Archive for November, 2009

VIDEO: 3549 Madison Normal Heights, 92116

Wednesday, November 18th, 2009

Yeah, I know this is all about 2-4 units. But this house is pretty rad, and even works as a straight investment. For a price of $254,900 and four bedrooms, it’s hard NOT to make it work. I shot some video for a client of mine that has an offer in, but couldn’t see the place asap.


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Pretty Quick Little Drive to Adams Ave:

What’s In It This For You!?

Sometimes, just sometimes, a house can make a good investment.

Bam! You just increased your investment opportunity pool and am now in a position to make more money faster.

House and yard walkthrough:

Well if you’re into this kind of stuff, you probably already know that a 2-4 unit beats out houses almost every time. More bedrooms for the same price = more rent. The only time a house can match the deal is like this one when the price is so freaking low. And even then it has to have three-four bedrooms as in the example.

One caveat: a multi unit property you can live in one and rent out the other units, thus getting the best out of the investment and residential ownership worlds, but a house you either all in, or all out (unless you rent out rooms, but that’s another story).

Here’s some numbers for you.

They don’t include a 7% management fee, so may want to knock that off the gross rents if you’re going that route. As always, this is just an estimate, you need to consult a qualified professional. Or at least dust off that calculator.

I called this one to sell around $270,000, 20% down, 6% interest rate just like the one above. Your monthly payment with tax is $1,520. So if you live in the house, this is what you’re looking at every month. Now it is your OWN place, not sharing the lot with your tenants, so that privacy is supposed to be what you’re paying for there. I estimate this one could rent out for $2,200. Your cashflow is +$680 per month. Pretty sweet! Also has a large lot with big new shed for all your stuff.

Interesting article from the SF Chronicle…are short sales getting easier?

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Well, if you use the term “easier” loosely. Still, people who work in the industry and buyers I’ve been talking to have noticed that short sales are becoming more streamlined by the banks that approve them.

Plus more and more banks are turning to short sales vs. bank owned sales (a clue: it’s cheaper for them). Bank Of America just hopped on the short sale bandwagon, and when an institution that big does something, the rest usually follow.

Check out the article, it’s good:

Fewer Short Sales Are Coming Up Short

What’s In It For You?

I’ve been saying this for months: There are only a small handful of discounted properties available in an area at any one time-and they sell within 3-8 days.

We’re not talking about national trends like the media does, we’re talking about the neighborhood you want to buy in. Unless you can pay cash OR have 20%-50% down on a conventional loan, you don’t have a chance on the bank owned properties.

HOWEVER, because of the bad reputation short sales have, there are real, live deals out there for you with these types of properties.

You will be competing with fewer buyers, far fewer “strong” buyers, and will be able to tie up a low price with the types of loans that REO sellers won’t touch.

Now that more banks are doing these and it’s becoming a faster process for buyers, you have about ninety days from now before this becomes common knowledge to the general public and more and more qualified buyers catch wind and dive on this opportunity.