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All Forum Posts by: Christopher Davis

Christopher Davis has started 22 posts and replied 58 times.

Post: My first investment! Good or Bad?

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16
Originally posted by @Christopher Brainard:

@Christopher Davis

I don't have a good answer to that question. My wife and I have spoken about that a few times this year and I haven't come to a decision yet. It is likely that we may move elsewhere in the future, but for the time being, we are staying put.

It is worth noting that I did move from Orange, CA to Las Vegas, NV this year, but there were several other factors which were considered, one of which is proximity to my wife's family in California. We did look at several other things to make our decision, including median home value, vacancy rates, annual appreciation, job growth, and state tax. 

-Christopher

 If you "see the light" and come up with an answer keep me posted! I ask because i'm 24, single, with no kids and I have the freedom to move anywhere. 

Post: My first investment! Good or Bad?

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16
Originally posted by @Christopher Brainard:

@Christopher Davis

Your estimated numbers for the property look OK to me and I don't think this is a very good deal. I agree that cap rates under 5% aren't very appealing. I also agree that wholesalers sometimes bring you crap. 

The $500+/door that you hear many investors talk about is highly dependent upon location. In the mid west, that is a fairly easy target to hit. Out west, it is pretty much a non-starter is most major metro areas. If you want to achieve similar returns per door (in our areas) you either need cash or smoking hot deals.

-Christopher

 If you could move to any city in the country right now to invest, which would it be and why? 

Post: My first investment! Good or Bad?

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16
Originally posted by @Tanya H.:

Your gross rents amount sounds low.  If it's a 4-plex, are you only getting about $600/month in rents?

Tanya

 Yes. Two of the units are 1/1 renting for about $500/unit. The other two are 2/1 renting for about $650. 

There may be some room for growth but I wouldn't expect much. 

Post: My first investment! Good or Bad?

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16

Good afternoon ya'll and Go Cardinals! Please let me know what you think about this deal. This is my first investment purchase and I would be living in it. I'm running my numbers without me living in it. I would love feedback on the rules of thumb/how I came up with the numbers more than anything! 

Ya'll rock thanks!

4 Units Scottsdale, Arizona 

Gross Reported Rents - $2,333.33/month or $28,000/year

Water/Sewer - $218.34/month or $2620/year (According to the 2015 Municipal Budget Office, the average Water/Wastewater for the median single-family household was $655. I multiplied $655 x 4 units) 

Property Taxes - $100/month or $1200/year (This is from the MLS. It's actually $97/month for 2015 but I figured it would be good to assume some increase)

Electric - $0 (Individually metered) 

Garbage - $20/month or $240/year (According to the 2015 Municipal Budget Office, the average once per week collection service for the median single-family household was $240. I'm assuming a 4-plex would have one trash bin) 

Property Management - $233.33/month or $2,800/year (10% of gross rents) 

Insurance - $115/month or $1380/year (This is my least confident estimation. I'm basing this on evaluating other 4-plexes in Tempe that reported on average $100/month insurance. I put $115 to TRY and be conservative) 

HOA - $0

Vacancy - $233.33/month or $2,800/year (10%. It's in a good rental area and has consistently stayed rented) 

Repairs - $183.33/month or $2,200/year (I'v run across many rules for estimating this expense. I decided to use one I found on here from a member that estimates $400-$600/unit/year depending on age and condition. This property was built in 1958. Two of the units have been renovated. It's in decent condition from my eye test, which isn't worth much. I decided to estimate $550/unit/year X 4 Units) 

CapEx- $116.67/month or $1400/year (Same as repairs. Many rules. The same member of BP who recommended the repair rule stated $250-$350/unit/year. I decided to estimate $350/unit/year X 4 Units)

Total Expenses (without Debt Service) = $986.77/month or 11,841.24/year

Total Revenue (less vacancies) = $2100/month or $25,200/year

NOI = $13,358.76

The asking price is $284,000 which makes the cap rate 4.7% without Debt Service. I understand this to be extremely poor which is interesting to me because this deal is from a wholesaler (though I understand their numbers should never be trusted). 

But still, unless I have grossly overestimated expenses this deal would be horrible. Let alone once I put in debt service. I would certainly be losing money. 

The 50% rule gives an NOI of $13,998 or a 4.93% cap.

Speaking of Debt Service, and sort of a side question, I can't for the life of me understand how people make a living with buy and hold rentals unless they have 100 properties! Even on the good deals i'm analyzing, after putting 20% percent down I'm seeing $1200-$2400 Net Income/year per property. Need a lot of properties to retire from buy and holds according to that. When I research this on the internet I see people saying they make 5,6,7k per property a year. Unless their expenses are closer to 20% as opposed to the 50% rule I don't see how this is possible. I really hope i'm overestimating expenses and underestimating returns. 

Long post thanks in advance! 

Post: What would you do with $150k

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16
Originally posted by @Richard Dunlop:

There are lots of markets that would provide a decent cash flow. 

 Would mind naming a few of what you consider to be the best emerging markets? 

I would really appreciate that! 

Post: What would you do with $150k

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16

Thanks for the responses ya'll. I appreciate it. Will keep this community posted on my endeavors! 

Post: What would you do with $150k

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16

No strings attached I graduated college three weeks ago with the plan to go into real estate. I'm not lazy and I don't "sit on my ***". I'm not on "daddy's bill" if that's what your implying. 

Post: What would you do with $150k

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16

A family member has pledged me the money once I develop a plan and present it to him.

From my perspective the best course of action would be to leave my current apartment and invest in a 2-4 unit multiplex with an FHA loan. The problem is finding one in an area I want to live in (scottsdale). There are a few in south west Scottsdale at decent prices but they are sketchy IMO. I started contacting wholesalers today to get on their list and hopefully find something off market.

The opportunity cost of getting out of my current rent ($2100/month) is ENORMOUS! Also, it will allow me to get Landlord experience for two years so I can qualify for better loans on multifamily.

Once that's complete, I will have capital reserves to invest in SFR, Fix & Flip, or more multi. My long-term vision is a portfolio of income producing properties. I will need liquidity in the short-term = fix & flips.

That all sounds great in theory but the knowledge of the markets, where to find properties, estimating repairs, capex, etc... is just not there. That's what I feel I need and after doing some more research on this forum I feel my best course of action would find a badass in the Scottsdale market and be his/her b**** boy for a year and learn the process. 

Thoughts? 

Post: AZ - New Investor

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16

Welcome to the community! Pretty new myself. Always blown away with helpfulness on the forum.

I highly recommend listening to their podcasts (produced weekly) and attending the webinars hosted by Brandon Turner every Wednesday night. 

I can attest to the Phoenix market being difficult to cash flow. Not impossible, just difficult. 

Post: Phoenix Happy Hour Meet Up

Christopher DavisPosted
  • Lender
  • Knoxville, TN
  • Posts 61
  • Votes 16

I should be able to make it!