Long-Distance Real Estate Investment Nets Client 33-Percent Returns Per Year

The importance of the internet, ingenuity, and a strong team

Arnold grew up on the eastern seaboard and considers anywhere from Florida to Maine as his target market. He routinely scours the internet for investment opportunities and considers it one of his greatest tools. He is able to conduct his due diligence, analyze the market and location, and identify team members who can help make the investment happen.

During one of his searches, Arnold came across a property in Hilton Head, S.C. that was on the auction block for the third time in the last 60 days. He knew the area enough to know that this was an opportunity worth investigating.

Vetting an investment more than 1,200 miles away

Again, Arnold took to the internet. He found several real estate agents in the area and reached out to them by email and phone.

As he recalls, “If the agent didn’t respond promptly and professionally I knew they would not be a good fit.”

He eventually decided on a local real estate agent in the Hilton Head area, and asked for her help investigating the property in question. She was unable to enter the property but researched to find old photos and interviewed people who had been in the home recently.

She also provided Arnold with rental market and sale price analysis, contacts in the area for property management and contractor services, and advised him on a reasonable bid limit for the auction of the property.

It was helpful to have someone as a local point of contact, but Arnold’s research was not yet complete. Arnold used Google maps, specifically the street view feature, to look at the property, homes in the neighborhood, and to get a feel for the area in general.

[Related: Where are Equity Trust Clients Investing in Out-of-State Real Estate?]

He was able to research local school districts, migration patterns, population trends, and demographic information. He found information on rental rates, vacancy rates, local home prices, and anything else he was interested in via the internet.

“I typically look for growing areas,” he explains. “If a city is growing or doing something that attracts people to live there, it’s worth a look.”

Armed with his research and a trusted local real estate agent, Arnold felt confident bidding on the property. His IRA was able to win the auction for less than the maximum bid he had decided on and purchased the property with his self-directed IRA.

Managing the rehab process with online resources

After the purchase was complete, his agent was able to enter the home, send pictures, and assisted Arnold in determining what was needed for the rehab. He then hired local contractors or department store employees to measure what was needed for each aspect of the project.

“Most of them didn’t realize I didn’t live in South Carolina,” he says.

Here’s a summary of his rehab process:

• Local contacts in Hilton Head handled the measuring for each aspect of the rehab and provided Arnold with the details for new carpet, kitchen cabinets, paint, granite countertops, bathrooms, and more.
• Arnold visited his local Home Depot in Michigan to choose materials (drywall, paint, etc.) and received installation quotes based on the provided measurements. He then ordered the needed supplies from the Home Depot in Hilton Head near his investment property and paid local contractors in Hilton Head to install the items.
• Equity Trust’s online account management tool, myEQUITY, allowed Arnold to pay contractors and supply stores directly from his self-directed IRA.

After two months of long-distance management, Arnold went to Hilton Head to check on his investment.

“By the time I arrived more than 60 days after the purchase, 95 percent of the work was done,” he says.

All that remained were some finishing touches, appliances, and furniture. Where do you think he found those? Naturally, it was the internet.

Arnold was proud to announce that all the appliances and furnishings in the home were either reclaimed or came from the secondary market, with the exception of the refrigerator and sofa. He was able to find stainless steel appliances at a discount through Craigslist and utilized the local contractors to find cost-effective rehab solutions.

Double-digit returns on a long-distance investment

With monthly rental income around $800-$900, Arnold would break even, but he decided to test the market. He posted an ad on Craigslist with a monthly rent of $1,500 and received only one call.

When he lowered the price, the calls began to pour in. He currently has a tenant with a three-year lease paying $1,250 a month, netting Arnold an approximate 33 percent return on investment (ROI) per year tax-deferred back into his IRA.

Arnold is now faced with a tough decision: rental prices in the area have increased to $1,800 – $2,100 per month. With the improvements and appreciation, he estimates he is now sitting on $40,000 of added value in the property. He is currently deciding between holding the property, possibly raising the rent, and keeping the cash flow or selling the property.

Furthermore, neighbors of his investment property have contacted Arnold and thanked him for rehabbing an eyesore, filling the unit, and helping to increase the value of their neighborhood.

Not bad for an investor over 1,000 miles away.

[Want more? Read about Susan, who invested in a rental property in her favorite vacation area.]

Case studies are provided for illustrative purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results. Investing involves risk including possible loss of principal. Information included in the above case study was provided by the investor and included with permission. Equity Trust Company does not independently verify all information provided by third parties.