Estimating monthly expense of property BEFORE buying?

Estimating monthly expense of property BEFORE buying?

Bethlehem, PA · Member since 2017 · 12 posts · 0 votes

I want to buy a $150k-$200k mixed use investment property.  The first floor is going to be office space for my practice (Sex Therapist) and the second I want to be an apartment with separate utilities that I can rent out or use for AirBNB.  

I already own a home but it was not occupied prior to moving in.  We did not check to see what water, electric, etc. was each month and just took the prior owners' word for it being "cheap" to heat.  And we really just winged the purchase which wasn't smart.  Came to find out the radiant heat in the ceiling was close to $1k/mo to run and wasn't heating the house well at all.  The water bill is doubled because a separate company owns the pipes and the city provides the water/filtration, etc.

That was close to 10 years ago and, in the beginning we had a few close calls but now we are in a completely different space and doing really well.  

But I know what I currently bring in each month and I want to make sure I can comfortably afford the property prior to purchase.  

How do I figure out with some degree of accuracy, what my monthly expenses will be  for whatever property I buy?   Not just utilities but also factoring in the mortgage, maintenance, etc.

Thanks!

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  • Flipper/Rehabber · Westfield, NJ · Member since 2018 · 111 posts · 84 votes
    7y

    @Steve C. Hi Steve! Make sure in your contract that one of the deliverables during your due diligence and inspection period is a copy of the water, electric, gas, sewer, garbage, etc.bills for the last 3 to six months. You still have an "out" if the DD is not acceptable to you, but make sure that is built into your contract. That's the best way to get accurate information if you see the actual bills. The mortgage payments will be best determined by talking to lenders to determine what the rates will be and loan products (i.e., fixed conventional loan, or 10 year ARM with adjustment, etc.). They can help you factor in principal and interest, taxes. Talk to an insurance agent to determine what insurance costs will be based upon the type of property.

  • Investor · Columbus, GA · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    7y

    I use 40% as a rough estimate for expenses. Gross rent x .60 = Net Income. Once under contract, I get deeper into the analysis and get insurance quotes, tax records, etc.

  • Bethlehem, PA · Member since 2017 · 12 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    Tahra-  Thanks for the info.  In the case of my current home, the 12 months of statements we reviewed were not helpful because they were presented as if it was while someone was living in the home....it was vacant.  

    Is there any way to access utility bills throughout a property's life?  Maybe going back a few years instead of a few months?

    Thanks

  • Bethlehem, PA · Member since 2017 · 12 posts · 0 votes
    7y

    Anthony-  That's interesting...40%.  That's not far off for my home.  Is there any science behind that or just something you came up with?  

    Thanks

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