If you are an individual opening a bank account you will need a SSN (social security number) someone in this forum mention that could get one mentioning that its not for work purpose. Otherwise you need the ITIN which is the individual tax ident. number and you get it when you do your tax return. When you form an LLC you can organized a EIN (Employee identification number) even if your LLC will never have an employee! and with this information you can apply for a bank account for your LLC and you take the money out as a member of the LLC.
Here are some of the benefits of an LLC (I copy form wikipedia ):
A limited liability company with multiple members that elects to be taxed as partnership may specially allocate the members' distributive share of income, gain, loss, deduction, or credit via the company operating agreement on a basis other than the ownership percentage of each member so long as the rules contained in Treasury Regulation (26 CFR) 1.704-1 are met. S corporations may not specially allocate profits, losses and other tax items under US tax law.
Limited liability, meaning that the owners of the LLC, called “members”, are protected from some or all liability for acts and debts of the LLC depending on state shield laws.
Much less administrative paperwork and record keeping than a corporation.
Using default tax classification, profits are taxed personally at the member level, not at the LLC level.
LLCs in most states are treated as entities separate from their members, whereas in other jurisdictions[which?] case law has developed deciding LLCs are not considered to have separate legal standing from their members (see recent D.C. decisions[which?]).
LLCs in some states can be set up with just one natural person involved.
Less risk to be "stolen" by fire-sale acquisitions (more protection against "hungry" investors).
For real estate companies, each separate property can be owned by its own, individual LLC, thereby shielding not only the owners, but their other properties from cross-liability.
I was planning to open an account Citibank in Miami, but the property its going to be in SW Florida, where they don't have any branches. Apparently they have a policy that if the property or business its not within 50 miles from the branch you can not bank with them!! Never heard of this before!
Does anyone have a bank/contact to recommend in the Ft Myers area?
Hi Emma, One more question. If you don't have any rush in getting the funds back to OZ. Dont you think its better to have your own account in the US and leaving it there instead of leaving it with the PM and getting them to transfer? I was also thinking ,specially the first year or so, in case there is some periods of vacancy better to have at least 1 year worth of rent there, ready available. How much can a US bank charge for a transfer? Do you know of any bank account that doesn't have any maintenance fee or they all have some? I am traveling to the US next month and the more I learn the more I realize how much there is to learn! Thanks a lot in advance! CH
However, I purchased in Atlanta primarily for cashflow among other things, where I was achieving 20% gross return on properties, unfortunately this has now changed.
I like the warm climate, hopefully less maintenance.
Atlanta has more than one industry.
You may be interested in the attached stats on population trends for Atlanta.
This was one of the biggest concerns we had with our agent in Florida when we got our first house. We had never met her, even though we had been dealing with her for over a year before we finally got to finalise on our first property. Towards the end there were plenty of questions between my business partner and I about can we really trust this person, how do we know this all has not been some elaborate scam? We did our best to look her up on the internet and see if there was any sort of bad news about her, we talked to people who had dealt with her before, unfortunately none of them had secured a property with her despite using other services that she offers. The biggest thing for me that let me know she was legit, was how when we had asked her about potential investment properties, she had rejected probably 90% or so of what we suggested saying they were not good investments. Not only this, but she also put her own money forward as a deposit for us on a couple properties. I guess by doing things like this, we were able to build up enough trust in her, and now it has turned into a very great business relationship.
Hi streamlineinvesting, could I ask you which agent did you used and where did you buy the properties? Thanks!
Thanks for your comment. Regarding the listing. They do give you a user name and password for they web when you contact them and they give you full addresses for properties. They work with this company http://www.americanrealestateinvestments.com/
For instance they have the one in 3154 Chippewa Dr Rex, Georgia 30273 offered at 52000 whereas in this webpage of the Australian agent they offer it at a lot less before they charges http://www.888usaproperty.com.au/310729/
So not a good sign.
Who did you used to buy your property in Atlanta? who are you using for the property management? Thanks! Cheers, CH
Hi there, I am planning to go to Atlanta to buy a property later this year. I am planning to buy it with the help of Key property Realty. They charge a start up fee for Georgia LLCs of $650. This includes all the forms, filing fees, acquiring EIN #, and form sent to member to apply & acquire ITIN #. and 150 to Set up new Business Bank Account for LLC. Which I think I can easily do it my self.. is that right? do you think that I will need this help if I am there? They also suggest Wells Fargo as the bank to do business with.
World Investor, I would also appreciate your contact for the bank in Atlanta. My email is [email protected]
Hi Engelo, I'd be interested in catching up. I've just purchased a property in Atlanta and would like to know what others are doing to build their portfolio / methods implemented to secure properties.
Hi Ubrowndog.. I know its not the right post/topic but I am interested in buying in Atlanta and I would like to know which agent did you use (if any), what property management company are you using and what is your experience so far..
Thanks for that Alex! Can I ask you how many properties is Ritan managing for you and how they been so far? How long have you been dealing with them? Thank you!