Looking to buy duplexes but numbers dont mash up???

[Travis Schreiber]

Hi! So I'm pretty new to the game. I bought 2 small houses this year.  I am trying to figure out how to negotiate down the price on duplexes in my area.  I'm from Howard a suburb of Green Bay.  The deal Im looking at is a 2 bed 1 bath per side.  The DP is currently on the market for 194k. taxes $2624.00.  Currently rented for  625 per side.  The numbers arent even close to making sense for an investment.  Howard has a very strong house market.  How do you get these people to see that the price isnt realistic with the Cashflow equations.  Its possible I could get both sides rented for 800 but Id rather stay conservative with whats in it currently.  This seems to be the case for most of the duplexes in my area.  Any ideas or thoughts would be greatly appreciated.  Thank you :)

[Greg Scott]

The market is what it is.   If you owned a duplex and people were paying $194K for properties just like yours, would you lower your price so a buyer can have better cash flow?  No, of course not.

Rather than trying to convince sellers to change, channel your efforts elsewhere.  Search for off-market deals.  Or, find run-down duplexes that can be rehabbed and put into service for less than $194K. Or, see if you can convert a cheaper SF property into a duplex.   Take what the market will give you.

Good luck.