Closed: 16 Unit Buy-and-[probably]-Hold

Closed: 16 Unit Buy-and-[probably]-Hold

Investor · Fairfield-New Haven-Hartford County, CT · Member since 2013 · 825 posts · 413 votes

@George Paiva and I closed on a different asset class than our single family flips. We purchased a 16 unit in New Britain, Connecticut.

We purchased it for $505K (~$31.5K/unit) and average rents are $675. Top line numbers:

  • Revenue: $118K (incl. projected vacancy)
  • Expenses: $72K (incl. projected CapEx, R&M, Mgmt fee)
  • NOI (Net Operating Income): $46K
  • Debt (Mortgage): $23K
  • CoC (Cash on Cash): $23K
  • LTV (Loan to Value): 75%

A few notes:

1. Don't be fooled by the holy grail 2% RULE. Yes, it worked here, and it's a great way to quickly analyze a property, but just note that every city and property are different, and the "rule" ONLY looks at the 'top line' and ignores expenses. In the case of New Britain, CT, the RE taxes are very high (48 mill rate) which is $20.5K annual taxes (17% of our expected revenue). Our saving grace is that most of the utilities are metered out, and because the units are a big size (duplex 2BR/1.5BA) we can still rent them at a solid price. However, if expenses in your area or on your property are higher than "normal" you even-more-so need to make sure you are looking at the full picture and including your operating expenses of the property.

2. The deal was picked up off-market by a seller that we've done a few deals with in the past. Lessons learned here: 

 a. Be a good person to everyone! It's not only the right thing to do, it's an excellent way to do a lot of business.

 b. Experience is crucial! The seller would not have done the deal with us if we were newbies - he wanted someone that he knew can close on it. So if you're still trying to work on your first deal all by yourself, don't be afraid to give up some of your well deserved profits to bring someone on that can help close the deal and gain that experience. Experience leads to more deals, and more deals leads to access to more money, and access to more money leads to even more deals. [Do you follow the chain of events: Deals --> More Deals --> Access More Money --> Even More Deals --> Even More Access to Money --> Helluva Lot More Deals --> Helluva Lot More Access to Money.] We are at the earlier part of this cycle, but we already see how things snowball.

3. I learned everything in a guru course for $9,997 - and you need to take this class!! (<--- THIS IS AN ABSOLUTE LIE!) I luckily found BiggerPockets which has been an absolute godsend to our business and me. I mentioned this in previous posts, and BP has been the underlying key to our success. BP is where I found my business partner, it's how we learned to flip, analyze deals, find deals, market strategies, phone scripts, grow our business, find relevant books and so much more. BP offers a real estate education that no one guru can come close to teaching, and it's all free! 

If you're new to the real estate game I would strongly suggest that you listen to the BP podcasts and take action on what @Joshua D., @Brandon Turner and their weekly guest is saying - their words are worth their weight in real estate gold. If you're like me then you will start to notice that a lot of successful podcasts guests have similar stories, have read/recommended similar books, have similar investment strategies, and then hopefully you will begin to mimic those things and then of course go out and do it and succeed! 

Also, if you need help or a partner what better place is there to find possible business partner(s) then BP?

4. Stick to your numbers and don't be afraid to keep offering your price to the seller. All of our offers that ultimately was accepted has been rejected multiple times first - and sometimes this spanned over the course of many months - before our deal was finally accepted. I believe this 16 unit deal was under contract a few times with other buyers for over $600K before they all flamed out. The seller continued to reject our offer until he realized we were his best offer and most reliable buyer. 

Hope this could encourage some of you and I really look forward to hearing all of your success stories! 

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Investor · Leominster, MA · Member since 2011 · 1k+ posts · 589 votes
11y

Awesome deal @Jonathan Makovsky. I love reading about East coasters. I almost choked when I started reading #3 then I choked when I read it. Right on! I look forward to following you.

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  • Investor · Fairfield-New Haven-Hartford County, CT · Member since 2013 · 825 posts · 413 votes
    11y

    Thanks @Charles Worth.

    It's a nice part of town, so it attracts a good tenant base. (Although there are a couple of tenants that need to shape up or ship out.)

    I am pretty comfortable landlording and George has been landlording in CT for 20+ years, so it might be a little different than a house flip, but right in our comfort zone. 

  • Investor · New York City, NY · Member since 2015 · 808 posts · 417 votes
    11y

    @Jonathan Makovsky

    got it good luck, looks like a good buy, 

  • Montreal, Quebec · Member since 2014 · 42 posts · 20 votes
    11y

    Congratulations Jonathan!

    Thanks for the description and all the points given.

    I will be making my first offer on an 11 unit here in Montreal within the next week...

    Anxious and nervous at the same time!

    Eager to get on to the next!

    Much success to you and everyone on this incredible web-site...

  • Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
    11y

      Just chiming in with an update.  As Jon mentioned we are working on cleaning up the place and educating the current tenants.  Even had to send notice to one we found had a PIT BULL in a no pet building.  Outside of that we have been busy bullet proofing, adding water conservation measures and making the vacant units ready for lease up.

      Bullet proofing I should say hardening the plumbing by 

      1. Removing all Dishwashers

      2. Removing all garbage disposals

      3. Replacing all Kitchen and Bath p-traps and drains:

      • a. Kitchen Sink Stainless-Steel Sink Strainers.
      • b. Vanity Sink Grid Drain Assembly with Overflow for all bathrooms. Remove all popup type drains.
      • c. Over sized Screw Joint P-Traps

      Water Conservation measures 

      1. Low Volume Faucet Aerators for all Kitchen and Bath Faucets.

      2. Low Volume Shower Heads.

      3. Low Volume 1.6 gallons per flush toilets

  • Investor · Wolcott, CT · Member since 2015 · 32 posts · 1 vote
    11y

    George,

    Are you removing the dishwashers to save water or avoid possible water leaks? Are you getting push back from the tenants as I would imagine they would not be happy having the dishwasher removed.

    Greg

  • Hartsdale, NY · Member since 2015 · 874 posts · 218 votes
    11y

    Are you sure you don't want to think over the "No Dishwasher"  It is my understanding that dish washers use less water then washing by hand and you can buy a dishwasher for the same price as a Kitchen cabinet.  It also saves counter space.  Don't most people want a dish washer? Have you visited the Pit Bull? Some of them are very sweet.   Here in Westchester if  a dog has lived in a building more then 3 or 6 months and the Managment has NOT asked him to leave The dog gains permanent  residency even if there is a No Pet Policy

  • Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Greg Wright:

    George,

    Are you removing the dishwashers to save water or avoid possible water leaks? Are you getting push back from the tenants as I would imagine they would not be happy having the dishwasher removed.

    Greg

    Because they are not working or haven't worked for years.  Have you ever seen how ugly a 1980's Dishwasher looks like.  

  • Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Barbara G.:

    Are you sure you don't want to think over the "No Dishwasher"  It is my understanding that dish washers use less water then washing by hand and you can buy a dishwasher for the same price as a Kitchen cabinet.  It also saves counter space.  Don't most people want a dish washer? Have you visited the Pit Bull? Some of them are very sweet.   Here in Westchester if  a dog has lived in a building more then 3 or 6 months and the Managment has NOT asked him to leave The dog gains permanent  residency even if there is a No Pet Policy

    We may down the road put in newer dishwashers but for now we are removing due to their non-functioning status.  Also the plumbing was in really poor shape so it was decided to remove the dishwasher, disposal and put a larger trap to help alleviate clogs.  

  • Real Estate Investor · Clovis, CA · Member since 2014 · 195 posts · 194 votes
    11y

    I thought about posting a question, but I DON'T have the patients to wait 3 months for a response :)  Nice buy, congrats.

  • Yorktown Heights, NY · Member since 2015 · 21 posts · 9 votes
    11y

    Congratulations! Cool to see that there are good deals out there in the tri-state area! I'm just getting into buy-and-hold deals and am hoping to eventually be able to find a great multi-unit deal like this.

  • Rental Property Investor · Mineola, NY · Member since 2014 · 838 posts · 212 votes
    11y

    @Jonathan Makovsky & @George Paiva congrats on closing on the 16 unit property!!

    You make some great points, but the one I like the most is stick to you numbers and don't be afraid to offer what you know works!! This is the best tool you can use, deals fall apart all the time and if you follow up and can close you will have much success

  • Rental Property Investor · Long Beach, CA · Member since 2015 · 623 posts · 155 votes
    11y

    Congrats @Jonathan Makovsky. 

  • Investor · Milford, CT · Member since 2012 · 592 posts · 285 votes
    11y
    Originally posted by @Mark Freeman:

    I thought about posting a question, but I DON'T have the patients to wait 3 months for a response :)  Nice buy, congrats.

    Yeah its funny finally had some time to breath.  We have 2 properties on the market to sell, one was a flip and the other will be a wholesale because we just don't have the time to build. Just been busy turning this one around.  Not just the plumbing but other items like remediating landscape turning over units to start pushing for the next tenant class up, etc...

  • Youngstown, OH · Member since 2015 · 21 posts · 5 votes
    11y

    gERAT! GO GET EM NUMBERS ARE SOUND CHEERS

  • Engineer · Carlsbad/San Diego · Member since 2014 · 285 posts · 97 votes
    11y

    Congrats Jonathan and George! And thanks for sharing!

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