patrick.net

OK, on request, one last mass delete of insults:

mysql> delete from comments where content like '%dumbross%';
Query OK, 18 rows affected (9.19 sec)

If you want to get my attention, just include @Patrick in a comment.

In fact, that works in general with any user. Putting @ in front of their username in a comment will cause that comment to get mailed to them, unless they turn off that feature in their profile.

robertoaribas says

I'm not interested in anything with less than 8% return on a pure cash purchase, and 15% return on cash on a leveraged purchase.

This is by far the best example of determining value and if more people had used this we wouldn't be in the trouble we are today.

All of that pink pony in the back yard, or we all have to live some place is just vandy land crap.

Every property is an investment. You win, you lose, but it is an investment class asset.

It's very simple...

1.) Based on rent - research the topic of rent to price ratios... lots of reading on this topic on patrick.net

2.) Based on recent comparables

robertoaribas says

As an investor, I do a simple rental return calculation, assuming a reasonable maintenance figure, and 11 months rent. [I comp the rent by the same method as above] use ALL expenses including taxes, insurance, HOA, etc. I'm not interested in anything with less than 8% return on a pure cash purchase, and 15% return on cash on a leveraged purchase.

That's what we look at and go from the market rents and work back, but will allow for capturing part of the return in getting the property up to market standard and even maint. because the O/H gets lower with every additional property. Some work out higher towards 12-13% but it really depends on the house itself(size and layout and such) and where it's exactly at.

Depends...

Standard residential in a city you'd measure by what it would rent out for. Commercial or something out in the country is a little different.

If your paying with freshly printed counterfeit money it's the value it last sold for. That way you get to keep your job.

I value a property purely based on my max limit I was willing to pay.
After that it was a matter of comparing amenities.
In my quest language like "Fully updated" was a disqualifies for me. Being that I'm drawn to houses built pre 1975, that usually meant, sturdy top quality cabinetry and fixtures were ripped out and replaced with cheap or gaudy, home depot Junk that will look cheap flimsy and dated with in 10 years. Like a living room decorated in silver and mauve furnishings in the 80's, flashy but the plastic and particle board crap has long been tossed. Where as that sturdy furniture that was given to a thrift store back then is still going strong re-purposed in someone Else's living room, that appreciated the rugged sturdiness of furniture built in the 60's and before.

I just wasn't interested in someones Ikea taste. So I actually looked for a house that had the original cabinets and fixtures, for two reasons. First if I replaced them it would have been with my taste and from a supplier that doesn't sell the same old crap you find at home depot and lowes. The second and best reason, people that haven't put the time and money in those items I don't care for, wont be expecting me to pay them for it in the price I paid.

Land, Yard, Space, sq footage and Rooms, then can I get it in my budget.

Everything else wasn't worth it at any price. Like they say, if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it.

Do you have a specific type of property that you prefer over others, like SFH vs multi, or duplex/4-plex, where you can turn or rent it quicker, or do you take each property for what it is and what the market is for that type of property?