Skip to content
×
Pro Members Get
Full Access!
Get off the sidelines and take action in real estate investing with BiggerPockets Pro. Our comprehensive suite of tools and resources minimize mistakes, support informed decisions, and propel you to success.
Advanced networking features
Market and Deal Finder tools
Property analysis calculators
Landlord Command Center
ANNUAL Save 54%
$32.50 /mo
$390 billed annualy
MONTHLY
$69 /mo
billed monthly
7 day free trial. Cancel anytime
×
Try Pro Features for Free
Start your 7 day free trial. Pick markets, find deals, analyze and manage properties.
All Forum Categories
All Forum Categories
Followed Discussions
Followed Categories
Followed People
Followed Locations
Market News & Data
General Info
Real Estate Strategies
Landlording & Rental Properties
Real Estate Professionals
Financial, Tax, & Legal
Real Estate Classifieds
Reviews & Feedback

All Forum Posts by: Brian Moore

Brian Moore has started 2 posts and replied 66 times.

Post: off market 70 unit MF Chicago IL

Brian MoorePosted
  • Investor/Syndicator
  • Downers Grove, IL
  • Posts 80
  • Votes 78

I am interested. Send to:
[email protected] 

Post: How is Chicago doing?

Brian MoorePosted
  • Investor/Syndicator
  • Downers Grove, IL
  • Posts 80
  • Votes 78

@John Clark I didn’t intend to slight southside neighborhoods. The ones I described are the ones I know best. 

However, I will make a distinction between finding an appreciating area and buying for cash flow. Most of the high cap rate markets in Chicago do not experience much growth in either rents or price appreciation. The prices are cheap (compared to their income) because they are in less demand by investors. Be sure you understand this fact and model it correctly in your projections. I couldn’t get these markets to pencil out due to the growth of property taxes overtaking the small gains in income over time.

South side markets that I believe to be primarily growth markets are the neighborhoods along the lakefront: Bronzeville, Oakland, Kenwood, Hyde Park, South Shore.

Post: How is Chicago doing?

Brian MoorePosted
  • Investor/Syndicator
  • Downers Grove, IL
  • Posts 80
  • Votes 78

@Tyler D. I commend you for taking the plunge into small multi family. I did the same thing 20 years ago and it was the smartest financial decision of my life.

In 2001 my wife and I bought a three flat in an up-and-coming neighborhood of Chicago known as Wicker Park. We were young and this was the neighborhood we liked to hang out in (bars, restaurants, etc.). Since that time, the value of the building has doubled (giving us a 4X on our equity investment). Plus, our annual cash flow is now 25% of our original investment. 

Chicago has a diverse economy with growth industries of tech, finance and logistics leading the way. Plus, Chicago has world-renowned universities and two national laboratories leading research in new industries such as blockchain, biotech and quantum computing. 

Every year, 1,000’s of Midwest grads move to Chicago to take their first job. Many are starting at 6-figure salaries, and most are getting there in a few years at their job. These folks need apartments.

Find a building in a safe neighborhood, close to trendy restaurants and bars, near the L (or bus lines).

Growth areas that are still reasonably priced are: Logan Square (west Logan is more reasonable), West Town - west of Western (W. Ukrainian Village, W. Wicker Park, E. Humboldt Park) and the area south of the 606 trail, north of North Ave and west of Humboldt Ave.

Good luck!

Post: FullTime In-House Underwriter or Outsourced 3rd Party Underwriter

Brian MoorePosted
  • Investor/Syndicator
  • Downers Grove, IL
  • Posts 80
  • Votes 78

In my view, a spreadsheet done by a random finance grad would be worthless to a syndicator.

Financial modeling is an art when done by an experienced professional. One has to develop dozens (or hundreds) of assumptions that go into the spreadsheet. The outputs must reflect the investment strategy, the property type, the market, future risks and unknowns. This process must be done by/or carefully monitored by the syndicator.

I would argue that this is the fundamental job of a syndicator and the primary reason why one is more successful than another.

Post: Logan Square 5.6% Cap Rate (8.5% after rehab)

Brian MoorePosted
  • Investor/Syndicator
  • Downers Grove, IL
  • Posts 80
  • Votes 78

HIGHLIGHTS:

  •  Logan Square beauty, with full brick construction!
  • Great investment! Listed at a 5.6% cap rate (8.5% after rehab!) as multi-unit.
  • Great single family conversion candidate! Homes on the block have sold for up to $1M.
  • Recent work includes new windows, roof, skylights, tuckpointing, paint, and new concrete porch.
  • Upon rehab the rents are projected at $56,000 annually.
  • Large 25’x150’ lot with 2-car garage.
  • Operate as a 2-flat plus in-law (or get variance) for highest rent or rehab into a luxurious owner’s duplex up with first floor rental income.
  • Immediate Airbnb business potential with just light rehab and decorating needed.
  • Highest potential value is a single-family conversion. ($700,000+)
  • Submarket has strong demographics with high incomes, a growing population and high renter/buyer demand.
  • See Loopnet ad for Offering Memorandum attachment (with full details and pics)
  • Sold by IL Broker with ownership interest
  • Post: 3-Flat with 6.8% Cap Rate in Bucktown

    Brian MoorePosted
    • Investor/Syndicator
    • Downers Grove, IL
    • Posts 80
    • Votes 78

    This building sold. Thanks for looking.

    Post: 3-Flat with 6.8% Cap Rate in Bucktown

    Brian MoorePosted
    • Investor/Syndicator
    • Downers Grove, IL
    • Posts 80
    • Votes 78

    Stately three flat in solid Bucktown location with extra wide lot. Live in the duplex Owners unit (with luxurious master) or operate as a turn-key investment and collect the $7k monthly rents. All units have in-unit laundry, large storage room and 15' x 10' deck. All utilities paid by tenants. 

    Many recent updates including new HVAC (2014), new kitchens & baths (2014, 2008), roof (2008), tuckpointing (2004, 2017), decks (2014), windows (2006), copper plumbing (2014) and electric upgrades (2014). 

    Great investment potential with rents of $84k in 2017 and 16% return in Yr 1. Priced very competitively at 6.8% Cap Rate (2018). Location is booming with new retail just 2 blks E. Trendy Logan Square, Bucktown, Wicker Park and Lincoln Park all short walks. Close to Holstein Pk, Western L, The 606 Trail, Xway for dwntn or O’Hare.

    Listed by an IL Broker with an ownership interest. 2.5% coop commission offered. Bring all offers!

    Post: Little help analyzing a syndicated multi family deal

    Brian MoorePosted
    • Investor/Syndicator
    • Downers Grove, IL
    • Posts 80
    • Votes 78

    @John B. The Sacramento multifamily market appears strong. In fact it has the highest annual rent growth among 30 top metros per the Yardi Matrix report for July 2017. 

    I can't send a link but you can got to http://wc4.net/t?r=3303&c=3837721&l=408666&ctl=4BE... to subscribe.

    Post: Little help analyzing a syndicated multi family deal

    Brian MoorePosted
    • Investor/Syndicator
    • Downers Grove, IL
    • Posts 80
    • Votes 78

    @John B. First, I would check into the sponsor. Request a list of three references and call them to ask how their experience has gone. How many deals? Have they been repaid? Did the sponsor meet projections? Etc. I like the fact that the sponsor is putting up 14% of the equity, that shows a lot of confidence and alignment of interests with the investorrs. However, it is possible the sponsor is raising that money as well (using OPM) and has a much smaller piece personally. You should ask the sponsor how much he/she is putting up personally. Also, if they will be guaranteeing the loan or have anything else at risk. 

    I agree with @Tamiel Kenney that you should have an understanding of the market area. The sponsor should be able to provide you with a market study and/or an appraisal showing the actual rents and cap rates in the immediate market. A good appraisal will also do a write up of the largest employers, job growth, and general economy of the MSA in which the deal is located. Are the numbers getting stronger? If not, then think how this could affect the deal projections of rent growth and sales price? Are there new developments planned that will siphon off renters? Hopefully, the appraiser has researched this but you should do some research as well.

    If the sponsor and market both check out, then ask the sponsor about the improvements that will allow the rent to be increased by 28% (I calculated based on Year 3 rent of $1,150/unit and your stated $250 growth) at a cost of $6,000 per door.  I assume some of this cost will go to the exterior for aesthetic improvements (paint, landscaping, signage, etc) and some will go to deferred maintenance (new roof, new boiler, repairs to mechanicals, electrical or plumbing systems, site drainage, sewers, etc). So this would probably leave something substantially less than $6k per unit for the interior improvements.

    Again if your sponsor has done a deal like this before and been successful, then I would put more faith in their ability to achieve the higher rents. 

    Finally, look at the numbers. Regarding income, 3% vacancy looks too aggressive, especially with a 28% rent increase that will require most of the units to be leased to new tenants (I find that the old tenants either can't afford the new rents or don't want to pay that much more than they currently do). What does the appraisal use as a vacancy rate? If it is much higher (5-7% which is typical) I would ask the sponsor why he used such a low vacancy. I would expect more concessions to get the units leased in a reasonable period or the vacancy should be higher. Ask the sponsor if the RUBS is existing or would be done by them and if so, what is the cost of submetering?  

    Looking at the expenses, I like that the taxes are increasing at a healthy rate, in line with the value increase of the property. A 40% OER in year 3 seems reasonable. 

    Below the line there is $13,000 annually of replacement reserves. This may be required by the lender (I assume it will be GSE debt) but in any event is good.

    Sales price is at a 5.75% terminal cap rate which is aggressive in some markets but I like the fact that it is 100 bps above the going in cap rate, this is conservative and I would assume there could be some upside here if the market remains stable. 

    Cost of sale is low (3%, I assume this represents just broker commissions) but the additional costs (atty fees, title costs, etc) shouldn't affect returns dramatically. May be worth a question to the sponsor as to what the 3% includes.

    Numbers look good (subject to the vacancy rate question and the improvements budget review). So if the market checks out and, most importantly, if the sponsor's track record is solid, I would invest. 

    Post: Syndications

    Brian MoorePosted
    • Investor/Syndicator
    • Downers Grove, IL
    • Posts 80
    • Votes 78

    Correction to my prior post: I meant GSE (Government Sponsored Entities - Fannie, Freddie, FHA-insured) not GSA