BiggerPockets

I am looking to purchase a quad. I have been reading a lot over the past several weeks and put together some of the basics to get an initial analysis. This is by no means comprehensive or a final analysis before I purchase.

Type: Quad (2bd/2ba - 940sq.ft/unit)
Rent: 525-600 based on Craigslist and Rentometer
Rehab: ~2.5k/door
Financing: Debating between FHA 3.5%/FHA 203k/VA loan I don't have much money down but I have a hard money investor for the down payment if needed.

Here is a picture detailing my simple analysis...if there is anything else I should look at or I am missing please let me know. My next step is to create an itemized expenses breakdown instead of the 50-55% default
http://i.imgur.com/aidAJvu.jpg

Thanks @Larry K., being a first time investor I feel like I am being too jumpy and want to buy this property now but part of me is trying to be realistic and chalking it up to a "to good to be true" moment.

I mean in all honesty if there was another investor in the area why wouldn't they have bought it up? Do good deals sometimes come around just sit in MLS for weeks/months without people buying them?

Thanks @Frank Gallinelli I would be living in 1/4 of the building for the first 6month-1yr as we are just moving to the area, this would allow me to finance the unit the same as a SFH correct? I would continue to pay "rent" into the buildings bank account so it's finances weren't messed up. I included a "55% rule" which would take into account the higher vacancies for an area with numerous MFH.

My rehab would be to put nicer vinyl plank flooring in, beige paint w/white trim, and reface kitchen cabs w/new handles.

After learning more about owning a quad this becomes more fun, we currently pay 1270 of someone else mortgage (2bd/1ba/950sq.ft) and to learn my mortgage on a quad would be a fraction of that plus the added income...my fiance and I joke about living in all 4 apartments for 1/3 the price we pay now hah.

@Frank Gallinelli ah good point I did overlook the loan changing if I were to move out, I will put that on my checklist. Thanks again!

@Ryan Halverson

I'm in a similar position. I have a 4-plex under contract now, but will not be living in it. Don't forget about PMI. Still looks like a good deal though.

Can you confirm the ability to get FHA financing? The lender I'm working with says minimum down is 25% and not eligible for FHA (only SFH and duplexes qualify). This doesn't seem right to me, but it seems to line up with fannie mae guidelines: https://www.fanniemae.com/content/eligibility_information/eligibility-matrix-082112.pdf

@Bryce Y. I cannot confirm at this time BUT from a little digging I did on FHA loans last night I found this link

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/buying/loans

which says a FHA 203b allows 3.5% down on 1-4 units MFH. The FHA 203k for rehabs doesn't dictate how many units it can be used on..so maybe just SFH?

I noticed you said you wouldn't be living in it, that is the key. Primary residence allows 3.5% but 2nd+ property will not and generally require 20-30% from what I hear.

Thanks @Ben Leybovich The home itself is completely livable and is currently rented 3/4. I would get an inspector before purchasing just to make sure the previous owner isn't hiding repairs. The 10k rehab is total so 2500/door and that is really just new flooring, kitchen cab faces, paint.

The unit is part of about 5 other buildings that look identical to it but everything else is a SFH with much higher selling prices. It literally is one street of apartments, I wouldn't consider it the slum but I would say its cheaper living.

I still plan on meeting with the tenants and asking them how they like the area/landlord/building. I also plan on visiting the neighbors in SFH and asking them how they like the buildings being there etc.

You made some great points I will check out before purchasing.

@Ben Leybovich

Tenants pay utilities and I agree the 50% rule is a benchmark so I set my at 55% to be conservative. I do plan on putting together a full mark up for all expenses once I accumulate them.

My biggest obstacle right now is I am dislocated from the city where this house is at but in a few weeks I will be back and get to look at the site. Trying to do as much remote investigation as I can.

@Ben Leybovich

Awesome list, I will add this to my "questions to ask."
Thanks a ton Ben!

@Leonid Sapronov

Thanks Leonid, I try to make my conservative number 60% to include any fees. I will do an in-depth analysis once I feel the property is profitable.

Trying not to make a plug here but some of the sites I use are:
http://www.neighborhoodscout.com/va/mclean/
http://www.city-data.com/
http://www.greatschools.org/school-district-boundaries-map/?lat=38.9338676&lon=-77.17726040000002&level=e&q=mclean,%20va

With the City-Data, make sure to zoom in...you can actually zoom into a street level to find crimes stats etc.

I also use http://www.familywatchdog.us/ for registered sex offenders. One reason I look for this stat is because generally a registered sex offender cannot get a top level job and will have to settle for sub housing, and provides a guesstimate of the area. Plus it can drive families away and lower property value...just my opinion.