New Investor – Small Multifamily Deals

[Kenadi Defio]

Hi everyone,

I'm a new investor based in Northeastern Pennsylvania. I've been analyzing deals and studying the market for the last six months—reading books, listening to podcasts, and trying to soak up as much knowledge as I can. I'm primarily looking at small multifamily properties (2–4 units) to get started.

The biggest challenge I'm running into is the amount of cash needed up front. Even on a modest $250,000 property, between the down payment, closing costs, and basic repairs, I'm looking at $65K+ out of pocket. And to be honest, many of these properties aren't in great shape—most need cosmetic work, and some are pretty rough overall.

I know house hacking is a good way to reduce the cash needed (5% down as a primary), but I'm not looking for a primary residence—I want to go the investment route from the start.

So my question is:
Is this typical for a first investment property?
Is tying up $65K+ in a small, older duplex or triplex the standard path? Or would that kind of capital be better leveraged elsewhere for a better return?

Would love to hear how others approached their first deal—especially in similar markets—and what helped you pull the trigger (or walk away). Thanks in advance! :)

[Nadeem Alamgir]

Hey Kenadi, if your main goal is to get started and build experience, house hacking is still the easiest path, even if it’s just for a year. It gets you in with less cash and teaches you how to manage a property.

If you’re set on going the pure investment route and local numbers stay too tight, consider investing out of state in smaller, more affordable markets. You’ll just need a reliable team (agents, property managers, contractors, etc).