Looking into renting main home.

Looking into renting main home.

Real Estate Agent · Midland, TX · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes

Hey Everyone, 

So I currently own a home that I have had some people interested in renting out. Its about 1500 sq ft and a 3 bedroom, 2 bath that has been completely renovated. My mortgage each month is $975.00. 

Im looking into possibly renting it out and in our area I can get around 1700-1800 a month for it, or I could rent it out furnished with beds, couch, etc. for $2200 a month. Its not ideal but that means I would be moving back into my parents home for 6 months to a year. They have a separate guest house, so its not a huge deal breaker and they are okay with me doing that. 

My girlfriend will be finished with nursing school in May, and my thinking is I rent it out for a year, take all the money I gain from it and start saving for a down payment for another home in a year or 2 for the two of us? Would this be a good route to take? I want to get into rental properties, but in my town we have almost none or hardly any duplexes, triplexes, etc. so I kinda see this as my only option to help save and buy a second home. 

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  • Flipper/Rehabber · Orlando, FL · Member since 2016 · 311 posts · 150 votes
    8y

    How old are you? 

    If you have no problem living in your parents guest house I would 100000% do that! 

  • Real Estate Agent · Midland, TX · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    26 and my girlfriend is 21, but until were married we most likely wont be living together full time. I don't have a problem moving back in and they don't either, so I'm thinking that is the route I will take. Just wanted to see if anyone had any opinions on it. Thanks for the reply! 

  • Accountant · La Mesa, CA · Member since 2017 · 477 posts · 476 votes
    8y
    I think it is a good idea, but are you getting any cash flow. At 1800, the 50% rule would indicate that you are close to break even or closing money after you factor in the debt service.
  • Real Estate Agent · Midland, TX · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    and that’s what I’m not sure about and trying to figure out. I guess I worded it wrong in the beginning, but my $975 a month includes my taxes and on the home and then insurance runs me about $120 a month. Utilities would be paid for by renter. So essentially I’m in the home for $1,095 a month correct? 

    I know eventually maintenance will be required, but I finished last October updating the whole house. Replaced all cast iron plumbing with PVC, new water heater, etc. and of course updated cosmetics as well.  so hopefully nothing major in the foreseeable future. 

    So if I’m looking at it right, it will cash flow around $700 a month correct?

  • Crystal River, FL · Member since 2017 · 68 posts · 56 votes
    8y
    It seems like a great idea, just vet your prospective tenants well and be clear about your expectations once you settle on someone. I use Smart move by transunion to qualify tenants, seems to work well. I let them pay on their end.
  • Real Estate Agent · Midland, TX · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    Thanks for that reply! That was my next question is how to properly vet potential tenants. I posted it up last night, and have 2 people already wanting to meet and talk about renting it. I will look into Smart move. 

  • Rental Property Investor · Champaign, IL · Member since 2015 · 146 posts · 80 votes
    8y

    I would definitely move back in with the parents - although I'd do it for as long as possible! Just to build up as much cash as possible to accelerate your investing. Definitely take a look at @Scott Trench's book whether you go down this path or not. 

    As for the 50% rule - that's a decent rule of thumb for commercial, but not as good for SFR. You want to calculate your true maintenance/capex costs over time, as 50% will be too much to estimate for a time, then way too little. There are a few articles here that can explain this better than I can, and I'm sure there are some worksheets in the file place - but feel free to connect with me and I'll send you mine when I get it done.

    One other thing I would recommend is to get to 5+ units as quickly as possible. The same logic for vacancy that works for multifamily/commercial works with SFRs as well I've found. Having one unit means you're either at 100% or 0% vacancy. If you have more units your vacancy risk is lower because your cash flow from your occupied units can cover expenses on your vacant units, and keep you from having to add cash from your W2 income. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Midland, TX · Member since 2016 · 11 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    Hey guys, Thanks for the replies. So had some crazy stuff come up and actually rented my home out. I had some friends that their home burnt to the ground about a day after posting this. Insurance was going to put them in a hotel, so I offered to let them have my house as they have a whole family including a 6 month old, and i couldn't imagine living in a hotel and raising kids. 

    They ended up liking the house, and asked if I would consider renting it to them. Long story short, insurance agreed to pay me to rent it as they sort out the whole fire situation, and get a new house rebuilt. We agreed on $2500 a month, and I left my furnishings, which wasn't much other then a couch and some beds and a couple tvs, and i cover the electricity bill. So in all i ended up more then i thought for the house, they got a fully furnished house out of the deal, and insurance was happy with the price. So now just living back with my parents and saving up trying to purchase another home in the future! 

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