Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2017 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
I was the buyers agent on this deal. It was listed at $900,000 and all of the current rents were roughly 30% below market rate rental comps we ran for the direct area so we saw nice upside. Sales comps also put the building closer to 1 to 1.1 million for similar brick legal 4 units. So when sellers called best and highest we advised our buyer to go well over ask at $945,000 and to use strong terms such as AS-IS and a 1 month close. We won and the property ended up appraising out at $1,000,000 creating $55,000 of positive equity at close. The client was house hacking and only put 5% down so this created a 100% return on his 5% of cash invested in the deal.
Goes to show you do not always need to get the price down to get a good deal and the value of having an agent who knows the local multi unit market that can advise you on your offers. This will be the clients second house hack. The last purchase was several years ago also on the northside and bought 5% down which has multiplied the downpayment many times over in total return. I bought my own 4 unit house hack 5% down also. It is what I recommend most of my clients for the highest total returns. It is a bit harder to do it on 2 units now a days but the 4 units you can still get the rents high enough to make the numbers work after you move out.
Handyman · Miami, FL · Member since 2020 · 32 posts · 10 votes
9mo
Price wise, it's a good deal with potential to convert duplex down.. with 5% down, it's a bit of high risk for your client, I hope s/he knows what s/he's doing...
New to Real Estate · Chicago, IL · Member since 2019 · 14 posts · 23 votes
8mo
Hey I thought this story sounded familiar! I was the buyer on this - Henry and team were awesome in advising through the search and negotiations. Even going above asking and with relatively conservative estimates, this should still cashflow at current market rents or with some light renovations (no units have in-unit laundry or dishwashers), plus it came with the basement already dug down with architectural drawings to duplex for a potential larger renovation down the road.
Some creative financing I used too that may be an option for some others - my company offers 401k Loans for up to 50% or 50k, with no fees and interest gets paid back to yourself. I had the cash to cover closing without this, but it let me borrow from my retirement account and keep the cash in my checking/savings liquid just in case something major unforseen comes up in the near term that may have otherwise started to stretch me thin.
Contractor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 2k+ votes
8mo
No surprise here @Henry Lazerow, with another successful deal diary!
Wow that's a diamond in the rough for sure! I wonder if the othe buyers saw the same thing you did. Looking for under-market rents in 2-4 units on the NW side of Chicago is overlooked and not something I ever really think about, but it's genius!
Great job Henry!
Lucky you @Nate Grabner, what's your plan moving forward?