First house under contract!! Help with rehab scope?

First house under contract!! Help with rehab scope?

Architect · Joliet, IL · Member since 2015 · 207 posts · 119 votes

Hey guys.

I just got my first house under contract (!!!) and I'm equal parts excited and terrified. As a result, I'm turning to the Bigger Pockets community in the hopes that I can get some outside opinions on what the scope of my rehab should be. I often hear of people saying that they over did it on their first project so I'm looking to avoid that problem.

Here's the deal: House hacking a 2100 sf duplex. (1050 sf per unit) 70k purchase price, wrapping rehab into a 203k loan. Combining 3.5% down with the Illinois Home First Grant, I'm shooting for zero money out of pocket. Property is located at the southern edge of the "Cathedral Area" of Joliet, IL, which is considered to be one of the more desirable areas of town.

My goal: To provide a quality rental that sits one tier below the highest rent chargers, hitting the sweet spot between cost and return for a B- neighborhood. Participation Award: $800/door Bronze: $850/door Silver: $875/door Gold: $900/door

I have interior photos uploaded to my google drive here.

Here's my analysis of the local rent and the rehab items I'm considering. (click to enlarge) Average neighborhood property value is ~120k.

What do you think? 

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Information Systems and Cyber Security Manager – US ARMY · Augusta, GA · Member since 2015 · 128 posts · 30 votes
10y
J Scott's book on estimating rehab costs. Quick read but wealth of knowledge. Might as well get the bundle from BP for a good deal. Brandon Turner
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  • Sam L.Pro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Joliet, IL · Member since 2014 · 163 posts · 85 votes
    10y
    Originally posted by @Mateo Carrera:

    Quick question Aaron Mikottis what is your scope of work? Might be just go in and rehab it asap and house hack for a short term /long term. Or get the rental side first then your side. What are your plans. I ask that because there are certain things that need to happen in a sequence. May be just small cosmetics. Might be a compleat gut job. I usually do a complete gut job and redo everything because im investing in the long term. I plan to hand down these homes to my children. But just a kinda rule of thumb. I have followed that works well
    #1&2 almost have to be thought of as the same priority because its gravity dependent#2. And #1 airflow. You can reroute it to a certain degree but you are limited.

    1. Hvac
    2. Plumbing (drainage)

    3. Plumbing (supply)
    4. Electrical

    Lots of different styles of rehabbing. Just wondering what you have in mind ?

     Furthermore, while your at it you should add/replace all the shut valves under all water sources with newer 1/4 turn shut off valves. This will save you time and money down the road should an issue arise. 

  • Developer · Elmhurst, IL · Member since 2013 · 31 posts · 7 votes
    10y

    @Aaron Mikottis

    Congrats! Looking forward to your updates. 

    Maybe your not showing it because you are only inquiring about SOW, but remember your contingency. 10%.

  • Architect · Joliet, IL · Member since 2015 · 207 posts · 119 votes
    10y

    @Steven Gesis, thanks for taking the time to write up a detailed post. Since this is my first rehab I'm sort of throwing a dart in the dark and hope I'm aiming at the right target. Right now I'm leaning towards taking the cheap financing I have access to and updating what I can to save me pain down to road. I'll definitely be addressing the mechanicals, thanks for the tip!

    Great point about the bank telling me my max appraisal value. I didn't realize that. 

    @Mateo Carrera, my plan is to rehab both units simultaneously. I will be living in one unit when it's done - I've got good living arrangements for the time being. My plan is to put a good amount of work into the place but the layout is good so I don't need to gut it. Thanks for the sequence tips!

    @Sam L., thanks for the suggestion - it sounds like you have a story to tell there. I love the small details... a good setup definitely makes life easier down the road.

    @Landon Thomas, Thanks! I was using what I thought was generous numbers, but I got that worked in now.

  • Rental Property Investor · St Joseph, MI · Member since 2015 · 302 posts · 106 votes
    10y

    I've got a place I'm working on less than a mile away. I'd love to stop by some time and see what you have going on there.

  • Architect · Joliet, IL · Member since 2015 · 207 posts · 119 votes
    10y

    @Nathan Waters, for sure! Once I get things going you should stop by.

  • Lender · Chicago, IL · Member since 2013 · 82 posts · 27 votes
    10y

    @Aaron Mikottis,

    Just curious, were you able to get the 5k with the 203k loan?

    Any pictures, i would love to see the before and after?

    Thanks and congrats again,

    Rob

  • Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2015 · 531 posts · 266 votes
    10y

    Congrats! 

    Who is your lender? I need a referral for a 203k rehab lender. I have an investor using someone from imortgage and I'm not convinced I would use them again. 

  • Architect · Joliet, IL · Member since 2015 · 207 posts · 119 votes
    10y

    @Rob Krach - No, in the end it did not work. Apparently the regulations of the 203k do not allow you to combine it with the Home First Grant. My guess is that they want the owner to have some skin in the game. Anyone who tells you they can do it is pulling your leg or misinformed. 

    After getting bids for the work I needed to get done, the total cost came in way higher than anticipated. After working around with a bunch of alternate options, I decided to back out of the deal. I just put an offer in on a different property yesterday, though, so I'm still pushing forward. I'll definitely share before and after shots when it comes to that!

    @Sarah Ziehr - I am working with the Bank of England. The specific banker that works with me is named Anthony Fender. He's extremely responsive and I would definitely work with him again. If you'd like his direct line, shoot me a PM.

  • Real Estate Broker · Chicago, IL · Member since 2015 · 531 posts · 266 votes
    10y

    Regarding the home first grant, are you talking about an IHDA loan? 

    They probably don't work for a 2 flat, but I know they are still giving them out left and right. Its not free money, but it is a loan to be paid back without any interest.  

  • Architect · Joliet, IL · Member since 2015 · 207 posts · 119 votes
    10y

    @Sarah Ziehr, yes, I believe that we are talking about the same thing. My banker is going to get back to me today on the specific rules and regs, but he thinks that they will work so a 2 flat. There are some weird things that they don't like, such as coach houses.

    It was explained to me as a grant, not a loan. So long as I own the property for three years the money is forgiven. Perhaps I am wrong, though, what have you heard?

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