Creative offer strategy for distressed seller

Creative offer strategy for distressed seller

Member since 2018 · 7 posts · 2 votes

I found a great 4/2 duplex opportunity in a neighborhood that is converting. I need some help coming up with creative offers that would help the seller get out of a sticky situation. First of all, the seller is the listing Realtor. The seller bought the duplex over a year ago after a fire. He has remedied all of the fire damage and replaced the entire roof including trusses. Essentially is is a blank slate inside. The only things that have been completed are the roof/truss, furnace and ductwork, electrical w/ passed inspection and exterior painting. All floors, sheetrock, electrical finish work, insulation, entire kitchen including cabinets, both entire bathrooms, 2 condensers, painting, etc... need to be completed. Basically I would have a new house in a 1940-1950 era neighborhood. There are many other tear-down and rebuilds happening. 

The seller has listed the property at my interpretation of ARV based on duplex comps ($160k) but claims an ARV based on single-family comps ($250k+). He has a construction loan of $123k but I don't know how much he has actually drawn on the loan for the work so far. I would also assume he has a down payment tied up as well. After running the numbers I would need to purchase at $60k knowing I will need to put another $60k into the property. Cost of money as well as a BRRRR exit strategy would get me very close to the current asking price and my interpretation of ARV. I have also asked two Realtors in the area and they independently came up with $161k and $163k as the ARV so I am pretty secure about that.

So my question is, how can I get creative with my offer so that the seller won't just blow me off? I have a feeling his construction loan is about to foreclose as he has already dropped the price $10k in the first 10 days. I can be open book and show him my numbers, but I think that will just drive him away. Is there something that I could do to assume his construction loan and get him out of his sticky situation? Any other ideas?

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  • Specialist · Paradise Valley, AZ · Member since 2018 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Scott McWilliams:

    I found a great 4/2 duplex opportunity in a neighborhood that is converting. I need some help coming up with creative offers that would help the seller get out of a sticky situation. First of all, the seller is the listing Realtor. The seller bought the duplex over a year ago after a fire. He has remedied all of the fire damage and replaced the entire roof including trusses. Essentially is is a blank slate inside. The only things that have been completed are the roof/truss, furnace and ductwork, electrical w/ passed inspection and exterior painting. All floors, sheetrock, electrical finish work, insulation, entire kitchen including cabinets, both entire bathrooms, 2 condensers, painting, etc... need to be completed. Basically I would have a new house in a 1940-1950 era neighborhood. There are many other tear-down and rebuilds happening. 

    The seller has listed the property at my interpretation of ARV based on duplex comps ($160k) but claims an ARV based on single-family comps ($250k+). He has a construction loan of $123k but I don't know how much he has actually drawn on the loan for the work so far. I would also assume he has a down payment tied up as well. After running the numbers I would need to purchase at $60k knowing I will need to put another $60k into the property. Cost of money as well as a BRRRR exit strategy would get me very close to the current asking price and my interpretation of ARV. I have also asked two Realtors in the area and they independently came up with $161k and $163k as the ARV so I am pretty secure about that.

    So my question is, how can I get creative with my offer so that the seller won't just blow me off? I have a feeling his construction loan is about to foreclose as he has already dropped the price $10k in the first 10 days. I can be open book and show him my numbers, but I think that will just drive him away. Is there something that I could do to assume his construction loan and get him out of his sticky situation? Any other ideas?

    Are you an experienced contractor or flipper? This would be a nightmare first flip. Also, his construction loan probably has a balloon payment and needs to be paid off in full. Just guessing but why else would it be nearing foreclosure? You could pay off all of his financing and take over the property. Then, you pray your contractors show up to work, work fast, and don't make mistakes. Looks like it would take at least a couple of months to finish everything. Then you would have carrying costs if you put it on the MLS. Say it takes a couple of months to sell and another month to close. I'd plan on the whole thing taking 6 maybe 7 months. (I have no idea what the local market is of course, so it could be shorter, it could be longer.)

  • Member since 2018 · 7 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    Great questions. This project would be a rehab-to-hold as a rental property. I have some experience but not to this extent. I am a project manager in my W-2 job so I'm confident in my project management skills but also knowledgeable enough to know residential rehab is a different world and I can't rest on my laurels. I came up with my own rehab estimate and had a trusted contractor do the same. We both were very close to the $60k number I mentioned. 

    I guess I just need to figure out what he owes on the loan. 

  • Real Estate Professional · West Palm Beach, FL · Member since 2012 · 23k+ posts · 13k+ votes
    7y

    If he is asking $130ish, he won’t/can’t sell it to you for $60k....nice dream but not very realistic.

  • Member since 2018 · 7 posts · 2 votes
    7y

    @Wayne Brooks I agree. That's why I am asking for help to determine if there are any creative offer strategies that could get my offer price up but my all in cost stay the same.

    It sounds like I need to determine the terms and current status of his loan and see how desperate he is to get out of the situation.

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