Is this a decent seller financing deal for Central California?

Is this a decent seller financing deal for Central California?

Logan AllecBusiness Member
Accountant · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 980 votes

Bakersfield seller called me today. Has an SFR built in 1980 (roof replaced in 2011) that comps out at $100,000. He originally wanted $90,000 cash all paid at once, but he agreed to an $85,000 purchase price with 25% ($21,250) down with him carrying the financing at a 4% interest rate.  This would come out to a monthly payment of $300.

There's a long-term tenant in there who's not going anywhere who is currently paying $700 rent.  I estimate $235/month in additional expenses being conservative assuming that I manage the property myself ($90 property taxes + $45 insurance + $30 water + $20 trash + $50 maintenance reserve).  So that's about $165 cash flow per month.  $165 x 12 = $1,980 divided by initial cash outlay of $21,250 down payment = 9.3% return.

Is this decent for California real estate, albeit in Bakersfield?  Is $85,000 too much?  Or is the purchase price fine and my negotiating point, if any, should be my down payment to achieve a better cash-on-cash return?

I'm thinking I might as well just go for it just to get my first experience using seller financing, especially since it's only $21,250 that I'd be tying up.  Thoughts, anyone?

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Gene HackerPro Member
Flipper/Rehabber · Lake Isabella, CA · Member since 2011 · 974 posts · 488 votes
11y

 Seller financing is always attractive but it has to be a solid deal. Treat it like any other deal.  Run the comps and a rent survey and crunch any other numbers you need to figure out how this deal compares to other homes for sale. Bakersfield has some war-zones that I personally will not invest in, but that is a personal preference. Just make sure your comps are all in the same neighborhood as just a few blocks can make a big difference. 

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  • Jo-Ann LapinPro Member
    Loan Officer · Tustin, CA · Member since 2015 · 3k+ posts · 713 votes
    11y

    Before the question can be answered throughly why in a sellers market would he want to do the seller financing? Does he want the monthly payment from you? If the comps support 100,000 then why is selling at 85,000?

  • Logan AllecBusiness Member
    OP
    Accountant · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 980 votes
    11y

    I guess because he's not one of the 99% of sellers who will sell through an agent in a seller's market.  He is in his 70s and needs money fast for unexpected bills.  He does not have any income apart from the rent from this property and Social Security.  He only has two assets, his home and this rental property.  Also, he is "done dealing with banks" (his words).

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  • Real Estate Agent · Watertown, MA · Member since 2015 · 366 posts · 77 votes
    11y

    It's good for you that no real estate agent is involved, I'm sure the price would be higher. 

  • Logan AllecBusiness Member
    OP
    Accountant · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2014 · 1k+ posts · 980 votes
    11y

    Yeah, I figure what the heck, it's only $21k, and I get experience with seller financing, and if worse comes to worst and the market crashes before I can sell for $100k+, I still have a cashflowing property.  Might as well jump in.

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  • Gene HackerPro Member
    Flipper/Rehabber · Lake Isabella, CA · Member since 2011 · 974 posts · 488 votes
    11y

     Seller financing is always attractive but it has to be a solid deal. Treat it like any other deal.  Run the comps and a rent survey and crunch any other numbers you need to figure out how this deal compares to other homes for sale. Bakersfield has some war-zones that I personally will not invest in, but that is a personal preference. Just make sure your comps are all in the same neighborhood as just a few blocks can make a big difference. 

  • Investor · Bakersfield, CA · Member since 2013 · 146 posts · 93 votes
    11y

    Hi @Logan Allec

    You can find 1% rentals in Bakersfield so there's better deals out there. I wouldn't use geting experience with seller financing as a reason to do the deal though. Also, do you have to pay water and trash?

  • Investor · Central Valley, CA · Member since 2012 · 6k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    11y

    A $700 rent in Bakersfield is not promising.  It could mean a really bad area.  Or it could mean the seller can't handle dealing with getting rid of the tenant. How many bed/baths?  

  • Investor · Thousand Oaks, CA · Member since 2012 · 176 posts · 47 votes
    11y

    What is the size and beds/baths? $700 seems pretty low... maybe owner hasn't raised rents in a long while? Bakersfield is kind of a tricky place. It changes block to block. You can go a few streets over and be in a completely different neighborhood (Alta Vista, Kern Medical Center or Oleander/Sunset neighborhoods are good examples of neighborhoods that change block to block) Do you have some cross streets or a general area it is located in? Maybe I can tell you about the neighborhood.

    I'd account for 4% to 7% vacancy as well (depending on the area). 

    I'd also pull a RentRange report (search it on google) to find the vacancy rate, market rent etc... It's way better than rentometer.com 

    To answer your question about if it's a good deal for Bako... there are some places in Bakersfield where I would never touch a 12% cash on cash return property and there are some places where an 8% return is really good. It just depends on the area.. and that determines risk.

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