How are investors making numbers work in todays interest rate environment?

How are investors making numbers work in todays interest rate environment?

Member since 2024 · 5 posts · 1 vote

Just out of curiosity, how are new investors making deals work in todays market? Commercial, residential, etc. How are y'all making the numbers work? Almost every SFH I come across is cash flow negative. Every commercial property for sale on costar is overpriced and impossible to cash flow.

I guess it just comes down to finding off market deals right now, so what is every one doing to make it work? I am new to investing, have done a few flips in the last 12 months, but want to eventually start building out my portfolio. 

Thoughts? Discussion? Would love to hear from people!

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Alecia LovelessPro Member
Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
2y

@Tim Goddard I've only been doing this for 5 years but am still finding deals that cash flow on the MLS. It all depends on your market area and how many deals you're willing to analyze to find the right one.

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  • Julie MuseBusiness Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · North Georgia · Member since 2024 · 326 posts · 94 votes
    2y

    Well, I can't offer any help in the commercial world. However, in residential I buy everything direct to seller.  I try to offer solutions to their house problems. We are finding that working with individuals in pre-foreclosure has been fruitful and there are so many people that have 40% equity or more. The goal is to buy their home before loosing it back to the bank and in alot of cases we are able to buy and give them money to move onto the next stage of their life. Also, PPC leads have been extremely profitable as well. 

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  • Jake AndronicoBusiness Member
    Realtor · Reno, NV · Member since 2019 · 1k+ posts · 938 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Tim Goddard:

    Just out of curiosity, how are new investors making deals work in todays market? Commercial, residential, etc. How are y'all making the numbers work? Almost every SFH I come across is cash flow negative. Every commercial property for sale on costar is overpriced and impossible to cash flow.

    I guess it just comes down to finding off market deals right now, so what is every one doing to make it work? I am new to investing, have done a few flips in the last 12 months, but want to eventually start building out my portfolio. 

    Thoughts? Discussion? Would love to hear from people!

    Great question. In my mind there are only a few options: 

    1. Put more down. 
    2. Only make offers with seller credits that can buy down the rate to a place that makes financial sense. 
    3. Don't buy. 
    4. Make super aggressive offers with a low success rate but focus on volume and gathering key data about seller motivation to better increase chances of success. 
    5. Assume an FHA/VA mortgage if you want to house hack. 

    In a high interest rate environment, it's just the reality unfortunately. Best of luck to you! 


  • Member since 2024 · 5 posts · 1 vote
    2y
    Quote from @Julie Muse:

    Well, I can't offer any help in the commercial world. However, in residential I buy everything direct to seller.  I try to offer solutions to their house problems. We are finding that working with individuals in pre-foreclosure has been fruitful and there are so many people that have 40% equity or more. The goal is to buy their home before loosing it back to the bank and in alot of cases we are able to buy and give them money to move onto the next stage of their life. Also, PPC leads have been extremely profitable as well. 


    Thank you for the response! If you do not mind me asking, what site do you use for pre-foreclosure? PropStream? 

    Also, where are your PPC ads focused? Google, Bing, Instagram, etc? 

    I am trying to really get started here in the Dallas market, which, is very competitive. Do you have any recommendations for someone in a competitive market? Or is the best choice to go outside of it and try to tap into a less saturated market

    Thanks!!

  • Bradley BuxtonBusiness Member
    Real Estate Agent · NV · Member since 2023 · 1k+ posts · 720 votes
    2y

    @Tim Goddard

    There is not one answer for how people make deals work. You can buy in a lower priced market, buy down the interest rate and or put more money down.  You strategy and notions of the "deal" will change with market conditions. Where you put the work in will change if it's not more capital you'll be adding time and skill. There are still great investments in Reno Tahoe, NV that are on market and will continue to have strong appreciation.  If you're looking for pure cash flow then that strategy will be different.  It's about adjusting expectations and maybe giving up on some of the "rules" for good deals. Everyone's good deal will be different.  

  • Real Estate Broker · Coppell, TX · Member since 2011 · 5k+ posts · 4k+ votes
    2y

    1.  Cash flow is a function of your leverage.  That means put down more money, borrow less.  Same for both residential and commercial.  On commercial deals your lender probably will require less leverage...maybe 40% down.  Single family in general in DFW area I typically see about 30-40 down will break even or cash flow.

    2. Off market is often a myth unless you are the one perhaps generating the leads, but then again that cost money and time and effort. The biggest wholesalers are probably sending out anywhere from 3000-30,000 pieces of mail a month. Postcards and letters. Making 200 calls per person a day or more with a multi phone line dialer. I also see them buy off MLS and then remarket them is off-market wholesale deal. Every been to an off-market showing where there are 30-50 investors there looking to bid? It might not be on MLS, but it certainly isn't "off the market", very much on the market when that many people show up.

    3.  Probably the better deals are outside of the main DFW area.  I usually say draw a big circle around DFW and invest on the outskirts of that.   Maybe look at places like Cleburne, Waxahatchie, Greenville, Denison, Bonham, Lavon, Gainesville.

    4.  Prophawk is probably a good resource for you in Texas.

    5. There are always deals....you just have to find them.  They are out there.

  • Investor · Mesa, AZ · Member since 2023 · 41 posts · 17 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Julie Muse:

    Well, I can't offer any help in the commercial world. However, in residential I buy everything direct to seller.  I try to offer solutions to their house problems. We are finding that working with individuals in pre-foreclosure has been fruitful and there are so many people that have 40% equity or more. The goal is to buy their home before loosing it back to the bank and in alot of cases we are able to buy and give them money to move onto the next stage of their life. Also, PPC leads have been extremely profitable as well. 

    Julie are you doing wholesale deals or using PPC to find your next flip?
  • Alecia LovelessPro Member
    Member since 2019 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    2y

    @Tim Goddard I've only been doing this for 5 years but am still finding deals that cash flow on the MLS. It all depends on your market area and how many deals you're willing to analyze to find the right one.

  • Julie MuseBusiness Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · North Georgia · Member since 2024 · 326 posts · 94 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Joshua Amezcua:
    Quote from @Julie Muse:

    Well, I can't offer any help in the commercial world. However, in residential I buy everything direct to seller.  I try to offer solutions to their house problems. We are finding that working with individuals in pre-foreclosure has been fruitful and there are so many people that have 40% equity or more. The goal is to buy their home before loosing it back to the bank and in alot of cases we are able to buy and give them money to move onto the next stage of their life. Also, PPC leads have been extremely profitable as well. 

    Julie are you doing wholesale deals or using PPC to find your next flip?
    I very rarely buy from wholesalers. They will be direct to seller. So, probably PPC or pre foreclosure leads

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  • Julie MuseBusiness Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · North Georgia · Member since 2024 · 326 posts · 94 votes
    2y
    Quote from @Tim Goddard:
    Quote from @Julie Muse:

    Well, I can't offer any help in the commercial world. However, in residential I buy everything direct to seller.  I try to offer solutions to their house problems. We are finding that working with individuals in pre-foreclosure has been fruitful and there are so many people that have 40% equity or more. The goal is to buy their home before loosing it back to the bank and in alot of cases we are able to buy and give them money to move onto the next stage of their life. Also, PPC leads have been extremely profitable as well. 


    Thank you for the response! If you do not mind me asking, what site do you use for pre-foreclosure? PropStream? 

    Also, where are your PPC ads focused? Google, Bing, Instagram, etc? 

    I am trying to really get started here in the Dallas market, which, is very competitive. Do you have any recommendations for someone in a competitive market? Or is the best choice to go outside of it and try to tap into a less saturated market

    Thanks!!

    I've done some deals in Dallas and I understand it is a competitive market for sure.  Normally I would rather work the cities outside of a big city. Less competition and honestly I stay in middle class to lower middle class properties. They sell quick and I can get all the supplies at he local home improvement store.  I use dealdriven.com... very similar to propstream. I've been using this company as of late 

    https://www.propertyleads.com/peter-vekselman/

    Sometimes get them from ispeedtolead too




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  • Investor · Costa Mesa, CA · Member since 2016 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    2y

    In a high interest rate environment I stop buying and start lending. 

  • Nicholas L.Pro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Pittsburgh · Member since 2018 · 6k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    2y

    @Tim Goddard

    I think this is a great and valid question.

    I'm still looking for BRRRRs - I'll BRRRR if I can break even on the rent when done and force a bunch of equity. Then, if I'm fortunate enough to refinance in a few years - great. If not - also great.

    I'm also looking into MTRs but haven't bought one yet.

    And yes, I buy 100% off market. The last time I bought off the MLS was 2021.

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