Best investment type property?

[34f3f3f]

Some people say multi-family because occupancy is spread, some say single family because its easier to find deals, but my inclination would be for condos or apartments, which to me are more suited to the rental market. What are the views of others here?

[4plexowner]

4 units – owner occupy one of the units for best financing

2-4 units are a sweet spot for the small-time RE investor

get the leverage of multiple units with owner-occ financing

5th unit causes a jump into ‘commercial’ category where reqd downpayment jumps to 35% neighborhood and interest rate not as good as owner-occ – ie, stay with 4 units or less

just remember, there is no free lunch, owning RE is a pain in the ass regardless of the type and dealing with tenants is not much fun [I can’t stand being lied to and tenants seem to do that as a matter of habit when dealing with the landlord]

[4plexowner]

4 units – owner occupy one of the units for best financing

2-4 units are a sweet spot for the small-time RE investor

get the leverage of multiple units with owner-occ financing

5th unit causes a jump into ‘commercial’ category where reqd downpayment jumps to 35% neighborhood and interest rate not as good as owner-occ – ie, stay with 4 units or less

just remember, there is no free lunch, owning RE is a pain in the ass regardless of the type and dealing with tenants is not much fun [I can’t stand being lied to and tenants seem to do that as a matter of habit when dealing with the landlord]

[4plexowner]

4 units – owner occupy one of the units for best financing

2-4 units are a sweet spot for the small-time RE investor

get the leverage of multiple units with owner-occ financing

5th unit causes a jump into ‘commercial’ category where reqd downpayment jumps to 35% neighborhood and interest rate not as good as owner-occ – ie, stay with 4 units or less

just remember, there is no free lunch, owning RE is a pain in the ass regardless of the type and dealing with tenants is not much fun [I can’t stand being lied to and tenants seem to do that as a matter of habit when dealing with the landlord]

[4plexowner]

4 units – owner occupy one of the units for best financing

2-4 units are a sweet spot for the small-time RE investor

get the leverage of multiple units with owner-occ financing

5th unit causes a jump into ‘commercial’ category where reqd downpayment jumps to 35% neighborhood and interest rate not as good as owner-occ – ie, stay with 4 units or less

just remember, there is no free lunch, owning RE is a pain in the ass regardless of the type and dealing with tenants is not much fun [I can’t stand being lied to and tenants seem to do that as a matter of habit when dealing with the landlord]

[4plexowner]

4 units – owner occupy one of the units for best financing

2-4 units are a sweet spot for the small-time RE investor

get the leverage of multiple units with owner-occ financing

5th unit causes a jump into ‘commercial’ category where reqd downpayment jumps to 35% neighborhood and interest rate not as good as owner-occ – ie, stay with 4 units or less

just remember, there is no free lunch, owning RE is a pain in the ass regardless of the type and dealing with tenants is not much fun [I can’t stand being lied to and tenants seem to do that as a matter of habit when dealing with the landlord]

[NotCranky]

I think you have to search out your own resources, skill set and inclinations. This may include your ability to delegate the many aspects of maintenance and management or your willingness and ability to do it yourself.

If you are prone to condos and apartments investigate what it takes to operate and see if that works for you.

I like SFR’s duplex or triplex,or at least the idea of them, as opposed to condos, because as a contractor I can add on or otherwise improve the value or the asset and rent capability. They are also within my financial means (sometimes).

I also have no interest in being in a situation where I am almost forced take tenants at random, as with apartments. I don’t delegate well or want to be an apartment manager so that is another strike against larger muliti-family. If these things are o.k. with you, density might be an advantage. Maybe they are more rent-able, but I always aim to have the ability to rent under market and be selective about tenants.

Right now I just have my house and I am building a two bedroom rental. After that I will probably/hopefully buy detached houses.

I think you must find what suits you.

[NotCranky]

I think you have to search out your own resources, skill set and inclinations. This may include your ability to delegate the many aspects of maintenance and management or your willingness and ability to do it yourself.

If you are prone to condos and apartments investigate what it takes to operate and see if that works for you.

I like SFR’s duplex or triplex,or at least the idea of them, as opposed to condos, because as a contractor I can add on or otherwise improve the value or the asset and rent capability. They are also within my financial means (sometimes).

I also have no interest in being in a situation where I am almost forced take tenants at random, as with apartments. I don’t delegate well or want to be an apartment manager so that is another strike against larger muliti-family. If these things are o.k. with you, density might be an advantage. Maybe they are more rent-able, but I always aim to have the ability to rent under market and be selective about tenants.

Right now I just have my house and I am building a two bedroom rental. After that I will probably/hopefully buy detached houses.

I think you must find what suits you.

[NotCranky]

I think you have to search out your own resources, skill set and inclinations. This may include your ability to delegate the many aspects of maintenance and management or your willingness and ability to do it yourself.

If you are prone to condos and apartments investigate what it takes to operate and see if that works for you.

I like SFR’s duplex or triplex,or at least the idea of them, as opposed to condos, because as a contractor I can add on or otherwise improve the value or the asset and rent capability. They are also within my financial means (sometimes).

I also have no interest in being in a situation where I am almost forced take tenants at random, as with apartments. I don’t delegate well or want to be an apartment manager so that is another strike against larger muliti-family. If these things are o.k. with you, density might be an advantage. Maybe they are more rent-able, but I always aim to have the ability to rent under market and be selective about tenants.

Right now I just have my house and I am building a two bedroom rental. After that I will probably/hopefully buy detached houses.

I think you must find what suits you.

[NotCranky]

I think you have to search out your own resources, skill set and inclinations. This may include your ability to delegate the many aspects of maintenance and management or your willingness and ability to do it yourself.

If you are prone to condos and apartments investigate what it takes to operate and see if that works for you.

I like SFR’s duplex or triplex,or at least the idea of them, as opposed to condos, because as a contractor I can add on or otherwise improve the value or the asset and rent capability. They are also within my financial means (sometimes).

I also have no interest in being in a situation where I am almost forced take tenants at random, as with apartments. I don’t delegate well or want to be an apartment manager so that is another strike against larger muliti-family. If these things are o.k. with you, density might be an advantage. Maybe they are more rent-able, but I always aim to have the ability to rent under market and be selective about tenants.

Right now I just have my house and I am building a two bedroom rental. After that I will probably/hopefully buy detached houses.

I think you must find what suits you.

[NotCranky]

I think you have to search out your own resources, skill set and inclinations. This may include your ability to delegate the many aspects of maintenance and management or your willingness and ability to do it yourself.

If you are prone to condos and apartments investigate what it takes to operate and see if that works for you.

I like SFR’s duplex or triplex,or at least the idea of them, as opposed to condos, because as a contractor I can add on or otherwise improve the value or the asset and rent capability. They are also within my financial means (sometimes).

I also have no interest in being in a situation where I am almost forced take tenants at random, as with apartments. I don’t delegate well or want to be an apartment manager so that is another strike against larger muliti-family. If these things are o.k. with you, density might be an advantage. Maybe they are more rent-able, but I always aim to have the ability to rent under market and be selective about tenants.

Right now I just have my house and I am building a two bedroom rental. After that I will probably/hopefully buy detached houses.

I think you must find what suits you.

[34f3f3f]

Thanks for the comments. I have had rental properties but none in the US. Firstly, I would want to buy with cash, unless the tax advantages of a mortgage are very clearly in my favor. I wouldn’t want to manage more than two properties (tenants) myself, and may well use an agent for the first year, or two till I learned the ropes. 2-4 units does appeal but my concern is with finding this kind of property in a neighborhood that isn’t going to cause me grief. Single family homes to my mind require more maintenance, unless they are very new of course, but I would imagine the better rental areas are in the more traditional, older neighborhoods closer to downtown, shopping, work etc. I have seem some very nice apartment-type buildings, which are never for sale, always lease only. I guess syndicates buy these and you have to get in at the ground level with other investors, before they are even built. Correct? Depending on their fixed costs, these seem to make the most sense to me. They are small, new, manageable, and closer to amenities. I think there will be a shift away from urbanization, and a focus on central town planning, and building upwards due to the cost of land, which to my mind means a bigger rental market. I see this more than anywhere in downtown LA, which currently seems on hold due the economic crisis.

[34f3f3f]

Thanks for the comments. I have had rental properties but none in the US. Firstly, I would want to buy with cash, unless the tax advantages of a mortgage are very clearly in my favor. I wouldn’t want to manage more than two properties (tenants) myself, and may well use an agent for the first year, or two till I learned the ropes. 2-4 units does appeal but my concern is with finding this kind of property in a neighborhood that isn’t going to cause me grief. Single family homes to my mind require more maintenance, unless they are very new of course, but I would imagine the better rental areas are in the more traditional, older neighborhoods closer to downtown, shopping, work etc. I have seem some very nice apartment-type buildings, which are never for sale, always lease only. I guess syndicates buy these and you have to get in at the ground level with other investors, before they are even built. Correct? Depending on their fixed costs, these seem to make the most sense to me. They are small, new, manageable, and closer to amenities. I think there will be a shift away from urbanization, and a focus on central town planning, and building upwards due to the cost of land, which to my mind means a bigger rental market. I see this more than anywhere in downtown LA, which currently seems on hold due the economic crisis.

[34f3f3f]

Thanks for the comments. I have had rental properties but none in the US. Firstly, I would want to buy with cash, unless the tax advantages of a mortgage are very clearly in my favor. I wouldn’t want to manage more than two properties (tenants) myself, and may well use an agent for the first year, or two till I learned the ropes. 2-4 units does appeal but my concern is with finding this kind of property in a neighborhood that isn’t going to cause me grief. Single family homes to my mind require more maintenance, unless they are very new of course, but I would imagine the better rental areas are in the more traditional, older neighborhoods closer to downtown, shopping, work etc. I have seem some very nice apartment-type buildings, which are never for sale, always lease only. I guess syndicates buy these and you have to get in at the ground level with other investors, before they are even built. Correct? Depending on their fixed costs, these seem to make the most sense to me. They are small, new, manageable, and closer to amenities. I think there will be a shift away from urbanization, and a focus on central town planning, and building upwards due to the cost of land, which to my mind means a bigger rental market. I see this more than anywhere in downtown LA, which currently seems on hold due the economic crisis.

[34f3f3f]

Thanks for the comments. I have had rental properties but none in the US. Firstly, I would want to buy with cash, unless the tax advantages of a mortgage are very clearly in my favor. I wouldn’t want to manage more than two properties (tenants) myself, and may well use an agent for the first year, or two till I learned the ropes. 2-4 units does appeal but my concern is with finding this kind of property in a neighborhood that isn’t going to cause me grief. Single family homes to my mind require more maintenance, unless they are very new of course, but I would imagine the better rental areas are in the more traditional, older neighborhoods closer to downtown, shopping, work etc. I have seem some very nice apartment-type buildings, which are never for sale, always lease only. I guess syndicates buy these and you have to get in at the ground level with other investors, before they are even built. Correct? Depending on their fixed costs, these seem to make the most sense to me. They are small, new, manageable, and closer to amenities. I think there will be a shift away from urbanization, and a focus on central town planning, and building upwards due to the cost of land, which to my mind means a bigger rental market. I see this more than anywhere in downtown LA, which currently seems on hold due the economic crisis.

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