All Forum Posts by: Arthur Tolentino

Steven, I wanted to get your thoughts on a few Philadelphia suburbs based on my buy box. I’m looking for small multi-family homes in the $150k-$250k range, focusing on property appreciation with minimal cash flow to build reserves.

I’ve been considering areas like Fishtown, Somerton, Roxborough, Haverford, Conshohocken, West Norriton, Upper Darby, Lansdale, and Abington. These neighborhoods seem to fit my goals, especially with their lower crime rates and potential for growth.

Do you think these are solid options, or would you recommend other neighborhoods in the Philadelphia area based on the price range and focus on appreciation?

Thanks for all the great insights thus far! I have a follow-up question—what's your advice on maximizing ARV while keeping rehab costs efficient?

Do you have any go-to value-adds that consistently bring the best return? And are there certain rehab projects you avoid unless absolutely necessary?

Also, I've read that aiming for an ARV of around 70-80% is ideal for BRRRR—does that align with your experience? Would love to hear your thoughts!

Thank you @Steven Goldman. 

That makes a lot of sense—value adds really depend on the specific property. I like the idea of focusing on bathrooms, curb appeal, and opening up the kitchen/living space.

I’m definitely working on building a solid team, especially with real estate professionals who understand investor deals. Since you invest in Philly and the surrounding counties, do you have any go-to agents, lenders, or contractors you’ve had good experiences with?

Appreciate the advice and encouragement

Thank you @Shawn Ackerman. I appreciate the detailed breakdown. I’ll definitely look into PropStream and practice running comps myself. That makes sense about sticking to like-kind properties within a recent timeframe and nearby radius.

Luckily, I’m focusing on 2-4 unit properties, so your advice is spot on! Thanks again for the guidance—I’ll keep at it and improve as I go.

Thanks @Greg, that’s really helpful! I hadn’t thought about appealing the assessed value. I’ll message you—I’d love to hear more about your rehab and refinance process. Appreciate it!

Hey BiggerPockets community! I'm new here and about to dive into my first real estate investment. I'm looking at purchasing a small multi-family rental property in the Allentown or Philadelphia area, and I plan to use the BRRRR strategy.

I'm struggling with the best way to analyze potential properties to ensure a solid ARV and would love any advice on effective tools or methods you use. Also, what are some of the most common value-adds that can significantly boost a property's ARV?

Appreciate any tips, insights, or experiences you can share to help guide me through this process!