Retire and Become Landlord to Supplement Income?

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What do any forum rental property owners think about the idea of retiring in one's mid 50's and buying a few properties to rent and using the rental income to bring total income to near-parity with current pre-retirement salary? Rental income would be supplementing defined benefits plan distribution that is "fixed income" but gets cost of living adjustments and pays monthly until I go ten toes up some day. Health coverage for retirees our organization is only $50/mo, so that's covered. Would need about $25,000/yr tacked onto pension distribution to match current salary. Have 457b that can also provide money but I'm 54 and want to leave that alone until at least 59 1/2 on account of the tax penalty thing.

Already own one property that can be rented out once my son and his wife move out, small 1050 sq ft 2 br 2 bath condominium built in 2009 in a condo community with fiscally healthy condo assoc ($130/mo fee). Guessing it could rent for $900 - $1000/mo in local market but that's a raw estimate. The HOA fee takes care of all outside maintenance and repair such as roof, guttering, drainage, front landscape area (1 story bldg, 4 units per bldg). Prop taxes on it are $1500/yr. Paid $75K for it in 2015, no mortgage, clear deed. Thinking holding on to it and renting might be better than selling. Believe the municipal zoning allows rentals but need to check.

Guess I'm asking how much hassle it is vs. the income it provides.

Would be looking to buy a few additional small condo type units, built recent that have healthy condo assoc so you don't get hit with exterior repair and maintenance.

This all may be non-workable, or it might work out okay. Just thought I'd bounce it off any forum landlords.
 
It sounds good on paper...

Is good if you have good tenants.

Not so good if you don't.
 
My dad does it.

You will have periods of months with nothing going on and then suddenly one summer everyone left and you have many units come in for remodeling. The work is hard if you want to DIY to save money. It is not a passive income but my parents like real estate and have been doing it as a profession for decades, and they are quite handy (amateur level in wood work, plumbing, yard work, painting, cement, appliance repair, eviction, electrical, dry wall, etc). The record they have is a period of no rest for 5 months, remodeling 3 apartments back to back. You also need to have a good line of credit or lots of cash reserve when things happen, like unforeseen remodeling (tenants damage something big, or unable to find a leak, leading to gutting a bathroom while tenants are staying in AirBnb).

Sometimes it is worth picking a good tenants, especially in area with rent control (you want to pick families that have stable income and the apartment is just slightly too small for them, so when they saved up they'll buy a home and leave).

When things are going well you have months of not having to do anything and money just roll in.
 
HOAs... (just talking from my posterior, but I hope it helps you):
-figure if they approve rent
-any additional taxes (HOA, City permit....)
-if rent spots are already full (10-20% max)
-how the owners will treat renters
-special assessments

Remember condos/apartments usually in a down-market will recover the last.

Now what works:
-like you said, fiscal-healthy HOA; find out all the major repairs made or to be made
-close to schools
-close to shopping/transport
-re-do nicely and also tenant-proof your property
-get friendly with the HOA maintenance crew; sometimes they moonlight...; whatever they do for you, will be silently approved by the HOA
-purchase price(mortgage monthly) + all fees(expenses: HOA, water,power,gas,...) + 10% management(backup) < monthly rent
 
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Thanks for the heads-up I'll check that out.


Avoid the stress and aggravation of rental properties, its not as easy as some think it is.
 
I'm retired and have a rental house and a townhouse. I use two rental companies to keep tax computations separate. They each charge roughly 10% to obtain renters, serve as a contact point, handle light repairs, etc. IMO it's well worth the $90 or so bucks a month. I've never even met my tenants and I like it that way.
 
My brother just bought his second rental property. First one was a house. He said it took 800 hours to get it ready. Now, he is capable of doing just about anything and the type of person that has to keep busy. He retired in late 50's and went back to work in a less stressful job, plus doing the rental property thing. He has his son and son-in-law in area to help out. Bottom line sounds like a lot of work.
 
If you can hand pick your tenants, which might be against the federal Fair Housing Act, then you'll be OK.

I know a guy in the rental business, that ONLY rents to 60-70 year old retirees. No young folks, no "urban" looking baby mamas with 7 kids, and he has ZERO problems. Probably illegal if someone complains, but he has no headaches.
 
Originally Posted By: Mr Nice
Originally Posted By: LoneRanger
Thanks for the heads-up I'll check that out.


Avoid the stress and aggravation of rental properties, its not as easy as some think it is.
I'm down to one rental house and it's for sale.
 
Sounds about right esp when they have SS checks rolling in and just want a roof over their heads.
 
Re: older retirees
Originally Posted By: SatinSilver
Sounds about right esp when they have SS checks rolling in and just want a roof over their heads.

They usually also want less headaches, so:
-building with easy access (at least one entrance wheel-chair friendly) + elevator

Fair warning:
older people may forget stuff... including the stove they just started cooking breakfast/dinner.

have smoke/CO detectors in place and check for still being in their place and functioning properly.....
 
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My father owned a couple of rental properties...drove him nuts with lock-outs and clogged toilets. He finally moved my grandfather into a vacant unit in a building with 8 units, and let him "manage" the building. When my grandfather died, he sold the building and didn't look back.
 
A rule of thumb used to be that if your annual gross rental income is at least 10% of the property's purchase price, it can be a good investment. But beware that there are many pitfalls to being a landlord.
 
Older people also have sorry stories why they can't pay rent on time, but sure have money to golf and spend it at the casinos.

An acquaintance has rentals in Aventura, Hallandale Beach, Sunny Isles FL.... and yes his renters at 60+ in age and some are problematic.
 
I am in the business of plumbing repair and make repairs at times for customers of mine that own rental properties. About a third of the tenets that I come in contact with are real whack jobs. I have seen my clients get screwed out of a year of rent by unscrupulous renters claiming harm from supposed housing issues. Some of them seem to feel that they can rent for free and get offended when they are asked to cough up rent. I know of renters who got renters insurance and then set the house on fire to collect money for their habit. Very bad business anymore. Stay away from it.
 
Rentals are a business treat them as such. ask any one o this board that owns a business what it is like.probably lots of work. Set aside money for refurbishing and repairs etc.
 
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