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Posted about 9 years ago

Why Invest in Multi-Family Apartments

Are you finding it difficult to decide between a single-family and a multifamily apartment for an investment? While most people would go for the single-family, I advise that you opt for the multifamily apartments. Here is why.

  • 1.Multi-family apartments have a different valuing system from other apartments. These apartments are valued based on their potential to generate income. It is possible that the value of a multifamily apartment continues to rise while that of single-family apartments in the same neighborhood falls. The key word here is income-driving components of the market. Those of multifamily apartments are different from those of single-family apartments.
  • 2.Higher ROI
  • Multifamily apartments have a strikingly big price tag that discourages many buyers who do not consider the return on investment. Each unit will cover that cost entirely and give you a good return on your money. It is like buying many houses on wholesale and selling them on retail!
  • 3.Financing options
  • Unlike single-family apartments, lending institutions calculate the possibility and extent of financing a multifamily investment based on the ability of the investment too generate a desired amount of income. Even the bank will advise you on which markets give you most profits! For single-family apartments, it solely depends on your creditworthiness.
  • 4.Higher Cash Flow
  • Multifamily apartments have several units under the same roof. This guarantees higher cash flow at the end of every month, the amount that one would get from a single-family apartment multiplied by the number of units that you own, economies of scale. It also diversifies the risk associated with the market. More money for less risk, there is no better bargain.
  • 5.Income reliability
  • Multifamily apartments are rarely vacant. When they are, they give you just enough time to do repairs and renovations as you choose the best tenant. The demand for multifamily apartments is such that as one tenant leaves, another is already asking to rent the house. You can use this window to achieve the most from your rent rates and improve on your standards. Most tenants seek a place to settle down with their family and so spend considerably more time in the same house. This implies that you have more tenants that are familiar for a longer time, which guarantees steady income flow.


Comments (6)

  1. i have not.


  2. typical leases are 1 year with option


    1. Typical lease everywhere is 1 year.  Have you experimented with longer ones or know someone who has?


  3. How do people respond to long term leases?  With single family homes, I sign 3 year leases.  It is the turnover that kills by bottom line.  I see the advantage of multi-unit properties, but it occurs to me the people who utilize them may be looking for something different.


  4. with Multifamily you have economies of scale the more units the better in your favor.

    Hope this helps 


  5. Hi Anthony, I have been looking into multi-unit investing and trying to learn a little more about it.   I usually hear the opposite, that multifamily apartments renters don't stay very long.  I know area is always something to consider, but if I understood correctly, multi unit renter tend to stay longer?  Thanks.