All Forum Posts by: Jake Kinney

Hello Chicago BP Community,

Back in 2021, I came on the Chicago forum and received some phenomenal input and contacts that led me to my first house hack in 2022. I have a feeling Brie Schmidt might see this, so thanks again for the incredible amount of help during that purchase and my beginning as an investor.

Quick background: I work in tech (remote job) with a good W-2 income and have lived in the northside of Chicago for 17 years. I'm very familiar with the north and northwest side. With Brie's help, I closed on my first house hack in April 2022 in west Logan Square (near Scofflaw, just north of the 606), putting 10% down and got a 30 year fixed at 4.125%. The property has a large 2-flat main building (3 fully finished floors and partially finished attic) and a large 5 BR coach house. I've had to do some work to the property (drain tile in basements, insurance claim for plumbing issue) but I knew that things like this would happen and I could stomach these expenses with my W-2 income. I moved out of Unit 1 last August to move into another rental unit closer to my fiancee's office. Things are going smooth at the property with all 3 units rented out and a comfortable amount of cash flow each month.

I'm anxious for house hack #2 next year and I have some questions I'd greatly appreciate some feedback on. 

1. Best areas for long term buy and hold? I've heard many times that moving NW from Logan Square into Avondale and Portage Park is a pretty foolproof approach. My fiancee has to commute to the loop, which is an important factor. 

2. How have financing options changed since 2022? I am aware of the 5% down programs available. 

3. Sense check on the rents of my units: 5 BR 3 bath coach house with 1 parking spot ($2,500), 5 BR 2 bath duplex down ($2,450), 3 BR + den 1 bath unit with brand new kitchen, plus parking spot ($1,450). I know the 3 BR unit is under market but he's a long time tenant and does a lot of work for me. 

4. How can I scale my portfolio faster? This is the number one question on my mind. I have a decent amount in retirement accounts but I'm not sure if it's a smart move to leverage those. I can continually save up enough for another down payment through my W-2 income, but the time elapsed kind of drives me nuts. 

Thanks in advance for your time and input!

Jake

Thank you, Jonathan! Appreciate the info and kind words. 

 Hi Brie, thank you for the info! I listened to your interview on Straight Up Chicago and really enjoyed it. Would love to talk sometime. 

Mark, thanks very much! I listened to the entire episode and found it extremely informative.  

Hello everyone- long time reader/listener to BP, first time poster. I am looking to house hack somewhere on the north side of Chicago and wanted to get some input from the knowledgeable folks on these forums. Here is a very brief rundown of my situation:

- First time home buyer (FHA?), looking at 2-4 unit multi family

- Focused on North Side (LP, Lakeview, Roscoe Village, Bucktown, Wicker Park, etc.)

- I’ve saved a decent amount for a down payment, have excellent credit, and a relatively higher salary from working for a technology firm

- I’m a single guy in my early 30’s so I have a lot of flexibility for living arrangements

One of my main questions is roughly what % I need for a down payment, and what is the rough debt to income ratio a lender would be looking for? I had a casual conversation with a real estate agent that typically sells condos, and he said for multi family in Chicago, you need 20-25% down and ~6 months of cash in the bank. That seemed quite different than what I had heard on BP, but wanted to ask this group.

Thanks VERY much for your input! I really appreciate it. Hope to learn more from this group.

Jake