Help: I want to buy my first 3-4 plex

[Edly Destine]

I'm looking to purchase (~$600k) my first MFH using 3.5% FHA by the end of the year. Bronx, Westchester area. Any real estate investor from the NY Tristate or anywhere else Willing to help guide a newbie!? All advice are really appreciate!

[Adam Cherko]

@Edly Destine, I am also located in lower westchester, New Rochelle to be exact. I just purchased a two family here a year ago, after looking for a year to find one that I could house hack and the numbers worked properly whether I was living there or not. 

I think the suggestions of mailer and door knocks are important to find things at better price points than mls, and connecting with lots of realtors to see what they have in their back pockets is a good idea, but they pose some time challenges for your tight timeframe, not to mention the time involved in closing the loan. We are almost at 45 days till January 1 and in our area with the number of title issues from these older mom and pop landlords, bank timing and super hot market for small Multi families you might be setting yourself up for failure. DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED!!! What you are doing is great, it just may take a little longer to find the property worth buying for you. 

Mailers are great and effective but not usually the first month they get sent out. meaning you will need to send the same list for multiple months and receive good calls. As far as agents, many will sell you lipstick on a pig in a heart beat, they are looking for a commission, you need a realtor who owns rental property, will analyze the condition when you walk through it with you, can go over your number analysis with you and is a strong negotiator. It takes time to find those people whom you trust and trust you as a buyer. I suggest going to meetups. There are plenty on meetup.com if they are not posted here on BP. I cohost one with @Brian Mason at the yonkers brewing company each month, this month is this coming Thursday, Nov 14th from 7-9. I also cohost another one with @Rachelle Rayner in Harrison the Thursday after Yonkers same time, at Uncle Henry’s in Harrison.  Either of them cost anything, it’s just a place for likeminded people to get together monthly and connect and learn. We will also be having a westchester meetup for @Darren Sager’s RE Rockstars and BP legends meetup which has been a manahattan staple for years coming up in early December. We are just working on the venue and specific dates. There is a cost to that one because he is able to get podcast guests to come speak at the events and we are so great full for that! There are plenty of others as well! 

As many people on this thread have said, just do something and keep doing it. You have to know the housing stock or you will not end up with something you want. A $600,000 Budget is doable but be careful, because the market is hot and people will try to sell you things they think are worth 600k but when the numbers are run they fall short. 

If you need to speak with a lender local to our area DM me, I’d be happy to make some suggestions. Let me know if I can help! Have a great weekend!