My First Investment - A Long Island House Hack

My First Investment - A Long Island House Hack

Lender · Stony Brook, NY · Member since 2017 · 31 posts · 22 votes

Hello all!

It’s been 22 days now since closing on a mother/daughter house in Suffolk County, NY that I’m going to use to jumpstart my portfolio. I can’t contain the excitement I have for this deal!

Details:

2200 SF High Ranch

(Mother Daughter)

Top Floor: 3 Bed, 2 Bath, Living Room, Eat in Kitchen, Dining room (converted to 4th bedroom)

Ground floor: 1 Bed, 1 Bath, Kitchen, Living Room

Additional: Attached 1 1/2 car garage, .35 acre plot, 6 car driveway, separate entrances for each floor, gas heated, septic system, new roof, walking distance to major university

Finances:

Purchased for: $420k (including $20k seller concession)

Down payment: $14,700 - 3.5%

Closing: $16,000 (after concession applied)

Rehab: $3,000 initial, additional $5,000 planned for this year.

Yearly taxes: $14,400

Insurance: $140/mo

PMI: $280/mo

Utilities: ~$400

Collecting $4,600 in rent each month, including all utilities.... while I’m living there!

My plans for the property: replace windows, add central ac (long term), refinance to eliminate PMI ASAP, and REPEAT

This is my first purchase so there’s a lot about buying and owning property that I’ve learned the last 30 days, but the BP books, forums, and podcast made that knowledge gap more than manageable.

I’m glad to finally be on the board as an investor...

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Developer · NY/NJ/PA · Member since 2018 · 758 posts · 935 votes
6y

Be careful with the town. Do not let them in.

Some of the towns in LI are a pain in the ***. If they require a rental permit and you didn’t get one yet, it’s a huge headache. Speaking from experience of spending thousands of dollars Bc of that early in my start. 

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  • Brighton, MA · Member since 2018 · 5 posts · 2 votes
    6y

    @Ray Smith

    Congrats on getting your feet wet!

    Couple questions as I am also looking to house hack...

    What was you total cash outlay?

    From what I understand you are renting out the 4 bedroom for 4500? Is that by room?

    Thanks in advance for taking the time to respond

  • Rental Property Investor · Long Island, NY · Member since 2017 · 9 posts · 1 vote
    6y

    Congrats @Ray Smith

  • Contractor · Eureka, CA · Member since 2015 · 100 posts · 64 votes
    6y

    @Ray Smith What a deal! Sounds like it will work out really well for you with those numbers and the situation, however the property tax figure reminds me why I'm staying out of NY, lol... congrats nonetheless!

  • Lender · Stony Brook, NY · Member since 2017 · 31 posts · 22 votes
    6y

    @Jonathan Fothergill

    Thank you!

    Initial was under $31k before rehab (closing+down payment). The reason why I was able to pay so little at closing was because I added 20k to the purchase price for a 20k seller concession.

    Right now I live in the main part of the house, and rent by room to a group of 3 people, the accessory apartment is also rented. After 6 months of rehab and sweat equity I’m going to move to the accessory apartment and rent the entire main part of the house. (The people renting by room with me want to stay and already have another person they want to pull in)

    Because of the quality I was offering as a rental, I was actually able to rent to all young professionals. I think doing this and avoiding the college students is going to prevent a lot of turnover.

  • Lender · Stony Brook, NY · Member since 2017 · 31 posts · 22 votes
    6y

    @Jay H.

    Thank you!

  • Lender · Stony Brook, NY · Member since 2017 · 31 posts · 22 votes
    6y

    @Zack Thiesen

    Thanks Zack!

    Taxes are what kill MOST deals that I have run the numbers on. Very difficult to make properties cashflow, BUT absolutely possible.

  • Real Estate Agent · Virginia Beach, VA · Member since 2017 · 25 posts · 7 votes
    6y

    @Zack Thiesen. Those are reasonable taxes here! Houses in neighboring Nassau are often in the $20’s.

  • Contractor · Eureka, CA · Member since 2015 · 100 posts · 64 votes
    6y

    @Matthew Walsh I have seen some of the tax rates like that in different counties there... total insanity. Essentially the same cost as a second mortgage in some cases. Say what you will about CA but at least we pulled off Prop 13, lol

  • Lender · Stony Brook, NY · Member since 2017 · 31 posts · 22 votes
    6y

    @Greg Pasquale

    Hey!

    Currently living the house hack life in Stony Brook, NY.

    Details in my post: https://www.biggerpockets.com/topics/796584

    Takes creativity and patience but there are properties that work!

  • Member since 2020 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    6y

    Hey Ray,

    Curious if you're using a lawyer or an accountant or anything at the moment, or if you're just doing everything yourself. Are you also doing all the rehab yourself? 

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Cincinnati, OH · Member since 2020 · 300 posts · 417 votes
    6y

    Congratulations on your first investment @Ray Smith!

  • Developer · NY/NJ/PA · Member since 2018 · 758 posts · 935 votes
    6y

    Be careful with the town. Do not let them in.

    Some of the towns in LI are a pain in the ***. If they require a rental permit and you didn’t get one yet, it’s a huge headache. Speaking from experience of spending thousands of dollars Bc of that early in my start. 

  • Real Estate Agent · Shoreham, NY · Member since 2016 · 96 posts · 44 votes
    6y

    @Matthew Walsh as a landlord in Suffolk County I’m not sure how you will cash flow with high taxes? What town on Long Island?

  • Real Estate Agent · Shoreham, NY · Member since 2016 · 96 posts · 44 votes
    6y

    @Syed H. Brookhaven Town?

  • Member since 2020 · 1 post · 0 votes
    6y
    I had a noobie question.  If you house hack a SFH and rent out the 1st floor and live in the basement lets say, do you have to obtain a rental permit from the town? Also how would you divide the utilities for the tenant since you are sharing one gas & electric meter.

    Originally posted by @Syed H.:

    Be careful with the town. Do not let them in.

    Some of the towns in LI are a pain in the ***. If they require a rental permit and you didn’t get one yet, it’s a huge headache. Speaking from experience of spending thousands of dollars Bc of that early in my start. 

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