Newbie looking for my first investment duplex in DFW

[Brandon Craig]

Hi Everyone,

 I am looking to find my first duplex in DFW that is hopefully a B class so that my mom and brother can move in. Breaking even on the deal is totally fine because I plan on using Brandon's stack method and grabbing a 4plex next where I can make some cash flow on. (2-4-8-16-32 will hopefully get me to my FI # which is about $5,000/m)

My lender requires 25% down for a conventional loan because I won't be living in the duplex as I enjoy renting in Northeast Dallas for the amenities/lifestyle. I have a real estate agent who is auto-emailing me multi-family homes in DFW and the only ones I see that I feel comfortable with my mother walking around outside are 300k or more. This would require about 75k down. I currently only have 20k, but can have this in 1 year.

1) Is there another way to get this done earlier? Another loan? Maybe 20% from another lender to get in with 60k down?

2) Where are the best locations in DFW to invest? My realtor said mid cities are good, like North Richland Hills or Arlington. Also Fort Worth.

3) Has anyone helped out relatives or had them as tenants? My mother is a low income widow that I want to make sure lives in a property that I own so that I can help her when needed as she gets older. My brother is also lower income currently and would like to be able to assist him too when needed and at least pay me as a landlord versus a random person.

4) I have only seen about 10 or so duplex in the portal my agent has sent me.. is it really this scarce? I have not even seen a single 4 plex or higher, only a few duplex's.

Thank you!

Brandon

[Kyle Mccaw]

1) Is there another way to get this done earlier? Another loan? Maybe 20% from another lender to get in with 60k down? If you find a property that needs repair you may be able to use a hard money loan then refi to traditional 80% LTV mortgage. @Andrew Postell is the DFW investment loan guru. I bet he has a 20% down payment option.

2) Where are the best locations in DFW to invest? My realtor said mid cities are good, like North Richland Hills or Arlington. Also Fort Worth. "Best" is such a subjective term. If your agent understands what you are looking for just follow their lead. Duplexes are not near as common in DFW as other parts of the country. And they tend to be in low income, rougher neighborhoods.

3) Has anyone helped out relatives or had them as tenants? My mother is a low income widow that I want to make sure lives in a property that I own so that I can help her when needed as she gets older. My brother is also lower income currently and would like to be able to assist him too when needed and at least pay me as a landlord versus a random person. If you are going to lease to family be 100% ok with them not paying you. This is a great way to ruin relationships. Will your brother grow as a person If you plan to prop up your brother? Or will you condition him to be ok with his station in life?

4) I have only seen about 10 or so duplex in the portal my agent has sent me.. is it really this scarce? I have not even seen a single 4 plex or higher, only a few duplex's. Duplexes are not near as common in DFW as other parts of the country. And they tend to be in low income, rougher neighborhoods.