OK ic. I do have a staying power fund of 3 months rent worth, for emergencies that could happen at the beginning. However I never thought of having a the reserve fund as a fund with a top, where you only start filling it when it`s not at the top. I`ve been just planning to keep the fund up...

10% of my rent each month goes into a reserve fund for unexpected(or expected unexpected) expenses. QUOTE (ChrisDavies @ Nov 22 2008, 12:50 PM) One thing I noticed on the analysis I missed earlier was that you`re budgeting 10% of cash flow for your reserve fund. That should be cash up front...

With this market I have been able to shave 5-10k off my last 2 purchases. However, with prime+1 interest, those discounts are no longer enough to cash flow anything I`ve seen lately. However, since I have nothing to lose now, I could start making offers 50k below asking and see where it goes...

Hi, I`m basing my cash flow on income minus any expenses caused by an acquisition. That includes the interest from my down payment paid with HELOC. My HELOC is 4%, Mortgage is 35y at 5%(prime+1) . I`m using 20% as down payment althought 25-30% down will give more cash flow, it hardly makes a...

I would start writing offers left and right, but for those that I looked at to work I`ll be writing offers at 30% below asking price! Is that a good idea? Thanks, Nepoez QUOTE (thomasbeyer2000 @ Nov 21 2008, 07:47 PM) keep looking .. write offers .. if you do not get at least 9 rejections on...

I went to the QS twice this year and was told Edmonton was the #1 top 10 town. I`m curious why it`s rated that since there`s no cash flow there in condos, single fam, up/down suited, even plexes. Could anyone answer that? Thanks

I really wouldn`t mind if it went down another 20%. Then Edmonton might actually cash flow again.

3 years ago I considered flipping houses. However, I`m a paranoid guy so I did some calculations and I realized in order for me to break even, the property will have to go up at least 20%.. I gave up after that. P.S. I would have made money as it was the tiger woods year, but it would have...

Perhaps the banks will offer prime again later... QUOTE (thomasbeyer2000 @ Nov 19 2008, 09:18 AM) Indeed .. Hence, usually smaller centres, like Airdrie, StonyPlain, Okotoks, Camrose, Chiliwack, Spruce Grove, Wetaskiwin, .. i.e. smaller urban hubs close to big cities with big city rents (and...

Hi all, As my last post stated, I`ve changed my strategy to start looking for suited properties(from town houses as they won`t cash flow). I wonder what a sweet spot is, as looking for an up-down suite I`d think you`d expect about 1300 up, 1000 down, and anything past 350k would give a...

Thanks again. I`m going to try to focus on getting my new unit rented out first, when things are more stable I will have some extra energy to look into this area.

Thanks for the feedback. It`s actually in Edmonton. From the sound of it, furnishing makes more sense for a place like DT Vancouver, or the heart of a major city, where your target clients are the short term corporate worker type. For a town house in a residential area this probably won`t...

Hi guys/gals, I have never been a renter before, but I would imagine if I were, I would not want to sleep in a bed someone else has. At least not for a long time. I am wondering what your opinions are on installing luxury(looking) furnitures in rental. Will is attract tenants? Will is bring...

I just ran into this problem a couple weeks ago, they actually weren`t going to insure my 3rd property until several painful phone calls. When I acquire the next property I`m going to have to transfer them to another company. I`ve called AllState and they said they would insure many properties...

If this is the case. What do you guys think of a Holiday Season Special. Basically the deal is, if someone signs up for the lease now, they get 200 dollars off the first 3 months.

Wow.. I could very likely be waiting until Feb... That`s 3k down the drain! I could get a 60 LCD screen or travel over seas twice! I noticed.. my last ad had lots of response on kijiji.. but starting november I only had one inquiry. QUOTE (HeatherBrandt @ Nov 4 2008, 08:32 PM) I think...

Hi all, I just possessed a town house that`s in great condition, but Christmas is coming soon. I`ve heard it`s tougher to rent a place out around this time. Is that so? If so, does it mean I`ll likely not rent it out until the new year?

Hehe.. the DOING is the same, but the intent and motives are slightly different. This difference usually matters more in personal relationships.. eg. some husbnds think it`s OK to look as long as you don`t touch. So a guy who always checks out other women is equal to a guy who is truly loyal...

I`m not so sure if I sit well with the idea of investing in real estate and not expecting any appreciation and only seeing it as a nice to have bonus IF it happens. That defeats half the work done on the economic fundamental research to me. QUOTE (invst4profit @ Nov 4 2008, 08:20 AM) Correct...

You`re right that putting your own cash into a deal is not as efficient in the bigger picture, but like Thomas said cash flow is cash flow. I might not make it to see the bigger return in the end if I sacrifice cash flow. So again, I see both points and they are both facts that need to be...