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Articles by Carissa Atendido
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First LTR Under Contract — Getting Cold Feet Before Closing. Normal Nerves or Reasons
I’m currently under contract on my first LTR, and as I get closer to closing, I’m starting to get cold feet and would really appreciate some perspective from more experienced investors. The property: Brand-new 2026 construction 4 bed / 2 bath SFH 1,828 sq. ft. Builder is offering a great interest rate + $20K toward closing costs I’ve already put down $10K in earnest money Planning to hold for approximately 5–7 years I’m in the home stretch and basically just waiting to close.
Tenant Placement: ZipRent/TurboTenant vs. Using a Realtor?
Curious to hear everyone’s experience with tenant placement services like ZipRent, TurboTenant, etc. versus using a traditional realtor to handle showings and the tenant acquisition process. For example, ZipRent charges a flat fee of around $1,500, which in my case is roughly 65% of one month’s rent versus the full month’s rent I’d pay a realtor.
First Rental Under Contract — Am I Overcomplicating the Entity/Title Structure?
36 Posts 26 Votes Carissa AtendidoPoster 26 Votes | 36 Posts I’m currently under contract on my first long-term rental. It’s a turnkey new construction, with closing scheduled for the end of August 2026. I’m getting a great deal: 4.99% interest rate + $20K in closing-cost incentives through the builder's financing program. Because of the financing, I'm planning to close in my personal name and, assuming everything goes as planned, transfer the property into an LLC after closing.
$30K+ in Equity, -$100/Month in Cash Flow - Worth Holding or Time to Walk?
I'm currently under contract (still within the inspection period) on a SFH in San Antonio, TX — 3 bed, 2 bath, 1,565 sq ft, built in 2019. The biggest reason I pulled the trigger on this deal is the walk-in equity. Based on comps and conservative estimates, the home is valued between $258K–$260K. My offer was accepted at $230K, and I’m hoping to negotiate that down further after inspections. This isn’t a cash flow play — I bought it for the equity and long-term potential.
Out of state investing - Hire a property manager / Self-Manage + Home Warranty
Hi all! I'm in the process of securing my first investment property in Texas, while living in South Florida, and I’m debating whether to hire a property management company or self-manage with the support of a home warranty. Since it’s just one door, I’ve heard from others that self-managing is doable for your first property—especially with the right systems in place.
I’m looking to purchase my first investment property, and I’ve decided to go with a new construction home scheduled for completion in 2025. I’m leaning toward new construction primarily because of the low maintenance costs in the early years. My investment strategy is focused more on long-term appreciation than immediate cash flow. My question is — when buying a new construction directly from a builder, is it still advisable to work with a realtor?
My FIRST deal: NEW construction home for a rental - a good or bad idea???
Hey everyone, I’m a rookie investor and currently looking to purchase my first investment property. I live in South Florida, but I’m considering investing in Central Florida, since the population and job market seem to be steadily growing. I’ve been looking into new construction homes in growing cities — mostly because the prices are still fairly low for brand-new properties, and I’m banking on appreciation over the next few years.
STRATEGY for cash flow: Renting by the room vs Rent the whole house??
I'm a rookie investor and was initially set on buying my first rental property using the LTR strategy—renting out the entire house. Recently, I reconnected with a friend who’s been investing in real estate for a few years. She owns properties in both the LA area and Atlanta and uses a “rent-by-the-room” model instead. She’s earning nearly twice as much compared to renting the whole house traditionally.
All NEGATIVE cashflow when analyzing trying to buy my FIRST deal - WHY???
I've been using the BP Rental Calculator and BiggerDeals to analyze potential properties for my first investment, but I'm running into a consistent issue — most of the properties I look at are showing negative monthly cash flow and really low COC returns. I’m wondering: am I doing something wrong in my analysis, or is it just that good deals are really hard to come by in the current market?
1st Investment property - Should I buy using a HELOC or Conventional Loan
6 Posts 3 Votes Carissa AtendidoPoster 3 Votes | 6 Posts First-Time Investor Looking for Lending Advice for Out-of-State Property Hi everyone! I'm a rookie investor gearing up to purchase my first investment property. I currently live in South Florida, where high HOA fees, insurance costs, and property taxes make local investing a challenge. Because of this, I'm exploring out-of-state options—specifically in TN, TX, or GA—for a LTR investment.
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