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Updated almost 16 years ago, 12/29/2008

User Stats

124
Posts
15
Votes
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
15
Votes |
124
Posts

4 unit deal, should i lift my offer?

Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
Posted

this deal im working on is a single family and a 3 family on same lot...right now im at $285K and it needs $25K in work, bank will be getting back to me nxt wk...realtor already said im probably going to have to go to $300 but I started at $270K and im not sure i should go to $300K...but when i look at monthly cash flow it tells me to go to $300K if needed

rents are $1400 for each unit...$5600 total monthly rents...very large 3 bedroom (could be 4 beds) units in 3 family and 3 smaller beds in single family...

i estimate my cash flow at $2233 per month...why shouldnt i raise my offer if needed...i guess im just looking for feedback either way

User Stats

4,583
Posts
1,169
Votes
Michael Rossi
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Ohio
1,169
Votes |
4,583
Posts
Michael Rossi
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Ohio
Replied

Here's how I see this deal:

Gross rents: $5,600
Operating Expenses: $2,800
NOI: $2,800

Mortgage ($310K, 30 yr, 7%): $2,062

Cash flow: $738 or $184 per unit per month, which is very good.

Yes, you could still raise the offer to $300K and be in good shape!

Mike

User Stats

22,059
Posts
14,124
Votes
Jon Holdman
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Mercer Island, WA
14,124
Votes |
22,059
Posts
Jon Holdman
  • Rental Property Investor
  • Mercer Island, WA
ModeratorReplied

I think you're overly optimistic about your cash flow, but this still looks like a deal.

Rent $5600
Expenses $2800 (50% rule)
NOI $2800
Payment $2062 ($310K, 7%, 30 years)
Cash Flow $738
Cash flow per unit $184

That doesn't consider what other units are selling for in the area, or local conditions. If there are a ton of similar units for rent, this price might be high. If vacant units get snapped up in a few days, and there are lots of new jobs coming, and this is priced well under other properties, maybe you could pay a little more.

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User Stats

193
Posts
46
Votes
Tom Sylvester
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Rochester, NY
46
Votes |
193
Posts
Tom Sylvester
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Rochester, NY
Replied

As long as the numbers (like rents) are what you say, this looks like a great deal to me and you do have some room to raise your offer.

User Stats

124
Posts
15
Votes
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
15
Votes |
124
Posts
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
Replied

broker called me today and said he had another offer at 290K and they wanted final and best...i went in at $300K, we'll see what happens, i really want this one, im ready for my nxt deal and this has the possibilities of condo conversion and/or subdivision down the road 10 yrs or so...

User Stats

124
Posts
15
Votes
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
15
Votes |
124
Posts
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
Replied

the other buyer went to $305K...i held at $300K but its kinda killing me- to lose out by $5k...but even if i went back in at $306K how do i know the other buyer wont lift to $310K, so im done on this deal, although the broker said he'd put both offers in and see what the bank says...

User Stats

15,745
Posts
10,940
Votes
Will Barnard
Pro Member
  • Developer
  • Santa Clarita, CA
10,940
Votes |
15,745
Posts
Will Barnard
Pro Member
  • Developer
  • Santa Clarita, CA
ModeratorReplied

Don't let it "kill you" Stick to your guns. If your final and best price from YOUR analysis was $300k, stand by it.
Keep in mind that every single month, a deal of a lifetime comes across your path, so long as you have your eyes and ears open.

User Stats

15,745
Posts
10,940
Votes
Will Barnard
Pro Member
  • Developer
  • Santa Clarita, CA
10,940
Votes |
15,745
Posts
Will Barnard
Pro Member
  • Developer
  • Santa Clarita, CA
ModeratorReplied

Of course, if $300k was not really your best and final, and your numbers show you can do $306, then you still have options on this one.

I do have one question for you. How do you know for sure that there is another offer on the table for $305k? The broker agent can not legally tell you what the other offer price is.

User Stats

124
Posts
15
Votes
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
15
Votes |
124
Posts
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
Replied

will,
from the start i said $300K is my limit...

i know the listing broker is not supposed to tell you what the other offers are but most of them will...and part of me doesnt believe him...he called me today and strangely told me that the bank wants both offers and that they might still accep my lower offer, something just doesnt smell right...keep you posted

User Stats

8,666
Posts
4,013
Votes
Jon Klaus
  • Developer
  • Garland, TX
4,013
Votes |
8,666
Posts
Jon Klaus
  • Developer
  • Garland, TX
Replied

BG, did you get it under contract? Details?

If not, I completely agree with Nationwide, "Keep in mind that every single month, a deal of a lifetime comes across your path, so long as you have your eyes and ears open." Especially now.

At the same time I can relate to "i really want this one." I've found that a week or two really evaluating a deal helps take my infatuation out of the consideration.

User Stats

183
Posts
17
Votes
Diane Menke
  • Contractor
  • Philadelphia, PA
17
Votes |
183
Posts
Diane Menke
  • Contractor
  • Philadelphia, PA
Replied

There could be lots of reasons why the seller wants to look at both offers and why highest price is not the only deciding factor. Could be the seller needs to close sooner vs later or vise versa. Could be your offer looks better because your credit scores, cash on hand or bank is easier to deal with or some other issue.

Do you have an agent working for you? Sounds like you are dealing with the sellers agent. I never like to work without an agent of my own. They can usually sniff something out for me. Knowing why the seller is selling is usually the best info to have.

Stick to your bottom line and keep looking. You will find it.

Diane

User Stats

368
Posts
42
Votes
Douglas Christian
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
42
Votes |
368
Posts
Douglas Christian
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Charlotte, NC
Replied

I believe that the sellers agent is probably trying to get you to beef up your price so that his commission can be higher.

Here's my approach always, give them the 300k, which I would have probably went lower than you and lost out if it were meant to be. You sound as though you have fallen in love with this property and that is the WORST mistake possible. You have actually made the agents job easy, because he is feeding off of your emotions as I am as I read these post.

NEVER, NEVER, get personal with a deal it is business. What happens if a unit goes vacant. See you must always look at the worst case scenarios and I have not read one from you where what if I get stuck making a monthly payment how long can I do that.

I would pull my offer and that would allow you to see if there was another offer on the table or not.

I am a DEALMAKER and it sounds like you are emotionally attached.

User Stats

1,312
Posts
671
Votes
Jeffrey K.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Milwaukee, WI
671
Votes |
1,312
Posts
Jeffrey K.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Milwaukee, WI
Replied

I would disagree and keep the offer on the table. I would also have all correspondence with this agent in writing. When you ask for something in writing, people tend to be more truthful. You said the deal works at 300k. Do not second guess yourself. If you end up not getting the property, thank the agent for his time and let him know that you are still interested in buying property and if anything interesting comes across his desk, to give you a call. You never know, this deal could fall through and he could call you back in a few weeks. Good luck and let us know how things work out.

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User Stats

92
Posts
3
Votes
Andrew B.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Calgary
3
Votes |
92
Posts
Andrew B.
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Calgary
Replied
Originally posted by Jeffrey Koenig:
I would disagree and keep the offer on the table. I would also have all correspondence with this agent in writing. When you ask for something in writing, people tend to be more truthful. You said the deal works at 300k. Do not second guess yourself. If you end up not getting the property, thank the agent for his time and let him know that you are still interested in buying property and if anything interesting comes across his desk, to give you a call. You never know, this deal could fall through and he could call you back in a few weeks. Good luck and let us know how things work out.


I agree, this all leads back to being emotionally attached to the property, if the deal doesnt work out as you wanted it too move on. Dont offer more just because it looked like a good deal in the start.

Andrew

User Stats

124
Posts
15
Votes
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
15
Votes |
124
Posts
Robert Granara
  • Real Estate Investor
  • Reading, MA
Replied

no news on this property, the realtor said he'd call me after xmas...i still want the property but wont go any higher than $300K...have i fallen in love w/ it?...i dont know...i do know at $300 it still makes damn good cash flow...

the property is still marked active and not UA yet...but i have a hunch its going to be foreclosed on

im also not worried about having an empty apartment, thats part of the game...in my market i can fill these 3 or 4 bedrooms in this neighborhood very fast even in the winter, they are way above average units...

if i can get it at $300K- great if not o well...im not planning on getting this one, bc there is another (supposedly) offer that is higher...there is a chance the realtor was pulling one on me, but from the start i said i'd go to $300K, therefore i started at $270K

User Stats

120
Posts
5
Votes
Brooke Bailey
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Los Angeles Ca
5
Votes |
120
Posts
Brooke Bailey
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Los Angeles Ca
Replied

Hello BG, I have read all the posts, I am a Real Estate Broker in Ca, and I see this all the time, It is my thought that when you find something that you love and it makes financial sense dont screw around, buy the property and get busy doing what you do. I want to know why you waited for someone else to come along and out bid you, all that has done is now caused you to doubt everything and everyone. You should have gone with the 300k from the start and you would not be going through all this now, you probably would be closed and on your way. As a Real Estate Broker, buyers always question our motives, just like Attorneys, but if you trust the agent and he or she tells you this is what you have to do to get what you want, all you have to do is decide, remember there is a reason we do this for a living. This is not the easiest career, and if the person has been the business for a while there is a reason for it.
Good Luck
Brooke Bailey

Originally posted by B G:

no news on this property, the realtor said he'd call me after xmas...i still want the property but wont go any higher than $300K...have i fallen in love w/ it?...i dont know...i do know at $300 it still makes damn good cash flow...

the property is still marked active and not UA yet...but i have a hunch its going to be foreclosed on

im also not worried about having an empty apartment, thats part of the game...in my market i can fill these 3 or 4 bedrooms in this neighborhood very fast even in the winter, they are way above average units...

if i can get it at $300K- great if not o well...im not planning on getting this one, bc there is another (supposedly) offer that is higher...there is a chance the realtor was pulling one on me, but from the start i said i'd go to $300K, therefore i started at $270K



User Stats

792
Posts
30
Votes
Dave P.
  • Real Estate Consultant
30
Votes |
792
Posts
Dave P.
  • Real Estate Consultant
Replied

BG,

It seems to me that you are getting played.

Your original offer should either be rejected or "countered", in writing. It sounds as if you are doing "verbals" with the listing agent. Get this deal in writing and refuse to respond verbally.

i know the listing broker is not supposed to tell you what the other offers are but most of them will...and part of me doesnt believe him...he called me today and strangely told me that the bank wants both offers and that they might still accep my lower offer, something just doesnt smell right...keep you posted

If they'll tell you a secret, then lord knows what they will tell the other side.

By the way, I don't know of any realtor that works harder to get a higher price so that they earn more commission. The difference in commission between 300 and 305 is insignificant. What makes all the difference in the world is how many "sides" do they get and/or their relationship with the seller.

User Stats

120
Posts
5
Votes
Brooke Bailey
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Los Angeles Ca
5
Votes |
120
Posts
Brooke Bailey
  • Real Estate Broker
  • Los Angeles Ca
Replied

Sorry BG I disagree, My Realtors will work for a lower but better offer, Mr peeples is speaking from personal experience! I know from first hand experience that many agents speak verbal offers to save time and 10 counters, maybe not supoosed to but they do, and if you ask any buyer or seller if they would rather do this than sign numerous counters. You are probably not getting played just someone else to throw doubt in the game! Good Job David....

Brooke Bailey