Large Multifamily Property - Red Pill Kapital Investments

Like any other investment, multifamily properties pose some risks for their investors. It’s not as risky as investing in the stock market, but considering the amounts involved, a multifamily investment can easily eat into your finances if it goes bust.

So, how do you minimize risk to commercial real estate investment? This article highlights the best 10 tactics you can employ to mitigate the risks of purchasing and maintaining a multifamily unit.

1. Assessing The Competitive Set

That involves assessing the risks associated with the submarket or the property’s geographical location. In real estate, a competitive set refers to the group of properties that compete with your property for business.

An investor uses the competition to benchmark a property’s performance before purchasing. Carry out an analysis of properties comparable to what you’re interested in investing in.
Using this information, you can identify factors like occupancy rates to determine whether the property is profitable or not. Alternatively, consult property owners and managers within a competitive set to gain valuable information.

2. In-Person Property Tour

Now that things look good on paper, it is time to take a closer look at the property. Plan to view the property in person and ensure your tour includes the units, common areas, and amenities.
For common areas like hallways and the lobby, consider the cleanliness and general condition.

As for the amenities, look at their layout within the property. Is it organized? Consider the advantages or disadvantages, if any, of the design of the amenities within the multifamily property.

As you inspect the units, look at them from a renter’s perspective. If you rent out the units within the property, what is lacking, or what needs improving?
Consider factors like how spacious the units are, the cabinets’ finishing, and whether it has a balcony or outdoor deck. These ‘extra’ touches are what would make a renter choose your property over another one.

3. Know Your Residents

After inspecting the property’s physical aspects, it’s time to scrutinize who lives there. Please pay attention to how they use the property and its amenities. This inspection will give you an overall feel of the general resident profile.

Additionally, an in-depth analysis will provide an income profile for your residents. You can also get detailed information on the residents, such as their employment background.

Later, after purchasing the property, you should conduct criminal background checks on current and future tenants. This will prevent any scuffles or illegal activity on or near the property.

Law enforcement will hold you responsible for renting to a criminal, even unknowingly.

4. In-Person Tour Of Competitive Properties

The next step is to inspect the properties in your competitive set. Go through the same process of reviewing common areas, amenities, and units. Managers or property owners will grant access to the property. Be honest about why you’re there.

Let them know that you want to tour the premises and any available units. Consider the same attributes you did with the property you wish to purchase, then compare the differences. Look at what other properties have that yours does not. On the other hand, look at what is missing to capitalize on.

5. Conducting Inspections And Determining Capital Costs

Even if you are a seasoned investor who understands the ins and outs of properties, it is still necessary to call in the experts when analyzing a multifamily property. Third-party professionals need to conduct a thorough assessment of the property.

These experts will consider factors that you may not even think about, such as the building’s age, the condition of the roof, drainage issues, and the quality and conditions of mechanical components.

Using the analysis from these specialists, you’ll be able to determine capital costs needed soon or over an extended period. You will also need to factor in repair costs that are a part of capital costs.

6. ‘North, South, East, West Analysis’

Go back to your prospective property and conduct a North, South, East, West multifamily analysis. It is a process that involves placing yourself in a tenant’s shoes. Look at the property from their perspective.

Walk-in from all directions. If possible, drive in from all directions too. Doing this will give you a feel of what it is like to live on the property. As a resident, what do you find most appealing about the property? What don’t you like?

Is the distance from the store convenient? Is it a generally safe neighbourhood? Looking at the property from a resident’s perspective offers you the opportunity to have an objective look at its weaknesses.

7. Building A Budget

This is one of the most important aspects of commercial real estate investment criteria. If you are new to investing, you may place all of your focus on the operating expenses. Instead, you want to develop a budget that factors everything about the building from scratch.

The budget can include factors like the staff. Ensure you look at service contracts to understand what services they provide.

Additionally, create your version of an operating budget based on gathered information, and compare it to the actual running budget the property currently has in place. The budget will help you determine what the net property income is.

8. Opportunities For Revenue Growth

Looking at the net property income, you can determine whether there are opportunities for growth with the same revenue. You can compare rents and determine whether the rate is fair or there’s headroom to raise the rent.

Also, the local market determines the rates you apply and whether there is potential for a new supply of properties in the area.

9. Evaluating Supply Threats

At this point, you should already have a clear picture of your competitors. In addition to looking at existing units, you need to scrutinize any multifamily properties coming up in your submarket. This is because these new units may end up competing with yours.

More multifamily properties will affect the amount of revenue your property brings in. If you’re in a larger market, you won’t feel the impact, but the effect is more prominent in a smaller submarket. This might prove to be a hectic task to monitor so you would need the help of the best commercial real estate investment company to assist you throughout the process and bring the best deals to boost capital gains.

10. Market Stability Versus Volatility

Look out for a stabilizing factor for your property. For example, perhaps the property is located near a university. Students need housing, and it is unlikely that a university would relocate out of the blue.

Another stabilizing factor is whether a city is a state capital or not. Such factors help indicate how stable or volatile a market is over the long run.

Final Words

Have all of these factors in mind as you consider investing in a multifamily property. Be diligent with each step to ensure your property remains profitable even in the face of recessions. Also, make sure to avail all the tax benefits you are eligible for such as the 1031 Exchange Process. That is the best way to minimize risk while saving more when making a multifamily purchase or a sale.

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Now is one of the best times to become a multifamily landlord because apartment vacancies and interest rates remain low compared to a few years back. Private equity investors can also access a pool of lucrative debt capital.

What’s more, the White House notes that there’s a thirst for decent housing coupled with a chronic undersupply, leading to skyrocketing housing prices, as seen in the table below:

Statistics show that investors should expect a 6% net increase in their income for the coming year. All this signals that multifamily properties are a lucrative investment ripe for purchasing.

Suppose you are new to Commercial Property Investment and do not understand why you should invest in multifamily property. In that case, these are the reasons why this kind of property must be a part of your investment portfolio.

1. Increased Cash Flow

A higher cash flow is one of the biggest reasons to invest in multifamily property. Such properties are always in demand by rookies and seasoned investors alike.

You can expect a high occupancy rate if your property is in a strategic location. With time, this leads to increased monthly revenue.

One way to ensure you rake in good profits is to invest in different geographical locations. Doing so allows you to have multiple income streams from the same type of investment.

2. Easy To Manage

Managing 12 units in one multifamily property is more manageable than 12 single-family units spread out across the city. With the former, you can manage it or hire a property manager instead.

It is impractical and costly to hire 12 managers to manage single-family units. On the other hand, hiring a manager for a multifamily property makes sense because of the number of tenants you are dealing with under one roof.

3. Enjoy Tax Breaks

A multifamily property makes you eligible to enjoy tax breaks as a reward from the government for providing housing for city residents. The kind of tax breaks you enjoy depends on the property classification.

That’s because you can write off expenses from taxable income. In short, you can deduct repair, maintenance, and management expenses from the taxable income produced by the multifamily property.

4. Lower Investment Risk

This is not to say that multifamily properties do not come with risks–they carry some risks like any other investment. The only difference is that the risks associated with this kind of property are lower than single-family units, as the table below illustrates:

One of the risks you may encounter is the vacancy rate. Because you are dealing with several tenants at a time, the possibility of 0% occupancy is slim to none.

Suppose you have a well-maintained property with fair rental rates. In that case, a low occupancy is something you will rarely worry about.

Also, ensure you research the property beforehand, choose a good location, and market it well. Doing this will guarantee you a high occupancy rate.

5. Short-Term Leases Are Advantageous

Five years and more is the standard term for most commercial and retail leases. If the market changes, you are stuck with properties whose rent you cannot increase. With multifamily properties, the leases are shorter, typically lasting a year.

This means that you can raise rents quickly depending on market conditions and inflation. Shorter leases ensure your property stays lucrative in the long run.

6. Quickly Build An Investment Portfolio

If you want to delve into real estate full-time, this is one of the best ways to boost a portfolio quickly. Multifamily properties offer the chance to invest in multiple units without the hassle of managing several separate housing units.

Think about all the research, planning, permits, and cost it takes to invest in one property. Now multiply that by several units, and you know why a multifamily property is the best option.

Moreover, you’ll find it easier to purchase a multifamily property than buying a single-family unit.

7. Strong Rental Demand From Millennials

Data from the U.S Census Bureau shows that renting is the most common form of housing for millennials. Currently, the millennial generation is the largest in the U.S.

One reason why they find leasing a favourable option is the increasing cost of median home prices. This places homeownership out of reach for many. Also, millennials value flexibility and mobility over owning property.

Combined, all these reasons make millennials more likely to rent than own, spelling good news for multifamily property investors.

8. High Appreciation Rate/Value Retention

Multifamily properties continue to hold value even if you do not get immediate cash flow. The general rule for real estate is that it appreciates over time. With multifamily property, the appreciation rate is higher.

Sure, this is not set in stone. But the best way to ensure the property retains its value is to maintain and repair it often. Check for broken or damaged areas, mold, and more issues between tenants, and it will hold its value with time.

9. Better Financing Options

Data shows that multifamily investments have better funding terms overall than other real estate types. Understand that this investment type costs more initially, but it is easier to maintain than other property types.

Expect lower interest rates if you opt for a mortgage loan for a multifamily property. This is a relatively risk-free investment for first-time investors. Because of the high occupancy rates, financing institutes view multifamily properties as having lower risk.

10. Insurance Simplicity

Buying insurance for a multifamily property is relatively easy. Like financing, getting insurance is a simple process compared to other real estate types. Several factors affect how much a policy will cost.

However, the number of units in the building, amenities like a pool or rooftop terrace will raise the insurance cost. This is because tenants or visitors are more likely to injure themselves on the property. It would help if you also understood that insurance premiums for multifamily homes are rising.

Despite this, most insurance companies know how to cover multifamily properties in a way that favors you. Further, if you have several such properties, some insurance companies will grant you a “blanket” cover, insuring all the properties under one provider.

Final Word

Investing in a multifamily property is one of the best decisions you can make today. You can look forward to better cash flow, lowered risk, tax breaks, easier management, and a higher appreciation rate. Taking help of a property investment company can prove to be of greater help in terms of huge capital gains to fill up your pockets. Despite stiff competition and an initial high investment cost, a multifamily property is still an excellent investment opportunity.