Purchase price: $2,800,000 Cash invested: $560,000 The property is a three-story multi-family residential building with six independent units, initially facing significant challenges due to poor conditions.Renovation Investment Summary:- **Structural Repairs:** $250,000- **Kitchen Modernization:** $100,000- **Bathroom Updates:** $50,000- **Exterior Improvements:** $100,000- **Holding Costs:** $50,000- **Property Taxes:** $30,000- **Insurance Costs:** $10,000- **Management Services:** $10,000

That experience gave me a solid foundation in property management and repairs.

I left that job to join Roche Tissue Diagnostics where I repair medical instrumentation across the Midwest. 

@Tove Fox - Residential Real Estate InvestingPros:Lower Entry Costs: Easier to get started with less capital required.High Demand: People always need homes, making demand relatively stable.Easier Financing: Mortgages are generally easier to secure with favorable terms.Simplicity: Easier to understand and manage, especially for beginners.Flexibility: You can use it as a personal residence or rent it out.Cons:Tenant Turnover: More frequent turnover leads to vacancy and more management.Lower Cash Flow: Income potential can be modest compared to commercial properties.Emotional Buyers: Residential prices can be influenced by emotions, leading to price volatility.Maintenance Burden: Landlords often deal with repairs and maintenance, which can be time-consuming.Commercial Real Estate InvestingPros:Higher Income Potential: Stronger cash flow and higher returns are common.Long-Term Leases: Tenants often sign longer leases (3-10 years), reducing vacancy risk.Professional Tenants: Business tenants tend to take better care of the property.Valuation Based on Income: Prices are based on the income the property generates, not market emotions.Shared Costs: Tenants often cover property expenses like taxes, insurance, and maintenance (via triple-net leases).Cons:High Entry Costs: Requires more capital or partnerships to get started.Complex Management: More expertise is needed; you may need a professional property manager.Economic Sensitivity: Commercial properties are more sensitive to economic conditions.Challenging Financing: Securing financing can be harder, with stricter terms and higher interest rates.Zoning and Legalities: More complex regulations compared to residential properties.Key Differences:Risk: Residential tends to be lower risk, while commercial offers higher rewards but with greater risk.Management: Residential is easier for DIY investors, while commercial properties usually require a team.Scalability: Commercial properties are easier to scale, offering more potential for significant cash flow increases.

We offered our impacted tenants a hotel room while we were awaiting repairs, but both tenants decided it was easier to stay put. 

Rough calculations on what I need to be looking for:90k deal (purchase and renovations to get max rent)20% down = 18k from me80% bank loan at 8%, 20 yr amortization = 72k-------------------------------------------------- Here's my DSCR calculation:Calculate Net Operating Income (NOI):Monthly rent: $125040% expense ratio (taxes, insurance, repairs, vacancy) = $480NOI: $1250 - $500 = $750Calculate Monthly Mortgage Payment:Loan Amount: $75,000Interest Rate: 8% per year (0.08/12 = 0.006667 monthly)Loan Term: 20 years (20 * 12 = 240 months)Monthly Payment ≈ $627.83Calculate DSCR:DSCR = NOI / Monthly Mortgage PaymentDSCR = $750 / $627.83DSCR ≈ 1.20Therefore, with a $75,000 mortgage at 8% interest over 20 years, the DSCR is approximately 1.20

This isn’t about chasing high-growth markets; it’s about addressing systemic issues that impact quality of life and economic stability.

If one or more units are vacant, the remaining units often don’t provide enough cash flow to cover expenses, making it harder to meet operating costs.Maintenance costs: A fourplex comes with four times the appliances, plumbing, HVAC systems, and other components to maintain, leading to significantly higher repair and maintenance expenses than single-family homes.If you want to see the detailed calculation, read this BP blog - More Units Doesn’t Mean More Money—Why a Single-Family Home Can Beat a Fourplex.Resale value: Multi-family properties have a limited buyer pool—mainly investors—who base their offers on CAP rates.

It will need approximately 20k in repairs and have a ARV of 80 to 120k.

Power washing the exterior, repairing the driveway, and painting the front door What was the outcome?