How exactly will a 6 unit property vary from a 4 unit?

How exactly will a 6 unit property vary from a 4 unit?

Durant, OK · Member since 2017 · 40 posts · 4 votes

Hi, BP

I have been studying real estate for a while and am still a long ways away from actually jumping in, but after doing some browsing in the area I see a small apartment building that I think would be an amazing first investment.

It is a 6 unit brick apartment, all attached in a single row

It is in a nice neighborhood but the apartments themselves have not been kept up well, so I know I can add value and maybe talk the owners into selling for a good price. It isn't actually for sale so this is mostly theoretical but if everything seems to be able to work out well I have no problem with being adamant about trying to purchase the property when the right time comes.

I have two questions:

1. I know a 6 unit property is considered "commercial" vs a 4 unit which is residential. But how does this effect me? I know I wouldn't be able to get an FHA loan on the property, but what other obstacles would a commercial property come with besides having to pay 20% down?

2. I, for the life of me, can not find any information on this place. There is no apartment name on a sign anywhere, there is no office for me to go into talk to somebody, and there is not an address number anywhere on the property, not even the mailbox. This makes it hard to find any information about taxes or anything else. It's on the highway so the address numbers to either side of it vary by a couple hundred each way. Is there any way to find out the address or any information on this property?

Actually I just thought of a third question as well. Since this is considered a commercial property, would I be correct in saying the price would not fall with home prices if the market was to decline, considering how commercial property value is based on the revenue they bring in instead of the value of similar buildings?

Thank you guys so much for the info!

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  • Real Estate Investor · Encinitas, CA · Member since 2016 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    9y
    Jacob Barnhart Bottom line: you need to start talking to lenders about financing. It will likely be 25% down, a 5-7 year fixed-rate with a balloon payment and you'll likely have either a 20 or 25 year amortization rate instead of 30. Not to mention your interest rate may be a touch higher. Also, it will likely be a full-recourse loan. Yes, raising rents can "force appreciation" with a commercial property in a way that it can't with non-commercial. However, as noted in the financing terms, it's not a free lunch. Requirements will also vary lender by lender. Some have loan minimums, some charge points, appraisal costs will be higher than you think, etc. You need to figure out a "best guess" on those numbers because getting too excited about a commerical property. My two cents anyway...
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