I want to buy the most expensive 1-4 unit property possible

I want to buy the most expensive 1-4 unit property possible

Member since 2019 · 219 posts · 99 votes

As in $2million or higher. I know, I'm an idiot. But before you pull out your pitchforks and tell me about cheap cash flowing houses in the Midwest, let me explain.

I have a VA loan that I want to put to work. Recently, the limit was removed, meaning that you can buy any property for any price, so long as you can make the payments.

As for the payments, you can use 75% of the rents in a multifamily property to offset the payment costs, meaning that if 75% of 3 units in a 4plex cover enough of the payment, you're golden.

Given that and the ridiculously low VA loan mortgage rates (30yr @ 2.25%) it makes sense to put the maximum amount of money to work in a single transaction, and I'm trying to decide which location and type of property is best for this.

You have the really expensive areas: NYC, SF, LA, etc. But many of these look unattractive for a variety of reasons.

Hawaii looks fairly attractive. The lowest property taxes combined with a location that isn't going to lose its appeal anytime soon 

Seattle, Austin, and stew other cities are also attractive, mostly due to booming prices due to tech that probably won't slow anytime soon.

As for the property itself, I'm leaning heavily toward a townhome/ rowhome-style fourplex. There attractive, and will likely be just as attractive decades down the road. 

SFHs seem like a listing proposition as the returns would likely be far lower than a nice fourplex of the same price.

So what are you thoughts? What are the best places/ types of properties for my strategy?

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Investor · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
4y

I'll sell you my house for $2M at any time :-)

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Investor · North Richland Hills, TX · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    I'll sell you my house for $2M at any time :-)

  • Investor · San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 975 votes
    4y

    @Tyler D. You must live in the property you purchase with your VA loan (for at least a year, i believe), so make sure you factor that into your decision matrix!

  • Lender · Winlock, WA · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    It is an interesting thought and you have most of the details correct, however just because VA doesn't have any loan limit, doesn't mean there isn't a limit. That said, the Conventional limits for any given area are what the lenders use as the VA limit. So in some high cost area's the 4 unit loan limits will be as high as $1,867,275.00. That would be your max. loan size on VA even though VA doesn't have a limit per say!!!

    Also as was mentioned before, it must be owner occupied for at least 1 year. Do you have the kind of job that you can work remotely? If not, you will at least be required to have a job offer with a letter stating your employment has no outstanding conditions. You don't have to have started that job before you close, however you will have to have 30 days worth of paystubs within 30-60 after the funding of the loan (some lenders allow this). 

    I hope this helps?

  • Rental Property Investor · Kapolei, HI · Member since 2021 · 45 posts · 23 votes
    4y

    @Tyler D. Limit is based on your DTI still. If you have other VA loans it is reduced. You have to live in the property. The home has to qualify. $2mil is the upper limit of most VAs

  • Marc RiceBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · Columbus Cleveland Dayton, OH · Member since 2018 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    4y

    The VA loan is great for this and the feasibility test doesn't need to be met like the FHA loan product.

    Marc Rice | Investor Friendly Agent at Reafco Tailwind Team574 Reviews
  • Real Estate Agent · Colorado | stan.store/JamesCarlson · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    4y

    @Tyler D.

    I've never seen a more sure-fire way to get spammed by a lot of real estate agents. Well done!

    Kidding aside, what about Denver? Lots of tech money, diversified economy, big influx of high-earners, growing population, awesome quality of life. Plus, super low property taxes. (Ain't going to find that in California, New York or Austin.) And don't worry, it's plenty expensive to find you a deal like that. ;)

  • Member since 2019 · 219 posts · 99 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @James Carlson:

    @Tyler D.

    I've never seen a more sure-fire way to get spammed by a lot of real estate agents. Well done!

    Kidding aside, what about Denver? Lots of tech money, diversified economy, big influx of high-earners, growing population, awesome quality of life. Plus, super low property taxes. (Ain't going to find that in California, New York or Austin.) And don't worry, it's plenty expensive to find you a deal like that. ;)

     Not to get sidetracked, but Cali has potentially the lowest property taxes over the long term with prop 13. That makes it appealing, but there are enough negatives to make me very wary about buying in California now.

    that being said, I'm looking at CO. It has a lot of pros.

  • Member since 2019 · 219 posts · 99 votes
    4y
    Originally posted by @Kevin Romines:

    It is an interesting thought and you have most of the details correct, however just because VA doesn't have any loan limit, doesn't mean there isn't a limit. That said, the Conventional limits for any given area are what the lenders use as the VA limit. So in some high cost area's the 4 unit loan limits will be as high as $1,867,275.00. That would be your max. loan size on VA even though VA doesn't have a limit per say!!!

    Also as was mentioned before, it must be owner occupied for at least 1 year. Do you have the kind of job that you can work remotely? If not, you will at least be required to have a job offer with a letter stating your employment has no outstanding conditions. You don't have to have started that job before you close, however you will have to have 30 days worth of paystubs within 30-60 after the funding of the loan (some lenders allow this). 

    I hope this helps?

     Thanks for all of the details Kevin! I do work remotely, so that won't be a problem. I'll take a look into conventional limits and see what my upper bound will be for the areas I'm considering.

  • Residential Real Estate Broker · Paia, HI · Member since 2016 · 479 posts · 311 votes
    4y

    There are many homes in Maui that would work for you. We're not only the best island in the world, we also have the lowest owner occupied property tax rates in the nation. And skyrocketing rents. Best of luck in your search!

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