House #17 and House #18

House #17 and House #18
This was a productive week for us!  We put three houses under contract and I think we will probably get at least one or two more next week.  House #18 pictured on the right is a total mess.  The layout is terrible, it is missing a kitchen, and it got 15 offers on the first day,...
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Working with Random Appraisals

Working with Random Appraisals
If you have been following the blog, you probably know that right now our biggest problem is not finding a willing buyer, but getting a bank that is willing to fund the loan.  The rules have changed and appraisers now are our biggest challenge. Most of our properties sell to FHA...
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House #16 – Under Contract

House #16 – Under Contract
Well, today was a pretty good day in our world.  We finally closed escrow on House #14 today!  And we broke out of our rutt and finally got a contract accepted.  The deal is good, but not great.  It will depend on what the market does this winter. It is a 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom...
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House #14 – Close Escrow 8/5

House #14 – Close Escrow 8/5
House #14 is finally going to close escrow tomorrow (Aug 5).  We have a renter that will move in on Sept 1 or sooner.  Our main contractor is going to rent it and we said he can move in rent free if he can finish the remodel earlier. I have an insurance policy that will start tomorrow...
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What sets the experienced investors apart?

What sets the experienced investors apart?
By no means do I consider myself a seasoned pro in this business.  As I broaden my search for additional property, I have been going back to the basics and think about what worked at the start. The Experienced Investor Is always looking at property and ready to buy. Can trust their...
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Investor Buying Short Sales?

Investor Buying Short Sales?
For a long time we have completely ignored even trying to buy any short sale properties.  Typically the home owner decides to list the house with an agent they know and they just throw the property in the MLS with a super low asking price to attract an offer.  The bank will take...
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Pulling the Best Comparables (Realist Tax)

Pulling the Best Comparables (Realist Tax)
A long time ago I spoke about how I used a very small part of Zillow to help with my price analysis.  They changed their site, to no longer allow quick sorting on their “Search Nearby Sales” which basically makes the tool a lot less useful for me.  But even before that...
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The FHA Review Appraisal

The FHA Review Appraisal
If you have read my post “FHA 90 Day Flip Rule … A Major Pain” or the latest “FHA 90 Day Rule – Revisited” you will know that you cannot sell a house until the 91 first day of ownership.  So the thought is, if you wait the 90 days and put the property...
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House #5 – Closed Escrow Jul 30

House #5 – Closed Escrow Jul 30
House #5 has been in escrow since mid-April and the buyer was struggelling to qualify for financing.  Just as we where getting ready to throw the buyer out of escrow, they emailed us and said they are approved to draw loan docs!!  This was great news, but where not that confident...
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How do get started as a Real Estate Investor?

How do get started as a Real Estate Investor?
How do I get started? Is probably the most common question I get asked when people here about what I do.  The answer is very difficult and specific to what you bring to the table.  The first thing I always suggest to anyone new, especially in this market, is to get access to their...
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