If a seller has a property that appraises for 77k and is asking for the refinance price of 60k on the listing but an inspector comes in and claims it needs 30k in repair.

The main upside to investing in new construction is your repairs and capital expenditures should be low.

Get pre-approved with a lender who does owner-occupied multifamily loans and start touring 2–4 units to see what rents and repairs really look like.

Older properties can be OK but your maintenance, repairs will be higher if you are comparing them to 50/60s or newer builds.

The GC’s original bid didn’t account for structural repair, and the investor was staring down a costly change order.Here’s what we did:- Brought in a structural engineer the same week for quick specs.- Negotiated the repair scope with the GC to keep pricing tight.- Got approvals and work underway within 5 days, minimizing schedule slip. 

Both single-family homes (SFH) and small multifamily (MF) can play a role in a successful portfolio.Single-Family Homes (SFH): Typically attract longer-term tenants, easier to sell when you exit, and often lower maintenance (fewer systems to repair).Multifamily (2–4 units): More income diversification (if one tenant leaves, you still have cash flow).

GL coverage rarely will cover this, and you are at the mercy of the GC to make the repair.

How handy are you with home repairs?

Have a handyman on call also who can help with repairs and even moving furniture etc. 

With traditional rentals depending on what the contract says regarding damages to the property, the person would not get the security deposit back and the owner may have to pay for the repairs.