Deal Analysis – Denver Single Family Renovation and ADU Build
Located in Denver’s Sloans Lake neighborhood, the brick home featured in this Deal Analysis was built in 1906 and had plenty of opportunities to add value. The property was dated but with great outdoor space. It was clean and in desirable U-TU-C zoning. The upside achieved by improving the interior and building a secondary unit offers several attractive exits. Listen to the podcast to find out how this Denver investor couple expects this property to perform.

Located in Denver’s Sloans Lake neighborhood, the brick home featured in this Deal Analysis was built in 1906 and had plenty of opportunities to add value.  The property was dated but with great outdoor space. It was clean and in desirable U-TU-C zoning. The upside achieved by improving the interior and building a secondary unit offers several attractive exits.

This property closed Q1 – 2017.

Two Learning Options!
  1. Listen to the podcast “#254: Deal Analysis – Denver Single Family Renovation and ADU Build” on the Denver Real Estate Investing Podcast
  2. Read the blog post. Note, the blog is an executive summary. Get the in-depth breakdown from the podcast.

Investor Profile

  • Kevin & Mycah
  • Long term Buy & Hold
  • House Hackers and a bit nomad

Deal Quadrant: MLS

Real Estate Deal Analysis Quadrant
The majority of Nomad™ and House Hacks are found on the MLS

Read about the deal quadrant and finding Denver Investment Properties.

  • MLS overpriced in summer of 2016 ($725,000)
  • Withdrew in December and relisted in January at $599,000
  • Went under contract at $567,000 and closed at $559,000

Investment Property Details

  • Type: Single Family Home with Two Unit or ADU zoning
    • 5 bedroom, 2 bath, no garage
  • Location: Sloans Lake Neighborhood
  • List Price: $599,000
  • Purchase Price: $559,000
  • Why we liked it:
    • U-TU-C Zoning
    • Location location location
    • better functional space for our growing family
Denver real estate map
Denver Single Family and ADU Build near West 26th Ave and Lowell Blvd

Property Contract Details

  • Finding the Property: We moved to West Highlands in Fall of 2015 and did a live-in flip. While the property met requirements on paper, we hated it.  We continued to check the MLS late at night and eventually took the family on a walk to the house.  From there we reached out to the listing agent (who may have had a contract that was about to expire) and worked with him as a transaction broker.
  • Under Contract: learned the value of hiring an agent. We were experienced but didn’t know what we were doing.
  • Inspection items
    • retaining wall with a heavy lean
    • roof
    • patio railing
    • dated electric
  • Outcome: 8,000 price reduction – lesson alert! Should have used an agent to help negotiate

Property Financing Details

  • Lender: National Bank
  • Loan Type: Conventional, 4.375%
  • Appraisal: Above $568,000
  • Seller Concessions: No
  • PMI: yes
  • Interest Rate Buy Down?: No

And then…..

  • Construction: Refi into construction loan (Single close)
  • Interest only construction period: 10/1 ARM 3.875% for $729,000 (tough to get appraisals for ADUs – – not many comps)

Refi to Conventional With

  • 1st for $575,000 at 3.875% $3192
  • 2nd HELOC up to  90% LTV- $167,000 drawn for payoff (10 year draw, 20 year AM {prime +1% or 4.25% now. }) Can do interest only at approx $800 or principal and interest at $1348/ month. Variable rate with option to lock
  • Total Mortgage expense: $3992- $4510/ month

2020 Actuals

ADU AirBNB income ($5500 in August!)

September – October: $28,872 gross NOI $19341

Both units rented in September for $3250 + $2250

2021 Proforma

$66,000 in Gross Rent

NOI $28152/ $980k = 2.9 CAP! BOO… but

Option 1: 

  • $5500- $4520 (debt service) = $990 – $370 (PM Maintenance) = $620 cashflow

Option 2: 

  • $5500 – $3992 (debt with no principal on HELOC) = $1508 – $370 = $1138 cashflow

The Good

HELOC!

  • $100,000 in line of credit available to help us invest 
  • Can control cashflow on interest only on HELOC for the next 10 years

Not currently using property manager (maybe the ugly?!)

2019 depreciation $202,000 while residing there

Airbnb super host

The Bad and the Ugly

Took 2.5 years – a whole lot of interest only payments

2 construction lenders, 2 builders, 3 submissions/revisions with the building department

Contracted Xcel to remove a pole hopefully 12/1/2020

Appraisals were tough. 5 total across all financing activity ranging from $875,000 – 980,000

Exit Options

  • Rent then sell in 3 years at > $1M leverage to capital gains exemption on about $280,000
  • Hold and continue to leverage the equity in line of credit to acquire more?

Renovation Photos

Denver ADU renovation near Sloans Lake
Denver single family build near Sloans Lake
Denver ADU renovation near Sloans Lake
Denver renovation near Sloans Lake

After Photos

Denver after renovation ADU
Denver after renovation ADU
Denver after renovation single family
Denver renovation single family
Denver after renovation bathroom

The Investors

Mycah and Kevin welcome questions and comments. They can be reached using the contact info below.

Mycah Healey

Kevin Healey

Analyze Before You Buy
Start Evaluating Properties Today with Our Free Toolkit
In a rapidly changing market, having the tools you need to help you analyze the data is critical. Know what the numbers will look like ahead of time so you don't buy a bad deal. Our toolkit is designed to help you thoroughly analyze any kind of deal so you can invest with confidence.
Start analyzing your Colorado investment properties today
Rental Property Spreadsheet • House Hacking Spreadsheet BRRRR Calculator Spreadsheet • Fix and Flip Deal Analyzer Investing Maps • Rehab Pricing Estimator
Start analyzing your Colorado investment properties today
Rental Property Spreadsheet • House Hacking Spreadsheet BRRRR Calculator Spreadsheet • Fix and Flip Deal Analyzer Investing Maps • Rehab Pricing Estimator
Authors
Chris Lopez
Chris Lopez is a Denver area real estate entrepreneur and investor, as well as the host of Bigger Pockets’ House Hackerz and the Denver Real Estate Investing Podcast.
Similar Post You Might Also Like
Market Update - Denver
How to Find Cash Flowing Deals | Colorado Real Estate Market August 2023
August 2023 Colorado Real Estate Market: What it Takes to Cash Flow Today
Denver
Denver August 2023 Real Estate Market Updates
Stay informed and make sound investment decisions with our comprehensive analysis of the latest August 2023 real estate market updates
Sign Up For Our Newsletter
What do you want to learn today?

All registrants get the recording sent to them automatically.