Evaluating multi fam ARV with SFH comps?

[Amber Stout]

Hey all! I value all your feedback as you all always have great advice. 

When evaluating ARV for a multi family (2 units), do you use average sqft of multi fam only or do you look at SFH as well?

The area we're looking only has 4-5 comps in the last 6 months of multi fams. In addition, the SFH seem to be going for more per sqft in this area. The realtor is telling us we should be using SFH as comps in addition to multi fam since there's not many comps to compare. I was thinking we should be comparing multi fam to multi fam only.

Anyway, I'd appreciate any advice from you all. I'm getting closer and closer to my first properties thanks to you all! Thank you much! 

[Marc Winter]

@Amber Stout the only thing a one-family has in common with a 2- 3- 4-family is that they are considered residential property as opposed to 5-fam and up are 'commercial'.   

That does not mean you can use $/sq foot for comparison.  You'll really need like-to-like comps.  If there are no close or recent comps, you can spread the radius out a bit, or back in time a bit, which is what an appraiser would do.