As investors, many times we tend to fall into a “comfort zone” when it comes to acquiring properties.
We like to go for the same property types, and we don’t always like to branch out.
The problem with that?
Most investors fail to go after properties that can really allow them to make a substantial amount of money – just because they’re too comfortable to think outside the box.
Hey Moguls, Jason Lucchesi here with some thoughts on a unique property type that I bet you haven’t ever considered…
The property I’m talking about isn’t the “bread and butter,” cookie cutter-style house that many investors go after.
Where I am in the Midwest, especially, investors tend to go after the standard 3- to 4-bedroom homes. They fail to consider the 1- and 2-bedroom homes.
Or, if they do think about buying a 1- or 2-bedroom home, they do so with the intention of adding another bedroom – to increase the property value.
Instead, a strategy that I’ve been using often lately is this: buying the 1- or 2-bedroom homes, and making them compliant to American with Disabilities Act (ADA) standards.
Think about it...
More than 2 million Americans become wheelchair-dependent every year – whether from an accident, illness or disease.
And, many times, they have very limited options for housing that meet their needs.
This is where you comes in. By making a home ADA-compliant, you can provide a win-win situation for someone in need, while still making a profit and building your business.
Why ADA-Compliant Homes?
Now, many of you may be thinking, “Whoa, whoa, doesn’t it take A LOT of money to make ADA-compliant renovations to a home? Why would I want to spend that kind of dough?”
It does take time and money, yes. But hear me out...
I’ve worked on many properties for people with disabilities. In my experience, these individuals are typically financially stable – much more so than, say, Section 8 tenants.
In general, I’ve found that Section 8 tenants don’t tend to respect the property and can leave a lot of damage. Unfortunately, sometimes this causes you to lose more money than you make, in the long run.
Now, I’m not here to rip on Section 8 tenants. Every situation is unique, and every person is different. You may have amazing experiences with super-responsible Section 8 tenants. But, I also want to be real with you about what I’ve experienced, in my many years as an investor.
In my opinion, the remodeling that is needed to make a home ADA-compliant is a much better investment than renting a home to Section 8 tenants.
And... I want to share this news with other investors! I think this is an ideal opportunity for investors around the country – and it’s something that many of us never think about.
What Does it Take?
If you’re thinking about remodeling a property to make it ADA-compliant, there are several factors to consider.
When making your renovations, you’ll need to think about:
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Ramps – having ADA-compliant ramps in the front and back of the home is a must
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Widening all doors and doorways
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Seamless floors throughout – many homes have different flooring types, sometimes at various heights, throughout the home; you want to create a home that allows someone with a wheelchair or power chair to easily glide from room to room
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Check out ADA.gov for additional accessible design standards.
Also, keep in mind that you may qualify for grant money when making these renovations. In some cases, I’ve received grants to remodel my properties specifically for wheelchair-bound individuals.
So, in my opinion, the work is worth the payoff.
How Do I Start?
Finding properties that are ideal for this investing strategy is a more straightforward process than you might think.
Simple ways to find the best homes to remodel are:
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Talking to real estate agents to find off-market or on-market properties
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Working with joint venture partners
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Browsing Craigslist
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Contacting the phone numbers on bandit signs
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Attending real estate investor meetings
Basically, the same methods that you would use to find any stellar property deal are the ones you’d use for this investing strategy.
Because many investors avoid the 1- and 2-bedroom properties, this can be a perfect chance to take an “undesirable property” off someone’s hands.
You can then add value to the property by making it ADA-compliant and selling it for a sweet profit. Or, keep the property and rent it out; it will probably be very easy to find tenants, because these properties are few and far between.
In the long run, when you do decide to sell your ADA-compliant home, you can easily market it to other investors as a income-producing property (with a tenant already in place).
Give it Some Thought
Now, I know this strategy may not be ideal for everyone. But it’s a highly unique way to create your own niche in the real estate market – which can ultimately help you grow your business.
As for me, the goal of my business is to improve the quality of life for the people who live in my properties. In the course of 1 year, my objective is to either remodel or give away 12 homes to individuals who are wheelchair-dependent. It will be costly, but to me, it’s worth it.
It could be worth it for you, too.
How Can I Help?
What are your questions concerning ADA-compliant properties? Let me know in the comments section below. I’d be happy to help you figure out if this property type might be an ideal strategy for you.
Use your property search methods to locate 1- and 2-bedroom homes
Review the ADA.gov website to learn more about accessibility standards
Chat with other local investors in your area to see if they’ve ever explored this strategy
Look into the possibility of applying for grants that are specific to ADA renovations
Jason Lucchesi
Jason Lucchesi is the co-founder of real estate and marketing company Global Fortune Solutions, LLC. Jason has been in the real estate industry since 2002, where he began his career as a Loan Officer. His career flourished in the mortgage business when he accepted an Account Executive position with Countrywide in 2004. Within his first six months, he had achieved the #1 Account Executive in the Midwest territory. In January of 2006. During this time, Jason began investing part-time in multi-family rental properties while also becoming involved in wholesaling. By 2006, Jason was transferred to the Indianapolis area to save a struggling branch. He quickly took the branch out of the red into the green while also beginning to purchase distressed residential properties part-time. In 2007, Jason began pursuing his ultimate dream of becoming a full-time real estate investor and began investing in REOs in 2008. Since then, Jason has been involved with many aspects of real estate including short sales, tax sales/deeds purchasing, purchasing homes in distress, wholesaling, and many other avenues. Jason has been married to his wonderful wife Jamie since 2007, and they are proud parents to their sons Brady and Gavin.