by Theresa Bradley-Banta

I often hear new multifamily real estate investors ask, “How do I know if a deal is a good one or not?”

It’s a valid question.

Without experience and practice it’s difficult to challenge the numbers in a property offering memorandum. How do you know if the income is correct? Expenses can seem pretty straight forward—but are they?

Here Are 5 Multifamily Deal Analysis Mistakes to Avoid

1. Underestimating capital expenses, repairs and unit turn costs

 
Don’t overlook the fact that you may have to pay for major capital improvements from day one of ownership. You might also have to pay for general repairs and unit turn costs. Under the current ownership the rental market may have changed. You might inherit rental units that can’t compete with the market without major upgrades and repairs.

It’s extremely important to know if market rents and expectations have adjusted. Sometimes a buyer will discover, especially in a slow rental market, that renter’s expectations have risen. Prospective renters will demand nicer rental units and amenities for their dollar. It might be necessary to bring newly vacant units up to market expectations to attract qualified residents.

In a hot market, with plenty of new construction, discerning residents will demand the latest and hottest amenities.

You might also have to finance repairs to major building systems. For example a property that has poor drainage systems will continue to deteriorate without immediate upgrades to roofs, sidewalks and parking surfaces.

2. Assuming current unit rental amounts are at market rate

 
Buyers of multifamily properties love to look for opportunities to raise the current rents.

Not so fast. Before getting too excited by the prospect of raising rents you must first decide if the current rental rates are truly at market.

For example, if a seller has offered concessions to their current residents you must take those concessions into consideration when calculating income. A concession could be a discounted rent given as a signing bonus such as free rent for the first or last month. The owner may have included free utilities. They may have waived payment of the security deposit.

You can also uncover other hidden issues. A seller might have high collection problems with their current residents—a problem that will become yours if you buy the property. And as dishonest as it may seem, some buyers will fill a property with residents who are not properly screened to reach 100% occupancy just before the sale of the property.

3. Overlooking key operating expenses

 
When analyzing property historical financials, it’s critical that you confirm all expenses when possible. The property taxes and insurance rates paid by the current owner will not necessarily be the same under new ownership. Check with commercial property insurance carriers and shop new rates.

A simple call to the local treasury division can answer your question about potential property tax rate increases and will confirm the amount the seller listed in her/her financials. You might also discover that the current property taxes are in arrears—there may even be a tax lien on the property. Good to know.

Before purchasing a multifamily property you must verify utility expenses. Contact all utility companies and find out what the utility costs have been for at least one year. Pest control can also be a critical cost to investigate.

As a general rule of thumb, use a 35-45% expense ratio (the percentage of the property income used to pay expenses excluding debt service) when analyzing older apartment buildings and multifamily properties.

4. Neglecting to find the seller’s motivation

 
Why is the seller really selling? Did you ask? Don’t stop after asking this question one time. Ask it as many times as necessary to get to the real reason. Sometimes simply rephrasing the question can get results.

A highly motivated seller might negotiate price and terms. Or give you a credit for needed repairs—an agreed upon amount that you can deduct from the purchase price.

What does the property mean to them? An inherited property for example represents a huge payout to the seller. They are not emotionally attached to the property nor have they contributed financially to capital expenditures. They are less interested in recouping money spent than they are in a windfall at the closing table.

5. Neglecting to look at current residents and leases

 
Take a look at all current tenant leases and pay special attention to lease expiration dates. You may be forced to complete expensive unit turns for each new vacancy—especially when a property has significant deferred maintenance. The cost of unit turns can escalate overnight.

You might also find hidden problems within the community. I’ve seen buildings where the tenants run the property and the property management company has lost all control.

There’s nothing worse than a mass exodus from a property, which can happen under a management change. If you introduce new community rules and regulations like tighter rent collection policies, you can expect to lose tenants.

You might also decide to implement stricter tenant qualification guidelines for all lease renewals which can create new vacancies—and more unit turn costs.

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Do your homework

 
Before making an offer on a multifamily property you must examine all income and expenses presented by both the seller and the commercial broker. If you are light on experience get someone on your side who has experience analyzing multifamily properties—someone who is unbiased and doesn’t stand to gain financially from the buy/sell transaction.

If you find yourself wondering if a deal is good or not don’t do the deal without pursuing expert consultation. So you know, I offer multifamily deal analysis consultations. Interested in learning more?

Related Articles:

 
What Are Typical Apartment Building Operating Expenses?

Don’t Rely on the 50% Rule to Analyze Multifamily Real Estate

How to Take Over a Property With Tenants

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Theresa Bradley-Banta writes about investing in real estate while avoiding the pitfalls that plague many new investors. She is a 2017 PropTech Top 100 Influencer and winner of 14 American and International real estate awards for her website and real estate investing programs. As featured on: The Equifax Finance Blog, AOL’s Daily Finance, Scotsman Guide, The Best Real Estate Investing Advice Ever Show, Stevie Awards Blog, Rental Housing Journal, and Investors Beat among others.