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Updated over 8 years ago on . Most recent reply
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9 Condos in Milwaukee WI Yes or No?
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You would have a lot of chips down on the health of one association. So closely check the association with lots of due diligence:
) check the owner occupant ratio as it may mean there are fewer financing option, hence owner financing may also be your only exit strategy;
) will dues eat most of your cash flow? recheck association monthly.
) any special assessments pending/needed?
) are there reserves?deferred capital projects (i.e., has it been milked)? remember with no reserves, a 5 K per unit special assessment (be it a roof, parking, plumbing, disaster etc) would be 45K to you due on demand (and there may not even be financing)..
) is there an active maintenance program? professional management?
) are there rental restrictions (sounds like previous owner did, but can you) or any anti-investor policies (fees etc)?
) are they in demand at the rate you'd need to charge? or are there cheaper substitutes (like nearby apartments)? check the market, especially for 1 bedroom
) check parking, pets, smoking etc.
) association politics? check that--some are lukewarm and collaborative, others open warfare.
My view, condos can be lower fuss management propositions, especially for newer investors unable to do exterior maintenance, but can slow you down and take away control if you are a more advance hands on landlord (read: potentially frustrating)
If you are new, why not take a smaller bite of one or two units. Give condos a try. If it works well, you could always buy more later (probably from the same guy as buyers may be scarce).
Remember, the exit strategy might be you also having to pay them off and owner finance them yourself if you can find some person willing to bite in 30 years (so you may be stuck till 65 on this proposition, too). Best of luck..