How would you invest $200k in Denver?

How would you invest $200k in Denver?

Real Estate Agent · Denver, CO · Member since 2019 · 45 posts · 44 votes

I'm expecting to inherit a $400k+ property in Hawaii sometime this year, owned outright. Would you sell and invest the cash? Or keep as a rental and leverage a HELOC. I live in Denver so that market comes first to mind. In either scenario, how would you invest that capital?

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Jeff WhiteBusiness Member
Realtor · Denver, CO · Member since 2016 · 278 posts · 371 votes
6y

@John Mayer Excellent, not sure how capital gains taxes work with inherited properties, but selling it would get you a good chunk of cash to invest, and you could probably achieve your goal a lot sooner! 

Assuming that you have to pay taxes, closing costs, realtor fees, etc, and you are left with 300K to invest, here's how I would invest it in the Denver market to achieve your goals:

I would buy three large single family homes (6+ bedrooms, 3+ bathrooms) with basement apartments with separate entrances that cost between 400-450K with 20% downpayments in Westminster, Lakewood, Englewood, Thornton, or Northglenn, also, these houses would ideally be separated from the top and bottom (ex. 3 bedrooms 2 bathrooms upstairs, 3 bedrooms 1 bathroom downstairs), so you could rent by the room for a premium on the top rooms, and rent by the room on the bottom rooms or rent out the whole bottom unit to a family. That way you have multiple options while still achieving your goals.   

Here are the inputs:

Purchase Price: $400-450K per property

Downpayment + Closing Costs: $90-100K per property

Mortgage Payment: $2,000 - $2,200/month assuming $2K/year taxes and $1.5K/year insurance

Total Monthly Rental Income renting out all the rooms (6 bedrooms x $700 rent per room on avg): $4,200

Total Monthly Rental Income renting out all the top rooms (3 x 700) and renting the bottom unit to a family ($1,700): $3,800

Total Net Rental Income Before Utilities/Maintenance/Reserves/Capex:
  Low: $1,600, High: $2,000

Utilities: ~$400 assuming that you pay for everything, internet, heat, electric, gas, water, storm drainage

Maintenance/Reserves/Capex: $400 to have enough to cover any items that could need repair, maintenance, etc and accounting for age of house and more wear and tear 

Total Net Cash Flow Per Month: Low: $800/month High: $1,200/month, Middle: $1,000/month

Also, I didn't include you adding any extra rental income for for adding utilities to rent/garage spots rent/etc, so these cash flow numbers are very conservative but realistic. 

By self-managing these properties, you will receive $3K/month in cash flow which would be that much closer to your goal!  

With a property manager, you are looking at $2.3K/month in cash flow. 

Either way, you will be much closer to your goal, and if you combine it with house hacking a couple of times, you and your wife will hit your FI $5K goal much sooner, probably in 2-3 years!

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  • Flipper/Rehabber · Member since 2019 · 45 posts · 21 votes
    6y

    If cash flow is your goal, the Denver market would not be at the top of my list.

    If you're looking for long term growth, then it may be. 

  • Investor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2020 · 124 posts · 68 votes
    6y

    Unless something dramatic happens, I would keep the house in Hawaii and use it as my own bank. I've been watching Hawaii for years and it just keeps appreciating and appreciating and EVERYONE wants to live there and that's not likely to change any time soon. Get the HELOC

    $200k in Denver??  I would take that money and do private lending with it.  Both as a source of rehab funds and funds to use in other markets that are cheaper.  $200k goes a long ways in Little Rock but I can't see it doing much in Denver.  

  • Real Estate Agent · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2015 · 450 posts · 196 votes
    6y

    @John Mayer One thing to consider when deciding to buy vs getting a new loan is the return on equity, which is your net return divided by equity. It measures the opportunity cost of keeping the property vs. selling it and investing in more cashflow. Send me a PM if you want to chat more about the Oahu market and real estate strategy in general.

  • Rental Property Investor · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2019 · 36 posts · 20 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Craig Curelop:

    @John Mayer - If your goal is cash flow, then I would suggest purchasing some single family properties and renting by the room. Far and away the best cash flowing strategy in the Denver metro area. That is the only way I have seen properties in Denver hit the 1% rule. 

    This will probably me my next move.  Interesting the term is "community living"  Not mine (Mindy Jensen, is this yours???)  but you can search it on Craigslist. 

    Longmont, CO, 80501

    1 Bed - 1 Bath $700.00/mo Sq Footage: 2,520 $700.00/dep Year built: 1965

    Contact Us: Apply Online: http: Tour, Pics, & Full Listing: 
    Call/Text: deleted
    Free Planet Fitness Membership
    ***Available Now****

    Private Room with shared bathroom for rent inside this beautiful home. Let the eye-candy, zero-scape front yard welcome you home each day. Kick back in the living room, cook your favorites in the kitchen, relax on the shaded back porch with fenced backyard, enjoy the community-on-your-own-terms household, or zip over to the excitement of Boulder or the beauty of the Rocky Mountains.

    This room for rent is part of a CommunityLiving Home, which are high-demand and high-quality rent-by-the-room living arrangements. This home has the following vision, perks, fees, and location info:

    VISION:
    To be a home for all people, especially professionals 25-55 years and older, which cultivates a household of peace, privacy, security, community, individuality, quality, and sustainability. Providing a standard and spaciousness of living at significantly lower costs to residents and the environment. A place to call home for months and years!

    FEES:
    Rent: $700
    Utilities and High-Speed Internet: $75
    Optional Garage Parking: $50 (or plenty of outside free parking)
    Security Deposit: $700

    Property Features:

    • Private Bedroom: 137 sqft unfurnished
    • Home and Kitchen: Fully Furnished and Equipped
    • Month-to-Month Lease (pay online with checking account or credit card)
    • Furnished Private Bedroom
    • Flat Rate Utilities
    • Free Storage Area
    • Free Parking
    • Free Planet Fitness Membership
    • Free Laundry
    • Free Planet Fitness Membership
    • Pets: stay in owner's room or accompanied in backyard.
    • Private Room Occupancy: 1 person
    • Vid Tour: (coming soon)

    Lease Terms: Month-to-Month

  • Real Estate Agent · Honolulu, HI · Member since 2015 · 450 posts · 196 votes
    6y

    @Brett Rosenbauer That seems very viable in any primary market. Do you find it to be management intensive to execute?

  • Rental Property Investor · Fort Collins, CO · Member since 2019 · 36 posts · 20 votes
    6y
    Originally posted by @Duc Ong:

    @Brett Rosenbauer That seems very viable in any primary market. Do you find it to be management intensive to execute?



    @Duc Ong
    not my property, but I am interested in renting rooms out in future REI. In Fort Collins, CO where we live we have a you+2 rule, so I am looking for a 3 bedroom upper with a separate basement entrance for 1-2 more bedrooms to skirt the rule that way. But decent 4-5 bedroom houses are $500K+ here, so I am trying to find a way to have one of my businesses that is high inventory based rent a garage, workshop, etc. and pay our LLC to force cash flow better. I've figured out you have to play the game in this market. I'm doing it with my STR and it is working really well, so getting good cash flow and appreciation. The Colorado Front Range market is appreciating so fast.

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