Originally posted by @Paul C.

Leigh C thanks!

Leigh C this is a typical apartment rent in my area, there is some absolutely horrible single family homes for sale and a few not as bad apartment buildings that are in my price range for purchasing a convenient first investment property.

@Leigh C having another person build my empire for me is un acceptable in my standards.

Built in 2002, it is a fully rented four plex (one unit is month-to-month so we would move in there).Current asking price: $495,000 (though originally listed at 474k, he upped the price after 16 days)Days on Zillow Market: Over 100Reason for Selling: To either purchase a SFH for himself and his GF or buy a commercial property, possibly storage unitsRents: 4,400 monthly (Owner said 2 units could be easily increased by $50 to $75 each)Expenses (annual)Property Taxes (assessed 2014): 7,754Insurance: 3,000 (guess)Maintenance & Repairs: 4,200 (guess)Utilities: 4,500 (average for last 18 months from water company, owner currently pays water/sewer/trash but there are separate water meters so we would look into passing this to the tenants as the leases expire)Advertising: $150 (only advertising is for new tenants when leases expire)Administrative/Misc Costs: $150Mortgage Insurance: $6,501 (from mortgage broker at 490k loan level)Snow Removal: $1,500 (as acountants, our busy season is during the winter and we don't have the time or patience to deal with this, there is a sidewalk + steps + driveway and back parking area to be plowed)Lawn Care: $150 (supplies fund, we will mow it ourself, first year expense of a lawnmower not included)Mortgage: 26,579 (FHA, 3.5% down, 3.75%)At 495kAnnual cash flow: $-1,684CoC: -9.72%NOI: 24,895Total ROI: 40.89%At 450k (keeping mortgage insurance at 490k loan level b/c I don't have other numbers)Annual cash flow: 762CoC: 4.84%NOI: 24,895Total ROI: 55.54%As it stands, my numbers are telling me this deal will not work, given the $100/mo/unit minimum standard most people are looking for here.This is the first deal that I have really looked at though as seriously buying, so I would love other people's opinions on my analysis.

Asset: C-Class 44 unit apartment at 60% market value.

I would also add c) but I am in TX already :-)

Originally posted by @Richard C.: That might be the single most wrong thing I have ever read on this site.

Lots of fees and costs that nibble away at the bottom line: Utilities - a/c ran constantly at 70 degrees with doors wide open, running power tools, etc, so that added up to big utility bills.

But those steps are vital b/c they filter out 90% of the opportunities out there.