for areas that would support a new small scale apartment building, 4 - 12 units. I was thinking of Vallejo and Sacramento. I work in San Francisco. 

@Tom V. I would love to hear more about your experience developing if you would like to share.

@Brian Burke Is this plan a terrible idea based on the cost to build. I would save a bit of money by designing and drawing the building myself, but not a considerable chunk. 

@Tom V.

Awesome! Thanks for posting.

@Marielle Walter I joined the meetup you found, it looks good. I should also be going to the East Bay meetup organized by J.Martin a member of this site. 

@Marielle Walter Count me in if you want to start a green/sustainable REI group. I'm 31, an architect, interested in becoming an architect/developer and have studied sustainable design and community development for years as a special interest. I would like to design/invest in a small house, pocket neighborhood infill project with green architecture feautures.

Good luck!

Wil

@Steven W. 

Great advice thanks! We plan to do a lot of school tours and I will keep my mind open about out of state investing. 

@Graham K. 

Thanks for the warning! I moved here from a country in the Caribbean with a super high crime rate and very unsafe areas where I would never go, so I know it when I see it. When I find a good target area by car, then I will go walk or bike it. I want to live!

@J. Martin 

Any updates? Did you buy the land? A goal of mine is to be an architect developer and build for rental income! This thread has been really interesting, thanks for posting so much info!

@Aaron Gordy Very helpful indeed! I will look into the 203k loan, and do some bike rides through different neighborhoods. The East Bay has some great schools, while the SF school lottery is hit or miss so it's an attractive move for young families before their kids hit 5.