Updated 3 months ago on .
Each analysis aspect I focus on and why
@William Dunn and I talk about how to think about deals without getting lost in the weeds.
We jumped into my favorite way to underwrite: keep it simple, be conservative, and make sure the deal works as a cash-flowing rental first (even if it could become a flip, BRRRR, wholesale, or house hack).
What we covered:
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Why I analyze almost everything as a rental property first (more “outs” = less risk)
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How to use the BiggerPockets calculator to stress test a deal and avoid “hope underwriting”
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Why I don’t like counting on appreciation (I’ll take it if it happens, but I don’t bank on it)
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My rule of thumb: for a straightforward single-family rental, I want cash-on-cash flirting with ~12% (10% minimum)
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Why PMI is a tax on your cash flow and I prefer avoiding it (usually means getting to ~20% down)
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How “nice upgrades” can actually be a problem in C-class areas (durability + low maintenance wins)
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House hacking done right: look for privacy + a rentable “other” space — walkout basements can be a cheat code because they can increase both rent and appraised value
If you’re earlier in your investing journey, this is basically a live demo of how to go from “I like this house” to “does this actually make sense?”
If you watch it, tell me where you think I'm being too conservative
