How I Raised 1 Million Dollars for My First Multifamily Deal

Are you an aspiring apartment syndicator looking to raise equity for your first multifamily deal? I know how daunting it can be to secure equity for your first deal especially when you, and the potential investors, know you just don’t have the track record, yet. However, with the right approach and strategies, it is possible to raise the necessary funds to get your first multifamily deal closed.

In this article, I will share my experience on how I managed to raise 1 million dollars for my first deal.

Here are some tips that could help you too:

1. Leverage The Track Record Of A Mentor

When approaching potential investors, it can be helpful to leverage the track record of a mentor. If you have a mentor who has successfully completed similar deals, you can point to their success as evidence of your own potential. You could also consider partnering with a more experienced investor who can provide guidance throughout the process. This is exactly what I did in the beginning by having a mentor, who at the time had about $100MM Asset Under Management (AUM).

2. Create A Big Company Aura

At first glance, the sentence above may leave you feeling confused and unsure. I agree that it is not immediately clear. However, I will never forget what my father-in-law said when he saw the newly launched Dwellynn website. He exclaimed, "Wow, this looks like a big company!" This initial impression is crucial. Potential partners, investors, and lenders who visit your site for the first time should feel the same way. It is important to pay attention to every detail. Perception is reality, so make sure to appear big from the get-go. And when reaching out to stakeholders, avoid using an email address with "@gmail.com" at the end.

More to come about this in the Apps and Software we use at Dwellynn module.

3. Build a Strong Network

Now that you have created a “big company” aura, it is time to go out with confidence into the world. Networking is crucial when it comes to finding equity for your first multifamily deal. You need to build a strong network of passive investors, mentors, and partners who can help you fund your next deal. Attend real estate conferences, events, join business associations, and participate in online forums such as BiggerPockets, LinkedIn or even Instagram to expand your network.

Personally, this is where I was able to find my partners who were out-of-state but needed a boots on the ground partner in Texas and someone who can find good assets, control the deal, and take it to closing. This is how I did it.

In conclusion, raising equity for your first deal can be challenging, but not impossible. By adding your mentor’s track record to your team’s section on your website, creating a professional look for potential stakeholders, and continually building a strong network.

That classic, though corny, line of Your Network is your Net Worth is true!

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are provided for informational purposes only, and should not be construed as an offer to buy or sell any securities or to make or consider any investment or course of action.

Negotiating Tips that have Worked Against Me

Throughout my career, I’ve been involved in many negotiations, both in real estate and in general full-time job circumstances. In this article, I'll share three negotiating tactics that were used against me and worked. But don't worry, I'm not here to scare you! I just want to give you some pointers so you can be better prepared for your next negotiation.

They are so damn likable.

Problem: Do you find it tough to negotiate against someone you really like? It can be awkward at first because you may not want to offend them, but there’s some serious business that needs to be addressed.

Solution: Stick to the facts. Facts are emotionless. They do not contain trigger phrases like “this is unacceptable,” “but it’s not fair,” “but I’ve worked really hard on this,” “but I’ve been here so long,” or curse words. When you maintain a calculated and logical approach to the negotiation, your stance cannot be disputed.

They demonstrate they have more knowledge on the topic than you (and gray hair helps)

Problem: The opposition may have more experience in the industry, more knowledge about the topic, and may be older. When they talk, it’s clear they know more about the topic than you do. This can be a daunting situation.

Solution: Align yourself with people who have the knowledge and experience you lack, and bring them in to actively participate with you. If that’s not possible, dismiss any irrelevant information and focus only on the outcome. Think of yourself going 1000 mph and all the stuff they are saying are the blurry objects. They might say a lot of stuff, but only focus on the info that will get you to your outcome. It requires concentration, but it works.

They devalue your contribution (e.g. payment, time, thoughts)

Problem: The opposition may undervalue your contribution and indicate that they are losing money on the deal. However, they still go through with the transaction and somehow stay in business and are happy with the outcome.

Solution: Create a list of five reasons why the opposition should do the deal. This helps you understand from their perspective why it is favorable. You can choose to bring up those points or just keep them in your head. Regardless, remind yourself of the value you’re bringing to the table. They wouldn’t be having this conversation with you if they didn’t agree you bring value. Whether it’s money or time, you are adding tremendous value to this arrangement, and don’t let them tell you otherwise.

What are some negotiating tactics that you’ve seen work?

How to Find a Property Management Company for Your Real Estate Investing Team

Real estate investing can be a lucrative business, but managing properties can be a hassle. That's why many investors hire a property management company to help them with the day-to-day operations of their rental properties. However, finding the right company can be a daunting task. Here are two ways to find a property management company for your real estate investing team.

Referrals from Other Investors

One of the best ways to find a property management company is to ask for referrals from other investors. Real estate investing is a tight-knit community, and many investors are more than happy to share their experience with property management companies. Reach out to local real estate investment clubs or associations and ask for recommendations. You can also ask for referrals from real estate agents or brokers who specialize in investment properties.

When asking for a referral, be sure to ask about the company's experience, their fees, and their communication style. It's also a good idea to ask for references from current or past clients. Once you have a few referrals, do your due diligence and research the companies further. Check their reviews online and ask for a copy of their contract to review.

Online Directories

Another way to find a property management company is to use online directories. There are several directories available that specialize in connecting investors with property management companies. These directories allow you to search for companies based on location, services offered, and fees.

Some popular directories include All Property Management, Buildium, and Cozy. These directories typically have a vetting process for the companies listed, so you can be assured that the companies you find are reputable. However, it's still important to do your own research and read reviews before making a final decision.

Conclusion

Finding the right property management company for your real estate investing team can take some time and effort. However, by asking for referrals from other investors and using online directories, you can narrow down your options and find a company that fits your needs. Remember to do your research and ask the right questions before making a final decision. With the right property management team in place, you can focus on growing your real estate portfolio and increasing your profits.

5 Signs That You Should Walk Away From a Property Deal

Real estate investing can be a lucrative business, but it's not without its challenges. One of the biggest challenges is knowing when to walk away from a property deal. It's important to recognize the signs that a deal may not be worth pursuing before investing your time and money. Here are five signs that you should walk away from a property deal.

1. The Property Has Serious Issues

If the property you're considering has serious issues like structural damage, mold, or a faulty foundation, it's best to walk away. These issues can be costly to repair and may make the property difficult to sell in the future. Unless you're prepared to take on a major renovation project, it's best to look for a property that's in better condition.

2. The Numbers Don't Add Up

Before investing in a property, it's important to crunch the numbers and make sure the deal makes financial sense. If the numbers don't add up, it's best to walk away. This could mean that the property is overpriced, the repairs are more expensive than anticipated, or the rental income won't cover the expenses. It's important to be realistic about the potential profit and make sure the deal is worth your investment.

3. The Seller Isn't Cooperative

If the seller isn't willing to provide the information you need, won't allow you to inspect the property, or is unresponsive, it's best to walk away. A lack of cooperation from the seller can be a red flag and may indicate that they're hiding something or aren't serious about selling the property. It's important to work with a seller who is transparent and willing to work with you.

4. The Property Is In a Bad Location

Location is key when it comes to real estate investing. If the property is in a bad location, it may be difficult to find tenants or sell the property in the future. Factors like high crime rates, poor school districts, and a lack of amenities can all make a property less desirable. It's important to consider the location carefully before investing in a property.

5. You Have a Bad Feeling About the Deal

Sometimes, your intuition can be a powerful tool in real estate investing. If you have a bad feeling about a deal, it's best to trust your instincts and walk away. This could be a sign that the deal is too good to be true, the seller isn't trustworthy, or there are hidden issues with the property. It's always better to err on the side of caution and avoid a deal that doesn't feel right.

Conclusion

Walking away from a property deal can be difficult, especially if you've invested time and money into the process. However, it's important to recognize the signs that a deal may not be worth pursuing and to trust your instincts. By avoiding bad deals, you can save yourself time, money, and headaches in the long run.

3 Ways to Raise $1,000,000 for Your First Apartment Syndication

If you're interested in raising money for real estate investment opportunities, it's important to understand why people invest passively. Don't worry, we've got you covered!

Before starting the process of raising over 1,000,000 for an apartment syndication deal, I thought people would invest in my deal primarily for the returns, whether cash-on-cash returns, internal rate of return, equity multiple, or simply an annual amount. Silly me! While returns are necessary, they're not the most important factor. People invest based on trust. They trust you as a person and as a businessperson. They trust you with their money because they know you or people who know you and can vouch for you.

If you want to successfully raise real estate investment capital, you need to gain potential investors' trust. Here are three ways to get started:

1. Time

Establishing a relationship with investors takes time, but don't worry, you got this! For your first syndicated deal, your investors will most likely have known you for at least a couple of years. You don't yet have a track record. Once you establish one, it will be easier to get strangers to invest with you because of your proven track record.

The more expertise you have (see way #2 below), the less time you'll need to establish relationships with those who provide real estate investment capital.

2. Expertise

The more expertise you can demonstrate, the easier it is to raise money. BUT, WAIT. There's a catch.

You must demonstrate your expertise in a way your potential investor understands. Your knowledge is irrelevant. What's important is what's relevant to your investors and how you communicate it to them.

A doctor needs information communicated differently than an engineer, a small business owner, or someone who has invested in real estate before. Your success lies in recognizing how to communicate the information to each audience based on their background and needs.

You can display expertise even if you haven't done the specific thing you're raising money for. Another way to build credibility as an expert (and gain more real estate investment capital) is to create a thought leadership platform. For example, Kathy Fettke leveraged her thought leadership platform, a podcast, to raise $5 million in one week! Other platforms besides a podcast can be a blog, a YouTube channel, a newsletter, an ebook, or a meetup, but there are numerous other ways to become a thought leader. Be creative and find something that complements your strengths, unique abilities, and of course, that you like to do!

3. Personal Connection

The idea that people only invest with their analytical mind is false. We invest with emotion. We go in with preconceived notions and tend to look for things that confirm those notions.

Try this exercise: look around your room and, for the next 30 seconds, find everything that's red. Look red. Find red. Look red. Find red.

Now, write down all the things you saw in the room that are blue.

While looking for red, you probably noticed things that were reddish-brown or orange-ish red but counted them as red. We don't find things we're not looking for.

The point is we find what we seek. Those who provide real estate investment capital do the same thing. If they have a preconceived notion about you and the investment, they'll look for ways to confirm it. So, it's important to establish a solid personal connection with them.

You can do this by finding out what they care about and seeing if you can align with that in a genuine way. If you don't know what they care about, ask them this magic question:

"What's been the highlight of your week (or weekend)?"

That will uncover some things that are top-of-mind for them. They might say "making a business transaction," which will tell you that it's important to focus on the numbers and profitability. Or, they might say, "finally being able to get away with my family," which will indicate that time is precious, and you should emphasize the "passive investment angle" with them.

👏🏼 You Bought Your First Deal, So What’s Next 🤷🏽‍♀️?

BOUGHT YOUR FIRST DEAL, SO WHAT’S NEXT?

Finally 🙌! It seems as though all your hard work, long hours, and endless negotiations have finally come to an end. You’ve found a property with excellent investment potential, pooled together your investors, and now you’ve closed on your new apartment complex. You have drastically expanded your real estate portfolio and the rest should be a piece of cake, right?

Well, that all comes down to how well you and your team can jump into the day-to-day management of the newly-acquired asset. You’ve successfully convinced a group of people to give you their money to make them more money, and now it’s time to start using your knowledge and resources to bring the results (and the money) to the table.

You look up and all of a sudden you have multiple units and tenants to manage, and it’s new and exciting, but it may also seem slightly overwhelming. You’ve successfully planned this deal from top to bottom, and it’s all coming together. You’ve made it this far and now is not the time to get intimidated. So once the property keys have been handed over, what’s next?

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Check out these 5 quick tips to jump start your new real estate asset management position:

1) Numbers Talk, So What Does the Budget Say?

You’re no rookie to the numbers game. You analyzed this property’s projections forwards and backwards, but the analyzing is a never-ending job. Your main job is to protect your financial investment, as well as your investors’ financial investments.

This requires you to constantly be aware of the budget and performance of your property to ensure its financial success. You need to continuously compare your projected rental income with the projected monthly rental expenses, as well as your realized rental income and expenses.

Your expenses should not only include a mortgage payment (if applicable), taxes, utilities, and insurance, it should also include potential expenses for costs related to the property such as maintenance, emergency reserves, vacancy reserves, and a property management company fees.

2) Put Your Property Manager In Place?

Part of your deal package and presentation should have outlined who will manage the tenants and units, whether you will take on this role, or if you’ve chosen a property management company to assume these responsibilities.

If you’ve already put a property manager in place, you should establish a process to get updates on a consistent basis in regards to the performance of the property and any issues that need to be addressed. These updates should be passed along to your investors as well.

If you have not chosen a property management company yet, you should consider the benefits of hiring a property management company that can find and retain tenants, maintain the property, execute leases, and collect rent, amongst other things. When choosing a property management company, you should make sure they have experience managing properties similar to yours and ask for references to get a better idea of the quality of their services.

3) Inspections Never End

You may think that once you’ve closed on your property that all the inspections have ended, however, they’ve only just begun. Delegating tasks to your property management company will, undoubtedly, allow you to play a more passive role, but care should be taken to follow up on the tasks that you delegated to the management company to ensure that they are completing the tasks in a timely, efficient, and satisfactory manner.

Walking through apartments and doing property inspections during turnover periods can help you gauge how well your property management is maintaining the units and if there’s any deferred maintenance that is not being addressed.

4) First Impressions Only Happen Once

When you and your investors acquire your new apartment complex, it’s time to let everyone know that the complex is now under new and improved management and that things will soon be changing for the better. You will want to change the community’s opinion of the complex by advertising the new management and the improvements that will soon take place.

It’s important to have a new sign that announces the new management, as well as immediately focusing on improving and maintaining the exterior of the property with improved landscaping, lighting, etc. You and your investors will be aiming to raise the rents of your units to increase your overall bottom line, Net Operating Income (NOI).

5) Make A Dollar Go A Long Way

Just as important as raising rent, reducing unnecessary expenses and costs will also lead to higher cash flow. You will want to make sure you and your property management team is consistently evaluating the expenses and finding ways to reduce expenses and hidden costs, without impacting the quality of the operations.

Attention should also go towards finding other services to provide your tenants at additional costs to also increase cash flow. This could include offering rental insurance, valet trash service, or installing vending machines throughout the property.

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Watch the Best and Learn From the Best

Even though these are some important aspects to address when acting as a syndicator, or things to expect from your syndicator if you are acting as an investor, this is by far, not an exhaustive list of all the duties and responsibilities of asset management in apartment syndication.

It is recommended that first-time apartment syndicators gain the necessary knowledge and experience by working their first deal with an experienced apartment syndicator, who can provide resources, credibility and inspire confidence in the deal’s investors.

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Dwellynn is a multifamily syndication firm with experience in acquiring, repositioning, developing, and managing affordable, quality multifamily residential properties.

Here at Dwellynn, our reputation proceeds us, and we are recognized as a fast-growing firm that provides our capital partners with the opportunity to invest in real estate on a larger scale, while also providing better than market returns.

Click here to Get in touch with us today to become a capital investor in one of our upcoming projects, securing great returns and the necessary experience in multifamily syndication.

10 Current Trends of Multifamily Investing in Texas

Introduction

Multifamily investing in Texas has continued to grow and evolve in recent years, with investors constantly looking for new ways to maximize their returns. In this blog post, we will discuss the top 10 current trends of multifamily investing in Texas, including the rise of secondary markets, the impact of technology, and the growing importance of sustainability.

1. Rise of Secondary Markets

McAllen, Texas is a secondary market considered for multifamily investing.

While many investors tend to focus on the major markets such as Dallas, Houston, and Austin, there has been a growing interest in secondary markets such as San Antonio, Fort Worth, and El Paso. These markets offer investors more affordable entry points and potential for higher yields, as well as strong population growth and job markets.

Here are five secondary markets in Texas that are worth considering for multifamily investing:

1. San Antonio
2. Fort Worth
3. El Paso
4. Corpus Christi
5. McAllen

2. Impact of Technology

Virtual tours and 3D floor plans are used to give prospective tenants a realistic and immersive view of the property, even if they are not physically present.

Technology has become increasingly important in the multifamily industry, with investors using platforms such as real estate crowdfunding, digital marketing, and virtual tours to streamline the investing process. As more renters rely on technology for their housing needs, investors must adapt to stay competitive and attract tenants.

3. Growing Importance of Sustainability

Sustainability has become a major factor in the multifamily industry, with investors looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint and attract eco-conscious tenants. This includes implementing energy-efficient features such as solar panels and smart thermostats, as well as using sustainable building materials and promoting green living practices.

4. Focus on Affordable Housing

As the demand for affordable housing continues to rise, investors are looking for ways to provide quality housing options at affordable prices. This includes investing in workforce housing and partnering with government programs to provide subsidies and tax incentives.

5. Emphasis on Amenities

Amenities have become a key factor in attracting and retaining tenants, with investors offering a range of amenities such as fitness centers, pools, and coworking spaces. As the competition for tenants increases, investors must continue to innovate and offer unique amenities that align with their target demographic.

6. Importance of Property Management

Effective property management is crucial for the success of multifamily investments, with investors relying on experienced and reputable property management companies to oversee their properties. This includes ensuring high tenant satisfaction, minimizing turnover rates, and maximizing rental income.

7. Shift towards Value-Add Investing

Value-add investing has become increasingly popular in the multifamily industry, with investors looking for properties that offer potential for value appreciation through renovation and improvement projects. This strategy involves identifying properties with untapped potential and implementing improvements to increase their value and rental income.

8. Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on the multifamily industry, with investors facing challenges such as rent collection, tenant retention, and property maintenance. However, the pandemic has also highlighted the importance of multifamily investments as a stable and reliable asset class, with many investors continuing to see strong returns despite the economic uncertainty.

9. Growth of Co-living

Co-living has emerged as a popular housing option for young professionals and students, with investors recognizing the potential for high yields and low vacancy rates. Co-living involves renting out individual bedrooms in a shared living space, with communal areas such as kitchens and living rooms shared among the tenants.

10. Expansion of Student Housing

The student housing market has continued to grow in Texas, with investors targeting college towns such as Austin, College Station, and Lubbock. This market offers investors the potential for high yields and stable occupancy rates, as well as the opportunity to provide quality housing options for students.

Conclusion

Multifamily investing in Texas continues to evolve and adapt to changing market trends and demographic shifts. These 10 current trends highlight the importance of staying informed and flexible as an investor, and the potential for strong returns and long-term growth in this dynamic industry.