Category Archives: Multi-Family

Ep. 116 Larry Goins: Cashflow without Tenants or Rehabs

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making money in a rising market. earning cashlfow without tenants or rehabsAll investors have heard horror stories from single and multi-family investing: bad tenants, rehabs gone wrong. Often these stories result in investors paying much more in out-of-pocket capital than was accounted for. This remains a major contributing factor preventing would-be investors from making the leap. Though there are successful strategies one can adopt to deal with bad tenants or to facilitate successful rehabs, many investors are still wary of residential asset classes.

However, there are ways to earn cashflow without having traditional tenants or making unneeded rehabs to the property.

Larry Goins is one investor that does not rely on having traditional tenants or doing property rehabs.

Listeners may remember Larry from Episode 106 where he discussed finding creative ways to make money in rising markets. Larry is a 30 year investor and investment mentor. He is an author, speaker and educator sharing his wealth of investment experience with beginner investors. This episode, Larry discusses his strategy of offering lease options instead of traditional tenant leasing.

Earning Cashflow through Lease Options

  • Homeowners in Training
    • Prospective tenants are given lease with option to own
    • Tenants have stated intent to purchase property
    • Tenants put up non-refundable down-payment stating consideration to purcahse
  • Lease Agreements
    • For Dodd-Frank compliance, tenant’s down-payment only goes to closing costs; no rent credits can be given during lease agreement
    • Make sure tenant is responsible for minor repairs and maintenance for “x” amount per occurance
  • Resources

For more information about lease options and earning cashflow without tenants or rehabs, contact Larry directly through his website.

For webinars, trainings, reports and other information, visit www.larrygoins.com

Visit the Invest Florida Show website for even more episodes and to check out our archives!

 

Ep. 114 Kurt Westfield: Apartment Investor Tough Lessons Lead to New Strategy

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multifamily investing and finding a strategy as an apartment investorAs real estate investors, sometimes what we think is a good investment strategy does not turn out quite as expected. While a single family investor may be able to stick to a strategy and adopt minimal changes, this is not usually the case for the apartment investor.

Your investment strategy should suit the deal you are making. It may become necessary to change your strategy in order to make a deal work.

While this may mean an extra headache in the short-term, a change in strategy could mean the difference between a successful investment and a failure.

Just ask Apartment Investor Kurt Westfiled

Kurt Westfield is the founder of WC Companies, an umbrella brand for his multi-service real estate investment firms.Listeners will remember Kurt’s last episode with us when he discussed his transition from single family investor to apartment investor.

This episode, we catch up with Kurt following his transition to apartment investor. He discusses how he found out early on in his career the importance of finding a winning strategy.

Apartment Investor: Finding a New Strategy

The Deal

  • 14 unit apartment building
  • In foreclosure
  • Expedited due diligence (7 days)
  • Intended to be 12 month, light fix-and-flip with capital expenses at $80-100k

The Issues

  • Tenants trashed complex
  • Property had suffered from neglect

Changing Strategy

  • Evicted all current tenants
  • Rehabbed entire property, inside and out
  • Structured leasing as condo-apartment type w/ one model unit completed while construction was ongoing
  • Created brand identity
  • Started community engagement activities

The Results

  • 3 1/2 year project, cap expenses at $400k
  • Property raised market rent 60% in area
  • Identified potential of revitalizing fringe market properties
  • Focused on developing branded communities rather than street addresses

Kurt is still an active apartment investor, looking for multifamily deals in Tampa and Jacksonville up to 50 units. To contact Kurt with a potential deal, email him at kurt@wccompanies.com.

For any other questions or to find out more about services offered by WC Companies, visit their website.

Ep. 113 Elysia Stobbe: Diversifying Risk with Geography and Asset Class

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investor mortgages, diversifying riskNo Risk, No Reward

No matter the size or experience of the investor, this is a widely-held belief. However, it is not simply about risk, but rather smart risks.

Diversifying risk is a key strategy for real estate investors looking to expand their bottom line.

Increasing the Bottom Line

We are pleased to welcome back to the show, Elysia Stobbe, NMLS# 146751. Listeners will remember Elysia from Episode 108, in which she discussed updates to SFR investor mortgages.

In addition to being a branch manager with NFM Lending, Elysia is a successful investor with over 30 property deals under her belt, doing deals in and around Jacksonville, FL. She is also a published author. Her best selling book, How to Get Approved for the Best Mortgage Without Sticking a Fork in Your Eye helps single family investors in obtaining secure, prime mortgages.

This episode of Landlord Tales, Elysia discusses her transition to multifamily investing and diversifying risk with geography and asset class. Through expanding focus into the multifamily asset class and remaining open-mined about market areas, Elysia learned that diversifying risk is a great way to increase returns.

Diversifying Risk

  • Multifamily offers greater cashflow potential than single family while minimizing tenant turnover risk
  • Multifamily cap rates typically 2-4% higher than single family
  • Remain open-minded about potential market areas
  • Distressed properties can be made rentable

Finding Deals

  • Networking with wholesalers is great way to find distressed multifamily properties
    • Craigslist; Bandit signs – WeBuyUglyHouses, iBuyHomes
  • Realtors
  • Property Managers
  • Real Estate Investment Associations (REIAs)

Resources & Links

To catch up on past shows, visit our archives page!

 

 

Ep. 112 Courtney Barnard: Legislative Update for Multifamily-Residential Property Owners

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multifamily-residential property legislative updateWe’ve been hearing a lot about Florida’s single family property markets, but what about multifamily-residential property?

Though multifamily-residential may not share the same spotlight that single family is getting, apartment investing makes up a big economic portion of Florida’s real estate market and there are some big legislative changes coming to multifamily residential property that investors need to be aware of.

We are glad to have Courtney Barnard back on the show. Courtney serves as the Government Affairs Director for the Florida Apartment Association (FAA). Courtney appeared previously, in episode 42, where she discussed then-current legislative updates to multifamily-residential property.

This time, she discusses some key changes coming with the 2016 legislative updates. This episode, Courtney also gives us a Florida multifamily market overview in addition to sharing important legislative updates for multifamily-residential property owners.

Florida Multifamily-Residential Property Overview

  • Jacksonville – largest apartment growth (new construction)
  • Sarasota/Bradenton – decline in growth
  • Over 96% occupancy statewide
  • New construction focused on Class A and Class Super A – $145k/unit costs
  • Lack of affordable multifamily developments

Legislative Updates

  • HVAC Maintenance
    • House Bill 535, July 2016
    • Apartment investors with 100 unit or more buildings
    • HVAC repairs can now be made by on-site building maintenance and not HVAC contractor
    • Bill Info
  • Non-Residential Property Tax Exemptions
    • 10% cap on non-residential property tax increases set to expire in 2018
    • No cap could hurt a lot of investors and small-business owners
    • Joint resolution to be put forth to reinstate cap permanently
  • Fire Sprinklers in Building
    • Florida administration code-change from National Fire Protection Standard
    • Takes effect Dec. 31st, 2016
    • High-rises over 75 feet required to have sprinklers in residences and common areas
    • Previously, buildings built before 1994 were exempt
    • Condos + Co-ops can vote to opt out, but apartment investors must comply UNLESS: balconies/secondary entrances are attached to every unit

Florida Apartment Association

The FAA has been in place for 45 years. With 11 regional chapters and over 5,000 apartment communities, the FAA offers members access to great benefits:

To find out more resources offered by the FAA and for other updates from Courtney, visit www.faahq.org.

Ep. 104 Landlord Tales – Tax Credits on Green or Sustainable Property Endeavors

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cost segregation; tax creditsTax Credits

They sound nice, but real estate investors may think that they are not so easy to come by. Those investors who do happen upon them find usually find themselves bogged down by the IRS’ strict stipulations surrounding them.

Tax credits are, in fact, tools set in place to help investors grow their portfolios and while they may seem complex, they are accessible to any investor willing to do a little extra leg work.

While nobody should be expected to know the entire IRS tax code, real estate investors should be aware of some very helpful tax credits that can be applied to their assets.

Michele Pasquale, of Meridian Financial Solutions spoke with us previously about increasing your bottom line through cost segregation.

This week she discusses some more tax credits that real estate investors can apply to green or sustainable property endeavors.

179D

  • Instated in 2005 Energy Policy Act and renewed annually
  • Potentially set to expire end of 2016
  • Tax deduction for energy efficient additions to commercial buildings +30,000 s/f
  • 3 common components
    • Building envelope
    • HVAC
    • Lighting
  • $0.30-$1.80/SF in tax credits
  • Calculated on energy efficiency of entire building set to ASHRAE requirements

45(l)

  • Residential tax credit for developers of energy efficient buildings
  • Potentially set to expire end of 2016
  • dollar-per-dollar deduction
  • $2000/unit or dwelling
  • Qualifying factors
    • Apartments, Condos, Town homes
    • New construction or rehab up to 4yrs
    • 3 stories tall or less

Disposition

  • Tax credit for removal and retiring of building fixtures or components
  • Book value of components can be written off as business deduction
  • Components can not be purchased within same year as tax year filing with deduction and must be no longer in service

Have more questions on these or other possible tax credits? Call Meridian Financial Solutions for a free quote at 561-252-7282

 

 

Ep. 103 Reed Goossens: Talking Syndication of Multifamily Projects

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syndication of multifamily projectsLet’s face it, every real estate investor just starting out dreams of landing the huge deals. The question remains though: how to make it to the institutional level?

The answer comes with syndication. Syndication expands the opportunity to make larger deals by leveraging capital from a group of investors.

For singlefamily and small, residential multifamily, the first syndication deal can seem like a large step. There are a lot of moving pieces to keep track of in a syndicated deal that may seem complex to investors used to self-financing.

Reed Goossens knows the power in syndication.

A native Australian, Reed moved to the U.S. after educating himself in real estate investing. As a foreign investor, Reed saw the potential for earning cash-flow in U.S. real estate markets and set about acquiring properties.

Initially investing in small duplexes in tertiary markets outside of New York City, Reed had been using his own capital to finance deals.

He realized the need to scale his real estate investment goals and set about transitioning from residential multifamily to commercial multifamily through syndication.

Reed founded RSN Property Group and has been investing in commercial multifamily properties through syndication since 2011.

In addition to expanding his asset portfolio and investor base, Reed also hosts a podcast to educate foreign investors in the U.S. real estate market

Syndicating Investment Deals

  • SEC has strict rules for syndication under Regulation D
    • Rule 506 (b)  – allows for unlimited accredited investors (earn +$200k/yr. or personal worth of +$1 million); up to 35 unaccredited investors (earn under $200k/yr.)
  • Surround yourself with credible investors; find a mentor
  • Have pitch deck to educate potential investors on deal specifics
  • Private Placement Memorandum (PPM) – after sourcing investors, a PPM is needed
    • Drafted by syndication attorney
    • Outlines how deal is being syndicated under a regulation (e.g. Rule 506)
    • Tailored to individual investments
  • Syndication Contracts
    • Typically, 30 days for due diligence; 45 for larger properties
    • 15 days for financing and 15 days for closing
  • Preferred Returns
    • Limited investors get “x” percent of 1st earnings, decided in contract
    • Future returns split between limited partners and general partners (syndicators)

Resources

Reed and RSN Property Group are always on the lookout for value-add investment deals. If you think you have a potential deal, contact Reed at reed@rsnpropertygroup.com.

Reed also hosts a podcast that educates foreign investors on U.S. investment real estate markets- Investing in the U.S.: An Aussie’s Guide to U.S. Real Estate

Like many beginner investors, Reed learned about creating financial independence and the power of passive cash-flow through Robert Kiyosaki’s Rich Dad Poor Dad.

Ep. 101 Dan Pepper: Increasing the Value of Your Property by Paying Attention to Financial Details

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increase proprty values with financial detailsTime is money. Property managers spend a lot of money on their time and this is true whether they are managing residential, multifamily or commercial properties. Often times, property managers may get caught up in the timing of things, letting their financial records and organization fall by the wayside. Not only does this cause added stress on the property manager, but it can also hurt the value of a property. When it comes time to sell a property or to refinance, proper financial details mean everything in determining how much the property is valued at.

Dan Pepper knows the importance of organizing and recording all the financial details of a property. Through his company, Palm Companies, a combined investment and property management firm, Dan oversees 190 multifamily units with nearly 50 units managed by Palm. With so many factors to keep track of, paying attention to financial details has become imperative in streamlining property management efficiency. This episode, Dan shares what he has learned about managing properties effectively and increasing property value by organizing and tracking financial details.

  • Automated Property Management Systems

    • streamline record keeping, bill pay and rent collection
    • Appfolio – good mid-market, fully-integrated automated system; 80+ units
    • Import photos or scans of bills for services and expenses into an easily accessible database

  • Capitalizing Expenses vs. Annual Expenses

    • Clearly define and categorize expenses that are capital improvements and what are annual expenses
    • Buyers can reconcile their investment concerns with detailed records
    • Lenders can asses precise values on properties
    • If unfamiliar, google search “capitalizing expenses”

Dan and Palm Companies are focused on multifamily properties ranging between 30-150 units in Southwest Florida. They focused primarily on property management ventures currently, but are open to viable multifamily deals. Palm Companies also has an interest in retail investments. Check out their website for more information.

Ep. 99 Phillip Smith and Jason Schaller: What You Need to Know About Multifamily Design and Amenities

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Apartment investing is undergoing a profound transformation in regards to multifamily design and amenities. The age of the shoe-box apartment is over. Changing climates in construction, social trends, economic growth and consumer demand have forced apartment investors and developers to re-examine what apartments could and should provide tenants. Apartment investors, whether they are refurbishing existing buildings or developing new complexes, are taking a drastically different approach to multifamily design and amenity provisions. This episode, we are fortunate to have two guests lending their insight and experience to the changing perceptions of what tenants want out of an apartment space.

multifamily design and amenitiesPhillip Smith is CEO of Framework Group, LLC, a multifamily development and construction group based out of Tampa, FL. Phillip oversees acquisition, design and development of multifamily communities. Currently, Framework Group has projects under construction in Tampa, Orlando and Sarasota, with projects under contract in Jacksonville. Framework Group’s goal is to provide multifamily communities with location and amenities that highlight and promote the urban lifestyle. By pushing the envelope of what makes a sensible investment to what meets with consumer demands, Framework Group has become a major figure in and development, offering full-service, high end apartments in Tampa and along the I-4 Corridor.

multifamily design and amenitiesJason Schaller is Managing Director of Property Management for McKinley. McKinley owns and operates a $4.6 billion real estate portfolio, 35,398 apt. units and 21 million SF of shopping centers and office centers around the country. The Michigan-based firm has a special interest in Florida’s I-4 Corridor with much of their Florida portfolio focused on it. Jason currently oversees Mckinley’s line of boutique apartment projects in Tampa, Mckinley | Hyde Park. Jason brings over 20 years of design and construction experience to multifamily design, refurbishing older and historic buildings and adapting them to suit the growing urban lifestyle.

Amenities

  • Reinforce and promote urban lifestyle
    • bike-share programs
    • Canoe, kayak, bike storage
    • Outdoor kitchens
    • Functioning communal spaces
    • Technological integration
  • Health and Wellness Focus
    • Hot/cold plunge pools and resistance pools vs. traditional pools
    • High-end exercise equipment
    • Classes, training courses: yoga, exercise, massages
  • Pet amenities
    • Green spaces
    • Grooming

Multifamily Design and Development

  • High-end finishing/fixtures
    • Quartz counter-tops
    • Rain-style shower-heads
    • Upgraded moldings
    • Wine glass racks
    • Kitchen storage
    • Stainless steel appliances
  • Individual feel
    • Corridor entrances
    • Lighted unit numbers
  • Space
    • High ceilings
    • Larger rooms
  • Décor
    • Natural finishes
    • Authentic colors and textures

If you are a building owner in the Tampa area and you think it might make a great addition to the McKinley | Hyde Park portfolio, visit the Principal to Principal contact page on their website. To find out more about becoming a resident at a McKinley | Hyde Park project, visit the Apartments page on their website for more information.

Framework Group, LLC provides general contracting services and selective development consulting in addition to project development and construction. To find out more about current and upcoming projects along with services offered, visit their website.

 

Sandra Adomatis: Energy and Sustainability Initiatives to Increase Your Bottom Line

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sustainabilityCommercial real estate investors and developers know the term: “Green”. In Florida, it seems that “green” is the phantom criteria for real estate: many have heard of it, few have seen it. The term brings to mind vague notions of sustainability and energy efficiency, but what exactly is it? What is the merit in “going green”? As an effort to shift toward sustainability becomes a rising trend in the nation, Florida continues to lag behind as commercial developers and investors grapple with the nebulous nature of sustainability and green construction.

Sandra Adomatis, SRA, and LEED green associate is an appraiser with a focus on green initiatives and sustainability in real estate. Based out of Punta Gorda, Florida, Sandra has over 25 years of experience in real estate appraisal in the state of Florida. Sandra is a green valuation expert for the Appraisal Institute. Through course development, seminars and literature, Sandra has been helping commercial real estate investors integrate sustainability and energy efficiency into their investments.

  • 6 Elements of a True Green Building
    • Site orientation
    • Water efficiency
      • Low-flow plumbing, greywater recycling, rain barrels/cisterns, energy star rated washing appliances
    • Energy efficiency
    • Environmentally-friendly materials
    • Clean air circulation
    • Operations & maintenance
  • Adapting Existing Structures
    • Lighting
    • Heating/cooling
    • Insulation
  • Energy Modeler/building scientist
    • Assess what existing structures can handle for energy and sustainability adaptations
    • Calcs-Plus (Florida)
  • Green building investment appeal
    • Low-interest, flexible financing exclusive to green buildings
    • Cost-saving on appliances and utilities
    • 2-10% sale premiums vs. traditional structures
  • Resources and Info

To find out more about sustainability options or for appraisal services, visit Susan’s website or email her at adomatis@hotmail.com

Ep. 93: Using Social Media and Other Creative Methods to Market Your Apartment Complex

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using social media and creative methods of marketing your apartment complex marketing your apartment complex creativelyA sense of home can be a hard thing to find in an apartment. Real estate investors holding apartment complexes or other multifamily dwellings may find marketing their properties as desirable living spaces to prove difficult in media over-saturated with ineffective advertising and marketing strategies. The rise of social media has changed the face of marketing, with web-based marketing now offering a variety of platforms to deliver your property to potential residents. Some apartment complex investors and property managers are embracing these new platforms and initiating innovative and effective marketing campaigns directed at tenants looking for something more than just another apartment.

Melissa Meredith and Ana Maria Palermo have both grasped this shift and are using social media and other creative methods of marketing to produce appealing, effective marketing solutions for their clients. Melissa Meredith, of Marketing with Mel, works and lives in Tampa’s Channelside District. Melissa applies her innovative “360 approach” to create niche marketing strategies to grow her clients’ business. Ana Maria Palermo, property manager of Channelside’s SkyHouse luxury apartment complex, has built a strong community foundation for the residents by using social media and other creative methods to market to new tenants. This episode, find out how using social media and other creative methods of marketing your apartment complex or other investment property can improve your sales or lease rates.

  • Building Community
    • Engage residents and tenants in interactive community-driven events
      • Pool party, art classes, residents’ night, yoga, cooking classes, etc.
      • Provide events free-of-charge to attendees as future investment for new business
      • Push through social media
  • Social Media
    • Post original, independent content through various platforms
      • Facebook; Twitter; LinkedIn; Instagram, Pinterest, etc.
      • Relatable content should stand out, should appeal to yourself as a consumer, capture essence of product/business
      • Take advantage of ‘viral media’
  • Blogging
    • Post original, engaging content
    • Find common ground with readers, appeal to readers’ sensibilities
  • Comfort and Convenience
    • “Live, Work, Play” concept
      • Provide services/amenities to tenants that makes your property a comfortable, convenient home
      • car/bike-sharing programs (Zipcar); onsite retail spaces; cafés/bars; proximity to local attractions

To find out more about SkyHouse luxury apartments: @skyhousechannelside or #skyhousemyhouse

To find out more about the services offered by Marketing with Mel: https://marketingwmel.com/ or @marketingwmel