How to Buy a Multifamily Property in New York City

If you’re in the NYC market and thinking about getting into real estate investing, one strategy worth considering is multi-family investing. This refers to buying multi-family properties, such as townhouses and apartment buildings in which the units can be rented individually. A popular way to increase passive revenue streams; reduce vacancy rates and boost your net-operating income. Such a strategy also comes with high overhead costs making it a costly sector.

Today’s article examines this investment strategy, discussing how it works, the pros and cons, and how you can get started with this exciting venture.

What is Multifamily Investing?

Multi-family investing differs a great deal from single-family or condo investing. The obvious advantage is it allows you to build multiple income streams while also building consistent appreciation in value. Instead of buying a single unit you can rent out, you will purchase an entire townhouse or apartment building. You can choose to live in one of the units and use your income stream from the rental units to reduce or even eliminate your housing costs.

The property management needs can make it an enormous undertaking for one. With all that space comes the extra responsibility and overhead of maintaining it. The sheer cost of buying a multi-family property can also make it highly cost-prohibitive for beginner investors.

Of course, that’s not to say that every multi-family investment has to be an entire building with a dozen or more units. You can do as well with a two or three-family townhouse for beginners. Perhaps live in one unit while your tenant lives in the other. You can expand your investments further and even make it a full-time job. However, keep in mind that whatever the size of your project, there will be a time lag until it starts generating income. There are also taxes to consider and repairs to make before you start getting any returns.

Buying a Multi-family home For Your Investment

So, how should you find a multi-family investment with all the above in mind?

1. Look for specific factors during the property search

As with every property investment, the key thing to look at is its location, a good location – meaning an area that is either developed or developing – is where the best investments are found. This will be an area seeing new construction going up, rising property prices, and plenty of neighborhood amenities and conveniences. Remember, identifying areas like this that still have great growth potential is almost an art as it is a science.

Another critical factor to consider is the property’s size and layout. Look past your perspective; consider what prospective tenants may want and need. For instance, amenities such as laundry rooms and extra storage space are high on the list in New York City. It might also be best to stay clear of properties that have been heavily custom-built to a particular style by the previous owners. Highly unique styles may not appeal to many renters, making resales problematic. This can, of course, be rectified with a renovation if your budget allows it.

Next, you’ll want to gather a massive detail on the neighborhood’s rental market. To do this, you’ll need the help of industry experts that know the area well. For instance, real estate agents, contractors, architects, and anyone else knows the neighborhood and its history over the last several years. That way, you can more accurately measure your expected cap rate.

2. Watch out for red flags

Depending on your plans for the property, there may be several red flags that you’ll want to keep an eye out for. Structural damage would be a big one that even investors with the deepest pockets will think twice about. Start by getting a general home inspection of the property. If they detect any possible issues, you may want to bring in a specialist for a closer look. The key is to know what you’re buying and the potential costs of fixing it up.

You may not be too concerned with minor issues if you have a sizeable budget and plan to do a gut remodel. Significant problems that should cause concern for any investor to include:

• Asbestos
• Foundation issues
• Roof problems
• Excessive noise pollution
• A troubled ownership history with rapid turnover
• No permits for work done
• Open building permits for work done or violations
• Being in a flood zone

3. Consider the Floor Area Ratio

Another primary consideration will be the floor area ratio (FAR) when viewing different properties. This is the relationship between the total amount of usable floor area that a building has or has been permitted to have and the total area of the lot on which the building stands. A valuable metric for determining how much space you have to work with when extending or adding to the building. You can calculate it by dividing the total or gross floor area of the building by the gross area of the lot. It is important to note that the gross floor area only consists of the livable areas of the building. Areas such as the basement, parking garages, stairs, and elevator shafts are excluded.

Properties with low FAR limits are generally less attractive to investors. Those with high FAR limits allow more opportunities to extend or build upon spaces, increasing valuation and lower per-project expenditures. In NYC, FAR is set for each separate parcel. If a building exceeds its FAR limits but was built before such limitations were imposed, its owner does not have to take any steps to confirm. However, they cannot develop the building any further. Those properties that exceeded their FAR limits and were built after those limits were set must take steps to rectify them.

FAR remains a worthwhile consideration for investors, even if you aren’t planning to make any extensions. That’s because it can have either a positive or negative effect on the land’s value. Properties with a high FAR limit can be worth more, but they can also decrease the value of neighboring properties if any extensions block their views.

4. Choose the right loan

Whether a property is a good investment depends significantly on your ability to secure the best possible interest rate. For this, you’ll need a solid credit score and an acceptable debt-to-income ratio (DTI). The general advice is a credit score of at least 670 and a DTI below 43%. However, your exact requirements will depend on the type of loan you are applying for. You’ll need to finance the purchase, so you’ll need to choose the right loan program and lender.

For instance, Freddie Mac and Fannie May have different policies related to DTI. Fannie May says your DTI cannot be more than 50%, while Freddie Mac doesn’t have a set guideline for an acceptable DTI. Each case is looked at individually and depends on a range of factors, such as your median FICO score and the size of your down payment.

Fixed-rate VA loans have a DTI of 60%. However, additional qualifying factors may be if you have a DTI above 45%. One of these factors includes a FICO score with a median of at least 620. A lower score of 580 and 620 will need a housing expense ratio of no more than 38% and a DTI of no more than 45%. The same applies to FHA loans with scores between 580 and 620.

You can keep your DTI in check using your anticipated rental income to qualify for your mortgage. However, to do so, you’ll need to have a lease agreement already in place with your expected tenants. Some loans also require a special appraisal that considers the rental value of the property’s multiple units.

5. Make an offer

Working closely with your buyer’s agent will help you choose the right property and determine the best offer. Your agent will then meet with the seller’s listing agent to negotiate and get you towards an accepted offer. Expect a few counteroffers and back and forth before you get there; it’s all part of the game.

Once you have an accepted offer, it’s time to move through the due diligence process and mortgage application. The average time to close in NYC can be anywhere from 30 days if paying all cash to 60 days if financing.

6. Renovate and get ready for tenants to move in

With the property closed, it’s time to start renovating (if necessary) and preparing for marketing to new tenants. At the very least, you’ll want to ensure everything is up to code. Beyond some cosmetic upgrades, a few significant reno-projects in key areas of the property can be well worth the expense, provided your budget allows for it. The best areas to focus on are the kitchens and bathrooms, boosting the property’s value. You will also want a maintenance fund to ensure the property stays in good condition.

The final step before finding tenants will be drawing up a day-to-day management plan for the individual rental units. Being a landlord requires a time commitment, and you’ll need to decide how to divide that time effectively between your other duties. You can always hire a property manager if you don’t have the time to oversee day-to-day management. Of course, you’ll want to consider that the cost of this will affect your bottom line. Property managers typically charge from 4% to 5% of the gross monthly rent in management fees.

Final Thoughts

New York City is a highly competitive market; finding a good investment will take time, patience, and skill. Sometimes, the only thing that separates a successful investor from a failed one is the ability to see the value in a property that someone else misses. Being a successful landlord also requires much work and a detail-orientated approach. You’re now responsible for your home and tenants, so you need to be ready for that.

For those ready, multi-family property investing can be the gateway to financial independence.