First Investment! (Small Multi-Family)

First Investment! (Small Multi-Family)

Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 21 posts · 56 votes

Hi Everyone,

I just posted my first new member post, and figured I'd post my first investment here.

This property needed a lot of work. It's in a great location in Nashville that became highly sought after. It's a triplex that my wife and I bought about 9 years ago and have lived in one of the units since. We inherited tenants that have lived there for 20+ years. Within 2 months one of the tenants passed away and the other vacated. We knew the place would need to be a complete gut once we had vacancy. It took about 2.5 years to renovate the three units one by one. We ran into major problems with our subcontractors which cost us a ton of time and money. The place is finally all finished, filled with tenants and fits the neighborhood.

Heres some numbers...

Purchase Price = $221,000

Renovations = $85,000 + A lot of sweat equity and help from Father and Law.

Gross Income = $3,595

Cash Flow = $1,790

*My wife and I still live there. We decided to furnish one unit for month to month rental, which is going well for us so far. The other unit we rent is long term.

As I'm very new, if anyone has any questions I'd love the challenge in answering them for practice. It was a whirlwind getting this place done with a full time job and 2 babies under years old at home. But now that we're on the other side we're ready to go full steam ahead to the next one!

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Most Popular Reply

MD · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 8 votes
8y

HI Randall,

Can you go into more detail about the numbers? Did you use a bank loan to finance the renovations? How did you go about finding suitable tenants? Any advice on finding contractors? 

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  • Real Estate Investor · Palm Beach County, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    The rehab looks great where in Nashville is this?  I used to live in Bellevue.

  • Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 21 posts · 56 votes
    8y
    Thanks, Brian. I’ve been in the Nashville area my whole life and know Bellevue well. This is in Germantown, Nashville.
  • Member since 2018 · 1 post · 1 vote
    8y

    Job well done, I know it was well worth it, any advice you would give someone looking to get a DUPLEX??

  • Rental Property Investor · Member since 2018 · 24 posts · 8 votes
    8y

    wow. I'm sure if was a lot of hard work and stress but that cash flow is amazing! Congrats. 

  • Dan BeaulieuPro Member
    Lender · Knoxville, Tennessee (TN) · Member since 2016 · 422 posts · 667 votes
    8y

    Wow! Now in this condition in Germantown... you have built yourself a very nice amount of wealth through this one property!

  • Member since 2018 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    Wow! Looks great.

  • Member since 2018 · 5 posts · 0 votes
    8y

    Oh wow, you guys really went in on remodeling this property. Great job!

  • Real Estate Agent · Nashville, TN · Member since 2015 · 2k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    @Brian Garrett

    I live in Bellevue now. If you get the chance come check out the place, you wont recognize it! So much has been improved

  • Real Estate Investor · Palm Beach County, FL · Member since 2017 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    8y

    @Luka Milicevic I'm due for a Nashville visit it's been a few years!

  • Anaheim, CA · Member since 2015 · 48 posts · 11 votes
    8y

    Great job @Randall Barrett !

  • Rental Property Investor · Woodland, CA · Member since 2018 · 59 posts · 12 votes
    8y
    Very nice remodel! Looks great!
  • Rental Property Investor · Rohnert Park, CA · Member since 2014 · 306 posts · 160 votes
    8y
    @Randall Barrett Wow! Looks great! That is great cash flow, too! Does your cash flow include subtracting 10% for property management in the future, as well as 3% for cap ex - as @BrandonTurner suggests?
  • Specialist · Dallas, TX · Member since 2014 · 900 posts · 392 votes
    8y

    Great job! Looking to do that here in Dallas and there are few 3 & 4 plexes, some Duplexes. Two near me going for $370,000 & $410,000, and they have priced themselves out of market because rent is about $1500 per side, and property taxes are $9000 plus, so very little cash flow at those prices. Dallas has priced itself out of the market for making any kind of profit on 2-4 plexes. Just saw a very nice duplex for $800k and its not selling. Delusional sellers...

  • Atlanta, GA · Member since 2018 · 12 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    Nice work! Sometimes the biggest headaches turn out to be the best investments. What kind of issues did you run into with the subcontractors? I'm just curious because I'm thinking of becoming my own project manager on a rehab and just hire subs.

  • Rental Property Investor · Wroclaw, Poland · Member since 2018 · 2 posts · 2 votes
    8y

    Hi Randall, how did you finance the purchase? Is it a good CF considering purchase price and rehab costs?

    Alex

  • MD · Member since 2017 · 8 posts · 8 votes
    8y

    HI Randall,

    Can you go into more detail about the numbers? Did you use a bank loan to finance the renovations? How did you go about finding suitable tenants? Any advice on finding contractors? 

  • Charlotte, NC · Member since 2018 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    Your remodel looks great! Congratulations on such a wonderful RE endeavor

  • Rental Property Investor · Allentown PA, United States · Member since 2016 · 567 posts · 442 votes
    8y

    Great job on the rehab! Are you planning on refinancing the property or just continuing to pay it off? Any idea what the ARV is?

  • Investor · Wexford, PA · Member since 2016 · 16 posts · 4 votes
    8y

    Wow great job, it looks trendy! All three units got renovated? Do you mind sharing a bit more details, such as monthly rent in both short term and long term unit? Also do you have a picture of the kitchen? Thanks! 


    Originally posted by @Randall Barrett:

    Hi Everyone,

    I just posted my first new member post, and figured I'd post my first investment here.

    This property needed a lot of work. It's in a great location in Nashville that became highly sought after. It's a triplex that my wife and I bought about 9 years ago and have lived in one of the units since. We inherited tenants that have lived there for 20+ years. Within 2 months one of the tenants passed away and the other vacated. We knew the place would need to be a complete gut once we had vacancy. It took about 2.5 years to renovate the three units one by one. We ran into major problems with our subcontractors which cost us a ton of time and money. The place is finally all finished, filled with tenants and fits the neighborhood.

    Heres some numbers...

    Purchase Price = $221,000

    Renovations = $85,000 + A lot of sweat equity and help from Father and Law.

    Gross Income = $3,595

    Cash Flow = $1,790

    *My wife and I still live there. We decided to furnish one unit for month to month rental, which is going well for us so far. The other unit we rent is long term.

    As I'm very new, if anyone has any questions I'd love the challenge in answering them for practice. It was a whirlwind getting this place done with a full time job and 2 babies under years old at home. But now that we're on the other side we're ready to go full steam ahead to the next one!

  • Investor · Atlanta, GA · Member since 2015 · 139 posts · 98 votes
    8y

    Beautiful job on the rehab!

  • Winnipeg · Member since 2017 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    Great job! I'm going through the same process actually and will post once i'm done.

    Did you get an appraisal after the job was done? 

  • Jason ArmsteadPro Member
    San Diego, CA · Member since 2016 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    Great Work Randall!  Nothing like getting that first one out of the way. Cheers!

  • Memphis, TN · Member since 2017 · 1 post · 0 votes
    8y

    Looks fantastic! Good Job!

  • Real Estate Broker · San Francisco Bay Area, CA · Member since 2015 · 116 posts · 76 votes
    8y

    @Randall Barrett Nice renovation - love the exterior and the designwork. Congrats on a job well done!

  • New York, NY · Member since 2018 · 20 posts · 3 votes
    8y

    Congrats on the remodeling and good job sticking through it! May I ask how your wife rents a unit from month to month? Is it through a service like AirBnB? The fully furnished apartment is beautiful!

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