Jo Landers

I bought my first investment property in 1999; my realtor says it was the lowest-priced sale in Holyoke that year (so you can imagine the condition!). After MUCH sweat equity and a low interest deleading loan that covered replacing the 100 year-old windows, I restored it to decent housing again. Since then I've bought three other properties in the neighborhood, including another major fixer-upper. I consider the units long term investments; I charge fair rents and plow the money back into the buildings thru ongoing maintenance, and, in consultation with long-term tenants, in upgrades inside their units as cash allows. Four of my six tenants have been with me for 10 years or longer (2008, 2011, 2014, 2015) and (2025) I've begun discussing owner financing at a property I own outright and a rent-to-own at a property I still have a mortgage on with two of the families so they can buy their homes as I move into retirement.