Offer for an apartment building

Offer for an apartment building

Investor / Syndicator · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 366 posts · 220 votes

I'm looking at an 18-unit building tomorrow being offered for 350K. Rent rolls show it's 65% occupied and the maintenance budget is showing about 10% which is probably about 5-10% too low for this property. So this is a value-add deal. NOI is 28K. Based on that the cap rate of the offering price is 8 which is far too high for a property like this. This is a lower end property that will require more hands on management. So, I'm adjusting my asking price for a cap rate based on 12% or 280K. What are the questions I need to be asking as I look at this property? I've looked at comps in the area and I expect that money will need to go into each unit to bring the place up to par with those comps. Also, we'll look at plumbing, foundation, electrical, location relative to competition, etc...I'm trying to find a checklist I can use for a smaller apartment building like this. Anybody know of one I can use?

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  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    11y

    Find out motivation for the seller on why they choose to sell it at 65% occupied versus leasing it up themselves.

    How long has it been at 65%??

    If 18 months for example you have a baseline to go by. If the occupancy has been going up and down like a yo-yo then I wouldn't count 65% as the gospel.

    Might want to send them a non-binding LOI with a low ball to see if they want to play or not. If you get a " This property is a steal and is non-negotiable blah, blah, blah then might want to pass. Plenty of buyers overpay. Do not be that buyer.

  • Investor / Syndicator · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 366 posts · 220 votes
    11y

    Joel, thank you for the quick response. I'm going to walk the property tomorrow. After that I will most likely throw them an LOI. But I fully expect this will just be an opportunity to learn and my LOI will be rejected. Even so, I'm learning and that's what counts. I would definitely need a deal on a place like this because it's going to be a lot of work to turn it around.

  • Joel OwensBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Real Estate Broker · Canton, GA · Member since 2010 · 15k+ posts · 11k+ votes
    11y

    Yes running yourself ragged for just a little upside is a poor use of your time. I find I either want quality that is headache free or if I take something on the upside has to justify the time in to turn around. 

  • Investor / Syndicator · Austin, TX · Member since 2015 · 366 posts · 220 votes
    11y

    Looked at the property today. It's a little more promising than I had perceived. Nearly fully leased now AND behind the old wood paneled walls is sheetrock! They showed me on unit they're renovating and I'm pretty sure they're not putting more than $1500 in the unit. They have a young guy working for $15/hour that would convey his terms to a new owner...dang, you can't get $15/hr in Austin--now way! Still I think its fair to use 18 months of revenue and the 50% rule for my offer. 290k is going out today on an LOI.

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