My biggest deal ever... and it went bust. (sort of)

My biggest deal ever... and it went bust. (sort of)

Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes

Hi BP Fam,

Previously I mentioned I was onto a large deal that I thought would be an absolute killer. Well...turns out things don't always work out as planned.

I'm not happy about the results on this deal that I've been slaving over since June but it wasn't a complete fail story so I'll share what I did here.

In April, I was approached with a large package deal of 15 units. Seller wanted $2.1 million. I offered $1.5m and some other guy came in at $1.7m  cash after I was led on for about a week. I was literally depressed for about two weeks about losing this one. Fast forward into may and the other guy apparently tried to drop his asking to $1.2m after inspections. Seller of course put everything back on the market. I jumped the day I heard of it and basically made the same $1.5m offer.

Through some silver tonguing, I made it under contract! Great! Check my bank account. I have about 80k of disposable income. I'll make this work. I have a closing date of 30 days. So within 2 weeks, I had to do some really complicated stuff using HMLs, my primary commercial banker, and a whole lot of private money. In all, I raised about 250k from private sources ranging from friends, family, and random people I found on facebook.

we close end of June and its off to the races. I basically gave myself another 45 days to get the places rehabbed, rented out, and ready for refinance. Most of the work was cosmetic...painting, new floors, etc. However some units required a gut rehab, new kitchens, appliances, HVAC, etc.

To summarize, I took the 15 units @ 10% occupied generating 950/unit to 100% occupied at an average of 1800/unit within 3 weeks. I finished all rehab Mid Aug. All in I was only about 115k in terms of remodeling/rehab/holding costs for all the units.

I worked myself to death doing this...hoping I'd get the killer cashout refinance I had accomplished previously in another deal

Called 20 + banks and only two would entertain me. Most said I was too young, too inexperienced, blah blah blah. Well I got an appraisal and it came in completely low. I disagreed with so many things appraiser said. He put me at $1.9m. Luckily one bank said they'd loan up to 82% of the ARV. another said they'd do 70% of the ARV. So...do I risk another $3k in appraisal cost and $12k in holding costs for another appraisal?

I decided against that... and just took what I could get. I did however work out with the bank that after a year of performance, they will re-evaluate and potentially give me more cashout in the future.

So here's a rough number breakdown.

purchase $1,500,000
Loan Amount 1,300,000
Rehab+holding+closing costs $115,000

ARV 1,900,000
new Loan (20 year, 6.25, 5 year)- $1,560,000

Cashout portion- $260,000

Cashout- FFFF (friends, family, facebook friends)= 10,000

Money in deal = 45,000


Rental Side of Things (by month)

Current Income- 27,000/m (Proforma is 31,500 since I had to rush rent out)
Expenses- (Utilities, Taxes, 25% Vacancy/Management/CAPEX, insurance, etc)- 12,500/m
Debt- 11,400/m
NOI- 3100/m

Something like that at least

For the other questions that may pop up:


I self manage
I doubled my portfolio in one deal

I was my own GC for the project

I still have a full time job in securities trading

I worked 110 weeks for 2 months straight

I am burnt out

I hit a lot of roadblocks including getting sued, vandalized, robbed, and threatened

I had a lot of physical blackouts and emotional breakdowns
My outlook in general on people is definitely more negative

However I am also ready to move on


This post was very much to speak on an experience and tell a story. I am not opening myself up to be a mentor, give specifics, etc unless you want to paypal me first for my time ;)

I guess it could've been worst, but we never go into these deals believing the worst happens right?

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Most Popular Reply

Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
8y
Originally posted by @Account Closed:

How can a guy abusing drugs get so much support.   He is young so he can handle it.  But overtime drugs will win.

Sure he may make a few million but for what.   Premature passing.  This guy needs help.  And not with RE  His RE acumen seems spot on.

 give it a rest dude. your not funny and your kind of a full on pathetic jerk.

See this reply in the discussion

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  • Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Steve Vaughan

    Haha you may be right. I had a glorious $2.5 million value in my head and thinking about cashing out $450,000+ had all kinds of lambos driving around in my head. just kidding :p

    But that would have been some nice money to play with on future investments which will in turn...= a better car haha

  • Central, MN · Member since 2015 · 148 posts · 184 votes
    8y

    Sure looks to me like you made some big sacrifices for long term success... doubled your portfolio... in a year you'll have all your money back out... over $200/door cash flow... once you get your rents up where they should be it will increase as well.... for most on BP, the long game is the driving force.  You paid a price, but in the long run, looks to me like it will be worth it.  Two of the guys I admire on BP @Jay Hinrichs and @Steve Vaughan  could probably tell you multiple stories like this and last I checked, they are always the ones giving advice instead of seeking it... to me that means you are on the right track.  Kudos to you... out there grinding and taking the risks while many sit back and hope it happens to them.

  • Bjorn AhlbladPro Member
    Investor · Shelton, WA · Member since 2017 · 6k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    8y

    Amazing story David! Great effort invested and even greater reward coming. Remarkable tenacity to accomplish it in such a compressed timeframe. The whole story, funding, contracting etc-Kudos!!

    All the best!

  • Engineer · Portland, OR · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y
    @Jay Hinrichs I believe that’s mak Furguson with the Lambo.
  • Real Estate Agent · Cupertino, CA · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    The economy and lowest employment is on your side. With a good handyman or AC guy you will do well.
    Hardwork pays off.  May be next hit is beach front property.

  • Investor · USA · Member since 2015 · 325 posts · 447 votes
    8y
    @David Zheng Get it pre-family. It looks like you are making it happen. When you where talking about your appraisals not going well I was thinking about what I want to do with my Apartments. I could hold out while doing some additional value adds (storage units, rubs, ect.) and really lean it out or go for a LOC now. The commercial appraisals are no joke at 3500. That is why I am holding back until it’s fully stabilized and I can maximize the LOC. Any thoughts on that?
  • Investor · Greenville, SC · Member since 2016 · 5k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    8y

    Congrats...well done.

    Looks like the appraiser got you at a 9 cap.  If I am looking at the numbers right, if you are able to add the additional proforma rent over time, you have another half million plus in value...maybe get that in a year or two with a refinance (and even more if the true cap rate is lower).

    Refinance appraisals can be hit or miss since the appraiser does not have a target to hit (i.e. a purchase price).  Over time, relationships with lenders who manage the appraisal process well can help.

  • Real Estate Investor · Des Moines, IA · Member since 2016 · 922 posts · 533 votes
    8y

    @David Zheng

    Color me impressed, dude.  Very nice work

  • Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Kai Van Leuven

    The only reason I did the cashout refi as fast as I did was to get out of the HML and private loans. high interest only payments and no equity paydown. not worth it to wait it out in my book

    I'd wait if I were you unless you also have some ridiculous loan or theres a killer deal you cannot pass up

  • WorldWide · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    David, good job! How was the loan only 1.3 on a 1.5 purchase, tho? I might be missing something, obviously.

  • Investor · Saint Louis, MO · Member since 2016 · 970 posts · 1k+ votes
    8y

    @Victor S. still need a downpayment

  • Arlington, VA · Member since 2015 · 60 posts · 100 votes
    8y

    Huge congrats, David - numbers look great on this project.  What does that take your monthly net up to, has to be north of 10k a month at this point, no?

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