How to Calculate if Duplex or SFH Has Positive Cash Flow?

[Bob Asad]

Any calculator or rental calculations that you recommend for Duplex or SFH to analyze if they're worthy of buying for positive cash flow?

For example, there's a 1950 duplex for sale (West Palm Beach, FL) for $500k with each tenant (MoM) paying $1,500 = $3k/mo

The mortgage is $2.8k/mo

Would this be a bad investment because you would have to factor improvements and possible vacancy?

If so, what would you recommend would have made this deal better as an investment?

[George Craciun]

Like Matthew said, you need to have specific goals.

Where did you get the mortgage at $2800?

At 8% interest rate with 20% down payment only the PI would be around $2900.

I noticed that many investors that don't know the South Florida market ran their numbers based on the current property taxes and insurance. 

The property taxes are being reassessed yearly and probably you will only get the new taxable value 12 to 18 months after the purchase. 

For instance a property that I purchased in May 2023, was homestead and the property taxes were around $3500. Next year, I expect the the tax bill to be around $15000 as it is an investment property.

I didn't see too many people talking about this topic in Florida.