All Forum Posts by: Shawn Mcenteer

Quote from @Max Bellile:

Quote from @Savannah Holzer:

Hey Max! Which investing strategies are you thinking of pursuing? Are you thinking about investing in New Jersey also?

 I am thinking about NJ... House hack is currently on my mind, possible fixup... Does Easy Street fund horizontal development? It's a thought of mine as well, basically following my mentors model. 

House Hacking is great way to go.  Such an unfair advantage for New Jersey.   Incorporating a value add strategy to your house hack has the potential to move you quickly from one property to the next.   

Hi @Suresh Ram I do most of my business in central- North Jersey.  

1. connect with someone who specializes in multi family investing.  The deals I bring from clients are combination of off market and on market but most of the deal I bring happen becuase I am well know in the multi family community.  Find local specialist in your area is huge.

2. close to public transportation. Train is huge! 

3.zillow is used for browsing but notorious for being inaccurate with multifamily 

4. tough to say without know more. yes the work, is it smart move not sure. Ive done it myself leveraging 401k and HELOC

5.Yes lots! not sure where to start :)

6.BP calculator works great, just need to tweak a few things when using is

7. BP calculator does it, its an estimate but works

8.  depends on property but most of the time yes

Running the numbers can be deceiving at first. I would love to see the numbers, normally they can be tweaked in a more positive way.  Biggest thing IMO is getting close to the train station and have a high quality units that may not look attractive on paper the first few years but will have the ability to raise rents consistently long term.  Break even today, cash cow in a few years type of an approach.  

Hi @Bliss Hu I started with $100k House Hacking.  It has easily 10x and produces cash flow.  When started out in New Jersey, numbers never look to impressive.  Through rent increases, forces appreciation with $300k you sure can produce cash cow properties.   The best part is you can do it with very little money down using owner occupied loans.  The most I have ever used to buy a property is 10% down.  I've purchased 3 properties with 5% down.  For this reason to me investing out of state becomes tough knowing you must for 25% down every time you buy.

Hi @Brandon Morgan SFR and MFR both work in New Jersey based on the strategy. SFR is much more difficult because of taxes, purchase price and rent generate but if you are open minded to a rent by room strategy or mid term rental strategy SFR can look more attractive.

MFR on the other hand tend to look much more attractive for buy and hold purposes. Although taxes and purchase price may be more with a multi family the fact that there are multiple units for rent tend to be much more income being produced.

House hacking Duplexes is how my wife and I got to Fi. We actually started with a SFR but after running the numbers and seeing how much more we could me with a Duplex we ended up selling the SFR and buying a duplex. Hands down one of the best choices we made. I have clients that invest both ways what it really comes down to is your situation and goals.

HI @Ashkan Eslami fard Why Jersey City? When I first started house hacking in North Jersey, I need proximity to NYC. Initially most people jump at JC because of how close it is the down fall is numbers get very tough and the regulations are constantly changing making landlord tough. If you are need proximity to NYC and want higher ROI there are more desirable markets for this with way more relaxed laws as well.

Just got a new house hack under contract this week, property will cash flow and commute to city is easy. 

Those are wondering markets @Robert Bocchino, my first house hack was in Summit not to far.  I have purchased house hacks in all the towns you have mentioned for clients.  Great location for attracting desirable tenants that allow you to set property on auto polit.

Hi @Robert Bocchino if a appreciation is your goal North Jersey is gold mine especially if you are open minded to value add properties.  The best part is properties that require value add also can produce cash flow.  On top of this if you are open minded to different strategies you can find cash cows that produce major equity and cash flow. North Jersey is competitive which is why it produces on such a high level for buy and hold investors.   Finding deals  and getting offers accepted can be tough but if working with realtor that specializes in small multifamily the process will be much smoother. 

To your point @Jake Handler Cash flow in real estate is an end game, something that happens over time. If cash flow is the true goal for those starting out right now you have a lot of work to do to get to that couple $hundos per month. Just ask for a raise at work or sell a product to make some extra cash flow. The power of REI in todays market is delayed gratification combines with the tax benefits the following year.

Hi @Brian Dwane hands down one of the best investing decisions I have ever made was house hacking North Jersey.  Every time my wife and I purchased a property the numbers never looked attractive on day 1.  What is remarkable about out market is how fast the numbers look better and better each year.  Break even day 1 turns into huge rent increases and cash flow the years that follow.   Appreciation of properties and rental increases is what make North Jersey such a strong market.  

Leveraging an owner occupied loan, putting as little as 5% down with a conventional mortgage (I have lenders that will offer NO pmi as well) and buying a multi family will fast track your REI journey. Just imagine reducing your living expense, owning an asset, and having your tenants pay the bulk of the mortgage, then repeating this a few times over all while every year the rents go up.