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All Forum Posts by: Craig H.

Craig H. has started 20 posts and replied 204 times.

Post: Tekmar 256 Boiler Control

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107

Hello BP!  

Has anyone installed a Tekmar 256 outdoor reset boiler control?  If you have, how much did it save you on your bills?   I am located in Cincinnati, OH and I am leaning towards installing one in one of my buildings.  Wanted to gauge the cost savings on this first.  Thanks BP!   

Post: Newbie in Cincinnati, Ohio

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107

Sam, 

Welcome to BP.  Cincinnati has an active group here on BP.   Your goals of purchasing a multi-family and living in one of the units is a great foundation to build upon in RE investing.  I started doing that same thing 2 years ago in Cincinnati.  Feel free to reach out with any questions that you may have.  If I am able to be of assistance I will gladly help.  

Post: First Deal Second Opinion, Cincinnati, Quad

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107
Originally posted by @Nick Howard:

Hello BP,

Long time lurker, looking for my first property, aiming for a live in multifamily. We’ll live in for the first few years, hopefully having $1,000 per month from having no rent.

I’m a bit long winded, so I apologize ahead of time.

My wife and I are going on a second visit to a property here in a small village on the border of Cincinnati.  AreaVibes lists this village as a 77 Livability (Extremely Liveable) and a A- on Crime.  Last week we saw the one of the four units (supposedly the “worst unit” which only appears outdated). The other 3 have supposedly been remodeled (the one that hasn’t has an 8 year tenant in it). What I really like is the owner has just installed new water heaters, new AC, new windows, new concrete parking lot adding 7 offstreet parking (in addition to the attached 2x 2 car garages), and “newer” breaker box and furnaces. I feel like these improvements could really help my wife and I create a strong foundation, hopefully limiting the number of early Cap Ex, lets us build some reserves.

Unit 1 (3:2): $900

Unit 2 (2:2): $650

Unit 3 (2:2): $550 (assuming the unremodeled one)

Unit 4 (Eff): $325

Laundry: $80

Gross Inc: $2,505

10% Vacancy: $250.50

10% Repairs: $250.50

10% Cap Ex: $250.50

10% Property Management: $250.50

Taxes: $304.58 ($3,655 LY)

Insurance: $100 (no quote yet)

Expenses: $1,406.58

NOI: $1,098.42

I’m also currently assuming I can move the cost of water from the owner to the tenants via some simple sqft ratio or even one of these remote hookup things (haven’t researched that too much yet). (Tenants pay electric and gas already)

Will likely need some landscaping, and snow removal? Unsure if that’s built into some property management. Haven’t looked into Property Management yet since we’ll be living in and getting our feet wet the first couple years.

So here's my dilemma. Asking price is $189.9k at asking, it gets $46/door, CoC 10%. My original goals after all the information I've consumed is to aim for $100-$200 per door. To get $100/door, my MAO is 33% off, $146k. I don't think that's in the realm of possibilities. 10% seems more realistic but still maybe not (since I have no experience in buying multis in Cincinnati in 2017). 10% off, MAO is $170k, units cash flow $69/door (17% CoC).

The last scenario is rent increases and value-adds. There is a neighbor I've seen list a 1:1 (900sqft) for $650, indicating my 2:2 may have room for improvement, let's say $665 for both (would need to remodel the older unit, +$15 & +$115). There are 8 efficiencies across the street renting for $450. Not sure if they're bigger or nicer than the 4th unit in this property, but let's say I can get the efficiency to $375 (+$50). I could also try and rent the garages. I think a modest price would be $25/2car/mo (+$50). So the NOI is now (+$15+$115+$50+$50=) $2,735. That brings the $/door to $104, CoC 25%, with the same MAO of $170k. Again, not sure if this is realistic, or if I'm trying to make an okay deal into a great deal by messing with numbers.

Tags: Cincinnati, Multifamily, Quad, First Deal, Deal Analysis

 Nick,

  • These numbers look good.  Does each unit have its own main water shutoff?  If they do you will be able to sub meter the water.  Which is essentially the best way to do it and actually makes a difference in how tenant's use water.  RUBS helps, but from experience and speaking with other investors, the true way to decrease water usage is sub meters.  If you're building has this capability I recommend doing it.  Unfortunately, my buildings do not have this capability, but I make sure rent is high enough because I can't submeter.  Make sure you run the numbers with you living there as well if you haven't done that, I saw that you have all 4 rents listed.         

Post: Looking for Rental Property Owners

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107
Originally posted by @Account Closed:

First world problems. I can go months without having a single issue with properties or tenants. Than when I am planning a vacation all hail breaks loose, tenants are moving in and out, stuff is breaking, hair is clogging drains, don't hate on me ladies, but starting to appreciate bald headed women! Not really, but have not figured out a way yet to make cleaning bathtub drains fun? I take late payments in stride, never had to evict, never dealt with more than a couple of grand in damage from any one tenant. Getting units cleaned up, repaired and rented to the first tenant after purchase, usually is the biggest amount of time required during ownership. 

 Install hair catchers in bathtub drains and make that a responsibility of the tenant.  

Post: Looking for Rental Property Owners

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107
Originally posted by @Josephine R Mukoroyi:

Hello,

I am looking for real-estate landlords who are self-managing their properties.  What has been your greatest challenge in managing your rental properties. 

Thanks.

 I self manage a 5 unit and 4 unit building.  I would say my greatest challenge so far has been the work/life balance when it comes to rental properties.  Fortunately I have great people around me that understand I am a real estate investor and also work a full-time job.  When I am renovating a unit I am in there every night after work until that unit is done.  This can be hard at times because you might miss out on fun activities that your friends are doing, but I look at it this way... I'll work extremely hard now on renovating units so I am receiving top dollar for rent which in turn makes the building more successful.  Do that with enough properties, then one day you'll be the one with the free time when every one else is at work.  Hope that makes sense.  Best of luck in your investing.    

Post: Any Red Flags on this opportunity?

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107
Originally posted by @Steve Wilson:

Hey folks, looking for a good buy & hold opportunity and trying to tune my radar.  This looks like a very good opportunity to me.

Duplex, Cincinnati, OH

2 4-Bdrm units

$1,600 / mo rent ($800 x 2 units)

$145,000 listed sale price

B-/C+ neighborhood.

https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/...

Any thoughts?  What questions should I be asking?

Thank you,

Steve

 I would not say this street is a B-/C+ area.  I'd also say $145k for a duplex in that area is on the high side.   

Originally posted by @Tomo Iikubo:

all, thank you for the additional comments.i truly appreciate this community.

I've decided that I need to restart the eviction process, this time with the services of a lawyer.  Although I am not looking forward to the additional time and lack of rent, it will help me sleep better at night knowing that I am going about this with the proper expertise on my side.

Anyone happen to know of a good flat fee lawyer in Cincinnati, OH who may help me in this matter?  So far, the best I've gotten is through avvo.com

Thank you all!

 Is the eviction in Cincinnati?  You're going to want to make sure the eviction form is filled out correctly.  When I had to do an eviction, the day I was there, the only time I saw the judge rule in favor of the tenant was when the form was not filled out accurately.  Feel free to send me a message if you have any other questions.  I had my first one in June, its not as hard as you think its going to be.  Make sure you have your dates of notices and chain of events ready to go because literally each eviction took less than 2 minutes.  May not hurt to go down to the courthouse to check out how it goes prior to your date.      

Post: New investor Business Plan - All feedback is welcome

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107

@Tommy Spijkers Those are some great goals!  Best of luck to you and your wife in future endeavors.  I invest in multi-family buildings like you describe on the east side of Cincinnati.  If you ever have questions or need anything let me know.  If I can help, I will.  

Post: Cincinnati Multifamily Investing

Craig H.Posted
  • Cincinnati, OH
  • Posts 214
  • Votes 107
Originally posted by @Justi Kobilis:

Hi Everyone:

Ever since I joined this site a few weeks ago I have received some very positive feedback, I wish I would have found this sooner!  Anyway, I am wondering if anyone has invested in multifamily properties (5 to 20 units) in Cincinnati, and if so, what are some good submarkets of this metro with low crime and better schools?  Also, does anyone know of a good commercial/multifamily broker that would be willing to work with an out of state investor?  Thank you!

Justin K.

 Justin I invest in these types of properties in Mt. Washington, a neighborhood of Cincinnati.  Feel free to shoot me a message if you have any questions, happy to help.  

I recommend Joe Cornwell.  It would not allow me to tag him on this post, but he is active on BP.  Owns units like you are describing in Cincinnati and is assisting clients in these types of properties.  Joe would be a great asset to you in the Cincinnati market.