First Florida multifamily closed!

First Florida multifamily closed!

Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 83 posts · 72 votes

Well, after about a year of effort researching, networking and trying to find a deal, I closed last week on a 16 unit multifamily in Tallahassee. My previous experience is all in SFR rehabs, but at this point I can't see ever going back. I want to shoot for >40 units next time! My original focus was solely Jacksonville FL, but the market was only offering 5-6 caps in the areas that I wanted to own. I'm well aware that we're late in this current cycle and didn't want to overpay too badly. As a new apartment investor, I was also conscious of my lack of credibility with most brokers. I expanded the search to several other N. Florida cities and was presented this deal by a broker I'd been chatting with. After viewing so many ridiculously exaggerated proformas, his caught my eye as being very realistic. During DD I checked bills, seller's bank accounts and schedule E's. Rents currently average $631 across all of the 2/1 units and should be in the $695-$725 range(improving gross rents to about 136K). Since purchasing I've added new landscaping, signage and gutters. I have a few other curb appeal, unit improvement tasks I'll periodically schedule over the next 12 months. Tenants are already asking my PM when the rent is going up, which I take as a sign they know they're undermarket. It's 100% occupied as well, so I expect a bit of turnover with the increases. Here's my pre-rent increase numbers. 680K purchase price, 730K appraisal. Property is located next to the community college, a few miles west of FSU.


Current gross annual rents- $120,960
6% vacancy- $7258
EGI- $113,702
Tax/Ins $13,000
Lscape(plus a 1-time $3300 charge for lottsa new stuff) $5400
Legal $1100
PM $13,000
Pest control $1,920
R&M&Capex $24,645
Utilities $1500
NOI $53,137

6Reply
56 views

Most Popular Reply

Real Estate Agent · Indialantic, FL · Member since 2014 · 182 posts · 80 votes
9y

Congratulations!  Since this was your first multifamily was it difficult for you to find financing?

See this reply in the discussion

27 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Real Estate Agent · Indialantic, FL · Member since 2014 · 182 posts · 80 votes
    9y

    Congratulations!  Since this was your first multifamily was it difficult for you to find financing?

  • Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 83 posts · 72 votes
    9y

    @Wendy Vaidic, not especially.  I checked with several local banks and credit unions,along with Wells Fargo.  All gave me positive feedback on the financials and property, which was reassuring to a newbie.  Wells Fargo was a horrible process with redundant paperwork.  They declined.  One bank liked the deal, but didn't have room in their portfolio.  Two others offered me loans at 4.95% with 25% down.  i hope to refi once I increase rents, if interest rates cooperate.

  • Investor · Milton, FL · Member since 2015 · 44 posts · 16 votes
    9y
    Congrats, I've been thinking on making the switch, I'm in Pensacola area and have also seen a few listings in Tally. How much cash did you need on reserve?
  • Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 83 posts · 72 votes
    9y

    @Dan Hatch you know what? Reserves were never once brought up by any of the lenders. This may be because I keep a fair amount liquid or perhaps they considered my unused HELOC? My lender also told me that they'd want me to set up a business checking account with their bank, but never again mentioned it prior to close. "shrug"

  • Hvac · North Haven, CT · Member since 2015 · 298 posts · 79 votes
    9y

    @Brent M. awesome job! Thats great. We're working on making the transition at some point as well. Good luck on the next one!

  • Rental Property Investor · Port Saint Lucie, FL · Member since 2015 · 16 posts · 3 votes
    9y

    Congrats @Brent M., this is where we are inspiring to go next!  Thanks for sharing the success story

  • Investor · Brighton, CO · Member since 2014 · 59 posts · 5 votes
    9y

    Inspiring as I am working to do the same. Thanks for sharing for all of us! 

  • Real Estate Broker · Palm Bay, FL · Member since 2017 · 175 posts · 89 votes
    9y

    This is an awesome story as I love Tallahassee. Got my undergrad at FSU and loved it so much I stayed for my masters. I also bought my first house there in 04 and was basically house hacking lol. Good luck and hope it continues to go well!

  • Contrarian Investor · Greensboro, NC · Member since 2016 · 219 posts · 174 votes
    9y

    Congratulations Brent!!  

  • Investor · Las Vegas. Jacksonville, Bay Area Ca, Nv, Ca, Fl · Member since 2015 · 511 posts · 220 votes
    9y

    Great job @Brent M., As a local Bay Area, Ca. I Invest in Jax, Tallahassee and Vegas. It find the North Florida market very appealing. I remember you sent me a PM inquiring about the Jax market. It looks like you were able to do your homework and make it happen. I have a SFR in the Killearn Lakes Plantation area, I will be there finishing it up and putting it on the market in the next week. If you are around maybe we can get coffee.

  • Pharmacist · The Villages, FL · Member since 2014 · 96 posts · 36 votes
    9y

    Congratulations! and thank you for sharing some numbers and things you looked at for due diligence. I am closing on my 3rd single family in 3 days and would like to break in to multi family, but don't know how to evaluate the pro formas. Best of luck with your new investment!

  • Lender · Houston, TX · Member since 2017 · 171 posts · 21 votes
    9y

    Congratulations Brent! With 100% occupancy and improvements to the property, it sounds like you have room to push rents!

    Since you plan to refi after raising rents, keep detailed records of your improvements, rental increases and collections. It will make a cash out refi in a shorter period of time easier to accomplish and helps get you max proceeds.

    @Dan Hatch – lenders typically want to see a minimum of nine months P&I as post-closing liquidity to get a deal done. Every lender will look at it differently though. I’m assuming that answers your question. If not, feel free to PM me.

  • Investor/Realtor · Hoover, AL · Member since 2010 · 1k+ posts · 459 votes
    9y

    Congrats @Brent McAlee...I'm interested in MFR as well. However, my comfort is SFR...Way to take the leap.

  • Real Estate Agent · Milwaukee County, WI · Member since 2009 · 3k+ posts · 525 votes
    9y

    congrats

  • Realtor · Jacksonville, FL · Member since 2017 · 71 posts · 26 votes
    9y

    Congrats Brent!  Best of luck to you! Sounds like you got it right. 

  • Investor · Tallahassee, FL · Member since 2013 · 77 posts · 24 votes
    9y
    Congrats. I am in Tallahassee. Hit me up sometime for coffee or a beer What street is it on? I have town homes mostly around Hartsfield area. Bill
  • Rental Property Investor · Charlottesville, VA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 726 votes
    9y

    @Brent M. congratulations! That looks like a good buy to me.

  • Real Estate Agent · Tallahassee, FL · Member since 2017 · 135 posts · 67 votes
    9y

    Congratulations on your first Multifamily!! I am a Realtor, Flipper, and Property Manager in Tallahassee.  It's a great market.  

  • Lender · New Smyrna Beach, FL · Member since 2017 · 122 posts · 54 votes
    9y

    Congrats on the acquisition! Sounds like you are off to an awesome start.

    You mentioned talking to a few local banks plus one national bank in Wells Fargo. Did you ever look into whether you'd get a better rate with a Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac loan? Were you aware of programs that can get you a low-rate, government-insured loan? How far out is your new loan's maturity?

  • Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 83 posts · 72 votes
    9y

    @Tim Milazzo I don't think Fannie or Freddie offers loans as tiny as mine.  next round for sure though.

    @Bill Turner It's on McKeithan.  I was also interested in "The Big Easy" to the south, but wow!  Some creative accounting going on there...  buyer beware, right?

  • Real Estate Broker · Mount Olive, IL · Member since 2013 · 1k+ posts · 310 votes
    9y

    @Brent M.

    Welcome to BP. 

    Great story. I love it. It appears to be, you paid $42,500 a unit with average rental income of $631 a unit which is pretty good in Florida even in North Side.

    Keep it up.

  • Real Estate Investor · Palm Beach County, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y

    @Brent M. Do you think you could have done a successful MFR if you had not already had SFR experience? In other words do you think you could have managed a MFR for your first deal or would you suggest to start with SFR and scale once you are comfortable there first? Money aside.

  • Investor · Hayward, CA · Member since 2015 · 83 posts · 72 votes
    9y

    @Brian Garrett Tough to say- You never know what might have happened if you made different decisions, right? I can tell you that I wish I had my current mindset when i first began investing in 2004 (cashflow/business/ROI focused vs RE always goes up mentality). I think rather than SFR, I would have wanted to buy and self manage a 2-4 unit prior to going bigger just to ensure that rentals were the direction I wanted to go. With the homes, I learned that I liked rehabs and really enjoyed providing good housing for people. I have a ton of project management experience though and now that I've gotten this small property closed, I see no barriers besides capital to going much larger next time. I'm a big fan of economies of scale.

  • Real Estate Investor · Palm Beach County, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    9y

    @Brent M. That's great and also encouraging for someone new to REI like myself. Thanks for sharing Brent and congrats! Now it's time to find the next deal and do it again!

  • Investor · Tallahassee, FL · Member since 2013 · 77 posts · 24 votes
    9y
    Yes buyer be ware. There is a newer 24 unit down the street they want 2.4 million. I think that you got a better deal
Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.