Should I unload this SFR for something better?

Question

Bill Gulley · Answer

Buy and hold is a long term strategy, sounds like you're impatient wanting to move on quicker. If it doesn't eat any hay, pays for itself, you don't expect any big repairs, vacancy is low, not a pain to manage, in other words, it carries itself, leave it alone and move on to another property. When you have equity built up, then come back to it and assess the situation. Don't forget taxes in your assessment.

If you're low on cash, look for tiered landlords, seller financing, use a second on your SFR to leverage another deal. Don't get in a hurry thinking you have to move on something for the sake of some deal in buy & holds. :)

Susan Gillespie · Answer

@Cory Land  You have a cash flowing asset that's likely to appreciate. You're looking to get out of it?

In the next year or two, you have the opportunity to gain some appreciation, build rent history and landlord experience, and save for another purchase. If you cash flow about $300/mo for 24 months, that's $7200.

Is your renter on an annual lease? If they renew, you'd have no vacancy.

I'm not sure why an investor would pay $250k for $1750 rent. You'll get a higher sales price from an owner occupant. Transaction fees to sell and buy another place will eat into your return.

You're doing well to own a home and also an income property. Don't forget there's a fair amount of risk with a $100k duplex. Where would it be and who would rent it? That's a different demographic than the young professional renter you have now.

Joe Villeneuve · Answer

@Cory Land If the house currently cash flows, then why are you selling it?  How much does it cash flow.  Not what %, actual dollars.

If the house doesn't have enough equity to refi, then selling it may not help since you would be tapping into that same equity, but losing some of it to closing costs/fees, etc...

I don't see any gain selling, and depending on what the actual CF is on the house, I see a potential loss selling.

Dave Foster · Answer

The sfr used to be your primary residence.  If it has been your residence for two out of the last five years you may sell it and still take advantage of the Sec 121 primary residence exclusion even if you are not living in it now.

The fact that this gain would be tax free (250K of gain if your single and 500K if married) might tip the scales if deciding to sell or hold.

Since you're allowed to use this exclusion once every two years it can be a powerful way to periodically remove cash from your investment portfolio without paying tax.  That's pretty powerful.

Aaron Montague · Answer

@Cory Land

I'm not usually an advocate of getting rid of an asset, but you have to run the numbers.

Your current property doesn't seem like it is meeting your cash flow needs.  I recommend you look at 2 factors when evaluating a property: cash flow AND ROI (Cash on Cash).  Looking at both of these factors will tell you whether or not the property is worth investing in.  I don't even bother to look at places unless they have $100/month/door AND 15% Cash on Cash return.

Appreciation is great if you can get it.  But it is a patient investor's game.  Getting your realtor's license is a good way to help out with your current situation.  If don't, a $25k increase in value on a $375k property only nets you $1000 for your patient after you pay the realtor 6%.

Equity in a property does not equal potential profitability:

House appraises for $200kYour mortgage has $170k left (15% equity)Comps are $250kYou think it needs $5k to come up the rest of the places in the neighborhoodIf you sold it at 250 after repairs you'd have $60k in your pocket. 250-5(repairs)-15(commission)-170(mortgage).

If you followed @Brian Gibbons advice you'd put another 7.5-9k in your pocket from your split of the commission check.

If you lived at this place for 24 of the last 60 months any money you made from the deal would be tax free.  Another advantage of selling your primary residence.

Lots of options, lots of things to consider.  Bring some numbers here to BP and we'll help you out.

Should I unload this SFR for something better?

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