Is this a good idea?
Real estate investors run the gamut from those that are risk averse to those that are risk tolerant. For those who are not averse to risk, it is a slippery slope in terms of simply being risk tolerant to being a risk seeker. On real estate investor forums, online commentators are always posting questions to […]
Securing a Vacant Property
One of the difficulties that fix and flippers face is how to secure the property when the property is unoccupied (particularly evenings and weekends). The risk exposure of an unoccupied property includes the following: Theft. At risk are any tools or equipment the contractor may have left on the job site (see our separate comprehensive […]
Where to Donate Used Household Items in Baltimore
We have blogged before about where to donate building materials that are recyclable. But what about if you are trying to do a whole house clean-out, or even just de-clutter in preparation for sale? There are many options that will prevent unwanted items from ending up in a landfill. A one-stop source for identifying organizations […]
Home Inspections: Best Practices for Sellers
There is so much to consider when having a home inspection done—so much, in fact, that we are focusing this post on best practices for sellers in particular. One thing a seller may wish to consider is whether a pre-sale inspection would be advisable. A pre-sale inspection gives the seller a “heads up” regarding issues […]
Tenants with Pets: Best Practices for Landlords
One statistic regarding pet ownership in the United States is that measured by the APPA National Pet Owners Survey. As we shared in our guide on Fix & Flips: What Packs a Punch (and What Doesn’t)?, their 2019-2020 survey indicated that 67% of U.S. households own a pet. The most popular pet is a dog, […]
House Hacking In Baltimore
The Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University published a study titled, “America’s Rental Housing 2020.” In that study, the Center reports that “…10.9 million renters—or one in four—spent more than half their incomes on housing in 2018.” Given the financial burden of rent payments, some renters have chosen to pivot to a strategy […]
Baltimore City: Green Spaces
Baltimore City may not always be perceived in the most positive light—it was famously referred to as a “disgusting, rat and rodent infested mess” in the news—but there is a reason it is affectionately known as “Charm City.” Baltimore was originally nicknamed “Charm City” as part of a 1970s advertising campaign featuring marble steps, steamed […]
I don’t really need a permit, do I?
When renovating a house for the purpose of flipping it, the flipper can be tempted to forgo permits for building, electrical, and plumbing. The flipper is likely concerned about the cost of the permits in addition to the potential delay in receiving them. What happens if the flipper decides not to obtain the required permits? […]
Underwriting: Why do we appraise in-house?
We do our underwriting in-house, and there is no charge to our borrowers for this service. Why don’t we use third party appraisers to value the collateral? In our experience, some third-party appraisers do not understand the local market as well as we do. In Baltimore, neighborhoods just a few blocks away from each other […]
Termite Prevention in Maryland: Pre- and Post-Construction
Image by Roy Buri from Pixabay (https://pixabay.com/photos/termites-nature-food-insect-3367350/) Just hearing the word termite sends a shiver down one’s spine. And wouldn’t you know that Baltimore has the distinction of being one of the “Top 50 Termite Cities in the U.S.”? With the weather getting warmer, this problem becomes more prevalent. These insidious critters (the Eastern Subterranean […]
