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Ariel G.
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  • Fort Lauderdale
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Sell or not to sell VR with 650k Equity

Ariel G.
  • Investor
  • Fort Lauderdale
Posted May 20 2022, 14:37

Hello BP friends!


On March 2020 I bought a new construction single family home with a accessory unit for 725k I have been house hacking living on the in-law unit. The main house is a 5bed/3.5 bath with a pool and the other unit is a 2/1. Last year the main house grossed an average of $13,500/month and after all expenses I made about 8k month and have been living for free (that also includes my expenses). Based on comps it looks like I could get about $1.3M for the property now. I'm on a strong financial position and I have a 3 figure salary working for a tech company. I did refinance last year, currently I own 645K and have already recouped my initial investment. 

This property has provided great cash-flow and financial freedom if I decide to leave my job. Based on the strong appreciation Im wondering if I should sell and use leverage to acquire more properties. 

What are your thoughts?

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Bruce Woodruff
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Bruce Woodruff
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Replied May 20 2022, 15:11

This is not the same market as 2020. You are now buying at the top with higher interest rates. You have a pretty sweet deal going right now, why rush into something else? See what happens after the mid-terms and maybe wait until Nov '24.

Just my .02

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Dave Stokley
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Dave Stokley
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Replied May 20 2022, 15:15

All I know is that I’d be leaving that 3-figure job in a hurry.

But it sounds like there’s still a lot of equity you could pull out. I’d only sell if I were confident I could get that money into a better investment without paying the cap gains. Otherwise, why fix what ain’t broke?

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Collin Chan
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Collin Chan
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Replied May 20 2022, 16:41
Quote from @Dave Stokley:

All I know is that I’d be leaving that 3-figure job in a hurry.

But it sounds like there’s still a lot of equity you could pull out. I’d only sell if I were confident I could get that money into a better investment without paying the cap gains. Otherwise, why fix what ain’t broke?


 LOL.  I'm assuming 6 figure?  Otherwise Tech is not paying as much as they use to :)

Why not keep your job unless you truly aren't happy with it and invest the 8k/mo into another property?  Seems like with the extra cashflow and the market potentially shifting could provide good buying opportunities.

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Ariel G.
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  • Fort Lauderdale
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Ariel G.
  • Investor
  • Fort Lauderdale
Replied May 20 2022, 16:53

I've been trying to purchase another property but the market has been really competitive. I've put several offers this past couple of months and most of them were bought cash well above offer. Everything I see is on the $1M plus range and I only qualify for a $647K loan. Was thinking of selling and buying long term SFH rentals or a fourplex.

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Michael Baum
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Michael Baum
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Replied May 20 2022, 19:14

Hey @Ariel G., if you can't replace it easily then you should hold on to it. It sounds like it is doing very well. I am with @Bruce Woodruff on this. Keep the cashola flowing. 

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Replied May 20 2022, 19:29
Quote from @Ariel G.:

Hello BP friends!


On March 2020 I bought a new construction single family home with a accessory unit for 725k I have been house hacking living on the in-law unit. The main house is a 5bed/3.5 bath with a pool and the other unit is a 2/1. Last year the main house grossed an average of $13,500/month and after all expenses I made about 8k month and have been living for free (that also includes my expenses). Based on comps it looks like I could get about $1.3M for the property now. I'm on a strong financial position and I have a 3 figure salary working for a tech company. I did refinance last year, currently I own 645K and have already recouped my initial investment. 

This property has provided great cash-flow and financial freedom if I decide to leave my job. Based on the strong appreciation Im wondering if I should sell and use leverage to acquire more properties. 

What are your thoughts?

Cash out refinance and reinvest that tax free money. Keep your job, have less cash flow but if you sell you will have to pay your own expenses again and taxes on the sale.

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Collin Chan
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Collin Chan
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Replied May 21 2022, 10:04
Quote from @Ariel G.:

I've been trying to purchase another property but the market has been really competitive. I've put several offers this past couple of months and most of them were bought cash well above offer. Everything I see is on the $1M plus range and I only qualify for a $647K loan. Was thinking of selling and buying long term SFH rentals or a fourplex.


 Try looking at other markets as well.  I know you're doing well in your own market but many here have done well with out of state (or other parts of FL) investing which you could try as well.

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Gerald Pitts
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Gerald Pitts
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Replied May 21 2022, 10:48

Can you take out a HELOC? It's technically your primary right? Cashout refi may slash cashflow if the rates are twice as high right now, as when you bought.

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Ariel G.
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Ariel G.
  • Investor
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Replied May 21 2022, 13:01

@Gerald Pitts I already refinanced last year and took the max I could pull out. I’ll check again if I can do a heloc but I think I couldn’t based on what the lender told me.

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Bradley Dosch
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Bradley Dosch
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Replied May 23 2022, 09:30

Hey Ariel, depends a lot on your goals and what you have lined up next. What is your overarching goal with FI and which decision would align best with that goal? Do you have a better deal lined up when you sell? What would you do with the equity? I think answering these questions is important. 

If it was me, I’d only sell if there was a better deal to put the proceeds in that aligned better with my interests and goals. If not, the cash flow you mentioned sounds pretty sweet and I’d be hard pressed to sell. Good luck!

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Zierry Eme Carl T. Tagbas
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Zierry Eme Carl T. Tagbas
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Replied May 23 2022, 16:20
Quote from @Ariel G.:

Hello BP friends!


On March 2020 I bought a new construction single family home with a accessory unit for 725k I have been house hacking living on the in-law unit. The main house is a 5bed/3.5 bath with a pool and the other unit is a 2/1. Last year the main house grossed an average of $13,500/month and after all expenses I made about 8k month and have been living for free (that also includes my expenses). Based on comps it looks like I could get about $1.3M for the property now. I'm on a strong financial position and I have a 3 figure salary working for a tech company. I did refinance last year, currently I own 645K and have already recouped my initial investment. 

This property has provided great cash-flow and financial freedom if I decide to leave my job. Based on the strong appreciation Im wondering if I should sell and use leverage to acquire more properties. 

What are your thoughts?


If I was on your position, I would hold on to the property and wait. Then down the road, do the BRRRR method and buy another property without selling your currently home.

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Mike Dymski#3 Innovative Strategies Contributor
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Mike Dymski#3 Innovative Strategies Contributor
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Replied May 23 2022, 16:56

Well done, almost $600k in value increase and $100k in annual cash flow, after covering your own housing costs and possibly your other living expenses...not sure (and, if that includes covering the mortgage payment too...wow).  We should be taking advice from you.

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Scott Wolf
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Scott Wolf
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Replied May 24 2022, 11:52

@Ariel G., if you're single, $250k of that equity will be tax free, $500k if you're married.  I'd talk to a CPA about that portion of it.  Other than that, congrats on the huge gains!

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Ariel G.
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Ariel G.
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Replied May 25 2022, 22:05

@Mike Dymski haha thank you, that is reassuring. I feel like I’m should be doing better and have acquired more properties by now.

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Gerald Pitts
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Gerald Pitts
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Replied May 26 2022, 07:48
Quote from @Ariel G.:

@Mike Dymski haha thank you, that is reassuring. I feel like I’m should be doing better and have acquired more properties by now.


 Stop and smell the roses, Ariel. You're killing it! 

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Travis Timmons
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Travis Timmons
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Replied May 26 2022, 09:24

You've got a golden goose crapping out cash every month. Keep that thing!