About to purchase first investment property need advice

About to purchase first investment property need advice

Pelham, GA · Member since 2014 · 20 posts · 2 votes

Hello, I'm new to real estate investing but have been educating myself for the past few months about it. I am currently in the process of purchasing a 3br 3ba property for 48k in Florida. I'm going to purchase the property as a primary residence in which I will be residing there and renting the other 2 rooms to college students. I've talked with my bank and was advised to get a conventional loan with 5% down so about $2400 with a 15 year mortgage interest about 3.375%. They told be that the payments with interest and insurance and taxes would be roughly $565.

My intentions were to rent out the other 2 room as individual rooms. For example, while i was in college, I stayed in a 3br duplex. Myself and my 2 roommates paid $2000 / semester EACH. So that equivalent to $500 a month a piece, so my landlord was getting $6,000 from us every four months so about $1500 a month. We couldn't pay it monthly, we were require to pay it in a lumpsum when we received our financial aid checks. She only rented to college students that were getting aid and she had about 6 duplexes total so imagine in income she was getting.

I'm looking to kinda mimic the same behavior as far as renting the other 2 rooms for $2,000/semester a piece. Which each semester lasts 4 months and the university is in walking distance. Do you think this would be a good practice? Also after maybe a year, i'm looking to convert this over to just investment property and move and rent the third room at $2000/semester and then possible obtain another deal like such. Just would like to get any advice on this. Thanks.

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  • Pelham, GA · Member since 2014 · 20 posts · 2 votes
    11y

    Also, based on last year's tax assess value, the home was assessed at 60,000. In 2004, this home was sold for $104,000. It was built in 2000. It's a foreclosure also

  • Investor · Portland, ME · Member since 2011 · 81 posts · 27 votes
    11y

    @Neddrick G. Just off the bat, make sure you account for high vacancies.  2 rooms vacant for 3 months a year is around 17% vacancy, based on my quick math.  You are renting to students per semester - will the rooms be vacant during the summer?  Your tenants will only pay $2000 each per semester, so it sounds as though you will be responsible for paying all utilities as well (heat/AC, electricity, lawn care, etc.).  As a percentage of monthly rent, budget 10% for maintenance, 10% for property management (even though you may manage on your own, you need to pay yourself), and a percentage for vacancy, as you see fit in this situation.

     As far as your strategy, it seems like it can work.  Also, ask seller for all documentation including rent rolls and all expenses.  If you don't have a property analysis worksheet yet, go download one in the FilePlace, under Resources here on BP.  This will help account for all costs which you need to include.  When analyzing a property as owner-occupied, run the numbers as if it was fully rented without you, 3 tenants paying $2000/semester.  Do the number work?  If yes, live there a year and then move out, as you mentioned.  Sounds like you are on your way!

  • Pelham, GA · Member since 2014 · 20 posts · 2 votes
    11y

    @Drew MacDermott Hey Thanks for the reply. Since the summer is 10 weeks, I plan on renting the summer for $1100 for that semester. I'm 25 and working on my Master's so I felt that this is the perfect time to try to build real estate wealth. I will also download the worksheet. I was intrigued by my landlord as an under grad how she had about 6 duplexes and charged $2000 per semester to everyone.

    I just would like to mimic that behavior. Thanks once again

  • Investor · Portland, ME · Member since 2011 · 81 posts · 27 votes
    11y

    @Neddrick G. Best of luck!  Keep us updated on how the purchase goes!

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