How to Accommodate 'Extracurriculars' into a Duplex Value?

How to Accommodate 'Extracurriculars' into a Duplex Value?

Niles, MI · Member since 2015 · 38 posts · 6 votes

I am looking at duplex that has a great location of about 1 block from a major hospital, 1.5 miles from a major university and about 1 mile from downtown of a city of 100,000. Further, it has a location on a corner lot overlooking the river and a park (not directly on the river, but right across the street) and is in a historical district. The house itself is definitely in need of upgrades but is quite livable and is move-in ready at this exact moment. Here is the Zillow for pictures.

I say all that because I cannot make heads or tails if my offer is a completely disrespectful low-ball, or the sellers are vastly overstating the sell price. It is listed at $180,000 but I want to offer $120,000. I have poured over duplexes in the area that have sold within the last 2 years. While they don't have the same 'extras' I mentioned above, they are nearly identical in square foot, age, layout and location. At best they are selling for $30/square foot. Even using an income perspective and a 7% cap rate (which I think is more aggressive than what is warranted), the property is coming out at about a value of $130,000 at most. When I compare the total layout of the property (treat is like a SFH), the comps I get are around $50K-100K -- and they are still within 0.5 mile with a similar neighborhood. Finally, just comparing the house to the neighborhood, it would be, by far, the most overpriced house for what you get in the area.

My thought process is that is looks like it is part of a trust and the children just want to get rid of it. The realtor told mine they had a hard time pricing it and they may be thinking of it as a SFH instead of pricing as a duplex (different crowd is attracted to a duplex).

Am I crazy about thinking the house is insanely over-priced? I don't want to low-ball them and then they won't even contend with further offers as I really like the place (I'll house-hack it). Are those 'extra' features really worth the extra price? Especially since this isn't a SFH but a duplex?

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  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    7y

    @Eric LongThese days I am finding that to be pretty typical-even that spread; properties values are fiercly inflated and 'investors' are buying them. REI is the latest rage and hyped in financial media. Only you can decide what makes sense to you bid accordingly

  • Real Estate Broker · Minneapolis, MN · Member since 2016 · 530 posts · 398 votes
    7y

    As a duplex, don't worry about the cap rate. Cap rate doesn't matter in 1-4's. Figure out the income and cash flow you want and how the property stacks up to the comps like you did initially. It will be assessed based on comps, but you should always ensure a property meets your cash flow and cost per unit benchmarks. Is there any opportunities to add-value?

    Anything else that justifies your 60k discount? How competitive is your market? If you can argue your bid and it makes sense to your business plan i'd say go for it. Just make sure you can argue it!

  • Niles, MI · Member since 2015 · 38 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    @Bjorn Ahlblad - That's what is weird about it: the SFH seem more in-line with each other and appropriately priced. Maybe its the MFH that are first to be hit with inflation as the REI economy expands?

    @Bjorik Mutize - Primarily it is the comps I am finding that justify the discount. I am newer to this process so I may be miscalculating but I have looked at it from so many angles that I am really struggling to see where I may be off. The kicker is that SFH homes with nearly identical setups are going for significantly less. The other thing is that the house has been on the market for about 400 days and the reason is that it is in a floodzone, so that's extra capital required upfront. I think that has scared many people off (we had insane record flooding just a year ago too) but I am willing to move forward with flood insurance (numbers are based off of flood insurance included).

  • Carrollton, TX · Member since 2015 · 415 posts · 371 votes
    7y

    @Eric Long

    Make the offer. You just need to decide to make the offer as an owner occupant who "really likes the place" or as an investor who wants to make money. In a hot market, you usually can't have it both ways.

    Cheers... Immanuel

  • Charles SoperPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Merritt Island, FL · Member since 2015 · 253 posts · 178 votes
    7y

    Everybody above make good points but anything multi-family (Duplex - 100+ unit apartments) are valued differently than SFH. You need to answer the question about keeping it a duplex or changing it back to a SFH. If a duplex a good rule of thumb I follow from J Scott is the value of 2-4 unit properties is roughly no more than the total gross rents x 100. So in this case at their ask of $180,000 you would need to rent both units for a total of $1800 per month or $850 a unit. All that said, the local market dictates so take into account demand for investment properties, flood insurance, local economy, etc. Nice looking property by the way, not sure how much "house hack" you'll get out of that one.

  • Niles, MI · Member since 2015 · 38 posts · 6 votes
    7y

    @Charles Soper - I am definitely interested in keeping it as a duplex while I live there and potentially convert it to a SFH when (and if) I sell it. Maybe I'm using the term "house hack" to broadly but I meant it just in the idea that my mortgage will be much lower otherwise and actually cash flow when I'm renting both sides out.

    Thanks for all the responses. I feel a little better about going lower on the initial offer. Honestly, I feel that $120,000 is almost too good for what I have seen. Another caveat I forgot to mention is that the duplex unit isn't approved to be rented out? It's not a zoning thing, but I would have to allow a public hearing to see if the neighbors have an issue with renting out a space. Not too worried about that since everyone rents in the neighborhood but another barrier that I have to deal with.

  • Rental Property Investor · Durham, NC · Member since 2016 · 7k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    7y

    @Eric Long. The amount of time you have spent on “should I make the offer or not” I would have already made the offer and gotten a response on it from the seller. Lol

    Take action and don’t over think this stuff. If it’s worth 120k to you, make the offer and see what happens

  • Niles, MI · Member since 2015 · 38 posts · 6 votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Caleb Heimsoth:

    @Eric Long. The amount of time you have spent on “should I make the offer or not” I would have already made the offer and gotten a response on it from the seller. Lol

    Take action and don’t over think this stuff. If it’s worth 120k to you, make the offer and see what happens

    You're right, I have been slow about making the offer. But I am hoping to do so by Monday. I have to get a few things in-line before then, but it should be set to go on Monday!

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