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All Forum Posts by: Lucas S.

Lucas S. has started 3 posts and replied 33 times.

Post: Fourplex Expenses

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

Hey all,

I've found a Fourplex that seems to be in great shape, but I'd love your help estimating cash flow to make sure I understand what I'm getting myself into.

The building was built in the early 1980's. It seems like a fourplex surrounded by other (almost identical fourplexes) selling for about 50-60k more. It's not under contract yet. I'd get an inspector to come and check it out head to toe. It's in a pretty decent school area, lots of working class folk. There are a good mix of homes and apartments in the area, mall nearby, park nearby, etc etc. All the units are 2 bed/2 bath and currently occupied.

I'm going to use sort of worst possible numbers and see if this still makes sense.

The property is being sold for 155k. Let's assume I get it for that price. (I'll try to negotiate for the buyer to cover closing costs, which I estimate to be about 4k. I'd be happy to pay 'sticker price' in that case, but we'll see when it comes to negotiations.)

FHA financing for 155k = $5,250 down, I'm going to assume a 7% rate because why not! Taxes were about 4.5k last year. Let's assume an increase and put 5k.

Checking out rents, I'm pretty sure I could get $950 a mo. and be very competitive in the area. But again, let's be conservative, and put $850. Average median income for the area is about 50,000.

Revenue

----------

$850 mo x 4 units (but I'll be living in one) x 80% (vacancies, etc) = $2720

Expenses

-------

Mortgage payment ~ 1700 monthly @ 7% (assuming 5,000 annual taxes, 3,000 annually for insurance)

There is a $700 monthly maintenance fee, which covers the exterior part of the building, the grounds, and access gates.

500$ a mo. for repairs, future repairs, any other expenses.

= $2900

Again, this is an incredibly conservative estimate, and I still come pretty close to breaking even and *almost* living for free. 

Tear apart my numbers! What are your thoughts?

Post: Networking how do I do it?

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

@Adrian Valdez Definitely get started sooner rather then later. That's what these Meet-Ups are for, anyway. I think it's just like any other skill (and it is a skill) - the more you practice, the better you'll get at it.

Good luck!

Post: New investor from Houston Texas

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

@Gaurav M. Sugar Land looks great; constantly voted as one of the best places to live in all of the USA : http://www.areavibes.com/sugar+land-tx/livability/

I think it was as high as #1 last year, on that particularly site. Only worry I have is the same as yours - I bet it would be tough to find good deals somewhere like that, as well as the amount of people who rent there. Also seems like it's dominated by HOA, but not sure.

Post: New investor from Houston Texas

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

Hey Anant, welcome.

Did you not like Sugar Land? Very few people rent there, it seems.

-Lucas

That's huge, big congratulations to you and your team!

Post: Houston REI

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

Hey Ross,

Thanks for posting!

What are you looking for help with? Anything specific, or looking for some good brainstorming?

-Lucas

Post: Business Reboot

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

Wow, really fascinating story, thanks for sharing. Learned a lot just reading through it.

If I may make just one suggestion - there are a few minor spelling mistakes on the website. Maybe I'm just incredibly nitpicky, but might be worth going through it during some downtime to fix those. Unless you're not really focusing on the website for leads, in which case, doesn't matter!

Again, thanks a bunch for sharing. And best of luck to you!

Post: Houston, TX transplant from Boston, MA

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

Yeah, Houston's economy being so closely tied to oil is a big deal. Driving through, I still see a lot of diversification - I think Houston could survive lower oil prices for a while without crashing. If you don't mind me asking, what are some of the criteria you look at for MF? 

Thanks for the advice. I won't rush into any deals.

Post: Houston, TX transplant from Boston, MA

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

@William Dampier - Thanks, for both!

@Michael Ran - Thanks! Got my keywords pretty set, I think. Houston seems like a market mostly aimed at SFH. Do you have any properties around Houston?

The thing I'm most worried about is being priced out of the market - why pay 1,000 in rent when you can pay less for a mortgage?

Post: New guy here! Raleigh, NC

Lucas S.Posted
  • Investor
  • Boston, MA
  • Posts 36
  • Votes 9

Welcome! I almost moved to Raleigh. How do you like it?