#333: Buying a 20-Unit Deal Using His License To Reduce Cash Out Of Pocket and Discovering The Seller Lied About Leased Rents with Phil MacArthur

In this deal segment episode, Axel sits back down with Phil MacArthur to break down one of Phil's most recent acquisitions: a 20-unit portfolio deal across four buildings in New Hampshire, picked up on the MLS after months of sitting on cash from prior refinances. The conversation gets into the real nuances of buying from long-term mom-and-pop owners: the informal nature of their leases, the difficulty of getting estoppels, and why small-deal variance is just part of the game when you're playing in the 5 to 30 unit space. Phil and Axel also share a candid back-and-forth on tenant retention — and why tenants know the rental market far better than most landlords give them credit for.This episode is essential listening for any investor buying smaller multifamily deals direct from mom-and-pop owners — and who wants a clear-eyed picture of what the due diligence process actually looks like when the seller isn't exactly playing by the book.Join us as we dive into:How Phil found this 20-unit, four-building deal on the MLS after sitting on cash from four prior refinances for six months.Why the appraiser — from a large Boston institution — applied a 5% loss-to-lease penalty on four vacant units and capped the bank's lending at $3M (65–70% LTV)How Phil bridged the $300,000 financing gap with a short-term hard money lender to get the deal closedThe business plan: light CapEx on roofs and exterior, and bumping rents from an in-place average of $1,600 toward a market rate of ~$1,950 — already achieved on newly leased unitsWhy almost none of the existing tenants left — and why that was better than expected given the previous owner's warningsWhy tenants know the rental market better than investors give them credit for — and why that works in your favor when your rents are modestly below marketThe exit plan: refinance out the hard money, stabilize the rent roll, and target a cash-out refi within 12–24 months to recover 75%+ of invested capitalConnect with Phil:Connect with him on LinkedinFollow Windrift Real Estate on InstagramLearn more about Windrift Real Estate, LLCListen to the Previous Episode with Phil: Ep119 - Living in an Expensive Market and Investing out of State + Quickly Building a Personally Owned Portfolio of 70+ Units via Spotify or AppleAre you looking to invest in real estate, but don't want to deal with the hassle of finding great deals, signing on debt, and managing tenants? Aligned Real Estate Partners provides investment opportunities to passive investors looking for the returns, stability, and tax benefits multifamily real estate offers, but without the work - join our investor club to be notified of future investment opportunities.Connect with Axel:Follow him on InstagramConnect with him on LinkedinSubscribe to our YouTube channelLearn more about Aligned Real Estate Partners