Live-In Flip-What would YOU do with a 10 bdrm in Hagerstown, MD?

Live-In Flip-What would YOU do with a 10 bdrm in Hagerstown, MD?

Hagerstown, MD · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 6 votes

Two years ago I purchased this beautiful three story 10 bedroom brick foursquare in the North End of Hagerstown, on a historic tree lined street (Oak Hill Ave). I purchased at 305k with a 60k down payment from the proceeds of my previous live-in flip (this is only my 2nd purchase, so I'm still new at this!). Now that I'm beginning to tackle renovations using income from my day job, I'm stuck trying to decide whether to renovate to flip or renovate to hold? With 10 bedrooms and a huge basement that could turn into a studio apartment there's tons of rental opportunity here. But, what about my neighbors? What about compliance with city regulations? What about separate metering? So much consideration goes into turning a single family into an apartment building essentially. And, it'll be my very first time landlording if I go this route. On the other hand, the house just across the street recently sold for 445k, and another is being listed for 499k a few blocks down. Both homes show very well (not flips). The first is 1,000 sqft smaller, while the other is 300 sqft larger. I believe if I put between 30k-50k into quality upgrades (I do most of the work myself) I could possibly sell for 500k or more. So, what would you do BP investors? Anyone familiar with the Hagerstown market please chime in!

*I'd like to quickly add that my ultimate goal is to utilize a combination of judicious flips and long term rentals as a vehicle to build enough passive income to quit my job and finally LIVE. Thru completing my first live-in flip I've realized a passion in the flipping process and would continue doing this as an additional wealth building tool. I would like to be able to do this in the shortest amount of time as possible. Any guidance is sincerely appreciated.

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Joseph CacciapagliaBusiness Member
Lender · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
6y

Are there any restrictions on STR/Vacation Rentals and is there demand in your area? We do really well with very large short term rentals in my market. That way you don't have to cut up a beautiful old property.

Joseph Cacciapaglia powered by Morty
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  • Joseph CacciapagliaBusiness Member
    Lender · San Antonio, TX · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    6y

    Are there any restrictions on STR/Vacation Rentals and is there demand in your area? We do really well with very large short term rentals in my market. That way you don't have to cut up a beautiful old property.

    Joseph Cacciapaglia powered by Morty
  • Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    In my opinion houses that size are hard to sell even once they are remodeled. Those houses on Oak Hill are all pretty massive and they take a while to sell. I've never taken on a house that size before. I've done 2 flips around the Hagerstown area, and just finished a property I'm trying to rent in Funkstown. If It were mine, I'd think about making it into a couple units and try renting it. 

  • Investor · Hagerstown, MD · Member since 2019 · 10 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    I agree with Austin  but, you can also airbnb that beauty!

  • Investor · Milwaukee, WI · Member since 2019 · 68 posts · 12 votes
    6y

    @Caitlin Brown Tuinstra wow it’s GORGEOUS!!!!

  • Hagerstown, MD · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    6y

    Thanks guys for your responses!

    Joseph: I don't think there's much pull in Hagerstown, now or historically speaking. There just isn't that much in the way of attractions in this sleepy town, but I'll do more research on it to see if there are other such rentals around here doing well. But, I appreciate the input. I, too, would hate to divide the house up into apartments. It's got a lovely 3 story central staircase with a banister that would have to be covered with drywall in order to make separate units possible. What a shame that would be.

    Austin: Thanks for the input Austin! I wonder if there's a proper way to rent out rooms or "units" without having to chop up the house and adding separate entrances and meters. Seems very complicated. It's not something I've tackled before.

    Delonte: Your idea is great! I've been thinking of that option lately, but, how would/should I go about it? Should I rent the entire home out as a short stay vacation rental like Joseph suggested, or have multiple rooms for rent? I could even make the basement into my own living quarters and be sort of closed off from the rest of the house.

    Tato: Thanks so much! I didn't know much about Hagerstown before I moved here two years ago, but the house captivated me and I may have impulsively bought into its charm.

  • Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    Its a beautiful house Caitlin! I drive by it everyday on my way to work. I'm glad somebody bought it that will make good use of it, and hope whatever you do with it will be profitable for you! 

  • Hagerstown, MD · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    6y

    Thanks again Austin for the kind words. I truly want to keep this house, it's so beautiful and full of potential. I just wish I knew the best strategy to capitalize on it and move on to the next level of investing. I want to make flipping/rentals my full-time career but, I don't know how to get there. And, I don't want to bastardize this lovely historic home or neighborhood by turning this particular home into a chopped up rental. A different house, on a different street, where there are other rentals, sure. But, wouldn't I be doing a disservice to everyone around me if I did that to this house? Am I worrying about the wrong things here? Please help. Thanks again.

  • Member since 2019 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    6y

    Yeah, it does seem a bit of a shame to turn into a couple of apartments. I would try reaching out to a property management company and see if they could give you some ideas as far as if its even a feasible idea, and what you could get for rent. I've been working with Hagerstown Managment Corp. They have a pretty good reputation. Just a suggestion, I don't have a lot of experience with rentals myself. I'd would just give it consideration before pouring a ton of money into trying to flip it.   

  • Flipper/Rehabber · MD · Member since 2008 · 89 posts · 34 votes
    6y

    @Caitlin Brown Tuinstra congratulations on snagging such a beautiful house! Are there any colleges near you? Maybe you could rent on the rooms as separate units, with the rest remaining a common space until you decide what you want to do with it for the long term. I watched a UK documentary on something like that a few years ago. I forget what the name of the documentary is, though. It actually made me think more about it when I decided to start considering buy and holds. 

  • Hagerstown, MD · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    6y

    Season Price:  Thanks for the suggestion! 

  • Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    @Caitlin Brown Tuinstra

    Amazing house, but.. tough sell at 10 beds and the last thing you want is for tenants to destroy that beauty. I don’t know what that area is like, but my first thought was turn it into a bed and breakfast if zoning allows. Or rehab, and see what it’s worth! Great house, super jealous!

  • Hagerstown, MD · Member since 2020 · 10 posts · 6 votes
    6y

    @Matt M. Thanks Matt for your thoughts! I agree, 10 bedrooms is a lot and most families don’t have 7 children like the family that originally built the house in 1914. Although it’s 10 bedrooms now it could, with a little effort be turned into a very comfortable 4 bedroom 4 bath house. The attic alone has 4 bedrooms + storage room. I would convert the whole floor into a master suite. Two den sized rooms would become his/hers walk-in closets, one turned into a master suite nursery or sitting room, and the final one adjoins a tiny bathroom that can be opened up.

    Of the six rooms on the second floor, two sets are adjoining with pass-thru doors, thus the two smaller attached rooms would become either sitting rooms or walk-in closets, or even into a much needed second floor laundry room (currently in basement). I also plan to open up the one bedroom at the landing of the stairs to create a formal “landing” area. So that would take away one bedroom.

    My engineer has confirmed that all walls coming down are non-load bearing and I can do most of the hammer swinging and plaster/trim repairs myself. I think these changes would make the house much more desirable and marketable. What are your thoughts?

  • Specialist · Easton, PA · Member since 2018 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    6y

    @Caitlin Brown Tuinstra

    Sounds like a great plan, my only concern with the master on the 3rd floor is families with little kids won’t want to be on a different level than the kids. Just my thoughts... but ya never know! The 3rd floor could be the au pair suite!

  • Flipper/Rehabber · MD · Member since 2008 · 89 posts · 34 votes
    6y

    @Matt M. That's a good point about parents not wanting to be on separate floors. It would be great for a family with older kids, or a "sandwich" family so each "family unit" has their own privacy.

  • Kyle RemickPro Member
    Investor · Member since 2024 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    1w

    Have your considered assisted living facility either for elderly or special needs. We have friends w children now adults with DS who could use a place for semi independent living.
    I also would love to see a B&B but likely would be tough market here.

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